JP2007141343A - Optical disk drive - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the situation that the user has to hold two disks at the same time when inserting another disk to the drive and also reliably prevent damages on the optical disk caused by defective disk transfer inside the disk drive. <P>SOLUTION: Disks 11, 16 are replaced or retracted in the chassis 3 of an optical disk drive 1 by using a structure allowing optical disks hold by a trays 2 to move up and down. Especially, scratches or dirt are not produced without fail on the main part (center section used to store data) of the disk 11, 16 by using a mechanism to transfer the optical disks 11, 16 by supporting only their edges (outer) with the trays 2 (front tray 8, rear tray 9) and disk holding mechanisms 4 and 5 (disk holder 10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is provided with a retracting space for retracting a used optical disk inside the housing. When a new optical disk is carried in, the used optical disk is removed from the disk rotation drive unit and held in the retracted space, and a new space is stored. The present invention relates to an improvement of an optical disk apparatus in which a used optical disk is ejected outside a housing after the optical disk is set in a disk rotation driving unit.

  An optical disc that has been recorded / reproduced is allowed to be brought into the optical disc apparatus, and a new optical disc is exchanged in the optical disc apparatus. An optical disk device that discharges an optical disk that has been contained therein has already been proposed as Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  Both of these technologies are aimed at eliminating the troublesome handling of the old and new optical discs that occur when a new optical disc is carried into the optical disc device. According to these technologies, the optical disc device has been used in advance. This eliminates the need to take out the optical disc, and improves the situation in which the user is forced to hold both the optical disc to be carried into the optical disc device and the used optical disc ejected from the optical disc device at the same time. In addition, problems such as damage to the optical disk caused by careless handling by the user, such as scratches on the disk surface and adhesion of fingerprints or dust, can be reduced.

  Of these, the optical disk device disclosed in Patent Document 1 carries in and out of the optical disk using a single slot loading type conveying means, and the optical disk device disclosed in Patent Document 2 The slot loading type conveying means is provided in the vertical direction, and one of them is used exclusively for carrying in the optical disk, and the other is used exclusively for carrying out the optical disk.

  The optical disk devices disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are all developed on the premise that slot loading type conveying means is applied. However, in slot loading type conveying means, optical disk loading is not possible. It is essential to use a transport roller or pinch roller that directly feeds the optical disc when ejected, and the optical disc itself moves in the transport path without being protected by anything. There is no need to worry that the surface of the disk may be damaged by contact with the pinch roller or dust attached to the roller, or that the disk surface may be damaged by contacting the wall surface of the transport path.

  Theoretically, this kind of problem can be solved to some extent by applying a tray type conveying means in place of the slot loading type conveying means, but the size of the tray used for loading and unloading the optical disk is as follows. Generally, it is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the optical disk, and this tray is an obstacle. Therefore, the old and new optical disks can be replaced in the optical disk device casing, and used optical disks can be replaced in the casing. The operation of moving to the evacuation space is difficult, and so far, there is no example in which this type of processing operation is realized by applying a tray-type transport unit.

JP-A-11-162068 (paragraph 0006) JP 2000-357356 A (paragraph 0003)

  Therefore, the problem of the present invention is to improve the inconvenience of the prior art, and when a new optical disk is carried in, the used optical disk is removed from the disk rotation drive unit and held in the evacuation space, and the new optical disk is stored in the disk rotation drive unit. An optical disk device having a function of discharging a used optical disk to the outside of the housing after being set in the tray is configured using a tray-type transport means, that is, the user does not have to hold the old and new optical disks at the same time. In addition to eliminating problems such as damage to the optical disk caused by careless handling by the user, such as scratches on the disk surface and adhesion of fingerprints or dust, it is further conveyed in the optical disk apparatus. Damage to the optical disc caused by the above problems, for example, contact with the transport roller or pinch roller or Or scratched disk surface by wearing the dust, or the disk surface is to provide an optical disk apparatus capable of reliably prevented even if the inconvenience damaged in contact with the wall surface or the like of the transport path.

The optical disk apparatus of the present invention has a retreat space for retracting a used optical disk inside the housing, and when a new optical disk is carried in, the used optical disk is removed from the disk rotation drive unit and held in the retreat space. An optical disc apparatus configured to discharge a used optical disc to the outside of the housing after setting a new optical disc in the disc rotation drive unit.
A tray on which an optical disk is placed is divided into a front tray and a rear tray, and the front tray has an arc-shaped notch that is larger than the outer diameter of the optical disk and a radially inner side from the notch. The rear tray is formed with a projecting portion that supports the front edge of the lower surface of the optical disc, while the rear tray has a circular arc-shaped notch that is larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc and a slightly inward radial direction from the notch. Projecting to form a projecting portion that supports the rear edge of the lower surface of the optical disc,
Protruding portions that support at least the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk at the left and right positions in the housing that do not interfere with the tray drawn into the disk storage position in the housing and approach the optical disk from the outside in the radial direction of the optical disk The first and second disk holding mechanisms having a pair of disk holding members that support the optical disk on both the left and right sides are stacked in the vertical direction,
The distance between the protruding portion of the front tray and the protruding portion of the rear tray is slightly less than the diameter of the optical disc, and between the protruding portion of the front tray and the protruding portion of the rear tray. Tray drive means for changing the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray between a disc release position with a separation distance slightly exceeding the diameter of the optical disc;
Tray transport means for slidingly moving the tray between a disk storage position in the housing and a disk replacement position outside the housing in a state where the relative positions of the front tray and the rear tray are held;
A disk holding position where the protrusions of the pair of disk holding members support the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk, and a disk release position where the protrusions of the pair of disk holding members separate from the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk radially outward. First and second disk holding member driving means for changing the position of the pair of disk holding members in the first and second disk holding mechanisms between,
An initial position in which the vertical position of the first disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the tray and the vertical position of the second disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the disk rotation driving unit below the tray; A lower position where the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism matches the vertical position of the disk rotation driving unit below the tray, and the vertical position of the first disk holding mechanism matches the vertical position of the retreat space above the tray and the first position. A holding mechanism elevating means for moving the first and second disk holding mechanisms up and down integrally between the up and down positions of the second disk holding mechanism and the up and down position of the tray is provided in the casing. It has the structure characterized by having performed.

Therefore, in a state where the tray driving means is operated and the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray is changed to the disk holding position, the front edge portion of the lower surface of the optical disk is formed by the protrusion portion of the front tray and the protrusion portion of the rear tray. The rear edge is supported, and the optical disk can be held in the same manner as this type of conventional tray. The optical disk is transported between the disk storage position in the housing and the disk replacement position outside the housing in the same manner as in the past by a tray transport means for integrally sliding the tray constituted by the front tray and the rear tray. Realized.
Further, when the used optical disk set in the disk rotation driving unit below the tray is retracted to the retreat space above the tray, or a new optical disk placed on the tray is moved to the disk rotation driving unit below the tray. When the tray is set, the tray driving means is operated to change the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray to the disk release position, and the separation distance between the protrusion of the front tray and the protrusion of the rear tray is set. By making it larger than the diameter of the optical disc, the optical disc is allowed to move in the vertical direction across the tray. To move the optical disk in the vertical direction, the first and second disk holding member driving means are operated to change the position of the pair of disk holding members in the first and second disk holding mechanisms to the disk holding position. This is realized by operating the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means to move the first and second disk holding mechanisms up and down integrally while supporting the left and right side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk with the protruding parts of the disk holding member. The
In this way, with the configuration that allows the optical disk to move in the vertical direction across the tray, the replacement operation of the old and new optical disks in the optical disk device casing and the used optical disks are moved to the retreat space in the casing. In addition to eliminating the use of transport rollers and pinch rollers when transporting the optical disk inside the housing using the tray and the first and second disk holding mechanisms, only the edge on the lower surface of the optical disk By holding it, it is intended to surely prevent scratches and dirt attached to the main part of the optical disk.

  Further, the above-mentioned disc holding member may be provided with a protruding portion that supports the side edge portion of the upper surface of the optical disk in addition to the protruding portion that supports the side edge portion of the lower surface of the optical disk.

In the case of a structure with a click stop function etc. in which the spindle of the disk rotation drive unit elastically fits with the hole of the optical disk, it is necessary to apply a certain force to the optical disk and press the hole part against the tip of the spindle, At least the disk holding member in the second disk holding mechanism is always provided with a protruding portion that supports the side edge of the upper surface of the optical disk.
Further, if the disk holding member in the first and second disk holding mechanisms is provided with a projecting portion that supports the side edge of the upper surface of the optical disk, the optical disk apparatus is assumed to be used by placing the optical disk horizontally. It is also possible to use (with the above-described configuration) in a vertically placed state. Note that a tray structure for preventing the optical disk from falling off when the optical disk device is set vertically is already known, and it is easy to divert it to a tray structure including a front tray and a rear tray.

More specifically, the tray driving means, the tray transporting means, the first and second disk holding member driving means, a control unit for driving and controlling the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means, and a command for instructing replacement of the optical disk A configuration including a disk replacement switch and a disk detection sensor for detecting the placement of a new optical disk on the tray,
When the control unit receives a command from the disk replacement switch, the control unit operates the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means to hold the first and second disk holding members in the disk release position. The holding mechanism is moved from the initial position to the lowered position, and the tray conveying means is operated to move the tray holding the front tray and the rear tray at the disk holding position from the disk storage position to the disk replacement position. The first disk holding member driving means is operated to change the position of the disk holding member of the first disk holding mechanism to the disk holding position so that the used optical disk is held by the disk holding member, and the holding is performed. The mechanism lifting / lowering means is operated to move the first and second disk holding mechanisms to the raised position, and the used optical disk is While performing a disk holding sequence to suspend above the retraction space,
Upon receiving a disk detection signal from the disk detection sensor, the tray transporting unit is operated to slide the tray to a disk storage position, and the second disk holding member driving unit is operated to The position of the disk holding member of the second disk holding mechanism is changed to the disk holding position, and the disk holding member holds the optical disk on the tray, and then the tray driving means is operated to The relative position of the rear tray is changed to the disk release position, and the holding mechanism elevating means is operated to hold the used optical disk and the new optical disk held by the first and second disk holding members. After moving the second disk holding mechanism to the lowered position and setting a new optical disk in the disk rotation drive section below the tray, The second disk holding member driving means is operated to change the position of the disk holding member of the second disk holding mechanism to the disk release position, and the tray driving means is operated to operate the front tray. And changing the relative position of the rear tray to the disk holding position to hold the used optical disk on the tray, and then changing the position of the disk holding member of the first disk holding mechanism to the disk release position, Further, the tray conveying means is operated to execute a disk discharge sequence for sliding the tray holding the front tray and the rear tray at the disk holding position from the disk storage position to the disk replacement position. Is desirable.

  A disk loading switch may be provided instead of the disk detection sensor, and the disk ejection sequence may be started by manual operation of the disk loading switch.

  Further, the control unit sets a new optical disk in the disk rotation driving unit below the tray in the disk ejection sequence and changes the position of the disk holding member of the second disk holding mechanism to the disk release position. You may comprise so that the action | operation of a disk rotation drive part may be started.

  Since the operation of the disk rotation drive unit is started immediately after a new optical disk is set in the disk rotation drive unit, the user uses the optical disk device immediately if necessary without waiting for the used optical disk to be ejected. It is possible to start processing such as reading and writing.

Further, in order to achieve the same problem as described above, a first tray that also serves as a retracting space for retracting a used optical disk and a second tray for loading a new optical disk are provided in the vertical direction.
Each tray is divided into a front tray and a rear tray, and the front tray has an arc-shaped cutout having a size larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc and slightly protrudes radially inward from the cutout. A projecting portion that supports the front edge of the lower surface of the optical disk, and the rear tray has an arc-shaped cutout portion that is larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc and slightly protrudes radially inward from the cutout portion. Forming a protrusion to support the rear edge of the lower surface,
At least the protrusions that support the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk are provided at left and right positions in the housing that do not interfere with the trays drawn into the disk storage position in the housing, and approach the optical disk from the outside in the radial direction of the optical disk. A disc holding mechanism having a pair of disc holding members that support the optical disc on both the left and right sides,
The distance between the protruding portion of the front tray and the protruding portion of the rear tray is slightly less than the diameter of the optical disc, and between the protruding portion of the front tray and the protruding portion of the rear tray. First and second tray driving means for changing the relative positions of the front tray and the rear tray in each tray between a disc release position whose separation distance slightly exceeds the diameter of the optical disc;
First and second trays for slidingly moving each tray between a disk storage position in the housing and a disk replacement position outside the housing while maintaining the relative positions of the front tray and the rear tray in each tray. Conveying means;
A disk holding position where the protrusions of the pair of disk holding members support the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk, and a disk release position where the protrusions of the pair of disk holding members separate from the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk radially outward. Disk holding member driving means for changing the position of the pair of disk holding members in the disk holding mechanism between,
An initial position in which the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the disk rotation driving unit below the second tray, and a raised position in which the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the first tray And a configuration in which a holding mechanism raising / lowering means for moving the disk holding mechanism up and down is provided in the casing between an upper and lower position of the disk holding mechanism and an intermediate position that coincides with an upper and lower position of the second tray. May be.

In the same manner as described above, when the first and second tray driving means are operated to change the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray to the disk holding position, the protrusion of the front tray and the protrusion of the rear tray Thus, the front edge and the rear edge of the lower surface of the optical disk are supported, and the optical disk can be held in the same manner as this type of conventional tray. The optical disk is transported between the disk storage position inside the housing and the disk exchange position outside the housing by sliding the first and second trays constituted by the front tray and the rear tray. This is realized in the same manner as before by the tray conveying means. However, in this configuration, the first tray is used exclusively for discharging the used optical disk, and the first tray also functions as a retracting space for retracting the used optical disk. The second tray is used only for loading a new optical disc.
Then, when the used optical disk set in the disk rotation driving unit below the second tray is retracted to the retracting space composed of the first tray, or a new optical disk placed on the second tray When setting the optical disk in the disk rotation driving unit below the second tray, the first and second tray driving means are operated to set the relative positions of the front tray and the rear tray in the first and second trays. By changing to the disc release position and making the separation distance between the protrusion of the front tray and the protrusion of the rear tray larger than the diameter of the optical disc, the vertical direction of the optical disc across the first and second trays Movement (when the used optical disk is retracted from the disk rotation driving unit to the first tray), or the vertical movement of the optical disk across the second tray (second A new optical disk is placed on the ray to allow the case to be set in the disc rotation driving unit). To move the optical disk in the vertical direction, the disk holding member driving means is operated to change the position of the pair of disk holding members in the disk holding mechanism to the disk holding position. This is realized by operating the holding mechanism raising / lowering means and moving the disk holding mechanism up and down in a state where the side edge portion is supported.
Similar to the above, by allowing the optical disk to move in the vertical direction across the first and second trays, the old and new optical disks can be replaced in the housing of the optical disk device, and the used optical disk can be retracted in the housing. Realizes the operation of moving to the space (first tray) and eradicates the use of transport rollers and pinch rollers when transporting optical disks inside the chassis using the first and second trays and disk holding mechanism. At the same time, by holding only the edge portion of the lower surface of the optical disk, it is intended to surely prevent scratches and dirt attached to the main part of the optical disk.

  Further, the disk holding member may be provided with a protrusion that supports the side edge of the upper surface of the optical disk in addition to the protrusion that supports the side edge of the lower surface of the optical disk.

In the case of a structure with a click stop function etc. in which the spindle of the disk rotation drive unit elastically fits with the hole of the optical disk, it is necessary to apply a certain force to the optical disk and press the hole part against the tip of the spindle, The disk holding member is always provided with a protrusion that supports the side edge of the upper surface of the optical disk.
This also makes it possible to use an optical disk device (with the above-described configuration) premised on the use of an optical disk placed horizontally. A tray structure for preventing the optical disk from dropping off when the optical disk device is placed vertically is already known, and it is easy to divert it to a tray structure including a front tray and a rear tray.

More specifically, the first and second tray driving means, the first and second tray conveying means, the disk holding member driving means, the control unit for driving and controlling the holding mechanism lifting and lowering means, A disk replacement switch for instructing replacement, and a disk detection sensor for detecting placement of a new optical disk on the second tray;
When the control unit receives a command from the disk replacement switch, the controller operates the disk holding member driving unit to change the position of the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism from the disk release position to the disk holding position. The used optical disk is held by a holding member, and the holding mechanism elevating means is operated to hold the disk via the second and first trays holding the front tray and the rear tray at the disk release position. The mechanism is moved from the initial position to the raised position, and the first tray driving means is operated to change the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray from the disk release position to the disk holding position. After holding the used optical disk in the tray (retraction space in the housing), the second tray driving means is operated. Then, the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray is changed to the disk holding position, the second tray transport means is operated, and the second tray is slid from the disk storage position to the disk replacement position. While executing the disk hold sequence
Upon receiving a disk detection signal from the disk detection sensor, the second tray transporting unit is operated to slide the second tray to the disk storage position, and further, the disk holding member driving unit is operated. Then, after changing the position of the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism to the disk release position, the holding mechanism elevating means is operated to move the disk holding mechanism to an intermediate position, and the disk holding member driving means is And operating the disk holding member to change the position of the disk holding member to the disk holding position so that the disk holding member holds the new optical disk on the second tray, and further, the second tray driving means To change the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray to the disc release position, and The lifting / lowering means is actuated to move the disk holding mechanism holding the new optical disk by the disk holding member to the initial position, and the new optical disk is set in the disk rotation driving unit below the second tray. The drive means is operated to change the position of the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism to the disk release position, and then the first tray transport means is operated to move the front tray and the rear tray to the disk holding position. It is desirable to execute a disk discharge sequence for sliding the held first tray from the disk storage position to the disk replacement position.

  A disk loading switch may be provided instead of the disk detection sensor, and the disk ejection sequence may be started by manual operation of the disk loading switch.

  Further, the control unit sets a new optical disk in the disk rotation driving unit below the second tray in the disk ejection sequence and changes the position of the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism to the disk release position. You may comprise so that the action | operation of a disk rotation drive part may be started.

  Since the operation of the disk rotation drive unit is started immediately after a new optical disk is set in the disk rotation drive unit, the user uses the optical disk device immediately if necessary without waiting for the used optical disk to be ejected. It is possible to start processing such as reading and writing.

  The optical disk apparatus of the present invention allows the optical disk to be moved in the vertical direction across the tray, thereby exchanging old and new optical disks in the optical disk apparatus casing and moving the used optical disks to the retreat space in the casing. By eliminating the use of the transport roller and the pinch roller by realizing the operation, and the optical disk is transported by holding only the edge of the lower surface of the optical disk, the user can use the old and new optical disks. In addition to damage to the optical disk due to user's handling failure due to being forced to hold at the same time, damage to the optical disk due to transport problems in the optical disk device, for example, contact with or adhere to the transport roller or pinch roller The disc surface may be scratched or damaged by It can be reliably eliminate a disadvantage such as damaged in contact with the wall surface or the like of the feed path.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the layout of components of an example of an optical disk apparatus that carries in and out an optical disk using one tray.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disc apparatus 1 is vertically moved to a left and right position in the housing 3 that does not interfere with the tray 2 on which the optical disc is placed and the tray 2 drawn into the disc storage position in the housing 3. The first disk holding mechanism 4 and the second disk holding mechanism 5 that are stacked on top of each other, and the holding mechanism elevating means 6 for moving the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4 and 5 integrally up and down. And a disk rotation drive unit 7 for rotating the optical disk.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the configuration of the tray 2 and a combination state of the tray 2 and the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4 and 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tray 2 is divided into a front tray 8 and a rear tray 9, and the front tray 8 includes an arcuate cutout portion 8 a having a size larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc. A protruding portion 8b that slightly protrudes radially inward from the cutout portion 8a and supports the front edge portion of the lower surface of the optical disk is formed. Further, the rear tray 9 has an arcuate cutout 9a having a size larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc, and a projection 9b that slightly protrudes radially inward from the cutout 9a and supports the rear edge of the lower surface of the optical disc. Is formed.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the separation distance between the protruding portion 8b of the front tray 8 and the protruding portion 9b of the rear tray 9 is at a disk holding position slightly smaller than the diameter of the optical disk. In this state, As shown in FIG. 3, the front edge and the rear edge of the lower surface of the optical disk are supported by the protrusions 8b and 9b so that the optical disk is held by the tray 2 in the same manner as a conventionally known integrated tray. It has become.

  As used herein, the front edge refers to the outer periphery of the optical disk positioned on the front side when the optical disk apparatus 1 is placed as shown in FIG. It does not mean a specific position. The same is true for the expression of the trailing edge and the side edge.

  The separation distance between the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 is adjusted by an electromagnetic solenoid SOL1 that functions as a tray driving unit that changes the relative positions of the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9. The disc holding position as shown in FIG. 2 in which the separation distance between 8b and the protruding portion 9b of the rear tray 9 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the optical disc, the protruding portion 8b of the front tray 8, and the protruding portion 9b of the rear tray 9 The front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 are positioned at either one of the disc release positions where the separation distance between the two is slightly greater than the diameter of the optical disc.

  Although not shown in FIG. 2, the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1 is a push-type solenoid that protrudes in an excited state, and the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 are close to each other in a non-excited state in which energization is released as shown in FIG. In other words, the optical disk can be placed on the tray 2. Further, when the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1 is in an excited state, the separation distance between the protrusion 8b of the front tray 8 and the protrusion 9b of the rear tray 9 is larger than the diameter of the optical disk. It is possible to move between the protruding portion 8b of the rear tray 8 and the protruding portion 9b of the rear tray 9 with the tray 2 sandwiched in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2, that is, the vertical direction in FIG.

  Since the configuration of the tray conveying means for sliding the tray 2 constituted by the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 between the disk storage position in the housing 3 and the disk replacement position outside the housing 3 is known. Description in the drawing is omitted, and a stepping motor serving as a driving source thereof is shown in FIG. 6 as a motor M1.

  In this embodiment, the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1 functioning as a tray drive means moves integrally with the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9, so that the tray 2 constituted by the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 is used. The sliding distance between the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 does not change even if the slide is moved in and out of the housing 3.

  In other words, the tray conveying means configured using the motor M1 as the driving source holds the tray 2 in the disk storage position in the housing 3 and the disk outside the housing 3 while maintaining the relative positions of the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9. It is means for sliding between the exchange position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first disc holding mechanism 4 has a protruding portion 10a that supports the side edge portion of the lower surface of the optical disc and a protruding portion 10b that supports the side edge portion of the upper surface of the optical disc, and supports the optical disc on both the left and right sides. A pair of disk holding members 10 are provided.
However, the protruding portion 10b that supports the side edge of the upper surface of the optical disc is provided assuming that the optical disc apparatus 1 is used in a vertically placed state, and the optical disc apparatus 1 is used exclusively in a normal position. Is not always necessary.

  The separation distance between the left and right disk holding members 10 and 10 in the first disk holding mechanism 4 is an electromagnetic solenoid that functions as a first disk holding member driving means that changes the relative position of the left and right disk holding members 10 and 10. A disk holding position as shown in FIG. 2 that is adjusted by SOL2 and supports the side edges of the optical disk when the protrusions 10a (10b) and 10a (10b) of the left and right disk holding members 10 and 10 approach from the outside in the radial direction of the optical disk. And the left and right disc holding members 10 at either one of the disc release positions where the protruding portions 10a (10b) and 10a (10b) of the left and right disc holding members 10 and 10 are separated from the side edges of the optical disc radially outward. , 10 are positioned.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 is a pull-type solenoid that is shortened in an excited state. In a non-excited state in which energization is released, the left and right disk holding members 10 and 10 are in a separated state, and the optical disk Can move relatively between the protrusions 10a (10b) and 10a (10b) of the left and right disc holding members 10 and 10 in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2, that is, in the vertical direction in FIG. .
When the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 is excited, the left and right disc holding members 10 and 10 approach as shown in FIG. 2, and the left and right sides of the optical disc protrude from the protruding portions 10a (10b) as shown in FIG. , 10a (10b), the optical disk is substantially fixed to the first disk holding mechanism 4 via the left and right disk holding members 10, 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of the second disk holding mechanism 5 is substantially the same as that of the first disk holding mechanism 4 described above, and the left and right disk holding members 10 in the second disk holding mechanism 5. , 10 is adjusted by an electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 ′ functioning as a second disk holding member driving means.
However, in the disk holding member 10 of the second disk holding mechanism 5, the protrusion 10 b that supports the side edge of the upper surface of the optical disk is such that the spindle of the disk rotation driving unit 7 positioned below the tray 2 is elastically aligned with the hole of the optical disk. Since it is provided on the premise that it has a click stop function to be fitted, a configuration in which the optical disk is set by other means such as evacuation at the tip of the spindle of the disk rotation drive unit 7, that is, Only when a configuration in which it is not necessary to set the optical disc against the spindle of the disc rotation driving unit 7 is applied, and when the optical disc apparatus 1 is not assumed to be used in a vertically placed state or the like. It can be omitted.

  The holding mechanism lifting / lowering means for moving the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4 and 5 integrally up and down is a linear motion feed mechanism comprising a ball nut & screw or rack & pinion, a guide rod and a stepping motor. However, since this type of mechanical element is already known, the description in the drawing is omitted, and the stepping motor serving as the driving source is only shown as a motor M2 in FIG. .

  FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the state of the optical disc apparatus 1 when the optical disc 11 is set in the disc rotation driving unit 7 and processing such as data reading and writing is performed from the side. In FIG. 7A, the vertical position of the first disk holding mechanism 4 coincides with the vertical position of the tray 2 and the vertical position of the second disk holding mechanism 5 is the vertical position of the disk rotation driving unit 7 below the tray 2. , The vertical position of the first disk holding mechanism 4 is moved up and down the disk rotation driving unit 7 below the tray 2 by operating the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means by controlling the motor M2. The lowering position as shown in FIG. 7B, which coincides with the position, and the vertical position of the first disk holding mechanism 4 coincide with the vertical position of the retreat space S above the tray 2, and the second disk holding mechanism 5 is vertically moved. The first and second disk holding mechanisms 4 and 5 can be integrally moved up and down between the raised position as shown in FIG. 7C where the position coincides with the vertical position of the tray 2.

  In this embodiment, the state of FIG. 7A is defined as the initial state of the optical disc apparatus 1, and in this state, the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 constituting the tray 2 are close to each other (SOL1 is OFF). Thus, the disk holding members 10 and 10 of the first disk holding mechanism 4 are separated (SOL2 is OFF), and the disk holding members 10 and 10 of the second disk holding mechanism 5 are separated (SOL2 ′). Is OFF).

  Reference numeral SW1 in FIG. 7A is a disk replacement switch for instructing replacement of the optical disk, and reference numeral S1 is a disk detection sensor for detecting the placement of a new optical disk on the tray 2.

  Electromagnetic solenoid SOL1 functioning as the main part of the tray driving means, motor M1 functioning as the main part of the tray conveying means, electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 functioning as the main part of the first disk holding member driving means, driving the second disk holding member FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 ′ that functions as the main part of the means and the control unit 12 that drives and controls the motor M2 that functions as the main part of the holding mechanism elevating means.

  The control unit 12 includes a CPU 13, a ROM 14, and a non-volatile memory 15, and the ROM 14 has a drive for executing a disk holding sequence required when holding the used optical disk 11 in the evacuation space S above the tray 2. A control program, a drive control program necessary for executing a disc ejection sequence required for loading a new optical disc 16 and ejecting a used optical disc 11, and the like are stored in advance. Each of them stores in advance various parameters necessary for drive control of the motor M1 functioning as the main part of the tray conveying means and the motor M2 functioning as the main part of the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means.

  The disk replacement signal generated by manually operating the disk replacement switch SW1 and the disk detection signal generated by the disk detection sensor S1 detecting the placement of a new optical disk on the tray 2 are input / output of the CPU 13. This is input to the CPU 13 via the circuit 17.

  Further, an electromagnetic solenoid SOL1 functioning as a main part of the tray driving means, a motor M1 functioning as a main part of the tray conveying means, an electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 functioning as a main part of the first disk holding member driving means, and a second disk holding. The electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 ′ functioning as the main part of the member driving means and the motor M2 functioning as the main part of the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means are driven and controlled by the CPU 13 via the respective drivers and the input / output circuit 17.

  The disk rotation drive unit 7 and the read / write unit 18 (tracer head and its actuator, etc.), which are known means, are driven and controlled by the CPU 13 in the same manner as in the prior art.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7F, the operation of each unit when a new optical disk 16 is carried into the optical disk apparatus 1 will be described in detail.

  First, when the user operates the disk replacement switch SW1 when the optical disk device 1 is in the initial state as shown in FIG. 7A, the CPU 13 detects a disk replacement signal via the input / output circuit 17 and stores it in the ROM 14. A disk hold sequence is started based on the stored drive control program.

  First, the CPU 13 drives and controls the motor M2, which constitutes the main part of the holding mechanism raising / lowering means, and moves the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4, 5 from the initial position as shown in FIG. Move to the lowered position as shown in (b). The amount of lowering of the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4, 5, that is, the amount of movement from the initial position to the lowered position is set as a parameter in the nonvolatile memory 15 as the amount of rotation of the motor M 2 formed of a pulse motor. The CPU 13 controls the drive of the motor M2 while counting the drive command pulses output to the motor M2, and only stops the output of the drive command pulses when the number of output pulses reaches the set value.

  At this time, the disk holding members 10 and 10 of the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4 and 5 are held at the above-described disk release positions (in the initial state), so that the disk holding members 10 and 10 protrude. The units 10a and 10b do not interfere with the used optical desk 11 currently set in the disk rotation driving unit 7.

  Next, the CPU 13 drives and controls the motor M1 that constitutes the main part of the tray conveying means to change the tray 2 from the disk storage position as shown in FIG. 7 (a) to the disk replacement as shown in FIG. 7 (b). Slide to position. The drive control of the motor M1 can be realized by counting drive command pulses as described above. Alternatively, it is detected by a limit switch or the like that the tray 2 has reached the movement limit, and the driving of the motor M1 is stopped, or the tray 2 has reached the movement limit and the driving current of the motor M1 is increased. Then, the driving of the motor M1 may be stopped (both are known techniques).

  Since the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 of the tray 2 are held at the disc holding position (in the initial state), the user can place a new optical disc 16 on the tray 2 as necessary. It is.

  Next, the CPU 13 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 constituting the main part of the first disk holding member driving means, and moves the position of the disk holding members 10, 10 of the first disk holding mechanism 4 from the disk release position to the disk holding position. In other words, the used optical disk 11 is held by the disk holding members 10 and 10.

  Then, the CPU 13 drives and controls the motor M2 constituting the main part of the holding mechanism raising / lowering means to move the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4, 5 from the lowered position as shown in FIG. The used optical disk 11 is held in the retreat space S above the tray 2 by moving to the raised position as shown in (c). As described above, the drive control of the motor M2 is performed based on the relationship between the drive command pulse and the parameter setting value.

  Thus, the disk holding sequence is completed, and the used optical disk 11 is held in the evacuation space S above the tray 2 as shown in FIG. 7C, and a new optical disk 16 is loaded on the tray 2. It will be in a state where it can be placed.

  Next, in the state shown in FIG. 7C, when the user places a new optical disk 16 on the tray 2, the disk detection sensor S1 is activated. Then, the CPU 13 detects a disk detection signal via the input / output circuit 17 and starts a disk ejection sequence based on a drive control program stored in the ROM 14. It is also possible to separately provide a disk carry-in switch in place of the disk detection sensor S1, and to start the disk ejection sequence by manual operation of the disk carry-in switch.

  First, the CPU 13 drives and controls the motor M1 that constitutes the main part of the tray conveying means, and the tray 2 is stored in the disk as shown in FIG. 7 (d) from the disk replacement position as shown in FIG. 7 (c). Slide to position. At this stage, since the positions of the disk holding members 10 and 10 of the second disk holding mechanism 5 are the disk release position, the outer periphery of the new optical disk 16 conveyed by the tray 2 is the second disk holding mechanism. 5 will not interfere.

Next, the CPU 13 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 ′ constituting the main part of the second disk holding member driving means to change the position of the disk holding members 10, 10 of the second disk holding mechanism 5 to the disk holding position. Thus, the optical disk 16 on the tray 2 is held by the disk holding members 10 and 10, and the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1 constituting the main part of the tray driving means is operated while holding this state, and the front tray 8 and The relative position of the rear tray 9 is changed to the disk release position, and the optical disk 16 is transferred from the tray 2 to the second disk holding mechanism 5.
At this stage, as shown in FIG. 7D, the used optical disk 11 is held by the first disk holding mechanism 4, and the new optical disk 16 is held by the second disk holding mechanism 5. It becomes.

  Next, the CPU 13 drives and controls the motor M2 constituting the main part of the holding mechanism raising / lowering means to move the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4, 5 from the raised position as shown in FIG. The new optical disk 16 held by the second disk holding mechanism 5 is set in the disk rotation driving unit 7 below the tray 2 by moving to the initial position as shown in FIG.

  At this time, since the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 constituting the tray 2 are held at the disc release position, the outer peripheral portion of the new optical disc 16 conveyed by the second disc holding mechanism 5 interferes with the tray 2. Never do.

  Next, the CPU 13 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 ′ constituting the main part of the second disk holding member driving means to change the position of the disk holding members 10, 10 of the second disk holding mechanism 5 to the disk release position. As a result, the new optical disk 16 held by the second disk holding mechanism 5 is completely delivered to the disk rotation drive unit 7.

  In this embodiment, when the new optical disk 16 is completely delivered to the disk rotation drive unit 7 in this way, the operation of the disk rotation drive unit 7 is started as shown in FIG. Therefore, without waiting for the used optical disk 11 to be discharged, the user immediately starts processing such as reading and writing data on the new optical disk 16 using the optical disk device 1 if necessary. Can do. It is also assumed that processing required at the time of use of the optical disc 16, for example, identification processing related to the type of CD, DVD, etc., and initialization processing when the formats do not match, are executed at this time.

  Next, the CPU 13 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1 constituting the main part of the tray driving means to change the relative position of the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 to the disk holding position, so that the first disk holding mechanism so far 4 is used to hold the used optical disk 11 held in the tray 2 and to actuate the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 that constitutes the main part of the first disk holding member driving means, so that the disk holding member of the first disk holding mechanism 4 is operated. The used optical disk 11 is completely transferred from the first disk holding mechanism 4 to the tray 2 by changing the positions 10 and 10 to the disk release position.

  Next, the CPU 13 drives and controls a motor M1 that constitutes a main part of the tray transporting unit, and positions the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 at the disk holding position to hold the tray 2 holding the used optical disk 11. The disk ejection sequence is completed by sliding the disk storage position as shown in FIG. 7 (e) to the disk replacement position as shown in FIG. 7 (f).

  At this time, since the disk holding members 10 of the first disk holding mechanism 4 are held at the disk release position, the left and right sides of the used optical disk 11 conveyed by the tray 2 are on the first disk holding mechanism 4. The protrusions 10a and 10b of the disk holding members 10 and 10 do not interfere with each other.

  The user takes out the optical disk 11 from the tray 2 moved to the disk replacement position, and then pushes the empty tray 2 back to the disk storage position as shown in FIG.

  At this stage, the disk holding members 10, 10 of the first disk holding mechanism 4 and the disk holding members 10, 10 of the second disk holding mechanism 5 are already held at the disk release position, and the front part constituting the tray 2 Since the tray 8 and the rear tray 9 are held at the disk holding position, and the first and second disk holding mechanisms 4 and 5 are positioned at the initial position in the vertical direction, the operation of pushing in the empty tray 2 is completed. Thus, each part of the optical disc apparatus 1 has completely returned to the initial state as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows an outline of the layout of components of an example of an optical disk apparatus that uses two trays to carry in and out an optical disk and uses one tray as a retreat space for retreating a used optical disk. It is the perspective view which showed from the side.

  The optical disk device 19 includes a first tray 20 that also serves as a retracting space for retracting a used optical disk and a second tray 21 for loading a new optical disk, which are superposed in the vertical direction. The first tray 20 functions as an evacuation space for evacuating a used optical disk.

  The structure of the first and second trays 20 and 21 is the same as that of the tray 2 described in the first embodiment.

  That is, each of the first and second trays 20 and 21 is divided into a front tray 8 and a rear tray 9 as shown in FIG. An arc-shaped cutout portion 8a having a size equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc, and a projection portion 8b that slightly protrudes radially inward from the cutout portion 8a and supports the front edge portion of the lower surface of the optical disc are formed. The tray 9 is formed with an arc-shaped notch 9a having a size equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the optical disk and a protrusion 9b that slightly protrudes radially inward from the notch 9a to support the rear edge of the lower surface of the optical disk. Yes.

  The separation distance between the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 in the first tray 20 is adjusted by an electromagnetic solenoid SOL1a (see FIG. 9) that functions as a first tray driving unit. The separation distance between the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 is adjusted by an electromagnetic solenoid SOL1b (see FIG. 9) that functions as a second tray driving unit.

  The first tray 20 is slid between the disk storage position and the disk replacement position by a motor M1a (see FIG. 9) constituting the main part of the first tray transporting unit, and the second tray 20 The tray 21 is slid between the disk storage position and the disk replacement position by a motor M1b (see FIG. 9) that constitutes the main part of the second tray conveying means.

  Also, a disk holding mechanism having a pair of disk holding members 10 and 10 at the left and right positions in the housing 3 that do not interfere with the first and second trays 20 and 21 drawn into the disk storage position in the housing 3. 22 is provided.

  The structure of the disk holding mechanism 22 is the same as that of the first disk holding mechanism 4 or the second disk holding mechanism 5 described in the first embodiment.

That is, the disc holding mechanism 22 has, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a protrusion 10a that supports the side edge of the lower surface of the optical disk and a protrusion 10b that supports the side edge of the upper surface of the optical disk. A pair of supporting disk holding members 10 are provided.
In this case, the protruding portion 10b that supports the side edge of the upper surface of the optical disk has a click stop function in which the spindle of the disk rotation driving unit 7 located below the second tray 21 is elastically fitted to the hole of the optical disk. Therefore, the optical disk is set by other means such as evacuation at the tip of the spindle of the disk rotation driving unit 7, that is, the optical disk is set in the spindle of the disk rotation driving unit 7. The protrusion 10b can be omitted only when a configuration that does not need to be pressed and set is applied, and the optical disk device 19 is not assumed to be used in a vertically placed state. It is.

  The separation distance between the left and right disc holding members 10 and 10 is adjusted by an electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 ″ (see FIG. 9) that functions as disc holding member driving means for changing the relative positions of the left and right disc holding members 10 and 10. The left and right disc holding members 10, 10 have protrusions 10a (10b), 10a (10b) approaching from the outside in the radial direction of the optical disc to support the side edges of the optical disc, and the left and right disc holding members 10, 10 The left and right disc holding members 10, 10 are positioned at either one of the disc release positions where the protruding portions 10a (10b), 10a (10b) of the optical discs are separated from the side edges of the optical disc radially outward. Yes.

  The holding mechanism raising / lowering means for moving the disk holding mechanism 22 up and down is constituted by a linear feed mechanism composed of a ball nut & screw, rack & pinion or the like, and a drive source such as a guide rod and a stepping motor. The stepping motor that is the driving source is shown in FIG. 9 as a motor M2.

  FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the state of the optical disc apparatus 19 when the optical disc 11 is set in the disc rotation driving unit 7 and processing such as data reading and writing is performed from the side. FIG. 10A shows an initial position where the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism 22 coincides with the vertical position of the disk rotation driving unit 7 below the second tray 21, but the holding mechanism is controlled by driving the motor M2. By operating the lifting / lowering means, the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism 22 matches the vertical position of the first tray 20 (retraction space), and the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism 22 is as shown in FIG. The disk holding mechanism 22 can be moved up and down between an intermediate position as shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the state shown in FIG. 10A is defined as the initial state of the optical disc apparatus 19, and in this state, the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 constituting the first tray 20 are separated (pulling). And the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 constituting the second tray 21 are separated (the pull-type SOL1b is OFF), and the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism 22 is turned on. 10 and 10 are separated (pull-type SOL2 ″ is OFF).

  Reference numeral SW1 in FIG. 10A denotes a disk replacement switch for instructing replacement of the optical disk, reference numeral SW2 is a reset switch for returning the optical disk device 21 to an initial state, and reference numeral S1 denotes a second tray. 21 is a disk detection sensor that detects the placement of a new optical disk on 21.

  An electromagnetic solenoid SOL1a that functions as a main part of the first tray driving means, an electromagnetic solenoid SOL1b that functions as a main part of the second tray driving means, a motor M1a that functions as a main part of the first tray conveying means, and a second The configuration of the motor M1b that functions as the main part of the tray conveying means, the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 "that functions as the main part of the disk holding member driving means, and the control unit 23 that drives and controls the motor M2 that functions as the main part of the holding mechanism elevating means. The outline is shown in the block diagram of FIG.

  The control unit 23 includes a CPU 24, a ROM 25, and a non-volatile memory 26. The ROM 25 executes a disk holding sequence required when holding the used optical disk 11 on the first tray 20 (evacuation space). Drive control program, a drive control program necessary for executing a disc ejection sequence required for loading a new optical disc 16 and ejecting a used optical disc 11, and the like are stored in advance. The memory 26 has various parameters necessary for driving control of the motors M1a and M1b functioning as main parts of the first and second tray conveying means and the motor M2 functioning as main parts of the holding mechanism elevating means. Stored in advance.

  A disk replacement signal generated by manually operating the disk replacement switch SW1, a reset signal generated by manually operating the reset switch SW2, and a new disk detection sensor S1 on the second tray 21. A disk detection signal generated by detecting the loading of the optical disk is input to the CPU 24 via the input / output circuit 27 of the CPU 24.

  Further, an electromagnetic solenoid SOL1a that functions as a main part of the first tray driving means, an electromagnetic solenoid SOL1b that functions as a main part of the second tray driving means, a motor M1a that functions as a main part of the first tray transporting means, The motor M1b functioning as the main part of the second tray transporting means, the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 "functioning as the main part of the disk holding member driving means, and the motor M2 functioning as the main part of the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means have their respective drivers and input / output circuits. The drive control is performed by the CPU 24 via 27.

  The disk rotation drive unit 7 and the read / write unit 18 (tracer head and its actuator, etc.), which are known means, are driven and controlled by the CPU 24 in the same manner as before.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 10A to FIG. 10F, the operation of each unit when a new optical disc 16 is carried into the optical disc apparatus 19 will be specifically described.

  First, when the user operates the disk replacement switch SW1 when the optical disk device 19 is in the initial state as shown in FIG. 10A, the CPU 24 detects the disk replacement signal via the input / output circuit 27 and stores it in the ROM 25. A disk hold sequence is started based on the stored drive control program.

  First, the CPU 24 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 "that constitutes the main part of the disk holding member driving means to change the position of the disk holding members 10, 10 of the disk holding mechanism 22 from the disk release position to the disk holding position. The used optical disk 11 is held by the disk holding members 10 and 10, and the motor M2 constituting the main part of the holding mechanism elevating means is driven and controlled so that the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 are moved to the disk release position (initial state). The disc holding mechanism 22 is moved from the initial position as shown in FIG. 10A to the raised position as shown in FIG. 10B through the second and first trays 21 and 20 held as they are. The amount of movement of the disk holding mechanism 22, that is, the amount of movement from the initial position to the raised position is not from the pulse motor. The parameter is set in the nonvolatile memory 26 as the rotation amount of the motor M2, so the CPU 24 controls the drive of the motor M2 while counting the drive command pulses output to the motor M2, and the number of output pulses reaches the set value. Then, it is only necessary to stop the output of the drive command pulse.

  At this time, since the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 of the first and second trays 20 and 21 are held at the disk release position (in the initial state), they are used by being transported by the disk holding mechanism 22. The optical disk 11 does not interfere with the first and second trays 20 and 21.

  Next, the CPU 24 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1a that constitutes the main part of the first tray driving means, and changes the relative position of the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 in the first tray 20 from the disk release position to the disk holding position. After the used optical disk 11 is held in the first tray 21 and the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1b constituting the main part of the second tray driving means is operated, the front tray in the second tray 21 is changed. The relative position between the rear tray 8 and the rear tray 8 is changed to the disk holding position, and the motor M1b constituting the main part of the second tray transporting unit is driven and controlled, so that the second tray 21 is shown in FIG. The disk is slid from such a disk storage position to a disk replacement position as shown in FIG. The drive control of the motor M1b is achieved by counting drive command pulses as described above. Alternatively, it is detected by a limit switch or the like that the second tray 21 has reached the movement limit, and the driving of the motor M1b is stopped, or the second tray 21 reaches the movement limit and the driving current of the motor M1b is increased. The increase of the motor M1b may be detected by detecting the increase (both are known techniques).

  At this stage, since the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 in the second tray 21 are already positioned at the disk holding position, the user places a new optical disk 16 on the second tray 21 as necessary. Is possible.

  Thus, the disk holding sequence is completed, and the used optical disk 11 is held on the first tray 20 (evacuation space) as shown in FIG. 10C, and on the second tray 21. A new optical disk 16 can be placed.

  Next, in the state of FIG. 10C, when the user places a new optical disk 16 on the second tray 21, the disk detection sensor S1 is activated. Then, the CPU 24 detects a disk detection signal via the input / output circuit 27 and starts a disk ejection sequence based on a drive control program stored in the ROM 25. It is also possible to separately provide a disk carry-in switch in place of the disk detection sensor S1, and to start the disk ejection sequence by manual operation of the disk carry-in switch.

  First, the CPU 24 drives and controls the motor M1b that constitutes the main part of the second tray conveying means, and moves the second tray 21 from the disk exchange position as shown in FIG. 10C to FIG. 10D. The disk is moved to the disk storage position as shown, and the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 "constituting the main part of the disk holding member driving means is operated to change the position of the disk holding members 10, 10 of the disk holding mechanism 22 to the disk release position. Then, the motor M2 constituting the main part of the holding mechanism raising / lowering means is driven and controlled, and the disk holding mechanism 22 is shown in FIG. 10 (d) from the raised position as shown in FIG. 10 (c). At this stage, the used optical disk 11 is completely separated from the disk holding mechanism 22, and the first tray 2 which is a retreat space is used. It is held in the above.

  Next, the CPU 24 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 "that constitutes the main part of the disk holding member driving means to change the position of the disk holding members 10, 10 of the disk holding mechanism 22 to the disk holding position. 10 holds the new optical disk 16 on the second tray 21.

  Then, the CPU 24 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1b that constitutes the main part of the second tray driving means to change the relative position of the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 in the second tray 21 to the disk release position. After eliminating the interference between the new optical disk 16 and the second tray 21, the motor M2 constituting the main part of the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means is driven and controlled, and the new optical disk 16 is held by the disk holding members 10 and 10. The disk holding mechanism 22 is moved from the intermediate position as shown in FIG. 10 (d) to the initial position as shown in FIG. 10 (e), and the new optical disk 16 is rotated under the second tray 21. Set in the drive unit 7.

  Next, the CPU 24 operates the electromagnetic solenoid SOL2 "that constitutes the main part of the disk holding member driving means to change the position of the disk holding members 10 and 10 of the disk holding mechanism 22 to the disk release position, and the disk holding mechanism 22 The newly held optical disk 16 is completely delivered to the disk rotation drive unit 7.

  In this embodiment, when the new optical disk 16 is completely delivered to the disk rotation drive unit 7 in this way, the operation of the disk rotation drive unit 7 is started as shown in FIG. Therefore, without waiting for the used optical disk 11 to be discharged, the user immediately starts processing such as reading and writing of data with respect to the new optical disk 16 using the optical disk device 19 if necessary. Can do. It is also assumed that processing required at the time of use of the optical disc 16, for example, identification processing related to the type of CD, DVD, etc., and initialization processing when the formats do not match, are executed at this time.

  Next, the CPU 24 drives and controls the motor M1a that constitutes the main part of the first tray conveying means, and the first tray 20 holding the used optical disk 11 is shown in FIG. 10 (e). The disk ejection sequence is completed by sliding the disk from the proper disk storage position to the disk replacement position as shown in FIG.

  The user takes out the optical disk 11 from the first tray 20 moved to the disk replacement position.

  Thereafter, when the user who takes out the optical disk 11 operates the reset switch SW2, the CPU 24 detects a reset signal, and controls the motor M1a constituting the main part of the first tray transporting unit to control the first tray 20. The disk is moved from the disk replacement position as shown in FIG. 10 (f) to the disk storage position as shown in FIG. 10 (a), and the electromagnetic solenoid SOL1a constituting the main part of the first tray driving means is operated. Thus, the relative position of the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 in the first tray 20 is changed to the disk release position.

  At this stage, the disk holding members 10 and 10 of the disk holding mechanism 22 are already held at the disk release position, and the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 constituting the second tray 21 are held at the disk holding position. Since 22 is located at the initial position in the vertical direction, when the relative position of the front tray 8 and the rear tray 9 in the first tray 20 changes to the disk release position, each part of the optical disk device 19 is shown in FIG. The initial state as shown in a) is completely restored.

  As described above, the optical disk apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment that uses one tray 2 to carry in and carry out the optical disk, and the two trays 20 and 21 are used to carry in and carry out the optical disk. In any of the optical disk devices 19 according to the second embodiment, the old and new optical disks 11 and 16 are moved in the vertical direction across the trays 2, 20, and 21 to be old and new in the housing 3 of the optical disk devices 1 and 19. The optical discs 11 and 16 can be exchanged, and the used optical disc 16 is held in the retreat space S located in the upper part of the housing 3 or in the tray 20 functioning as a retreat space. 16 can be captured. As a result, the optical disk is prevented from being damaged due to the user's inadequate handling due to the user having to hold the old and new optical disks simultaneously when replacing the optical disk.

  Further, in the configurations of the first and second embodiments, the feeding is performed by directly contacting or sliding on the old and new optical disks 11 and 16 such as a transport roller and a pinch roller as in the slot loading type optical disk apparatus. Because no means to hang is used, damage to the optical disk caused by malfunctions in the optical disk device, for example, contact with the transport roller or pinch roller, or dust attached to the roller, the surface of the disk may be scratched, or Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the inconvenience that the disk surface comes into contact with the wall surface of the transport path and is damaged.

  In addition, the trays 2, 20, 21 (front tray 8, rear tray 9) and disk holding mechanisms 4, 5, 22 (disk holding members) used for transporting and handling the old and new optical disks 11, 16 in the housing 3 are used. 10) is a configuration for holding the optical discs 11 and 16 by supporting only the edge portions (outer peripheral portions) of the old and new optical discs 11 and 16, and in particular, it is used for main parts (data storage and the like of the optical discs 11 and 16). It is possible to almost certainly prevent scratches and dirt from being generated in the central portion.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of an optical disc apparatus that carries in and out an optical disc using one tray (Example 1). (Example 1) which is the top view shown about the outline of the structure of a tray. (Example 1) which is the conceptual diagram which showed the engagement state of the protrusion part of a front tray and a rear tray, and an optical disk. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the first and second disk holding mechanisms are provided side by side (Example 1). (Example 1) which is the conceptual diagram which showed the engagement state of the protrusion part of a disc holding member on either side, and an optical disk. (Example 1) which is the block diagram which showed the outline of the structure of a control part. 7A and 7B are conceptual diagrams specifically showing the operation of each part of the optical disk device, in which FIG. 7A shows the initial state, and FIG. 7B shows the state in which the tray is slid from the disk storage position to the disk replacement position. 7 (c) shows a state in which a used optical disk is retracted, FIG. 7 (d) shows a state immediately after loading a new optical disk, and FIG. 7 (e) shows a new optical disk set in the disk rotation drive unit. FIG. 7F shows a state in which a used optical disk is ejected (Example 1). FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of an optical disc apparatus that uses two trays to carry in and out an optical disc and uses one tray as a retreat space for retreating a used optical disc ( Example 2). (Example 2) which is the block diagram which showed the outline of the structure of the control part. FIG. 10A is a conceptual diagram specifically showing the operation of each part of the optical disk apparatus, FIG. 10A shows the initial state, and FIG. 10B shows the used optical disk retracted to the first tray and the second tray FIG. 10 (c) shows a state in which a new optical disk can be loaded, and FIG. 10 (d) shows a state immediately after loading a new optical disk. FIG. 10E shows a state in which a new optical disk is set in the disk rotation drive unit, and FIG. 10F shows a state in which a used optical disk is ejected (Example 2).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical disk apparatus 2 Tray 3 Case 4 1st disk holding mechanism 5 2nd disk holding mechanism 6 Holding mechanism raising / lowering means 7 Disk rotation drive part 8 Front tray 8a Arc-shaped notch part 8b Protrusion part 9 Back part tray 9a Circle Arc-shaped cutout portion 9b Protruding portion 10 Disc holding member 10a Protruding portion 10b Protruding portion 11 Optical disc (used optical disc)
12 Control unit 13 CPU
14 ROM
15 Nonvolatile memory 16 Optical disc (new optical disc)
17 I / O circuit 18 Read / write unit 19 Optical disc device 20 First tray 21 Second tray 22 Disk holding mechanism 23 Control unit 24 CPU
25 ROM
26 Non-volatile memory 27 Input / output circuit S Retraction space SOL1 Push-type electromagnetic solenoid (tray drive means)
SOL2 Pull-type electromagnetic solenoid (first disk holding member driving means)
SOL2 'pull-type electromagnetic solenoid (second disk holding member driving means)
M1 motor (tray transport means)
M2 motor (holding mechanism lifting means)
SW1 Disc replacement switch SW2 Reset switch S1 Disc detection sensor SOL1a Pull-type electromagnetic solenoid (first tray driving means)
SOL1b Pull-type electromagnetic solenoid (second tray drive means)
SOL2 "pull type electromagnetic solenoid (disk holding member drive means)
M1a motor (first tray transport means)
M1b motor (second tray conveying means)

Claims (8)

A evacuation space for evacuating used optical disks is provided inside the housing. When a new optical disk is loaded, the used optical disk is removed from the disk rotation drive unit and held in the evacuation space, and the new optical disk is rotated. In an optical disk device that discharges a used optical disk to the outside of the housing after being set in the drive unit,
A tray on which an optical disk is placed is divided into a front tray and a rear tray, and the front tray has an arc-shaped notch that is larger than the outer diameter of the optical disk and a radially inner side from the notch. The rear tray is formed with a projecting portion that supports the front edge of the lower surface of the optical disc, while the rear tray has a circular arc-shaped notch that is larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc and a slightly inward radial direction from the notch. Projecting to form a projecting portion that supports the rear edge of the lower surface of the optical disc,
Protruding portions that support at least the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk at the left and right positions in the housing that do not interfere with the tray drawn into the disk storage position in the housing and approach the optical disk from the outside in the radial direction of the optical disk The first and second disk holding mechanisms having a pair of disk holding members that support the optical disk on both the left and right sides are stacked in the vertical direction,
The distance between the protruding portion of the front tray and the protruding portion of the rear tray is slightly less than the diameter of the optical disc, and between the protruding portion of the front tray and the protruding portion of the rear tray. Tray drive means for changing the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray between a disc release position with a separation distance slightly exceeding the diameter of the optical disc;
Tray transport means for slidingly moving the tray between a disk storage position in the housing and a disk replacement position outside the housing in a state where the relative positions of the front tray and the rear tray are held;
A disk holding position where the protrusions of the pair of disk holding members support the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk, and a disk release position where the protrusions of the pair of disk holding members separate from the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk radially outward. First and second disk holding member driving means for changing the position of the pair of disk holding members in the first and second disk holding mechanisms between,
An initial position in which the vertical position of the first disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the tray and the vertical position of the second disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the disk rotation driving unit below the tray; A lower position where the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism matches the vertical position of the disk rotation driving unit below the tray, and the vertical position of the first disk holding mechanism matches the vertical position of the retreat space above the tray and the first position. A holding mechanism elevating means for moving the first and second disk holding mechanisms up and down integrally between the up and down positions of the second disk holding mechanism and the up and down position of the tray is provided in the casing. An optical disc apparatus characterized by that.   2. The optical disc apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disc holding member includes a protruding portion that supports a side edge portion of the upper surface of the optical disc. A controller for driving and controlling the tray driving means, the tray conveying means, the first and second disk holding member driving means, and the holding mechanism lifting and lowering means; a disk replacement switch for instructing replacement of the optical disk; Provided with a disk detection sensor that detects the placement of a new optical disk on the tray,
When the control unit receives a command from the disk replacement switch, the control unit operates the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means to hold the first and second disk holding members in the disk release position. The holding mechanism is moved from the initial position to the lowered position, and the tray conveying means is operated to slide the tray holding the front tray and the rear tray at the disk holding position from the disk storage position to the disk replacement position. Activating the first disk holding member driving means to change the position of the disk holding member of the first disk holding mechanism to the disk holding position to hold the used optical disk on the disk holding member; By operating the holding mechanism lifting / lowering means, the first and second disk holding mechanisms are moved to the raised position, and the used optical disk is moved. While running the disk holding sequence to hold the retraction space of the tray above,
Upon receiving a disk detection signal from the disk detection sensor, the tray transporting unit is operated to slide the tray to a disk storage position, and the second disk holding member driving unit is operated to The position of the disk holding member of the second disk holding mechanism is changed to the disk holding position, and the disk holding member holds the optical disk on the tray, and then the tray driving means is operated to The relative position of the rear tray is changed to the disk release position, and the holding mechanism elevating means is operated to hold the used optical disk and the new optical disk held by the first and second disk holding members. After moving the second disk holding mechanism to the lowered position and setting a new optical disk in the disk rotation drive section below the tray, The second disk holding member driving means is operated to change the position of the disk holding member of the second disk holding mechanism to the disk release position, and the tray driving means is operated to operate the front tray. And changing the relative position of the rear tray to the disk holding position to hold the used optical disk on the tray, and then changing the position of the disk holding member of the first disk holding mechanism to the disk release position, Further, the tray conveying means is operated to execute a disk discharge sequence for sliding the tray holding the front tray and the rear tray at the disk holding position from the disk storage position to the disk replacement position. The optical disk apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The control unit sets a new optical disk in the disk rotation driving unit below the tray and changes the position of the disk holding member of the second disk holding mechanism to the disk release position in the disk ejection sequence. 4. The optical disk device according to claim 3, wherein the optical disk device is configured to start the operation of the drive unit. Evacuation space for retracting used optical discs is provided inside the housing. When a new optical disc is loaded, the used optical disc is removed from the disc rotation drive unit and held in the save space, and the new optical disc is rotated. In an optical disk device that discharges a used optical disk to the outside of the housing after being set in the drive unit,
A first tray that also serves as a evacuation space for evacuating a used optical disc and a second tray for carrying a new optical disc are provided in the vertical direction.
Each tray is divided into a front tray and a rear tray, and the front tray has an arc-shaped cutout having a size larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc and slightly protrudes radially inward from the cutout. A projecting portion that supports the front edge of the lower surface of the optical disk, and the rear tray has an arc-shaped cutout portion that is larger than the outer diameter of the optical disc and slightly protrudes radially inward from the cutout portion. Forming a protrusion to support the rear edge of the lower surface,
At least the protrusions that support the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk are provided at left and right positions in the housing that do not interfere with the trays drawn into the disk storage position in the housing, and approach the optical disk from the outside in the radial direction of the optical disk. A disc holding mechanism having a pair of disc holding members that support the optical disc on both the left and right sides,
The distance between the protruding portion of the front tray and the protruding portion of the rear tray is slightly less than the diameter of the optical disc, and between the protruding portion of the front tray and the protruding portion of the rear tray. First and second tray driving means for changing the relative positions of the front tray and the rear tray in each tray between a disc release position whose separation distance slightly exceeds the diameter of the optical disc;
First and second trays for slidingly moving each tray between a disk storage position in the housing and a disk replacement position outside the housing while maintaining the relative positions of the front tray and the rear tray in each tray. Conveying means;
A disk holding position where the protrusions of the pair of disk holding members support the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk, and a disk release position where the protrusions of the pair of disk holding members separate from the side edges of the lower surface of the optical disk radially outward. Disk holding member driving means for changing the position of the pair of disk holding members in the disk holding mechanism between,
An initial position in which the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the disk rotation driving unit below the second tray, and a raised position in which the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the first tray And a holding mechanism elevating means for moving the disk holding mechanism up and down between an intermediate position where the vertical position of the disk holding mechanism coincides with the vertical position of the second tray is provided in the housing. Optical disk device to perform.   6. The optical disc apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the disc holding member includes a protruding portion that supports a side edge portion of the upper surface of the optical disc. A controller for driving and controlling the first and second tray driving means, the first and second tray conveying means, the disk holding member driving means, and the holding mechanism lifting and lowering means; and a command for replacing the optical disk A disk replacement switch and a disk detection sensor for detecting the placement of a new optical disk on the second tray;
When the control unit receives a command from the disk replacement switch, the controller operates the disk holding member driving unit to change the position of the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism from the disk release position to the disk holding position. The used optical disk is held by a holding member, and the holding mechanism elevating means is operated to hold the disk via the second and first trays holding the front tray and the rear tray at the disk release position. The mechanism is moved from the initial position to the raised position, and the first tray driving means is operated to change the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray from the disk release position to the disk holding position. After holding the used optical disk in the other tray, the second tray driving means is operated, and the front tray and the front tray are operated. The relative position of the rear tray is changed to the disc holding position, the second of the tray conveying means is operated while running the disk hold sequence for sliding the disk exchange position to the second tray from the disk storage position,
Upon receiving a disk detection signal from the disk detection sensor, the second tray transporting unit is operated to slide the second tray to the disk storage position, and further, the disk holding member driving unit is operated. Then, after changing the position of the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism to the disk release position, the holding mechanism elevating means is operated to move the disk holding mechanism to an intermediate position, and the disk holding member driving means is And operating the disk holding member to change the position of the disk holding member to the disk holding position so that the disk holding member holds the new optical disk on the second tray, and further, the second tray driving means To change the relative position of the front tray and the rear tray to the disc release position, and The lifting / lowering means is actuated to move the disk holding mechanism holding the new optical disk by the disk holding member to the initial position, and the new optical disk is set in the disk rotation driving unit below the second tray. The drive means is operated to change the position of the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism to the disk release position, and then the first tray transport means is operated to move the front tray and the rear tray to the disk holding position. 7. The optical disc apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the disc discharge sequence is executed to slide the held first tray from the disc storage position to the disc exchange position.   The control unit sets the new optical disk in the disk rotation driving unit below the second tray in the disk ejection sequence and changes the position of the disk holding member of the disk holding mechanism to the disk release position. 8. The optical disk apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the optical disk apparatus is configured to start the operation of the drive unit.

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