Media cartridge autoloader

A media cartridge picker for moving a media cartridge between two or more of a mail slot, a media drive, and a cartridge storage section included in a media cartridge autoloader, the media cartridge picker comprising:

• a turntable capable of supporting the media cartridge, the turntable rotating to change the orientation of the media cartridge supported thereby;
• a turntable rotating mechanism for rotating the turntable;
• a media cartridge transport mechanism that transports the media cartridge onto and off of the turntable;
• and
• a media cartridge ejection detecting mechanism provided in a position opposing the media drive;
• wherein the media cartridge ejection detecting mechanism includes a switching member to which a pressing force is applied by the media cartridge ejected from the media drive.

A media cartridge autoloader for use with a media cartridge, the media cartridge autoloader comprising:

• a mail slot;
• a media cartridge storage section;
• a media drive into which the media cartridge is loaded;
• and
• a media cartridge picker for moving the media cartridge between two or more of the mail slot, the media drive and the cartridge storage section, the media cartridge picker including (i) a turntable that supports the media cartridge and rotates to change the orientation of the media cartridge, (ii) a turntable rotating mechanism that rotates the turntable, (iii) a media cartridge transport mechanism that moves the media cartridge onto and off of the turntable, and (iv) a media cartridge ejection detecting mechanism that is contacted by the media cartridge upon ejection of the media cartridge from the media drive.

A media cartridge picker for moving a media cartridge between two or more of a mail slot, a media drive, and a cartridge storage section included in a media cartridge autoloader, the media cartridge picker comprising:

• a turntable that supports the media cartridge and rotates to change the orientation of the media cartridge;
• a turntable rotating mechanism that rotates the turntable;
• a media cartridge transport mechanism that moves the media cartridge onto and off of the turntable, and
• a media cartridge ejection detecting mechanism that is contacted by the media cartridge upon ejection of the media cartridge from the media drive.

A method of transporting a media cartridge between two or more of a mail slot, a media drive, and a cartridge storage section included in a media cartridge autoloader by operating a media cartridge picker included in the media cartridge autoloader, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the media cartridge onto a turntable;
• rotating the turntable;
• moving the media cartridge off of the turntable;
• loading the media cartridge into the media drive;
• ejecting the media cartridge from the media drive;
• and
• detecting ejection of the media cartridge from the media drive with a media cartridge ejection detecting mechanism.