Abstract: An memory device (HDD) storage system (10) has at least one storing location (16) in which an memory device (18) is received while the memory device is not supplied with an electric power, at least one docking location (22) where the memory device is supplied with the electric power so that data can be stored in the memory device and retrieved from the memory device, and a transport device (30) for transporting the memory device between the shelf (16) and the docking location (22). Alternatively, a switching controller (110) connects a system controller (26) and also a power source (118) to an immovably secured memory device (18).

Abstract: An automatic disc exchanging apparatus including pallets 19 each of which can support a disc D, storage cabinets 12 which stores said pallets 19, recording and reproducing drives 13 for recording and reproducing information on and from said discs D, and a transporting mechanism for transporting said pallets 19 between said storage cabinets 12 and said recording and reproducing drives, magnetic members 20a are provided in the vicinity of claw portions 19c-19f of the pallet 19. The storage cabinet 12 has an opening 12a through which the pallet 19 can move into and out of the storage cabinet, side walls 12d, 12e having grooves 12b, 12c formed therein for guiding side edges of the pallet 19, and a rear wall 12f which receives an end of the pallet 19, and magnets 20b which attract said magnetic members 20a in the pallet 19 are provided on the rear wall 12f.

Abstract: A rotating frame 22 is supported by a stationary frame 21 rotatably by 180 degrees, and in both side plates 22c of the rotating frame 22, there are formed four pairs of guide grooves 25-28 for guiding pallets 9 and slots 32a-32d for moving claw members 30, 31, said slots corresponding to said guide grooves 25-28. On an inner wall of a rear plate 22b of the rotating frame 22, there is provided an up and down movable member 47 which moves downward together with the claw members 30, 31 when the rotating frame 22 is rotated by 180 degrees. Into the first and third guide grooves 25 and 27, there have been previously inserted empty pallets 9 with such a posture that their front surfaces 11 face downward. By moving the claw members 30, 31 along the slots 32b, 32d, the pallets 9 having discs D placed thereon are drawn into the second and fourth guide grooves 26 and 28 such that these pallets 9 are opposed to the upper empty pallets 9.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically exchanging a number of record medium cassettes includes a housing, a cassette storing device arranged within said housing for storing the cassettes, recording and reproducing devices arranged within said housing for recording and reproducing information on and from the record medium cassettes, a cassette transporting device arranged within said housing for transporting a plurality of cassette hand over units, a mail box having a cassette supply room and a cassette receipt room, a transport unit for transporting the cassettes between the cassette hand over units and the mail box. By using a plurality of cassette hand over units, the cassettes can be transported efficiently. By using the mail box, a new cassette can be automatically supplied into the housing and an unnecessary cassette can be automatically removed from the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically exchanging a number of record medium cassettes. The apparatus includes a plurality of cassette exchange units 21-24. Each cassette exchange unit has a cassette storing device 32 in which a plurality of record medium cassettes are installed, one or more recording and reproducing devices 33, a cassette transporting device 34 including a cassette hand over mechanism 35 for transporting desired record medium cassettes between the cassette storing devices and the recording and reproducing devices, and a controller 39. The controllers 39 of the cassette exchange units are controlled by a system controller 40 which is connected to a host computer 70 by means of SCSI cables or interface cables 61-69. The recording and reproducing devices 33 are connected in series with the host computer 70. The cassettes can be transported between the cassette exchange units by means of bridging mechanisms 25-27.

Abstract: A record medium cartridge storing box for use in an automatic cartridge exchanging apparatus having a plurality of compartments arranged one on the other, each of which is formed by first and second side plates, rear plates and right and left supporting side flanges, and a plurality of hook spring units. Each of the hook springs units connected to the first side plate in respective compartments by a hinge portion. The hook springs units includes a forward arm, a first projection formed at a front end portion of the forward arm, a backward projection formed at a backward end portion of said second arm. When a 3480 tape cartridge has been fully inserted into a compartment, the first projection is engaged with a retaining step formed in a side wall of the cartridge and the second projection is urged against the side wall of the cartridge.

Abstract: There is disclosed a synchronizing signal detector for a multi-beam optical disk unit employing a semiconductor laser array as an optical head, in which detection of a synchronizing signal is performed when all-bit coincident is detected in one half or more of multi-beams or when almost all-bit coincident is detected for a beam within a small number of bits before or after the all-bit coincident in another beam. Once a first synchronizing signal of each sector is detected, synchronizing signals of the subsequent second, third, . . .

Abstract: In a multi-beam optical disk device in which a signal is recorded on or reproduced from an optical disk by means of a plurality of light beams, a tracking error detecting apparatus is constructed such that the plurality of light beams projected from an optical head are made incident upon the optical disk and one of these light beams is made incident upon a groove formed in the optical disk and a first tracking error signal is derived from the one light beam reflected by or transmitted through the groove, and all the light beams are made incident upon a groove formed in the optical disk and a second tracking error signal is derived from all the beams reflected by or transmitted through the groove.

Abstract: A noncontact magnetic bearing has cylindrical magnetic members magnetized axially, slightly different in radius and different in length, disposed in opposite relation to each other, with their magnetic poles of reverse polarities displaced vertically relative to each other. Either the inner cylindrical magnetic member or the outer cylindrical magnetic member can be used as a shaft, and consequently, the other is fixed to a support member. The inner cylindrical magnetic member and the other cylindrical magnetic member are held at a stable and mutual-noncontact state to provide a noncontact magnetic bearing that is stable axially, as well as radially.