CH363500A - Disc stack end stop device for automatic disc changer - Google Patents

Description

End of disk stack stopping device for automatic disk changer In automatic disk changers of recent design, for example of the type described in Swiss patent No. disc-holder rod passing through them by their central hole. No balancing device for this West reserve pile planned.

In automatic disc changers of this type, there are currently mainly three systems used to detect when, all the discs in the reserve stack having been played, the changer's cycle control mechanism and motor training must be stopped. In all three systems, it is the absence of a disc on the support surfaces of the disc-bearing rod, when these support surfaces are used in the rest position, which causes, through the intermediary of a mechanical ism, the stop of the disc changer.

The first system comprises a sensor, articulated on the frame of the disc changer, and maintained by an elastic thrust against the periphery of the disc located on the bearing faces. When there are no more disks on these bearing surfaces, the feeler, moved by its elastic thrust, operates a displacement, bringing its end closer to the disk-carrying rod. This displacement is used to cause the disk changer to stop. However, this first system was not satisfactory. Indeed, its control device increases the complexity of the mechanism of the changer and increases its cost. In addition, this feeler and its control device are detrimental to the aesthetics of the disc changer and increase its size.

In the second system currently used, the pick-up arm itself constitutes a peripheral feeler making it possible to determine the presence or absence of a disc on the bearing surfaces and, in the latter case, to bring about a stoppage. from the disc changer. However, this system has the disadvantage of complicating the control mechanism of the pick-up arm. In addition, the pick-up arm must, after detecting the absence of discs on the support surfaces, carry out a complete operating cycle to be brought back to the RTI position ID="0001.0274" WI= "9" HE="4" LX="1277" LY="1442"> rest.

Finally, in the first third system, it is the retaining members of the discs themselves which constitute the detection member causing the command to stop the disc changer. During the flowing operation of the discs, these retainers are maintained in a radial position determined by the periphery of the central opening of the penultimate disc of the stack. When a disk rest rests on the bearing surfaces, the retaining members W6 being more retained by a disk located at their level, the latter can perform an additional stroke which determines the stoppage of the disk changer. However, the smallness of the additional stroke available to detect the presence or absence of a disk greatly reduces the operating safety.

The subject of the present invention is an end-of-disc stack stopping device for an automatic disc changer tending to eliminate the disadvantages inherent in existing devices.

This end of stack stop device is characterized by the fact that it comprises a detection member located on the trajectory of a disc during its passage from its reserve position to its displaceable playing position, during the passage of the disc, from an inactive position to an active position, a position for which the stopping of the disc changer is delayed by one cycle. The attached drawing represents schematically and by way of example an embodiment of the end-of-stack stopper device for an automatic disk changer according to the present invention. Only the parts of the disc changer necessary for understanding the end of stack arrestor are shown. This end of stack stop device is described and illustrated as part of a disc changer described in Swiss Patent No. 362241, this only to facilitate understanding of the operation of this device, but it is obvious that this stop end-of-wall, forming a whole for itself, can be mounted on other types of disc changers.

fig. 1 is an elevational view of a uruni disc changer with an end-of-stack arrester, some parts being seen in section and others removed, showing the position occupied by the various members of the end-of-stack arrester. eile at the moment when this one provokes Parret du changer.

fig. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views corresponding to those of FIGS. 1 and 2, but representing the respective positions occupied by the various organs of the end-of-pile stop device at the beginning of the throughput operation of a disc.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views corresponding to those of FIGS. -1 and 2, but representing the respective positions occupied by the various organs of the end-of-pile stop device a moment after those illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The automatic disc changer on which the 1st end stop device. battery is mounted, is of a currently well-known type and comprises a frame 1 and a turntable 2 pivots on co frame 1 in a bearing 3. This changer is still uruni a motor (not shown) driving in rotation of the first plate 2 on the one hand and a control mechanism on the other bet. Of this control mechanism, controlling all the successive operations of a changer cycle, Cam 4 controlling the vertical movements of the pick-up arm (not shown) is illustrated. This changer is furthermore equipped with a disc debit device such as that d & rit dann the first Swiss patent No. 362241 of which Beule the control rod 5 is represented.

The end-of-pile stop device, represented, comprises a detection member 6 that can be moved between an inactive position and an active position and an RTI member ID="0002.0277" WI="17" HE="4" LX="478"LY ="2293"> command causing Parret of the disc changer when the detection device is located in the inactive position.

The detection member 6 located inside the disc-carrying rod 7 of the changer is housed inside a groove 8 made in the control rod 5 of the disc delivery device. This detection member 6 slides freely inside the disc-carrying rod 7 and the groove 8 from a raised inactive position to a lowered active position. The upper end 9 or feeler of this detection member emerges when the detection member is in the inactive position, out of the disc-carrying rod 7 through a slot 10 provided in the wall of the disc-carrying rod 7. upper face of this feeler 9 is then located on the trajectory of a disc passing from its reserve position, held by the support members of the disc delivery device, to its playing position, on the changer platter discs. Opposite the feeler 9, the groove 8 has a part 12 of greater depth than the rest of its length. The lower end of the detection member 6 has an actuating finger 13.

The control member comprises a cam 14 integral with the cam 14, controlling the vertical displacements of the pick-up arm, for all angular displacement of the latter, but able to move axially with respect to this cam 4 The coupling between the cams 4 and 14 is constituted by pins 15 integral with the cam 4 and engaged in practical holes 16 in the cam 14. A lever 17 pivoted on the frame of the changer, is connected to the one of its ends with a follower roller 18 cooperating with the edge of the cams 4 and 14. The other end of this lever 17 (not shown) actuates the first mechanism causing the vertical movements of the pick-up arm. This end of the lever 17 could, for example, be mechanically connected to the rod causing the first lifting of the pick-up (rod 56 fig. 4 of patent NO 362241).

The peripheral shape of the cam 4 is such that for a complete revolution, corresponding to a cycle of the changer, that is to say the placement of a disc in the playing position and its reading, it impresses on the pick arm -up of the vertical displacements corresponding to the raising of the pick-up arm after the play of a disc, ä Good maintenance in the raised position during the withdrawal of the pick-up arm from its radial position at the end of play by a disc in its radial rest position, RTI ID="0002.0550" WI="7" HE="4" LX="1709" LY="1878"> then on lowering the pick-up arm into its position of r--pos. In the rest position, the pick-up arm rests on a pin preventing any radial displacement of the latter.

The peripheral shape of the cam 14, as well as the angular position of this cam with respect to the cam 4, impresses, during a cycle of the disc changer and always by means of the mechanism not shown, on the arm of the pick-up vertical movements corresponding to the operations of selection of the size of the disc to be played, then to good lowering in playing position. the front end (relative to the direction of rotation of the cam plate 14) comprises a portion 22 folded upwards and adopts the lower face forms a ramp 23.

From the foregoing, it therefore emerges that depending on whether the pick-up arm is controlled by cam 4 alone or by the superimposition of cams 4 and 14, it performs cycles of different movements, one corresponding to the cycle movement to be made to cause the disc changer to stop, while the other corresponds to the normal cycle of movement from one disc to another.

The cam 14 is provided with a stopper 19 projecting from its upper face and intended to cooperate, for one of the axial positions that this cam 14 can take with respect to the cam 4, with one of the ends of a pivoted arm 20 On the 1st chassis. The other end of this arm 20 (not shown) is mechanically connected to a branch switch in the first electrical power supply circuit of the disc changer.

This control member further comprises a rocking lever 21, pivoted on the first frame 1. One of the ends 24 of this rocking lever is located in the path of the actuating finger 13 of the detection member 6. The other end 25 of this rocking lever 21 rests, when the detection member is in the inactive position - that is to say when the actuating finger 13 of this detection member is not in contact with the end 24 of the rocking lever - On the upper face of cam 4 and is located on the path of ramp 23 formed by folded portion 22 of cam 14.

The operation of the stop device represents the following Considering as the initial state of the disc changer the moment when the pick-up arm has been returned to the rest position after playing a disc and when only 'a Beul disc 26 Jans the reserve pile.

At this time, the state of the disc changer is as follows: The mechanism for controlling the cycle of the changer has been brought into action in a known manner at the end of the hearing of the disc which has just been played. This mechanism then caused the lifting of the pick-up arm and its placing in the rest position as well as the rotation of the cams 4 and 14 in the first direction of the arrow f. At this instant, corresponding to the initial state defined above, the various members of the disc changer are located in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. At this initial instant, the disc debiting operation begins and the last disc of the reserve stack rests on the support members which initiate the downward movement.

At this moment, from the initial state, the operations carried out by the disc changer are as follows: feeler 9 and causes it to descend. RTI ID="0003.0274" WI="4" HE="4" LX="346" LY="2521"> The probe 9 then passes from its inactive position (figs. 3 and 4) to its active position ( Fig. 5 and 6). In this last position, the feeler 9 is in its low and retracted position. The control finger 13 resting on the end 24 of the tilting lever 21 tilts the latter into a single position for which the right end 25 is in the raised position, out of the path of the ramp 23 of the cam 14 .

2) The cycle control mechanism, actuating the cams 4 and 14, causes, through the intermediary of the lever 17 subjected to the displacements corresponding to the Superimposition of the cams 4 and 14, a cycle of displacement of the arm pick-up corresponding to the normal Cycle from one disc to the next.

3) At the end of the disc delivery operation, the control rod 5 is returned to the raised position in the manner described in patent No. 362,241. detection 6. Indeed, the first control finger 13 of this detection member is entmine by a nut 28 of the control rod.

4) With the record debiting operation completed and the pick-up arm placed in Playing Position, after selecting the diameter of the record to be played (Patent No. 362,241) the changer control mechanism immobilizes the cams 4 and 14 in the angular position illustrated in FIG. 2, Position corresponding to disc play. The axial position of the cams 4 and 14 is however not that shown in FIG. 2 but that represented in FIGS. 4 or 6.

5) When the playing of the disc is finished, the changer control mechanism again causes the cams 4 and 14 to rotate in the direction of the arrow f. This rotation causes the lifting of the pick-up arm, then, when the latter has been returned to the radial rest position by the changer control mechanism, for example in the manner described in patent No. 362,241, 1 lowering the arm to the resting position. At this moment, the changer is again in the initial state (fig. 3 and 4) with the difference that there is no longer any disc in the reserve position.

6) A new disc delivery operation takes place, however, as there are no more discs in the reserve position, the feeler 9 remains in the inactive position, so that the end 25 of the rocking lever 21 remains in position. contact with cam 4 and is therefore located on the path of ramp 23 of cam 14.

7) With cams 4 and 14 continuing to rotate in the direction of arrow f, end 25 of rocker lever 21 engages under camp 23 of cam 14, displacing the latter axially relative to the cam. 4. This axial displacement is such that the periphery of cam 14 is located above follower roller 18. Say, Beule cam 4RTI ID="0003.0541" WI="17" HE="4" LX="1529 "LY="2479"> controls the movements of the pick-up arm via the lever 17 and the mechanism connected to it. Under these conditions, the 1st pick-up arm remains in a rest posiiion throughout the 1st rest of the cycle. 8) When the cams 4 and 14 arrive in the angular position corresponding to the clearance of the disc (fig. 1 and 2), the stopper 19 carried by the cam 14 cooperates with the arm 20 which actuates the switch connected in the electrical power supply circuit of the disc changer, thus causing the latter to stop. From the foregoing, it therefore emerges that the normal cycle of the disc changer is that causing it to stop after each disc has been played (inactive position of the detection member). However, when there is a passage. disc from its reserve position to its playing position, stopping the disc changer is delayed by one cycle (active position of the selection device).

It is obvious that the shape of the detection member may be different from that described provided that this shape is compatible with its function. The mounting of this detection member inside the disc-carrying rod can also be different.

The shape and arrangement of the various control members, such as lever and arm, should in no way be considered as limiting, a multitude of different arrangements being able to be provided which all make it possible to carry out the desired functions.

The shape of the periphery of the cams 4 and 14 is dictated by the cycle of vertical movements of the pick-up arm. It is obvious that this displacement cycle may be different from that described and that consequently the peripheral shape of the cams 4 and 14 could be different.

Furthermore, the disk changer stop control member, comprising the cam 14 and the lever 21, could be coupled to any of the other cams, not shown, which are actuated by the changer control mechanism. and not to the cam 4 provided for the vertical movements of the pick-up arm. A special disc could also be provided, having no other function than to serve as a point of support for the lifting of the cam 14.

This end-of-pile stopping device has been described with reference to a changer provided with a disc delivery device of the type described in patent No. 362,241 to facilitate understanding, but it is obvious that this end-of-pile stop device forms a unit for itself and that it can be adapted to other types of disc changers.

In an embodiment not shown, the detection member could be located entirely outside the disc-carrying rod. In such an embodiment, the feeler of this detection member could, for example, cooperate with the outer periphery of the discs to be played. This sensor should then be radially movable to take into account the various diameters of the discs that can be played on a disc changer. Here also this fear pal would pass from an inactive position for which it is located on the trajectory of a disc passing from its reserve position to its playing position, to an active position by which it is located outside this trajectory to give passage to the disc of the cendants.

This end-of-pile arresting device has the following main advantages over existing positive devices: 1) It is very easy to operate.

2) The number of parts is reduced and these have dimensions such that their manufacture is easy and they are very robust.

3) The strokes available for the control of the various operations are large, so that it is not necessary to machine the constituent parts of this device with great precision, while being able to guarantee total operating safety.

4) As this device causes the stop when it is in the inactive position, the changer is stopped each time, during the operation of debiting the discs, no disc is brought from its reserve position to its play position. The changer is therefore stopped when there are no more discs in reserve, but also when, for any reason, a disc does not move from its reserve position to its play position, for example if this disc remains hooked on the disc holder rod.

Claims (12)

CLAIM End stop device. stack of discs for an automatic disc changer, characterized in that it comprises a detection member located on the trajectory of a disc during its passage from the reserve position to the playing position and movable during the passage of the disk from an inactive position to an active position, for which position the stopping of the disk changer is delayed by one cycle. SUB-CLAIMS 1. Device according to claim, characterized in that the detection member is arranged at least partially inside a disc-holder rod and that it further comprises a control member of the stop the disc changer. 2. Device according to claim and sub-claim 1, characterized in that the control member comprises a cam rotated by the changer control mechanism and a mechanical connection connecting the detection member to this cam. 3. Device according to claim and sub-claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cam of the control member carries a stop. 4. Device according to claim and sub-claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cam of the control member is axially movable between a position for which the stop is located in the path of an arm causing during its displacement by this stop, the stopping of the changer and a position for which this stop does not meet said arm during the rotation of the cam. 5. Device according to claim and sub-claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cam of the control member comprises at its front end a ramp. 6. Device according to claim and sub-claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mechanical connection between the detection member and the cam is constituted by a tilting lever, one of the ends of which is located on the trajectory of the detection device. 7. Device according to claim and sub-claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the other end of the tilting lever is located, when the detection member is in the inactive position, on the trajectory of the ramp of the control unit cam. 8. Device according to claim and sub-claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cam of the control member is angularly integral with one of the cams controlled by the control mechanism of the disc changer. 9. Device according to claim and sub-claim 8, characterized in that the cam of the control member is connected by a coupler to the cam of the changer control mechanism. 10. Device according to claim and sub-claim 9, characterized in that this coupling consists of pins integral with one of the cams and engaging in holes made in the other cam. 11. Device according to claim and sub-claim 8, characterized in that the cam of the control mechanism causes movements of the pick-up arm, vertical or horizontal, corresponding to the operations of the changer in the event of a stop. of this one. 12. Device according to claim and sub-claim 11, characterized in that the movements of the pick-up arm, horizontal or vertical, corresponding to a normal passage cycle from one disc to another, are caused by the superposition of the cams of the control member and the changer control mechanism.