Information processing apparatus

Claim 2

An information processing apparatus for performing a predetermined processing to the information recorded in a recording medium inserted into said apparatus, said apparatus including a plurality of storing positions capable of storing the recording medium and a holding member (3) movable between a processing position at which said predetermined processing is performed and positions opposed to each of said storing positions for holding the recording medium, said information processing apparatus comprising: first designating means for initially designating one of said plurality of storing positions to which the recording medium is to be stored; second designating means for independently designating one of said plurality of storage positions at which the inserted recording medium is to be located; and determining means for determining the position designated by said second designating means as a position at which the recording medium is to be located when such a position is available and said second designating means has designated a position other than the initial position of the first designating means.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing performed to the information is a reproducing operation of the recorded information.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: timer means for measuring a predetermined period of time in response to the designation by said first designating means; and inhibiting means for inhibiting an insertion of a recording medium into said apparatus in response to an absence of both the designation by said second designation means and the insertion of a recording medium during said predetermined period of time.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising processing means for performing said predetermined processing to a predetermined recording medium having been inserted into said apparatus in response to the inhibition by said inhibiting means.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined recording medium is the one which has been initially inserted.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined recording medium is the one which has been lastly inserted.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second designating means designates one of positions selected from a group comprising said plurality of storing positions and said processing position.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of storing positions is arranged in a row along a vertical direction.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: first indicating means for indicating a presence of a recording medium in each of said plurality of storing positions; and second indicating means for indicating a designation of said processing position by said second designating means.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first indicating means comprises a plurality of LED indicators respectively corresponding to each of said plurality of storing positions.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising indication controlling means for controlling the indication of said first indicating means so as to be turned off in response to the designation of said processing position by said second designating means.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising member moving means for moving said holding member to a position at which said holding member receives a recording medium inserted into said apparatus when a position other than said processing position is designated by said second designating means.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising ejecting means for ejecting the recording medium held in said holding member under the condition that said processing position has been designated by said second designating means.

Claim 15

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information in a recording medium inserted in said apparatus comprising: storing means including a plurality of storing positions arranged in a row along a vertical direction for storing the recording medium; holding means movable between a reproduction position at which the information in the recording medium is to be reproduced and positions opposed to each of said storing positions for holding the recording mediums inserted into said apparatus; first designating means for designating one of said positions to which the recording medium is to be stored; second designating means for designating a position at which the inserted recording medium is to be located, said position designated by said second designating means being selected from a group comprising said reproducing position and said plurality of storing positions; and determining means for determining the position designated by said second designating means as a position at which the recording medium is to be located when said first and second designating means designate different positions.

Claim 16

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information in a recording medium inserted in said apparatus comprising: storing means including a plurality of storing positions arranged in a row along a vertical direction for storing the recording medium; holding means movable between a reproduction position at which the information in the recording medium is to be reproduced and positions opposed to each of said storing positions for holding the recording mediums inserted into said apparatus; first designating means for designating one of said positions to which the recording medium is to be stored; second designating means for designating a position at which the inserted recording medium is to be located, said position designated by said second designating means being selected from a group comprising said reproducing position and said plurality of storing positions; and determining means for determining the position designated by said second designating means as a position at which the recording medium is to be located when said first and second designating means designate different positions.

Claim 17

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information in a recording medium inserted in said apparatus, comprising: a housing having an opening for receiving recording media; storing means for storing a plurality of recording media at discrete positions within the apparatus; means for reading information on a recording medium; means for translating a recording medium to and from the storage means and also for positioning the recording medium on the reading means; and control means for designating one of the plurality of discrete positions of the storing means for storing the recording medium in a first mode of operation and designating the translating means for storing the recording medium in a second mode of operation, the second mode of operation being automatically selected when the plurality of discrete positions are full.

Claim 18

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information in a recording medium inserted in said apparatus, comprising: a housing having an opening for receiving recording media; storing means for storing a plurality of recording media at discrete positions within the apparatus; means for reading information on a recording medium; means for translating a recording medium to and from the storage means and also for positioning the recording medium on the reading means; and control means for designating one of the plurality of discrete positions of the storing means for storing the recording medium in a first mode of operation and designating the translating means for storing the recording medium in a second mode of operation, the second mode of operation being automatically selected when the plurality of discrete positions are full.

Claim 19

An information reproducing apparatus for receiving a plurality of recording medium and reproducing information therein comprising: a housing having an aperture for receiving and dispensing said plurality of recording medium one at a time; an array of storage positions disposed within said housing for storing said plurality of said recording mediums; means for reading the information on one of said recording medium spaced from said array of storage positions; means for moving said recording medium from said means for reading said recording medium to said array of storage positions and said aperture; control means for automatically identifying which storage positions within said array in a predetermined sequence is to receive said recording medium based on the availability of said storage position; and means for overriding said control means and independently designating which storage position within said array is to receive said recording medium.

Claim 20

An information reproducing apparatus for receiving a plurality of recording medium and reproducing information therein comprising: a housing having an aperture for receiving and dispensing said plurality of recording medium one at a time; an array of storage positions disposed within said housing for storing said plurality of said recording mediums; means for reading the information on one of said recording medium spaced from said array of storage positions; means for moving said recording medium from said means for reading said recording medium to said array of storage positions and said aperture; control means for automatically identifying which storage positions within said array in a predetermined sequence is to receive said recording medium based on the availability of said storage position; and means for overriding said control means and independently designating which storage position within said array is to receive said recording medium.

Claim 21

An apparatus as recited in claim 16 further comprising a door covering said aperture, and means for locking said door in a closed position whenever said means for shuttling said recording medium is not aligned with said aperture to receive a storage medium therein.

Claim 22

An apparatus as recited in claim 16 further comprising a means to move said recording medium directly between said aperture and said means for reading said information, and from said means for reading said information to said aperture whereby said storage positions are bypassed.

Claim 23

An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the means for overriding the control means is a user supplied input, said apparatus further comprising means for signalling said user when said user supplied input corresponds to an occupied storage position.

Claim 24

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein said control means controls the positioning of the recording medium within the array of storage positions if a predetermined time expires after said user supplied input corresponds to an occupied storage position.

Claim 25

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information stored in a recording medium inserted in said apparatus comprising: a housing having an aperture for receiving a plurality of said recording medium; an array of storage positions disposed within said housing for storing said plurality of recording mediums; means for reproducing the information stored in one of said recording mediums, said reproducing means spaced from said plurality of storage positions and said aperture; means for transporting said recording medium between said aperture, said plurality of storage positions, and said means for reproducing information; first means for determining the presence of a recording medium in said plurality of storage positions; means for automatically designating one of said plurality of storage positions to receive a recording medium inserted in said housing in accordance with a predetermined sequence and a determination by said first means that a storage position is unoccupied; timer means for measuring a predetermined time started by the completion of the means for automatically designating one of said storage positions; user means for independently designating one of said plurality of storage positions to receive said recording medium; and second means for determining whether said user means has designated a storage position which is different from said automatic designating means within said predetermined time, said storage position is designated for receiving said recording medium when said user means designates an unoccupied storage position within said predetermined time.

Claim 26

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information stored in a recording medium inserted in said apparatus comprising: a housing having an aperture for receiving a plurality of said recording medium; an array of storage positions disposed within said housing for storing said plurality of recording mediums; means for reproducing the information stored in one of said recording mediums, said reproducing means spaced from said plurality of storage positions and said aperture; means for transporting said recording medium between said aperture, said plurality of storage positions, and said means for reproducing information; first means for determining the presence of a recording medium in said plurality of storage positions; means for automatically designating one of said plurality of storage positions to receive a recording medium inserted in said housing in accordance with a predetermined sequence and a determination by said first means that a storage position is unoccupied; timer means for measuring a predetermined time started by the completion of the means for automatically designating one of said storage positions; user means for independently designating one of said plurality of storage positions to receive said recording medium; and second means for determining whether said user means has designated a storage position which is different from said automatic designating means within said predetermined time, said storage position is designated for receiving said recording medium when said user means designates an unoccupied storage position within said predetermined time.