Dynamic information storage or retrieval – With particular cabinet structure – Slotted for edgewise insertion of storage disc
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-10
2001-04-24
Miller, Brian E. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
With particular cabinet structure
Slotted for edgewise insertion of storage disc
C369S075210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222811
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disc unit for such discs as CD and DVD. Particularly, the invention is concerned with a disc unit wherein the insertion and ejection of a disc are performed simultaneously.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional slot-in type disc unit, a conveying roller as a disc conveying means is disposed near the back of an insertion opening and the insertion or ejection of a disc is performed with a feed force of the conveying roller.
For example, there are known a type in which a disc is held between such a conveying roller as mentioned above and a driven roller disposed in parallel with the conveying roller, and a type in which a disc is held between the conveying roller and a disc guide member disposed on, the ceiling surface or the like of the disc unit.
In such conventional disc units, a disc which has been inserted into the disc unit through the insertion opening is conveyed to a disc drive section disposed in an inner portion of the disc unit and is placed on a turntable installed within the disc drive section. Then, the disc conveying means is retracted from the disc and a clamper goes down to hold the disc between it and the turntable. Subsequently, a predetermined rotation is imparted to the disc by means of a spindle motor and thereafter the disc is subjected to reproducing or recording with use of a pickup.
When the disc is to be ejected, the rotation of the spindle motor is stopped and the clamper goes up to release the disc. At the same time, the disc is again held grippingly by the same disc conveying means as that mentioned above. Then, a reverse rotation is imparted to the conveying roller, whereby the disc is ejected from the disc drive section and further from the insertion opening.
However, the conventional disc unit described above involves the following problems.
As the above disc conveying means there is used a tapered conveying roller whose central portion is smaller in sectional area than both end portions of the same roller. The insertion or ejection of a disc is performed while the disc is held between both end portions of the conveying roller. However, the recording surface of the disc is apt to be flawed because the conveying roller comes into abutment against the recording surface perpendicularly to the same surface.
Besides, the conveying roller is usually formed using a synthetic rubber, but the kinetic friction coefficient of rubber is apt to vary depending on ambient temperature and humidity, so it is sometimes impossible to supply an optimum driving force to the disc. In the case where the pressing force against the disc is small, the conveying roller idles and cannot convey the disc.
Further, for the replacement of disc, it is necessary that the disc having been subjected to reproducing or recording be once ejected to the exterior and that a new disc be then inserted into the disc unit. Thus, a considerable time is required for the replacement of disc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished for solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and it is an object of the invention to provide a disc unit which uses a disc conveying means other than the conveying roller, thereby making it possible to not only prevent flaw of the disc surface but also effect a positive conveyance of a disc.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disc unit wherein the replacement of disc can be done in a short time.
According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided a disc unit comprising conveying means disposed in an insertion area on an upper side to transfer a second disc toward an innermost portion of the disc unit while holding the disc, which disc is inserted into the disc unit from an insertion opening, and ejection means disposed in an ejection area on a lower side which underlies the insertion area to eject a first disc resting on a turntable to an ejection opening simultaneously with the second disc inserting operation of the conveying means, with a clamp mechanism being provided to clamp the second disc between it and the turntable when the second disc inserted by the conveying means has reached a position not overlapping the ejection means.
Thus, in the present invention, the insertion of the second disc as a new disc is performed in the insertion area on an upper side. Simultaneously, in the ejection area which underlies the insertion area, the ejection of the second disc as a previously loaded disc which has been subjected to reproducing or recording is performed. This simultaneous insertion and ejection of the discs permit shortening of the time required for disc replacement.
The second disc inserted by the conveying means stops between a clamper and the turntable and is clamped after the first disc is ejected by the ejection means. Thus, it is impossible that both first and second discs will be present near the disc drive section. In other words, it is possible to effect the disc replacement reliably.
In the above construction, the ejection means disposed in the ejection area comprises a first ejection member for moving the disc on the turntable toward the ejection opening by only a predetermined distance and a second ejection member for pushing out the disc having thus moved by the predetermined distance further to the ejection opening.
By thus constituting the ejection means in two stages, not only it is possible to surely transfer the disc to the ejection opening, but also it is possible to prevent the disc surface from being flawed because the ejection of the disc can be done without using a conveying roller.
It is preferable that the above first and second ejection members be driven by a common rotary cam.
Thus, since the first and second ejection members are driven using a single rotary cam, both can always be driven synchronously. Besides, since it is no longer required to use any other complicated drive mechanism, it becomes possible to reduce the number of driving components.
It is preferable that the ejection means be provided with a moving table for lifting the disc placed on the turntable.
Preferably, the moving table moves following a rising or falling motion of the clamp mechanism.
In this case, in an unclamped state, that is, with rise of the clamp mechanism, the moving table also goes up, so that the disc on the turntable is lifted and placed onto the moving table. Consequently, the ejection of the disc can be done reliably by the ejection means. In a clamped state, that is, when the moving table has moved down with descent of the clamp mechanism, it is possible to positively clamp the disc on the turntable because the moving table is positioned lower than the turntable.
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Abe Kenji
Nakashima Takashi
Sakurai Toshihiro
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Fields Kenneth W.
Miller Brian E.
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