JPH09212981A - Disk housing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent unexpected detachment of a disk from a stocker. SOLUTION: A hold lever 30a is energized by a coil spring 52 so as to press and hold a disk housed in a stocker 13 at a predetermined position. A lock lever 41 is engaged with the hold lever 30a to lock the hold lever 30a, thereby preventing unexpected detachment of the disk 1 even when a shock acts on the device. When the disk 1 is to be led out from the stocker 13, a slide lever moves to cause an unlocking protrusion to contact the lock lever 41 so as to turn the lock lever 41. Thus, the hold lever 30a is unlocked and made turnable so that the disk 1 may be led out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk storage device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a disc storage device capable of preventing the stored disc from being accidentally dropped by providing a lock means for a hold lever that holds the disc stored in the disc storage means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general disc storage device currently on the market, for example, a disc autochanger having a disc reproducing function is shown in FIG. It is composed of a disc tray 3 for loading and unloading, a stocker 4 for storing a plurality of discs 1 in the apparatus main body, a carriage 5 for transferring the discs 1 to and from the stocker 4 or the disc tray 3. Is normal.

The carriage 5 side of the stocker 4 is opened to form a passage hole 4a for loading / unloading the disk 1. As shown in FIG. 14, in the stocker 4, the inner sides of both side surfaces of the disk at the disk storage position are curved along the outer periphery of the disk 1, and the inner wall surface thereof has the disk 1
The shelves 7, 7 for mounting the are projected with a constant width. Each of the shelves 7, 7 is provided with a leaf spring 8, 8 which comes into contact with both edges of the disc 1 to store and hold the disc 1 at a predetermined position.

When the disc 1 is stored in the conventional disc autochanger, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the disc tray 3 is opened, the disc 1 is placed (shown by a chain line), and the disc tray 3 is closed. The disk 1 is delivered to the carriage 5, is conveyed to a predetermined height of the stocker 4 by the carriage 5, and is inserted into the stocker 4 through the passage hole 4a. Disk 1 at this time
Both edge portions of the disk 1 are pressed by the leaf springs 8 and 8, and the disk 1
Is pressed toward the inner side of the stocker 4 and its position is regulated.

When reproducing the disk 1 stored in the stocker 4, the disk 1 is pulled out through the passage hole 4a and placed on the carriage 5. The disc 1 is conveyed to the height of the reproducing section 2 by the carriage 5, and the disc 1 is reproduced here.

[0006]

By the way, in the conventional disc autochanger described above, the position of the disc 1 stored in the stocker 4 is restricted only by the urging force of the leaf springs 8 as shown in FIG. When a strong shock is applied to the device, the disc 1 may come out against the urging force of the leaf springs 8, 8, and at that time, the disc 1 will fall out from the passage hole 4a of the stocker 4 into the device.

It is not easy to take out the disc 1 that has fallen inside the apparatus from the outside, and the carriage 5
There is a problem that the disk is pinched when the internal mechanism such as the above operates and causes a failure.

Further, since the leaf springs 8 and 8 are formed of metal or plastic or the like, the leaf springs 8 and 8 are fatigued due to long-term use, the biasing force is weakened, and the disc 1 is likely to fall off. was there.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and proposes a disk storage device capable of reliably preventing the disks stored in the stocker from falling off.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a disk storage device having disk storage means and disk transfer means for loading and unloading the disk into and from the disk storage means. A rotatable hold lever for holding the disc housed in the means at a predetermined position, a rotatable lock means for engaging and locking the hold lever when the disc is housed in the disc housing means, It is characterized in that it is provided with a lock releasing means for releasing the locked state by rotating the lock means at the time of taking in and out.

When the disc is stored in the disc storing means, the hold lever holds the disc at a predetermined position, and the locking means engages with the hold lever to restrict the movement of the hold lever. In this state, the disc will not fall out of the stocker unless the lock is released. When the stored disc is pulled out, the locked state is released by the lock releasing means and the hold lever becomes movable, so that the disc can be taken out.

Further, by providing the lock releasing means in the disc pushing means for pushing the disc,
The push-out operation of the disc and the release of the locked state are performed in conjunction with each other, the lock is released only when the disc is taken in and out, and the stored disc is securely prevented from falling.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a disk storage device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the construction of a disc autochanger 10 which is an embodiment of a disc storage device according to the present invention. In this disc autochanger 10, for example, C
A stocker (disc storage means) 13 for storing a large number of discs 1 such as D vertically is arranged on the front panel 19 side in a cabinet 11 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A carriage (disc transfer means) 14 for storing and ejecting the disc 1 in and from the stocker 13 is arranged on the rear side of the cabinet 11 and is configured to be vertically movable by an appropriate drive means (not shown). Has been done. Below the stocker 13, a disc tray 15 for placing the disc 1 in and out of the cabinet 11 is arranged. A reproducing unit 16 is disposed behind the disc tray 15 and at a position facing the back surface of the carriage 14.

The stocker 13 is divided into two parts as shown in FIG. Disk 1 in this stocker 13
The side plate portions 21 and 21 are erected so as to face each other with the pinch in between. A part of the side plate portions 21 and 21 has a recess 21 that serves as a stopper for hold levers 30a and 30b, which will be described later.
a and 21a are recessed. In addition, one side plate portion 21
A hole 29 is formed in (on the upper side plate portion 21 in FIG. 2) for inserting a protrusion 45 of a lock lever 41 described later.

Restricting plate parts 22 and 22 for restricting the position of the disk 1 are erected inside the both side plate parts 21 and 21 and at positions near the front panel 19. The inner sides (front panel 19 side) of the regulation plate portions 22, 22 are formed so as to curve along the outer periphery of the disc 1.

On the carriage 14 (FIG. 1) side inside both side plate portions 21 and 21, linear guide plate portions 24, 24 for guiding the disk 1 to be taken in and out are erected. The guide plate portions 24, 24 are arranged so as to face each other at an interval substantially equal to the diameter of the disc 1. The end portions of the guide plate portions 24, 24 on the carriage 14 side form a passage hole (opening portion) 26 having a diameter substantially equal to that of the disk 1. The disc 1 is taken in and out through the passage hole 26.

The horizontal plate portions 25, 25 are the side plate portions 21,
It is a plate-like body that is arranged horizontally for connecting the 21, the regulation plate portions 22, 22 and the guide plate portions 24, 24. Horizontal plate part 2
The inner edge portions of 5, 25 are the regulation plate portions 22, 22 and the guide plate portion 2.
The shelves (flange) 23, 23 projecting in a strip shape with a constant width along the inner wall surfaces of the shelves 4, 24 support a part of both outer peripheral portions of the disk 1 housed by the shelves 23, 23. The horizontal plate portions 25, 25 and the shelves 23, 23 are provided by the number of disks 1 that can be stored in the stocker 13, and each disk storage portion 1 as a space for storing the disks 1
8 (FIG. 1).

Restriction plate portions 22, 22 and guide plate portions 24, 24
Hold levers 30a and 30b for urging the disc 1 inward are rotatably attached between the positions. Tip contact portions 32 of the hold levers 30a and 30b,
Rectangular groove portions 28, 28 are provided in the horizontal plate portions 25, 25 so as not to hinder the rotation of 32.

FIG. 3 is a view showing details of the upper hold lever 30a in the state where the disc 1 of FIG. 2 is stored.
In the hold lever 30a, the tip end of the long plate-shaped arm portion 31 contacts the outer peripheral portion of the disc 1 described above.
Is formed, and the rear end portion 31a of the arm portion 31 is shaped like a sword. The side surface of the contact portion 32 in contact with the outer periphery of the disk 1 is formed to be gently curved. A groove 34 is provided on the side surface of the sword-shaped rear end 31a on the disk 1 side. on the other hand,
The horizontal plate portion 25 is provided with a shaft portion 35 serving as a fulcrum of rotation,
The groove 34 of the arm 31 is inserted into the shaft 35, and the hold lever 30a is rotatably attached.

A shaft 51 is erected between the hold lever 30a and the side plate 21, and a coil spring 52 is wound around the shaft 51. One end of the coil spring 52 is in contact with the side surface of the arm portion 31 of the hold lever 30a, and always urges the hold lever 30a clockwise. When the biased hold lever 30a attempts to rotate excessively clockwise beyond a predetermined range, the edge portion of the sword-shaped rear end portion 31a comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess 21a and is restricted from further rotation.

A cylindrical stopper 38 is provided in a protruding manner between the sword-shaped rear end portion 31a of the arm portion 31 and the disc 1. This stopper 38 is for abutting against the edge of the sword-shaped rear end 31a when the hold lever 30a rotates counterclockwise so as not to rotate beyond a predetermined range.

A locked portion 33 corresponding to a lock lever 41, which will be described later, is formed in a triangular shape in plan view on the outer surface of the center of the hold lever 30a. An engaging step portion 33a with which the protrusion 42 of the lock lever 41 engages is formed by cutting out a part of the outer edge side of the locked portion 33, and the engaging step portion 33a gradually extends from the engaging step portion 33a toward the tip of the hold lever 30a. An inclined portion 33b that inclines to is formed. The inclined portion 33b serves as a relief for preventing the lock portion 42 of the lock lever 41 from coming into contact with each other when the engagement is released.

A lock lever 41, which is a locking means for the hold lever 30a, is for locking the hold lever 30a, and is arranged between the hold lever 30a and the side plate portion 21. The lever body 44 of the lock lever 41 is provided with a shaft hole 43, in which the horizontal plate 25
The lock lever 41 is rotatably attached by inserting the shaft portion 46 provided in the. A coil spring 47 is wound around the shaft portion 46, and one end of the coil spring 47 is engaged with the lever body 44 to lock the lock lever 4
1 is always urged clockwise.

The lever body 44 has a hold lever 30a.
The lock portion 42 protruding to the side and the protrusion 45 protruding to the side plate portion 21 side are provided. When the disc 1 is stored, the lock portion 42 is engaged with the engagement step portion 33a of the locked portion 33 of the hold lever 30a. Also, the protrusion 4
Reference numeral 5 projects to the outside of the side plate portion 21 through the hole 29 of the side plate portion 21.

On the other hand, the lower hold lever 3 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, 0b is obtained by omitting the lock lever 41 and the locked portion 33 from the structure of the hold lever 30a described above. Therefore, the hold lever 30b
Is always biased counterclockwise by the coil spring 49.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hold lever 30a,
The contact portions 32, 32 of 30b are displaced to the carriage 14 side by an appropriate distance from the center of the housed disk 1.
That is, a portion shorter than the diameter of the disk 1 (a portion on the right side of a vertical line passing through the center) is urged from both sides toward the inner side (front panel 19 side). Therefore, the discs 1 are pressed to the side where the distance between the regulation plate portions 22, 22 is narrowed to regulate their positions, and the centers of all the discs 1 are arranged so as to coincide with each other on the X axis (FIG. 1).

Next, the carriage 14 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. As shown in the schematic configuration of the carriage 14 in FIG. 5, an upper case 76 and a lower case 77 are connected by screws or the like, and between them, various kinds of materials for moving the carriage 14 up and down and for loading and unloading the disc 1 are provided. Parts (not shown) are arranged.

The right rear portion of the upper case 76 and the lower case 77 in the figure has a semicircular shape, and the stocker 13 (FIG. 1) is provided in the front half.
A rectangular stocker passage port 81 is provided to allow the passage. A disc inlet / outlet 77B for exchanging the disc 1 with the disc tray 15 (FIG. 1) or each disc storage portion 18 (FIG. 1) of the stocker 13 is opened on the inner wall surface on the rear side of the stocker passage port 81. It

As shown in FIG. 6, while the stocker 13 is inserted through the stocker passage opening 81 of the carriage 14, the carriage 14 is vertically movable by an appropriate driving means (not shown). Reinforcing ribs 98 are provided on the outer periphery of the upper case 76, and the upper surface of the upper case 76 has a disc 1 for the stocker 13 or the disc tray 15.
Disc chuck part 9 that can move forward and backward to exchange
9 is attached. The disc chuck portion 99 includes two disc-shaped chucking pads 135 (FIG. 7) for holding the disc 1 and the movable plate 101 arranged on the upper case 76.

The moving plate 101 is fixed to the timing belt 102. The timing belt 102 is arranged along the guide groove 105 of the upper case 76, and the guide groove 1
It is wound around pulleys 143 and 144 near both ends of 05, whereby the disc chuck portion 99 moves along the guide groove 105.

As shown in FIG. 7, a gear 145 is integrally formed with the rear pulley 144, and a gear 146 is meshed with the gear 145. On the other hand, a clutch 147 is attached to the lower case 77, and a first gear 148 and a second gear 149 are provided on the upper surface side thereof. The second gear 149 meshes with the gear 146 described above. As a result, the rotational force of the motor 150 is transmitted to the clutch 147 via the belt 151, and this rotational force is switched in the clutch 147,
It is transmitted to either the first gear 148 or the second gear 149. When moving the disc chuck 99, the rotational force is transmitted to the second gear 149.

The chucking pad 135 is attached to the lower surface side of the moving plate 101 and is attached to the upper and lower cases 76, 7.
It is placed between 7. The chucking pad 135 is opened when the disc chuck portion 99 is located at the front end or the rear end of the guide groove 105, and the chucking pad 135 is closed while the disc chuck portion 99 is moving in the guide groove 105. ing. This is because the disc 1 is held while the disc 1 is being conveyed, and the disc 1 is released at the pushing and conveying end position 12b and the storage position 12c.

On the other hand, the first gear 148 of the clutch 147 meshes with the outer gear 153 integrally formed with the cam 152. As shown in FIG. 8, the cam 152 is provided with a cam groove 154 on its upper surface. The cam groove 154 has an oval shape with a part depressed, and a cam follower 156 provided at the rear end of the slide lever 155 is inserted therein.

As shown in FIG. 7, the slide lever 155, which is a disc pushing means, is formed in an elongated shape and is arranged on the upper surface of the upper case 76 along the right end portion of the carriage 14. The slide lever 155 is attached so as to be slidable back and forth by an appropriate guide means (not shown). Therefore, when the cam 152 rotates, the cam follower 156 is moved back and forth by the cam groove 154, which causes the slide lever 155 to slide back and forth.

On the side surface of the slide lever 155, a lock releasing projection (lock releasing means) 162 is formed so as to project toward the stocker passage opening 81 side. This is for releasing the locked state by rotating the lock lever 41 described above when the slide lever 155 slides back and forth.

At the tip of the slide lever 155, there is provided a bending portion 157 that is bent inward. A rotary lever 159 for pushing out the disk 1 housed at the tip of the bending portion 157 is rotatably attached by a pin 161. On the other hand, a mounting plate portion 158 that horizontally projects inside the stocker passage opening 81 is provided.
The central portion of the rotary lever 159 is rotatably supported by the central shaft 160 provided on the shaft 8.

The operation when the disc 1 is reproduced by the disc autochanger 10 configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a large number of discs 1 are stored in the stocker 13. A state in which the housed disc 1 is pressed by the hold levers 30a and 30b and its position is regulated, and the lock portion 42 of the lock lever 41 is engaged with the engagement step portion 33a of the hold lever 30a to lock the hold lever 30a. Has become. Therefore, even if a strong shock is applied to the device, the disc 1 is reliably prevented from being accidentally dropped.

When the user designates the disc 1 to be reproduced, the carriage 14 is moved to the height of the disc storage portion 18 in which the designated disc 1 is stored.
Subsequently, the motor 150 shown in FIG. 7 is rotationally driven, the rotational force is transmitted to the second gear 149, the pulley 144 is rotated, and the disc chuck portion 99 moves to the stocker 13 side along the guide groove 105. When the disc chuck 99 reaches the front end of the guide groove 105, the chucking pad 135 is opened. Here, the rotational force of the motor 150 is switched in the clutch 147 to rotate the cam 152, and the slide lever 155 follows the cam groove 154.
Moves forward.

When the slide lever 155 slides forward, as shown in FIG. 9, the lock release projection 162 comes into contact with the projection 45 of the lock lever 41, and the lock lever 41 is moved against the biasing force of the coil spring 47. Rotate counterclockwise. As a result, the lock portion 42 of the lock lever 41 is disengaged from the engagement step portion 33a of the hold lever 30a and the lock is released.

At the same time, the rotary lever 159 moves the central shaft 1
Rotate counterclockwise about 60. At this time, since the tip of the rotary lever 159 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the disk 1 in the stocker 13, the disk 1 is pushed backward a predetermined distance from the storage position. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the disc 1 is moved from the storage position 12a to the push-out position 12b, and the outer peripheral portion of the disc 1 is inserted between the two chucking pads 135.

Here, the rotational direction of the motor 150 is reversed and the rotational force is transmitted to both the first gear 148 and the second gear 149 via the clutch 147. As a result, the chucking pad 135 is closed and the disc chuck portion 99 gripped by the disc 1 starts retreating, and the slide lever 155 starts sliding backward.

When the disc 1 is pulled out as shown in FIG. 10, the hold lever 30a is unlocked, so that the outer periphery of the disc 1 is held by the hold lever 30a.
By contacting a and pressing it, the coil spring 5
The hold lever 30a is rotated counterclockwise against the biasing force of 2.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, the other hold lever 30b is only biased by the coil spring 49, so that the hold lever 30b contacting the outer peripheral portion of the disk 1 to be pulled out is biased by the coil spring 49. Rotate clockwise against. As a result, the disk 1 passes between the hold levers 30a and 30b and is conveyed to the storage position 12c of the carriage 14 shown in FIG.

After the disk 1 is pulled out, as shown in FIG. 12, the hold lever 30a is rotated clockwise by the urging force of the coil spring 52 to return to the original position.
Further, when the cam 152 (FIG. 7) makes one rotation, the slide lever 155 moves backward and returns to the original position. Therefore, the unlocking protrusion 162 of the slide lever 155 separates from the protrusion 45 of the lock lever 41, and the lock lever 41 rotates clockwise due to the biasing force of the coil spring 47.

Here, the lock portion 42 of the lock lever 41 is guided by the inclined portion 33b of the hold lever 30a and re-engages with the engagement step portion 33a. As a result, the hold lever 30a is locked again. On the other hand, although not shown, the other hold lever 30b (FIG. 11) also returns to its original position by the biasing force of the coil spring 49 (FIG. 11).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 14 accommodating the disk 1 descends to the height of the reproducing section 16. Here, the disc 1 is set on the turntable 169 and driven to rotate, and reproduction is performed by the optical pickup 170.

When the disk 1 is stored in the stocker 13, the operation is performed in the reverse order. That is,
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the slide lever 155 moves, the lock release protrusion 162 comes into contact with the lock lever 41 to rotate the lock protrusion 41, and the hold lever 30 moves.
The locked state of a is released. Then, the disc 1 is inserted into the stocker 13, and the hold levers 30a, 30
It comes into contact with b and rotates outward. When the disc 1 is inserted into the stocker 13 to some extent, the returning force of the hold levers 30a and 30b pushes the disc 1 toward the inner side of the stocker 13 to be stored at a predetermined position. After that, the slide lever 155 returns to the original position, so that the lock lever 41 returns to the original position and locks the hold lever 30a again.

Disc autochanger 1 according to the present invention
In the case of 0, means for locking at least one of the hold levers 30a for holding the disc 1 in the stocker 13 is provided, so that the disc 1 can be reliably prevented from being accidentally detached even when a shock or the like is given. . Further, even if the biasing force of the coil spring 52 for biasing the hold lever 30a is weakened due to long-term use, the hold lever 30a is locked when the disc 1 is stored, so that the disc 1 is accidentally dropped. To be prevented.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, the case where one hold lever 30a, 30b and one lock lever 41 are provided for one disk 1 has been described, but a plurality (for example, 10) are provided. One lock lever 41 may be provided for the hold lever 30a. In this case, the lock of the other hold lever 30a is released when one disk 1 is pulled out. But,
The lock is released for a very short time, and the hold levers 30a and 30b biased by the coil springs 52 and 49 hold the other disc 1 at a predetermined position even during this period. It is prevented from falling off.

Further, for each of the plurality of disks 1 (for example, 1
Hold lever 30a, every 0 sheets or every 100 sheets
One 30b and one lock lever 41 may be provided. In this case, when the one disc 1 is pulled out, the position regulation of the other discs 1 is also released, but since the lock is released for a very short time, the problem such as the disc 1 falling off does not occur.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the disk storage device having the disk storage means and the disk transport means for loading / unloading the disk into / from the disk storage means, the disk stored in the disk storage means is provided. A rotatable hold lever which holds the disc at a predetermined position, and a rotatable lock means which engages with and locks the hold lever when the disc is stored in the disc storage means,
And a lock releasing means for releasing the locked state by rotating the lock means when the disk is taken in and out.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the hold lever for holding the disc housed in the disc housing means at a predetermined position is locked, the disc can be carelessly prepared even when a strong impact is applied to the device. It is prevented from falling off. Also, even if the biasing force of the spring that biases the hold lever weakens due to long-term use, the hold lever is locked when the disc is stored.
This has the effect of preventing the disc from accidentally falling off.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a disc autochanger 10 which is an embodiment of a disc storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hold lever 30a.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hold lever 30b.

5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of upper and lower cases 76, 77 of the carriage 14. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a configuration of a carriage 14.

8 is a diagram showing the shape of a cam groove 154 on the upper surface of a cam 152. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where the lock of the hold lever 30a is released.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing rotation of a hold lever 30a.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing rotation of a hold lever 30b.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state of the hold lever 30a after the disc 1 is pulled out.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional disc auto changer.

FIG. 14 is a plan sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional stocker 4.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Disc 2,16 Playback Unit 3,15 Disc Tray 4,13 Stocker 5,14 Carriage 10 Disc Autochanger 21 Side Plate 22 Control Plate 23 Shelf 24 Guide Plate 25 Water Plate 30a, 30b Hold Lever 31 Arm 32 Contact Part 33 Locked part 33a Recess 41 Lock lever 42 Lock part 45 Projection 47, 49, 52 Coil spring 76 Upper case 77 Lower case 155 Slide lever 159 Rotating lever 162 Lock release protrusion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A disk storage device having a disk storage means and a disk transport means for loading and unloading the disk with respect to the disk storage means, wherein the disk storage device holds the disk at a predetermined position. A movable hold lever, a rotatable lock means for engaging and locking the hold lever when the disc is stored in the disc storage means, and a lock means for rotating the lock means when the disc is taken in and out. A disk storage device comprising: a lock releasing means for releasing a locked state by means of: 2. A disc pushing out means for pushing out the disc stored in the disc storing means, wherein the lock releasing means releases the locked state in conjunction with the pushing out operation of the disc. The disk storage device described in 1.