Mitsumi Electric Company Ltd.

Quantum Corporation

Tomoaki Sakaguchi

David Ray Berry

Peter A Johnson

Masakazu Kawano

There is disclosed a media cartridge autoloader. The media cartridge autoloader includes at least one mail slot through which a media cartridge is inserted and ejected, at least one media drive into which the media cartridge is loaded, at least one media cartridge storage section that stores the media cartridge, and a media cartridge picker. The media cartridge picker includes a turntable that supports the media cartridge and rotates to change the orientation of the media cartridge, a turntable rotating mechanism that rotates the turntable, and a media cartridge transporter that transports the media cartridge between the turntable and one of the mail slot, the media drive and the cartridge storage section. The turntable is provided with a media cartridge stopper member that stops the media cartridge inserted manually from the mail slot.

Media cartridge autoloader

A media cartridge autoloader is disclosed. A rotary arm that operates a cartridge transporter is rotated in one direction to reach a reference position. With reference to the reference position, the rotary arm is rotated through a predetermined angle in the opposite direction to reach a position, which is defined as a home position. The rotary arm includes a flag array, and a non-flag section at an end of the flag array. A photo sensor detects the arrival of the rotary arm at the reference position in response to a detection of the non-flag section.

A media cartridge autoloader is disclosed that includes a mail slot, a media cartridge storage section, a media drive into which a media cartridge is loaded, and a media cartridge picker for moving the media cartridge between two or more of the mail slot, the media drive and the cartridge storage section. The media cartridge picker includes a turntable capable of supporting the media cartridge and rotating to change the orientation of the media cartridge supported thereby, a turntable rotating mechanism for rotating the turntable, a media cartridge transport mechanism provided on the turntable and configured to transport the media cartridge onto and off of the turntable, and a media cartridge ejection detecting mechanism provided in a position opposing the media drive. The media cartridge ejection detecting mechanism includes a switching member to which a pressing force is applied by the media cartridge ejected from the media drive.

A media cartridge autoloader is disclosed which includes a media cartridge picker having a turntable capable of supporting a media cartridge and rotating to change the orientation of the media cartridge. A turntable rotating mechanism configured to rotate the turntable and a media cartridge transport mechanism configured to transport the media cartridge onto and off of the turntable are provided on the turntable. A mail slot through which the media cartridge is inserted or ejected, a media drive into which the media cartridge is loaded, and a media cartridge storage section configured to store the media cartridge are provided. The mail slot, the media drive, and the media cartridge storage section are arranged around the media cartridge picker. The media cartridge picker includes a turntable lifting mechanism that raises and lowers the turntable.

Growing community of inventors

Tama, Japan

Tomoaki Sakaguchi