Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Access of multiple storage elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-22
2001-01-23
Ometz, David L. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Access of multiple storage elements
C369S036010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178153
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact disk auto-exchanger and a method thereof, and in particular to an improved compact disk auto-exchanger and a method thereof which is capable of more rapidly and accurately moving a compact disk from a magazine to a compact disk player, and loading/unloading the compact disk arranged in a compact disk mechanism into/from the magazine within a limited space.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a data writing medium such as a compact disk is formed based on a predetermined standard. Since the amount of data which is able to be written into the compact disk is limited, it is impossible to write a large amount of data into the limited writing area of the compact disk. Therefore, a predetermined number of compact disks are needed for writing a large amount of data thereinto. The thusly arranged compact disks are selectively used one by one, and the exchange of the compact disks is manually performed, thus causing inconvenience.
In addition, the exchange of the compact disks must be manually performed, thus causing inconvenience. Furthermore, the manual exchange of the compact disks needs longer time. The more the number of the compact disks, the more inconvenience incurred.
The conventional compact disk auto-exchanger, which are disclosed by Victor and Sony, includes a magazine having a plurality of stacked storage rooms, into which the compact disks are inserted, formed in an upper space of a reproduction driving mechanism of the compact disk auto-exchanger, with a moving member having a stroke from the uppermost of the magazine to the upper surface of the driving mechanism. This moving member serves to push the compact disk from the magazine and the reproduction driving mechanism. An arm is provided for pushing the compact disk from the magazine and the reproduction driving mechanism, and the compact disks are selectively exchanged, thus providing a user with a large amount of data.
A tray of the auto-exchanging Victor mechanism includes a plurality of storage rooms formed in the magazine for loading and unloading the compact disks thereinto/therefrom. In addition, a carrier which is moved between the reproduction driving mechanism and the uppermost portion of the magazine unloads the tray of the magazine having the compact disk from the storage rooms, and the compact disk contacts with the carrier by a magnetic force. In the above-described state, the tray is loaded into the storage room, and the carrier having the compact disk is moved to the upper surface of the reproduction driving mechanism. In the above-described state, the tray is unloaded from the reproduction driving mechanism, and the tray is returned to the reproduction driving mechanism, thus reproducing data written on the compact disk. After the data is reproduced, the compact disk is unloaded from the tray and is inserted into the tray of the magazine.
However, as the tray arranged in the magazine and the reproduction driving mechanism is loaded/unloaded, the driving process is complicated. In addition, it is impossible to accurately control the operation of the system. Since the operation time of the auto-exchanger becomes longer, it is impossible to rapidly exchange the compact disks.
Furthermore, since the mechanism is complicated, the assembling process is complicated, thus causing malfunction and erroneous operation of the system. In addition, productivity is decreased.
In addition, in the Sony mechanism, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a compact disk
400
loaded into a storage room of a magazine
100
installed in an upper space of the reproduction driving mechanism is pushed by a push lever
301
disposed in a carrier
200
which moves the uppermost portion of the magazine and the upper surface of the reproduction driving mechanism, and a circular roller
300
is rotated, the compact disk is moved with respect to the carrier, and the carrier is vertically moved to the position of the reproduction driving mechanism. Another push lever
302
of the carrier pushes the compact disk to the center portion of the reproduction driving mechanism, thus reproducing the data written on the compact disk. When the reproducing is finished, the compact disk is moved into the magazine.
However, the push levers
301
and
302
and the roller
300
in the carrier
200
are normally and reversely rotated, and the compact disk positioned at both sides of the carrier
200
and in the reproduction driving mechanism are moved in a predetermined direction. Therefore, the above-described mechanism is complicated, and it is difficult to assemble the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact disk auto-exchanger and a method thereof which overcomes the aforementioned problems encountered in the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved compact disk auto-exchanger and a method thereof which are capable of more rapidly and accurately moving a compact disk from a magazine to a compact disk player, and loading/unloading the compact disk arranged in a compact disk mechanism into/from the magazine within a limited space.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a compact disk auto-exchanger which includes a transfer member having push levers disposed in each front portion of the magazines for unloading the compact disk in a predetermined direction and an arm disposed between the push levers for loading the compact disk into a predetermined room, with the arm being movable in the left and right directions, a driving apparatus disposed in a bracket of the transfer member for generating a normal and reverse direction force and for transferring the compact disk to a predetermined position, a slider having a carrier main body which is moved by the driving force from the driving apparatus in a state that a guide rail which is horizontally moved in the transfer member is inserted, a pressing member which is contacted with a protrusion of the push levers and a timing belt when the horizontal movement is finished wherein the idler gear selectively supports the circumferential surface of the compact disk, and a guide portion having a circular portion in which the slider is rotated in a slanted state so that the free arm member moves the compact disk.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a compact disk auto-exchanging method which includes the steps of a vertical movement step for vertically moving a transfer member which is vertically moved by a separate driving source and is disposed between a magazine having a plurality of symmetrical storage rooms and a reproduction driving mechanism disposed in a lower portion, an unloading step for returning to the circumferential surface of the compact disk by a contact with a pressing member as a push lever is horizontally moved at both ends of the transfer member and a torsion spring so as to unload the compact disk toward the transfer member, a horizontal movement step in which the slider having a free arm member is moved toward the push lever when a driving force from the driving apparatus fixed to the transfer member which is moved in a predetermined direction in accordance with a control signal is selected as a reverse rotation, and a fixing releasing step in which the slider is horizontally moved toward the magazine or the reproduction driving mechanism, the free arm member of the slider contacting with the guide portion of the transfer member being rotated from the horizontal state to a slanted state, and the idler roller escaping from the compact disk and contacting with the circumferential surface of the compact disk in a horizontal state by the unloading of the compact disk and the returning of the slider.
Additional advantages, objects and other features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The
Cho Chan-Kyoung
Choi Young-Beom
Shin Seung-Hyuk
Cave LLP Brian
Hyundai Electronics Ind. Co. Ltd.
Kurland, Esq. Lawrence G.
Ometz David L.
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