JP2003281808A - Disk changer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk changer in which a playing disk does not come into contact with stored disks even when the stored disks are arranged at a position overlapping one a plane with the playing disk in order to miniaturize the disk changer. <P>SOLUTION: A disk gap securing means 170 advances between the stored disks 1 (2) vertically arranged adjacent to the playing disk 1 (2). Even when the stored disks 1 (2) and the playing disk 1 (2) are arranged at the position overlapping on a plane by bringing a disk storing position A close to a disk play position B, the gap securing means 170 advances into a gap between the vertically stored disks 1 (2) to prevent the narrowing of the gap caused by vibration, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc changer in which a plurality of discs are loaded, and an arbitrary disc is selected from the loaded plurality of discs for recording / reproducing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional disc changer,
The disk holding means is configured to store a plurality of sub-tray in a stocker having a plurality of shelves, and the vertical drive means for selecting an arbitrary disk position is the stocker, the plurality of sub-trays and the plurality of disks as a whole. Is configured to be driven in the vertical direction.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional disc changer, the stocker having a plurality of shelves, the plurality of sub-tray and the plurality of sub-trays are provided when the vertical drive means for driving the disk holding means to select an arbitrary disk position is driven. The disk holding means for driving the entire disk is heavy, consumes a large amount of energy in the vertical drive motor, causes a drop in the finished product, causes problems in vibration, and increases the cost due to the large number of parts, etc. There was a problem.

Therefore, recently, for example, FIGS.
The pair of spindles 2 is held by the holding claws 200 as shown in FIG.
01 and 202, a disk holding means 204 for releasably supporting a plurality of spacers 203, and a spacer 203 in a vertical direction for selecting an arbitrary position of a plurality of disks 220 held by the plurality of spacers 203. The vertical driving means 205 for driving the holding claws 200, the spindle driving means 206 for driving the holding claws 200 to engage and disengage the plurality of spacers 203 on the upper spindle 201, and the holding claws 20.
Horizontal carrier means 207 for supporting the disc 220 from the arbitrary spacer 203 held at 0 to the recording / reproducing position X and disc clamping means 208 for clamping the disc 220 at the recording / reproducing position X.
Disc changers with and are considered.

According to the disc changer having such a structure, a plurality of spacers 203 and a plurality of discs 220 mounted on both spindles 201 and 202 are provided.
Drive the position of the
From the both spindles 201 and 202 to the recording / reproducing position X, the take-out position Z, and again to the both spindles 201 and 20.
The disc can be changed to the storage position Y of the disc 2 and the disc 220 can be selected and recorded and reproduced.
This eliminates the need for a stocker having a plurality of shelves, a plurality of sub-trays, and the like, resulting in a disc changer that is lightweight and inexpensive, and has excellent storability and operability.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned disc changer, in order to miniaturize the changer, a part of the disc 220 at the recording / reproducing position X and the disc 220 of the disc holding portion are planar. When the distance between the recording / reproducing position X and the disc holding position Y was tried to be close so as to overlap, the disc 220 accommodated vertically above and below the disc 220 being recorded / reproduced by the disc holding portion due to vibration or the like Contact with the disk 220 during recording and reproduction caused problems such as sound skipping and disk scratches.

Furthermore, in order to make the independent drive sources common, a part of the gear train of the drive system for vertically driving the spacer 203 and a part of the gear train of the horizontal drive system are made common to serve as means for switching the drive to each drive. , When using a gear that selects a drive system that slides in the axial direction and meshes, when the drive is switched, the gear that slides in the axial direction catches when it enters the gears of each drive system Occurs and the device stops.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to reduce the size of the device,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a disc changer in which the stored disc and the disc being played are arranged so as to overlap each other in plan view, but the performance disc and the stored disc do not contact each other.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the disc changer of the present invention is provided with a disc gap securing means which can be inserted between the storage discs adjacent to each other above and below the playing disc.

According to the present invention, even if the disk storing position and the disk playing position are close to each other and the housed disk and the disk being played are arranged to overlap each other in a plane, the gap securing means has the above structure. It is possible to prevent the gap from narrowing even when vibration or the like is applied, as well as entering the gap between the upper and lower storage discs adjacent to the playing disc.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a disc changer in which a plurality of discs are stored, and an arbitrary disc is selected from the stored plurality of discs for recording and reproduction. In the apparatus main body, a disk transfer means for transferring the disk between the disk storage position and the disk playing position in the apparatus main body, and a pair of upper and lower spindles for detachably holding a plurality of spacers at the disk storage position. And a disk holding means capable of transferring a disk to and from the disk transporting means by means of relative elevation of the spindle and vertical drive of the spacer, and a disk holding means which is vertically movable and supported by the apparatus body at the disk playing position. Disc playing means, and raising and lowering of the spindle and the disc playing means in the device. Means descending a disc changer being characterized in that and a disc gap securing section which can enter between the housing disk vertically adjacent playing disc.

According to the present invention, the positions of a plurality of spacers and a plurality of discs loaded on both spindles are driven in the vertical direction so that any disc can be moved from both spindles to the disc playing position and the ejecting position. Further, it is possible to change the disc storage position on both spindles again and disc change, and it is possible to select and record any disc. This eliminates the need for a stocker having a plurality of shelves, a plurality of sub-trays, and the like, so that it is possible to provide a disc changer that is lightweight, inexpensive, and has excellent storability and operability. Moreover, in order to reduce the size of the device, the disk storing position and the disk playing position are arranged close to each other, and the housed disk and the disk being played overlap each other in a plane as in the structure described in claim 2. Even so, while the gap securing means enters the gap between the upper and lower storage discs adjacent to the performance disc,
Since the gap is prevented from becoming narrow even when vibration or the like is applied, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of sound skipping and disc damage due to the contact between the performance disc and the storage disc.

The invention described in claim 3 is the disk changer described in claim 1, which has a lever as a clearance securing means. By this means, the clearance securing means can be easily positioned, and the clearance can be stably secured with a simple configuration.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the disc changer according to the first aspect, wherein the gap securing means is driven by the elevating means. With this configuration, the timing of raising and lowering the spindle by the raising and lowering means,
The gap securing means can be driven without deviating from the timing of raising and lowering the disc playing means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the disc changer according to the first aspect, wherein the gap securing means is provided between the disc storing position and the disc playing position.

By this means, a gap can be secured at a position close to both the disc playing position and the disc housing position, so that the gap can be secured accurately. The invention according to claim 6 is the disc changer according to claim 1,
The disk gap securing means is configured such that the entry portions between the adjacent disks are provided at two locations that are substantially symmetrical with respect to the center of the disk.

By this means, it is possible to prevent the storage disc from tilting with respect to the performance disc at the left and right entrances, so that a stable gap can be secured regardless of the mode of action of the device such as tilt or vibration. .

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided the disc changer according to the first aspect, wherein the entrance portion of the disc gap securing means is a flat surface having an acute-angled joint portion.

By this means, when the tip of the gap securing means enters between the two storage discs adjacent to each other above and below the performance disc, the gap securing means can be aimed at at one point with respect to the disc gap. It is possible to secure a margin for displacement when going out. Further, by making the contact surface of the disk a smooth flat surface, the load of sliding on the end surface of the disk can be reduced, and it is possible to prevent the disk from being caught in contact with the end.

A disk changer, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a large diameter disc having a diameter of 12 cm, and 2 is a small diameter disc having a diameter of 8 cm. The front panel 10 is attached to the bottom plate 11 and the like. Key 12, open / close key 1
3, a play key 14, a stop key 15 and the like are provided. Reference numeral 16 is an outer case for covering the disc changer 19 of the present invention, and 17 is an insulator provided on the bottom plate 11 side. 22 is the front panel 10
The tray base is projected from the opening 10a. Two
Reference numeral 3 is a tray which is guided by the tray base 22 and can slide in the arrow arrow direction. On the tray 23, the exchanged disks 1 and 2 are supplied.

2, 4, 22, and 23, the apparatus main body 20 is composed of a bottom plate 20A, left and right side plates 20B, a rear plate 20C, and the like. A disk storage position A is formed on the rear plate 20C side in the device body 20,
Then, a disc playing position B is formed on the front side. Here, the disc 1, which is stored in the disc storage position A,
The distance L between the center of 2 and the center of the discs 1 and 2 played at the disc playing position B is larger than 10 cm (radius of large-diameter disc 1 + radius of small-diameter disc 2) and 1
It is set to be smaller than 2 cm (the diameter of the large-diameter disk 1).

According to this structure, the large-diameter disk 1 that is stored and the large-diameter disk 1 that is being played can be placed at a position where the large-diameter disk 1 that is stored and the large-diameter disk 1 that are playing are overlapped with each other in the vicinity of the disk storage position A and the disk performance position B. Therefore, the device can be downsized. Further, the accommodated large-diameter disc 1 and the playing small-diameter disc 2 or the accommodated small-diameter disc 2 and the playing large-diameter disc 1 can be positioned so as not to overlap in a plane.

Next, the structure of the disk carrying means 21 will be described with reference to FIGS. That is, the device body 2
Disk transport means 2 for transporting disks 1 and 2 between disk storage position A and disk playing position B within 0.
1 is provided. The disc carrying means 21 is guided by the side plate 20B of the apparatus body 20 and is slidable in the arrow direction (front-back direction), and a tray base 22 is guided by the tray base 22 and is slidable in the arrow direction. 23 and a carrier 27 which is supported and guided by the tray base 22 side and is slidable in the arrow arrow direction. Then, the tray base 22 is projected from the opening 10a formed in the front panel 10 by sliding in the arrow A direction (forward direction).

On the upper surface side of the tray 23, a 12 cm disc placing portion 24 and an 8 cm disc placing portion 25 are concentrically formed. At this time, the height of the spacer (discussed later) of the disc holding means is lowered to form a thin disc changer 19, so that the 12 cm disc holder 24 is slightly higher than the 8 cm disc holder 25. Has been formed.

The carrier 27 is the tray base 22.
The carrier 27 has a strip shape and is provided with a rack 28 on the outer side surface.
A vertical locking hole 29 is formed at a predetermined position of the carrier 27, and a locking pin 26 from the tray 23 is locked in the locking hole 29.

An example of the disk carrying means 21 is constituted by the above 22 to 29. Then, according to the disk transport means 21, the carrier 27 is moved forward and backward through the rack 28 by the forward and reverse drive of the horizontal drive means (described later), so that the tray 23 integrated with the carrier 27 is formed. The tray base 22 is supported and guided to move integrally. As a result, in the apparatus body 20, the discs 1 and 2 are loaded into the disc storage position A and the disc playing position B.
Can be transferred between.

Next, the structure of the disk holding means 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5 to 7, 17, 18, and 23. The disk holding means 3 is provided at the disk storage position A.
0 is provided, and the disc holding means 30 has an upper spindle 31 and a lower spindle 41 which are a pair of upper and lower spindles for holding a plurality of spacers 38 in a disengageable manner. By vertically driving 38, the disks 1 and 2 are transferred to the disk conveying means 2
It can be handed over to and from 1.

That is, reference numeral 32 denotes a spindle mounting plate, which is provided between the upper surfaces of the rear half of the side plate 20B, and the upper spindle 31 is provided at the center lower part thereof.
Reference numeral 42 denotes an elevating base (spindle base) opposed to the spindle mounting plate 32 from below, which is configured to be vertically driven by an elevating means (described later). A spindle 41 is provided.

The upper spindle 31 has a flange 31b at the upper end of the upper spindle body 31a, and an engaging piece 31c formed on the flange 31b has a spindle mounting plate 3a.
It engages with the engagement hole 32a formed in 2. A disc retainer 33 is fitted on the outer peripheral portion of the upper spindle body 31a, and the groove 31 in the vertical direction of the upper spindle body 31a.
It can be moved along e. This disc retainer 33
Disk pressing spring 3 provided between the flange 31b and
4 is urged downward.

A holding claw 35 is housed inside the upper spindle body 31a. This holding claw 35 is used for the spacer 3
8, a claw portion 35a for holding the upper spindle 31 on the upper spindle 31,
The core portion 35 with which the convex portion 44c on the lower spindle 41 side abuts
b and an upper stopper 35c, which are integrally molded of synthetic resin.

The holding claw 35 is formed on the spindle mounting plate 32.
Although it is urged downward by a pawl opening spring 36 provided between and, it is prevented from popping out by the pushing portion 31d. The pushing portion 31d is provided on the upper spindle body 31a.
And a tip of a push-down piece 48a of a separation preventing claw 48, which will be described later, abuts.

Since the base portion of the claw portion 35a is made of a thin plate, it is configured to bend inward and outward. A tip portion 35d of the claw portion 35a has a hook shape, and a portion in contact with the upper spindle body 31a is inclined inward. The core 35b of the holding claw 35 is the tip 3 of the claw 35a.
Three vertical grooves 35e are formed at a position where the tip portion 35d abuts so that the 5d can be sufficiently retracted into the upper spindle body 31a.

The lower spindle 41 is composed of a lower spindle body 45 consisting of an outer cylinder 43 and an inner cylinder 44, a separation preventing claw 48 fitted in the inner cylinder 44, and the like. The inner cylinder 44 is fitted into a lower shaft 42a formed on the elevating base 42, and a locking piece 44a at the lower end is engaged with and fixed to the elevating base 42. The outer cylinder 43 has a flange 43a at the lower end,
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 of a gear train (described later), and the outer cylinder 4
Rotate 3.

A male screw 43c is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the outer cylinder 43, and a screw portion 46 for moving the spacer 38 up and down is screwed into the male screw 43c. The screw part 46 has an outer cylinder 43.
A rotation stopper 47 is attached so as not to rotate with the rotation of the. One end of the rotation stopper 47 is pivotally supported by the screw portion 46, and the other end thereof is pivotally supported by the elevating base 42.

The disengagement preventing claw 48 includes three claw portions 48b opened to the outside, three push-down pieces 48a formed between the claw portions 48b and the claw portions 48b, and a lower stopper 48d protruding downward. It consists of and.

On the upper part of the inner cylinder 44, three claw holes 44b are formed so that the tips of the claw portions 48b can be withdrawn (see FIG. 7). Small holes are formed between these claw holes 44b so that the tips of the push-down pieces 48a project. The separation preventing claw 48 is pushed upward by the compression spring 49 in the lower shaft 42a, the tip end 48e of the claw 48b projects from the claw hole 44b, and the push-down piece 48a projects from the small hole. Further, a convex portion 44c that pushes up the holding claw 35 is formed at the center of the upper portion of the inner cylinder 44. On the lower side surface of the convex portion 44c, the claw portion 48b is provided with the claw hole 4
It is inclined so that it is easy to go in and out of 4b.

On the left and right sides of the elevating base 42, outward pins 50 and 51 are provided, in which case one (right) pin 50 is one and the other (left) pin 51 is Two are provided at the front and back. Reference numeral 52 denotes a vertical feed detection sensor, which is configured to detect the slit 43d formed on the outer periphery of the flange 43a and count the number of rotations.

An example of the disk holding means 30 is constituted by the above 31 to 52. Then, the disc holding means 30 is operated as follows. That is, FIG. 5 shows a state in which five disks 1 and 2 are stored in the lower spindle 41 and the upper spindle 31 and the lower spindle 41 are separated from each other. When the raising / lowering base 42 is raised (in the direction of arrow C) by the raising / lowering means (described later), the raising / lowering base 4
The lower spindle 41 attached to 2 also rises.

When the lower spindle 41 is raised, 120
The three holding claws 35 arranged at an angle of ° and the separation preventing claw 48 are fitted between each other, and the convex portion 44c abuts the core portion 35b of the holding claw 35. Furthermore, the convex portion 44
When c holds up the holding claw 35 while resisting the force of the claw opening spring 36, the tip end portion 35d of the holding claw 35 enters into the upper spindle body 31a. Therefore, the spacer 38
It is moved to the upper spindle 31 side without being hindered by the tip of the claw portion 35a.

At the same time, the push-down piece 48 of the detachment prevention claw 48
The a hits the pushing portion 31d of the upper spindle 31.
When the pushing portion 31d pushes back the separation preventing claw 48 downward while resisting the force of the compression spring 49, the claw portion 4 of the separation preventing claw 48 is pressed.
The tip portion 48e of 8b retracts into the inner cylinder 44. Therefore, the spacer 38 can move from the lower spindle 41 to the upper spindle 31 side (see FIG. 6).

In the above state, the rotational force of the second intermediate gear 157 of the gear train is transmitted to the ring gear 43b to rotate the outer cylinder 43. By the rotation of the outer cylinder 43,
The screw portion 46 rises along the lower spindle 41 and pushes up the spacer 38. The screw portion 46 moves the disks 1 and 2 from the lower spindle 41 to the upper spindle 31, and stops when the necessary disks 1 and 2 are located at the lower end of the upper spindle 31.

The disks 1, 2 of the upper spindle 31
To move the lower spindle 41 to the lower spindle 41, the outer cylinder 43 may be reversely rotated and the screw portion 46 may be lowered. The amount of movement is controlled by the vertical feed detection sensor 52 counting the number of rotations of the flange 43a integrated with the lower spindle 41, and stopping based on the counted number.

Then, the raising and lowering base 42 is lowered (in the direction of arrow D) by the raising and lowering means, and once the upper spindle 3
1 and the lower spindle 41 are separated from each other, and then the upper spindle 3
The tray 23 is moved between the 1 and the lower spindle 41.

When the upper spindle 31 and the lower spindle 41 are separated from each other, the holding claw 35 is pushed downward by the claw opening spring 36, and the tip end portion 35d of the claw portion 35a jumps out from the outer peripheral wall of the upper spindle 31 and moves to the upper spindle 31. The spacer 38 and the discs 1 and 2 thus prepared are held. At the same time, the separation preventing claw 48 is pushed upward by the compression spring 49, and the claw portion 35a is prevented from protruding from the claw hole 44b to prevent the spacer 38 fitted to the lower spindle 41 from separating from the lower spindle 41.

With the tray 23 moved between the upper spindle 31 and the lower spindle 41, the lower spindle 41 is again raised by the elevating means. After the lower spindle 41 hits the upper spindle 31 and the holding claw 35 is released from the locked state, the spacer 38 is vertically driven to move downward by one slit (one rotation of the lower spindle 41), and then again. When the upper spindle 31 and the lower spindle 41 are separated from each other, the required disks 1 and 2 are placed on the tray 23 and are carried to the disk playing position B or the outside.

Next, the structure of the disk playing means 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 8, 19, and 22 to 28. At the disk playing position B, the device body 20
The disk playing means 60 is provided on the side so as to be able to move up and down. The disk playing means 60 has an elevating table 61 that can be moved up and down in the direction of the arrow honey, and a recording / reproducing device 62 for the disks 1 and 2 is provided on the elevating table 61 so as to fit therein. Buffer springs 63 for urging the recording / reproducing device 62 upward are provided at a plurality of positions between the elevating table 61 and the recording / reproducing device 62. The recording / reproducing device 6 is provided on the upper cover 67 provided between the upper surfaces in the front half of the side plate 20B.
Two disk clampers 64 are supported with a constant gap. It should be noted that one outward pin 65, 66 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the lift 61.

An example of the disc playing means 60 is constituted by the above 61 to 67. The elevating table 61 of the disc playing means 60 is raised in the arrow C direction by the elevating means (described later) to separate the discs 1 and 2 from the upper surface of the tray 23, and then the recording / reproducing device 62 and the disc clamper 64 are separated. It is configured so that recording and reproduction can be performed by clamping between them.

Next, the structure of the elevating means 70 for elevating the lower spindle 41 and elevating the disk playing means 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 8, 16, 19 to 22 and 28.

That is, a pair of left and right plates 71, 81 supported by the side plate 20B of the apparatus body 20 and slidable in the arrow arrow direction are provided in the apparatus body 20. Then, from the end portions of the plates 71, 81 near the rear plate 20C, projecting portions 72, 82 in opposite directions are integrally provided, and these projecting portions 72, 82 have elongated holes in opposite directions. 73 and 83 are formed.

The one (right) plate 71 is an example of a single component, and the cam groove 7 with which the pin 50 provided on one of the elevating bases 42 of the lower spindle 41 engages.
4 at the rear, and at the front has an upper rack 75 and a lower rack 76 facing inward. The other (left) plate 81 has a pair of cam grooves 84 with which a pair of pins 51 provided on the other side of the elevating base 42 engage.
Pin 66 provided on the other side of the disk playing means 60
And a cam groove 85 which engages with each other. A pin 65 provided on one side of the disc playing means 60 is engaged with a cam groove 96 on the side of a cam gear (described later).

Here, the cam groove 74 of one plate 71
The front upper cam portion 74 from the front side to the rear side thereof.
a, a V-shaped cam portion 74b, an intermediate upper cam portion 74c, and a rear upper cam portion 74d are formed by continuous grooves (FIG. 9, FIG.
(See FIG. 16). The intermediate upper cam portion 74c and the front upper cam portion 74a are positioned higher than the rear upper cam portion 74d.

The rear and middle cam grooves 84 of the other plate 81 extend from the front side to the rear side of the front upper cam portion 84a, the intermediate upper cam portion 84b, and the V-shaped cam portion 8 respectively.
4c, the rear upper cam portion 84d is formed by a continuous groove (see FIGS. 20 and 21). The front upper cam portion 84a
Are lower than the intermediate upper cam portion 84b and the rear upper cam portion 84d.

Further, the front cam groove 85 of the other plate 81 is formed by a continuous groove of the front lower cam portion 85a, the intermediate upper cam portion 85b, and the rear lower cam portion 85c from the front portion side to the rear portion side. (See FIGS. 20 and 23).
The cam groove 96 on the cam gear side is formed in a spiral shape (see FIG. 19).

A shaft 86 is erected from the bottom plate 20A at a position near the rear plate 20C in the apparatus main body 20.
6 is provided with a connecting lever 87 that is rotatably supported via its intermediate portion. Pins 88 and 89 are provided upright on both ends of the connecting lever 87, and these pins 88 and 89 are engaged with the elongated holes 73 and 83. As a result, the connecting lever 87 rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 20
The pair of left and right plates 71 and 81 are connected to each other, so that the plates 71 and 81 slide in opposite directions.

An intermediate gear 90 meshing with the lower rack 76 is rotatably provided in the main body 20 of the apparatus via a shaft 91 standing from the bottom plate 20A side, and a cam gear meshing with the intermediate gear 90 is provided. 92 is rotatably provided via a shaft 93. A cam cylinder 94 is integrated with the lower surface of the cam gear 92. On the outer circumference of the cam cylinder 94, the cam groove 96 with which the pin 65 provided on one side of the disc playing means 60 is engaged is formed.

An example of the elevating means 70 is constituted by the above 71 to 96. Then, according to the lifting means 70,
The gear rotational force on the horizontal drive means (described later) is transmitted to the one plate 71 through the upper rack 75, so that the one plate 71 slides in the arrow arrow direction and the connecting lever. The other plate 81 is slid in the opposite direction via 87. At the same time, the intermediate gear 90 meshing with the lower rack 76 is rotated, and the cam cylinder 94 is rotated via the cam gear 92.

In this way, the left and right plates 71 and 81 are slid in the opposite directions, and the cam gear 92 is rotated in response to the movement of the one plate 71, so that the cam grooves 74 and 84 are passed. The elevating base 42 of the lower spindle 41 is moved up and down in the arrow direction, and the cam groove 9
The disk playing means 60 is moved through the arrow keys 6 and 85.
It will be raised and lowered in two directions. The cam grooves 74, 8
The forming positions of 4, 96, and 85 and the cam shape are determined by the plate 7
The timing to be described later is set to be suitably performed with the movement of 1, 81.

That is, FIG. 16A, FIG. 21 and FIG.
In the play shown in FIG. 5, one pin 50 of the elevating base 42 engages with the intermediate upper cam portion 74c of the cam groove 74, and the other pin 51 of the elevating base 42 engages with the intermediate upper cam portion 8 of the cam groove 84.
4b and engages with the other pin 66 of the disc playing means 60.
Is set so as to engage with the intermediate upper cam portion 85b of the cam groove 85, and one pin 65 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the cam groove 96.

When the lower spindle is lowered as shown in FIG. 24 and the tray is in front of the tray, one pin 50 of the lifting base 42 is used.
Engages with the V-shaped cam portion 74b of the cam groove 74, and the other pin 51 of the lifting base 42 has the V-shaped cam portion 84 of the cam groove 84.
c so that the other pin 66 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the rear lower cam portion 85c of the cam groove 85, and one pin 65 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the cam groove 96. Has been done.

When the lower spindle is lowered as shown in FIG. 25 and the tray is rear, one pin 50 of the elevating base 42 engages with the V-shaped cam portion 74b of the cam groove 74, and the elevating base 42 is moved.
The other pin 51 of the disk engaging means 60 is engaged with the V-shaped cam portion 84c of the cam groove 84, and the other pin 66 of the disk playing means 60 is engaged with the rear lower cam portion 85c of the cam groove 85, and the disk playing means 60 of the disk playing means 60 is engaged. One pin 65 is set to engage with the cam groove 96.

In the disc stock shown in FIGS. 16C and 26, one pin 50 of the elevating base 42 engages with the front upper cam portion 74a of the cam groove 74, and the other pin 50 of the elevating base 42 is engaged. The pin 51 engages with the rear upper cam portion 84d of the cam groove 84, the other pin 66 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the rear lower cam portion 85c of the cam groove 85, and one pin 65 of the disc playing means 60. Are set to engage with the cam groove 96.

In the disc change state shown in FIGS. 16B and 27, one pin 50 of the elevating base 42 engages with the intermediate upper cam portion 74c of the cam groove 74, and the elevating base 4 is moved.
The other pin 51 of 2 is the intermediate upper cam portion 84 of the cam groove 84.
b so that the other pin 66 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the intermediate upper cam portion 85b of the cam groove 85, and one pin 65 of the disc playing means 60 engages with the cam groove 96. Has been done.

As described above, the elevating means 70 is constructed so that the movement of one plate 71, which is a single component, simultaneously acts on the elevating of the lower spindle 41 and the elevating of the disk playing means 60. There is. Therefore, by driving the lower spindle 41 of the disc holding means 30 up and down and the disc playing means 60 up and down by the same plate 71, it is possible to easily match the timings of raising and lowering both of them, and with the playing disc being raised and lowered. Since the discs can be raised and lowered without changing the gap of the holding discs in the storage portion, it is possible to prevent the discs from contacting each other during the raising and lowering.

Further, since the lower spindle 41 of the disc holding means 30 and the disc playing means 60 are moved up and down by the plates 71 and 81 having the cam grooves 74, 84 and 85, the lower spindle 41 is constituted. And the disc playing means 60 can be moved up and down with a simple structure without timing deviation.

Further, a pair of left and right plates 71 and 81 are connected to a part of a common lifting means 70 of the lower spindle 41 and the disk playing means 60 by an intermediate gear 90 and rotate in synchronization with the movement of the plate 71. Due to the configuration using the cam gear 92, the pitches of the pins 65 and 66 provided on the left and right of the disk playing means 60 in the width direction and the widths of the pins 50 and 51 provided on the left and right of the elevating base 42 of the lower spindle 41 in the width direction. Even when the pitch is different, it is possible to move up and down without changing the timing of lifting up and down on both sides with a simple structure.

Next, the structure of the horizontal driving means 100 capable of driving the disk carrying means 21 and the elevating means 70 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 15, 17, and 28. That is, the horizontal drive means 100 has a speed reduction mechanism (described later).
Has a drive gear 101 connected to a drive source through the drive gear 101. The drive gear 101 is a shaft 1 that is erected from the bottom plate 20A side.
It is rotatably attached to 02. A drive rack 103 supported by the carrier 27 side of the disk transfer means 21 and the tray base 22 and relatively slidable in the arrow arrow direction is provided, and the rack 104 of the drive rack 103 is provided on the inner side surface. Formed, said drive gear 101
Is meshing with.

A speed increasing gear 106 is rotatably provided at a predetermined position of the drive rack 103 via a shaft 105. The speed increasing gear 106 is a two-stage gear composed of two large and small gears 106A and 106B having the same number of teeth and different modules, and the small gear 106B is provided on one plate 71 provided on the elevating means 70 side. The large gear 106A meshes with the rack 75, and the large gear 106A meshes with the rack 28 of the carrier 27 provided on the disk conveying means 21 side.

On the front side of the tray base 22, a stopper member 110 for restricting the sliding of the carrier 27 and the plate 71 in the arrow A direction, and a carrier lock for preventing the carrier 27 from sliding in the arrow B direction. And a tool 112 is provided.

That is, the stopper 110 is an L-shaped lever type and is rotatably provided on the tray base 22 side via a pin 111, and one arm thereof is provided at the front end of the carrier 27. The formed contact portion 27a is formed on the receiving portion 110a with which the contact portion 27a can contact. Further, the other arm portion is formed with a receiving portion 110b capable of abutting the tip abutting portion 71d formed at the tip of the plate 71, and a locking portion 110c engageable with the carrier 27 side. ing.

The locking portion 110c is provided on the carrier 27.
When the contact portion 27a of the carrier contacts the receiving portion 110a and the stopper 110 is rotated around the pin 111 by a predetermined amount, the engaging recess 27b formed on the outer surface of the carrier 27 is engaged. It is configured to be.

The carrier lock member 112 is also an L-shaped lever type and is rotatably provided on the tray base 22 side through a pin 113, and one arm portion thereof is
It is formed on a stopper portion 112a that can be engaged with a stopper recess 27c formed on the inner surface of the carrier 27. On the other arm, a rotation receiving portion 112b for unlocking is formed.

A common urging spring 114 for urging the stopper 110 and the carrier lock 112 to rotate is provided across the stopper 110 and the carrier lock 112. Here, the urging spring 114 is arranged to urge the stopper 110 in the releasing direction and the carrier lock 112 in the engaging direction.

An operation tool 115 for rotating the carrier lock tool 112 in the unlocking direction is provided at the front of the apparatus body 20. The operation tool 115 is of a lever type and is rotatably provided on the apparatus body 20 side through a pin 116.

The first arm portion of the operating tool 115 is formed with a receiving portion 115a with which the front contact portion 71a formed on the one plate 71 side can come into contact. Further, the second arm portion is formed with a rotation operation portion 115b capable of contacting the rotation receiving portion 112b for unlocking the carrier lock 112 from the rear side. A cam pin 115c is formed on the third arm portion so as to be engageable with and disengageable from the lock cam groove 22a provided on the lower surface side of the tray base 22 in the lateral direction. The lock cam groove 22a
Is curved so as to follow the movement trajectory of the cam pin 115c.

A spring 117 for urging the operation tool 115 to rotate is provided, and the urging direction at that time is the receiving portion 1
15a is set to shift to the rear side. An intermediate locking device for preventing the plate 71, which has been most moved in the arrow A direction, from moving in the arrow B direction in the middle portion of the apparatus body 20 and for restricting the movement limit of the tray base 22 in the arrow B direction. 120 is provided. The intermediate lock 120 is of a lever type, and its central position is rotatably provided on the apparatus body 20 side via a pin 121.

At the front end of the intermediate lock member 120, there is formed a receiving portion 120a with which the intermediate contact portion 71b provided at the intermediate portion of the plate 71 can come into contact. A drive cam portion 22b provided at a position near the rear portion of the tray base 22 is provided at a position near the rear portion of the intermediate lock 120.
A passive cam portion 120b (see FIG. 3) that can freely come into contact is formed. Further, at the rear end of the intermediate lock tool 120, a stopper portion 120c is formed, which is in contact with a stopper portion 22c (see FIG. 3) provided at a position near the rear portion of the tray base 22. The intermediate lock 120 is urged by the spring 122 so that the receiving portion 120a is pushed into the movement trajectory of the rear contact portion 71b.

The rear portion of the apparatus body 20 temporarily receives one plate 71 moved in the arrow B direction, and locks the carrier 27 when the one plate 71 further moves in the arrow B direction most. 1
23 is provided. The rear lock member 123 is an L-shaped lever type, and the central position thereof is the device body 20.
It is rotatably provided on the side through a pin 124.

At the front end of the forward arm of the rear lock member 123, there is formed a receiving portion 123a with which the rear end contact portion 71c provided at the rear end of the plate 71 can come into contact. A contact portion 123b is formed on the lateral arm portion of the rear lock tool 123 so that the rear end contact portion 27d provided at the rear end of the carrier 27 can contact. Moreover, the receiving part 1
At a portion 23a, a locking portion 123c is formed which can be engaged and disengaged from the outside with respect to a locking concave portion 27e which is provided at a position near the rear portion of the carrier 27 and which is open to the outside. In the rear lock tool 123, the receiving portion 123a has a rear end contact portion 71c.
Is urged by the spring 125 so as to be thrust into the movement locus.

The above 101 to 125 constitute an example of the horizontal driving means 100 capable of driving the disk conveying means 21 and the elevating means 70. According to the horizontal drive unit 100, the drive gear 101 is rotationally driven in the forward and reverse directions by the drive source via the reduction mechanism, so that the drive rack 10 is driven.
Slide 3 in the arrow arrow direction. And drive rack 1
The sliding of 03 drives the disk conveying means 21 and the elevating means 70 via the speed increasing gear 106 and the like.

That is, for example, at the time of play shown in FIG. 11A, the carrier 27 is moved to the front end limit, and its abutting portion 27a abuts on the receiving portion 110a, so that the stopper 110 is biased. The locking portion 110c is rotated against the spring 114, so that the locking portion 110c is engaged with the locking recess 27b of the carrier 27. As a result, the moving position of the carrier 27 to the front end is maintained. In addition, the carrier lock tool 112 has a rotation receiving portion 112 b whose operation tool 115.
By contacting the rotation operating portion 115b of the
It is rotated against 14, and the stopper portion 112a is separated from the stopper recess 27c.

The intermediate locking device 120 is rotated against the spring 122 by the driving cam portion 22b of the tray base 22 acting on the passive cam portion 120b, and its receiving portion 120a is brought into contact with the rear contact portion. It is located outside the movement locus of 71b. Furthermore, the rear lock 123 is a spring 125.
The receiving portion 123a is pushed into the movement locus of the rear end contact portion 71c by being rotated by the urging force of. Further, the elevating means 70 is lifted by sliding one plate 71 to the front end side, thereby lifting the lower spindle 41 and the recording / reproducing device 62.

When the discs 1 and 2 that have finished playing are returned to the disc storage position A from such a play, first, the drive gear 101 is rotated in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 11B. As a result, the drive rack 103 slides in the direction of arrow B, but at this time, since the carrier 27 is prevented from moving by the stopper 110, the speed increasing gear 106 pivotally supported by the drive rack 103 is The large gear 106A meshes with the rack 28 of the carrier 27 and rotates.

As a result, the small gear 106 of the speed increasing gear 106
By the rotation of B, one plate 71 slides in the arrow B direction via the upper rack 75, and the sliding is performed until the rear end contact portion 71c abuts on the receiving portion 123a.

By the sliding of the one plate 71 in the direction of arrow B as described above, the elevating means 70 is lowered, whereby the lower spindle 41 and the recording / reproducing apparatus 6 are operated.
Lower 2 At that time, the speed-up gear 106 is in a deceleration transmission state, so that the descent is performed gently and stably. As described above, the lower spindle is lowered as shown in FIG.

When the sliding movement of one plate 71 is stopped by the rear end abutting portion 71c abutting against the receiving portion 123a, the driving rack 103 is slid in the direction of arrow B so that the driving rack 103 is axially moved. Acceleration gear 106 supported
Means that the small gear 106B meshes with the fixed upper rack 75 and is rotated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12A, the large gear 106A of the speed increasing gear 106 is
Rotation causes the carrier 27 to slide in the arrow B direction via the rack 28, and at that time, the stopper 110 is rotated by the urging spring 114, so that the locking portion 110c locks the carrier 27. It is separated from the recess 27b.

Such sliding of the carrier 27 is performed until the rear end contact portion 27d contacts the contact portion 123b.
By this abutment, the lock member 123 is rotated against the spring 125, and the locking portion 123c is engaged with the locking recess 27e from the outside, so that the carrier 27 is moved to the rear end limit. The moving position is locked. Then, the slide of the carrier 27 causes the tray 23 to slide in the arrow B direction with respect to the tray base 22, so that the lower spindle is lowered as shown in FIG. It should be noted that the locking rotation of the locking tool 123 causes the receiving portion 123a to escape inward with respect to the rear end contact portion 71c of the plate 71.

As a result, the plate 71 can be slid in the arrow B direction, and therefore one plate 71 can be slid in the arrow B direction to raise and lower the elevating means 70. The lower spindle 41 and the recording / reproducing device 62 are raised, and the stock time shown in FIG.

In order to operate from the stock time described above to the change time shown in FIG. 13, first, the drive gear 101 is rotated in the opposite direction to the above, that is, in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the drive rack 103 is slid in the direction of arrow A, but at this time, since the carrier 27 is prevented from moving by the rear lock tool 123, the speed increasing gear 106 pivotally supported by the drive rack 103 is The large gear 106A meshes with the fixed rack 28 of the carrier 27 and is rotated.

As a result, the small gear 106 of the speed increasing gear 106
By the rotation of B, the one plate 71 is slid in the arrow A direction via the upper rack 75. As a result, the elevating means 70 is lowered, and the lower spindle 41 and the recording / reproducing device 62 are lowered.

In this manner, the lock member 123 is unlocked with the one plate 71 slid in the direction of arrow A and the tip abutting portion 71d of the plate 71 abutting against the receiving portion 110d of the lock member 110 and stopped. The lock tool 123 is rotated in the unlocking direction by the spring 125, so that the lock portion 123 can be rotated relative to the lock recess 27e.
3c is separated to the outside. As the drive rack 103 slides in the direction of arrow A, the speed increasing gear 106 pivotally supported by the drive rack 103 is rotated by meshing the small gear 106B with the fixed upper rack 75.

As a result, the large gear 106 of the speed increasing gear 106
By the rotation of A, the carrier 27 is sent out in the arrow A direction through the rack 28, and the carrier 27 is accelerated and slid in the arrow A direction as the drive rack 103 moves. The sliding of the carrier 27 is performed until the contact portion 27a of the carrier 27 contacts the receiving portion 110a of the lock tool 110. The sliding of the carrier 27 causes the tray 23 to slide in the arrow A direction with respect to the tray base 22. Further, since the abutting portion 27a is brought into contact with the receiving portion 110a, the stopper tool 110 is rotated against the biasing spring 114, and thus the locking portion 110c.
Is engaged with the locking recess 27b of the carrier 27. As a result, the moving position of the carrier 27 toward the front end is maintained. It should be noted that the locking rotation of the stopper 110 causes the receiving portion 110b to escape inward with respect to the tip abutting portion 71d of the plate 71.

As a result, the plate 71 can be slid in the direction of arrow A. Therefore, the sliding of one plate 71 in the direction of arrow A causes the raising / lowering means 70 to move upward. The spindle 41 and the recording / reproducing device 62 are raised, and the time of change shown in FIG. 13 is reached.

At the time of closing shown in FIG. 14 (A), one plate 71 is further slid in the direction of arrow A as compared with the time of playing shown in FIG. 11 (A).
As a result, the lifting means 70 is lowered.
Then, the lower spindle 41 and the recording / reproducing device 62 are lowered.

When the drive gear 101 is rotated in the direction of the arrow at the time of closing shown in FIG. 14A, it can be opened at the time shown in FIG. 14B. That is, the drive rack 103 is slid in the arrow A direction by the rotation of the drive gear 101, and the device main body 20
The upper rack 7 on the plate 71 stopped in the direction of arrow A by contacting a stopper (not shown) provided at the front part of the
5, the small gear 106B is meshed and rotated, and the carrier 27 is slid in the arrow A direction via the rack 28 by the rotation of the large gear 106A of the speed increasing gear 106. At this time, the carrier lock tool 112 is rotated by the urging spring 114, and the stopper portion 112a is engaged with the stopper recess 27c of the carrier 27 as shown in FIG. 14B and FIG. Thus, the carrier 27 is locked. Due to the action of the carrier lock tool 112, the tray base 22 and the tray 23, which are integrated with the carrier 27, are projected and moved in the arrow A direction.

The movement of the tray base 22 and the tray 23 in the arrow B direction from the open time shown in FIG. 14B to the close time shown in FIG. This can be done by rotating in the direction of arrow E.

According to such a horizontal driving means 100,
Drive of the tray 23 having greatly different operation load, and both the spindles 31 and 41 and the lifting means 7 of the disk playing means 60.
0 drive, gears 106A, 106 of two steps
By freely selecting the module B, that is, the pitch circle diameter, the driving force transmitted from the common driving source can be freely set according to the load of the tray 23 and the elevating means 70 and the required speed. .

Next, the rotation of the drive source 140 composed of a motor that can be driven in the forward and reverse directions is controlled by rotating the drive gear 10 of the horizontal drive means 100.
17 and 18 show the configuration of the reduction gear mechanism 141 connected to No. 1, the configuration of the gear train 149 provided on the side of the horizontal drive unit 100, the configuration of the gear train 151 provided in the vertical drive system of the spacer 38, and the like. 28 will be described.

That is, the drive source 140 composed of a motor that can be driven in the forward and reverse directions is fixed to the front side of the apparatus main body 20, the transmission pulley 143 attached to its output shaft 142, and the shaft 144 on the intermediate side of the apparatus main body 20. An elastic belt 146 is suspended between a passive pulley 145 that is rotatably provided via the elastic belt 146. A cylindrical gear 147 is fixed to the lower surface side of the passive pulley 145. The above 142 to 147 constitute an example of the speed reduction mechanism 141 that connects the rotation of the drive source 140 to the drive gear 101.

The gear train 149 provided on the side of the horizontal drive means 100 is the drive gear 10 of the horizontal drive means 100.
1 and a large-diameter passive gear 108 that is integrated with the drive gear 101, and the like constitute an example thereof.

The gear train 151 provided in the vertical drive system of the spacer 38 has a passive gear 152 provided so as to face the cylindrical gear 147.
Is rotatably provided on the apparatus body 20 side via a shaft 153. A cylindrical transmission gear 154 is fixed to the lower surface side of the passive gear 152. A first intermediate gear 155, which constantly meshes with the transmission gear 154, is rotatably provided via a shaft 156 on the elevating base 42 of the disk holding means 30, and a second intermediate gear 155 which constantly meshes with the first intermediate gear 155. An intermediate gear 157 is rotatably provided via a shaft 158.

The above 152 to 158 form an example of the gear train 151 provided in the vertical drive system of the spacer 38. The second intermediate gear 157 always meshes with the ring gear 43b of the disk holding means 30.

Next, the switching gear 161 and the switching gear 1
The configuration of the drive switching means 165 that slides 61 in the axial direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 17, 18, and 28. That is, the switching gear 161 is provided so as to face all of the tubular gear 147, the passive gear 108, and the passive gear 152.

The switching gear 161 is provided slidably (movable up and down) and rotatable with respect to the shaft 162 from the apparatus main body 20 side. And the switching gear 16
Reference numeral 1 includes a large-diameter gear portion 161A that is always meshed with the tubular gear 147, and a small-diameter gear portion 161B provided on the lower surface of the large-diameter gear portion 161A. The switching gear 16
1 is configured to be urged downward by the compression spring 163, and to be lifted up against the compression spring 163 by the withdrawal movement of the drive switching means 165 including a plunger and a lever.

Further, the switching gear 161 is the drive switching means 1
When 65 is not actuated and is lowered by the elastic force of the compression spring 163, the small-diameter gear portion 161B is moved to the passive gear 108.
When the drive switching means 165 is actuated and lifted against the elastic force of the compression spring 163, the large-diameter gear portion 161A meshes with the passive gear 152.

As a result, the switching gear 161 is connected to the drive source 140 via the reduction mechanism 141, and
The gear train 149 provided in the horizontal drive means 100 is slid in the axial direction by the operation of the drive switching means 165.
Alternatively, it becomes possible to selectively mesh with either one of the gear trains 151 provided in the drive system for raising and lowering the spacer 38.

The speed reduction mechanism 141 and the gear train 14 having the above-mentioned structure
According to the configuration of 9, the gear train 151, the switching gear 161, and the like, the forward / reverse drive of the drive source 140 is transmitted to the tubular gear 147 via the reduction mechanism 141 having the elastic belt 146, and the tubular gear 147 is decelerated. And rotate it in the reverse direction. Then, during the sliding of the switching gear 161 by the drive switching means 165, there is a switching mode including at least rotational driving, stopping, and reverse driving of the switching gear 161. At this time, the forward / reverse switching mode described above is applied to the drive source 140.
It is controlled so that the rotation direction immediately before the start of the switching is started from inversion.

That is, in FIG. 29, mode change A is play to change to rise, or play to change to stock to rise mode change B is to change from rise to play, open, or stock rise to change to open, open mode. Switching C is a stock-to-change-up mode switching D is stock-to-change-to-fall mode switching E is a rising-to-change to stock-mode switching F is a play-to-change-down mode, or a play / change-to-stock-down mode G is a change after descending to stock mode switching. H is a change after ascending, playing, or opening, or a change after stock descending and opening. In either mode, the drive switching means 16 is used.
During forward / reverse sliding of the switching gear 161 by 5, the drive source 140 is controlled so as to start from reverse rotation with respect to normal rotation or from forward rotation with respect to reverse rotation.

That is, for example, in the mode switching A, the upper or lower line of the normal or reverse lines of the drive source 140 indicates brake-on, and the lower line indicates brake-off. Therefore, in the M region, the rotation is stopped because both the forward rotation and the reverse rotation are brake-on, and while the drive switching means 165 is sliding, the reverse rotation is braked off and the reverse rotation is started in the N region, and In the O region, the forward rotation is braked off and the reverse rotation is braked on to perform the desired forward rotation.

When the drive switching means 165 is actuated to raise the switching gear 161 against the elastic force of the compression spring 163, as shown in FIG.
The large-diameter gear portion 161A meshing with the gear 7 meshes with the passive gear 152. As a result, the switching gear 1
After the completion of the switching slide of 61, the forward / reverse drive of the drive source 140 is transmitted to the ring-shaped gear 43b of the disk holding means 30 via the gear train 151, and the ring-shaped gear 43b is rotated in the normal and reverse directions.

When the drive switching means 165 is inoperative and the switching gear 161 is lowered by the elastic force of the compression spring 163, as shown in FIG.
61A disengages from the passive gear 152,
Then, the small-diameter gear portion 161B meshes with the passive gear 108. As a result, after the switching sliding of the switching gear 161 is completed, the forward / reverse drive of the drive source 140 is transmitted to the drive gear 101 of the horizontal drive means 100 via the gear train 149, and the drive gear 101 is rotated in the forward / reverse direction. .

In such an operation, while the switching gear 161 is sliding by the drive switching means 165, the switching gear 1
A switching gear 16 for switching between two drive systems by having a switching mode including rotational drive, stop, and reverse drive of 61.
Since the engagement of the gear train 1 into the gear trains 149 and 151 of each drive system at the time of switching is performed while slightly rotating, stopping, and reversing, the switching gear 161 slides by hitting the tips of the teeth. This can be performed reliably without being hindered, so that the drive source 140 can be shared and the drive system can be partially shared, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the device can be downsized.

By using the elastic belt 146 as a part of the speed reduction mechanism 141, the side pressure of the elastic belt 146 remains in the drive system when the driving of the drive source 140 is stopped, and the switching gear 161 is not switched. Since the load increases when the vehicle comes out of the meshing with the teeth of the drive system connected to, the repeated rotation, stop, and reversal work more effectively.

Further, the switching gear 161 at the time of switching the drive
By controlling the initial rotation direction of the drive to start rotating in the opposite direction to the rotation direction immediately before the stop of the drive system connected before switching, the action of stopping the rotation due to the inertia of the drive after the drive is stopped Can reduce the waiting time from the drive stop before switching to the switching mode and the disk replacement time. Further, in the configuration using the elastic belt 146 as described above, the elastic belt 1
It is particularly effective in reducing the switching load due to the side pressure of 46.

Next, the structure of the disk gap securing means 170 will be described with reference to FIGS. That is, the disc gap securing means 170 is configured to be able to enter between the storage discs vertically adjacent to the performance disc. The disc gap securing means 170 is provided between the disc playing position B and the disc storing position A, and has a shaft portion 171 rotatably supported by the elevating base 42 of the lower spindle 41. The shaft portion 171 is composed of a lever 172 that is continuously provided at two positions in the left-right direction.

At the tip of both levers 172, there are provided entry portions 173 which can be inserted between the adjacent storage disks. These entry portions 173 have an acute-angled joint portion.
It is composed of two smooth flat surfaces 173a and 173b, and the flat surfaces 173a and 173b can directly contact the end faces of the upper and lower discs to push the adjacent discs up and down. It may be configured.) Is configured. At that time, the two entrance portions 173 of the disk gap securing means 170 are provided at substantially symmetrical positions with the common center line of the performance disk and the storage disk sandwiched therebetween.

The disk gap securing means 170 is configured to be driven by the elevating means 70.
That is, the disk gap securing means 170 is configured so that the lever 172 is erected by the spring 174 provided between it and the elevation base 42 side, and the entry portion 173 is retracted from between the end surfaces of the upper and lower disks. . Then, at the end of the shaft portion 171, a lever-shaped cam follower 17
5 is provided, and a cam body 176 is provided on the inner surface of the other plate 81.

An example of the disk gap securing means 170 is constituted by the above 171-176. Then, according to the disc gap securing means 170, the plate 81 moves to the disc playing position B, and the cam follower 175 is moved.
Acting on the cam body 176, the lever 172 is tilted to the disk storage position A side against the spring 174, and the entry portion 173 is inserted between the adjacent storage disks.

Therefore, as described above, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, the disc storage position A and the disc playing position B are placed close to each other so that the stored discs 1 and 2 and the playing discs 1 and 2 are flat. Even if the disc gap securing means 170 is configured to overlap with each other, the disc gap securing means 170 prevents the gap from narrowing even when vibration or the like is applied, as well as entering the gap between the upper and lower storage discs adjacent to the performance disc. , It is possible to prevent the sound skipping and the disc damage due to the contact between the performance disc and the storage disc.

Further, by having the lever 172 as the disc gap securing means 170, the disc gap securing means 170 can be easily positioned, and the gap can be stably secured with a simple structure. Further, since the disk gap securing means 170 is configured to be driven by the lifting / lowering means 70, the timing for lifting / lowering the lower spindle 41 by the lifting / lowering means 70 and the disk playing means 60.
The disk gap securing means 170 can be driven without shifting with respect to the timing of raising and lowering.

Further, by providing the disc gap securing means 170 between the disc storing position A and the disc playing position B, the gap can be secured at a position close to both the disc storing position A and the disc playing position B. It can be secured accurately.

Then, the disk gap securing means 170 is
The entry portion 173 between the adjacent discs is provided with the discs 1 and 2.
Since the storage disc is prevented from tilting with respect to the performance disc by the entrance portions 173 on the left and right,
It is possible to stably secure the gap regardless of the form of action such as the inclination and vibration of the device.

Further, since the entrance portion 173 of the disc gap securing means 170 is constituted by a plane having an acute-angled joint part, the disc gap securing means 170 of the disc gap securing means 170 is placed between the two storage discs vertically adjacent to the performance disc. When the front end moves in, it is possible to aim at the gap between the discs 1 and 2 at one point, so a margin can be secured for the positional deviation when the disc gap securing means 170 moves in. Also,
By making the contact surfaces of the disks flat and smooth 173a and 173b, the load of sliding on the end surfaces of the disks 1 and 2 can be reduced, and it is possible to prevent the disks from being caught in contact with the disk ends.

Next, the structure of the detecting means 180 which controls a part of the control will be described with reference to FIGS. That is, the detection unit 180 is composed of a detection switch group provided on the fixed substrate 181 side integrated with the apparatus main body 20 side and an operation cam group provided on one plate 71 or the tray base 22 side. Here, the detection switch group provided on the fixed substrate 181 side includes an open switch 182, a first switch 183, and a second switch 184, which are sequentially arranged from the front side to the rear side.

Further, one plate 71 is provided with a first operation cam 185 and a second operation cam 186 for simultaneously turning on the first switch 183 and the second switch 184,
A third operation cam 187 for turning on only the first switch 183 is provided, and a fourth operation cam 188 for turning on only the second switch 184 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, a fifth operation cam 189 for turning on only the open switch 182 is provided on the tray base 22 side.

The detecting means 18 is constituted by the above 181-189.
An example of 0 is configured. According to the detecting means 180, when the one plate 71 moves to the above-mentioned playing position, the first operation cam 185 and the second operation cam 186 turn on the first switch 183 and the second switch 184 at the same time. Thus, it is possible to detect and control the play time by moving to the performance position (see A in FIG. 16). Then, when one plate 71 moves to the change position described above, the third operation cam 187 turns on only the first switch 183, so that the change time due to the movement to the change position can be detected and controlled (FIG. 16 B).

Furthermore, when one plate 71 moves to the above-mentioned stock position, the fourth operation cam 188 moves to the second position.
Only the switch 184 is turned on to detect and control the stock time due to the movement to the stock position (see C in FIG. 16). Further, when the tray base 22 is opened and opened, the fifth operation cam 1 is provided on the tray base 22 side.
89 turns on only the open switch 182 so that the open time can be detected and controlled.

The operation of the disc changer, which is an example of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, will be described. Note that the timing chart of FIG. 30 is also referred to in the description of the operation. In FIG. 30, the drive rack 1
03, one plate 71 (same for the other plate 81), cam gear 92, carrier 27, tray base 2
2, tray 23, lifting base 42, lifting base 61, first switch 183, second switch 184, open switch 1
Each drive of 82, open, close, play,
It shows the timings of changing, lowering the lower spindle, rearing the tray, and stocking.

In FIGS. 1 and 4, the tray base 22 and the tray 23 are driven by the horizontal drive means 100 to come out from the front panel 10 in the direction of arrow A, and then the drive source 140 is stopped by the open switch 182. It shows the state of being.

In this state, after exchanging (or supplying) the large-diameter disc 1 (the same applies to the small-diameter disc 2) on the tray 23, when the open / close key 13 is pressed, the tray base 22 causes the arrow mark to appear. 2) Move to the direction
2, the large-diameter disc 1 is conveyed to the disc playing position B.

Then, the recording / reproducing apparatus 6 is operated by the elevating means 70.
2 is lifted and the large-diameter disc 1 is clamped to be in a play state (see FIG. 11A, FIG. 16A, and FIG. 23).
At this time, the disc gap securing means 170 is rotated to the disc storage position A side as shown in FIG. 21 to secure the desired gap. After playing, when the open / close key 13 is pressed again, the tray base 22 moves in the direction of arrow A and is projected as shown in FIG. The diameter disc 1 can be taken out.

After playing as described above, the large-diameter disk 1 on the tray 23 and the large-diameter disk 1 at the disk storage position A are recorded.
When changing and Press the desired key from the keys 12. Then, the descending operation of the elevating means 70 lowers the recording / reproducing device 62 to open the clamp, and the lower spindle 41 lowers to form a gap between the lower spindle 41 and the upper spindle 31.
The tray is in the front state (see FIG. 11B and FIG. 24).

Subsequently, the horizontal driving means 100 is operated to move the tray 23 in the arrow B direction with respect to the tray base 22 to position the large-diameter disk 1 in the gap between the spindles 31 and 41, and 23 and the center of the large-diameter disk 1 are conveyed to a position where they coincide with the centers of both spindles 31 and 41, so that the lower spindle descends and the tray rear state (see FIG. 12A and FIG. 25).

Then, by the raising operation of the elevating means 70,
The elevating base 42 rises and the large-diameter disk 1 is lifted by the tray 23 to be in a stock state (B in FIG. 12,
(See FIG. 16C and FIG. 26). After passing through the switching mode, the disc holding means 30 is moved upward by one pitch of the spacers via the gear train 151, so that the large-diameter disc 1 is moved.
Are held on the upper spindle 31 side via a spacer 38.

Then, by the lowering operation of the elevating means 70,
After the elevating base 42 descends to form a gap between the spindles 31 and 41, the horizontal drive means 100 operates to move the tray 23 in the arrow A direction with respect to the tray base 22, and the tray 23 Returning to the disc playing position B, the lower spindle is lowered and the tray is in the front state (see FIG. 11B and FIG. 24).

Then, the raising and lowering base 42 is raised by the raising operation of the raising and lowering means 70, and after the two spindles 31 and 41 are connected, a change state is established (FIG. 13, FIG. 16B, FIG. 20, FIG. 27). Then, after passing through the switching mode, the disc holding means 30 is rotationally operated via the gear train 151, thereby moving the spacer 38 between the spindles 31 and 41 to move the target large-diameter disc 1 to the upper spindle 31 side. Move it to a position where it can be held at the bottom of.

Then, by the lowering operation of the elevating means 70,
After the elevating base 42 descends to form a gap between the spindles 31 and 41, the horizontal driving means 100 operates to move the tray 23 in the arrow B direction with respect to the tray base 22, thereby causing the spindles 31 and 41 to move. Empty tray 2 in the gap between 41
3 is positioned (lower spindle descends and tray rear).

Then, by the raising operation of the elevating means 70,
The elevating base 42 rises, the two spindles 31 and 41 are connected, and the stock state is restored again (FIG. 12B, FIG. 1).
6C, see FIG. 26). Then, after passing through the switching mode, the disc holding means 30 is lowered through the gear train 151, so that the intended large-diameter disc 1 held on the upper spindle 31 side is transferred onto the tray 23.

Then, by the lowering operation of the elevating means 70,
After the elevating base 42 descends to form a gap between the spindles 31 and 41, the horizontal drive means 100 operates to move the tray 23 in the direction of arrow A with respect to the tray base 22. After placing the large-diameter disc 1 at the disc playing position B (at the time of tray front with the lower spindle descending), the play state described above is obtained (A in FIG. 11,
(See FIG. 16A, FIG. 21, and FIG. 23).

As described above, the positions of the plurality of spacers 38 and the plurality of large-diameter discs 1 loaded on the both spindles 31 and 41 are vertically driven to move an arbitrary large-diameter disc 1 to both spindles. From 31 and 41, the disk playing position B, the ejecting position, and again both spindles 31 and 4
It is possible to change the disc to the disc storage position A in 1 and to select and record an arbitrary large-diameter disc 1. This eliminates the need for a stocker having a plurality of shelves, a plurality of sub-trays, and the like, so that it is possible to provide a disc changer that is lightweight, inexpensive, and has excellent storability and operability.

During the above operation, a plurality of modes among the modes shown in FIG. 29 are performed. In the disc changer which is an example of the embodiment of the present invention operated as described above, the sequence of the respective states during the disc exchange operation is as follows. (1) Horizontal drive in the direction of B (= drive of lifting means + drive of disk transport means) "Play state" → (change state: plain) → (spindle open & tray front) → (spindle open & tray rear) → " Stock state ”. ． Here, the drive is switched from horizontal to vertical drive of the spacer. (2) Vertical drive 1 pitch increase in stock state. ． ． This operation moves the disc on the tray onto the spacer. After raising the pitch by 1 pitch, switch to horizontal drive again (3) Horizontal drive in direction "stock state" → (spindle open & trailer) →
(Spindle open & tray front) → "changed". ． Here, the drive is switched from horizontal again to vertical drive of the spacer (4) Vertical drive in the changed state Raise or lower to a predetermined position. ． ． Next, move the disc to be played to a position where it can be held at the bottom of the upper spindle. After moving the spacer, switch to horizontal drive again (5) Horizontal drive in the B direction "changed" → (spindle open & tray front)
→ (Spindle open & tray rear) → "Stock state". ． Here, the drive is switched from horizontal again to vertical drive of the spacer (6) Vertical drive in the stock state is lowered by one pitch. ． ． This operation moves the disc on the spacer onto the tray. After lowering by one pitch, switch to horizontal drive again (7) Horizontal drive in direction a "stock state" → (spindle open & trailer) →
(Spindle open & tray front) → (Change state:
Pass-through → "Play state". ． Disk change is over! The above-mentioned operation shows the procedure for automatically exchanging the disc being played for another disc stored in the spindle. Various operations such as selecting and playing a disc or opening the disc can be performed by key operation.

The disk changer, which is an example of the embodiment of the present invention operated as described above, handles the large-diameter disk 1, but it can also handle the small-diameter disk 2 in the same manner. Even if the disc 1 and the small diameter disc 2 are mixed, they can be handled in the same manner.

[0142]

The disc changer of the present invention comprises a device main body, a disc transfer means for transferring the disc between the disc storage position and the disc playing position in the device main body, and a plurality of spacers at the disc storage position. A disc holding means having a pair of upper and lower spindles for holding the disc in a detachable manner and capable of transferring a disc between the disc conveying means by relative elevation of the spindle and vertical drive of the spacer; and the disc playing position. A plurality of discs loaded on both spindles by a structure having disc playing means supported by the apparatus main body so as to be able to be raised and lowered and raising and lowering means for raising and lowering the spindle and raising and lowering the disc playing means in the apparatus. Drive the spacers and multiple disc positions vertically to A disk playing position from the both spindles, the take-out position and again the disk storage position to both the spindle and can be disc change, and can be recorded and reproduced by selecting any disk. This eliminates the need for a stocker having a plurality of shelves, a plurality of sub-trays, and the like, so that it is possible to provide a disc changer that is lightweight, inexpensive, and has excellent storability and operability.

In addition, the disc changer of the present invention is provided with the disc gap securing means which can be inserted between the storage discs adjacent to each other in the upper and lower sides of the performance disc. Even if the stored position and the playing disc are configured to overlap each other in a plane so that the playing position is close to the playing position, the gap securing means enters the gap between the upper and lower storage discs adjacent to the playing disc, and Since the gap is prevented from becoming narrow even when vibration or the like is applied, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of sound skipping and disc damage due to the contact between the performance disc and the storage disc.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a disc changer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention with an outer case removed.

FIG. 3 shows a tray base and a tray of a disc changer according to an embodiment of the present invention, where A is a plan view, B is a vertical side view, and C is a vertical front view.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention with an outer case removed.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the disc holding means of the disc changer in the embodiment of the present invention when the lower spindle is lowered.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the disc holding means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention when the lower spindle is raised.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lower spindle portion showing the disc holding means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an elevating means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a developed perspective view of a rack and a gear part, showing the elevating means and the horizontal driving means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view of the speed increasing gear portion, showing the elevating means and the horizontal driving means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the disc changer ascending / descending means and a horizontal drive means according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein A is a side view during play and B is a side view during lower descent of the lower spindle.

12A and 12B show a lifting and lowering means and a horizontal driving means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention, where A is a side view at the time of the tray rear and B is a side view at the time of stocking.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing the raising and lowering means and the horizontal driving means when changing.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the disc changer ascending / descending means and a horizontal driving means according to the embodiment of the present invention when closed, and B is a side view when opened.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a stopper portion showing the elevating means and the horizontal driving means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows horizontal drive means and switch arrangement of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention, A is a side view during play, B is a side view during change, and C is a side view during stock.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing horizontal driving means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows horizontal drive means of the disc changer in the embodiment of the present invention, A is a developed side view when the disc holding means side is switched, and B is a developed side view when the horizontal drive means is switched.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a disc gap securing means of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention at the time of off, showing the disc gap securing means.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention at the time of turning on, showing the disc gap securing means.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a disc change operation of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention during play.

FIG. 23 is a side view showing a disc exchange operation of the disc changer in the embodiment of the present invention at the time of playing.

FIG. 24 is a side view showing the disc exchanging action of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention when the lower spindle is lowered and the tray is fronted.

FIG. 25 is a side view showing the disc exchanging action of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention when the lower spindle is lowered and the tray is rear.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing the disc exchange action, at the time of disc stock.

FIG. 27 is a side view showing a disc change operation of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention when the disc is changed.

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a timing chart of switching modes of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a timing chart of each part of the disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a disk changer according to a conventional improved example with an outer case removed.

FIG. 32 is a plan view of a conventional disk disc changer with the outer case removed in a modified example.

FIG. 33 is a side view of a disc holding means portion of a disc changer in a conventional modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 large diameter disc 2 small discs 12 No. Key 13 Open / Close key 14 Play Key 15 stop key 19 Disc changer 20 Device body 21 Disc transport means 22 tray base 23 trays 24 12cm disc holder 25 8cm disc holder 27 careers 28 racks 30 disk holding means 31 upper spindle 38 Spacer 41 Lower spindle 42 Lifting base 50 pin 51 pin 52 Vertical feed detection sensor 60 disc playing means 61 Lifting platform 62 recording / reproducing apparatus 65 pin 66 pin 70 Lifting means 71 plate (single part) 74 Cam groove 75 upper rack 76 Lower rack 81 plates 84 Cam groove 85 Cam groove 87 Connection lever 90 Middle gear 92 Cam gear 96 cam groove 100 horizontal drive means 101 drive gear 103 drive rack 106 Speed increasing gear 106A large gear 106B small gear 108 Passive gear 110 stopper 112 carrier lock 115 Operation tool 120 Middle lock 123 Rear lock 140 drive source 141 Reduction mechanism 146 elastic belt 147 tubular gear 149 gear train 151 gear train 152 Passive gear 154 transmission gear 155 First intermediate gear 157 Second intermediate gear 161 switching gear 161A large diameter gear 161B small diameter gear 165 Drive switching means 170 Disc clearance securing means 172 lever 173 entry point 173a Smooth plane 173b Smooth plane 180 detection means 182 open switch 183 first switch 184 Second switch A disk storage position B disc playing position L distance

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yukio Morioka             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Ota             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5D072 AB23 BE03 BG02 BG05 BH05                       BH07 BH17 CD05 EB04 EB14                       EB16

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A disc changer in which a plurality of discs are accommodated, and an arbitrary disc is selected from the accommodated plurality of discs for recording / reproduction, and a disc main body and discs in the device body. And a pair of upper and lower spindles for detachably holding a plurality of spacers at the disc storing position, the disc conveying means for transferring between the storing position and the disc playing position, and the relative elevation of the spindles and the spacers. Disk holding means capable of transferring a disk to and from the disk transporting means by vertical drive, disk playing means supported up and down by the apparatus body at the disk playing position, and lifting and lowering of the spindle in the apparatus. And an advancing means for elevating and lowering the disc playing means, and adjacent to the upper and lower sides of the playing disc A disc changer comprising: a disc gap securing means that can enter between storage discs. 2. The distance between the center of the disc stored in the disc storing position and the center of the disc played in the disc playing position is greater than 100 mm, and 120
The disc changer according to claim 1, wherein the disc changer is smaller than mm. 3. The disc changer according to claim 1, wherein the disc gap securing means has a lever rotatably supported on an elevating base of the spindle. 4. The disc changer according to claim 1, wherein the disc clearance ensuring device is driven by the elevating device. 5. The disc changer according to claim 1, wherein the disc gap securing means is provided between the disc playing position and the disc storing position. 6. The disc gap securing means is characterized in that the entry portions between the adjacent discs are provided at two substantially symmetrical positions with a common center line between the performance disc and the storage disc sandwiched therebetween. The disc changer according to claim 1. 7. The disk gap securing means is composed of two smooth flat surfaces having a joining portion with an acute angle at an entrance portion for an adjacent disk, and each surface can contact the end surfaces of the upper and lower disks. The disc changer according to claim 1.