JPH06325466A - Disk changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the reliability of a tray transporting mechanism by preventing a tray from erroneously being placed in a laterally reverse direction in the tray mounting part if this tray transporting mechanism. CONSTITUTION:This disk changer is provided with guide ribs 42a, 43a of right and left guide parts 42, 43 of a tray guide 40 respectively in the positions averting the positions to be point symmetrical with the center of the tray 20 as a reference. The positions of respective recessed parts 23, 24 of the tray 20 are disposed to match these positions. The matching of the respective guide ribs 41a to 44a and the respective recessed parts 22 to 25 at >=2 points does not arise if the lateral directions of the tray 20 are reverse. The entire part of the tray 20 is thereby made afloat on the tray guide 40 and, therefore, a user is able to intuitionally know that the lateral directions of the tray 20 are reverse.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc playing device for playing and playing optical discs such as compact discs and laser discs, and more particularly to a tray storage type disc changer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a player for playing and reproducing optical discs such as compact discs and laser discs, a disc for accommodating a plurality of discs, selecting a desired disc from these disc groups, and performing the reproduction of the disc. Changer players are known. In addition, in the case of a player that stores a large-sized disc such as a laser disc, a player that stores and conveys the disc while it is placed on the tray is developed to prevent deformation and damage such as warp of the disc. Is currently being actively conducted.

However, various problems remain in the realization of such a tray storing type disc changer player. For example, in this method, the tray on which one disc is placed is the target of conveyance, so it is an important key how to realize a high-performance changer device that automatically moves the tray in and out of the tray storage part. Becomes

Specific problems include the following. (1) When the user places the tray on the tray guide installed in the changer mechanism unit, the left and right sides of the tray may be placed in opposite directions. The tray is provided with various concaves and convexes at its peripheral end in order to fix the tray in the tray storage portion and convey the tray. Therefore,
If the tray is placed on the tray guide with the left and right sides reversed, the tray fixing mechanism and the transport mechanism will not properly engage with the irregularities of these trays, and in the worst case, the tray will collide with other parts and lead to the destruction of the tray .

(2) When storing the tray in the tray storing section,
In order to fix the tray at a correct position on the tray guide (a position where the tray can be conveyed), it is necessary to press the tray from four horizontal directions including the conveying direction. However, pressing the tray from the four horizontal directions including the transport direction in this way blocks the path for transporting the tray to the tray storage unit.

(3) The tray guide is provided with a catch lever for moving the tray toward the tray storage portion, and the tray engages the catch lever hook portion with the catch lever receiving portion provided on the tray. It is transported in this state. However, this engagement can be achieved only by placing the tray at the correct position on the tray guide, and if the tray is misaligned, the tray will be put over the hook portion of the catch lever and the engagement between the two will occur. It doesn't work.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional tray storage type disc playing device, when the user places the tray on the tray mounting portion of the tray transport mechanism, the tray is erroneously placed in the right and left opposite directions. However, there is a problem that the tray cannot be transported or is broken. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and can prevent the trays from being placed on the tray mounting portion of the tray transport mechanism in the left and right directions, and can improve the reliability of the tray transport mechanism. The purpose is to provide a changer device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the disc changer device of the present invention has a tray on which discs are placed one by one and a position on the outer periphery of the tray which is point-symmetric with respect to the center of the tray. A plurality of engaging portions provided at positions avoiding the above, a tray storing portion that stores the plurality of trays in a substantially horizontal stack, and a tray mounting portion that mounts the trays substantially horizontally. Tray transport mechanism for transporting a tray mounted in the tray storage part to the tray storage part, an elevating mechanism for moving the tray transport mechanism up and down along the stacking direction of the trays stored in the tray storage part, and the tray mounting part When the tray is placed on the tray mounting portion in the correct position and orientation, the tray is mounted on the tray by engaging the engaging portions provided on the tray. It is characterized in that it has an engaging portion which tray transporting leads to possible position in section.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the engaging portions provided on the outer periphery of the tray are aligned with the engaging portions of the tray mounting portion only when the tray is placed on the tray mounting portion in the correct position and orientation. It is guided to a position where the tray can be transported in the mounting portion. Therefore, even if the tray is to be placed on the tray mounting portion in the left-right direction, in this case, the engaging portions do not coincide with each other and the tray is inevitably floated on the tray mounting portion. Therefore, the user can immediately know that the tray is in the right-left direction when the tray is installed, and the worst situation such as inability to transport the tray or destruction thereof can be avoided.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a disc changer device in a disc playing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 designates a tray housing portion for horizontally stacking and housing a plurality of trays 20 on each of which one disk such as a compact disk or a laser disk is mounted. The tray storage unit 10 is formed by arranging a pair of side plates 10a and 10b, which are provided with a plurality of shelves 11 for supporting both ends of the tray 20, on one surface thereof so as to face each other.
A plurality of tray lock levers 12 corresponding to the individual trays 20 stored are arranged on the tray insertion / removal side of the tray storage unit 10. Further, the tray storage unit 10
Stoppers 15 for pressing the insertion direction side end of the tray 20 are provided on the sides of the side plates 10a, 10b that are opposite to the tray insertion / removal opening. Further, reference numeral 30 is a changer mechanical unit for loading / unloading the tray 20 to / from the tray storage section 10 and loading / unloading the tray 20 to / from a disk playing section (disk reproducing apparatus) not shown. The changer mechanical unit 30 is moved up and down along a guide rail 17 provided in the tray housing 10, that is, moved up and down by a drive mechanism (not shown) along the stacking direction of the trays 20.

Further, reference numeral 18 is a detection plate which indicates each tray storage position (height) of the tray storage portion 10. The changer mechanical unit 30 is provided with an optical sensor (not shown) that applies light to the detection plate 18 and detects the reflected light.
The height of the changer mechanical unit 30 is adjusted based on the detection result.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a tray guide 40 which is a tray mounting portion of the changer mechanical unit 30.
The tray guide 40 includes a front guide portion 41, left and right guide portions 42 and 43, and a rear guide portion 44 when viewed from the tray storage portion 10 side.

The guide portion 41 on the front side is provided with a guide rib 41a for tray positioning which engages with the recess 22 provided in the tray 20. This front side guide part 4
1 is independent of the other guide portions 42, 43, 44,
It is possible to move up and down by the guide lifting mechanism to be described later,
As a result, the tray discharge port of the tray guide 40 is opened and closed. Also, the left and right guide parts 42, 4
The guide ribs 42a, 43a, 44a for positioning the tray, which engage with the recesses 23, 24, 25 provided in the tray 20, are also provided in the guide portion 44 on the rear side of the tray 3 and on the back side.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tray guide 40.
(A) shows a state in which the tray outlet is closed by the front guide portion 41, and (b) shows a state in which the tray outlet is opened. As shown in the figure, the guide ribs 42a and 43a provided on the left and right guide portions 42 and 43 are
Only when the tray 20 is set on the tray guide 40, the lower end is engaged with the recesses 23 and 24 provided in the tray 20 so that the tray 20 is not obstructed when being transported to the tray storage unit 10. Is stopped. By the way, in many cases, this disc changer device is shipped in a state where the tray 20 is not stored in the tray storage portion 10. This is for avoiding an accident in which the tray 20 is not supported in the tray storage unit 10 from both upper and lower directions, and thus the tray 20 is damaged due to shaking or the like during transportation of the apparatus. Therefore, after the user receives the apparatus, the trays 20 must be placed one by one on the tray guide 40 and stored in the tray storage unit 10.

In this case, in order to prevent the tray 20 from being placed on the tray guide 40 in the left-right direction, in this embodiment, the guide ribs 4 of the left and right guide portions 42, 43 described above are used.
2a and 43a are provided at positions avoiding the point symmetry with respect to the center of the tray 20, and the positions of the recesses 23 and 24 in the tray 20 are also provided accordingly.

If the left and right directions of the tray 20 are reversed,
Eventually, the outer shape of the tray 20 does not match the guide portion 44 on the back side, and the tray 20 rides on the guide portion 44. However, in this case, the left and right guide portions 42,
The guide ribs 42a and 43a of the tray 43 are respectively attached to the tray 20.
When the concave portion 22 of the tray 20 is completely fitted in the guide rib 41a of the guide portion 41 on the front side provided at a position symmetrical with respect to the center of the tray 20, the tray 20 becomes an oblique state and the left and right guide portions 42 are formed. , 43 guide ribs 42
Although the recesses 23 and 24 of the tray 20 are incomplete, they are fitted in a and 43a. Therefore, the user may mistakenly recognize the tray set state as a proper state.

On the other hand, if the guide ribs 42a, 43a of the left and right guide portions 42, 43 are provided at positions avoiding the point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the tray 20, as in this embodiment, the trays If the left and right directions of 20 are opposite, the guide ribs 41a to 44a and the recesses 22 to 25 never match at two or more places. Therefore, the entire tray 20 is floated on the tray guide 40, and the user can intuitively know that the left and right directions of the tray 20 are opposite.

Further, in FIG. 3, reference numeral 51 shows a part of the above-mentioned guide elevating mechanism. Next, the structure of this guide lifting mechanism will be described.

In the figure, reference numeral 51 is a guide slider supported on a chassis 52 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the directions of arrows A and A '. Two guide shafts 41b and 41c are fixed to a front guide part 41 that opens and closes the tray discharge port, and each guide shaft 41b and 41c is a guide slider 51.
And guide holes 52a and 52b provided in the chassis 52, respectively. Further, the chassis 52 has two guide shafts 52c and 5c.
2d is fixed, and the guide shafts 52c and 52d are inserted into guide holes 51c and 51d provided in the guide slider 51, respectively. 53 is a guide slider 5
1 is a tension spring that constantly urges 1 in the direction of arrow A.

In the above structure, the guide slider 51
3 slides in the direction of arrow A from the state of FIG. 3A, the guide shafts 41b and 41c of the guide portion 41 move the guide holes 51a and 51b of the guide slider 51 and the chassis 52.
Is guided along the guide holes 52a and 52b. As a result, the guide portion 41 moves downward, the state shown in FIG. 3B is reached, and the tray discharge port is opened.

Further, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 61 is a motor which is a drive source for slidingly moving the guide slider 51. The rotation of the motor 61 is transmitted to the worm wheel 63 via the worm 62 attached to the motor shaft, and is further transmitted to the rack slider 64 via the worm wheel 63. The rack slider 64 is slidably supported on the chassis 52 in the directions of arrows B and B ′ in the figure, and is slid in the direction of arrow B ′ by rotation of the motor 61 in a predetermined direction.

A switch cam 64a is formed at one end of the rack slider 64 to engage with the switch levers of the detection switches 65 and 66 to switch the detection switches 65 and 66 on and off. Here, the one detection switch 65 is for detecting that the rack slider 64 is located at the end in the direction of the arrow B ', that is, the tray discharge port is closed. The other detection switch 66
Is for detecting that the rack slider 64 is located at the end in the direction of arrow B, that is, the tray outlet is open. Each detection signal is sent to a microcomputer that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and the following control is performed according to each detection result.

Further, a tray guide lever 67 is rotatably supported on the chassis 52 via a shaft 52a. An elongated hole 67 is provided at one end of the tray guide lever 67.
a is provided, and the pin 51e fixed to the guide slider 51 described above is inserted into the elongated hole 67a. Further, the other end of the tray guide lever 67 is engaged with the engaging pin 64a fixed to one end of the rack slider 64 described above.

Therefore, when the motor 61 is operated to slide the rack slider 64 in the arrow B'direction, the tray guide lever 67 is rotated in the arrow C direction about the shaft 52a by the engaging pin 64a of the rack slider 64. .
As a result, the guide slider 51 slides in the direction of the arrow A ′ against the force of the tension spring 53. When the detection switch 65 detects that the rack slider 64 has reached the moving end in the B'direction, the motor 61 is stopped and the tray discharge port is kept closed.

When the motor 61 is rotated in the opposite direction, the rack slider 64 slides in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. Then, the tray guide lever 67 is released from being pressed by the engagement pin 64a, and the guide slider 51 slides in the direction of arrow A by the force of the tension spring 53. When the detection switch 66 detects that the rack slider 64 has reached the moving end in the B direction, the motor 62 is stopped, and the tray discharge port is held open.

Next, the catch lever provided on the tray guide 40 will be described.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 71 is a catch lever, and one catch lever is provided on each of the left and right sides of the tray guide 40. These catch levers 71 are
The tray 20 is engaged with respective lever receiving portions 26 provided by cutting out two end portions of the tray 20, and is movable in the directions of arrows B and B ′ by a catch lever slide drive mechanism (not shown). By the movement of the catch lever 71, the tray 20 between the tray housing portion 10 (and the disc reproducing portion (not shown)) and the tray guide 40.
Will be delivered. Furthermore, this catch lever 71
Is rotatable about a rotary shaft 72 that supports it,
Further, it is driven by a catch lever rotating mechanism which will be described later.

FIG. 6 is a view showing this catch lever rotating mechanism. In the figure, 73 is a motor which is a drive source of this catch lever rotating mechanism. The rotation of the motor 73 is transmitted to the cam gear 76 via the worm 74 and the worm wheel 75 attached to the motor shaft. The cam gear 76 has two guide grooves 76a and 76b.
Is provided. A guide pin 77a fixed to one end of two control sliders 77 slidable in the directions of arrows A and A'is engaged with the guide grooves 76a and 76b, respectively. In addition, each control slider 77
One end of the control lever 78 is connected to the other end of the control lever 78 via a connecting pin 78a. Further, the catch lever operating pin 7 is provided on the other end of each control lever 78.
8b are respectively provided upright. Each of these control levers 78 is rotatable about the rotary shaft 78c in the directions of arrows E and E '.

On the other hand, as described above, each of the catch levers 71 is rotatably supported about the rotary shaft 72 in the directions of the arrows F and F ', and one end thereof has the above-mentioned catch lever operating pin 78b. And a pin contact portion 71a for transmitting the rotation of the control lever 78 to the catch lever 71. The catch levers 71 are always urged in the arrow F'direction by the force of a spring (not shown) attached to the rotary shaft 72.

Further, the control slider 77 described above
A switch cam 81 that engages with the switch levers of the detection switches 79 and 80 to switch ON / OFF of the detection switches 79 and 80 is attached to one of the two.
The one detection switch 79 is for detecting that the control sliders 77 are respectively located at the ends in the center direction, that is, the catch lever 71 is in the rotation position shown in FIG. The other detection switch 8
0 indicates that the control slider 77 is located at the end in the direction opposite to the center direction, that is, the catch lever 7
This is for detecting that 1 is in the rotational position shown in FIG. Each detection signal is sent to a microcomputer that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and the following control is performed according to each detection result.

Therefore, when the motor 73 is operated and each control slider 77 is slid in the center direction, each control lever 78 rotates in the E direction. As a result, the rotation of each control lever 78 is transmitted to the catch lever 71 via the catch lever operating pin 78b and the pin contact portion 71a, and each catch lever 71 rotates in the arrow F direction. Then, when the detection switch 79 detects that the respective catch levers 71 have rotated to the state shown in FIG. 7, the motor 73 is stopped, and this state is maintained as the retracted state of the catch levers 71. That is, in this retracted state, the catch lever 71 is in a position where it does not overlap with the tray 20 mounted on the tray guide 40 in plan view.

When the motor 73 is rotated in the reverse direction, each control slider 77 slides in the direction opposite to the center direction. Then, each control lever 78 rotates in the E'direction. As a result, each catch lever 71 is released from being pressed by the catch lever operating pin 78b of the control lever 78, and is rotated in the arrow F'direction by the force of the spring. Then, each catch lever 71 rotates to the state shown in FIG. 6, and the detection switch detects that each lever receiving portion 26 of the tray 20 is fitted into the hook portion of each catch lever 71.
Is detected, the motor 73 is stopped and this state is maintained.

Although not shown, the disk changer device is entirely housed in one cabinet. The surface of the tray guide 40 is exposed in this cabinet so that the user can place the tray guide 40 on the tray 20.
A door is provided so that the can be placed. An opening / closing detection switch is attached to the door, and the detection signal is input to the internal microcomputer to execute the next control according to the detection result.

Next, the operation of housing the tray 20 in the tray housing portion 10 in the disk changer device of this embodiment will be described.

First, when the user opens the cabinet door,
The open / close detection switch detects this and sends a signal to the microcomputer.

Then, the microcomputer activates the motor 73 in the catch lever rotating mechanism shown in FIG. 6 to rotate each catch lever 71 in the direction of arrow F to set the retracted state shown in FIG.

Next, the user moves the tray 20 to the tray guide 4
Put it on 0. At this time, the user sets the tray 20 so that the concave portions 22 to 25 of the tray 20 are all aligned with the guide ribs 41a to 44a provided on the four guide portions 41 to 44.
This work is performed by determining the direction of the.

Here, since the guide ribs 42a, 43a provided on the left and right guide portions 42, 43 are provided at positions avoiding the point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the tray 20, if the tray 20 has If the left and right directions are opposite, the tray 20 will not be placed on the tray guide 40 in the correct state. Therefore, the user can place the tray 20 on the tray guide 40 correctly without making a mistake in the right or left direction of the tray 20.

When the setting of the tray 20 is completed, the user closes the door of the cabinet, and then instructs the tray in which tray 20 the tray 20 should be stored. This instruction is given by operating the keys on the operation panel attached to the cabinet.

The operation panel is connected to the microcomputer, and when the microcomputer obtains the information on the tray storage destination from the operation panel, first, the motor 73 in the catch lever rotation mechanism is rotated and activated in the opposite direction to the previous direction, Each catch lever 71 is rotated in the direction of arrow F'to bring it to the state shown in FIG. As a result, the catch levers 71 are fitted into the lever receiving portions 26 of the tray 20.

Next, the microcomputer activates a changer mechanical unit drive mechanism (not shown) based on the information of the tray storage destination, and moves the changer mechanical unit 30 having the tray guide 40 to the height of the target tray storage position. .

After the completion of the movement, the microcomputer activates the motor 61 in the guide elevating mechanism shown in FIG. 4 to start the front guide portion 41 of the tray guide 40.
From the state of FIG. 3A to the state of FIG. 3B,
Open the tray outlet. This allows the tray guide 4
The tray 20 can be unloaded from the tray storage unit 10 from 0.

Thereafter, the catch lever slide drive mechanism (not shown) is activated, and the catch lever 71 moves in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, whereby the tray 20 is stored in the tray storage portion 10.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the guide ribs 42a and 43a of the left and right guide portions 42 and 43 of the tray guide 40 are placed at positions symmetric with respect to the center of the tray 20. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the front and rear guide portions 41, 44 are provided.
The guide ribs 41a and 44a may be provided at positions avoiding the point symmetry with respect to the center of the tray 20.

[0047]

As described above, according to the disk changer device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the trays from being placed on the tray mounting portion of the tray transfer mechanism in the left and right directions, and to improve the reliability of the tray transfer mechanism. Can be made.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a disc changer device in a disc playing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a tray guide of a changer mechanical unit.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tray guide shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration of a guide elevating mechanism that elevates and drives a part (front side guide portion) of the tray guide and a state when a tray discharge port of the tray guide is closed in the guide elevating mechanism. .

5 is a plan view showing a state when the tray discharge port of the tray guide is opened in the guide elevating mechanism of FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a configuration of a catch lever rotating mechanism and a state when the catch lever is closed in the catch lever rotating mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state when the catch lever is opened in the catch lever rotating mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a tray guide according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Tray storage part, 11 ... Shelf, 12 ... Tray lock lever, 15 ... Stopper part, 17 ... Guide rail, 18
Detecting plate, 20 ... Tray, 22, 23, 24, 25 ... Recessed portion, 26 ... Lever receiving portion, 30 ... Changer mechanical unit, 40 ... Tray guide, 41 ... Front guide portion, 42
... right side guide part, 43 ... left side guide part, 44 ... back side guide part, 41a, 42a, 43a, 44a ... guide rib,
51 ... Guide lifting mechanism, 51 ... Guide slider, 52 ...
Chassis, 53 ... Tension spring, 61 ... Motor, 62 ... Worm, 63 ... Worm wheel, 64 ... Rack slider, 65, 66 ... Detection switch, 67 ... Tray guide lever, 71 ... Catch lever, 72 ... Rotation shaft, 73 ... Motor, 74 ... Worm, 75 ... Worm wheel, 76
... cam gear, 77 ... control slider, 78 ... control lever, 79, 80 ... detection switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tray on which a disc is placed one by one, a plurality of engaging portions provided at positions on the outer periphery of the tray that are point-symmetrical with respect to the tray center, and a plurality of the trays. And a tray storage portion for storing the trays stacked substantially horizontally, and a tray mounting portion for mounting the trays substantially horizontally,
A tray transport mechanism for transporting the tray mounted on the tray mounting section to the tray storage section; an elevating mechanism for moving the tray transport mechanism up and down in the stacking direction of the trays stored in the tray storage section; When the tray is mounted on the tray mounting portion and the tray is placed on the tray mounting portion in the correct position and orientation, the tray is transported in the tray mounting portion by engaging with the engaging portions provided on the tray. A disc changer device having an engaging portion that guides the movable position to a possible position.