Multi-carousel library with double disk receptacles and single disk

Abstract

A double storage multi-carousel recordable media library is provided which includes a plurality of vertically stacked carousels mounted for rotation about a vertically extending central axis. Each carousel has a plurality of receptacles which are angularly spaced about the central axis, each receptacle being capable of storing a pair of recordable media disks. Each carousel has a large peripheral cutout which is located between a pair of receptacles for allowing passage of the disks and each receptacle has a smaller peripheral cutout for allowing movement of a transport device. Each carousel cutout is capable of alignment along a transport axis which is parallel to the central axis so that a disk can be transported vertically therealong. A disk chucking device is mounted for receiving and releasably retaining disks which are moved vertically along the transport axis. A transport device is movable vertically along the transport axis and can pass through any receptacle cutout for removing a pair of disks from a receptacle when the receptacle is aligned with the transport axis. A drive device may be mounted on the transport device for processing a bottom side of either one of the disks. If the bottom disk is to be processed, both disks stay on the transport/drive device. If the top disk is to be processed, it is temporarily chucked out the top of the library while the bottom disk is rotated out of the way. The transport/drive device then retrieves the top disk for processing. By a special mechanical arrangement, the carousels can be accurately positioned for processing the disks even though the carousels are rotated by ordinary motors.