JP2001052409A - Disk changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce rattle noise, and to move a stocker to a specified position or make a disk away from the stocker without any trouble even under a high temperature environment in a disk changer for transferring the stocker for holding the outer peripheral edge part of the disk in a direction almost orthogonal to the recording surface of the disk corresponding to the rotation of a feed screw member. SOLUTION: A feed screw member 8 having a helical groove 8a is formed into the shape so that its longitudinal middle part is more narrow-contracted as compared to both longitudinal end parts. Thus, even without securing a wide clearance between the inner wall part of the groove part of the stocker 1 and the outer peripheral edge of a disk D, the stocker 1 moved to the longitudinal middle part of the feed screw member 8 during reproducing or ejecting does not hold the outer peripheral edge part of the thermally expanded disk D, and the increase of sliding resistance between itself and the feed screw member 8 is prevented. Thus, rattle noise is reduced while preventing an operation failure possible under the high temperature environment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a disk drive for reproducing and / or recording information on a disk such as a compact disk (CD) by an optical pickup, and includes a plurality of stockers in the disk drive. In particular, the present invention relates to a disc changer having a stocker of a type for holding an outer peripheral edge of a disc.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of arcuate stockers for holding an outer peripheral portion of a disk are coaxially arranged in a disk drive, and these stockers are moved in the axial direction with the rotation of a feed screw member. There is known a disc changer capable of selectively reproducing a plurality of discs, and an example thereof is disclosed in JP-A-10-283707.
No., published in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a feed screw member disclosed in the above publication, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the operation of a stocker by the feed screw member. In these figures, reference numeral 8
Is a feed screw member, and spiral grooves 8a of irregular pitch are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the feed screw member 8. Although only one feed screw member 8 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, actually, four feed screw members 8 having the same structure are rotatable around four shafts 10 erected on the chassis 9. Gear 11 fixed to the lower end of each feed screw member 8
By meshing a large gear (not shown), the four feed screw members 8 rotate synchronously using a motor or the like as a drive source.

Each feed screw member 8 has a plurality (for example, six)
Are inserted, and the stockers 12 are formed in a bow shape in plan view. Usually, such a bow-shaped stocker 12 is a molded product made of a synthetic resin, and has a groove 12 for fitting the outer peripheral edge of the disk D.
a, four screw insertion holes 12b for penetrating the four feed screw members 8, and engagement projections 12c protruding into each screw insertion hole 12b. It is slidably engaged with the spiral groove 8a of the screw member 8.
In the spiral groove 8a, the upper and lower ends (longitudinal ends) have the same pitch and a narrow pitch width, but the middle portion has a wide pitch width. Therefore, when each feed screw member 8 rotates synchronously with a motor or the like as a drive source,
The engagement position of the engagement protrusion 12c in the spiral groove 8a changes, and the stocker 12 moves up and down in the axial direction.

In the thus structured disk changer, the disk D is inserted into the disk drive from the front side of the disk drive, and one of the stockers 12 faces the transport path of the disk D. Since the outer peripheral edge of the disk D is fitted into the groove 12a of the stocker 12, by repeating such an operation,
For example, six disks D can be held coaxially on each stocker 12. By controlling the rotation of each feed screw member 8 and moving the stocker 12 up and down in the axial direction, when each disc D is to be kept in the housed state, the engaging projection 12c is moved to the upper end or the lower end of the spiral groove 8a. When one of the discs D in the stored state is moved to the playback position or taken out of the apparatus, the stocker holding the disc D is engaged, as shown in FIG. The engaging projections 12c are engaged with the intermediate portion of the spiral groove 8a, and the disc D is moved to the reproducing position or outside the apparatus.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional disk changer, the disk D or the stocker 1 is used.
In order not to cause an operation failure even if the thermal expansion of the disk 2 occurs, the outer peripheral edge of the disk D is designed to be loosely fitted into the groove 12a of the stocker 12. That is,
If the outer peripheral edge of the disk D is fitted into the groove 12a of the stocker 12 in a tight state where there is almost no clearance, the disk D and the stocker 12 may be inserted under a high temperature environment.
Is thermally expanded, the outer peripheral edge of the disc D is pressed into the groove 12a of the stocker 12 whose diameter is restricted by the feed screw member 8, so that the disc D is removed from the stocker 12 during reproduction or ejection. It will be difficult to leave. Also, if the inner wall of the screw insertion hole 12b of the thermally expanded stocker 12 is strongly pressed against the feed screw member 8, the sliding resistance between the two increases, and the longitudinally intermediate portion of the feed screw member 8 having a wide pitch width increases. Stocker 1
2 cannot be moved smoothly, which may interfere with the reproducing operation and the ejecting operation.

As described above, conventionally, the outer peripheral edge of the disk D is loosely fitted into the groove 12a of the stocker 12, that is, the clearance between the inner wall surface of the groove 12a of the stocker 12 and the outer peripheral edge of the disk D is increased. By giving a margin, malfunctions during thermal expansion are avoided,
In an on-vehicle disc changer accompanied by vibration of the vehicle, the outer edge of the disc D stored in the disc changer abuts on the inner wall surface of the groove 12a of the stocker 12 due to the vibration, and abnormal noise called rattle noise occurs. This is problematic in that it easily occurs.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a feed screw member is thinned at a longitudinal middle portion where a spiral groove has a large pitch width, and at the middle portion, the feed screw member accompanies thermal expansion of a stocker. Larger diameter is allowed to some extent.
Therefore, even if the outer peripheral edge of the disc is fitted into the groove of the stocker with little clearance in order to reduce rattle noise, the disc does not easily come off the stocker in a high temperature environment, The disadvantage that the sliding resistance between the screw and the feed screw member undesirably increases is less likely to occur.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a disc changer according to the present invention, a plurality of feed screw members having unequal pitch helical grooves whose pitch width is wider than both end portions at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction, and these feed screw members are provided. A plurality of stockers each having a screw insertion hole penetrating therethrough and having an engagement projection projecting into each screw insertion hole and engaging with the spiral groove, wherein the outer peripheral edge of the disc is held by the stocker, In a disk changer that transports the disk in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording surface by rotating each of the feed screw members synchronously, the stocker is located at an intermediate portion as compared with when the stocker is located at both ends of the feed screw member. It is preferable that the engagement state between the engagement protrusion and the feed screw member is set to be a weak engagement, preferably,
The feed screw member had a narrower shape in the middle in the longitudinal direction than in both ends in the longitudinal direction.

[0010] With this configuration, the diameter of the stocker is allowed to increase with thermal expansion when the stocker is engaged with the middle portion (narrow portion) in the longitudinal direction of the feed screw member. Even if the clearance between the inner wall of the groove of the stocker and the outer periphery of the disk is designed to be as small as possible, the inner wall of the groove of the stocker moved to the longitudinal middle of the feed screw member will not There is no fear that the disc will be held in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the expanded disc, so that the disc can be detached from the stocker without any trouble even in a high temperature environment. Moreover,
When the stocker is engaged with the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the feed screw member, there is no need to worry that the inner wall of the screw insertion hole of the stocker is strongly pressed against the feed screw member. Does not increase undesirably, so that the stocker can be smoothly and reliably moved to a predetermined position during reproduction or ejection.

If the clearance is designed to be as small as possible, when the stocker is engaged with both ends (thick portions) in the longitudinal direction of the feed screw member, the increase in diameter is restricted in a high temperature environment. The stocker is substantially fitted to the outer peripheral edge of the thermally expanded disc, but the disc is not detached from the stocker engaged with the longitudinal ends of the feed screw member. The state does not matter, but rather, in a high-temperature environment, the reduction of the clearance makes it more difficult to generate rattle noise.

[0012] In the above configuration, the screw insertion hole may be formed in two.
A pair of synthetic resin stocker halves having individual pieces are connected and detachable from each other to form a stocker, and an escape space is formed between one screw insertion hole of each stocker half and the feed screw member. If this is done, it becomes extremely easy to increase the diameter of the stocker due to thermal expansion, so that the operation of detaching the disk from the stocker in a high-temperature environment is further facilitated. Moreover, since the connection structure of each stocker half is flexible and the escape space is secured,
Even when the temperature change in the external environment is large, excessive sliding resistance between each expanded and contracted stocker half and the feed screw member is unlikely to occur, so that the stocker accurately follows the rotation of the feed screw member. And the reliability can be improved.

[0013]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a stocker provided in the disc changer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view as viewed from an arrow A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the stocker half, FIG.
5 is a view as viewed from the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a side view of the feed screw member.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a stocker. The stocker 1 is formed by connecting a pair of synthetic resin stocker halves 2 and 3 so as to be slidable. It is configured. Each of the stocker halves 2 and 3 has a round hole-shaped screw insertion hole 4 and a long hole-shaped screw insertion hole 5, and a round hole-shaped screw insertion hole 6 and a long hole-shaped screw insertion hole 7. ing. Four feed screw members 8 are inserted into these screw insertion holes 4 to 7, and each feed screw member 8 is formed on the same circumference (reference numeral P in FIG. 1) slightly larger than the diameter of the disk D. It is arranged. As shown in FIG. 8, the feed screw member 8 has an external shape in which an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction (axial direction) is slightly narrower than both end portions, in other words, the feed screw member 8.
Are set smaller than the diameters at both ends. And each feed screw member 8 is
The stocker 1 can be moved up and down by rotating these feed screw members 8 forward and backward, as will be described later.
Also, by arranging a plurality of bow-shaped stockers 1 through which the four feed screw members 8 penetrate in the thickness direction (the axial direction of the feed screw members 8), a plurality of disks D can be loaded in the apparatus. It can be stored. As shown in FIG. 1, the major axis direction of the screw insertion holes 5 and 7 is aligned with the tangential direction of the circumference P on which the four feed screw members 8 are provided.

The stocker halves 2 and 3 are formed in a substantially symmetrical shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, one stocker half 2 has engaging projections 4 a and 5 a projecting into screw insertion holes 4 and 5, and a groove 2 a for fitting the outer peripheral edge of the disk D. A substantially square engaging piece 2b formed on the lower surface side of one end, and a substantially L-shaped notch 2d formed near the screw insertion hole 5 and protruding the thin portion 2c. ing. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the other stocker half 3 has engaging projections 6 a and 7 a projecting into the screw insertion holes 6 and 7 and an outer peripheral edge of the disk D for fitting. A groove portion 3a, a substantially square engaging piece 3b formed on the upper surface side of one end portion, and a substantially L-shaped notch 3d formed near the screw insertion hole 7 and protruding the thin portion 3c. Is provided. When the pair of stocker halves 2 and 3 are connected, the engaging pieces 2b and 3b are inserted into the notches 3d and 2d, respectively, so that the thin portions 3c and 2d are inserted.
c. That is, the engaging piece 2b of one stocker half 2 is inserted from the front side into the wide portion of the notch 3d of the other stocker half 3, and the engaging piece 3b of the stocker half 3 is inserted into the notch of the stocker half 2. The pair of stocker halves 2 and 3 are allowed to slide in the left and right directions of FIGS. 1 and 2 to some extent by being inserted into the wide portion of 2d from the back side and sliding in a direction in which the two engagement pieces 2b and 3b approach each other. Will be connected in a state where The size of the grooves 2a and 3a of each of the stocker halves 2 and 3 is designed so as to be able to cope with variations in the outer diameter and thickness of the disk D. It was not designed to allow for clearance to avoid. In other words, each stocker half 2, 3
When the stocker 1 is holding the disk D, it is designed to have such a size that almost no clearance is defined between the inner wall surfaces of the grooves 2a and 3a and the outer peripheral edge of the disk D, and vibration is generated in the apparatus. Lattle noise, which is a concern when added, is less likely to occur.

A spiral groove 8a of irregular pitch is formed on the outer peripheral surface of each feed screw member 8, so that the stocker halves 2, 2 are formed.
The three engaging projections 4a to 7a are slidably engaged with the corresponding spiral grooves 8a of the feed screw member 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the feed screw member 8 has a shape in which the upper and lower ends are thick and the middle portion is narrow and narrow, and the spiral grooves 8 a are set at equal pitches and the pitch width is narrow at the thicker upper and lower ends. However, the pitch of the spiral groove 8a is set wider in the narrower intermediate portion. A gear 11 is fixedly provided at the lower end of each feed screw member 8.
A large gear (not shown) is meshed with the gear, and the large gear is rotationally driven by a motor or the like, so that the four feed screw members 8 rotate in synchronization with each other, and the stocker 1 is moved through the respective engagement protrusions 4a to 7a. It moves up and down. Thus, the disk D held by the stocker 1 can be transported in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording surface, so that the disk D can be stored or transported from the storage position to the reproduction position.

For example, when the disk D held by the stocker 1 is maintained in the housed state, the engaging projections 4a to 7a are engaged with the upper end or lower end of each spiral groove 8a. When one of the discs D in the stored state is moved to the playback position or taken out of the apparatus, the engaging projections 4a to 7a of the stocker 1 holding the disc D are inserted into the spiral grooves 8a. The rotation of each feed screw member 8 may be controlled so as to move to the middle part of the feed screw member 8.

In the above-described disc changer, the stocker 1 is formed so that the feed screw member 8 has an intermediate portion (narrow portion) in the longitudinal direction.
And the feed screw member 8 hardly regulates the increase in diameter of the stocker 1 due to thermal expansion, so that the grooves 2a, 3 of the stocker 1 are used to reduce rattle noise.
a) The groove portion 2a of the stocker 1 moved to the longitudinal middle portion of the feed screw member 8 at the time of reproduction or ejection even if the clearance between the inner wall surface of the disk D and the outer peripheral edge of the disk D is minimized. , 3a is not in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the thermally expanded disk D, thereby causing the disk D to be held. Therefore, while ensuring the reliability that the disk D can be detached from the stocker 1 without any trouble even in a high-temperature environment, the occurrence of rattle noise, which has been a problem in an on-vehicle disk changer, can be suppressed, and the quality is improved. . Further, in this disc changer, when the stocker 1 is engaged with the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the feed screw member 8, the inner walls of the screw insertion holes 4 to 7 of the stocker 1 and the engagement projections 4a to 7a are moved by the feed screw member 8 Therefore, the sliding resistance between the stocker 1 and the feed screw member 8 does not undesirably increase even in a high-temperature environment. 8 can be smoothly and reliably moved to a predetermined position in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction.

In this embodiment, since the clearance is designed to be as small as possible, when the stocker 1 is engaged with both longitudinal end portions (thick portions) of the feed screw member 8, it may be used in a high temperature environment. The stocker 1 whose diameter is restricted by the feed screw member 8 is substantially fitted to the outer peripheral edge of the thermally expanded disk D. However, the stocker 1 engaged with both longitudinal ends of the feed screw member 8
Since the disk D is not detached from the disk, such a substantially fitted state does not cause a problem. Rather, in a high-temperature environment, the clearance is reduced and rattle noise is more unlikely to occur.

When the above-described disc changer is placed in a high-temperature environment or a low-temperature environment, the degree of expansion and contraction of the synthetic resin stocker halves 2 and 3 constituting the stocker 1 is controlled by a metal feeder. It is larger than the screw member 8 and the chassis 9. In particular, since the length components of the stocker halves 2 and 3 expand and contract significantly along the arcuate arc of the stocker 1, if the stocker halves 2 and 3 are rigidly connected to each other, the expansion and contraction will occur. The stocker 1 is forced to deform to increase the deviation from the circumference P. In this embodiment, however, the stocker halves 2 and 3 are connected to each other by a flexible connection structure that does not hinder the expansion and contraction, so that the screw insertion holes 4 to 7 do not significantly deviate from the circumference P. That is, when the stocker halves 2 and 3 expand and contract with a change in temperature, the stocker halves 2 and 3 slide the respective engagement pieces 2b and 3b within the notches 3d and 2d of the other party. . Specifically, when the stocker halves 2 and 3 expand in a high-temperature environment, the engaging piece 2b moves rightward in the notch 3d and the engaging piece 3b moves in the notch 2d in FIGS.
Move left inside. Similarly, when the stocker halves 2 and 3 contract in a low temperature environment, the engaging piece 2b moves leftward in the notch 3d, and the engaging piece 3b moves to the notch 2d.
Move right inside.

Further, a clearance space for the feed screw member 8 is secured in the long hole direction of the screw insertion holes 5 and 7 of the stocker halves 2 and 3 so that when the expansion and contraction is performed, There is no fear that the feed screw member 8 in the screw insertion holes 5 and 7 is strongly pressed against the inner walls of the insertion holes 5 and 7 and the engagement protrusions 5a and 7a. Therefore, each stocker half 2,3
The round screw-shaped screw insertion holes 4 and 6 and the feed screw member 8 inserted therein hardly displace even in a high temperature environment or a low temperature environment.

As described above, in this embodiment, the feed screw member 8
The middle part in the longitudinal direction is slightly constricted, and when the stocker 1 is engaged with the narrow middle part, the increase in diameter due to thermal expansion is hardly restricted. Even if the clearance between the inner wall surfaces of the grooves 2a and 3a of the stocker 1 and the outer peripheral edge of the disk D is designed to be as small as possible, the stocker 1 that has been moved to the longitudinal middle portion of the feed screw member 8 The inner wall surfaces of the grooves 2a and 3a are pressed against the outer peripheral edge of the thermally expanded disk D, so that there is no fear of holding the disk D. Therefore, even if the disc changer is placed in a high-temperature environment and the disc D or the stocker 1 is thermally expanded, the disc D can be detached from the stocker 1 without any trouble at the time of reproduction or ejection. Also, when the stocker 1 is engaged with the intermediate portion of the feed screw member 8 in the longitudinal direction, the inner walls of the screw insertion holes 4 to 7 and the engagement protrusions 4a to 7a of the stocker 1 may be strongly pressed against the feed screw member 8. Therefore, even in a high temperature environment, the sliding resistance between the stocker 1 and the feed screw member 8 does not increase so much, so that the stocker 1 can be smoothly and reliably moved to a predetermined position during reproduction or ejection. .

In this embodiment, a pair of stocker halves 2 and 3 are connected to each other by a flexible connecting structure that does not hinder expansion and contraction to form a stocker 1. Since the hole-like screw insertion holes 4 and 6 and the long hole-like screw insertion holes 5 and 7 are provided, even if the stocker 1 expands and contracts due to a temperature change, the stocker halves 2 and 3 are formed.
There is no fear that excessive frictional force is generated between the feed screw member 8 and the feed screw member 8. Therefore, even in a high temperature environment or a low temperature environment,
Each stocker 1 can be smoothly and reliably moved up and down to a predetermined position via the feed screw member 8, and the reliability of the disc changer can be improved. Further, the stocker halves 2 and 3 are resin molded products having a simple shape, and the connecting operation between the two stocker halves 2 and 3 is extremely simple, so that the stocker 1 can be manufactured at low cost.

In the above embodiment, a pair of synthetic resin stocker halves made of separate members are slidably connected to form a stocker. However, the present invention is applicable to a case where the stocker is made of a metal plate. The same effect can be expected by applying.

[0025]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

Since the feed screw member having the spiral groove is formed such that the middle portion in the longitudinal direction is narrower and narrower than both ends in the longitudinal direction, the distance between the inner wall surface of the groove portion of the stocker and the outer peripheral edge of the disk is reduced. Even if the clearance is minimized, the inner wall surface of the groove of the stocker moved to the longitudinal middle part of the feed screw member at the time of reproduction or ejection is pressed against the outer peripheral edge of the thermally expanded disk. There is no need to worry about holding the disc. Therefore, reliability can be obtained that does not hinder the operation of removing the disk from the stocker even in a high-temperature environment, and the occurrence of rattle noise, which has been a problem in in-vehicle disk changers, can be suppressed, thereby improving quality. Can be achieved. Further, when the stocker is engaged with the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the feed screw member, there is no fear that the inner wall of the screw insertion hole of the stocker is strongly pressed against the feed screw member. Therefore, the stocker can be smoothly and reliably moved to a predetermined position in the longitudinal middle portion of the feed screw member during reproduction or ejection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a stocker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the stocker half.

6 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view as seen from an arrow E in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the feed screw member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a feed screw member according to a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing an operation of the stocker by the feed screw member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stocker 2, 3 Stocker half 2a, 3a Groove part 4, 6 Round hole screw insertion hole 5, 7 Slotted screw insertion hole 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a Engagement projection 8 Feed screw member 8a Spiral groove 9 Chassis 10 Shaft 11 Gear D Disk

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of feed screw members having unequal pitch helical grooves having a pitch width wider than both end portions at an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction, a screw insertion hole through which the feed screw members penetrate, and each screw. A plurality of stockers projecting into the insertion holes and having a plurality of engagement projections engaging with the spiral grooves, wherein the respective feed screw members are synchronously rotated in a state where the outer peripheral edge of the disc is held by the stockers. Thus, in the disc changer for transferring the disc in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording surface, the engagement is more likely to occur when the stocker is located at an intermediate portion than when the stocker is located at both ends of the feed screw member. A disc changer wherein the fitting state between the projection and the feed screw member is set to be weakly fitted. 2. The disc changer according to claim 1, wherein the feed screw member has a shape in which a middle portion in the longitudinal direction is narrower and narrower than both end portions in the longitudinal direction. 3. The stocker according to claim 1, wherein the pair of synthetic resin stocker halves each having two screw insertion holes are connected to each other so as to be able to approach and separate from each other, and each stocker half is A disc changer wherein a clearance space is formed between one of the screw insertion holes and the feed screw member.