An improvement in a changer apparatus of the type having a recording deck to which individual recording media are transported, one at a time, and an output stack for receiving and storing in stack configuration recording media that have been removed from the recording deck, including a device for laterally transporting a recording medium to the output stack, the improvement comprising a lifting element disposed at the output stack and contacted by the recording medium that is laterally transported to the output stack to raise those recording media then stored in the output stack, whereupon the laterally transported recording medium is positioned as the bottommost medium in the output stack.

In a disk loading apparatus of the present invention, a tray storage section for storing in a stacked manner a plurality of trays on which a tray is to be placed is disposed in the front side of the apparatus, and a reproduction device is disposed in the back side of the disk loading apparatus. A tray at the lowest position among the trays stacked in the tray storage section is transferred to a reproduction position by a tray driving mechanism which is operated by a single driving source. A disk which has been reproduced is returned onto a tray at the highest position in the tray storage section so that the stacked trays are sequentially circulated between the tray storage section and the reproduction device.

A storage library with a simplified operating mechanism for computer back-up data cartridges. The cartridge is placed in a tray in an opening in a sealed storage chamber and transported into and removed from a multi-tier storage carrousel by a robotic arm. When a tape is to be retrieved, the arm moves the stored cartridge either to a module or directly to the window tray. A simple transmission operating the carrousel permits any cartridge to be moved to the storage-retrieval station in no more than two revolutions of the multi-carrousel central drive shaft. The use of a carrousel reduces the distance the arm must travel and decreases the time for storage or retrieval of a cartridge. Only two of seven axes have incremental positioning controls: the vertical lift and the carrousel rotation. All other axes have fixed travel distances. A cartridge gripper is compliant, readily adaptable to different cartridge configurations, and materially reduces the need for precision positioning.

A number of data storage cassettes are held in a removeable magazine that forms part of a tape drive by which the magnetic tapes are recorded or played. The magazine holds two parallel vertically-displaced decks of cassettes that are moved under positive driving force along a rectangular pathway formed by the two decks. From a pick-up position in the magazine, a cassette is automatically extracted by a robotic arm and placed in the tape platform for reading or writing by a conventional tape drive mechanism. When the use of the cassette is finished and it is ejected by the tape drive, a sensor activates the robotic arm to return the cassette to the pick-up position. Each deck has one unoccupied cassette space. If during the sequence of operations, the cassettes on the lower deck are moved by the width of one cassette in one direction, the cassettes on the upper deck are moved the same distance in the opposite direction. This movement results in a vacant position at the end of the upper deck farthest away from the pick-up position. The cassette in the pick-up position is either removed and loaded into the tape deck or the cycle is continued. Movement of the cassette is produced by reciprocating drivers along the sides of the magazines. The cassettes are moved in only one direction by the reciprocating drivers and are locked to prevent movement in the opposite direction. Motions of the cassette handling mechanisms are limited by mechanical stops that trigger an electronic circuit to interrupt the driving power eliminating the need for sensitive position switches. Slip clutches prevent mechanical damage from the mechanical stops. The removable magazine does not include any electric motor drives and is automatically disengaged from the cassette driving mechanism by its removal, thus permitting economical use of multiple magazines.

A multi-function security system for monitoring access to a protected area such as a vehicle. The system has a self-diagnostic capability for detecting defective sensor or trigger devices and bypassing such devices to allow the system to be armed. The system includes audible and visual message capability for providing an indication when the system is disarmed that an intrusion was attempted and identifying the particular intrusion point. Multiple levels of security are provided by programming the disarming event as either entry of a code via a remote transmitter or entry of the code via the transmitter and then entry of an authorization code manually via a key pad. Other features include a reset feature activating the alarm when power is removed and restored unless a predetermined switch is active, programmable door lock and unlock signals to adapt the system to a particular power door locking and unlocking system, programmability of the alarm siren code and duration, automatic activation of the vehicle courtesy light when the system is disarmed, selective disabling of the system audible indications of arming and disarming, and programmable sensor or trigger polarity.