Technique for eliminating end-of-travel dead space in media autochangers
US6445652B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B15/6815
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magazine assembly containing numerous media units is disposed adjacent to a picker assembly. One of the two assemblies is normally stationary, while the other assembly is a traveling assembly. In either case, the two assemblies cooperate with one another to selectively provide the picker assembly with access to the media units that are stored in the magazine assembly. A motion reversal assembly is coupled to the normally stationary assembly and is engageable by the traveling assembly when it enters an end portion of its excursion path. When the motion reversal assembly is so engaged, it moves the normally stationary assembly in the direction opposite to that of the traveling assembly's movement. The effect is an apparent increase in the traveling assembly's available excursion length, which makes it possible for the picker assembly to access media slots that would otherwise be disposed in the dead spaces located on either end of the traveling assembly's excursion path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.