Patent ID: 6757130
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A recording medium exchanging-type recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising:two longitudinal first and second magazines, said magazines each having a plurality of storing members arranged in a linear form for storing recording media capable of recording and reproducing information, each recording medium having a substantially rectangular plate shape with a width in a first direction, a length in a second direction crossing at a right angle with the first direction, and a thickness in a third direction crossing at a right angle to the first and second directions, the width in the first direction being larger than the length in the second direction, and each recording medium being capable of being recognized in an attitude specified by orientations in two directions crossing at a right angle to each other in such a way that the recording medium can be inserted or taken out of said first and second magazines; a recording and reproducing mechanism having an installing part where said recording medium is installed and for performing a recording and/or reproducing against said recording medium under a state in which said recording medium is installed at said installing part; a moving mechanism having a holding part for holding the recording medium and for moving said recording medium between each of said storing members and the recording and reproducing mechanism; and a delivering mechanism for delivering said recording medium between each of said storing members and said holding part, wherein: said first and second magazines are oppositely arranged in such a way that their longitudinal directions are in parallel to each other and the storing members are arranged to store the recording media with the thickness thereof in the longitudinal direction of the respective first and second magazines and the width thereof perpendicular to a direction of movement of the recording media between the storing members and the holding part; a transferring space extending along the longitudinal directions of these first and second magazines is arranged between said first and second magazines; a moving action of said recording medium with said holding part is carried out in said transferring space; an attitude of said recording media stored in said first and second magazines and an attitude of said recording medium held at said holding part are the same to each other; and said recording medium is installed at said installing part while keeping an attitude in which said recording medium is held at said holding part and moved in said transferring space.