Rigid disc handling device and method

Apparatus for stacking magnetic discs having a central aperture, said apparatus comprising:

• a hollow elongate member having at least two elongate axial recesses terminating in openings at both ends of the recesses, the outer surface of the elongate member having dimensions slightly less than the inner dimensions of the central apertures of the discs;
• a least two endless loops supported proximate the openings so that the loops traverse the respective cutout portions of the elongate member, each said loop having a plurality of spaced nibs projecting outwardly beyond the outer surface of the elongate member;
• a drive element located within the elongate member and attached to each of the loops;
• a first position sensor which senses the presence or absence of a disc at one end of the elongate member in contact with the initial exposed nibs of the loops;
• means for placing the loops in a loading mode or an unloading mode;
• and
• means for automatically moving the drive element axially within the elongate member so that the loops move in steps equal to the distance between the nibs on the loops responsively to the first position sensor, said moving means being actuated in the loading mode when the first position sensor senses the presence of a disc, and in the unloading mode when the first position sensor senses the absence of a disc.

Apparatus for stacking magnetic discs having a round central aperture, said apparatus comprising:

• a hollow vertical cylindrical member having four orthogonally disposed elongate axial recesses with a "T" shaped cross-section terminating in openings at both ends of the recesses, the outer surface of the cylindrical member having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the central apertures of the discs;
• four sets of paired pulleys located at the respective openings of the respective recesses;
• four endless chains mounted on the pulleys so that the chains traverse the respective recesses and return within the cylindrical member, each chain including a central continuous member and a plurality of equally spaced cruciform nib structures each containing four orthogonally disposed nibs so that three of the nibs of each nib structure ride in the associated recess and orient the chain so that the fourth nib of each nib structure projects outwardly beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical member;
• a nonrotatable drive nut located within the cylindrical member and attached to each of the chains;
• a lead screw engaging the drive nut so that rotation of the lead screw moves the drive nut axially within the cylindrical member to move the chains in unison;
• means for placing the chains in a loading mode or an unloading mode;
• a first position sensor which senses the presence or absence of a disc on one end of the cylindrical member in contact with the initial exposed nibs of the chains;
• and
• means for rotating the lead screw to move the chains a distance equal to one interval of the nibs on the chain when the sensor senses the presence of a disc in the loading mode, and when the sensor senses absence of a disc in the unloading mode, so that discs can be loaded or unloaded by placing discs on or taking discs off the cylindrical member, and spacing is automatically maintained between discs so that their surfaces are not damaged.