Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Information location or remote operator actuated control – Selective addressing of storage medium
Utility Patent
1999-06-28
2001-01-02
Ometz, David L. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Information location or remote operator actuated control
Selective addressing of storage medium
Utility Patent
active
06169713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to automatic disc changers; particularly those of the type wherein multiple data discs are held in close proximity, in a common receptacle or tray, and transferred one at a time between the tray and a processing station (typically, a location where information is read from and/or written to the discs).
Discs of the type presently contemplated include those commonly known as compact discs (CD's), which are used to store digital information for computers (e.g. digital data and computer programs), and information representing reproducible audio and/or video presentations that do not require a computer for reproduction. Such compact discs may have differing recording formats and playback protocols, and different names indicating their usage; e.g. names such as CD-ROM (compact disc—read only memory), CDR (compact disc—recordable), etc. Their names, recording formats and playback protocols have no specific relevance to the present invention.
The present invention is concerned particularly with providing automatic disc changer apparatus, and an associated method of disc handling, that is safer and more efficient than known prior systems.
Terminology
Controlled drive: (also “controllably driven”) connotes transfer of discs over a defined range, by edge drive, with bottom and top edges constrained in a manner allowing the rate of movement to be optimized throughout the range, without compromising disc safety.
Disc Reader: a unit such as a CD Rom drive, for performing a processing action on discs including actions such as reading and writing.
Safe and efficient: connotes efficient handling of discs without compromising the integrity of storage; “efficient” connoting quick and costeffective handling of large numbers of discs (e.g. 400 discs in a disclosed preferred embodiment).
Station: position or place containing a disc reader and a platform from which discs are moved to the reader and to which discs are moved from the reader.
Idle Station: a station not holding a disc, and not in the process of loading or unloading a disc (see Loading and Unloading below).
Transfer: connotes movement of a disc between a tray and a station.
Loading: transfer of a disc from a tray to a station.
Unloading: transfer of a disc from a station to a tray.
2. Prior Art
Presently known automatic disc changer systems are rather expensive and slow acting. For example, one known system has an average access time (the time for locating a disc and transferring it to a station) on the order of 15 seconds. Such systems also are constrained by safety considerations to handle fewer discs than would be desired in many applications.
Principal Objective of the Invention
This invention seeks to provide an automatic disc changer system that is safer and more efficient than prior art systems. In the preceding sentence, “safer and more efficient” is intended to mean having capability for handling a given number of discs with less risk of damage (or loss of recorded information) than comparable prior systems, and also having capability for safely handling more discs than prior systems, provide faster access to individual discs than prior systems; and be made at favorable cost in comparison to prior art systems.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention includes a tray for holding multiple discs in close proximity to each other, one or more processing stations, a disc positioning assembly for effecting relative movement between the tray and station(s) to align a selected disc in the tray with a station, a disc transfer assembly for moving selected discs between the tray and station, one at a time, in controllably driven rotational movements (see Terminology discussion above), and a load/unload assembly for moving the selected discs between the transfer assembly and a processing position at the station (e.g. a position in which the disc is securely mounted on a freely rotatable spindle for interaction with reading and/or writing apparatus).
In a system with a single station, the disc positioning assembly is used to prepare a selected disc for transfer to that station by the disc transfer and load/unload assemblies of that station. In a configuration with plural stations, each station has an associated disc transfer assembly and load/unload assembly; and the disc positioning assembly is operated to position a selected disc for transfer between the tray and a nearest “idle” station. An idle station in the foregoing context, is one that is currently not holding a disc and not engaged in the process of loading or unloading one (see Terminology above).
The tray has a large capacity (e.g. for holding 400 compact discs) and specially constructed grooves for holding the discs in close proximity to each other. The grooves, which are formed in a relatively soft elastomeric polymer medium, elastically “pinch” individual discs along their bottom edges. The tray may have either a circular or rectangular shape. If the tray is circular, the positioning assembly effects rotational relative movement between the tray and station(s). If the tray is rectangular, the positioning assembly effects linear relative movement between the tray and station(s).
Each disc transfer assembly overlies the tray and the (respective) station, and operates to move discs bidirectionally, one at a time, between the tray and (respective) station in controllably driven movements in which top and bottom edges of the disc are controllably held and guided throughout the movement. Each load/unload assembly is at or proximate to the (respective) station and operates to move the disc bidirectionally between the transfer mechanism and a processing position at the station (e.g. a position in which the disc is mounted upon a spindle that is freely rotatable for presenting the disc for interaction with reading and/or writing equipment). When the load/unload assembly receives a disc from the (respective) disc transfer assembly, the disc/transfer assembly is operated to disengage itself from contact with the disc.
Each transfer assembly of this invention operates to securely hold and guide top and bottom edges of a disc throughout each transfer movement, and to apply a time varying force to the top edge of the disc that is effective to quickly yet safely accelerate the disc at the start of each transfer, and quickly yet safely decelerate the disc at the end of each transfer. The elastomeric gripping and guiding of the disc at its top and bottom edges permits the disc to be accelerated and decelerated faster than would otherwise be safely feasible.
In a preferred embodiment described below, each transfer mechanism includes a topdrive assembly that contacts the top edge of the disc during transfer, and a level stage between the tray and respective station that contacts the bottom edge of the disc while the disc is in transit between the tray and the load/unload assembly.
A groove in the stage forms a supporting and guiding channel for the bottom edge of the disc during transfer handling. The groove in the stage is aligned with the desired path of movement of the disc, and is formed in an elastomeric polymer that is harder than the material in which the grooves in the tray are formed. Thus, the groove in the stage holds and guides the bottom edge of the disc during a transfer, preventing the bottom edge from rolling out of the required transfer path, but it does not “pinch” the respective edge so as to potentially impede the transfer (or increase the force required to move the disc over the stage).
The topdrive assembly includes an arm carrying a pair of pulleys that support a flexible belt. The arm and belt overlie both the discs in the tray and the station, and they are movable as a unit to position the bottom surface of the belt in contact with the top edge of a (selected) disc in the tray, as well as to disengage the belt from such contact when the respective disc has been transferred to the (respective) load/unload assembly. The belt is aligned with the station and its bottom surface (that con
Castro Angel
CD Server Corporation
Li Yi
Ometz David L.
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