Abstract: A device for storing optical discs is disclosed. The device includes a housing, a carousel arranged in the housing for movement relative to the housing, the carousel having a plurality of storage compartments each for storing a disc, an opening in the housing through which a disc can pass, drive means for driving the carousel relative to the housing to align each of the storage compartments and a disc stored in that storage compartment in registry with the opening, and an ejection system to eject a disc from a storage compartment and through the opening in said housing. The ejection system is powered by a motor and a clutch system, and control means is provided to cause said carousel to rotate and to cause the ejection system to operate as instructed by a user.

Abstract: A hierarchical storage apparatus includes primary hierarchical storage connected to a host and storing information, a secondary hierarchical storage storing information, a hierarchical control unit controlling the primary hierarchical storage and the secondary hierarchical storage, and a management table for managing information on a logical volume as a recording space on the hierarchical storage apparatus. When a storage medium of the secondary hierarchical storage is replaced with a storage medium in an identical or different secondary hierarchical storage, the hierarchical control unit records identification information of a replacing storage medium of the secondary hierarchical storage on the management table.

Abstract: A data cartridge handling apparatus comprises a ring-shaped carousel (40) rotatably mounted within a housing (22). Cartridge-accommodating cells (52) are angularly arranged about the carousel between an inner periphery (48) and an outer periphery (50) of the carousel. A transducing drive (70) is mounted within the housing and outside the outer periphery. A motor (60) rotates the carousel to facilitate selective alignment of a selected cell (52S) with the drive (70) along a radial dimension (106) of the carousel. A picker (100, 200) is mounted within the housing at a point within the inner periphery of the carousel (40). The picker (100, 200) has a picker arm (104, 204). A distal end of the picker arm has a gripper (110, 210) which selectively engages and disengages a data cartridge (72).