Abstract: A disc grabbing device adapted to a disc archive system for grabbing at least one disc is provided. The disc grabbing device includes a center cylinder, a drive controller and a detection device. When the disc is grabbed by the disc grabbing device, the center cylinder passes through the center hole of the disc. The drive controller is configured to control the disc grabbing device to grab the disc. The detection device is electrically connected to the drive controller to detect a surface of a disc placed on a disc tray to be grabbed, and to correspondingly transmit a drive stop signal to the drive controller to stop the operation of the disc grabbing device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an archive system for a double sided optical disc, in which optical disc drives for recording or reading data on second surfaces of double sided optical discs are mounted in at least one of first and second drive bays respectively mounted at left and right sides of a disc picker robot, so that data recording or reading operations on first and second surfaces of double sided optical discs can be automatically performed.

Abstract: A media processing system for processing media having differing properties, the media processing system having a base. The base has a base radial alignment portion, a base vertical alignment portion, and a base retention portion. A set of removable media clamps is included, where each of the set of removable media clamps is adapted for the differing properties of the media, each removable media clamp has a removable media clamp radial alignment portion for engaging the base radial alignment portion and radially aligning the removable media clamp with the base, a removable media clamp vertical alignment portion for engaging the base vertical alignment portion and vertically aligning the removable media clamp with the base, and a media engagement portion for engaging the media. The retention portion is controllable by the media processing system to selectively retain and release a mounted one of the removable media clamps without manual intervention.

Abstract: A disc transportation mechanism for a disc processing device holds and transports discs by gripping the center hole of the disc. The disc transportation mechanism has a hole position detector and a position adjustment mechanism. The hole position detector detects the position of the center hole in a disc discharged to a disc transfer position from a label printer. The position adjustment mechanism can change the position of the gripping mechanism on the arm. After moving the arm to the disc transfer position, the transportation mechanism control unit controls the arm moving mechanism and/or position adjustment mechanism based on the detected position of the center hole to move the gripping mechanism to a picking position where it can grip the disc. The gripping mechanism can therefore correctly grip the disc even when the disc is not correctly discharged to the disc transfer position, and label damage can therefore be prevented.

Abstract: An optic disc writer device is an embedded type independent system. It has a host controller, a disc writer assembly, and a printer assembly. The disc writer assembly is electrically connected to the host controller and has a robotic arm, at least one disc writer, and an optic disc deposition zone. The robotic arm is operated to move to the optic disc deposition zone for picking and/or depositing an optic disc and to move the optic disc to the disc writer by which a writing operation is performed on the disc to provide a writing-completed disc. The printer assembly is electrically connected to the host controller. The printer assembly includes a disc tray that is controlled by the host controller for extension and withdrawal for receiving the writing-completed disc therein. The printer assembly is operated to form printing of patterns on a surface of the writing-completed disc.

Abstract: A holding mechanism is operable to hold a top medium from a plurality of plate-shaped media accommodated in a stacker in a stacked manner. A transport arm supports the holding mechanism. When the lift mechanism lifts down the transport arm, one of a first elastic pressing force and a second elastic pressing force greater than the first elastic pressing force is selectively applied from the holding mechanism to an upper surface of the top medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for recording, playing, handling, and storing a plurality of media disks in a plurality of configurations and a device for moving any disk into and out of a media disk storage mechanism and into or out of a selected media player/recorder on demand, and a controller for directing operation of the device for moving the disks and controlling selection of operation of the media disk storage mechanism.

Abstract: When a rotation shaft reaches a first standstill position, a contact piece is received in a first hooked groove. A grasping mechanism unit is forced to enjoy a change in the attitude around the rotation shaft by the rotation angle of 90 degrees. When the rotation shaft further reaches a first terminal position, the grasping mechanism unit is forced to restore the predetermined attitude around the rotation shaft by the rotation angle of 90 degrees. The linear motion of the rotation shaft is in this manner interconnected to the rotational movement of the grasping mechanism unit in a library apparatus. A pulley, a timing belt and an electric motor can be omitted from the driving mechanism for the grasping mechanism unit. This results in a simplified structure. The production cost is thus reduced. The transporting mechanism can have a longer service life.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for transporting disks. In one implementation, a disk handling system is provided. The disk handling system includes a dispenser operable to dispense individual optical disks and one or more drives. The disk handling system also includes an elevator operable to transport optical disks received from the dispenser to the one or more drives along a first axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for recording, playing, handling, and storing a plurality of media disks in a plurality of configurations and a device for moving any disk into and out of a media disk storage mechanism and into or out of a selected media player/recorder on demand, and a controller for directing operation of the device for moving the disks and controlling selection of operation of the media disk storage mechanism.

Abstract: A robotic unit with a picker (18) serves for handling data media in a storage device. The robotic unit can be traversed with a base plate (24) on a guide bar (16). On the base plate (24) a rotary plate (28) is disposed which can be turned about a vertical axis. On the rotary plate (28) two motors (52, 56) are disposed, each of which causes, via a toothed wheel drive, the translational and the turning movement of the robotic unit. The toothed wheel drives (48, 50, 54, 58) are disposed in a common plane in an indented recess (46) of the base plate (24).

Abstract: Data storage libraries as disclosed that provide for accessors that turn upon angled rails. In the library, a first rail and a second rail form an angle. The first and second rail each have a drive surface, but the drive surfaces are on different vertical planes. A switching mechanism of the accessor is then configured to move a drive mechanism between the different vertical planes of the drive surfaces. If the switching mechanism positions the drive mechanism adjacent to the drive surface of the first rail, then the drive mechanism engages the drive surface of the first rail to move the accessor along the first rail. If the switching mechanism switches the position of the drive mechanism adjacent to the drive surface of the second rail, then the drive mechanism engages the drive surface of the second rail to move the accessor along the second rail.

Abstract: A transportation device for moving a compact disc includes a moving arm, a screw bolt, and a guide track device. The moving arm has a first end, and the first end has a protrusive section located on a peripheral surface thereof. The screw bolt is screwed through the first end of the moving arm so that the moving arm can be moved when the screw bolt is rotating. The guide track device is composed of a plurality of crossed slots. The protrusive section of the first end of the moving arm can be slidably connected to the slots of the guide track device when the screw bolt is rotating, whereby the moving arm can be directed in different directions by the slots of the guide track device.

Abstract: A picker mechanism and a library device having the picker mechanism are provided in which their miniaturization can be achieved. A drive device mounted on the library device and the picker mechanism to load and unload data cartridges to and from a cell in a magazine include a swivel mechanism made up of a swivel driving motor to rotate the picker mechanism on an elevator that supports the picker mechanism, a feeding section having a picker arm on its side that is connected to a notch to be held in a fixed manner which is formed on a side of the data cartridge and, a feeding section driving mechanism made up of a picker driving motor to move the feeding section in a straight line.

Abstract: An optical disk changer that is capable of automatically playing both sides of a dual-sided optical disk. By coordinated rotation and delivery of disks taken from a linear disk storage bin, both sides of a dual-sided optical disk can be automatically accessed.

Abstract: A contactless power system for an automated data storage library having a plurality of storage shelves for storing data storage cartridges, at least one picker for accessing the data storage cartridges with respect to the storage shelves, and a transport system for guiding the picker(s) along at least one path with respect to the storage shelves. The contactless power system comprises a plurality of segmented coils arranged in parallel to the path(s), and in proximity to at least one induction receiver of the picker(s); and at least one power source supplying power to the segmented coils, for inductive transmission of power by the segmented coils to the induction receiver(s) of the picker(s). The power source(s) may switch the supplied power to selected segmented coils based on an indication of the position of the induction receiver(s) of the picker along the path.

Abstract: A disc processor, such as a printer or a recorder, or a combination processor, has a robotic arm that will pick a compact disc to be processed from a storage stack and move it to a tray associated with the processor. The robotic arm includes a sensor to sense when a disc is in a position to be held in a picker on the arm. The sensor signal can be used for determining whether or not the stack of discs in the input bin is of the correct height; for determining whether or not more than one disc has been picked up by the handler; and also for determining the presence of a disc in the tray or held on the picker arm.

Abstract: Applicants' automated data storage system includes a first media storage library having a first rail system, a garage having a movable rail system, said garage being disposed adjacent the media storage library, and a plurality of accessors movably disposed on either the first rail system or the movable rail system. In another embodiment, Applicants' automated data storage system further includes a second media storage library, having a second rail system, disposed adjacent the garage, such that the plurality of accessors is movably disposed on the first rail system, the second rail system, or the movable rail system. Applicants' invention further includes a method to move an accessor from the first media storage library into the garage, or from the first media storage library, through the garage, and into the second media storage library. Applicants' invention further includes a method to balance the workload of a plurality of data drives disposed within Applicants' automated data storage system.

Abstract: An optical disk changer that is capable of automatically playing both sides of a dual-sided optical disk. By coordinated rotation and delivery of disks taken from a linear disk storage bin, both sides of a dual-sided optical disk can be automatically accessed.

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.

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.