Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Specific detail of storage medium support or motion production
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-03-13
Klimowicz, William (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Specific detail of storage medium support or motion production
C369S247100, C369S077110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201781
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disc player such as a CD player, a CD-ROM player or the like for vehicles, and particularly to a locking mechanism for selectively enabling a vibration-proof construction for resiliently supporting a drive unit on a chassis in a locked or unlocked state.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, the CD player for vehicles has a vibration-proof construction for movably supporting a drive unit having a pickup, a turn-table or the like loaded thereon on the chassis through a resilient member, and is designed so that when operating in a reproduction state, the disc is not disturbed by external vibrations. In this case, when the drive unit is resiliently supported while carrying the disc, if the drive unit is moved by the external vibrations, the disc being carried may collide with the drive unit and be damaged. So, a locking mechanism has been employed in which when the disc is not mounted on the drive unit, the vibration-proof construction is placed in a locked state, and the drive unit is fixedly supported on the chassis (an example of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,498).
The locking mechanism for the disc player described in the aforementioned patent is provided with a rotatable roller bracket having a drive pin, a rotatable arm member having a cam surface, and a slide member capable of being moved forward and backward having an engaging groove; the roller bracket, the arm member and the slide member being mounted on the side plate of the chassis which resiliently supports a drive unit. A drive roller for carrying a disc is supported on the roller bracket, and the roller bracket rotates when the disc is carried onto the turn-table of the drive unit to move the drive roller away from the disc. The drive pin provided on the roller bracket is in contact with the cam surface of the arm member, and the arm member is rotated in association with the rotation of the roller bracket. The arm member is connected with the slide member through a protrusion and a slot, and when the arm member rotates, the protrusion of the arm member moves within the slot of the slide member whereby the slide member moves in a longitudinal direction. The engaging groove provided in the slide member is opposed to the protrusion provided on the drive unit, and when the slide member moves in a longitudinal direction, the engaging groove is engaged with or disengaged from the protrusion.
In the locking mechanism described above, when the disc is not mounted on the drive unit, the engaging groove of the slide member is engaged with the protrusion of the drive unit at the background position, and the drive unit assumes a locked state in which the former is fixedly supported on the chassis. When the disc is mounted in the locked state, the disc is carried onto the turn-table of the drive unit by the drive roller, but since at that time the drive unit is fixedly supported on the chassis, the disc is prevented from colliding with the drive unit. When the disc is carried onto the turn-table, the roller bracket rotates to move the drive roller away from the disc, and the drive pin moves along the cam surface of the arm member whereby to rotate the arm member, in association with which the slide member is moved from the backward position to the forward position. As a result, the engaging groove of the slide member is moved away from the protrusion of the drive unit to assume an unlocked state so that the drive unit is resiliently supported on the chassis along with the disc, thus preventing the reproduction state of the disc from being disturbed by external vibration.
The aforementioned conventional locking mechanism poses a problem that since the arm member and the slide member are mounted on the side plate of the chassis in an overlapping manner, when the rotational motion of the arm member is converted into the linear motion of the slide member, the arm member and the slide member rub against each other to impede smooth operation. So, it is contemplated that the arm member and the slide member are arranged within one and the same plane along the side plate of the chassis. However, since the cam surface formed on the arm member and the drive pin of the roller bracket should always be placed in contact with each other, it is difficult to miniaturize the arm member, and as a consequence, the entire disc player is prevented from being formed in a thinner configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, cam portions in which a drive pin of a roller bracket traces are put in an arm member and a slide member whereby when the drive unit is locked, the cam portions are brought into communication with each other, and when the drive unit is unlocked, the cam portions are separated from each other. With this construction, a part of the full length required for the cam portions is borne by the slide member, and therefore, miniaturization of the arm member itself and the rotational area thereof is possible so that the entire disc player can be formed in a thinner configuration; and further, when the drive unit is locked, the drive pin engages with the cam portion on the slide member side, thus enhancing the locking force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a disc player comprising: a drive unit movably supported on a chassis through a resilient member, a drive roller for carrying a disc in and out of the drive unit, a roller bracket for rotatably supporting the drive roller, an arm member rotated by the roller bracket, and a slide member movable in a longitudinal direction of the chassis by the arm member and having a locking portion for impeding the movement of the drive unit, the disc player constituted in that the arm member and the slide member are respectively provided with a cam portion, an engaging portion provided on the roller bracket is arranged movably in the cam portion, and when the movement of the drive unit is impeded, the cam portions communicate with each other and the engaging portion is positioned on one of the arm member and the slide member, whereas when the drive unit can be moved, the cam portions are separated from each other and the engaging portion is positioned on the other of the arm member and the slide member.
Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a locking mechanism for a disc player for vehicles comprising: a drive unit movably supported on a chassis through a resilient member, a drive roller for carrying a disc in and out of the drive unit, a rotatable roller bracket for moving the drive roller from the disk when the disk is mounted, an arm member rotated by the rotation of a drive pin provided on the roller bracket, and a slide member movable in a longitudinal direction of the chassis in association with the rotation of the arm member, wherein when the slide member is engaged with the drive unit, the movement of the drive unit is impeded to assume a locked state whereas when the engagement between the slide member and the drive unit is released, an unlocked state is assumed where the drive unit is movable, the locking mechanism being constituted in that the arm member and the slide member are respectively provided with a cam portion whereby when the drive unit is in a locked state, the cam portions are brought into communication with each other and the drive pin is brought into engagement with the cam portion on the slide member side, whereas when the drive unit is in an unlocked state, the cam portions are separated from each other, and the drive pin is brought into engagement with the cam portion on the arm member side.
With this construction, a part of the full length required for the cam portions is borne by the slide member, and therefore, miniaturization of the arm member itself and the rotational area thereof is possible so that the entire disc player can be formed in a thinner configuration; and further, when the drive unit is locked, the drive pin engages with the cam portion on the slide member side,
Alpine Electronics Inc.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Klimowicz William
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