JPH0831129A - Disk cartridge and changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To greatly improve the way of handling and operability of a changer by providing a changer capable of selecting a desired disk regardless of a disk stocker position. CONSTITUTION:This changer has a stocker section 12 in which disk cartridges 11 are housed, a cartridge detecting means 13 which detects the presence or absence of the disk cartridges disposed in the respective slots of the stocker section, an information memory device 3 and a display 5. The slots where the disk cartridges 11 are inserted are identified in a disk position detecting section 2 and slot number data is formed. The information is stored by connecting the registered information data intrinsic to the disks and the slot number data into the information memory device 3. Putting of the disk cartridges 11 into and out of the slots of the stocker section are executed by rewriting the slot number data by the signals from the disk position detecting section 2 at the time of the putting in and out. Display is made by arranging and displaying the registration data intrinsic to the disks on a display 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc cartridge and a changer device for recording / reproducing information on / from a disc by light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Audio discs and video discs,
In addition, a large capacity of optical discs has come to be used as a data storage device of a computer.
Further, a large-capacity storage device is required, and a disc changer device capable of handling a large number of optical discs is desired. There is a demand for a small-sized high-speed changer device that leads to a large capacity not only in AV equipment but also in the field of personal computers.

To simplify the description, the description will focus on an optical disk changer device for recording an audio signal. The same applies to other optical discs, video discs, karaoke discs, recordable optical disc data files, and the like.

In a general disc changer device, a plurality of discs are housed in a stocker part in the changer device, the reproducing device is moved in the direction in which the discs are arranged, and a desired disc is selected. Pull out the disc,
Chuck on the turntable and put it in a playback state.

The operation of such a disc changer device will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 13 is a view showing the structure of a conventional disc changer device, FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of using the device.

In FIG. 13, a plurality of (fifteen in the figure) disks 101 are stored in a stocker section 102. Reference numeral 103 denotes a disc pull-out mechanism, which is a reproducing device including a disc chucking mechanism 104 and an optical pickup 105, and has a structure that can freely move in the direction in which the discs are lined up. This structure allows you to select the desired disc and stop at that position. At that position, the disc 101 is pulled out from the stocker unit 102, chucked on the turntable of the disc chucking mechanism 104, and reproduced by the optical pickup 105.

At this time, the disk 101 pulled out is
It is necessary to remember which position of the stocker unit 102 was stored. For example, the slot number 1 of the stocker is the disc of the song of singer A, the slot number 2 is the disc of the song of singer B, and so on. This is because, when the person 201 performs the music selection operation as shown in FIG. 14, it is a general usage method to input the disc number and the music number from the operation panel 203 of the changer device 204. The changer device selects a desired disc using the information input on the operation panel and puts it in a reproduction state. However, it is impossible for humans to remember all of them. Therefore, it is necessary to have a disc number list in which titles and song names are arranged, disc numbers, and song numbers are arranged.
It is a general use method to check a desired song from the player and input the disc number and the song number from the operation panel 203 of the changer device 204.

[0008]

However, the conventional method of using the disc changer device has the following problems.

First, if an error occurs between the disk number list and the disk storage position (slot number) of the stocker, the intended music will not be reproduced, so the disk number list will be stored when the disk is stored. Considerable care must be taken not to confuse the table with the disk storage position of the stocker.

In addition, when the disk number list is lost, finding out which song is stored and where is a rather laborious task.

Further, when a disc is newly added due to purchase of a new song or the disc is replaced when it is no longer needed and the disc is replaced, the disc number list must be rewritten each time. The disk number list is usually a printed matter, and rewriting it is also a difficult task. Further, as the number of discs increases, the method of organizing the discs also becomes more difficult. For example, if there are 3000 songs, it is difficult to select songs even if the song names are arranged in the order of Japanese syllabary.

Also, in terms of structure, in order to store the disc in the stocker portion of the changer device, the disc must be inserted in the direction in which it is pulled out, and since there is a reproducing device there, it is difficult to insert it. Therefore, there is a structure in which the stocker portion can be removed, but there is a risk that the disc may be accidentally scattered and the original position may not be known.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned various problems and greatly simplifies the handling method of the changer device.
It greatly improves operability.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a disk cartridge of the present invention, which has a flat plate shape and an upper case and a lower case each having a slightly thick edge on three sides. It has a slightly thick edge on the one side and a middle case where the part where the optical pickup is inserted is cut out,
A disk is housed in the middle case, and the middle case is used by sliding it in a gap formed by bonding the upper case and the lower case and pulling out the disk by half or more.

Further, the changer device of the present invention has a flat plate shape and has an upper case and a lower case having slightly thick edges on three sides, and an optical pickup having slightly thick edges on four sides. It consists of a middle case that is cut out,
A disk is housed in the middle case, and the middle case slides in a gap formed by bonding the upper case and the lower case to pull out the disk for half or more to be used. A stocker unit to be stored, a cartridge detection unit provided in each slot of the stocker unit for detecting the presence or absence of a disk cartridge, a disk position detection unit, a control device, an information storage device, a display circuit and a display. The disk position detecting unit identifies the slot in which the disk cartridge is inserted to create slot number data, and the information storage device associates the disk-specific registration information data with the slot number data to provide information. Remember and eject the disk cartridge from the slot in the stocker Wherein wherein the the signal from the disc position detection unit and to rewrite said slot number data when being.

The disk cartridge detecting means provided in each slot of the stocker portion may be arranged in an array by mechanical contact switches.

In the disk cartridge, a light reflecting plate or a magnetic material is formed on a part of the end surface parallel to the direction of pulling out the inner case, and the disk cartridge detecting means provided in each slot of the stocker portion is replaced by a reflection type photo sensor or Alternatively, the magnetic sensors may be arranged in an array.

Further, when the cartridge holding plate which covers the width of the stocker portion and is vertically slidable or rotatable and a power switch are provided and the cartridge holding plate is moved to a position where the cartridge can be taken out, The power switch may be turned on and turned off when the power switch is moved to a position where it cannot be taken out.

The registration information data peculiar to the disc is composed of identification data and content data. The identification data is information data such as disc type information, CD TOC information, disc part number, manufacturer name, year of release, etc. Content data is information data such as title name, song name, singer name, conductor name, performer name, genre, game name, data name, jacket image, etc. When the cartridge is inserted and the cartridge is inserted into the slot, the registration information data is read and recorded together with the slot number data in the information storage device in the changer device.

Further, data of the number of times of reproduction and the time of reproduction may be created, and may be recorded and rewritten in the information storage device in association with the disc unique information data together with the slot number data.

Further, a mouse is provided, and the title name, song name,
A desired song may be selected by clicking with a mouse on a predetermined portion of the operation screen searched and sorted by singer name, genre, release year, use time, use frequency, and the like.

[0022]

According to the present invention, since the information storage device stores the registration data peculiar to the disc and the slot number data of the disc position, the registration data peculiar to the disc is displayed on the display and clicked with the mouse. The changer device will automatically play the disc with the target slot number. Even if you pull out the disc cartridge from the slot of the stocker or insert it into another slot, the slot number is rewritten each time, so the target disc can be played no matter where the disc is stored, greatly improving the operability of the changer device. It is a thing.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A changer device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall system view of a changer device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mechanical portion of the changer device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is information storage in the changer device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of stored information in the apparatus.
Is an operation screen on the display of the changer device of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a mechanism section of a changer device, which is provided in a plurality of disk cartridges 11 for storing optical disks, a stocker section 12 for housing the disk cartridges 11, and each slot of the stocker section 12. It is composed of a cartridge detecting means 13 for detecting the presence / absence of the disc cartridge, a device for pulling out the disc, a reproducing device 14 including a disc spindle motor and an optical pickup. Reference numeral 2 denotes a disk position detecting section, which creates slot number data of the stocker in response to a signal from the cartridge detecting means 13. An information storage device 3 is composed of an IC memory, a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical recording disk and the like.
A display circuit 4 creates a screen display signal for the display 5. 6 is a control device for controlling these, 7
Is a mouse for instructing control commands.

The details will be described below. In FIG. 2, the mechanism unit 1 includes a disc cartridge 11 that accommodates an optical disc, a stocker unit 12 that accommodates the disc cartridge 11, and a cartridge detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a disc cartridge provided in each slot of the stocker unit 12. 13, a device for pulling out a disc, a disc spindle motor, and a reproducing device 14 including an optical pickup.

FIG. 5 shows a disk cartridge 11 used in the changer device of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state where the disc is housed in the cartridge, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a state where the disc is pulled out from the cartridge. It is composed of an upper case 11a and a lower case 11b, and a middle case 11c having a slightly thick edge on four sides and a portion into which an optical pickup is inserted is cut out. An optical disk 11e is housed in the middle case 11c, and the middle case 11c slides in a gap formed by adhering the upper case 11a and the lower case 11b to each other, so that the optical disk 11e
Pull out more than half for use. A plurality of cutouts 11d for preventing the disk cartridge 11 from being unnecessarily pulled out are provided on the sliding side surface of the middle case 11c.

In the mechanism section 1 of the changer apparatus of FIG. 2, a plurality of disk cartridges 11 are stored in the stocker section 12 with the inner case drawer side being the inner side, and the middle case drawer is arranged, a disk spindle motor, and an optical pickup. The reproducing device 14 is composed of a structure in which the space on the back side in the drawing where the disk cartridges 11 are arranged can be moved in the direction in which the cartridges are arranged. The reproducing device 14 stops at the desired position of the disk cartridge and pulls out and reproduces the disk together with the middle case 11c. It is a thing.

Disk cartridge 11 and stocker section 1
FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the area A in contact with No. 2. The stocker section 12 has a large number of slots 12a into which the disk cartridges 11 are inserted. Each slot 12a has a structure in which cartridge detecting means 13 for detecting the presence or absence of a disk cartridge is arranged in an array. As shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge detecting means 13 is a mechanical contact switch 13a. If the disk cartridge 11 is inserted, the operating point 13b is pushed downward to the position indicated by the solid line, the switch is turned on, and the disk cartridge 11 is turned on. If there is not, the action point 13b becomes the position B of the broken line by the spring force inside the switch, and the switch is turned off. On and off may be reversed. The presence / absence of a disk cartridge is detected by this on / off.

The cartridge detecting means 13 may be a reflection type photo sensor or a Hall element magnetic sensor 13c as shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the portion 11f of the disc cartridge 11 facing the sensor must be formed of a light reflecting plate or a magnetic material. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a state where a disc is stored in a cartridge, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a state where the disc is pulled out from the cartridge. Then, the presence or absence of the disk cartridge is detected by a change in the amount of reflected light or a change in magnetic resistance. By using such a sensor, unnecessary force is not applied when the disc cartridge is inserted,
With a light touch, you can take in and out the disc cart ridge.

Reference numeral 12b in FIG. 6 is a cartridge holding member provided in the slot 12a. FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the cartridge holding device. A holding member 12b is held so as to be slidable toward the disk cartridge side, and power is transmitted to the lower portion of the holding member by the rotation of the lever 12c. The lever 12c is driven by an electromagnetic plunger and is pulled downward when the electromagnetic plunger is energized, and when the energization is cut off, the lever 12c and the holding member 12b are moved to the disk cartridge side by the return spring 12e, and the notch 11d of the disk cartridge 11 is formed. To
The convex portion 12d of the cartridge holding device 12b is inserted. When the power is turned off, the protrusion 1 of the cartridge holding member 12b is inserted into the notch 11d of the disc cartridge 11.
Since 2d is inserted, the cartridge cannot be replaced. The cartridge can be exchanged only when the power is turned on, and the exchange of the disk cartridge is always detected by the cartridge detection means 13 to operate the control system.

Another embodiment of the cartridge holding device is shown in FIG.
It is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 11 is a disk cartridge, and 12 is a stocker section. In FIG. 11, 12f is a cartridge holding plate, which covers the entire width of the stocker portion and has a structure capable of sliding up and down. When the cartridge holding plate 12f is in the upper position, it is impossible to remove all the disk cartridges stored in the stocker section. The vertical slide mechanism of the cart jig holding plate and the power switch are interlocked so that the power switch is turned on when the cartridge holding plate is pushed down by a finger and turned off when the cartridge holding plate is positioned above. Has been done. Also in this configuration, the disk cartridge can be exchanged only when the power source is energized as in the above case, and the replacement of the disk cartridge is always detected by the cartridge detection means 13 to operate the control system. With this configuration, since it is not necessary to use an electric part such as a plunger, the mechanism can be simplified and power consumption can be saved.

FIG. 12 shows still another embodiment of the cartridge holding device. 12 is similar to FIG. 11, but the cartridge holding plate 12g is not moved up and down but is rotated about the rotation center 12h.
The same effect as the cartridge holding device of No. 1 is produced.

Generally, if the disk cartridge is exchanged when the power supply is not turned on, the slot number data of the information storage device is not rewritten because the control device is not operating. Will select the disc cartridge of
At this time, if the cartridge holding device of the present embodiment as described above is provided, it becomes impossible to replace the disk cartridge when the power is not turned on. Therefore, the slot number data of the information storage device is not rewritten and the disk is not rewritten. It becomes impossible to replace the cartridge, which prevents malfunction of disk selection.

Now that the description of the mechanical section has been completed,
Give a detailed description of the system. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a disc position detecting section, which is a signal of the cartridge detecting means 13 for disc presence / absence described above (the mechanical contact switch 13a provided in each slot is ON when a disc is inserted, and is inserted). If not, which slot the cartridge is inserted can be determined by off). Therefore, it is output as slot number data. An information storage device 3 is composed of an IC memory, a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical recording disk and the like. A display circuit 4 creates a screen display signal for the display 5. Reference numeral 6 is a control device for controlling the system, and 7 is a mouse for instructing a control command. The function of these control devices will now be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the storage contents of the information storage device 3 are registered in such a manner that disc-specific registration information data and drive information data are associated with each other.

The registration information data peculiar to the disc is composed of identification data and content data. Identification data is information data such as disc type (CD, CD-ROM, CD-G, magneto-optical disc, phase change disc, etc.), CD TOC information, disc part number, manufacturer name, release year, etc. Is. The content data is information data such as title name, song name, singer name, conductor name, performer name, genre, game name, data name, jacket image. Once this information is registered, it is not necessary to rewrite it.

The drive information data includes slot number data of the stocker section, reproduction count data, and reproduction time data. The drive information data is automatically rewritten according to the reproduction status of the drive. For example, the reproduction number data and the reproduction time are rewritten when the play operation is started, and the slot number data is recorded by the signal of the cartridge detecting means 13 when the disc cartridge is inserted into the slot, and the disc cartridge is removed from the slot. It is automatically rewritten, such as deleting at times.

There are the following three methods of registering the registration information unique to the disc. [First Method] When the disc is inserted into the disc cartridge and the disc cartridge is inserted into the slot, the drive information is automatically recorded. However, the registration information peculiar to the disc is registered each time with the keyboard or the mouse according to the instruction on the screen. [Second Method] Since the TOC information of a CD is only the number of pieces of music and the playing time, the disc-specific registration information corresponding to the CD catalog is converted to a CD-ROM. The data of the CD-ROM is temporarily recorded in the information storage device 3 with the slot number data being blank. Then, when the CD disc is inserted into the disc cartridge and the disc cartridge is inserted into the slot, the drive information is automatically recorded. However, the unique registration data of the disc is read by reading the TOC information of the inserted CD. , TOC information contents, that is, the combination of the number of songs and playing time is compared with the data of the CD-ROM, and several similar ones are selected from the ROM and displayed on the screen, and the mouse is used to check the slot number data. Connect with and complete registration. [Third Method] Disc specific registration information is recorded in advance on each disc. Then, when the disc is inserted into the disc cartridge and the disc cartridge is inserted into the slot, the drive information and the information at that time are read and automatically registered.

Any of the above methods may be used or used in combination. The information storage device 3 stores the information shown in FIG.
You can create a database in.

Now, the operability in reproducing will be described. FIG. 4 is an example of an operation screen displayed on the display 5. (A) is the order of Japanese syllabary of the song name or title, (b) is the order of Japanese singer, (c) is the genre, (d) is the year of release, (e) is the order of date of use, and (f) is
Is displayed by searching and sorting in the order of frequency of use.
These screens can be switched by clicking the desired item in the operation menu 8 with the mouse 7. When playing
When selecting a song on a convenient operation screen and clicking the song name portion with the mouse 7, the slot number data is registered, so that the disc can be automatically selected and played. Even if the slot of the stocker is replaced in the disk cartridge, the slot number is automatically rewritten each time, so humans do not care at all about the slot to be inserted. According to such an operation, the number of cartridges can be increased or decreased quickly, the disk number list is not required, and the operability of the changer device can be greatly improved.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, the changer device of the present invention is flat and has an upper case and a lower case each having edges slightly thicker on three sides and a little thickness on four sides. The inner case has a rim and is cut out at a portion where the optical pickup is inserted. The middle case accommodates a disc, and the middle case has a gap formed by bonding the upper case and the lower case together. With a disk cartridge that slides inside and draws out the disk more than half,
A stocker unit for accommodating the disc cartridge, a cartridge detecting unit provided in each slot of the stocker unit for detecting the presence or absence of the disc cartridge, a disc position detecting unit, a control device, an information storage device, and a display. The slot position data is created by identifying the slot in which the disk cartridge is inserted by the disk position detection unit, and the information storage device is linked with the disk-specific registration information data and the slot number data. The slot number data is rewritten by a signal from the disc position detection unit when the disc cartridge is inserted into or removed from the slot of the stocker unit, and the disc-specific registration data, for example, song titles are arranged and displayed on the display. Then click on it with the mouse By the operation method of the following effects. (1) The disk list becomes unnecessary, and unlike the conventional changer device, there is no need to pay attention to the disk number list and the disk storage position of the stocker when storing the disk cartridge. (2) Even if a disc is newly added by purchasing a new song, or is no longer needed and is discarded, and the disc is replaced, it is possible to quickly respond without rewriting the disc list. (3) Even if the number of discs has increased significantly and you are having trouble organizing, you can immediately change the organizing method by song name, singer name, genre, release year, reverse playback, usage count, etc. You can select an organizing method that is easy to do.

Further, the disk cartridge of the present invention is
It consists of an upper case and a lower case, and a middle case in which four sides have slightly thick edges and the part where the optical pickup is inserted is cut out, and the optical disk is stored in the middle case, and the middle case is the upper case and the lower case. The structure of the changer device is such that it slides in the gap created by adhering to the optical disk and pulls out more than half of the optical disk. Also, the mechanism part of the changer device stores a plurality of cartridges with the drawer of the middle case in the stocker part. When the disc cartridge is stored in the stocker part, the playback device that consists of the device that pulls out the middle case, the disc spindle motor, and the optical pickup has a structure that allows the inner space where the cartridges are lined up to move in the direction in which the cartridges line up. You can simply store it in the slot of the stocker regardless of the storage location. Further, according to this configuration, since the spine cover of the disc cartridge can be seen, the contents can be directly grasped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram of a changer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a changer device mechanism portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing recorded information contents of an information storage device of a changer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation screen on a display in the changer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a disc cartridge used in the changer device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a cartridge detecting means according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cartridge detecting means of the present invention.

9 is a perspective view showing an example of a disk cartridge when the cartridge detecting means of FIG. 8 is used.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a disc holding mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the disk holding mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the disk holding mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a conventional changer device.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of a method for operating a conventional changer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Changer device mechanism part 2 Disk detection part 3 Information storage device 4 Display circuit 5 Display 6 Control circuit 7 Mouse 11 Disk cartridge 12 Stocker part 13 Cartridge detection means 14 Optical recording / reproducing apparatus

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Takeuchi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A flat plate-shaped upper case and a lower case having slightly thick edges on three sides and a part having an edge having a little thickness on four sides into which an optical pickup is inserted are cut out. A disk cartridge comprising a case and a disk housed in the middle case, the middle case being slid in a gap formed by bonding the upper case and the lower case together to pull out the disk more than half. 2. A flat plate-shaped upper case and a lower case having slightly thick edges on three sides and a part having an edge having a little thickness on four sides into which an optical pickup is inserted are cut out. And a disk cartridge housed in the middle case, and the middle case slides in a gap formed by bonding the upper case and the lower case together to pull out the disk more than half for use. A stocker section for storing the disk cartridge, cartridge detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a disk cartridge provided in each slot of the stocker section, a disk position detection section, a control device, an information storage device, and a display. And a slot number data for identifying the slot in which the disc cartridge is inserted by the disc position detecting section. The information is stored by linking the registration information data unique to the disc and the slot number data to the information storage device, and the slot is generated by the signal from the disc position detection unit when the disc cartridge is inserted into or removed from the slot of the stocker unit. A changer device characterized by rewriting number data. 3. The changer device according to claim 2, wherein the disk cartridge detecting means provided in each slot of the stocker portion are arranged in an array with mechanical contact switches. 4. A disk cartridge, wherein a light reflecting plate or a magnetic material is formed on a part of an end surface parallel to the direction in which the inner case is pulled out, and the disk cartridge detecting means provided in each slot of the stocker portion is provided with a reflective photo sensor or The changer device according to claim 2, wherein the changer devices are arranged in an array with magnetic sensors. 5. A cartridge holding plate which covers the width of a stocker portion and is vertically slidable or rotatable, and a power switch, and when the cartridge holding plate is moved to a position where a cartridge can be taken out. 3. The changer device according to claim 2, wherein the power switch is turned on and the power switch is turned off when the power switch is moved to a position where the power switch cannot be taken out. 6. The registration information data peculiar to the disc is composed of identification data and content data, and the identification data is information data such as disc type information, CD TOC information, disc part number, manufacturer name, release year, etc. The content data is information data such as title name, song name, singer name, conductor name, performer name, genre, game name, data name, jacket image, etc. 3. The changer device according to claim 2, wherein when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge and the cartridge is inserted into the slot, the registration information data is read and recorded together with the slot number data in the information storage device in the changer device. 7. The changer device according to claim 2, wherein data of the number of times of reproduction and the time of reproduction are created, and are recorded and rewritten in the information storage device in association with the slot number data and the disc specific information data. 8. A mouse is provided, and titles, song titles, singer names, genres, year of release, time of use, frequency of use, etc., which are displayed on the display are searched, and a predetermined portion of the sorted operation screen is clicked with the mouse. The changer device according to claim 2, wherein desired music selection is performed.