A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette except when rotated off the discs.

Apparatus for data storage in a cartridge library archival system. In some embodiments, a plurality of portable data storage cartridges are provided. Each cartridge has a sealed housing which encloses at least one head-disc interface (HDI) with a magnetic data transducer adjacent a rotatable data recording medium. An access station has control electronics configured to transfer data signals between a memory and the transducer of a selected cartridge loaded to the access station. The access station further has an external voice coil motor (VCM) configured to engage and advance the transducer of the selected cartridge across a recording surface of the medium. A transport mechanism can be used to automatically load the cartridges to the access station. Multiple cartridges can be loaded sequentially or concurrently to support various data transfer operations.

A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. The disc cassette further includes a bottom side including track connectors configured to position the disc cassette relative to one or more track portions that hold the disc cassette in place. The disc cassette is slideable along the one or more track portions.

An information reproduction apparatus includes plural magazines in which optical discs are set, plural drives for performing recording and reproduction on an optical disc set therein, a changer mechanism that transports a magazine between its setting position and one or more drives and mounts and remove a prescribed optical disc or discs in and from the one or more drives by performing either one of a single move process and a multi-move process, and a controller. The controller judges whether to conduct the single move process or the multi-move process based on a reading data list and use statuses of the respective drives.

A data storage cartridge according to one embodiment comprises a housing configured to house a data storage medium, a sensor coupled to the housing, and a microcontroller coupled to the sensor. The microcontroller is configured to wirelessly communicate information about the sensor. Other embodiments relate to a data storage cartridge comprising a housing configured to house a data storage medium, a cartridge memory coupled to the housing, the cartridge memory having a wireless communications interface, and a microcontroller in physical communication with the cartridge memory. The microcontroller is configured to wirelessly communicate information retrieved from the cartridge memory. Additional embodiments relate to a data storage cartridge comprising a mechanical write protect mechanism coupled to the housing of the data storage cartridge, an actuator coupled to the mechanical write protect mechanism for selectively changing a state of the mechanical write protect mechanism, and a microcontroller configured to control the actuator.

A disc storage apparatus includes: a case including an opening on an upper surface of the case and capable of storing N rows of stacked M disc-shaped recording media (N and M each indicate a positive integer of two or greater); a tray cover configured to slide from a rear end of the case and cover the opening; and a locking mechanism configured to lock a state of the opening being covered.

An optical disc apparatus includes: a controller configured to acquire information of an access result and access positions on an optical disc when an optical disc drive unit configured to optically access an optical disc optically accesses the optical disc; and a storage configured to store the information acquired by the controller.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cassette shutter in which the durability of a curved shutter for opening and closing a medium entrance of a cassette is improved, and assembly of parts is simple. In the present invention for achieving said objective, a cassette shutter, which is slidably disposed on front and bottom surfaces of a cassette storing a paper medium therein and opens and closes an entrance formed in the front surface of the cassette, is configured to include: a plurality of pieces arranged longitudinally and a fastening pin that passes through and thereby fastens a lower portion of an upper-side piece and an upper portion of a lower-side piece so as to enable relative rotation of the plurality of pieces.

An information reproduction apparatus includes plural magazines in which optical discs are set, plural drives for performing recording and reproduction on an optical disc set therein, a changer mechanism that transports a magazine between its setting position and one or more drives and mounts and remove a prescribed optical disc or discs in and from the one or more drives by performing either one of a single move process and a multi-move process, and a controller. The controller judges whether to conduct the single move process or the multi-move process based on a reading data list and use statuses of the respective drives.

A conveyance robot apparatus includes modules positioned in a row; a robot for conveying each of the modules and loading and unloading a magazine tray from one of the modules; a pinion mounted on the robot; racks that are slidably supported on the modules and can mesh with the pinion; and a rack connecting mechanism for connecting adjacent racks to each other.