U.S. patent application number 09/790540 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-19 for disc changer.
This patent application is currently assigned to MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Miyoshi, Seizo, Morioka, Yukio, Nakamura, Masahiko, Ota, Takeshi.
Application Number | 20010008514 09/790540 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27303196 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010008514 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakamura, Masahiko ; et
al. |
July 19, 2001 |
Disc changer
Abstract
A conventional disc changer uses separate elevating cams,
separate connection mechanisms, and separate locking mechanisms to
effect driving of the elevation and lowering of spindles
constituting a disc holding means and of a disc clamp means at a
recording/playing position. Thus, the apparatus is complicated and
large, and loads on the elevating cams significantly vary when the
drivings of the elevating and lowering of the spindles constituting
the disc holding means and the disc clamp means are simultaneously
carried out. Consequently, during the elevating driving, the
driving force may become insufficient to cause unstable operations,
while during the lowering driving, high operating noise may occur.
According to the present invention, an elevating means for
elevating and lowering the spindles constituting the disc holding
means and a disc playing means is configured so that a single part
simultaneously performs these operations. Since the same part is
driven to perform these operations, elevating and lowering timings
for the spindles and the disc playing means can be easily matched
to enable the elevation and lowering without changes in the gap
between a played disc being elevated or lowered and held discs in a
housing section, thereby preventing the discs being elevated or
lowered from contacting with each other.
Inventors: |
Nakamura, Masahiko;
(Osaka-shi, JP) ; Miyoshi, Seizo; (Neyagawa-shi,
JP) ; Morioka, Yukio; (Katano-shi, JP) ; Ota,
Takeshi; (Yao-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PARKHURST & WENDEL, L.L.P.
Suite 210
1421 Prince Street
Alexandria
VA
22314-2805
US
|
Assignee: |
MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
27303196 |
Appl. No.: |
09/790540 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09790540 |
Feb 23, 2001 |
|
|
|
09273716 |
Mar 22, 1999 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
720/615 ;
720/635; G9B/17.051 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 17/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/191 ;
369/75.2 |
International
Class: |
G11B 017/04; G11B
017/22; G11B 033/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 27, 1998 |
JP |
10-80077 |
Mar 27, 1998 |
JP |
10-80079 |
Mar 27, 1998 |
JP |
10-80080 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A disc changer that houses a plurality of discs and that selects
an arbitrary one from the plurality of housed discs for
recording/playing, the disc changer comprising: an apparatus body;
disc transfer means for transferring a disc in the apparatus body
between a disc housing position and a disc playing position; a
vertical pair of spindles detachably holding a plurality of spacers
at said disc housing position; disc holding means capable of
relatively elevating and lowering said spindles and driving said
spacers in the vertical direction to deliver the disc to said disc
transfer means; disc playing means supported on said apparatus body
at said disc playing position so as to be able to elevate and
lower; elevating means for elevating and lowering said spindles and
said disc playing means; and horizontal-driving means capable of
driving said disc transfer means and said elevating means, said
elevating means being configured so that a single part
simultaneously effects the driving of said spindles and said disc
playing means.
2. A disc changer according to claim 1, wherein said elevating
means includes a lateral pair of plates each having a cam groove
that engages with a pin slidably supported on said apparatus body
and provided on said disc playing means or a pin provided on an
elevating base of said spindles, and connection levers rotatably
supported on said apparatus body and connecting said lateral pair
of plates together.
3. A disc changer according to claim 2, wherein said elevating
means includes a cam gear having a cam groove that engages with the
pin provided on said disc playing means or the pin provided on the
elevating base of said spindles, the cam gear being connected to
said plates via a gear train and rotating in response to the
movement of said plates.
4. A disc changer that houses a plurality of discs and that selects
an arbitrary one from the plurality of housed discs for
recording/playing, the disc changer comprising: an apparatus body;
disc transfer means for transferring a disc in the apparatus body
between a disc housing position and a disc playing position; a
vertical pair of spindles detachably holding a plurality of spacers
at said disc housing position; disc holding means capable of
relatively elevating and lowering said spindles and driving said
spacers in the vertical direction to deliver the disc to said disc
transfer means; disc playing means supported on said apparatus body
at said disc playing position so as to be able to elevate and
lower; elevating means for elevating and lowering said spindles and
said disc playing means; and horizontal-driving means capable of
driving said disc transfer means and said elevating means, said
horizontal driving means comprising a driving gear connected to a
driving source via a speed reduction mechanism, a driving rack
meshing with said driving gear, and a speed-increasing gear
rotatably supported on said driving rack, said speed-increasing
gear being a double-gear unit comprising a larger and a smaller
gears having the same number of teeth and different modules, and
said smaller gear of the double-gear unit meshing with a rack
provided in said elevating means, while said larger gear of the
double-gear unit meshing with a rack provided in the disc transfer
means.
5. A disc changer that houses a plurality of discs and that selects
an arbitrary one from the plurality of housed discs for
recording/playing, the disc changer comprising: an apparatus body;
disc transfer means for transferring a disc in the apparatus body
between a disc housing position and a disc playing position; a
vertical pair of spindles detachably holding a plurality of spacers
at said disc housing position; disc holding means capable of
relatively elevating and lowering said spindles and driving said
spacers in the vertical direction to deliver the disc to said disc
transfer means; disc playing means supported on said apparatus body
at said disc playing position so as to be able to elevate and
lower; elevating means for elevating and lowering said spindles and
said disc playing means; horizontal-driving means capable of
driving said disc transfer means and said elevating means; a
switching gear connected to the driving source via the speed
reduction mechanism and supported so as to slide in the axial
direction and that can mesh with either a gear train provided in
said horizontal driving means or a gear train provided in said
vertical driving system for said spacers; and drive-switching means
for allowing said switching gear to slide in the axial direction,
said disc changer further having a switching mode that includes at
least the rotational driving, stop, and reverse driving of the
switching gear and that is available during the sliding of said
switching gear effected by said drive-switching means.
6. A disc changer according to claim 5, wherein at least a part of
said speed reduction mechanism comprises a reduction section
comprising an elastic belt.
7. A disc changer according to claim 5, wherein said switching mode
starts with rotations in the direction opposite to the rotational
direction of said driving source existing immediately before the
start of switching.
8. A disc changer that houses a plurality of discs and that selects
an arbitrary one from the plurality of housed discs for
recording/playing, the disc changer comprising: an apparatus body;
disc transfer means for transferring a disc in the apparatus body
between a disc housing position and a disc playing position; a
vertical pair of spindles detachably holding a plurality of spacers
at said disc housing position; disc holding means capable of
relatively elevating and lowering said spindles and driving said
spacers in the vertical direction to deliver the disc to said disc
transfer means; disc playing means supported on said apparatus body
at said disc playing position so as to be able to elevate and
lower; elevating means for elevating and lowering said spindles and
said disc playing means; and disc gap maintaining means that can
advance between housed discs adjacent to a played disc in the
vertical direction.
9. A disc changer according to claim 8, wherein the distance
between the center of the disc housed at said disc housing position
and the center of the disc played at said disc playing position is
larger then 100 mm and smaller than 120 mm.
10. A disc changer according to claim 8, wherein said disc gap
maintaining means has levers rotatably supported on the elevating
base of said spindles.
11. A disc changer according to claim 8, wherein said disc gap
maintaining means is driven by said elevating means.
12. A disc changer according to claim 8, wherein said disc gap
maintaining means is provided between said disc playing position
and said disc housing position.
13. A disc changer according to claim 8, wherein sections of said
disc gap maintaining means that advance between adjacent discs are
provided at two positions that are approximately symmetrical about
a centerline common to a played disc and housed discs.
14. A disc changer according to claim 8, wherein the sections of
said disc gap maintaining means that advance between adjacent discs
comprise two smooth planes having a sharp junction and that can
contact the respective end surfaces of an upper and a lower
discs.
15. A disc changer comprising: an apparatus body; disc playing
means supported on said apparatus body at a disc playing position
so as to be able to elevate and lower; an elevating means for
elevating and lowering said disc playing means; and horizontally
maintaining means for regulating the elevating and lowering
postures of said disc playing means, said elevating means
comprising a lateral pair of plates supported so as to slide
relative to said apparatus body, and a connecting lever rotatably
supported on said apparatus body to connect said lateral pair of
plates together, said horizontality maintaining means comprising a
rotating shaft extending in parallel with the sliding direction of
said plate and rotatably supported on said apparatus body, a
horizontality maintaining lever that can rotate with said rotating
shaft, and an engaging section provided on said horizontality
maintaining lever and parallel with said rotating shaft, and said
engaging section slidably engaging with an engaging groove provided
in said disc playing means to rotationally move around the axis of
the rotating shaft during the elevation and lowering of said disc
playing means.
16. A disc changer according to claim 15, wherein said disc playing
means is elevated and lowered by engaging a lateral pair of pins
provided on said disc playing means with a lateral pair of cam
grooves provided in said elevating means.
17. A disc changer comprising: an apparatus body; a tray that can
move between a first position in the apparatus body at which the
disc can be played and a second position at which the tray
protrudes from the apparatus body so that the disc can be changed;
and covering means rotatably supported on said apparatus body to
cover at least a part of an opening formed due to the protrusion of
said tray to said second position, said covering means having
levers rotationally moving in response to the movement of said tray
and having a pair of protruding portions located at positions
approximately laterally symmetrical around the center of the disc
on the tray and provided at an interval smaller than the outer
diameter of a small-diameter disc, the opposite ends of the
protruding portions each having an uneven surface formed like saw
teeth.
18. A disc changer according to claim 17, wherein said lever is
rotationally moved when the cam provided on said tray contacts and
urges a part of said lever as said tray protrudes.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a disc changer in which a
plurality of discs are installed to select any one of the discs for
recording/playing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a conventional disc changer, a disc holding means is
configured to house a plurality of subtrays in a stocker having a
plurality of shelves, and a vertical driving 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.
[0003] In the conventional disc changer, however, while the
vertical driving means for driving a disc holding means to select
an arbitrary disc position is effecting driving, the large weight
of the stocker having the plurality of shelves and the disc holding
means for driving all of the plurality of subtrays and discs may
cause a vertical driving motor to consume a large amount of energy
or cause falling of finished discs or inappropriate vibration. In
addition, the large number of parts increases costs.
[0004] Then, a recently contemplated disc changer comprises a disc
holding means 204 for detachably supporting a plurality of spacers
203 on a pair of spindles 201 and 202 using a holding claw 200, a
vertical driving means 205 for driving the spacers 203 in the
vertical direction to select arbitrary positions of a plurality of
discs 223 and 224 held by the plurality of spacers 203, a spindle
driving means 206 for driving the holding claw 200 to engage and
disengage the plurality of spacers 203 with and from the upper
spindle 201, a horizontal transfer means 207 for transferring discs
223 and 224 to a recording/playing position E from arbitrary
spacers 203 held by the holding claw 200, while supporting the
discs on subtrays 225, and a disc clamp means 208 for clamping the
discs 223 and 224 at the recording/playing position E, for example,
as shown in FIGS. 43 to 45.
[0005] The disc changer of this configuration can drive in the
vertical direction the plurality of spacers 203 and plurality of
discs 223 and 224 installed on both spindles 201 and 202 to shift
the arbitrary disc 223 or 224 from the spindle 201 or 202 to the
recording/playing position E, then to an unloading position G, and
back to a housing position F on the spindle 201 or 202, and can
select the arbitrary disc 223 or 224 for recording/playing.
Thereby, this configuration eliminates the needs for a stocker
having a plurality of shelves or a plurality of subtrays to reduce
the weight and costs, and provides a disc changer having excellent
housing and operating capabilities.
[0006] In this disc changer, however, separate elevating cams 209
and 210, connecting mechanisms 211 and 212 and lock means 213 and
214 were used to execute driving including the elevation and
lowering of the disc holding means 204 using the spindles and the
elevation and lowering of the disc clamp means 208 to clamp the
discs 223 and 224 at the recording/playing position E.
Consequently, the apparatus was complicated and loads of the
elevating cams 209 and 210 enormously varied when the spindles 202
of the disc holding means 204 and the disc clamp means 208 were
simultaneously driven to elevate and lower, respectively, resulting
in problems such as an unstable operation during the elevating
driving caused by an insufficient driving force and a high
operation noise during the lowering driving.
[0007] Furthermore, since a horizontal transfer means 207 for
transferring a tray 215 depended on driving based on the engagement
between a single driving gear 216 and racks 217 and 218 provided
for each part, the driving was carried out at a single reduction
gear ratio to preclude the reduction gear ratio from being adjusted
to account for operation loads, thereby preventing requirements for
both the operation time and load margin from being met.
[0008] Furthermore, due to the independency between a vertical
driving system for driving in the vertical direction the spacers
203 holding the discs 223 and 224 and a horizontal driving system
for driving the elevation and lowering of the spindle and
transferring the tray 215, separate driving sources had to be
provided for these systems, and intermediate gears were also
required. As a result, the number of required parts was increased
to increase the size and costs of the apparatus.
[0009] Moreover, in order to compactify the changer, an attempt was
made to reduce the distance between the recording/playing position
E and the disc holding position F so that the disc 224 at the
recording/playing position E appeared to partly overlap the disc
224 at the disc holding section as seen from above. Due to
vibration, however, the disc housed adjacent to the disc 224 under
recording/playing at the disc holding section contacted the disc
224 under recording/playing to cause an accidental track shift or
to damage the disc.
[0010] Furthermore, in order to integrate the independent driving
sources into a single common source, an attempt was made to allow
part of the gear train to be shared by both the driving system for
the vertical driving of the spacers 203 and the horizontal driving
system and to use a gear that slided in the axial direction to
select the engaged driving system, as a means for switching the
driving. When, however, the gear sliding in the axial direction
started to engage with the gear of the driving system upon driving
switching, it was blocked and failed to effect switching, causing
the apparatus to stop with an abnormal noise.
[0011] Moreover, the disc clamp means 208 was elevated from and
lowered to the recording/playing position E by engaging a lateral
pair of pins 221 on a disc playing means 220 with cam grooves 219
formed in right and left elevating cams 210. In this case, during
elevation and lowering, the disc playing means 220 might be
rotationally moved via the pins 221. If two left pins and one right
pin were used instead of the lateral pair of pins 221 to solve this
problem, the stroke of the right and left elevating cams 210
increased, resulting in another new problem that size of the
apparatus increased.
[0012] Furthermore, when the tray 215 was opened to change the
disc, a disc of a small diameter 223 such as 8 cm might
accidentally fall into the apparatus due to a large opening 222 in
the front surface of the apparatus.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is an object of this invention to provide a small disc
changer of a simple configuration that can avoid operation noise or
unstable operations due to the variation of operation loads, that
enables a disc playing means to be elevated and lowered with its
posture maintained in the horizontal direction, and that can
prevent a disc from accidentally falling into the apparatus when a
tray is opened.
[0014] To achieve this object, a disc changer according to this
invention comprises an apparatus body, a disc transfer means for
transferring a disc in the apparatus body between a disc housing
position and a disc playing position, and a vertical pair of
spindles detachably holding a plurality of spacers at the disc
housing position, and comprises a disc holding means capable of
relatively elevating and lowering the spindles and driving the
spacers in the vertical direction to deliver the disc to the disc
transfer means, a disc playing means supported on the apparatus
body at the disc playing position so as to be able to elevate and
lower, an elevating means for elevating and lowering the spindles
and the disc playing means, and a horizontal driving means capable
of driving the disc transfer means and the elevating means, wherein
the elevating means is configured so that a single part
simultaneously effects the driving of the spindles and the disc
playing means.
[0015] This invention can drive in the vertical direction the
plurality of spacers and plurality of discs installed on both
spindles to shift the arbitrary disc from the spindle to a disc
playing position, then to an unloading position, and back to a disc
housing position on the spindle, and can select the arbitrary disc
for recording/playing. This configuration eliminates the needs for
a stocker having a plurality of shelves or a plurality of subtrays
to reduce the weight and costs, and provides a disc changer having
excellent housing and operating capabilities.
[0016] Besides, the same part is used to drive the elevation and
lowering of the spindles of the disc holding means and the disc
playing means to allow the elevation and lowering timings for both
components to coincide easily in order to enable elevation and
lowering without a change in the gap between a played disc being
elevated or lowered and a held disc in the housing section, thereby
preventing discs from contacting each other during elevation or
lowering.
[0017] One embodiment of this invention is configured so that a
plate having a cam groove drives the elevation and lowering of the
spindles of the disc holding means and the disc playing means.
[0018] According to this embodiment, the spindles and the disc
playing means can be elevated and lowered using a simple
configuration in such a way as to maintain coincident timings.
[0019] Another embodiment of this invention uses in part of the
elevating means for the spindles and the disc playing means, a cam
gear connected to a lateral pair of plates via an intermediate gear
to rotate in synchronism with the movement of the plates.
[0020] Even if the pitch between the pins provided in the lateral
direction relative to the disc playing means is different from the
width-wise pitch of the pins provided in the lateral direction
relative to a elevating base for the spindles, this embodiment
enables elevation and lowering using the simple configuration
without a change in such a way as to maintain coincident timings
for both components.
[0021] In addition, according to the disc changer of this
invention, the horizontal driving means is composed of a driving
gear connected to the driving source via a speed reduction
mechanism, a driving rack meshing with the driving gear, and a
speed-increasing gear rotatably supported on the driving rack. The
speed-increasing gear is a double-gear unit composed of a larger
and a smaller gears having the same number of teeth and different
modules, and the smaller gear engages with a rack provided in the
elevating means, while the larger gear engages with a rack provided
in the disc transfer means.
[0022] According to this invention, by freely selecting the module,
that is, the pitch diameter between the larger and smaller gears
having the same number of teeth, the driving of the tray and the
driving of the elevating means for the spindle and the disc playing
means, the two driving types involving significantly different
operation loads, can be freely set so that a driving force
transmitted from the common driving source is suitable for the
loads on the tray and the elevating means and the required
speeds.
[0023] Furthermore, the disc changer according to this invention
comprises a switching gear connected to the driving source via the
speed reduction mechanism and supported so as to slide in the axial
direction and that can selectively mesh with either a gear train
provided in the horizontal driving means or a gear train provided
in the vertical driving system for the spacers; and a
drive-switching means for allowing the switching gear to slide in
the axial direction, and has a switching mode that includes at
least the rotational driving, stop, and reverse driving of the
switching gear and that is available during the sliding of the
switching gear effected by the drive-switching means.
[0024] According to this invention, the switching gear switching
between the two driving systems meshes with the gear train in one
of the driving systems while carrying out a small number of
repetitions of rotations, stoppages, and reverse rotations, thereby
preventing the tooth tips from mutually abutting to obstruct the
sliding of the switching gear. This configuration enables the
sharing of the driving source and the partial sharing of the
driving systems to reduce the number of required parts and thus the
size of the apparatus.
[0025] One embodiment of this invention uses in part of the common
speed reduction mechanism, an elastic belt each end of which is
passed around each of a pair of pulleys.
[0026] When the elastic belt is used in part of the speed reduction
mechanism according to this embodiment, the lateral pressure of the
belt remains in the driving system after driving is stopped,
thereby increasing loads effected when the switching gear is
disengaged from the teeth of the driving system to which the
switching gear has been connected prior to switching. Thus, the
repetitions of rotations, stoppages, and reverse rotations are
effective in eliminating this advantage.
[0027] Another embodiment of this invention provides control such
that when the driving is switched, the switching gear is initially
rotated in the direction opposite to the rotating direction of the
driving system to which the switching gear has been connected prior
to switching, the rotating direction existing immediately before
the stoppage of the driving system.
[0028] This embodiment can stop the rotation caused by driving
inertia after the stoppage of driving to reduce the standby time
from the stoppage of driving prior to switching until the switching
mode is entered, thereby reducing the disc change time. In
addition, in the above configuration with the elastic belt, this
embodiment is particularly effective in reducing switching loads
effected by the lateral pressure of the belt.
[0029] Furthermore, the disc changer according to this invention
comprises a disc gap maintaining means that can advance between
housed discs vertically adjacent to a played disc.
[0030] According to this invention, even if the disc housing and
playing positions are located closer to position the housed discs
and the played disc in such a way that the discs appear to overlap
one another in a top view, in order to compactify the apparatus,
the gap maintaining means advances into the gap between the housed
discs adjacent to the played disc in the vertical direction to
preclude the gap from being narrowed despite vibration, thereby
preventing an accidental track shifts or damage to the disc caused
by the contact between the played disc and the housed disc.
[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the
gap maintaining means comprises levers, so it can be simply
positioned and can stably maintain the constant gap using a simple
configuration. In addition, since the gap maintaining means is
configured to be driven by the elevating means, it can be driven
without deviating from the elevating and lowering timings for the
spindles provided by the elevating means and the elevating and
lowering timings for the disc playing means. The arrangement of the
gap maintaining means between the disc housing position and the
disc playing position allows the gap to be maintained close to both
the disc playing and housing positions, thereby enabling accurate
gap maintenance. Furthermore, sections of the disc gap maintaining
means that advance between the adjacent discs are provided at two
positions approximately laterally symmetrical about the center of
the disc to prevent the housed discs at the lateral advancing
section from inclining relative to the placed disc, thereby
enabling the gap to be stably maintained despite adverse effects
such as the inclination and vibration of the apparatus. Besides, if
the advancing sections of the disc gap maintaining means are
composed of planes with a sharp junction, when their tips advance
between the two housed discs adjacent to the played disc in the
vertical direction, they can target a single point in the gap
between the discs to provide margins for displacements of the
advancing gap maintaining means. In addition, if the disc contact
surfaces are smooth planes, sliding loads on the end surface of the
disc can be reduced to prevent the gap maintaining means from
contacting the disc end and then being caught on it.
[0032] In addition, the disc changer according to this invention
comprises an apparatus body, a disc playing means supported on the
apparatus body at the disc playing position so as to be able to
elevate and lower, an elevating means for elevating and lowering
the disc playing means, and a horizontality maintaining means for
regulating the elevating and lowering postures of the disc playing
means. The elevating means comprises a lateral pair of plates
supported so as to slide relative to the apparatus body, and a
connecting lever rotatably supported on the apparatus body to
connect the lateral pair of plates together. The horizontality
maintaining means comprises a rotating shaft extending in parallel
with the sliding direction of the plate and rotatably supported on
the apparatus body, a horizontality maintaining lever that can
rotate with the rotating shaft, and a engaging section provided on
the horizontality maintaining lever and parallel with the rotating
shaft. The engaging section slidably engages with an engaging
groove provided in the disc playing means to rotationally move
around the axis of the rotating shaft during the elevation and
lowering of the disc playing means.
[0033] According to this invention, the elevating means effects
driving to allow the right and left plates to slide in opposite
directions to synchronously elevate or lower both pins engaged with
the cam groove, by an equal amount, thereby enabling the disc
playing means to be elevated and lowered. When this disc playing
means elevates or lowers, the engaging section, elevates and lowers
with the disc playing means due to its engagement with the engaging
groove while rotationally moving the horizontality maintaining
lever with the engaging section integrated therewith, together with
the rotating shaft, thereby allowing the engaging section to rotate
around the axis of the rotating shaft. This configuration can
elevate and lower the disc playing means with the other movement,
that is, the rotational movement of the disc playing means
restrained by the horizontality maintaining lever with the rotating
shaft held in the horizontal direction, thereby enabling the
rotating shaft of the horizontality maintaining lever to be held in
the horizontal direction when the disc playing means elevates and
lowers.
[0034] One embodiment of this invention is configured so that the
disc playing means is elevated and lowered by engaging the lateral
pair of pins provided on the disc playing means with the lateral
pair of cam grooves provided in the elevating means,
respectively.
[0035] According to this invention, the elevating means requires
only the single lateral pair of cam grooves, thereby reducing the
sliding stroke of the elevating means and thus the size of the disc
playing apparatus.
[0036] Furthermore, the disc changer according to this invention
provides a disc playing apparatus which comprises an apparatus
body, a tray that can move between a first position in the
apparatus body at which the disc can be played and a second
position at which the tray protrudes from the apparatus body so
that the disc can be changed, and at least one covering means
rotatably supported on the apparatus body to cover at least part of
an opening formed due to the protrusion of the tray to the second
position. The covering means has levers rotationally moving in
response to the movement of the tray, and having a pair of
protruding portions arranged at positions approximately laterally
symmetrical around the center of the disc on the tray and provided
at an interval smaller than the outer diameter of a small-diameter
disc. The opposite ends of the protruding portions each have an
uneven surface formed like saw teeth.
[0037] According to this invention, when the tray is allowed to
protrude to move from the first position to the second position,
the cams on the tray automatically rotationally moves the levers so
as to stand. Thus, the protruding portions integrated with both
levers can cover part of the opening formed due to the protrusion
of the tray to the second position. Consequently, when the disc is
manually removed from the tray or changed even if the disc
accidentally falls from the opening toward the inside of the
apparatus body, the end of the disc is caught between the uneven
surfaces formed like saw teeth in the pair of protruding portions
provided at the interval smaller than the outer diameter of the
small-diameter disc, thereby preventing the disc from falling into
the apparatus body.
[0038] One embodiment of this invention is configured so that the
cams provided on the tray rotationally move the levers during the
opening and closing of the tray.
[0039] According to this embodiment, even if the disc is pressed
toward the interior of the apparatus body while contacting the
levers, the levers are precluded from rotationally moving and
falling down to prevent the disc from falling into the apparatus
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a
disc changer according to one embodiment of this invention;
[0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the disc changer with
an armoring case removed therefrom;
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a tray base and a tray of the disc changer,
FIG. 3A being a top view, FIG. 3B a vertical side view, and FIG. 3C
a vertical sectional front view;
[0043] FIG. 4 is a top view showing the disc changer with the
armoring case removed therefrom;
[0044] FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a disc holding
means of the disc changer wherein a lower spindle is lowering;
[0045] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the disc holding
means of the disc changer wherein the lower spindle is
elevating;
[0046] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the disc holding means
of the disc changer, particularly the lower spindle portion;
[0047] FIG. 8 is a top view showing an elevating means of the disc
changer;
[0048] FIG. 9 is a developed perspective view showing the elevating
means and a horizontal driving means of the disc changer,
particularly a rack and a gear portion;
[0049] FIG. 10 is a sectional top view showing the elevating means
and horizontal driving means of the disc changer, particularly a
speed-increasing gear portion;
[0050] FIG. 11 shows the elevating means and horizontal driving
means of the disc changer, FIG. 11A being a side view showing a
play state and FIG. 11B being a side view showing a lower-spindle
lowering state;
[0051] FIG. 12 shows the elevating means and horizontal driving
means of the disc changer, FIG. 12A being a side view showing a
tray rear state and FIG. 12B being a side view showing a stock
state;
[0052] FIG. 13 is a side view showing the elevating means and
horizontal driving means of the disc changer in a change state;
[0053] FIG. 14 shows the elevating means and horizontal driving
means of the disc changer, FIG. 14A being a side view showing a
closed state and FIG. 14B being a side view showing an open
state;
[0054] FIG. 15 is a top view showing the elevating means and
horizontal driving means of the disc changer, particularly a
stopper portion;
[0055] FIG. 16 shows the horizontal driving means of the disc
changer and the arrangement of switches, FIG. 16A being a side view
showing the play state, FIG. 16B a side view showing the change
state, and FIG. 16C a side view showing the stock state;
[0056] FIG. 17 is a top view showing a horizontality maintaining
means of the disc changer in a disc playing lowering state;
[0057] FIG. 18 is a side view showing the horizontality maintaining
means of the disc changer in the disc playing lowering state;
[0058] FIG. 19 is a front view showing the horizontality
maintaining means of the disc changer in the disc playing lowering
state;
[0059] FIG. 20 is a top view showing the horizontality maintaining
means of the disc changer in a disc playing elevating state;
[0060] FIG. 21 is a side view showing the horizontality maintaining
means of the disc changer in the disc playing elevating state;
[0061] FIG. 22 is a front view showing the horizontality
maintaining means of the disc changer and showing the disc playing
elevating state;
[0062] FIG. 23 is a top view showing the horizontal driving means
of the disc changer;
[0063] FIG. 24 shows the horizontal driving means of the disc
changer, FIG. 24A being a developed side view showing switching to
the disc holding means and FIG. 24B being a developed side view
showing switching to the horizontal driving means;
[0064] FIG. 25 is a top view showing a gap maintaining means of the
disc changer;
[0065] FIG. 26 is a side view showing the gap maintaining means of
the disc changer in an off state;
[0066] FIG. 27 is a side view showing the gap maintaining means of
the disc changer in an on state;
[0067] FIG. 28 is a top view showing a covering means of the disc
changer in a play state;
[0068] FIG. 29 is a side view showing the covering means of the
disc changer in the play state;
[0069] FIG. 30 is a side view showing the covering means of the
disc changer wherein the play state is being switched to the open
state;
[0070] FIG. 31 is a top view showing the covering means of the disc
changer in the open state;
[0071] FIG. 32 is a side view showing the covering means of the
disc changer in the open state;
[0072] FIG. 33 is a front view showing the covering means of the
disc changer in the open state;
[0073] FIG. 34 is a top view showing a disc change operation of the
disc changer in the play state;
[0074] FIG. 35 is a side view showing a disc change operation of
the disc changer in the play state;
[0075] FIG. 36 is a side view showing the disc change operation of
the disc changer wherein the lower spindle has lowered and wherein
the tray is located at a front position;
[0076] FIG. 37 is a side view showing the disc change operation of
the disc changer wherein the lower spindle has lowered and wherein
the tray is located at the rear position;
[0077] FIG. 38 is a side view showing the disc change operation of
the disc changer and showing the disc stock state;
[0078] FIG. 39 is a side view showing the disc change operation of
the disc changer in a disc change state;
[0079] FIG. 40 is an exploded perspective view of the disc
changer;
[0080] FIG. 41 is a timing chart showing each mode switching of the
disc changer;
[0081] FIG. 42 is a timing chart for each section of the disc
changer;
[0082] FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing a disc changer
according to a conventional improved example with an armoring case
removed therefrom;
[0083] FIG. 44 is a top view showing the disc changer with the
armoring case removed therefrom; and
[0084] FIG. 45 is a side view of a disc holding means of the disc
changer.
EMBODIMENT
[0085] A disc changer that is an example of an embodiment of this
invention will be described below.
[0086] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a large-diameter disc of
diameter 12 cm and 2 is a small-diameter disc of diameter 8 cm. A
front panel 10 is attached to a bottom plate body 11, and No. keys
12, an open and close key 13, and a play key 14, and a stop key 15
are provided on the front surface of the front panel 10. Reference
numeral 16 is an armoring case for covering a disc changer 19, and
17 is an insulator provided on the bottom plate body 11. Reference
numeral 22 designates a tray base protruding from an opening 10a of
the front panel 10. Reference numeral 23 denotes a tray that is
guide by the tray base 22 to slide in a direction W-X shown by the
arrow in the figure and that has a changed disc 1 or 2 supplied
thereon.
[0087] In FIGS. 2, 4, 33, and 34, an apparatus body 20 is composed
of a bottom plate 20A, a right and a left side plates 20B, and a
rear plate 20C. Inside the apparatus body 20, a disc housing
position A is formed on the rear plate 20C side, while a disc
playing position B is formed on the front surface side. A distance
L between the center of the disc 1 or 2 housed at the disc housing
position A and the center of the disc 1 or 2 played at the disc
playing position B is set larger than 10 cm (the radius of the
large-diameter disc 1+ the radius of the small-diameter disc 2) and
smaller than 12 cm (the diameter of the large-diameter disc 1).
[0088] This configuration can reduce the distance between the disc
housing position A and the disc playing position B to allow the
housed large-diameter disc 1 and the played large-diameter disc 1
to overlap each other in a top view, thereby compactifying the
apparatus. In addition, the housed large-diameter disc 1 and the
played small-diameter disc 2 or the housed small-diameter disc 2
and the played large-diameter disc 1 are located so as not to
overlap each other in a top view.
[0089] Next, the configuration of a disc transfer means will be
described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0090] That is, the disc transfer means 21 is provided in the
apparatus body 20 to transfer the disc 1 or 2 between the disc
housing position A and the disc playing position B. The disc
transfer means 21 is composed of a tray base 22 guided by the side
plates 20B of the apparatus body 20 to slide in the direction shown
by the arrows W-X, (longitudinal direction) a tray 23 guided by the
tray 22 to slide in the direction shown by the arrows W-X, and a
carrier 27 supported and guided by the tray base 22 side to slide
in the direction shown by the arrows W-X. The tray base 22 slides
in the direction shown by the arrow W (forward) to protrude from
the opening 10a formed in the front panel 10.
[0091] A 12-cm-disc placement section 24 and an 8-cm-disc placement
section 25 are formed in the top-surface side of the tray 23. To
reduce the height of spacers (described below) of a disc holding
means to reduce the thickness of the disc changer 19, the
12-cm-disc placement section 24 is formed slightly above the
8-cm-disc placement section 25.
[0092] The carrier 27 is provided on the rear surface of the right
of the tray base 22, is shaped like a linear material, and has a
rack 28 formed on its outer side. An engaging locking hole 29
extending in the vertical direction is formed in a predetermined
position of the carrier 27 so that an engaging locking pin 26 from
the tray 23 is engagingly locked in the engaging locking hole
29.
[0093] These components 22 to 29 constitute an example of the disc
transfer means 21. According to the disc transfer means 21,
frontward and backward driving executed by a horizontal driving
means (described below) moves the carrier 27 forward and backward
through the rack 28 to allow the tray base 22 to support and guide
the tray 23 integrated with the carrier 27, thereby enabling
integral movement. This configuration enables the disc 1 or 2 to
move within the apparatus body 20 between the disc housing position
A and the disc playing position B.
[0094] Next, the configuration of a disc holding means 30 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5 to 7, 26, 27, and 35.
[0095] The disc holding means 30 is provided at the disc housing
position A and has a vertical pair of spindles, that is, an upper
spindle 31 and a lower spindle 41 that detachably hold a plurality
of spacers 38. The disc holding means 30 elevates and lowers the
lower spindle 41 and drives the spacers 38 in the vertical
direction to enable the disc 1 or 2 to be delivered to the disc
transfer means 21.
[0096] Reference numeral 32 is a spindle mounting plate provided in
the rear half of the side plates 20B and between the top surfaces
of the side plates 20B, and the upper spindle 31 is provided under
the spindle mounting plate and at the center thereof. In addition,
42 is an elevating base (a spindle base) opposed to the spindle
mounting plate 32 from below, driven by an elevating means
(described below) in the vertical direction, and having the lower
spindle 41 provided thereon and at the center thereof.
[0097] The upper spindle 31 has a flange 31b at the upper end of an
upper spindle body 31a, and an engaging piece 31c formed on the
flange 31b engages with an engaging hole 32a formed in the spindle
mounting plate 32. A disc presser 33 is buried in the outer
circumference of the upper spindle body 31a so as to move along a
vertical groove 31e in the upper spindle body 31a. The disc presser
33 is urged downward by a disc presser spring 34 provided between
the disc presser 33 and the flange 31b.
[0098] A holding claw 35 is housed inside the upper spindle body
31a. The holding claw 35 consists of a claw portion 35a for holding
the spacers 38 on the upper spindle 31, a core portion 35b on which
a protruding portion 44c of the lower spindle 41 abuts, and an
upper stopper 35c, and is integrally formed of a synthetic
resin.
[0099] The holding claw 35 is urged downward by a claw opening
spring 36 provided between the holding claw 35 and the spindle
mounting plate 32, but is prevented by a pressing section 31d from
jumping out. The pressing section 31d is formed integrally with the
upper spindle body 31a, and the tip of a press-down piece 48a of a
detachment prevention claw 48, which is described below, abuts on
the pressing section 31d.
[0100] The claw portion 35a is configured to be bent inward and
outward because its root is formed of a sheet. The tip 35d of the
claw portion 35a is shaped like a hook, and its portion that
contacts the upper spindle body 31a inclines inward. To allow the
tip 35d of the claw portion 35a to sufficiently move backward into
the upper spindle body 31a, three vertical grooves 35e are formed
in the core portion 35b of the holding claw 35 at positions at
which the tip 35d abuts on the upper spindle body 31a.
[0101] The lower spindle 41 is composed of a lower spindle body 45
consisting of an outer cylinder 43 and an inner cylinder 44; and
the detachment prevention claw 48 buried in the inner cylinder 44.
The inner cylinder 44 is buried in a lower shaft 42a formed on an
elevating base 42 and has at its lower end an engaging locking
piece 44a engaged with and fixed to the elevating base 42. The
outer cylinder 43 has a flange 43a at its lower end, and a
ring-shaped gear 43b is provided on the bottom surface of the
flange 43a. The ring-shaped gear 43b meshes with a second
intermediate gear 157 in a gear train (described below) to rotate
the outer cylinder 43.
[0102] A male thread 43c is formed in the outer circumference of
the outer cylinder 43, and a screw section 46 that moves the spacer
38 in the vertical direction is screwed on the male thread 43c. A
rotation stopper 47 is mounted on the screw section 46 to prevent
the screw section 46 from rotating with the rotation of the
cylinder 43. The rotation stopper 47 has one end journaled to the
screw section 46 and the other end journaled to the elevating base
42.
[0103] A detachment preventing claw 48 is composed of three claw
sections 48b that are open outward, three pressed-up pieces 48a
each formed between the claw sections 48b, and a lower stopper 48d
protruding downward.
[0104] Three claw holes 44b are formed at the top of the inner
cylinder 44 to allow the tips of the claw sections 48b to enter and
leave these holes (see FIG. 7). Small holes are each formed between
the claw holes 44b to allow the tip of the pressed-up piece 48a to
protrude therefrom. The detachment preventing claw 48 is pressed
upward by a compression spring 49 within the lower shaft 42a in
such a way that the tips 48e of the claw sections 48b protrude from
the claw holes 44b to allow the pressing-up pieces 48a to protrude
from the small holes. In addition, a protruding portion 44c that
presses the holding claw 35 upward is formed at the center of the
top of the inner cylinder 44. The lower side of the protruding
portion 44c inclines so that the claw sections 48b can enter and
leave the claw holes 44b easily.
[0105] A pin 50 and two pins 51 protruding outward are provided on
the right and left sides, respectively, of the elevating base 42,
wherein the two (left) pins 51 are provided in the longitudinal
direction. In addition, 52 is vertical-feeding detection sensor for
detecting slits 43d formed in the outer circumference of the flange
43a to count the number of rotations.
[0106] The components 31 to 52 constitute an example of the disc
holding means 30, which operates as described below.
[0107] In FIG. 5, the five discs 1 and 2 are stored in the lower
spindle 41, and the upper and lower spindles 31 and 41 are mutually
spaced. When an elevating means (described below) elevates the
elevating base 42 (in the arrow Y direction), the lower spindle 41
mounted on the elevating base 42 also elevates.
[0108] The elevation of the lower spindle 41 causes the three
holding claws 35 arranged at an angle of 120.degree. and the
detachment preventing claw 48 to fit with each other in such a way
that the protruding portion 44c abuts on a core portion 35b of the
holding claws 35. Furthermore, as the protruding portion 44c
presses the holding claw 35 upward against the force of the claw
opening spring 36, the tip 35d of the holding claw 35 enters the
upper spindle body 31a. Thus, the spacers 38 move toward the upper
spindle 31 without being obstructed by the tips of the claw
sections 35a.
[0109] At the same time, the pressed-up pieces 48a of the
detachment preventing claw 48 abut on the pressing section 31d of
the upper spindle 31. As the pressing section 31d presses back the
detachment preventing claw 48 downward against the force of the
compression spring 49, the tips 48e of the claw sections 48b of the
detachment preventing claw 48 moves backward into the inner
cylinder 44. Thus, the spacer 38 can move from the lower spindle 41
to the upper spindle 31 (see FIG. 6).
[0110] In this state, the rotational force of a second intermediate
gear 157 in the gear train is transmitted to the ring-shaped gear
43b to rotate the outer cylinder 43. The rotation of the outer
cylinder 43 causes the threaded portion 46 to move along the lower
spindle 41 to press the spacers 38 up. The threaded portion 46
moves the discs 1 and 2 from the lower spindle 41 to the upper
spindle 31 so that required discs 1, 2 stop when they are located
at the lower end of the upper spindle 31.
[0111] To move the discs 1 and 2 on the upper spindle 31 to the
lower spindle 41, the outer cylinder 43 may be reversely rotated to
lower the threaded portion 46. The amount of movement is controlled
so that stoppage is carried out based on the number of rotations of
the flange 43a integrated with the lower spindle 41 amount of
movement, which is counted by the vertical-feeding detection sensor
52.
[0112] Once the elevating means lowers the elevating base 42 (in
the arrow Z direction) to space the upper and lower spindles 31 and
41 mutually, the tray 23 is moved to between the upper and lower
spindles 31 and 41.
[0113] When the upper and lower spindles 31 and 41 are mutually
spaced, the claw opening spring 36 presses the holding claw 35
downward to cause the tips 35d of the claw sections 35a to protrude
from the outer circumferential wall of the upper spindle 31 to hold
the spacers 38 and discs 1 and 2 that have been moved to the upper
spindle 31. At the same time, the compression spring 49 presses the
detachment preventing claw 48 upward to allow the claw sections 35a
to protrude from the claw holes 44b in order to prevent the spacers
38 fitted on the lower spindle 41 from being detached
therefrom.
[0114] After the tray 23 has moved to between the upper and lower
spindles 31 and 41, the elevating means elevates the lower spindle
41 again. When the lower spindle 41 abuts on the upper spindle 31
to detach the holding claw 35, the spacers 38 are vertically driven
to lower by one slit (corresponding to one rotation of the lower
spindle 41). Then, the upper and lower spindles 31 and 41 are then
mutually spaced again to place the required discs 1 and 2 on the
tray 23, and the discs are then transferred to the disc playing
position B or the exterior.
[0115] Next, the configuration of the disc playing means 60 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 8, 25, and 34 to 40.
[0116] The disc playing means 60 supported on the apparatus body 20
so as to be able to elevate and lower is provided at the disc
playing position B. The disc playing means 60 has an elevating
stand 61 that can elevate and lower in the arrow Y-Z direction,
with a recording/playing apparatus 62 for the discs 1 and 2
embedded in the elevating stand 61. Buffer springs 63 are provided
between the elevating stand 61 and the recording/playing apparatus
62 at a plurality of positions to urge and elevate the
recording/playing apparatus 62. Disc clampers 64 of the
recording/playing apparatus 62 are supported at a predetermined
interval in an upper cover 67 provided between the top surfaces of
the side plates 20B and closer to the front side. A pin 65 and a
pin 66 both protruding outward are provided on the left and right
sides, respectively, of the elevating stand 61.
[0117] The components 61 to 67 constitute an example of the disc
playing means 60. The elevating means (described below) elevates
the elevating stand 61 of the disc playing means 60 in the arrow Y
direction to separate the discs 1 and 2 from the top surface of the
tray 23, and the discs are then clamped between the
recording/playing apparatus 62 and the disc dampers 64 for
recording/playing.
[0118] Next, the configuration of an elevating means 70 for
elevating and lowering the lower spindle 41 and the disc playing
means 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 8, 16, 25 to
27, 34, and 40.
[0119] A lateral pair of plates 71 and 81 that are supported and
guided by the side plates 20B of the apparatus body 20 to slide in
the arrow W-X direction are provided in the apparatus body 20.
Protruding portions 72 and 82 protruding in opposite directions are
integrally connected to the ends of the plates 71 and 81 near the
rear plate 20C, and long holes 73 and 83 extending in opposite
directions are formed in the protruding portions 72 and 82,
respectively.
[0120] One (the right) plate 71 of the plates is an example of a
unitary part. It has a cam groove 74 in its rear portion, with
which a pin 50 provided on one side of the elevating base 42 of the
lower spindle 41 is engaged and has in its front portion an upper
rack 75 and a lower rack 76 facing inward. In addition, the other
(the left) plate 81 has in its front and rear portions a pair of
cam grooves 84 with which a pair of pins 51 provided on the other
side of the elevating base 42 are engaged and a cam groove 85 with
which a pin 66 provided on the other side of the disc playing means
60 is engaged. A pin 65 provided on one side of the disc playing
means 60 engages with a cam groove 96 on the cam gear (described
below) side.
[0121] The cam groove 74 in one 71 of the plates is formed of the
continuous groove in an upper front cam section 74a, V-shaped cam
section 74b, an upper intermediate cam section 74c, and an upper
rear cam section 74d arranged from front to rear in this order (see
FIGS. 9 and 16). The upper intermediate cam section 74c and the
upper front cam section 74a are located above the upper rear cam
section 74d.
[0122] The cam grooves 84 in the rear and intermediate of the other
plate 81 are formed of the continuous groove in an upper front cam
section 84a, an upper intermediate cam section 84b, a V-shaped cam
section 84c, and an upper rear cam section 84d arranged from front
to rear in this order (see FIGS. 26 and 27). The upper front cam
section 84a is located above the upper intermediate cam section 84b
and the upper rear cam section 84d.
[0123] The front cam groove 85 in the other plate 81 is formed of
the continuous groove in a lower front cam section 85a, an upper
intermediate cam section 85b, and a lower rear cam section 85c
arranged from front to rear in this order (see FIGS. 26 and 35).
The cam groove 96 on the cam gear side is formed like a spiral (see
FIGS. 17, 19, and 25).
[0124] A shaft 86 stands from the bottom plate 20A of the apparatus
body 20 near the rear plate 20C, and has a connection lever 87
rotatably supported on its intermediate. Pins 88 and 89 stand from
the respective ends of the connection lever 87 and engage with the
long holes 73 and 83, respectively. Thus, the connection lever 87
rotatably supported on the apparatus body 20 connects the lateral
pair of plates 71 and 81 together so that the plates 71 and 81
slide in opposite direction.
[0125] In the apparatus body 20, an intermediate gear 90 that
engages with the lower rack 76 is rotatably provided via a shaft 91
standing from the bottom plate 20A, and a cam gear 92 that engages
with the intermediate gear 90 is rotatably provided via a shaft 93.
A cam cylinder 94 is integrated with the cam gear 92 on its bottom
surface. The cam groove 96 with which the pin 65 provided on one
side of the disc playing means 60 is engaged is formed in the outer
circumference of the cam cylinder 94.
[0126] The components 71 to 96 constitute an example of the
elevating means 70. According to the elevating means 70, the gear
rotating force of a horizontal driving means (described below) is
transmitted to one 71 of the plates via the upper rack 75 to allow
the plate 71 to slide in the arrow W-X direction while allowing the
other plate 81 to slide in the opposite direction via the
connection lever 87. At the same time, the intermediate gear 90
engaging with the lower rack 76 is rotated to rotate the cam
cylinder 94 via the cam gear 92.
[0127] Thus, the left and right plates 71 and 81 are allowed to
slide in the opposite directions and the cam gear 92 is rotated in
response to the movement of one 71 of the plates to elevate and
lower the elevating base 42 of the lower spindle 41 via the cam
grooves 74 and 84 in the arrow Y-Z direction while elevating and
lowering the disc playing means 60 via the cam grooves 96 and 85 in
the arrow Y-Z direction. The formation positions of the cam grooves
74, 84, 96, and 85 and the cam shapes are set so that the operation
is preferably performed in response to the movement of the plates
71 and 81 with timings described below.
[0128] During playing as shown in FIGS. 16(A), 27, and 29, one 50
of the pins of the elevating base 42 engages with the upper
intermediate cam section 74c of the cam groove 74, the other pin 51
of the engaging base 42 engages with the upper intermediate cam
section 84b of the cam groove 84, the other pin 66 of the disc
playing means 60 engages with the upper intermediate cam section
85b of the cam groove 85, and one 65 of pins of the disc playing
means 60 engages with the cam groove 96.
[0129] While the lower spindle is lowering and the tray is located
in front as shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 and 36, one 50 of the pins of
the elevating base 42 engages with the V-shaped cam section 74b of
the cam groove 74, the other pin 51 of the engaging base 42 engages
with the V-shaped cam section 84c of the cam groove 84, the other
pin 66 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the lower rear cam
section 85c of the cam groove 85, and one 65 of pins of the disc
playing means 60 engages with the cam groove 96.
[0130] In addition, while the lower spindle is lowering and the
tray is located in rear as shown in FIG. 37, one 50 of the pins of
the elevating base 42 engages with the V-shaped cam section 74b of
the cam groove 74, the other pin 51 of the engaging base 42 engages
with the V-shaped cam section 84c of the cam groove 84, the other
pin 66 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the lower rear cam
section 85c of the cam groove 85, and one 65 of pins of the disc
playing means 60 engages with the cam groove 96.
[0131] In addition, while the disc is being stocked as shown in
FIGS. 16(C) and 38, one 50 of the pins of the elevating base 42
engages with the upper front cam section 74a of the cam groove 74,
the other pin 51 of the engaging base 42 engages with the upper
rear cam section 84d of the cam groove 84, the other pin 66 of the
disc playing means 60 engages with the lower rear cam section 85c
of the cam groove 85, and one 65 of pins of the disc playing means
60 engages with the cam groove 96.
[0132] In addition, while the disc is being changed as shown in
FIGS. 16(B) and 39, one 50 of the pins of the elevating base 42
engages with the upper intermediate cam section 74c of the cam
groove 74, the other pin 51 of the engaging base 42 engages with
the upper intermediate cam section 84b of the cam groove 84, the
other pin 66 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the upper
intermediate cam section 85b of the cam groove 85, and one 65 of
pins of the disc playing means 60 engages with the cam groove
96.
[0133] As described above, the elevating means 70 is configured so
that the movement of one 71 of the plates that is a unitary part
simultaneously allows the lower spindle 41 and the disc playing
means 60 to elevate and lower. Thus, by using the same plate 71 to
drive the elevation and lowering of the lower spindle 41 and the
disc playing means 60, timings for the elevation and lowering can
be easily matched between these components to enable the discs to
be elevated and lowered without changing the gap between the
elevating or lowering played disc and the held discs in the housing
section, thereby preventing the disc from contacting one
another.
[0134] In addition, since the plates 71 and 81 having the cam
grooves 74, 84, and 85 drive the elevation and lowering of the
lower spindle 41 of the disc holding means 30 and the disc playing
means 60, the elevation and lowering of the lower spindle 41 and
the disc playing means 60 can be carried out using the simple
configuration while precluding the timings from being
unmatched.
[0135] Furthermore, due to the configuration in which the elevating
means 70 shared by the lower spindle 41 and the disc playing means
60 include the lateral pair of plates 71 and 81 and the cam gear 92
connected to the plate 71 via the intermediate gear 90 to rotate in
synchronism with the movement of the plate 71, elevation and
lowering can be carried out using the simple configuration while
precluding the timings from being unmatched even if the widthwise
pitch of the pins 65 and 66 provided on the left and right of the
disc playing means 60 is different from the widthwise pitch of the
pins 50 and 51 provided on the left and right of the elevating base
42 of the lower spindle 41.
[0136] Next, the configuration of a horizontal driving means 100
that can drive the disc transfer means 21 and the elevating means
70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9-15, 23, and 40.
[0137] The horizontal driving means 100 has a driving gear 101
connected to a driving source via a speed reduction mechanism
(described below) and rotatably mounted on a shaft 102 standing
from the bottom plate 20A. A driving rack 103 is provided that is
supported and guided by the carrier 27 side of the disc transfer
means 21 and the tray base 22 to relatively slide in the arrow W-X
direction, and a rack 104 of the driving rack 103 is formed in its
inner side to engage with the driving gear 101.
[0138] A speed increasing gear 106 is rotatably provided at a
predetermined position of the driving rack 103 via a shaft 105. The
speed increasing gear 106 is a two-stage gear composed of a larger
and a smaller gears 106A and 106B that have the same number of
teeth but different modules, wherein the smaller gear 106B engages
with the rack 75 of one 71 of the plates provided in the elevating
means 70, while the larger gear 106A engages with the rack 28 of
the carrier 27 provided in the disc transfer means 21.
[0139] The tray base 22 has in its front a stopper device 110 that
restrains the sliding of the carrier 27 and the plate 71 in the
arrow W direction and a carrier lock device 112 that inhibits the
sliding of the carrier 27 in the arrow X direction.
[0140] The stopper device 110 is in the form of an L-shaped lever
and is rotatably provided on the tray base 22 via a pin 111. One of
its arm sections is formed into a receiving section 110a on which
an abutting section 27a formed at the front end of the carrier 27
can be abutted. In addition, the other arm section has formed
therein a receiving section 110b on which a tip abutting section
71d formed at the tip of the plate 71 can be abutted and an
engaging locking section 110c that can engage with the carrier
27.
[0141] The engaging locking section 110c is configured to engage
with an engaging-locking recessed portion 27b formed in the outer
side of the carrier 27 when the abutting section 27a of the carrier
27 abuts on the receiving section 110a to rotate the stopper device
110 around the pin 111 by a predetermined amount.
[0142] The carrier lock device 112 is also in the form of an
L-shaped lever and is rotatably provided on the tray base 22 via a
pin 113. One of its arm sections is formed into a stopper section
112a that can engage with a stopper recessed portion 27c formed in
the inner side of the carrier 27. In addition, the other arm
section is formed into an unlocking rotary receiving section
112b.
[0143] A common urging spring 114 is provided across the stopper
device 110 and the carrier lock device 112 to rotate and urge these
devices. The urging spring 114 is disposed to urge the stopper
device 110 in a direction in which the device 110 is released while
urging the carrier lock device 112 in a direction in which the
device 112 engages with the carrier.
[0144] An operation device 115 is provided in front of the
apparatus body 20 to rotationally move the carrier lock device 112
in the unlocking direction. The operation device 115 is in the form
of a lever and is rotatably provided on the apparatus body 20 via a
pin 116.
[0145] A first arm section of the operation device 115 has formed
therein a receiving section 115a on which a front abutting section
71a formed on one 71 of the plates can be abutted. In addition, a
second arm section has formed therein a rotary operation section
115b that can be abutted on the unlocking rotary receiving section
112b of the carrier lock device 112 from the rear. A third arm
section has formed thereon a cam pin 115c that can be laterally
engaged with and detached from a locking cam groove 22a provided in
the bottom surface of the tray base 22. The locking cam groove 22a
is formed like a curved surface in such a way to follow the moving
trace of the cam pin 115c.
[0146] A spring 117 is provided to urge the operation device 115
for rotational movement wherein the urging direction is set so as
to shift the receiving section 115a backward.
[0147] An intermediate lock device 120 that inhibits one 71 of the
plates that has moved in the arrow W direction as far as possible
from moving in the arrow X direction while restraining the movement
of the tray base 22 in the arrow X direction is provided in the
middle of the apparatus body 20. The intermediate lock device 120
is in the form of a lever and its central position is rotationally
formed on the apparatus body 20 via a pin 121.
[0148] A receiving section 120a on which an intermediate abutting
section 71b formed in the middle of the plate 71 can be abutted is
formed at the front end of the intermediate lock device 120. A
passive cam section 120b on which a driving cam section 22b (see
FIG. 3) provided close to the rear of the tray base 22 can be
abutted is formed close to the rear of the intermediate lock device
120. In addition, a stopper section 120c on which a stopped portion
22c (see FIG. 3) provided close to the rear of the tray base 22 can
be abutted is formed at the rear end of the intermediate lock
device 120. A spring 122 urges the intermediate lock device 120 so
that the receiving section 120a thrusts into the moving trace of
the intermediate abutting section 71b.
[0149] The apparatus body 20 has in its rear, a rear lock device
123 that receives one 71 of the plates that has moved in the arrow
X direction and that locks the carrier 27 when the plate 71 has
further moved in the arrow X direction. The rear lock device 123 is
in the form of an L-shaped lever and its central position is
rotationally formed on the apparatus body 20 via a pin 124.
[0150] A receiving section 123a on which a rear-end abutting
section 71c formed at the rear end of the plate 71 can be abutted
is formed at the front end of a front-facing arm section of the
rear lock device 123. An abutting section 123b on which a rear-end
abutting section 27d formed at the rear end of the carrier 27 can
be abutted is formed in a horizontal arm section of the rear lock
device 123. In addition, the receiving section 123a has formed
thereon an engaging locking section 123c that can be externally
engaged with and disengaged from an engaging-locking recessed
portion 27e provided close to the rear of the carrier 27 and that
is outwardly open. A spring 125 urges the rear lock device 123 so
that the receiving section 123a thrusts into the moving trace of
the rear-end abutting section 71c.
[0151] The components 101 to 125 constitutes an example of the
horizontal driving means 100 capable of driving the disc transfer
means 21 and the elevating means 70. According to the horizontal
driving means 100, a driving source rotationally drives the driving
gear 101 forward and backward via the speed reduction mechanism to
allow the driving rack 103 to slide in the arrow W-X direction. The
sliding of the driving rack 103 causes the disc transfer means 21
and the elevating means 70 to be driven via the speed increasing
gear 106.
[0152] For example, while the disc is being played as shown in FIG.
11(A), the carrier 27 is moved to the front end limit to allow its
abutting section 27a to abut on the receiving section 110a to
rotationally move the stopper device 110 against the force of the
urging spring 114, thereby engaging the engaging locking section
110c with the engaging-locking recessed portion 27b of the carrier
27. This operation serves to maintain the position of the carrier
27 at the front end limit. In addition, the rotary operation
section 115b of the operation device 115 abuts on the rotary
receiving section 112b of the carrier lock device 112 to
rotationally move the carrier lock device 112 against the force of
the urging spring 114 to detach the stopper section 112 from the
stopper recessed portion 27c.
[0153] The driving cam section 22b of the tray base 22 acts on the
receiving cam section 120b to rotationally move the intermediate
lock device 120 against the force of the spring 122 to place the
receiving section 120a out of the moving trace of the rear abutting
section 71b. Furthermore, the rear lock section 123 is rotationally
moved by means of the urging force of the spring 125 to thrust the
receiving section 123a into the moving trace of the rear-end
abutting section 71c. In addition, one 71 of the plates slides
toward the front end to elevate the elevating means 70 to lift the
spindle 41 and the recording/playing apparatus 62.
[0154] In this state, to return to the disc housing position A the
discs land 2 that have been played, the driving gear 101 is first
rotated in the arrow M direction in FIG. 11(B). Then, the driving
rack 103 slides in the arrow X direction, but since the stopper
device 110 inhibits the movement of the carrier 27, the larger gear
106A of the speed increasing gear 106 journaled to the driving rack
103 meshes with the rack 28 of the carrier 27 to rotate the speed
increasing gear 106.
[0155] Consequently, the smaller gear 106B of the speed increasing
gear 106 is rotated to cause the one 71 of the plates to slide in
the arrow X direction via the upper rack 75 until the rear-end
abutting section 71c abuts on the receiving section 123a.
[0156] The sliding of one 71 of the plates in the arrow X direction
causes the elevating means 70 to descend to lower the lower spindle
41 and the recording/playing apparatus 62. In this case, the speed
increasing gear 106 is transmitting a force at a reduced speed to
enable slow and stable descent. As a result, the lower spindle has
lowered and the tray is placed at the front position as shown in
FIG. 11(B).
[0157] When the rear-end abutting section 71c of one 71 of the
plates abuts on the receiving section 123a to stop the sliding of
the plate 71, the driving rack 103 slides in the arrow X direction
to allow the smaller gear 106B of the speed increasing gear 106
journaled to the driving rack 103 to mesh with the fixed upper rack
75 to rotate the speed increasing gear 106. Consequently, as shown
in FIG. 12(A), the larger gear 106A of the speed increasing gear
106 is rotated to allow the carrier 27 to slide in the arrow X
direction via the rack 28 to rotationally move the stopper device
110 due to the urging spring 114, thereby detaching the engaging
locking section 110c from the engaging-locking recessed portion 27b
of the carrier 27.
[0158] The carrier 27 slides until the rear-end abutting section
27d abuts on the abutting section 123b. This abutment causes the
rear lock device 123 to be rotationally moved against the force of
the spring 125 to externally engage the engaging-locking section
123c with the engaging-locking recessed portion 27e to lock the
position of the carrier 27 at the rear end limit. The carrier 27
slides to allow the tray 23 to slide in the arrow X direction
relative to the tray base 22, resulting in the state shown in FIG.
12(A) in which the lower spindle has lowered and in which the tray
is placed at the rear position. The locking rotational movement of
the rear lock device 123 causes the receiving section 123a to
escape inward from the rear-end abutting section 71c of the plate
71.
[0159] This operation enables the plate 71 to slide in the arrow X
direction. Thus, one 71 of the plates is allowed to slide in the
arrow X direction to elevate the elevating means 70 and thus the
lower spindle 41 and the recording/playing apparatus 62, resulting
in the disc stock state shown in FIG. 12(B).
[0160] To switch this state to the disc change state shown in FIG.
13, the driving gear 101 is first rotated in the direction opposite
to the one described above, that is, the arrow N direction. Then,
the driving rack 103 slides in the arrow W direction, but since the
rear lock device 123 inhibits the movement of the carrier 27, the
larger gear 106A of the speed increasing gear 106 journaled to the
driving rack 103 meshes with the fixed rack 28 of the carrier 27 to
rotate the speed increasing gear 106.
[0161] Consequently, the smaller gear 106B of the speed increasing
gear 106 is rotated to cause the one 71 of the plates to slide in
the arrow W direction via the upper rack 75. Then, the elevating
means 70 descends to lower the lower spindle 41 and the
recording/playing apparatus 62.
[0162] When one 71 of the plates slides in the arrow (a) direction
to abut and lock the tip abutting section 71d of the plate 71 on
the receiving section 110d of the lock device 110, as described
above, the rear lock device 123 can be rotationally moved by the
spring 125 in the unlocking direction. Thus, the rear lock device
123 is rotationally moved in the unlocking direction to detach the
engaging locking section 123c from the engaging-locking recessed
portion 27e. The sliding of the driving rack 103 in the arrow (a)
direction causes the speed increasing gear 106 journaled to the
driving rack 103 to rotate due to the engagement of its smaller
gear 106B with the fixed upper rack 75.
[0163] Consequently, the larger gear 106A of the speed increasing
gear 106 is rotated to feed the carrier 27 in the arrow W direction
via the rack 28, and the carrier 27 slides in the arrow W direction
while having its speed increased as the driving rack 103 moves. The
carrier 27 slides until its abutting section 27a abuts on the
receiving section 110a of the lock device 110. The sliding of the
carrier 27 causes the tray 23 to slide in the arrow W direction
relative to the tray base 22. In addition, the abutting section 27a
abuts on the receiving section 110a to rotationally move the
stopper device 110 against the force of the urging spring 114 to
engage the engaging-locking section 110c with engaging-locking
recessed portion 27b of the carrier 27. This operation serves to
maintain the position of the carrier 27 at the front end limit. The
locking rotational movement of the stopper device 110 causes the
receiving section 110b to escape inward from the tip abutting
section 71d of the plate 71.
[0164] This operation enables the plate 71 to slide in the arrow W
direction. Thus, one 71 of the plates is allowed to slide in the
arrow W direction to elevate the elevating means 70, thereby
elevating the lower spindle 41 and the recording/playing apparatus
62, resulting in the disc change state shown in FIG. 13.
[0165] In the closed state shown in FIG. 14(A), one 71 of the
plates further slides in the arrow W direction compared to the play
state shown in FIG. 11(A). Thus, the elevating means 70 descends to
lower the lower spindle 41 and the recording/playing apparatus
62.
[0166] In the closed state shown in FIG. 14(A), the driving gear
101 can be rotated in the arrow direction to enter the open state
shown in FIG. 14(B). That is, the driving gear 101 is rotated to
allow the driving rack 103 to slide in the arrow W direction to
abut on a stopper (not shown) provided in front of the apparatus
body 20, thereby meshing the smaller gear 106B with the upper rack
75 on the plate 71 that is stopped in the arrow W direction. The
smaller gear 106B is then rotated to rotate the larger gear 106A of
the speed increasing gear 106 to cause the carrier 27 to slide in
the arrow W direction via the rack 28. In this case, the carrier
lock device 112 is rotationally moved due to the urging spring 114
to engage its stopper section 112a with the stopper recessed
portion 27c of the carrier 27 as shown in FIGS. 14(B) and 15 in
order to lock the carrier 27. The carrier lock device 112 allows
the tray base 22 and tray 23 integrated with the carrier 27 to
protrusively move in the arrow W direction.
[0167] The movement of the tray base 22 and the tray 23 in the
arrow X direction in switching from the open state shown in FIG.
14(B) to the close state shown in FIG. 14(A) is effected by
rotating the driving gear 101 in the arrow M direction.
[0168] According to the horizontal driving means 100, with respect
to the driving of the tray 23 and the driving of both spindles 31
and 41 and the elevating means 70 of the disc playing means 60
which involve significantly different operational loads, by freely
selecting the modules, that is, the pitch radii of the larger and
smaller gears 106A and 106B having the same number of teeth, the
driving force transmitted from the common driving source can be
freely set depending on loads on the tray 23 and elevating means 70
and required speeds.
[0169] Next, the configuration of a horizontality maintaining means
130 for restraining the elevating posture of the disc playing means
60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 22 and 40.
[0170] The horizontality maintaining means 130 has a rotating shaft
131 extending parallel with the sliding direction of the plate 81
(the arrow W-X direction) and rotatably supported on the other side
plate 20B of the apparatus body 20. V-shaped horizontality
maintaining levers 132 are integrated with the rotating shaft 131
at two longitudinal positions thereof (the levers 312 may be
provided at a single or plural positions) via its proximal ends so
as to be rotationally move with the rotating shaft 131. An engaging
pin (an example of an engaging section) extending parallel with the
rotating shaft 131 is provided at the free end of the horizontality
maintaining lever 132.
[0171] In addition, an L-shaped lower member 134 and an L-shaped
upper member 135 are integrally provided on the other side of the
elevating stand 61 of the disc playing means 60 at two positions in
the arrow W-X direction and in parallel in this direction. The
lower member 134 forms an upward receiving surface 134a and the
upper member 135 forms a downward pressing surface 135a. A
receiving surface 134a and the pressing surface 135a form an
engaging groove 136 that appears like a long hole in the lateral
direction as seen from the longitudinal direction. The engaging pin
133 is configured to slidably engage with the engaging groove 136
to rotationally move around the axis of the rotating shaft 131
during the elevation and lowering of the disc playing means 60.
[0172] The components 131 to 136 constitutes an example of the
horizontality maintaining means 130 for restraining the elevating
and lowering posture of the disc playing means 60.
[0173] According to the horizontality maintaining means 130, the
elevating means 70 drives the left and right plates 71 and 81 to
allow them to slide in opposite directions. Thus, the cam gear 92
rotates in response to the movement of one 71 of the plates to
rotate the cam cylinder 94 integrated with the cam gear 92 to
rotate the cam groove 96 formed in the cam cylinder 94, thereby
elevating and lowering the pin 65 engaged with the cam groove 96,
and thereby synchronously elevating and lowering the pin 66 engaged
with the cam groove 85, by the corresponding amount due to the
movement of the cam groove 85 formed in the other plate 81.
[0174] Thus, the disc playing means 60 elevates and lowers in the
arrow Y-Z direction. That is, FIGS. 17 to 19 show a state in which
the disc playing means 60 is lowered in the arrow Z direction,
whereas FIGS. 20 to 21 show a state in which the disc playing means
60 is elevated in the arrow Y direction.
[0175] While the disc playing means 60 is elevating and lowering in
this manner, in the horizontality maintaining means 130 the
engaging pin 133 is slidably engaged with the engaging groove 136
and is thus elevated and lowered in response to the decent and
descent of the disc playing means 60. Then, the horizontality
maintaining levers 132 with the engaging pin 133 integrated
therewith are rotationally moved with the rotating shaft 131 to
rotationally move the engaging pin 133 around the axis of the
rotating shaft 131.
[0176] Thus, the disc playing means 60 can be elevated and lowered
while using the pair of horizontality maintaining levers 132 to
restrain movements other than the elevation and lowering, that is,
to restrain the rotational movement of the disc playing means
60.
[0177] The horizontality maintaining means 130 is composed of the
rotating shaft 131 extending parallel with the sliding direction of
the plate 81, the horizontality maintaining lever 132 that can
rotationally move with the rotating shaft 131, and the engaging pin
133 provided on the horizontality maintaining lever 132 and
parallel with the rotating shaft 131 so that the engaging pin 133
is slidably engaged with the engaging locking groove 36 provided in
the disc playing apparatus 60 and thus the horizontality
maintaining means 130 rotationally moves around the axis of the
rotating shaft 131 when the disc playing apparatus 60 elevates or
lowers. Thus, when the disc playing apparatus 60 elevates or
lowers, the engaging pin 133 provided on the horizontality
maintaining lever 132 and parallel with the rotating shaft 131
contacts the engaging groove 136 in the disc playing means 60 and
slides to enable the rotational movement of the disc playing means
60 to be restrained, thereby maintaining the horizontal posture of
the disc playing means 60.
[0178] In addition, the disc playing means 60 is elevated and
lowered by engaging the lateral pair of pins 65 and 66 provided on
the disc playing means 60 with the lateral pair of cam grooves 85
and 96 provided in the elevating means 70. Accordingly, the
elevating means 70 requires only the single pair of cam grooves 85
and 96, so the sliding stroke of the elevating means 70 can be
reduced to compactify the disc playing apparatus 19.
[0179] Next, the configuration of a speed reduction mechanism 141
for connecting to the driving gear 101 of the horizontal-driving
means 100, the rotation of a driving source 140 consisting of a
motor that can be driven forward and backward, the configuration of
a gear train 149 provided on the horizontal-driving means 100, and
the configuration of a gear train 151 provided in a
vertical-driving system for the spacers 38 will be described with
reference to FIGS. 23, 24, and 40.
[0180] The driving source 140 consisting of a motor that can be
driven forward and backward is fixed to the front of the apparatus
body 20, and an elastic belt 146 is extended between a transmission
pulley 143 mounted on an output shaft 142 of the driving source and
a passive pulley 145 rotatably provided in the middle of the
apparatus 20 via a shaft 144. A cylindrical gear 147 is fixed to
the bottom surface of the passive pulley 145. The components 142 to
147 constitute an example of the speed reduction mechanism 141 for
connecting the rotation of the driving source 140 to the driving
gear 101.
[0181] An example of the gear train 149 provided on the
horizontal-driving means 100 is composed of the driving gear 101 of
the horizontal-driving means 100 and a large-diameter passive gear
108 integrated with the driving gear 101.
[0182] The gear train 151 provided in the vertical-driving system
for the spacers 38 has a passive gear 152 provided opposite to the
cylindrical gear 147 and is rotationally installed on the apparatus
body 20 via a shaft 153. A cylindrical transmission gear 154 is
fixed to the bottom surface of the passive gear 152. A first
intermediate gear 155 that constantly meshes with the transmission
gear 154 is rotatably provided on the elevating base 42 of the disc
holding means 30 via a shaft 156, and a second intermediate gear
157 that constantly meshes with the first intermediate gear 155 is
rotatably provided thereon via a shaft 158.
[0183] The components 152 to 158 constitutes an example of the gear
train 151 provided in the vertical-driving system for the spacers
38. The second intermediate gear 157 constantly meshes with the
ring-like gear 43b of the disc holding means 30.
[0184] Next, the configurations of a switching gear 161 and a
drive-switching means 165 for allowing the switching gear 161 to
slide in the axial direction will be described with reference to
FIGS. 23, 24, and 40. The switching gear 161 is provided opposite
to all of the cylindrical gear 147, the passive gear 108, and the
passive gear 152.
[0185] The switching gear 161 can slide (elevate and lower) and
rotate in the axial direction of a shaft 162 from the apparatus
body 20. The switching gear 161 consists of a large-diameter gear
section 161A that constantly meshes with the cylindrical gear 147
and a small-diameter gear section 161B provided on the bottom
surface of the large-diameter gear section 161A. The switching gear
161 is configured to be urged downward by a compression spring 163
and to elevate against the force of the compression spring 163 by
means of the forward and backward movements of the drive-switching
means 165 consisting of a plunger or a lever.
[0186] Furthermore, the switching gear 161 is configured so that
when the drive-switching means 165 is not driving and is lowered by
the elastic force of the compression spring 163, the small-diameter
gear section 161B meshes with the passive gear 108 and so that when
the drive-switching means 165 operates to elevate against the force
of the compression spring 163, the large-diameter gear section 161A
meshes with the passive gear 152.
[0187] Then, the switching gear 161 is connected to the driving
source 140 via the speed reduction mechanism 141, and the
drive-switching means 165 operates to slide in the axial direction
in order to mesh with either the gear train 149 provided in the
horizontal-driving means 100 or the gear train 151 provided in the
elevation and lowering driving system for the spacers 38.
[0188] According to the configuration of the speed reduction
mechanism 141, the gear train 149, the gear train 151, and the
switching gear 161, the forward or backward driving is transmitted
to the cylindrical gear 147 via the speed reduction mechanism 141
having the elastic belt 140 to reduce the speed of the cylindrical
gear 147 for normal or reverse rotations. During the sliding of the
switching gear 161 driven by the drive-switching means 165,
switching modes are available including at least the rotational
driving, stoppage, and backward driving of the switching gear 161.
In this case, the forward and backward switching mode is controlled
to start with reverse rotations relative to the rotational
direction of the driving source 140 immediately before the start of
switching.
[0189] That is, in FIG. 41,
[0190] mode switching A comprises play, change, and elevation, or
play, change, stock, and elevation,
[0191] mode switching B comprises elevation, change, play, and
open, or stock elevation, change, and open,
[0192] mode switching C comprises stock, change, and elevation,
[0193] mode switching D comprises stock, change, and lowering,
[0194] mode switching E comprises elevation, change, and stock,
[0195] mode switching F comprises play, change, and lowering, or
play, change, stock, and lowering,
[0196] mode switching G comprises lowering, change, and stock,
and
[0197] mode switching H comprises elevate, change, play, and open,
or stock lowering, change, and open. In either mode, during the
forward or backward sliding of the switching gear 161 driven by the
drive-switching means 165, the driving source 140 is controlled to
start with reverse rotations instead of normal rotations or with
normal rotations instead of reverse rotations.
[0198] That is, in mode switching A, the normal- or
reverse-rotation line for the driving source 140 indicates brake-on
in its higher position and brake-off in its lower position. Thus,
in area M, the rotation is stopped because both normal and reverse
rotations are braked. In addition, during the sliding of the
drive-switching means 165, in area N, the brakes are taken off from
the reverse rotation to start reverse rotations, whereas in area O,
the brakes are not applied to the normal rotation but to the
reverse rotation to effect intended normal rotations.
[0199] When the drive-switching means 165 operates to elevate the
switching gear 161 against the elastic force of the compression
spring 163, the large-diameter gear section 161A meshing with the
cylindrical gear 147 meshes with the passive gear 152, as shown in
FIG. 24(A). Thus, after the switching and sliding of the switching
gear 161 has been completed, the forward or backward driving by the
driving source 140 is transmitted to the ring-like gear 43b of the
disc holding means 30 via the gear train 151 to rotate the
ring-like gear 43b in the normal or reverse direction.
[0200] In addition, when the drive-switching means 165 is not
operated and the switching gear 161 is lowered by the elastic force
of the compression spring 163, the large-diameter gear section 161A
is disengaged from the passive gear 152, while the small-diameter
gear section 161B meshes with the passive gear 108, as shown in
FIG. 24(B). Thus, after the switching and sliding of the switching
gear 161 has been completed, the forward or backward driving by the
driving source 140 is transmitted to the driving gear 101 of the
horizontal-driving means 100 via the gear train 149 to rotate
driving gear 101 in the normal or reverse direction.
[0201] In these operations, the switching modes including the
rotational driving, stoppage, and reverse driving of the switching
gear 161 are available during the sliding of the switching gear 161
driven by the drive-switching means 165. Thus, upon switching, the
switching gear 161 that effects switching between the two driving
systems starts to mesh with the gear train 149 or 151 in each
driving system while carrying out a few repetitions of rotations,
stoppages, and reverse rotations. Consequently, the teeth tips are
prevented from mutually abutting to obstruct the sliding of the
switching gear 161, thereby enabling the rotation to be positively
transmitted. As a result, the sharing of the driving source 140 and
partial sharing of the driving systems are enabled to reduce the
number of required parts and thus the size of the apparatus.
[0202] The use of the elastic belt 146 as part of the speed
reduction mechanism 141 causes the lateral pressure of the elastic
belt 146 to remain in the driving system after the driving source
140 has stopped driving, thereby increasing loads effected when the
switching gear 161 is disengaged from the driving system to which
it has been connected prior to switching. Thus, the repetitions of
rotations, stoppages, and reverse rotations effectively eliminates
this disadvantage.
[0203] In addition, since upon driving switching, the initial
rotational direction of the switching gear 161 is controlled to
start with the direction opposite to the rotational direction of
the driving system to which the gear has been connected prior to
switching, the rotation caused by the inertia of driving after its
stoppage can be stopped to reduce the standby time from the
stoppage of driving prior to switching until the switching mode is
entered, thereby reducing the disc change time. In addition, the
configuration using the elastic belt 146 is particularly effective
in reducing switching loads caused by the lateral pressure of the
elastic belt 146.
[0204] Next, the configuration of a disc gap maintaining means 170
will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27. The disc gap
maintaining means 170 is configured to advance between housed discs
adjacent to a played disc in the vertical direction. The disc gap
maintaining means 170 is provided between the disc playing position
B and the disc housing position A and is composed of a shaft
section 171 rotatably supported on the elevating base 42 of the
lower spindle 41 and levers 172 connected to the shaft section 171
at two lateral positions.
[0205] Advancing sections 173 that can advance between adjacent
housed discs are provided at the tips of the respective levers 172,
and are each composed of two smooth planes 173a and 173b having a
sharp junction and that directly contact the end surfaces of the
respective discs located above and below the planes 173a and 173b
to separate these adjacent discs in the vertical direction (the
planes may be configured to advance between the discs without
separating them in the vertical direction). In this case, the two
advancing sections 173 of the disc gap maintaining means 170 are
provided approximately symmetrically around a centerline common to
the played and housed discs.
[0206] The disc gap maintaining means 170 is configured to be
driven by the elevating means 70. That is, the disc gap maintaining
means 170 is configured to use a spring 174 provided between the
disc gap maintaining means 170 and the elevating gap 42 to stand
the levers 172 in order to move the advancing sections 173 backward
from the end surfaces of the upper and lower discs. A lever-shaped
cam follower 175 is provided at the end of the shaft section 171,
and a cam body 176 is provided on the inner surface of the other
plate 81.
[0207] The components 171 to 176 constitute an example of the disc
gap maintaining means 170. According to the disc gap maintaining
means 170, the plate 81 moves to the disc playing position B to
allow the cam follower 175 to act on the cam body 176 to incline
the levers 172 toward the disc housing position A against the force
of the spring 174, thereby allowing the advancing sections 173 to
advance between the adjacent housed discs.
[0208] Thus, even if the distance between the disc housing position
A and the disc playing position B is reduced so that the housed
discs 1 and 2 and the played discs 1 and 2 appear to overlap one
another in a top view, in order to compactify the apparatus, as
described above, the disc gap maintaining means 170 advances
between the housed discs adjacent to the played disc in the
vertical direction and prevents the gap from being narrowed even
when vibration occurs, thereby preventing accidental track shifts
or damage to the disc caused by the contact between the played and
housed discs.
[0209] In addition, since the disc gap maintaining means 170 is
configured to have the levers 172, it can be simply positioned and
the gap can be stably maintained using the simple configuration.
Furthermore, since the disc gap maintaining means 170 is configured
to be driven by the elevating means 70, it can be driven so as not
to deviate from the elevating and lowering timings for the lower
spindle 41 and disc playing means 60 provided by the elevating
means 70.
[0210] Furthermore, since the disc gap maintaining means 170 is
provided between the disc housing position A and the disc playing
position B, the gap can be maintained at a position close to both
the disc housing and playing positions A and B, resulting in
accurate gap maintenance.
[0211] In the disc gap maintaining means 170, the advancing
sections 173 that advance between the adjacent discs are provided
at the two positions that are almost symmetrical around the center
of the discs 1 and 2, so that the right and left advancing sections
173 inhibits the housed discs from inclining relative to the played
disc to maintain a stable gap despite adverse effects such as the
inclination or vibration of the apparatus.
[0212] Furthermore, since the advancing sections 173 of the disc
gap maintaining means 170 are composed of the planes having the
sharp junction, when the tip of the disc gap maintaining means 170
advances between the two housed discs adjacent to the played disc
in the vertical direction, it can target a single point in the gap
between the discs 1 and 2 to provide margins for displacements
occurring when the disc gap maintaining means 170 is advancing. In
addition, since the disc contact surfaces are the smooth planes
173a and 173b, sliding loads on the end surfaces of the discs 1 and
2 can be reduced to prevent the advancing section from being caught
on the end of the disc.
[0213] Next, the configuration of a covering means 190 that is
rotatably supported on the apparatus body 20 and that can cover at
least a part of the opening 10a formed due to the protrusion of the
tray 23 to the second position will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1, 4, and 28 to 33. The first position in the apparatus body
20 at which the disc can be played corresponds to the disc playing
position B, while the second position outside the apparatus body 20
at which the disc can be removed and changed corresponds to a disc
removal and change position C at which the tray 23 protrudes out
from the apparatus.
[0214] The covering means 190 has levers 191 that are rotatably
supported on the apparatus body 20 and that rotationally move in
response to the movement of the tray 23. The lateral pair of levers
191 are integrated with a lateral rotational-moving shaft 192
rotatably supported on the apparatus body 20. The levers 191 have a
pair of protruding portions 193 that are located approximately
laterally symmetrically around the center of the disc 1 or 2 placed
on the tray 23 and that are spaced at an interval smaller than the
outer diameter of the small-diameter disc 2. The opposed ends of
the protruding portions 193 are each formed into a saw-teeth-shaped
uneven surface 193a.
[0215] Furthermore, a passive lever 194 is integrated with the
other (left) end of rotational-moving shaft 192, and is also
integrated with a passive cam 195 that faces rearward when the
levers 191 and passive lever 194 are rotationally moved rearward to
assume a horizontal posture.
[0216] A cam 22d is formed on the other side of the tray base 22
and on the bottom surface of the longitudinal middle of the base 22
to slide under the passive cam 195 to stand and rotationally move
it when the tray base 22 is moved in such a way as to protrude in
the arrow W direction. This configuration allows the levers 191 to
be rotationally moved when the cam 22d provided on the tray base 22
contacts and urges part of the lever 191 for rotational movement as
the tray 23 is allowed to protrude.
[0217] Moreover, a linear cam body 22e is formed on the other side
of the tray base 22 and on the bottom surface of the base 22
between its longitudinal middle and its front end. The linear cam
body 22e is configured to abut on the stood and rotationally moved
passive cam 195 from the front to bring down and rotationally move
the passive cam 195 in the horizontal direction and to then sit
above the horizontally brought-down passive cam 195 to inhibit it
from being deflected in the direction in which it is stood and
rotationally moved while the tray 23 is moving.
[0218] The components 191 to 195 constitute an example of the
covering means 190. According to the covering means 190, when the
tray 23 is at the disc playing position B after moving in the arrow
X direction together with the tray base 22, the passive lever 194
and the levers 191 are brought down and rotationally moved
rearward, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29.
[0219] In allowing the tray 23 to protrude from the disc playing
position B to the disc removal and change position C, the linear
cam body 22e is positioned above the horizontally brought-down
passive cam 195 to inhibit the passive lever 194 and the levers 191
from being deflected in the direction in which they are stood and
rotationally moved, as shown in FIG. 30.
[0220] Once this protruding movement has caused the tray 23 to
protrude and move to the disc removal and change position C, the
cam 22d on the tray base 22 slides under the passive cam 195 to
stand and rotationally move it based on the cam effect, as shown in
FIGS. 31 to 33. Then, the standing and rotational movement of the
passive cam 195 causes the lateral pair of levers 191 to be
integrally rotationally moved via the rotating shaft 192 to stand
both levers 191.
[0221] Thus, both sides (at least part) of the opening 10a formed
due to the protrusion of the tray 23 to the disc removal and change
position C are covered by the protruding portions 193 integrated
with both levers 191. In this state, the disc 1 or 2 is manually
removed from the tray 23 at the disc removal and change position C
or is changed. Subsequently, the tray 23 is moved in the arrow X
direction together with the tray base 22, the linear cam body 22e
abuts on the stood and rotationally moved passive cam 195 from the
front to automatically bring down and rotationally move the passive
cam 195 in the horizontal direction, thereby returning the tray 23
to the disc playing position B as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29.
[0222] As described above, when the disc 1 or 2 is manually removed
or changed and if the small-diameter 2 is likely to accidentally
fall toward the inside of the apparatus body 20 through the opening
10a formed due to the opening of the tray 23, the end of the
small-diameter disc 2 is caught between the saw-teeth-shaped uneven
surfaces 193a formed on the pair of protruding portions 193
provided at an interval smaller than the outer diameter of the
small-diameter disc 2, as shown by the imaginary lines in FIGS. 31
to 33, thereby preventing the small-diameter disc 2 from falling
into the apparatus body 20.
[0223] In this case, since the small-diameter disc 2 is caught
between the saw-teeth-shaped uneven surfaces 193a, it is also
inhibited from vertical movements to prevent its end from floating
and passing beyond the protruding portion 193. Thus, the disc is
firmly caught between the surfaces 193a.
[0224] As described above, the rotational movement of the levers
191 are automatically driven by the cam 22d and linear cam body 22e
provided on the tray 23 in order to open or close the tray 23.
Accordingly, even if the disc 1 or 2 is pressed toward the interior
of the apparatus body 20 while contacting the levers 191, the
levers 191 are precluded from being rotationally moved and brought
down, thereby ensuring to prevent the disc 1 or 2 from falling into
the apparatus body 20.
[0225] Next, the configuration of a detection means 180 partly
responsible for control will be described with reference to FIGS. 3
and 16. The detection means 180 consists of a group of detection
switches provided on a fixed substrate 181 integrated with the
apparatus body 20 and a group of operation cams provided on one 71
of the plates and the tray base 22. The group of detection switches
provided on the fixed substrate 181 consist of an open switch 182,
a first switch 183, and a second switch 184 arranged in this order
from front to rear.
[0226] In addition, one 71 of the plates has thereon a first
operation cam 185 and a second operation cam 186 that
simultaneously turn the first and second switches 183 and 184 on, a
third operation cam 187 that turns only the first switch 183 on,
and a fourth operation cam 188 that turns only the second switch
184 on. A fifth operation cam 189 is provided on the tray base 22
to turn only the open switch 182 on, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0227] The components 181 to 189 constitute an example of the
detection means 180. According to the detection means 180, when one
71 of the plates moves to the playing position, the first and
second operation cam 185 and 186 simultaneously turn the first and
second switches 183 and 184 on to detect that the disc is to be
played, based on the movement to the playing position, in order to
allow required control to be effected (see FIG. 16(A)). When one 71
of the plates moves to the change position, the third operation cam
187 turns only the first switch 183 on to detect that the disc is
to be changed, based on the movement to the change position, in
order to allow required control to be effected (see FIG.
16(B)).
[0228] Furthermore, when one 71 of the plates moves to the stock
position, the fourth operation cam 188 turns only the second switch
184 on to detect that the disc is to be stocked, based on the
movement to the stock position, in order to allow required control
to be effected (see FIG. 16(C)). In addition, when the tray base 22
protrudes to open the tray, the fifth operation cam 189 turns only
the open switch 182 on to detect that the tray is open, in order to
allow required control to be effected.
[0229] The operation of the disc changer 19 configured as described
above and that is an example of the present embodiment will be
described.
[0230] The operation will be described with reference to the timing
chart in FIG. 42. This figure describes timings for the driving of
the driving rack 103, one 71 of the plates (or the other plate 81),
the cam gear 92, the carrier 27, the tray base 22, the tray 23, the
elevating base 42, the elevating stand 61, the first switch 183,
the second switch 184, and the open switch 182 and for the open
state, the close state, the play state, the change state, the
lower-spindle lowering state, the tray rear state, and the stock
state.
[0231] FIGS. 1 and 4 show a state in which the horizontal-driving
means 100 has driven the tray base 22 and the tray 23 so as to
protrude from the front panel 10 in the arrow W direction and in
which the open switch 182 has then caused the driving source 140 to
be stopped.
[0232] In this state, after the large-diameter disc 1 (or the
small-diameter disc 2) on the tray 23 has been changed (or
supplied), the open and close key 13 is pressed to move the tray
base 22 in the arrow X direction in order to transfer the
small-diameter disc 1 to the disc playing position B, as shown in
FIGS. 34 and 36.
[0233] Then, the elevating means 70 elevates the recording/playing
apparatus 62 to clamp the large-diameter disc 1 to enter the play
state (see FIGS. 11A, 16A, and 35). In the meantime, the disc gap
maintaining means 170 is rotationally moved to the disc housing
position A to maintain the intended gap. After the disc has been
played, the open and close key 13 is pressed again to move the tray
base 22 in the arrow W direction in such a way as to protrude as
shown in FIG. 1, thereby allowing the large-diameter disc 1 to be
changed or removed from the tray 23.
[0234] In this case, the protruding portions 193 automatically
cover both sides of the opening 10a, so if the large-diameter disc
1 is likely to accidentally fall toward the inside of the apparatus
body 20 through the opening 10a, the end of the large-diameter disc
1 is caught between the saw-teeth-shaped uneven surfaces 193a
formed in the pair of protruding portions 193 so as not to fall
into the apparatus body 20.
[0235] After the disc play described above, to change the
large-diameter disc 1 on the tray 23 for the large-diameter disc 1
at the disc housing position A, the corresponding one of the No.
keys 12 is pressed. Then, the elevating means 70 descends to lower
the recording/playing apparatus 62 to open the clamper, and the
lower spindle 41 lowers to form a gap between the upper and lower
spindles 41 and 31, resulting in a state in which the lower spindle
has lowered and in which the tray is located at the front position
(see FIGS. 11B and 36).
[0236] Subsequently, the horizontal-driving means 100 operates to
move the tray 23 in the arrow X direction relative to the tray base
22 to position the large-diameter disc 1 in the gap between both
spindles 31 and 41 and to transfer the large-diameter disc 1 to a
position at which the centers of the tray 23 and large-diameter
disc 1 are aligned with the centers of both spindles 31 and 41,
resulting in a state in which the lower spindle has lowered and in
which the tray is located at the rear position (see FIGS. 12A and
37).
[0237] Then, the elevating means 70 elevates to lift the elevating
base 42 to allow the tray 23 to lift the large-diameter disc 1,
resulting in the stock state (see FIGS. 12B, 16C, and 38). Then,
after the switching mode, the disc holding means 30 is elevated via
the gear train 151 by a distance corresponding to one pitch of the
spacers, thereby allowing the large-diameter disc 1 to be held on
the upper spindle 31 via the spacers 38.
[0238] Then, the elevating means 70 descends to lower the elevating
base 42 to form a gap between both spindles 31 and 41, and the
horizontal-driving means 100 then operates to move the tray 23 in
the arrow Y direction relative to the tray base 22. The tray 23
then returns to the disc playing position B, resulting in the state
in which the lower spindle has lowered and in which the tray is
located at the front position (see FIGS. 11B and 36).
[0239] Then, the elevating means 70 elevates to lift the elevating
base 42 to connect both spindles 31 and 41, and the change state is
then entered (see FIGS. 13, 16B, 26, and 39). Then, after the
switching mode, the disc holding means 30 is rotationally driven
via the gear train 151 to move the spacers 38 between both spindles
31 and 41 up to a position at which the target large-diameter disc
1 can be held at the bottom of the upper spindle 31.
[0240] Then, the elevating means 70 descends to lower the elevating
base 42 to form a gap between both spindles 31 and 41, and the
horizontal-driving means 100 then operates to move the tray 23 in
the arrow X direction relative to the tray base 22, thereby
positioning the empty tray 23 in the gap between both spindles 31
and 41 (the state in which the lower spindle has lowered and in
which the tray is located at the rear position).
[0241] Then, the elevating means 70 elevates to lift the elevating
base 42 to connect both spindles 31 and 41, thereby entering the
stock state again (see FIGS. 12B, 16C, and 38). Then, after the
switching mode, the disc holding means 30 is lowered via the gear
train 151 to pass onto the tray 23 the target large-diameter disc 1
held on the upper spindle 31.
[0242] Then, the elevating means 70 descends to lower the elevating
base 42 to form a gap between both spindles 31 and 41, and the
horizontal-driving means 100 then operates to move the tray 23 in
the arrow W direction relative to the tray base 22 in order to
position the large-diameter disc 1 on the tray 23, at the disc
playing position B (the state in which the lower spindle has
lowered and in which the tray is located at the front position).
Then the above play state is entered (see FIGS. 11A, 16A, 27, and
35).
[0243] In this manner, by driving the positions of the plurality of
spacers 38 and the plurality of large-diameter discs 1 installed on
both spindles 31 and 41 in the vertical direction, any
large-diameter disc 1 can be shifted from the position on both
spindles 31 and 41 to the disc playing position B, then to the
removal position, and back to the disc housing position A on both
spindles 31 and 41, and any large-diameter disc 1 can be selected
for recording/playing. This configuration eliminates the needs for
a stocker having a plurality of shelves or a plurality of subtrays,
thereby reducing the weight and costs of the apparatus and
providing a disc changer having excellent housing and operating
capabilities.
[0244] During the above operations, of the modes shown in FIG. 41,
a plurality of modes are executed.
[0245] In the disc changer that operates as described and that is
an embodiment of this invention, its state during the disc change
operation changes as shown below.
[0246] (1) Horizontal movement in the X direction (=driving of the
elevating means+driving of the disc transfer means)
[0247] "play state".fwdarw.(change state: pass).fwdarw.(spindle
open and tray front).fwdarw.(spindle open and tray
rear).fwdarw."stock state". . . . The horizontal driving is
switched to the spacer vertical driving.
[0248] (2) Vertical driving in the stock state
[0249] One pitch elevation . . . . This operation causes the disc
on the tray to be transferred onto the spacer. After the elevation
by one pitch, the vertical driving is switched to the horizontal
driving again.
[0250] (3) Horizontal driving in the W direction
[0251] "Stock state".fwdarw.(spindle open and tray
rear).fwdarw.(spindle open and tray front).fwdarw."change state" .
. . . The horizontal driving is switched to the spacer vertical
driving again.
[0252] (4) Vertical driving in the change state
[0253] Elevation or lowering to a predetermined position . . . .
The next disc to play is moved to a position at which it can be
held at the bottom of the upper spindle. After the movement of the
spacers, the vertical driving is switched to the horizontal driving
again.
[0254] (5) Horizontal driving in the X direction "change
state".fwdarw.(spindle open and tray front) (spindle open and tray
rear).fwdarw."stock state" . . . . The horizontal driving is
switched to the spacer vertical driving again.
[0255] (6) Vertical driving in the stock state
[0256] One pitch lowering . . . . This operation causes the disc on
the spacer to be transferred onto the tray. After the lowering by
one pitch, the vertical driving is switched to the horizontal
driving again.
[0257] (7) Horizontal driving in the W direction
[0258] "Stock state".fwdarw.(spindle open and tray
rear).fwdarw.(spindle open and tray front).fwdarw."change state:
pass".fwdarw."play state" . . . . The disc change operation is
finished.
[0259] Although the above operations correspond to a procedure for
automatically changing the disc being played for another disc
housed in the spindles, the keys can be operated to perform various
operations such as open, play, and open; and open, selection from
housed discs, and play or open.
[0260] Although the disc changer that operates as described above
and that is an embodiment of this invention has been described in
conjunction with the large-diameter disc 1, it is also applicable
to the small-diameter disc 2 or a mixture of the large- and
small-diameter discs 1 and 2.
* * * * *