Patent ID: 6094322
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An apparatus for automatically exchanging a number of record medium cassettes comprising:a plurality of cassette exchange units, each of the cassette exchange units including:a cassette storing means for storing a plurality of record medium cassettes,a recording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing information on and from said plurality of record medium cassettes,a first cassette transporting means for transporting the record medium cassettes vertically and horizontally between the cassette storing means and the recording and reproducing means, said first cassette transporting means including a cassette hand over mechanism which is moved vertically as well as horizontally in a reciprocal manner and which can hold at least one of said plurality of record medium cassettes, said cassette hand over mechanism includes structure for holding at least two of said plurality of record medium cassettes simultaneously and dispensing the at least two cassettes of said plurality of record medium cassettes one by one;a second cassette transporting means provided between said plurality of cassette exchange units for transporting record medium cassettes between said cassette exchange units, said second cassette transporting means having one end arranged within a housing of a first exchange unit and a second end arranged within a housing of a second exchange unit which is adjacent the first exchange unit; anda controlling means for controlling said cassette storing means, said recording and reproducing means and said first and second cassette transporting means.