Autochanger

Details Autochanger Autochanger

1996-06-27

1999-02-02

Hindi, Nabil

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval

Automatic control of a recorder mechanism

Controlling the record

360 92, 360132, G11B 1518

Patent

active

058673350

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an autochanger, and more specifically to an autochanger for unloading recording mediums of a cartridge type from their respective storage cells of a storage array, and after recording or playing back information (data) on the recording mediums, loading them back to their storage cells.
Autochangers are known for unloading desired cartridge type recording mediums from their storage cells and transferring them to a record/playback apparatus (referred to as a drive hereinafter) where data stored in the cartridge type recording mediums may be picked up for playback. The disadvantage of such known autochangers is that the data stored in any desired cartridge type recording medium can rarely be identified by e.g. viewing the cartridge and have to be played for examining whether the cartridge type recording medium loaded in a drive is a desired one or not.
For improvement, a conventional autochanger has been developed in which each cartridge type recording medium is accompanied with a label on which a barcode representing informative data of the cartridge type recording medium is printed and can thus be identified by reading its label.
Another conventional autochanger is also proposed in which informative data indicating the recording medium contents has been written on the cartridge type recording medium and it is read for identifying the contents of the cartridge type recording medium. More particularly, the informative data representing the contents of the cartridge type recording medium may be recorded on the leading end of a magnetic tape loaded as a recording medium in the cartridge, or printed in the form of an optical reflector seal or an optical code pattern on the same. The cartridge type recording medium can thus be identified by scanning and reading the magnetic, optical seal, or pattern form of informative data.
There are still disadvantages in that the barcode on the label can retain a small amount of information, and needs to be written with a barcode writer such as an ink-jet barcode printer and to be read with a barcode reader such as a laser barcode scanner. This will cause the conventional autochanger to extend its duration of handling and increase its overall cost.
It is also difficult to read the informative data recorded directly on the cartridge type recording medium particularly when the recording medium, e.g. a magnetic tape, is placed in its storage cell. When the cartridge type recording medium has been transferred to the drive, the informative data cannot be read or written without loading the magnetic tape directly on the drive.
For example, a magnetic tape cartridge carrying its informative data written with an autochanger has to be loaded to the drive for playing back and for identifying its data content before it is transferred from one cell to another. As the magnetic tape cartridges increase in number, the time and labor for handling will be increased.
If magnetic tape cartridges have dropped off from their cells due to e.g. an earthquake, they are identified only by reading informative data on their tapes before being returned back to their cells. This is not a simple task.
A recording medium storage device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 64-1189 (1989), attempting to overcome the above problem. The storage device is designed for storing cartridge type recording mediums on a group of cells and includes IC memories for saving data of volume labels or the like which are attached to outer shells of the cartridge type recording mediums respectively, a plurality of electrically connecting means, each mounted to the storage cell for connection to the IC memory, and a controlling means for examining the presence of a cartridge type recording medium in its cell and reading the volume label saved in its IC memory.
According to the features of the medium storage device, the volume label saved in the IC memory comprises an informative data of a video signal stored in a recording medium or video tape. This allows a desi

REFERENCES:
patent: 5146604 (1992-09-01), Takada

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Autochanger does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Autochanger, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Autochanger will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1122839