Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Specific detail of storage medium support or motion production
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-25
2001-12-11
Davis, David (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Specific detail of storage medium support or motion production
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330219
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk recording/reproducing device for performing recording/reproducing relative to a recording/reproducing disk, such as a compact disk.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a known disk recording/reproducing device, a disk is pressed onto a turntable by a movable presser member so that the disk is held on the turntable due to a frictional force caused by a pressing force of the presser member. In another known disk recording/reproducing device, a center hole of a disk is matched with a fitting part of a turntable and then the disk is forcibly pressed onto the turntable manually or by means of a loading/unloading mechanism so that a plurality of retaining members urgingly engage with an inner periphery (defining the center hole) of the disk to retain the disk on the turntable.
JP-A-8-180565 describes another disk recording/reproducing device, which will be explained hereinbelow with reference to
FIGS. 11A
to
11
C.
In
FIGS. 11A
to
11
C, numeral
24
denotes a turntable for retaining a disk (not shown) at a disk positioning portion
29
and rotating it. Numeral
25
denotes retaining members radially arranged along the circumference of the disk positioning portion
29
of the turntable
24
. Each of the retaining members
25
can move forward (radially outward) and backward (radially inward) and, upon moving forward, the retaining members
25
engage with the inner periphery (defining a center hole) of the disk so as to retain the disk on the turntable
24
. Numeral
26
denotes a loading/unloading member comprising a shaft member
30
received in an elongate hole of the turntable
24
and an engaging portion projected from the circumference of the turntable
24
. The loading/unloading member
26
is rotatable relative to the turntable
24
at a given angle by operating the engaging portion.
Now, an operation of the disk recording/reproducing device shown in
FIGS. 11A
to
11
C will be explained. First, during forward rotation of the turntable
24
, a stopper (not shown) integral with a pickup is moved from the right in the figures to engage with the engaging portion of the loading/unloading member
26
. This causes the retaining members
25
to advance or move forward so that the disk is retained on the turntable
24
. On the other hand, during reverse rotation of the turntable
24
, the engaging portion of the loading/unloading member
26
engages with the stopper of the pickup in a reverse direction. This causes the retaining members
25
to retreat or move backward so that the disk is released.
In the foregoing prior art using the presser member, the presser member as well as a vertical external force for pressing the presser member toward the turntable are required. Moreover, a space is required in the device for movement of the presser member for loading/unloading the disk.
Further, in the foregoing prior art where the disk is forcibly pressed onto the turntable and retained by the retaining members, external forces are required for loading/unloading the disk. Moreover, since the disk is subjected to warp upon loading/unloading, long strokes are required in vertical directions. This necessitates provision of a large space in the device, and renders the loading of the disk unreliable.
Further, in the structure of JP-A-8-180565, since the forward and backward movement of the retaining members
25
is carried out based on rotation of the disk, it is possible that a hand, the loading/unloading mechanism or other components may come in contact with a recording surface of the disk upon loading/unloading the disk. If it occurs, a flow may be caused extensively on the disk to disable recording/reproducing relative to the disk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved disk producing/reproducing device that can eliminate one or more of the disadvantages inherent in the foregoing prior art structures.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a disk recording/reproducing device comprises a power transmitting mechanism which transmits movement of a pickup while engaging with the pickup; and a disk retaining mechanism which, in response to the movement of the pickup transmitted by the power transmitting mechanism, retains a disk on a turntable or releases retention of the disk.
It may be arranged that the disk recording/reproducing device further comprises an operation switching mechanism for switching a position of the power transmitting mechanism between a first position where engagement between the power transmitting mechanism and the pickup occurs upon radially outward movement of the pickup relative to the disk on the turntable and a second position where no such engagement occurs upon such radially outward movement of the pickup, and that the operation switching mechanism switches the position of the power transmitting mechanism to the first position upon such radially outward movement of the pickup so as to release the retention of the disk on the turntable via the disk retaining mechanism by causing the engagement between the power transmitting mechanism and the pickup.
It may be arranged that the disk retaining mechanism comprises the turntable, a cam member and a disk retaining member which, upon moving forward, engages with an inner periphery of the disk on the turntable so as to retain the disk on the turntable and, upon moving backward, disengages from the inner periphery so as to release the retention of the disk, that the power transmitting mechanism prohibits rotation of the turntable when the pickup moves radially outward relative to the disk on the turntable while engaging with the power transmitting mechanism, and allows the cam member to rotate in a first direction relative to the turntable so as to move backward the disk retaining member, and that the power transmitting mechanism allows the cam member to rotate in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, relative to the turntable so as to move forward the disk retaining member when the pickup moves radially inward relative to the disk on the turntable, and further allows the rotation of the turntable.
It may be arranged that the disk recording/reproducing device further comprises a spring for urging the cam member in the second direction, that the power transmitting mechanism engages with the cam member to rotate it in the first direction against an urging force of the spring, and that the power transmitting mechanism disengages from the cam member to allow the spring to rotate the cam member in the second direction.
It may be arranged that the cam member has a curved slot receiving the disk retaining member therethrough so that the disk retaining member moves forward when the cam member rotates in the second direction, while moves backward when the cam member rotates in the first direction.
It may be arranged that the cam member and the turntable are arranged to rotate concentrically with each other, that the turntable has a slot extending in a radial direction thereof, and that the disk retaining member passes through the curved slot of the cam member and the slot of the turntable.
It may be arranged that the power transmitting mechanism comprises a power input member for transmitting the movement of the pickup in a radially inward or outward direction relative to the disk on the turntable, and a power output member for, in response to an operation of the power input member, causing the disk retaining mechanism to retain the disk on the turntable during a disk recording/reproducing operation or release the retention of the disk otherwise, and that the power transmitting mechanism further comprises an urging member for urging one end of the power input member to retreat the power input member outside a travel path of the pickup during the disk recording/reproducing operation so that engagement between the pickup and the power input member is prevented during the disk recording/reproducing operation.
It may be arranged that the disk retaining m
Doi Makoto
Matsumoto Akira
Nakade Isamu
Urushibara Kenji
Davis David
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Parkhurst & Wendel L.L.P.
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