Importance

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Abstract

A fully automatic microcomputer-controlled tape cartridge handling system. As illustrated here, it has a high degree of redundancy providing maximum reliability in radio broadcasting service and other applications. It comprises two storage drums, four stacks of playback transducers, two cartridge transfer mechanisms, a loading chute, and an unloading chute. Each drum has a cylindrical configuration with 512 cartridge storage compartments arranged in 16 vertical columns around its circumference and 32 horizontal rows along its axis. Two transducer stacks and one transfer mechanism are on each side of the pair of drums. Each transfer mechanism is positioned adjacent both drums and positioned adjacent two of the transducer stacks, one of the transfer mechanisms also being adjacent the loading and unloading chutes. Each transfer mechanism has a cage which is selectively rotatably swingable to positions aligned with either drum or either adjacent transducer. Additionally, the transfer mechanism which is adjacent the loading and unloading chutes is selectively swingable to a position aligned with them. A cartridge holding platform on the cage is vertically moveable to various valid, discrete operative positions. The drums are rotatable, the transfer mechanisms are swingable, and the cartridge holding platforms are moveable by motors controlled by a microcomputer which reads and identifies each cartridge as it enters the system and monitors it at every position as it moves through the system. The system is fool-proof and vandal-free because it is completely sealed. Cartridges can be inserted only through the loading chute, and removed only from the unloading chute, through automatic sequences controlled completely by the microcomputer operating from a predetermined program.

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First Claim