Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Access of multiple storage elements
Patent
1995-01-20
1998-04-07
Levy, Stuart S.
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Access of multiple storage elements
G11B 1704
Patent
active
057373035
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for storing and transporting essentially round, disk-shaped objects of uniform dimensions, in particular compact-disk data carriers, and having at least one magazine.
Apparatus of the kind in question are already known for compact disks in combination with compact disk players, also known as compact disk changers. These known compact disk changers hold normally six to eights CDs. The archiving of larger quantities of CDs with these known CD changers requires a relatively large amount of space and is mass-intensive, since each individual CD is associated with a special plastic plate which, when a certain CD is accessed, is moved along with same. Further known from the art are so-called CD juke boxes, which are based on the principle of juke boxes for phonograph records, and have a capacity of about 50 to 100 CDs. A stationary, mechanical gripping device removes a CD from one position of a magazine movable relative to the gripping device, or a movable gripping device removes a CD from a stationary magazine, and transfers same to a CD player. In the former instance, the magazine does not move on, until the removed CD has been returned by means of the gripping device to its original position in the magazine. Only then, does the magazine advance for removal of another desired CD. This method results in relatively long waiting or access times when changing CDs. Furthermore, the known juke boxes are highly sensitive to mechanical vibrations of the magazine, which may cause the CDs to slide or fall out, thereby blocking the entire mechanism. The exchange of individual or all CDs of such apparatus is in most cases very expensive, and is normally done only by expert personnel.
In practice, both known systems are problematic with respect to their capacity, their space requirements, operative expenditure, and easy operability.
It is therefore the object of the invention to describe a device for storing and transporting essentially round, disk-shaped objects of uniform dimensions of the type in question, which allows to store in a smallest possible space a largest possible quantity of these disk-shaped objects, and enables a simplest and fastest possible access to a certain of the stored, disk-shaped objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantageous of the present invention are achieved by the provision of a data storage and transporting apparatus which comprises a plurality of data storage disks of uniform dimensions, and with the disks each having an essentially round peripheral edge portion. Also, the apparatus comprises a magazine supporting the plurality of disks in a stack-like arrangement and which comprises at least one spiral element which defines a central axis and which is mounted for rotation about the central axis. The spiral element further defines a sequence of uniform axial spacings which are dimensioned to generally correspond to the thickness of the disks and the disks are disposed generally perpendicular to the central axis and with a portion of the peripheral edge portion of each disk being disposed within one of the axial spacings of the spiral element. A drive is provided for rotating the spiral element at a selected speed, and such rotation of the spiral element causes the disks to move in unison in an axial direction.
In a preferred embodiment, the magazine comprises a plurality of spiral elements, which are position to define a compartment which receives the disks, and a common drive is provided for rotating all of the spiral elements in either direction at a selected variable speed.
In accordance with the invention, it has been recognized, first, that it is possible to arrange in a simple manner equally dimensioned, disk-shaped objects on a conveyor device, in particular in the sequence of uniform axial spacings, or to arrange the disk-shaped objects such that at least their peripheral regions engage in the axial spacings of a spiral element. It has further been recognized that it is likewise pos
REFERENCES:
patent: 2601501 (1952-06-01), Cain
patent: 3369814 (1968-02-01), Hart
patent: 4601386 (1986-07-01), Antonello
Cao Allen
Levy Stuart S.
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