Device for storing and retrieving cassettes

A device for storing, retrieving, processing and returning cassettes of the type having a disk therein adapted to have recorded information on opposite sides thereof, comprising:

• a base plate;
• a semicylindrical casing disposed on said base plate and comprised of a plurality of vertically stacked sector-shaped sections having a common vertical axis, each of said sections being provided with a plurality of cassette storage compartments for storing a plurality of radially disposed cassettes with each cassette disposed in a vertical plane extending radially from said vertical axis;
• guide means comprising a support member pivotally mounted on said base plate for rotation about a vertical axis corresponding to the vertical axis of said sectors and a pair of parallel, spaced apart guide rails extending vertically upwardly from said support means;
• a first driving means for rotating said support member about said vertical axis to any desired angle;
• carrier means including a main body mounted on said guide rails for movement therealong,
• a gripper assembly rotatably mounted on said main body including a cassette gripping device movably mounted in said gripper assembly for holding one of said cassettes;
• a second driving means for moving said main body of said carrier means in the vertical direction along said guide rails;
• a third driving means for moving said cassette gripping device relative to said gripper assembly;
• a fourth driving means for rotating said gripper assembly about a horizontal axis relative to said main body during transfer of said carrier means to a loading position for rotating a selected cassette between a vertical and a horizontal disposition;
• processing means for receiving a horizontally disposed cassette transferred by said carrier means to record or play back information from one side of a disk in the cassette;
• and
• central control means for controlling said first, second, third and fourth driving means in the proper sequence.