Patent · US Expired

Cartridge changer, data storage unit using the changer and apparatus using the data storage unit

US5959803A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
5References
77Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 11, 1997
Grant dateSep 28, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 11, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B17/26
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A cartridge changer having a predetermined width across a predetermined rotational plane, includes a rack being rotatable and storing at least first and second cartridges in a predetermined rotational plane, wherein at least one distance extending across the first and second cartridges in the predetermined rotational plane and through a rotational axis of the rack is greater than the predetermined width of the cartridge changer, and a rotator for rotating the rack in the predetermined rotational plane, so as to exchange a position of the first and second cartridges within the rotational plane without exceeding the predetermined width of the cartridge changer. The rotator more specifically performs a combination of rotation and shifting of the first and second cartridges with respect to one another within the rotational plane to accomplish exchange of the first and second cartridges within the rotational plane without exceeding the predetermined width of the cartridge changer. The shifting is more specifically linear displacement of the first and second cartridges in a direction parallel to a diameter defined in the predetermined rotational plane and through the rotational axis of t…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.