Abstract: A reproducing/recording apparatus including a first disk tray (11) for mounting a first disk thereon and a second disk tray (12) for mounting a second disk that is of a type different from the type of the firs disk thereon. The first disk tray (11) is adapted to be moved into and away from the apparatus through a single disk inlet/outlet port (10A) with the second disk tray (12) laid thereon. The reproducing/recording apparatus can be downsized even when it is adapted to reproduce information from and record information onto a number of disks of different types.

Abstract: A storage library system maximizes use of storage space and minimizes mechanical misalignment. The storage library system has a plurality of storage media ports, a robotic shuttle, and a storage media transport. The robotic shuttle physically accesses the storage media cartridges as it linearly moves along the storage media ports. The storage media transport transports the storage media cartridges between an access port and a position adjacent to the storage media ports. The storage media cartridges are moved in first and second substantially orthogonal directions that allow substantially unrestricted access of the storage media cartridges stored in the storage media ports by the robotic shuttle. The robotic shuttle may also access the storage media cartridges transported by the storage media transport. This operation provides a highly compact storage library system that can easily and comfortably fit on a desktop.

Abstract: A disc collator includes a series of collating trays for collating multiple discs. A disc can be deposited in any one of a number of trays according to where a user desires the disc to be placed, allowing prompt and timely retrieval of CDs. Motion of the disc collating system picker arm may be along only one axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for reading optical disks. Some implementations are particularly well suited for automatically playing both sides of a dual-sided optical disk. By coordinated delivery of disks between a disk reader, a disk transfer mechanism, or a disk turner and a carrousel that is approximately toroid shaped, both sides of a dual-sided optical disk can be automatically accessed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a data cartridge in a cartridge engaging assembly. A signal emitter may be positioned adjacent the cartridge engaging assembly to emit a signal. A signal detector mounted to the cartridge engaging assembly may detect the signal. The signal detector generates output to indicate whether the data cartridge is present in the cartridge engaging assembly based on the detected signal.

Abstract: An optical disk loading apparatus (1) for unloading a case (10) from a case stacking device (3) where a plurality of cases (10) are stacked with each case (10) closed and placed upstandingly, transferring the case (10) via a conveyor (2) and loading optical disks (D1, D2) into the case (10). The optical disk loading apparatus (1) includes a case unloading and inverting device (4) that unloads a case (10) from a case supplying conveyor (30) of the case stacking device (3) and inverts the case (10) 90 degrees upstandingly, a case opening device (5) that opens the inverted case (10) to a flat state at its inverted position, and optical disk loading devices (6, 6′) that load optical disks (D1, D2) into the opened case (10). Since the case opening device (5) can be placed at a position in the vicinity of an upstream end of the conveyor (2), the whole length of the conveyor (2) is shortened, thereby shortening the whole length (L) of the optical disk loading apparatus (1).

Abstract: A coupler for a media storage system. The coupler may comprise a receiving member having an opening formed in a first storage library and an opening formed in a second storage library. The openings of the receiving member align with one another when the first storage library is positioned adjacent the second storage library. The coupler may also comprise an arm member pivotally mounted to the first storage library. The arm member pivots between an open position and a closed position and engages the receiving member when it is pivoted to the closed position, thereby connecting the first storage library to the second storage library.

Abstract: Provided are: a turn table for storing a disk shaped recording medium Dn to be vertically placed; a disk drive unit disposed at the center part of the table, the disk drive unit mounting a recording medium Dn to record and/or reproduce an information signal SIN; disk carrying means for carrying the recording medium Dn between the disk drive unit and the turn table; and a control device, wherein the control device controls the turn table and disk carrying medium so as to detect whether or not the recording medium Dn is stored in the disk storage unit, judge an information recording face of the recording medium Dn removed from the disk storage unit, and based on the judgment result, mount the recording medium Dn intact on the disk drive unit or invert the recording medium Dn, thereby remounting the medium on the disk drive.

Abstract: A CD master production system (1) has a pre-recording station (2) with a central robotic arm (6) for loading and unloading discs onto a succession of processing devices (19-24) including washing and resist application devices. An LBR station (3) performs laser recording on up to four substrate discs (D) at a time, mounted on spindles (41). There is real time recording head (51) height adjustment for focusing the recording beam to compensate for disc surface level variations. A sensing beam reflected from the disc is compared with a reference beam so that the phase difference indicates level variations. A post-recording station (4) performs post-recording operations, again with disc load/unload performed by a central rotating robotic arm (9). The recording station (4) is mechanically isolated from the pre and post-recording stations (2, 4).

Abstract: In an optical disk reproducing apparatus 1 in which a mounting tray slides to a projected position and a contained position with respect to the apparatus main body, to slide the mounting tray at a series of continuous predetermined speeds independent of change in environmental conditions. A series of continuous application voltages, to be supplied from a drive source 8 to an output motor 16 so as to slide a mounting tray 3 at a series of continuous speeds, for use in an use environment of the highest frequency of use where the mounting tray 3 slides at a series of continuous speeds, are preset-stored in computation means 21. When the mounting tray 3 is actually slided by an output from the output motor 16, if the preset speeds are not attained, the computation means 21 outputs a command signal to the drive source 8 to appropriately correct the application voltages to the output motor 16.

Abstract: Both when disc reproducing means is performing a reproduction operation on a disc, and when the disc reproducing means is not performing a reproduction operation on a disc, a tray on which a rotary table is disposed can be moved by tray driving means to a accommodating position and a discharging position. In this configuration, when the disc reproducing means is performing a reproduction operation on a disc, the tray driving means moves the tray at a low speed (step S2), and, when the disc reproducing means is not performing a reproduction operation on a disc, the tray driving means moves the tray at a high speed (step S11).

Abstract: A disc device comprising a transfer unit operable to provide a transferring force to a disc inserted from the outside to transfer the disc into a storage area in the device, a sensor unit for detecting the position of the inserted disc, and a control unit for controlling a operational speed of the transfer unit. The control unit controls the operational speed of the transfer unit in the disc loading direction at a low-speed until the disc inserted from the outside reaches the transfer unit. The control unit then adjusts the operational speed of the transfer unit in the disc loading direction from a low-speed to a high-speed when the sensor unit detects that the disc is inserted into the position in which a transferring force from the transfer unit is given to the disc, or after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Accordingly, the disc device reduces operation noise and resistance when the disc is inserted.

Abstract: A disc storage system includes an automated disc storage unit capable of storing a large number of discs in respective individual slots. A disc player, which is incorporated in a personal computer housing, is connected via a hard-wire connection to the unit. A keyboard and a screen of the personal computer are used to control the unit and to display information corresponding to status of the unit. The computer is programmed to control the unit to eject selected discs under instructions of a user and to manage the retrieval and storage of the discs at all times. A very large number of discs can be stored and retrieved automatically and up-to-date records kept, and displayed if required, for convenient use as required.

Abstract: An information providing system includes a loading section in which a recording medium is removably loaded, a content identification information detecting portion for detecting content identification information of the recording medium loaded in the loading section, and a housing section for housing a plurality of recording media in which content information indicated by the content identification information is recorded in advance. An ejecting device ejects a recording medium in which the content information coincident with the content information set by the setting means is recorded. The system also includes a detector for detecting whether or not the remaining number of recording media housed in the housing section and having a particular content information is a minimum threshold value. A replenishing mechanism replenishes the housing section with the recording media of the kind detected by the detector to be at the minimum value.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus includes a housing section for housing recording media including a plural kinds of recording media, which have at least any one of plural kinds of contents information recorded in advance. A content detector is also included for detecting a kind of content information required by a user. An ejecting portion ejects the kind of recording media in which the content information of the kind detected by the content detector is recorded. A remaining recording medium detector detects, for each kind of recording media, whether or not the remaining number of the kind of recording media housed in the housing section is less than or equal to a minimum threshold value. A replenishing device replenishes the recording media of the kind detected by the remaining recording medium detector to be less than or equal to the minimum threshold value.

Abstract: A disk-type recording medium is carried by a disk carrying section and accommodated into one of layered accommodation shelves of a disk accommodation section. A memory stores position information of the disk carrying section with respect to the accommodation shelves. A controller controls the disk carrying section in accordance with the stored position information to move to a position corresponding to each accommodation shelf. A stopping state detection section includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element provided on the disk carrying section adjacent the disk accommodation section and detects a stopping state of the disk carrying section with respect to each accommodation shelf based on a received light amount of the light receiving element depending upon a state of a light intercepting disk which is transferred between the disk carrying section and the accommodation shelf.

Abstract: Locking claw engages a recording medium to be transferred, and a determination is made as to which of a plurality of predetermined points a current position of the locking member corresponds to. Current position of the recording medium can be determined indirectly on the basis of the thus-determined predetermined point corresponding to the current position of the locking member. If any recording medium is not properly settled in a predetermined rest position at power-ON, then the recording medium is automatically transferred to be settled in the predetermined rest position. Simplified detection of the position of the locking claw is made in absolute or quasi-absolute form, by a picker position detector unit that is provided in association with a rotating drive shaft of the locking member and employs a simply-constructed mechanism capable of generating detection pulses responsive to predetermined rotational angles of two shafts rotating at different rates.

Abstract: In a data storage system that employs multiple storage drives to access removable data storage media, idle data storage media are analyzed and than selectively demounted by automated equipment to increase storage drive availability and also minimize unnecessary mount/demount operations. Initially, the system establishes a maximum permitted number of concurrently mounted idle storage media, and also establishes a maximum permitted length of time for leaving idle storage media mounted. Next, storage media mounted to the media drives are analyzed for possible demounting. The system determines how many storage media are presently mounted, and each media's mount time. Then, the system identifies suitable demounting candidates (if any) to comply with the established maximums.

Abstract: Both when disc reproducing means is performing a reproduction operation on a disc, and when the disc reproducing means is not performing a reproduction operation on a disc, a tray on which a rotary table is disposed can be moved by tray driving means to a accommodating position and a discharging position. In this configuration, when the disc reproducing means is performing a reproduction operation on a disc, the tray driving means moves the tray at a low speed (step S2), and, when the disc reproducing means is not performing a reproduction operation on a disc, the tray driving means moves the tray at a high speed (step S11).

Abstract: A DVD auto-changer includes a controller, and in the DVD auto-changer, an all-repeat-mode that a plurality of disks stocked are exchanged to be successively reproduced can be set. The controller determines whether the all-repeat-mode is set or not, and unconditionally reproduces a story portion upon exchanging the disks when the all-repeat-mode is set. In other words, the controller obtains a start address of the story portion, and reproduces it from the start address.

Abstract: A means for pushing out a disc placed on a tray between a pair of rollers, in a stable state. A pushing-out means actuated by a return spring is provided with each of a pair of fixed shafts. For turning the pushing-out means (a lever, for example) against pressing force of the return spring, the pushing-out lever is engaged with a separation cam for controlling the insertion and/or the discharge of the disc.

Abstract: A memory storage disk handling system includes a housing, an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks, a servo motor with a cam arm. The servo motor rotates to pivot the cam arm, which cams against the elevator pin to lift the elevator pin.