Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Access of multiple storage elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-16
2001-06-26
Miller, Brian E. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Access of multiple storage elements
C369S178010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252840
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disc changer in which a plurality of discs are loaded and which selects an arbitrary one of the plurality of discs for sound recording/reproduction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a disc changer of this kind, a disc holding means is configured to house a plurality of subtrays in a stocker having a plurality of shelves, and a vertical drive means for selecting the position of an arbitrary disc is configured to drive all of the stocker, the plurality of subtrays, and the plurality of discs in the vertical direction.
In such a conventional disc changer, however, when the vertical drive means drives the disc holding means to select an arbitrary disc position, a vertical drive motor may consume a large amount of energy because the stocker including the plurality of shelves and the disc holding means used to drive all of the plurality of subtrays and the plurality of discs are heavy, so that the disc changer may cause the finished product to drop, be affected by vibration and require a large amount of costs due to a large number of required components.
It is an object of this invention to provide a light and inexpensive disc changer that does not require a stocker having a plurality of shelves or a plurality of subtrays.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve this object, the invention set forth in claim
1
is a disc changer in which a plurality of discs are loaded and which selects any of the plurality of discs for sound recording/reproduction, characterized in that the disc changer comprises a disc holding means for detachably holding a plurality of spacers on a pair of spindles using a holding claw; a vertical drive means for driving the spacers in the vertical direction to select any position of the plurality of discs held by the plurality of spacers; a spindle drive means for driving the holding claw to engage and disengage the plurality of spacers with and from an upper spindle; a horizontal transfer means for transferring the disc supported on a subtray; and a disc clamp means for clamping the disc at a sound recording/reproduction position.
According to this invention, the vertical drive means can drive the plurality of spacers supported by the disc holding means, in the vertical direction to select any one of the plurality of discs held by these spacers, the spindle drive means can then drive the holding claw to disengage the spacers, and the horizontal transfer means can then transfer the selected disc to the sound recording/reproduction position while supporting said disc with the subtray. The disc clamp means then clamps the transferred disc to the sound recording/ reproduction position.
The invention for a disc holding means set forth in claim
2
is a disc changer according to claim
1
wherein the holding claw provided in the upper spindle of the disc holding means is constantly urged downward by a claw-opening spring to open its claw portion in order to hold the spacers and discs on the upper spindle.
The invention set forth in claim
3
is a disc changer according to claim
2
wherein the holding claw provided on the upper spindle of the disc holding means is manufactured by integrating a core portion that is pressed upward by the lower spindle with a claw portion that holds the spacer on the upper spindle.
This means enables the spacer and disc to be held stably and reliably and allows the spacer to pass along both spindles in the vertical direction by housing the claw portion of the holding claw inside the upper spindle when the lower spindle is pressed upward.
The invention for a spindle drive means set forth in claim
4
is a disc changer according to claim
1
wherein the spindle drive means has a spindle base driven in the vertical direction by an elevating cam driven in the horizontal direction by a horizontal drive gear, and wherein the top of a lower central shaft provided on the spindle base presses an upper central shaft upward to house the holding claw inside the upper spindle in order to release the spacers from the upper spindle.
The invention for a spindle drive means set forth in claim
5
is a disc changer according to claim
1
wherein the spindle drive means has a spindle base driven in the vertical direction by the elevating cam driven in the horizontal direction by the horizontal drive gear, and wherein a protruding portion at the tip of the lower spindle shaft provided on the spindle base presses the core portion of the holding claw upward to house the holding claw inside the upper spindle in order to release the spacers from the upper spindle.
This means allows the horizontal drive gear to drive the spindle base in the vertical direction via the elevating cam to press the upper spindle upward using the top of the lower spindle disposed on the spindle base, thereby allowing the holding claw to be housed inside the upper spindle to release the spacers from the upper spindle.
The invention for a vertical drive means set forth in claim
6
is a disc changer according to claim
1
wherein the vertical drive means has a lower spindle rotatably journaled to the lower central shaft disposed on the spindle base, wherein a threaded portion of the lower elevating table provided to engage a threaded portion formed on the outer circumference of the lower spindle drives the lower elevating table in the vertical direction, and wherein a vertical drive gear configured to engage a gear portion provided on the lower part of the lower spindle is rotated by a motor in order to vertically drive the plurality of spacers and discs supported on the elevating table.
The invention for a vertical drive means set forth in claim
7
is a disc changer according to claim
1
wherein the vertical drive means has a lower spindle rotatably journaled to the spindle base, wherein a threaded portion is provided to engage a male thread formed on the outer circumference of the lower spindle, the threaded portion having a rotating stopper mounted thereon, wherein the lower spindle is rotated to drive the threaded portion in the vertical direction in order to vertically drive the plurality of spacers and discs supported by the spindle.
This means can use the vertical drive gear to rotate the lower spindle to drive the lower elevating table or threaded portion in the vertical direction, thereby driving the plurality of spacers and discs in the vertical direction.
The invention for a horizontal transfer means set forth in claim
8
is a disc changer according to claim
1
wherein the horizontal transfer means executes horizontal transfer by engaging the horizontal drive gear configured to be driven by the motor with the gear portion of each of a main tray, the subtray, and the elevating cam configured to be driven in the horizontal direction, and wherein a non-gear and a protruding portions provided in each of the main tray, subtray, and elevating cam and a pressed portion of an activating piece sequentially drive the main tray, subtray, and elevating cam using the horizontal drive gear.
This means can rotate the horizontal drive gear to sequentially drive the main tray, subtray, and elevating cam in the horizontal direction.
The invention for a spindle drive means set forth in claim
9
is a disc changer according to claim
1
wherein the spindle drive means is configured so that the spindle base is vertically driven by the elevating cam at a housing and the sound recording/reproduction positions centered at both spindles and at which the subtray in the horizontal transfer means is stopped.
This means can drive the spindle base in the vertical direction at the housing and sound recording/reproduction positions in order to sound record/reproduce on the disc and to house and remove the disc.
According to the invention for a disc changer set forth in claim
10
, the sound recording/reproduction position lies in the front of the mechanical base, whereas a disc housing position that is centered at the spindle lies in the rear of the mechanical base.
The invention set forth in claim
11
is the configuration of the basic configurat
Miyoshi Seizo
Morioka Yukio
Nakamura Masahiko
Onishi Masanori
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Miller Brian E.
Parkhurst & Wendel L.L.P.
Watko Julie Anne
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