JP3061614U - Disc changer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] A storage section for storing a plurality of discs as disc-shaped information recording media, and reproducing and / or reproducing information from the discs.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a disc changer including a drive unit for recording information on a disc, and a storage-drive-to-storage-drive transport unit for transporting the disk between the storage unit and the drive unit. SOLUTION: When mounting a disk in a storage unit to a drive unit, the holder storing the disk is moved from the stacked storage unit to the primary storage unit, and then the holder is moved from the primary storage unit to the secondary storage unit. In the secondary storage unit, the disk is released from the secondary storage unit by moving the disk onto the movable tray where the disk is released from the secondary storage unit by the drive unit by releasing the constraint of the disk in the holder. Is returned to the drive section, and the disk attaching / detaching means attaches the disk to the disk rotating means.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to a storage unit for storing a plurality of discs as disc-shaped information recording media, a drive unit for reproducing information from the disc and / or recording information on the disc, and a disc unit between the storage unit and the drive unit. And a disk transporter between storage drives for transporting the disk.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, in a disk magazine that stores a large number of disk-shaped information recording media such as optical disks stored in disk cartridges, the disk transfer mechanism of the disk changer is complicated, the transfer distance is long, and there is a limit to miniaturizing the entire device. was there. Conventional optical disk drives are generally of the tray type, and the depth that includes the drive body, the movable part of the tray, and the disk changer cannot achieve a comfortable size. In addition, in a disk magazine containing a plurality of cartridges, a movable portion of a drive tray is indispensable, and the disk changer device must be configured with this portion secured.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 The purpose of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to provide a small disc changer that can be used in ordinary households. For the purpose of use, it is necessary to realize a size that does not feel uncomfortable with home appliances such as televisions, stereos, personal computers, and video tape recorders.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The disc changer of the present invention includes a storage section for storing a plurality of discs as disc-shaped information recording media, a drive section for reproducing information from the disc and / or recording information on the disc, and a storage section for storing the information on the disc. This is a disc changer provided with storage means for transferring a disc between the drives. The drive section has a disk rotating means for rotating the disk, a disk attaching / detaching means for attaching / detaching the inserted disk to / from the disk rotating means, and a disk for inserting or ejecting a disk into the drive section. And a movable tray protruding from the drive unit to move the disc when the disc is moved. One storage unit includes a stacked storage unit, a primary storage unit, and a secondary storage unit. The stacked storage section is constructed by stacking a plurality of holders that store a single disk in a restrained state, one above the other, and inserting the holder into the stacked storage section or ejecting it from the stacked storage section on the side of the stacked storage section. Are provided. Then, the primary storage unit is disposed at a position facing the insertion / ejection port of the stacked storage unit and above the drive unit. The secondary storage unit is located below the stacked storage unit and above the position where the movable tray protrudes from the drive unit. Then, when attaching the disk in the storage unit to the drive unit, move the holder containing the disk from the stacked storage unit to the primary storage unit, and then move the holder from the primary storage unit to the secondary storage unit. Further, in the secondary storage unit, the disk in the holder is released, and the disk transport means between the storage drives moves the disk from the secondary storage unit to the movable tray which has been protruded from the drive unit. When the movable tray on which the disk is placed returns to the drive unit, the disk attaching / detaching unit attaches the disk to the disk rotation unit, and when the disk is returned from the disk rotation unit of the drive unit to the storage unit, the procedure is reversed. The feature of the present invention is that it has a return mechanism.

[0005] By using such a configuration, the size of the disc changer can be reduced. In addition, in the present invention, the stacked storage section includes a disk magazine configured by stacking a plurality of holders vertically, a magazine transport means for vertically transporting the disk magazine in the storage section, and any holder in the disk magazine. Holder identification means to identify whether it is at the level of the insertion / exit port of the stacking unit, and discharge the holder out of the stacking unit from the position of the insertion / exhaust port of the stacking unit or from the outside of the stacking unit to the stacking unit There is provided a holder ejecting / inserting driving means for inserting at the height of the insertion / ejecting port, and when attaching the disc in the storage section to the disc rotating means of the drive section, the magazine is identified while identifying the holder by the holder identifying means. The transport means transports the holder containing the target disk to the height of the storage section insertion / ejection port together with the disk magazine, and then ejects the holder Input drive means, a holder in the height position of the stacked housing part insert outlet in a stacked storage portion, is taken out from the disk magazine is preferably provided with a mechanism for moving the primary storage unit of the stacked and stored outsider. As a result, further miniaturization can be realized. Furthermore, in the present invention, the secondary storage unit is disposed at the bottom of the stacked storage unit, and the secondary storage unit and the stacked storage unit are provided with a mechanism that is integrally transported vertically by the magazine transport unit. preferable. As a result, further miniaturization can be realized.

[0006] In the disc changer of the present invention, it is preferable to use an optical disc as a disc-shaped information recording medium. An optical disk is a large-capacity recording medium with excellent portability, and is suitable for increasing the amount of information stored by using a changer method.

[0007]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 shows the structure of the entire disc changer. The disc changer includes a drive unit 1 as a drive unit, a storage unit including a stacked storage unit 3, a primary tray 13 as a primary storage unit, and a secondary tray 7 as a secondary storage unit, and a disk between storage drives. It comprises a lifting drive device 14 as a transport means. Further, in the figure, 2 is a movable tray protruding from the drive unit, 6 is a holder for holding one disk in a restrained state, 5 is a disk magazine configured by stacking a plurality of holders 6 vertically, and 4 is a magazine. Magazine holders 4 and 11 fixed to transport the disk magazine 5 by a lifting drive motor 9 and a drive mechanism 8 as transport means are holder detectors, and 15 is an open solenoid.

On the side surface of the stacking section 3, there is a stacking section insertion / ejection port for inserting the holder 6 into or out of the stacking section 3, and the primary tray 13 has a stacking section insertion / ejection port. The secondary tray 7 is arranged below the stacking unit 3 and above the position where the movable tray 2 protrudes from the drive device 1.

FIG. 2 shows the holder 6 in a state where the disk is stored and restrained. The disc 19 in the holder 6 is released or restrained by pushing or releasing the open lever 16 to generate a couple in the ring 17 and to open and close the attachment 18 which sandwiches the disc by the couple. . A rack 20 is provided on a side surface of the disk holder 6 so as to be movable by a holder transfer driving device.

FIG. 3 shows a disk magazine 5 in which a plurality of holders 6 are vertically stacked. The disk magazine 5 houses a plurality of holders 6 stacked and provided with a detection window 22 for positioning in the height direction.

FIG. 4 shows the stacking unit 3 and the secondary tray 7. FIG. 5 shows the stacking unit 3 and the primary tray 13. The stacking unit 3 includes a magazine holder 4 for fixing the disk magazine 5, an elevating drive motor 9 and a driving mechanism 8 as magazine transport means for vertically moving the magazine holder 4, and a holder detecting means as holder identification means. And a holder transfer driving device 10 serving as a transporting means between storage drives.

At the lower end of the magazine holder 4, a secondary tray 7 integrated with the magazine holder 4 is provided. When the secondary tray 7 is at a predetermined height, the open lever 16 of the holder 6 is pushed into the side surface so that the disc 19 in the holder 6 can be released and the disc can be loaded and unloaded. Open solenoid 15 is provided.

The holder detector 11 as holder identification means is attached to the holder insertion / ejection height, that is, the height of the primary tray 13. In cooperation with the magazine transport means, it is used to select an arbitrary holder in the disk magazine, position it at the holder insertion / ejection height, and move the secondary tray 7 to a predetermined height. The holder detector 11 can position the holder at a predetermined height by detecting the reflection member provided on the side surface of the holder using the reflection type light emitting / receiving element. Also, by converting the reflected light from the side surface of the holder into a pulse waveform and counting, an arbitrary holder can be carried to a predetermined height.

FIG. 6 shows the holder transfer drive device 10 in the stacking unit 3. When the holder 6 is not ejected or inserted from the disc magazine 5, the rack 20 on the side of the holder 6 and the pinion gear 23 of the holder transfer drive 10 are separated by the stress of the spring 25 in the holder transfer drive 10. Thus, the lifting and lowering operation of the magazine holder 4 is not hindered. On the other hand, when the holder is inserted and ejected, the pinion carrier 23 is pressed against the rack 20 on the side of the disk holder by the solenoid 26 and driven by the drive motor 24, thereby performing the transfer at the time of insertion and ejection.

FIG. 7 shows the holder transfer drive 12 in the primary tray. The transfer of the holder 6 discharged from the disk magazine 5 is assisted by the holder transfer drive device 12 on the primary tray 13. The holder transfer drive device 12 includes a pinion gear 28 and a drive motor 27, and is pressed against the rack by the stress of a spring 29 to obtain a driving force.

FIG. 8 shows how the disk 19 moves from the secondary tray 7 to the movable tray 2 of the drive device 1. In FIG. 8A, the disk 19 is in the secondary tray 7 while being stored in the holder 6. In FIG. 8B, the secondary tray 7 is lowered together with the magazine holder 4 to a position above the tray 2 of the drive unit 1, and at the same time, the lifting drive unit 14 is raised to hold the disk 19. Indicates the status. At this time, by driving the open solenoid 15, the attachment in the holder 6 is released and the holding state of the disk 19 is released. Subsequently, the lifting drive 14 descends while holding the disk 19. FIG. 8C shows a state in which the lifting drive device 14 is lowered and the disk 19 is mounted on the tray 2.

In such a configuration, when mounting the disk in the storage unit to the drive unit, the holder 6 storing the disk 19 is moved from the stacked storage unit 3 to the primary tray 13 as a primary storage unit, and subsequently, The holder 6 is moved from the primary tray 13 to the secondary tray 7 as a secondary storage unit, and the secondary tray 7 releases the restraint of the disk 19 in the holder 6 and moves up and down as a disk transport means between the storage drives. The drive unit 14 moves the disk 19 onto the movable tray 2 that has protruded the disk 19 from the secondary tray 7 from the drive unit 1, and the movable tray 2 on which the disk 19 is placed returns into the drive unit 1. The disk attaching / detaching means attaches the disk to the disk rotating means, and returns the disk from the disk rotating means in the drive section into the storage section. When doing so, return in the reverse order.

At this time, while the holder 6 is identified by the holder detector 11 as the holder identifying means, the magazine transporting means inserts the holder 6 in which the disk 19 to be stored is inserted into the storage section insertion / ejection port together with the disk magazine 5. Then, the holder transfer driving device 10 removes the holder 6 from the inside of the disk magazine 5 and moves it to the primary tray 13. On the primary tray 13, the holder transfer drive device 10 assists the transfer of the holder 6.

[0019]

[Effect of the invention]

 The disc changer of the present invention can be very compact and has a size that does not feel uncomfortable with general household appliances, and the disc transfer distance is short, so that discs can be exchanged at high speed, and a small, large-capacity information recording / reproducing device can be realized. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 Disc changer

FIG. 2 Holder

FIG. 3 is a disk magazine

Fig. 4 Stacked storage unit and secondary tray

FIG. 5: Stacking unit and primary tray

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a holder transfer driving device in the stacking unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a holder transfer driving device in a primary tray.

FIG. 8: Transfer of a disk to a movable tray

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drive device 2 Movable tray 3 Stacking storage part 4 Magazine holder 5 Disk magazine 6 Holder 7 Secondary tray 8 Drive mechanism 9 Elevation drive motor 10 Holder transfer drive 11 Holder detector 13 Primary tray 14 Elevation drive 15 Open solenoid 16 Open lever 17 Ring 18 Attachment 19 Disk 20 Rack 22 Detection window 23 Pinion gear 24 Drive motor 25 Spring 26 Solenoid 27 Drive motor 28 Pinion gear 29 Spring

Claims (4)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A storage section for storing a plurality of discs as disc-shaped information recording media, a drive section for reproducing information from the disc and / or recording information on the disc, and a storage section between the storage section and the drive section. In a disc changer provided with a disk transport means between storage drives for transporting a disk, a disk rotating means for rotating the disk, a disk attaching / detaching means for attaching / detaching the inserted disk to / from the disk rotating means, A movable tray that protrudes from the drive unit to move the disk when inserting or ejecting the disk from the drive unit.One of the storage units has a stacked storage unit and a primary storage unit. And a secondary storage unit, and the stacked storage unit has a plurality of holders that store one disc The stacking section is provided with a stacking section insertion / exhaust port on the side of the stacking section for inserting a holder into or removing the holder from the stacking section. The secondary storage unit is located at the opposing position and above the drive unit, and the secondary storage unit is located below the stacked storage unit and above the position where the movable tray protrudes from the drive unit, and the disk in the storage unit is placed in the drive unit. When attaching the disc to the primary storage unit, move the holder from the stacked storage unit to the primary storage unit, then move the holder from the primary storage unit to the secondary storage unit. Release the restraint, move the disk onto the movable tray where the disk is transported from the secondary storage unit by the disk transport means between the storage drives, and move the disk The tray is returned to the drive unit, the disk attaching / detaching unit attaches the disk to the disk rotating unit, and when returning the disk from the disk rotating unit of the drive unit into the storage unit, a mechanism for returning the disk in the reverse order is provided. Disc changer. 2. A stacked storage unit, comprising: a disk magazine configured by vertically stacking a plurality of holders; a magazine transport unit configured to transport the disk magazine up and down in the storage unit;
Holder identification means for identifying which holder in the disc magazine is at the height of the stacking section insertion / ejection port, and ejecting the holder from the stacking section insertion / ejection level to the outside of the stacking section. A drive unit for ejecting the holder from the outside of the stacking unit at the height of the insertion / ejecting port of the stacking unit. The magazine transport means transports the holder containing the target disk to the position at the height of the storage section insertion / ejection port together with the disk magazine, and then the holder ejection / insertion drive means stacks the stack in the stacking section. A mechanism that removes the holder at the height of the storage unit insertion / ejection port from the disk magazine and moves it to the primary storage unit outside the stacked storage unit Disk changer according to claim 1, characterized by comprising. 3. The secondary storage section is disposed at the lowermost portion of the stacked storage section, and the secondary storage section and the stacked storage section are provided integrally with a mechanism that is vertically transported by magazine transport means. The disc changer according to claim 2, wherein 4. The disc changer according to claim 1, wherein the disc-shaped information recording medium is an optical disc.