Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Access of multiple storage elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2002-12-17
Nguyen, Hoa T. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Access of multiple storage elements
Reexamination Certificate
active
06496471
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk playback apparatus, and particularly relates to a structure for certainly transporting a disk to a normal chucking position on a playback means. The present invention also relates to a disk changer device and a disk magazine device which are preferable for use in such a disk playback apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a disk apparatus such as a CD (Compact Disk) player of the type wherein a magazine adapted to accommodate a plurality of disks is loaded therein and a disk selected by a user from the plural disks is automatically selected and played thereby is increasing from a standpoint of improving a sense of use by simplifying disk exchange operations of the user as far as possible. In order to reproduce plural disks sequentially at a common disk playback section for reproducing information recorded on each of the disks, the disk apparatus such as mentioned above is configured to fetch a desired disk from the loaded magazine, transport the disk to playback means, and return the disk into the magazine after completion of the reproduction.
Particularly, some of the above mentioned disk apparatuses employ a system using a magazine which accommodates plural disk holders, each of which holds therein one disk, in an arrangement where respective holders can be drawn out independently, and performing a loading operation of a disk from the inside of the magazine to the playback position and an ejecting operation of the disk from the playback position into the magazine by simply moving back and forth the holder. In the disk apparatus based on this system, the disk holder holding therein a selected disk is transported to a position nearby the disk playback section by the moving forth operation, and returned into the magazine by the moving back operation after the disk is received in a predetermined playback position. In order to eject a disk when exchanging the disk with another one, when the magazine is ejected, or the like, the empty disk holder is transported to a position nearby the disk playback section with the moving forth operation, then the disk holder is returned into the magazine with the disk held therein by the moving back operation after the disk at the playback position is recovered in the holder.
FIG. 28
is a flowchart for explaining operating procedures of the disk playback apparatus having the system such as mentioned above by way of example. As shown in
FIG. 28
, when a magazine is inserted (Step
110
), disk checking operation for determining existence of a disk is carried out using some appropriate processes (Step
120
). Subsequently, if a user instructs to reproduce the disk (Step
130
), then the disk holder accommodating therein the disk corresponding to the playback instruction is drawn out from the magazine and transported to a loading position nearby a playback unit, thereby the disk held in the disk holder is transported to a predetermined chucking position on the playback unit (Step
140
), then the disk is chucked at he chucking position on the playback unit (Step
150
), only the empty disk holder is returned into the magazine (Step
160
), and the disk is reproduced (Step
170
).
If an instruction to reproduce another disk is directed by the user during Step
170
of reproducing the disk (Step
180
), then the empty holder for the disk in reproduction is drawn out from the magazine (Step
190
), the disk in reproduction is inserted into this empty disk (Step
200
), and the disk holder accommodating therein the disk is returned into the magazine (Step
210
), then control returns to Step
140
for drawing out the disk holder in which the specified another disk is accommodated.
If an instruction to eject the magazine is directed by the user during Step
170
of reproducing the disk (Step
220
), then the empty holder corresponding to the disk in reproduction is drawn out from the magazine (Step
230
), the disk in reproduction is inserted into this empty disk (Step
240
), and the disk holder accommodating therein the disk is returned into the magazine (Step
250
), then the magazine is ejected (Step
260
).
In the conventional disk playback apparatus as in the foregoing, the disk holder is typically transported by using a holder drawing member which can reciprocate in the horizontal direction, and moving the holder drawing member by engaging a fingernail-shaped projection disposed on the holder drawing member with an engaging section disposed at one end of the disk holder. During transporting the disk holder as mentioned above, if the disk is not sufficiently inserted into the disk holder or the disk is displaced from the normal accommodation position of the disk holder, when the disk holder reaches a normal loading position of the playback means, the disk is displaced from the normal chucking position on the playback means.
In this case, subsequent disk chucking operation can not be properly performed, which may induce a poor chucking condition. If disk reproduction operation. is carried out under such bad chucking conditions as mentioned above, the quality of the disk reproduction may become poor. Further, as the disk can not be sufficiently inserted into the disk holder when recovering the disk into the disk holder, there is a possibility that the disk can not be recovered.
The abovementioned operations of loading a disk into the playback position or ejecting a disk into the magazine in the disk playback apparatus are both performed by a device called “disk changer”.
By the way, in the magazine for use in the conventional disk changer as in the foregoing, disk holders are inserted from an aperture of the magazine into a predetermined accommodation position within the magazine. At this time, if the insertion is insufficient, the holder may be accommodated in the magazine with the holder protruding outward beyond the predetermined accommodation position. When the disk holder protrudes outward beyond the predetermined accommodation position of the disk holder, it can become impossible to transport the disk holder.
Thus, in the case that the disk holder is transported by engaging a fingernail-shaped projection provided at the holder drawing member with an engaging section provided on one end of the disk holder as mentioned above, the projection of the holder drawing member is disposed to meet the position of the engaging section of the disk holder stored in a predetermined accommodation position within the magazine. Therefore, if the disk holder protrudes outward beyond the predetermined accommodation position in the magazine, the engaging section can not be engaged with the protrusion of the holder drawing member, and it can become impossible to transport the disk. Alternately, a part of the disk holder protruding outward improperly engages with the holder or any other part of the mechanism, which may results in subsequent defective performance. There exist the abovementioned disadvantages similarly when using the magazine which accommodates a disk tray of the type of placing thereon a disk as well as when using the magazine which accommodate a disk holder of the type of holding a disk as a disk holding unit.
Among various types of conventional disk changer devices, some disk changer devices in which the loading direction of the magazine and the drawing-out direction of the disk holder are same are specifically called as “end loading type disk changer device”.
FIG. 27
is a plan view showing an end loading type on-vehicle disk changer device by way of example. As shown in
FIG. 27
, a magazine
202
which is inserted through a magazine insertion opening L is loaded in a magazine loading position which is disposed in the left hand part of the figure in the chassis
201
of the disk changer device. The magazine
202
accommodate plural disk holders
203
which are arranged in a vertical stack. Each disk holder
203
accommodates one disk which is inserted thereto in the direction parallel to the main surface of the disk holder
203
, and sl
Hayashi Hideki
Sato Nobuhiro
Clarion Co. Ltd.
Nguyen Hoa T.
Price and Gess
Watko Julie Anne
LandOfFree
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