Cassette autoloader

In an apparatus for storing and automatically delivering cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader, comprising:

• storage and delivery means defining a plurality of cassette retaining sites, a read access site, and a body encasing said storage and delivery means, said body having a portal adjoining said cassette retaining sites for allowing cassettes to be placed on or removed from the storage and delivery means, the improvement comprising:
• indicia means adjacent said portal for identifying the cassette retaining sites, and a guard bar placed across the read access site, said bar being constructed and positioned to prevent accidental removal of a cassette from said read access site.

In an apparatus for storing and automatically delivering cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader from a read access site, comprising:

• storage and delivery means defining a plurality of cassette retaining sites, and a body encasing said storage and delivery means, said body having a portal adjoining said cassette sites for allowing cassettes to be placed on or removed from the storage and delivery means, the improvement comprising:
• indicia means adjacent said portal for identifying the cassette retaining sites, and a guard bar across said read access site, said guide bar being provided with a guide means for alignment with guide means provided on a cassette and/or pallet containing a cassette designed for placement in the cassette retaining sites.

In an apparatus for storing and automatically delivering cassette and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader, comprising:

• first and second conveyors, said conveyors having a first endless cog belt and a second endless cog belt, respectively, said cog belts being spaced apart, said cog belts each having a plurality of outwardly extending shelves in vertical alignment so as to define a cassette read access site and a plurality of cassette retaining sites, means for driving conveyors in unison to transfer cassettes loaded in said retaining sites serially through said read access site, and a body encasing said conveyors, said body having a portal adjoining said cassette retaining sites for allowing cassettes to be placed on or removed from the shelves of the cog belts, the improvement comprising:
• indicia means adjacent said portal for identifying cassette loading sites.

In an apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising means for minimizing transmitting shock vibrations to the adjacent reader from cassettes striking the guide panels.

In an apparatus for storing and automatically delivering cassette and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader, comprising:

• first and second conveyors, said conveyors having a first endless cog belt and a second endless cog belt, respectively, said cog belts being spaced apart, said cog belts each having a plurality of outwardly extending shelves, said conveyors each having a pair of cogwheels, each said pair of cogwheels receiving a respective said cog belt, said cog belts each having a utilization segment and a return segment, said shelves of said utilization segment of said first cog belt facing and being in vertical alignment with corresponding shelves of said utilization segment of said second cog belt, the aligned shelves defining a cassette read access site and a plurality of cassette retaining sites, a positive drive operatively connected to both said conveyors to drive said conveyors in unison to transfer cassettes loaded in said loading sites serially through said retaining sites and said read access site, and a body encasing said conveyors, said body having a portal adjoining said cassette sites;
• guide means secured to said body adjacent said portal, said guide means having indicia means for identifying said loading sites for receiving said cassettes.