Patent ID: 8425176
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
1. A rack for receiving, storing, and allowing withdrawal of media cassettes in a first in, first out (FIFO) sequence, comprising: a) a cabinet having a media cassette receiving region comprising a sloping bottom, a vertically inclined back, and a right side panel, said inclined back having a horizontally disposed elongated opening originating at said right side panel, said right side panel having an opening continuous with and perpendicular to said opening of said inclined back, said media cassettes having a common dimension of thickness and a plurality of standard face dimensions, said receiving region holding a plurality of said media cassettes when placed face to face on edge therein, said plurality of cassettes urged by gravity to stack against said inclined back with a major surface of a first cassette to be withdrawn resting against said inclined back; and b) an extracting mechanism disposed behind said inclined back comprising a spring, a finger, and a carriage movable from side to side parallel to a major axis of both said sloping bottom and said inclined back, said carriage carrying said finger, loaded by said spring, said spring loaded finger movable between a retracted, inactive orientation and a protruding, active orientation, wherein said retracted, inactive orientation said finger is disposed completely behind a front surface of said back, wherein said protruding, active orientation said finger is protruding through said elongated opening of said back and beyond said front surface of said back, wherein said carriage is moveable in a leftward direction only after said finger is moved to said protruding, active orientation, and said carriage is moveable in a rightward direction only after said spring loaded finger moved to said retracted, inactive orientation; and c) an activating mechanism comprising a rod, and a handle, said rod disposed in an inner space behind and parallel to said inclined back and proximate a left side wall of said cabinet, the distal end of said rod passing through said left side wall, said handle adjustably attached to said distal end of said rod, the proximal end of said handle in contact with the outer surface of said left side wall when said activating mechanism is in a home position, the proximal end of said rod operatively connected to the lower extension of said finger and adapted to cause said finger to assume said active, protruding orientation upon an activating force being applied to said rod in said leftward direction, said activating mechanism further adapted to move said carriage carrying said protruding finger from said home position to the right of said right side panel in a leftward direction, said protruding finger thereby engaging said first cassette to be withdrawn and transporting said cassette along said inclined back toward said left side of said cabinet to a position extending left of said left side wall sufficient for a user to manually withdraw said first cassette from said rack, said finger returning to said retracted, inactive orientation upon release of said activating force applied to said activating mechanism; and d) a restoring mechanism disposed within said cabinet and operatively connected to a right side of said carriage and adapted to exert a force opposing motion of said carriage in said leftward direction, and further adapted to exert a restoring force on said carriage, thereby moving said carriage in a rightward direction to said home position upon release of said activating force, and wherein said restoring mechanism comprises at least one component selected from the group: a counterweight, a pulley, a spring and a cable.