Optical disc cartridge handling apparatus with removable magazine

An optical disc cartridge handling apparatus for storing, handling, reading and writing of optical discs stored in cartridges which store data, comprising:

• (a) a cartridge magazine removable from the apparatus for loading and unloading the cartridges in the apparatus, the magazine having slots therein for storing the cartridges, cartridge magazine alignment means to index and guide the magazine into and out of the apparatus and magazine cartridge retainer means to releasably hold the cartridges in the magazine;
• (b) a flipper mechanism adapted to receive one of the cartridges from both the magazine and an optical disc drive with a cartridge slot, wherein the flipper mechanism comprises:
• (i) a pair of opposing plates for receiving and holding one of the cartridges in a sandwich-like manner to permit inversion and location of the cartridge;
• (ii) a driven pulley connected to the plates for rotating the plates about a common center line for inverting the cartridge;
• and
• (iii) a flipper alignment and sopping mechanism for stopping and aligning the flipper in front of the appropriate slot of the magazine or the optical disc drive slot, comprising diametrically opposed detents on the pulley and a pivotally mounted and biased alignment breaking bar with a roller indexable within the detents;
• (c) a picker mechanism comprised of a cartridge pusher and picker mounted along and adjacent the flipper mechanism for moving the cartridge into and out of the flipper mechanism from both the magazine and the optical disc drive cartridge slot;
• and
• (d) a traverse mechanism for supporting and moving the flipper mechanism along an axis of motion to locate the flipper mechanism adjacent both the magazine and the optical disc drive.