Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Access of multiple storage elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2001-09-25
Ometz, David L. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Access of multiple storage elements
C369S036010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295268
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disk holding device capable of holding a plurality of disks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a disk holding device, capable of holding a plurality of disks, having minimal height requirements.
Japanese laid-open patent publication number 10-64160 discloses a conventional changer-type disk playback device. A cam member, having a cam groove around its perimeter, is disposed along an axis direction parallel to the orientation in which a plurality of disks are held. A disk holding member engages with the cam groove. The cam member rotates so that the disks in the device move along the holding direction, allowing the selection of a particular disk.
Referring to
FIG. 17
, a conventional cam member
101
has a roughly cylindrical outer shape. An outer perimeter of cam member
101
has a single spiraling cam groove
102
. An engagement section of a holding member (not shown in the figure) engages with cam groove
102
. As cam member
101
rotates, the holding member is displaced along the axis of cam member
101
. In the example shown in the figure, six holding members engage with cam member
101
. When cam member
101
rotates, a selected disk out of the six disks is displaced to a playback position P
6
.
At playback position P
6
, cam groove
102
, having a pitch wider than that of other sections, separates holding position P
6
from the upwardly adjacent holding position P
5
by a distance L
2
. Cam groove
102
also separates holding position P
6
from the downwardly adjacent holding position P
7
by a distance L
3
. Thus, a damper can be moved between position P
5
and position P
6
while playback means, such as an optical pickup, a turn table, or the like, is moved between position P
6
and position P
7
. Thus, the disk is played back without pulling the disk out. Pitches L
1
, between positions P
1
through P
5
above position P
6
, and positions P
7
through P
11
below position P
6
, is a pitch allowing the disk holding members to be tightly stacked together, thus contributing to a smaller height dimension for the device.
Referring to
FIGS. 18 through 20
, the method by which six disk holding members
111
through
116
move. Referring specifically to
FIG. 1
8
, when the first disk is to be played, second through sixth disk holding members
112
through
116
are respectively positioned to positions P
7
through P
11
(see
FIG. 17
) so that the disk holding members are tightly stacked. Playback means, such as an optical pickup, a turn table (not shown in the figure), and the like, are inserted into the space between disk holding members
111
and
112
. This allows a single disk held in disk holding member
111
to be played.
When cam member
101
rotates one turn clockwise, the second disk is placed in a playback state, as shown in FIG.
19
. Second disk holding member
112
is now positioned at position P
6
(see FIG.
17
). Similarly, when cam member
101
rotates five turns clockwise from the state shown in
FIG. 18
, the sixth disk is placed in a playback state as shown in FIG.
20
.
Referring back to
FIG. 17
, the space above disk playback position P
6
requires a minimum distance w, where w is four times holding pitch L
1
for disk holding members
111
through
116
plus a prescribed distance L
2
, between position P
6
and position P
5
, i.e., L
2
+(L
1
×4). Similarly, the space required below playback position P
6
must be at least a distance of L
3
+(L
1
×4).
Thus, cam member
101
requires height clearance to stack five disk holding sections both above and below playback position P
6
. This is an obstacle in attempts to reduce the height dimension of the device.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk holding device which overcomes the foregoing problems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk holding device capable holding a plurality of disks within a prescribed minimal height.
The disk holding device of the present invention includes a plurality of disk holders and a cam member. Each of the plurality of disk holders holds a disk. The cam member engages with the plurality of disk holders so that a selected disk holder separates by appropriate distance from adjacent disk holders. The cam member moves the disk holder relative to a chassis in a direction perpendicular to a recorded surface of the disk. The cam member moves in a direction opposite to the direction in which the disk holders are moved.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a cam member, having a cam groove on its outer surface, which is slidably mounted on a rotating shaft to allow for movement of disk holders between a playback position and a stored position. The cam groove is continuous about the cam member, making two complete rotations around the cam member. When a first disk holder is at the playback position, the cam groove engages the second disk holder at the stored position. When the second disk holder is selected to be played, rotation of the cam member causes the first disk holder to move to a stored position on an opposite end of the cam member while the second disk holder is played. The overall height required for such a disk holding device is constant, providing for a multiple disk playback device with minimal height requirements.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a disk holding device, comprising: a cam member slidably mounted on a rotatable shaft such that rotation of the rotatable shaft rotates the cam member; a cam groove continuously formed in the cam member; the cam groove having an angle relative to the cam member; a plurality of disk holders moveable by rotation of the cam member between a stored position and a playback position; the stored position being located in at least one of below the cam member and above the cam member; and the playback position being located at a location along the cam member.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a disk holding device comprising: a plurality of disk holders; at least one cam member engagable with at least one of the plurality; the cam member slidably positioned on a rotatable shaft; rotation of the rotatable shaft effecting rotation of the cam member; and engagement means for engaging each of the plurality on said cam member, whereby the disk holders are movable in a direction of an axis of the rotatable shaft.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a disk holding device comprising: a plurality of disk holders, each of the plurality of disk holders capable of holding a disk; at least one cam member engaging with the plurality of disk holders to separate a selected disk holder by an appropriate distance from adjacent disk holders; the cam member moving the disk holders relative to a chassis, in a direction perpendicular to a recorded surface of the disk; and the cam member moving in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the disk holders.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2308880 (1943-01-01), Hokanson
patent: 2395026 (1946-02-01), Weaver
patent: 2960340 (1960-11-01), Seidel et al.
patent: 3236525 (1966-02-01), Moody
patent: 4644515 (1987-02-01), Allebest et al.
patent: 5561657 (1996-10-01), Ogawa
patent: 5730031 (1998-03-01), Paul et al.
patent: 5859832 (1999-01-01), Osada
patent: 5872748 (1999-02-01), Shindo et al.
patent: 6097693 (2000-08-01), Nakamichi
patent: 6178152 (2001-01-01), Becker et al.
patent: 61061262A (1986-03-01), None
patent: 04061080A (1992-02-01), None
Altman, III Franklin D.
Mechanical Research Corporation
Morrison Law Firm
Ometz David L.
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