Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Specific detail of storage medium support or motion production
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-27
2001-11-27
Ometz, David L. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Specific detail of storage medium support or motion production
C369S270100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324154
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatus capable of accepting a plurality of cartridges each containing a recording medium in the form of disc, wherein there is a compact automatic disc-changing apparatus capable of freely changing the cartridge that is loaded onto the turntable.
The present invention further relates to a recording and reproducing apparatus using an audio, video or other recording medium in the form of disc, wherein there is a disc-chucking apparatus for holding the disc stationary in the recording and reproducing apparatus.
The present invention further relates a position-detecting apparatus applied to sensing the operating mode of the mechanism in a recording and reproducing apparatus for audio or video discs, video tape, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 88
is a conceptual diagram showing the structure and operation of a conventional automatic disc-changing apparatus as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Kokal Publication 36365/1984 (Showa 59-36365). The significance of the symbols used in
FIG. 88
is as given in FIG.
98
.
In
FIG. 98
, “fixed” refers to a state in which two members do not move with relation each other, “engaged” refers to a state in which two members are mounted with an interrelationship between them (the two members are not fixed), “immovable” refers to a state in which the member is fixed with respect to chassis; and “butt contact” refers to a state in which the end of one member is touching against another member.
As is shown in
FIG. 88
, a conventional automatic disc-changing apparatus has as its principle constituents a player
1
supported on a chassis
5
; a magazine rack
3
that accommodates compact discs resting on support pans
28
; an elevator
2
that is capable of vertical travel along guide rails
14
a
,
14
b
and
14
c
and accommodates the magazine rack
3
; and a carrier
4
mounted at the rear place of the player
1
and the elevator
2
(the upper left-hand portion in
FIG. 88
) but in this figure shown in the upper portion and causing movement of the compact discs in the magazine rack
3
, together with support pan
28
.
The apparatus shown in
FIG. 88
moves in the following manner. The user first places compact discs on a plurality of support pans
28
(of which only one is shown in the figure), inserts the support pans
28
into a shelf-like structure
27
in the magazine rack
3
, and inserts the magazine rack
3
into the elevator
2
.
Then, by causing a rotating shaft
57
of a motor
56
to rotate, rollers
54
and
55
, over which a belt
58
has been passed, also rotate, thereby rotating screw rods
52
and
53
which are fixed to them, and raising an elevating frame
8
which has threaded holes
50
and
51
, into which the rods
52
and
53
screw. At this time the upper edge
8
a
of the elevating frame
8
makes butt contact with an arm
9
a
supporting a pressure ring
9
, causing the pressure ring
9
to move upward. Simultaneously with this action, the elevator
2
is caused to ascend or descend by a winder
15
, which is driven by the rotation of a motor
15
a
, by means of which a suspension cord
18
, from which the elevator
2
is suspended by a suspension ring
17
, is wound in or out, thereby transporting the support pan
28
carrying the desired compact disc to above the player
1
.
Next a solenoid
36
is activated, moving an actuator plate
34
towards the elevator
2
(toward the lower right in the figure) against the compressive force of a tension spring
35
. If a rotating shaft
48
of a motor
47
is rotated under these conditions, pulleys
45
and
46
, over which a belt
49
has been passed. rotates, thereby transmitting driving power to drive wheels
43
and
44
by means of idlers
41
and
42
, which provides a pressure contact with the pulleys
45
and
46
. The support pan
28
is brought into pressure contact to the drive wheels
43
and
44
and is moved from the magazine rack
2
to the elevating frame
8
of the player
1
. In the elevating frame
8
, the support pan
28
is transported along guide grooves
11
and
12
, after which the motor
56
is activated lowering the elevating frame
8
and placing the compact disc on turntable
6
. At this time the pressure ring
9
is also lowered, holding the compact disc on top of turntable
6
. Optical pickup
7
is then moved to the player
1
, upon which the compact disc rests, where it reads information from the disc and sends the information read to the reproducing circuit (not shown).
After completion of the performance, the motor
56
is activated raising the elevating frame
8
and the pressure ring
9
, and the carrier
4
is activated to return the support pan
28
to its previous location in the magazine
3
.
Again,
FIG. 89
is a vertical cross-sectional diagram showing a conventional disc-chucking apparatus as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Kokai Publication No. 193560/1986 (Showa 61-193560).
FIG. 90
is a vertical cross-sectional diagram showing this conventional disc-chucking apparatus with a disc resting thereon, in which a reference numeral
1021
designates the base of the apparatus;
1022
a spindle fixed to the base
1021
;
1023
a disc that is the medium for recording a video, audio or other signal and has at its center a clamping plate
1042
formed from a soft magnetic material;
1031
a cartridge accommodating a disc
1023
;
1024
a support piece, which positions the disc
1023
in the vertical direction;
1025
a centering piece that acts to position the disc
1023
in the radial direction;
1026
a guide piece having an inclined portion for guiding the centering piece
1025
when the disc
1023
is to be loaded into the apparatus;
1027
a chucking magnet, having either the single magnetic domain structure shown in
FIG. 91
or the striped magnetic domain structure shown in
FIG. 92
, for attracting the disc
1023
into intimate contact with the support piece
1024
;
1028
a turntable comprising the support piece
1024
, the centering piece
1025
, the guide piece
1026
and the chucking magnet
1027
;
1029
a bearing supporting turntable
1028
in its rotation around spindle
1022
; and
1030
a motor to drive the turntable
1028
in its rotation.
The motor
1030
is held stationary on the base
1021
and is provided with a core
1062
wound with a coil that is not shown, a rotor
1063
that rotates together with turntable
1028
, and a magnet
1064
fixed to the rotor
1063
.
FIG. 93
is a conceptual diagram showing one example of a disc loading and unloading apparatus for a recording and reproducing apparatus using a disc-chucking apparatus, in which a reference numeral
1032
designates a holder holding the cartridge
1031
;
1033
a pivot constituting the center of rotation of the holder
1032
;
1034
a spring to make the holder
1032
rotate in the clockwise direction;
1035
a engagement portion provided on the holder
1032
;
1036
a hook;
1037
a pivot constituting the center of rotation of the hook
1036
;
1038
a spring to apply pressure to rotate the hook
1036
in the counterclockwise direction;
1039
a positioning pin to act as a positioning member for the cartridge
1031
;
1040
a holding member to press and hold the cartridge
1031
provided on the holder
1032
against the recording and reproducing apparatus;
1041
a spring for the same; and
1043
a disc loading apparatus comprising the components listed above.
Following is a description of the operation. The disc
1023
is loaded into the recording and reproducing apparatus by disc loading apparatus
1043
. Referring to
FIG. 93
, if the cartridge
1031
is inserted in the holder
1032
and the holder
1032
is pressed downwards, the hook
1036
is engaged with engagement portion
1035
of the holder
1032
, keeping it stationary with respect to the recording and reproducing apparatus. Meanwhile the cartridge
1031
is pressed and held against the positioning piece
1039
of the base
1021
by the pressure piece
1040
. At this time, the disc
Kakuta Yoshinori
Nakagawa Kunihiko
Sakuta Akira
Tomita Masami
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Ometz David L.
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