Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Information location or remote operator actuated control – Selective addressing of storage medium
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-05-08
Letscher, George J. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Information location or remote operator actuated control
Selective addressing of storage medium
C369S038010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229770
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording medium reproducing apparatus with a recording medium exchanger, and more particularly to a recording medium reproducing apparatus capable of exchanging a recording medium even during reproduction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As a recording medium reproducing apparatus with a recording medium exchanger, a disk reproducing apparatus such as shown in
FIG. 13
is known in which a magazine inserted with disks is externally loaded in the apparatus and a disk in the magazine is selected and reproduced.
In replacing a disk in the magazine of such a disk reproducing apparatus, disks are exchanged by picking up the magazine from the apparatus. If a disk in the magazine is being reproduced and another disk is to be inserted into the magazine at the place where the reproducing disk was inserted, the disks collide when the reproducing disk is placed back in the magazine. Therefore, dismounting the magazine is inhibited and replacing a disk in the magazine cannot be allowed during the reproduction.
Another problem is that the total cost of the apparatus rises because of an expensive magazine. Furthermore, even if only one disk in the apparatus is to be replaced, the magazine is required to be dismounted so that there is associated with a problem of a cumbersome disk exchange operation.
An example of a disk reproducing apparatus with a disk changer and without a magazine is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 4-38673 and shown in
FIG. 14. A
stocker shown in
FIG. 14
has a plurality of carriers on which disks can be placed. The stocker is moved up and down by a stocker moving means so that a desired carrier is positioned at a height where the carrier is pulled out by a tray.
The tray moves between a load position shown in FIGS.
14
(
a
) and
14
(
b
) and an eject position shown in FIG.
14
(
c
). As shown in FIG.
14
(
a
), the carrier with a desired disk placed thereon is pulled out and placed on the tray at the load position, and as shown in FIG.
14
(
d
), a reproducing means clamps the disk for the reproduction.
The tray with a desired disk placed thereon is moved from the position shown in FIG.
14
(
a
) to the position shown in FIG.
14
(
c
), the carrier on the tray is exposed outside of the housing so that the disk on the carrier can be replaced or a new disk can be placed on the carrier. The tray with a carrier placed thereon is moved from the position shown in FIG.
14
(
c
) to the position shown in FIG.
14
(
a
), and the carrier on the tray is placed back in the stocker. In this manner, disk exchange or insertion of a disk into the apparatus can be performed.
With such disk reproducing apparatus, a disk is moved to a reproduction position or to the outside by a transport means for transporting a carrier in one direction. The carrier with a disk placed thereon is moved from the stocker to the outside via the reproduction position. There is therefore a problem that disks cannot be exchanged during the reproduction. A user often determines the disk to be next reproduced, during the reproduction of a current disk. There is a strong need of exchanging or adding disks during the reproduction if the apparatus does not contain a disk to be next reproduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made under the above circumstances. An object of the invention is to provide a recording medium reproducing apparatus capable of exchanging or adding recording media other than a recording medium being reproduced, during the reproduction, and having a simple drive mechanism for recording medium exchange and load.
A recording medium reproducing apparatus of this invention comprises: a stocker capable of accommodating a recording medium; reproducing means for reproducing the recording medium; first transport means for transporting the recording medium between the stocker and the outside of the apparatus; second transport means for transporting the recording medium between the stocker and a reproduction position; position determining means for determining a relative height of the recording medium and the first or second transport means; and an open/close key for protruding the recording medium from the apparatus and accommodating the recording medium in the apparatus, wherein upon activation of the open/close key, the recording medium is accommodated in the stocker if the recording medium is protruded from the apparatus, the recording medium is protruded from a housing if the recording medium is accommodated in the stocker, or the recording medium is accommodated in the stocker and protruded from the apparatus after the reproduction is stopped if the recording medium is under the reproduction.
A recording medium reproducing apparatus of this invention comprises: a stocker capable of accommodating a recording medium; reproducing means for reproducing the recording medium; first transport means for transporting the recording medium between the stocker and the outside of the apparatus; second transport means for transporting the recording medium between the stocker and a reproduction position; position determining means for determining a relative height of the recording medium and the first or second transport means; and an open/close key for protruding the recording medium from the apparatus and accommodating the recording medium in the apparatus, wherein upon activation of the open/close key, the recording medium is accommodated in the stocker by the first transport means if the recording medium is protruded from the apparatus, the recording medium is protruded from a housing by the first transport means if the recording medium is accommodated in the stocker, or the recording medium is accommodated in the stocker by the second transport means and protruded from the apparatus by the first transport means after the reproduction is stopped if the recording medium is under the reproduction.
A recording medium reproducing apparatus of this invention comprises: a stocker capable of accommodating a recording medium; reproducing means for reproducing the recording medium; first transport means for transporting the recording medium between the stocker and the outside of the apparatus; second transport means for transporting the recording medium between the stocker and a reproduction position; position determining means for determining a relative height of the recording medium and the first or second transport means; and an open/close key for protruding the recording medium from the apparatus and accommodating the recording medium in the apparatus, wherein upon activation of the open/close key designating one recording medium accommodated in the stocker in a state that another recording medium is protruded from the apparatus, the other recording medium outside of the apparatus is accommodated in the stocker and the selected one recording medium is protruded from a housing.
A recording medium reproducing apparatus of this invention comprises: a stocker capable of accommodating a recording medium; reproducing means for reproducing the recording medium; first transport means for transporting the recording medium between the stocker and the outside of the apparatus; second transport means for transporting the recording medium between the stocker and a reproduction position; position determining means for determining a relative height of the recording medium and the first or second transport means; and an open/close key for protruding the recording medium from the apparatus and accommodating the recording medium in the apparatus, wherein upon activation of the open/close key designating one recording medium under the reproduction in a state that another recording medium is protruded from the apparatus, the other recording medium outside of the apparatus is accommodated in the stocker, the reproduction of the one recording medium is stopped, the one recording medium is accommodated in the stocker and protruded from a housing.
A recording medium reproducing apparatus of this invention comprises: a stocker capab
Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
Letscher George J.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Robinson Eric J.
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