Abstract: A magnetic-tape storage apparatus having a simple structure and being able to surely store magnetic tapes on each of which valuable data are recorded and the recorded data on them at a low cost and over a long period in a small space, a magnetic-tape storage apparatus comprises a housing, a cartridge storage part, a magnetic tape drive, a cartridge transfer device [18] to selectively transfer a plurality of cartridges stored in the cartridge storage part to the magnetic tape drive and to return to the original position, a cartridge data reading device to selectively and contactlessly read data retained in each memory chip of the cartridges stored in the cartridge storage part and a computer to control them and to rewind the cartridges timely.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a magnetic-tape storage apparatus having a simple structure and being able to surely store magnetic tapes on each of which valuable data are recorded and the recorded data on them at a low cost and over a long period in a small space. A magnetic-tape storage apparatus comprises a housing, a cartridge storage part, a magnetic tape drive, a cartridge transfer device to selectively transfer a plurality of cartridges stored in the cartridge storage part to the magnetic tape drive and to return to the original position, a cartridge data reading device to selectively and contactlessly read data retained in each memory chip of the cartridges stored in the cartridge storage part, and a computer to control them and to rewind the cartridges timely.