Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Access of multiple storage elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2002-03-19
Davis, David (Department: 2752)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Access of multiple storage elements
Reexamination Certificate
active
06359854
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disk reproducing apparatus and, more specifically, to a minidisk loading mechanism for a multiple disk reproducing apparatus capable of storing a plurality of minidisks, i.e., the so-called MDs, for continuous reproducing operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A disk reproducing apparatus, similarly to a disk recording apparatus, is provided with a multidisk loading mechanism capable of storing a plurality disks, of automatically taking out the disks in a predetermined order, of loading the disk into a reproducing unit, and of returning the disk from the reproducing unit to its storage position after the information recorded on the disk has been reproduced.
Since a multidisk loading mechanism designed specially for a minidisk reproducing apparatus has not generally been known, a CD apparatus, which is similar to a minidisk reproducing apparatus, will be described.
FIG. 38
shows a disk loading mechanism analogous with a known multidisk loading mechanism disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open (Kokai) No. 4-20674. Shown in
FIG. 38
are a frame
1
, a pivotal shaft
2
, a CD reproducing apparatus
3
, a plurality of CD holders
4
, a pivotal pin
5
, a recess
6
formed in each CD holder
4
.
The operation of the multidisk loading mechanism shown in
FIG. 38
will be described with reference to
FIGS. 39 and 40
. Each CD holder
4
having the shape of a case holds a CD (compact disk)
7
therein. The plurality of CD holders
4
are supported for turning relative to the frame
1
on the pivotal pin
5
. The frame
1
is able to turn on the pivotal shaft
2
. The frame
1
is turned on the pivotal shaft
2
in the direction of the arrow (
FIG. 39
) to take out the frame
1
holding the CD holders
4
from the CD reproducing apparatus
3
. In this state, the CDs
7
can be taken out from and put into the CD holders
4
.
When playing the CDs
7
, the frame
1
is turned to a loading position
26
(
FIG. 40
) outside the CD reproducing apparatus
3
as shown in
FIG. 39
, the CDs
7
are inserted in the CD holders
4
, respectively, and then the frame
1
is turned to a standby position
27
(
FIG. 40
) inside the CD reproducing apparatus
3
as shown in FIG.
38
. Then, a piece of music is specified by operating a selector key, not shown, to make a control circuit, not shown, select the specified piece of music. Then, the CD holder
4
holding the CD
7
storing the specified piece of music is turned on the pivotal pin
5
to a reproducing position
28
(FIG.
40
). During the operation of the CD reproducing apparatus
3
, all the CDs
7
are held at the standby position
27
inside the CD reproducing apparatus
3
and covered with the frame
1
to protect the CDs
7
from dust. In this state, however, the CDs
7
are hidden from view.
Referring to
FIG. 40
, a signal converting head (hereinafter referred to as “sensor”) for reading information from and writing information on the CDs
7
moves along an alternate long and short dash line. When the CD reproducing apparatus
3
is installed with a plane in which the CD holder
4
is moved in a vertical position, the sensor moves vertically. When the CD reproducing apparatus
3
is installed with the plane in which the CD holder
4
is moved in a horizontal position, the sensor moves horizontally. However, since the sensor is comparatively heavy, facility in moving the sensor affecting reproducing performance is greatly dependent on the position in which the CD reproducing apparatus
3
is installed. A minidisk reproducing apparatus is similar in construction as the CD reproducing apparatus
3
, except that the minidisk reproducing apparatus is constructed so as to use minidisks contained in cartridges.
The construction of a minidisk cartridge will be described to facilitate understanding the present invention.
FIG. 41
is a perspective view of the front side of a minidisk cartridge disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 4-278269, and
FIG. 42
is a perspective view of the back side of the same minidisk cartridge. Referring to
FIGS. 41 and 42
, a minidisk cartridge (hereinafter referred to simply as “cartridge”)
25
has a flat case
13
containing a disk
16
, a shutter
14
put on the case
13
for sliding movement in the direction of the arrow (
FIG. 41
) to open an opening through which access to the disk
16
can be gained, and a key
15
provided on the case
13
to lock the shutter
14
at the closed position. When one end of the key
15
disposed within a groove
17
formed in a side wall of the case
13
is depressed, the key
15
releases the shutter
14
to enable the shutter
14
to be moved in the direction of the arrow.
An opening
18
is formed in the central area of the back wall of the case
13
and a center plate
19
fastened to the disk
16
is exposed in the opening
18
. A plurality of holes
20
and recesses
22
for positioning the case
13
and transferring the cartridge
25
are formed in the back wall of the case
13
. A mark
21
indicating the direction of insertion of the cartridge
25
is formed near one side of the case
13
on the back surface of the case
13
. Corners at the opposite ends of the side near the mark
21
are rounded. The cartridge
25
is inserted in a reproducing apparatus, not shown, in the direction indicated by the mark
21
.
Referring to
FIG. 43
showing the back end surface
24
of the case
13
of the cartridge
25
, a label having the description of the contents, such as titles of pieces of music, name of data, title or the like, of the disk
16
contained in the case
13
is attached to the outer surface of the back end surface
24
of the case
13
. Since other side walls are used for functional purposes, the label
13
is not allowed to be attached to the side walls other than the back end surface
24
.
Referring to
FIGS. 44
,
45
and
46
showing a disk loading unit included in a CD reproducing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model 62-63853, there are shown a disk
7
, a magnetic turntable
62
on which the disk
7
is supported and held in place magnetically, a floating deck
60
supporting the turntable
62
for rotation, a base plate
59
, damping supports
64
supporting the floating deck
60
in a floating state on the base plate
59
, locking pins
65
projecting from the opposite sides of the front and back ends of the floating deck
60
, and locking plates
67
that engage the locking pins
65
to fix the floating deck
60
relative to the base plate
59
when mounting the disk
7
on the magnetic turntable
62
. A disk mounting mechanism, not shown, for mounting the disk
7
on the magnetic turntable
62
is disposed over the floating deck
60
lowers the disk
7
from a position at a height A toward the magnetic turntable
62
so that the disk mounting mechanism and the magnetic turntable
62
supported on the base plate
59
will not interfere with each other when the disk mounting mechanism locates the disk
7
above the magnetic turntable
62
.
Since the position of an optical pickup head, not shown, must precisely be controlled when reading information from the disk
7
with the optical pickup head, the floating deck
60
holding the optical pickup head and a disk driving motor, not shown, is supported in a floating state on the base plate
59
by the damping supports
64
to avoid the adverse influence of disturbing external vibrations on the reading operation of the optical pickup head. Therefore, when mounting the disk
7
on the magnetic turntable
62
, the locking plates
67
are brought into engagement with the locking pins
65
to lock the floating deck
60
holding the magnetic turntable
62
in place because the disk
7
cannot correctly be mounted on the magnetic turntable
62
if the turntable is unstable, and then the disk
7
is lowered toward and mounted on the magnetic turntable
62
. The disk mounting mechanism lowers the disk
7
from a position at the height A higher than a height B at which the disk
7
is seated on the magneti
Fujiwara Tatsunori
Itou Shigehiro
Nakanishi Yasuyuki
Oka Koutarou
Shirahata Kei
Davis David
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
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