A recording and reproducing apparatus employing a flat, plate-shaped memory as a recording medium. The apparatus includes a selection operation unit for selecting data stored in the memory located at an end of a main body portion of the apparatus, where the memory is detachably loaded. The apparatus also includes an ejection unit located at an end opposing the selection operation unit for ejecting the loaded memory, thereby to prevent mistaken operations in data selection and memory ejection.

An information management system is applied to a supply flow of dispensed objects by incorporating microcircuitry into a portable dispensing case that is loaded with objects at a loading site and transported to a dispensing site where the objects are dispensed from the portable case. A communication connection connects the microcircuitry with a reload controller at the loading site and a dispensing controller at the dispensing site. By means of the communication connection loading information on the identities and locations of objects in the case is supplied to the microcircuitry where it is made available at the dispensing site, and transactional information involved in dispensing of the objects at the dispensing site is loaded into the microcircuitry for return to the reloading site. Such an arrangement allows analysis of the transactional information and the loading information showing actual usage of objects at both the dispensing site and the reloading site.

A container for a plurality of thin plates has a driving unit for moving one of a pair of magnetic members, at least one of which is a magnet, embedded in a container body and contained in a chamber in a lid, respectively, to selectively produce attractive and non-attractive magnetic conditions between the first and second magnetic members. In one embodiment, the driving unit includes a rotatable plate, and an arm having one end attached to the rotatable plate and the second end attached to the movable magnetic member to move the movable magnetic member in response to rotation of the rotatable plate. In a second embodiment a parallel movement link has a long groove for engaging a pin provided on the rotatable plate; a magnetic member supporting link has a first end attached to one end of the parallel movement link and has its second end attached to the movable magnetic member. In a third embodiment the rotatable plate has a first bevel gear meshing with a second bevel gear on a shaft supporting the movable magnetic member.

A system and method for automatically executing a participating application upon insertion of a removable media into a computing device. When the computing device detects that the removable media containing has been inserted, a task disk control file is read from the removable media. The task disk control file contains all of the configuration information necessary to run the participating application from the removable media. The participating application is then launched for use by a user. After the user is finished using the participating application, the removable disk is automatically ejected. In addition to monitoring for insertion of the removable media, events such as a completion of the self-contained application and a request to eject the media are monitored. When a completion event is encountered, all data files are saved, temporary files deleted and configuration information removed prior to the removable disk ejection. When an ejection event is encountered, the computing device is instructed to wait until the completion events are executed prior to actual ejection of the removable media.

Improved techniques for rendering a peripheral device removable (e.g., unpluggable) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, the peripheral device is rendered removable from a host computer without preparatory user actions. In effect, the peripheral device can be automatically prepared for removal in the event that its user removes (unplugs) it from its host computer. According to another aspect of the invention, the peripheral device includes a data storage device that is mounted to a file system of the host computer when the host computer desires access to the data storage device. Otherwise, the data storage device is normally unmounted so that if the peripheral device were to be removed (e.g., unplugged) no harm or damage to data stored therein would occur. These aspects of the invention can be utilized alone or in combination with one another. The invention is particularly well suited for peripheral devices that are media players which are "hot" unpluggable without detrimental consequences.