System for enabling stacking of autochanger modules

An autochanger stack, comprising:

• a plurality of autochanger modules;
• means for conveying command and status information between said plurality of autochanger modules;
• means for supplying a unique bus address to each of said plurality of autochanger modules in said autochanger stack;
• and
• means for supplying electrical power to said means for supplying a unique bus address independent of said plurality of autochanger modules.

A method of automatically creating a unique bus address in an autochanger in an autochanger stack, comprising:

• connecting an automatic addressing circuit to said autochanger in said autochanger stack;
• and
• providing electrical power to said automatic addressing circuit independent of said plurality of autochangers, said automatic addressing circuit:
• determining whether a unique bus address was supplied by a previous autochanger in said autochanger stack,
• if said unique bus address was not supplied, setting said unique bus address to a default value,
• passing said unique bus address to at least one device in said autochanger,
• creating a next unique bus address from said unique bus address, and
• passing said next unique bus address to a next autochanger in said autochanger stack.