Abstract: Automatic disc changer apparatus includes a tray containing elastomeric grooves designed to securely hold multiple compact information storage discs in generally upright positions, one or more stations, each performing processing operations on discs transferred from the tray one at a time (operations such as reading information from discs and/or writing information to them), means for effecting relative movement between the tray and the stations for aligning a selected groove in the tray with a station, a transfer mechanism associated with each station for moving a disc from the selected groove to a loading position at the station, and from that position back to the tray, in controllably driven rotations, and latch means for laterally moving the disc between the loading position and a processing station. In the controllably driven rotation, top and bottom edges of each selected disc are flexibly constrained while a force is applied to the disc tangential to its top edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively inserting and removing compact discs into and out of a disc drive tray. A removable cartridge which holds multiple compact discs provides environmentally safe storage for the discs.

Abstract: Automatic disc changer apparatus includes a tray containing elastomeric grooves designed to securely hold multiple compact information storage discs in generally upright positions, one or more stations, each performing processing operations on discs transferred from the tray one at a time (operations such as reading information from discs and/or writing information to them), mechanism for effecting relative movement between the tray and the stations for aligning a selected groove in the tray with a station, a transfer mechanism associated with each station for moving a disc from the selected groove to a loading position at the station, and from that position back to the tray, in controllably driven rotations, and latch mechanism for laterally moving the disc between the loading position and a processing station. In the controllably driven rotation, top and bottom edges of each selected disc are flexibly constrained while a force is applied to the disc tangential to its top edge.