Apparatus for storing data carriers with automatic access to the individual data carriers

Apparatus for storing data carriers (34) with automatic access to the individual data carriers (34), having at least one storing apparatus for keeping the data carriers, a reading-writing station (106, 206) for the data carriers (34) and a gripping and transferring apparatus (92, 192) to transfer each data carrier individually between the storing apparatus and the reading-writing station (106) or vice versa, each storing apparatus comprising a number of carrier platters (22) stacked one above the other and rotatably mounted, which are rotatable individually between a waiting position and access positions by means of a driving apparatus, each carrier platter (22) having a number of depository zones (32) for the data carriers (34) and at least one opening (28), which are arranged on a concentric circular line, the respective openings (28) of the individual carrier platters (22) being arranged such that they form in the waiting position of all the carrier platters (22) a cylindrical shaft (30) extending over an entire height of the storing apparatus, through which shaft the carrier platters (22) are accessible by the gripping and transferring apparatus (92, 192) wherein the individual depository zones (32) of each carrier platter (22) are closed radially towards an outer edge of the carrier platter (22) and wherein each carrier platter (22) is assigned a separate driving apparatus, which interacts with the outer edge of each carrier platter (22) and with which the individual carrier platters (22) are rotatable about a central carrier column (26), and in that the gripping and transferring apparatus (92, 192) has a rotatable vertical rail (94, 194), with a carriage (98) which can be moved up and down along the rail (94, 194) and a gripping arm (102, 202), which extends from the carriage (98) vertically into the shaft (30) of a disc store and with which the data carriers (34) can be individually lifted out through the shaft (30) or deposited in the shaft (30) onto one of the depository zones (32).