Technique for eliminating end-of-travel dead space in media autochangers

A method of eliminating end-of-travel dead space in a media autochanger of the type wherein a traveling assembly is cooperatively operable with a normally stationary assembly to provide picker access to media units stored in a magazine, the method comprising the steps of:

• disposing a motion reversal assembly in an end portion of an excursion path of the traveling assembly;
• causing the traveling assembly to travel into the end portion of the excursion path so that it engages the motion reversal assembly;
• and
• responsive to the traveling assembly's engagement with the motion reversal assembly, moving the normally stationary assembly from a rest position in a direction opposite to that of the traveling assembly's movement.

A magazine movement system for eliminating end-of-travel dead space in a media autochanger, comprising:

• a magazine assembly biased toward a rest position and operable to store a plurality of media units accessible by a picker assembly that moves along an excursion path;
• and
• a motion reversal assembly having a first point coupled to the magazine assembly and a second point disposed to engage the picker assembly when it enters an end portion of the excursion path;
• the motion reversal assembly operable, when engaged and moved by the picker assembly, to move the magazine assembly away from the rest position in the direction opposite to that of the picker assembly's movement.

A picker movement system for eliminating end-of-travel dead space in a media autochanger, comprising:

• a picker assembly biased toward a rest position and operable to access a plurality of media units mounted in a magazine assembly that moves along an excursion path;
• and
• a motion reversal assembly having a first point coupled to the picker assembly and a second point disposed to engage the magazine assembly when it enters an end portion of the excursion path;
• the motion reversal assembly operable, when engaged and moved by the magazine assembly, to move the picker assembly away from the rest position in the direction opposite to that of the magazine assembly's movement.