Patent ID: 6240058
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A disk changing unit comprising:a tower housing with a plurality of receiving bays;a plurality of electronic components including at least one interchangeable disk magazine adapted to receive a plurality of disks and at least one disk drive, said plurality of electronic components being insertable in a corresponding one of said plurality of receiving bays and having the same external dimensions so that said at least one disk magazine and said at least one disk drive can be interchanged with one another and/or replaced and/or added in the manner of modules by pushing-in or pulling-out the electronic components into or from corresponding receiving bays;a transporting device for transporting a selected disk from the at least one disk magazine between the at least one disk magazine and the at least one disk drive;an operating device; anda computer-controlled control unit for controlling an operational sequence of the disk changing unit wherein said at least one disk drive can be interchanged and/or replaced and/or added while the disk changing unit is operational, and the control unit is provided with a control program for indicating the momentary use of the selected disk and for controlling the release of a corresponding disk drive for removal from the tower housing.