Apparatus for optical disc storage of optical discs and selective access and/or retrieval thereof via pneumatic control

An apparatus for storing and reading a plurality of information discs, comprising:

• a circular storage magazine for storing a plurality of said information discs, said storage magazine including a plurality of radially disposed tracks, each of which stores one information disc and each of which has a first and a second stable position in which a vertically oriented information disc rests on edge under the influence of gravity, each of said tracks having separating means between said first position and said second position such that said information disc are prevented from rolling to another position on said track under the influence of gravity, said first position comprising a storage location and said second position comprising an information disc pick-up position;
• pneumatic means for blowing a selected information disc from said first position to said second position using pressurized air along air channels disposed in each of said tracks such that said information disc is accessed by one of a plurality of read-head means and for blowing said selected information disc from said second position to said first position subsequent to said accessing of said information disc;
• means for positioning said pneumatic means at the location of a track storing said selected information disc, said positioning means being coupled to said pneumatic means, wherein said read-head means is mounted on said positioning means;
• means for triggering said pneumatic means at said first position or said second position;
• means for engaging said selected information disc at said second position and for lifting said information disc to a third position clear of the track in which said information disc rests;
• and
• a spindle motor for spinning said information disc in said third position such that said information disc is accessed by said read-head means for writing data thereon or reading data therefrom.