JPH1011866A - Optical disk auto-changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the height of an auto-changer and to miniaturize the device by making the height of withdrawal space of a magnetic head at the time of moving a cartridge below a housing part of a 1st cartridge in a stocker. SOLUTION: At the time of playing the 1st cartridge 41, in its cartridge housing part 14 and an optical deck 8 at this time, the position of an axial line 16 is set so that their facing a stocker 3 is raised up. Then, at the time of transfer of the 1st cartridge 41, the magnetic head 13 is turned around a supporting axis 30 and upward to a position of no interference with the 1st cartridge 41, so as to be withdrawn. Now, since the withdrawal space of the magnetic head 13 at the time of transferring the cartridge is in a domain 46, and the magnetic head 13 is not projected upward from the housing part of the 1st cartridge 41 of the stocker 3, the height of the device can be suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical disk autochanger for storing a plurality of cartridges containing optical disks therein, and selecting one of the cartridges for playing or recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The prior art is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-176.
An optical disk autochanger as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 127 is known, which has a stocker for storing cartridges in a stack, and an optical deck having an optical pickup mounted behind the stocker. The optical deck is moved to a position corresponding to the cartridge to be played or recorded among the stored cartridges, and one of the stored cartridges is horizontally transferred and held on the optical deck. To play.

[0003]

However, in the configuration shown in the above conventional example, when playing the uppermost cartridge in the stocker, the optical deck moves to a position adjacent to the uppermost cartridge. The mounted magnetic head for applying a recording magnetic field retreats further above the height of the cartridge and transfers the cartridge horizontally to the optical deck.

That is, the apparatus requires a space for retracting the magnetic head above the height of the cartridge at the top of the stocker.

Conversely, when playing the lowermost cartridge in the stocker, the optical deck moves to a position adjacent to the lowermost cartridge, and at this time, the optical deck is further below the cartridge height, and the cartridge is moved horizontally to the optical deck. Transfer up.

That is, the lower end dimension of the optical deck defines the lower end dimension of the apparatus, and in particular, the height of the apparatus is determined because the spindle motor that rotationally drives the turntable is located at the lowermost end. Here, it is possible to reduce the height of the apparatus by reducing the size of the spindle motor, but a small-sized motor is expensive and is a problem.

As described above, the conventional arrangement has a problem in that the height of the mechanism is large and it is difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized optical disk autochanger which can reduce the height of the mechanism without increasing the cost and can effectively use the space in the apparatus. And

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an optical disk autochanger according to the present invention comprises: a stocker for storing a plurality of cartridges containing an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel stacked state; and a cartridge contained in the stocker. The cartridge accommodating portion which rotates about an axis parallel to one side and takes a position corresponding to each cartridge, a driving means for rotating the cartridge accommodating portion, and the cartridge installed on both sides of the cartridge on the stocker, The cartridge has a curved guide for guiding the cartridge to a cartridge storage section at a position corresponding to the cartridge, and transfer means for transferring the cartridge from the stocker to the cartridge storage section along the guide.

Accordingly, when playing the uppermost cartridge of the stocker, the cartridge accommodating portion and the optical deck are inclined with the stocker side raised, so that the magnetic head retreat area is above the uppermost cartridge of the stocker. As a result, a compact mechanism having a low height can be obtained. Also,
When playing the cartridge at the bottom of the stocker, the cartridge storage section and the optical deck are inclined with the stocker side lowered, so that the spindle motor does not protrude significantly from the cartridge storage position at the bottom of the stocker, and the device height Is obtained.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a stocker for storing a plurality of cartridges containing an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel lamination, and a cartridge provided in one side of the stocker. A cartridge accommodating portion that pivots about a parallel axis and takes a position corresponding to each cartridge, a driving unit that pivots the cartridge accommodating portion, and a cartridge installed on both sides of the cartridge on the stocker. An optical disc autochanger comprising: a curved guide for guiding the cartridge accommodating portion at a position corresponding to a cartridge; and a transfer means for transferring the cartridge from the stocker to the cartridge accommodating portion along the guide. Thereby, the height of the device can be reduced.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a mechanism arrangement of an optical disc changer, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

As shown in FIG. 3, a cartridge 1 stores an optical disk 2 therein. The stocker 3 of the device
The cartridge 1 is inserted into the insertion port 33 of the front insertion port member 4.
(See FIG. 13), and a plurality of them are stored in parallel. The stocker 3 can store five cartridges 1. The stocker 3 has the cartridge holders 5 inside the respective insertion openings 33, and the right guide wall 6 and the left guide wall 7 (FIG. 2) have five grooves on the left and right corresponding to the respective cartridge holders 5. There is. The first guide groove 20, in order from the top,
Second guide groove 21, third guide groove 22, fourth guide groove 2
3. The fifth guide groove 24. Each cartridge holder 5
Connect the left and right guide pins 38, 39, 40 to the stocker 3.
Right guide wall 6 first guide groove 2 of left guide wall 7
0, 21, 22, 23, and 24.

When the cartridge 1 is inserted into the stocker 3, it is held in the cartridge holder 5 inside. Stocker 3
The optical deck 8 arranged behind the optical pickup 9
An optical pickup driving mechanism 10 for moving the optical pickup 9 in the radial direction of the optical disk 2, a turntable 11 for mounting the optical disk 2, a spindle motor 12 for driving the turntable 11, and a magnetic field for applying a magnetic field to the optical disk 2 during recording The head 13 and the like are mounted.

The cartridge housing 1 is located above the optical deck 8.
4 is installed. Optical deck 8, cartridge storage unit 14
Are both supported by the chassis 15 at the position of the axis 16. An optical deck elevating mechanism 19 is further provided on the chassis 15. The optical deck raising / lowering mechanism 19 is a mechanism for rotating the cartridge accommodating portion 14 and the optical deck 8 by rotating around the axis 16 to a position corresponding to any of the cartridges 1 stored in the stocker 3. The detailed description of the optical deck elevating mechanism 19 is omitted, and only the drive motor 36 is shown in FIGS.

The optical deck 8 and the cartridge accommodating section 14
The optical deck lifting mechanism 1 is placed at a position corresponding to each cartridge 1 of the stocker 3 while maintaining an angle of 4.7 degrees about the axis 16.
Move by 9 The stocker 3 is installed on the base frame 17. Similarly, the chassis 15 has the base frame 1
7 are installed via four dampers 32.

A cartridge transfer mechanism 18 for transferring the cartridge 1 is disposed on the base frame 17 on the side of the stocker 3 and the chassis 15. The cartridge transfer mechanism 18 is a mechanism for transferring the cartridge 1 from the stocker 3 to the optical deck 8 and vice versa. The detailed description of the cartridge transfer mechanism 18 is omitted, and FIG. 2 shows the schematic position of the cartridge transfer mechanism 18 and its driving motor 37.
Only illustration is shown.

FIG. 1 shows a cartridge accommodating portion 14 at a position corresponding to the uppermost optical disc cartridge 1 of the stocker 3.
Indicates the state where has moved. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the cartridge accommodating portion 14 has moved to a position corresponding to the second cartridge 1 from the top of the stocker 3. FIG. 5 shows a state where the cartridge accommodating portion 14 has moved to a position corresponding to the third cartridge 1 from the top of the stocker 3. FIG. 6 shows the stocker 3
5 shows a state where the cartridge accommodating portion 14 has moved to a position corresponding to the cartridge 1 in the fourth tier from the top. FIG. 7 shows a state where the cartridge accommodating portion 14 has moved to a position corresponding to the cartridge 1 at the lowermost stage of the stocker 3 and the fifth stage from the top.

The guide grooves 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the right guide wall 6 and the left guide wall 7 of the stocker 3 are
5 in the direction of the axis 16. The first guide groove 20 and the second guide groove 21 are curved downward, the third guide groove 22 is substantially horizontal, and the fourth guide groove 23 and the fifth guide groove 24 are curved upward. 6 and FIG. 7, it is connected to the cartridge accommodating portion 14. As shown in FIG.

The first, second, third, fourth and fifth cartridges 41 are arranged in order from the top of the cartridge 1 in which the stocker 3 is stored.
42, 43, 44, and 45. First cartridge 4
When the cartridge 1 is transferred, the cartridge transfer mechanism 18 holds the cartridge holder 5 of the first cartridge 41 and transfers the cartridge holder 5 to the cartridge accommodating portion 14 along the first guide groove 20. The first cartridge 41 held by the cartridge holder 5 is placed on the optical deck 8. This operation is performed by the light deck lifting mechanism 19. In this case, the optical deck elevating mechanism 19 moves only the optical deck 8 without moving the cartridge accommodating portion 14 accommodating the first cartridge 41, and the angle formed by the cartridge accommodating portion 14 and the optical deck 8 is parallel from 4.7 degrees. The first cartridge 41 is placed on the optical deck 8 by rotating upward about the axis 16 until the first cartridge 41 is reached. A detailed description of the optical deck elevating mechanism 19 will be omitted.

The optical disk 2 in the first cartridge 41
Is placed on the turntable 11 and played or recorded. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of a recording operation on the first cartridge 41. The magnetic head 13 is lowered onto the optical disk 2 by a magnetic head lifting mechanism (not shown). Second
The same applies to the operation of playing or recording on the fifth cartridge. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of the recording operation on the second cartridge 42. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a performance operation state of the third cartridge 43. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a performance operation state of the fourth cartridge 44. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state of a recording operation on the fifth cartridge 45.

The axis 16 is located at a position extending from the center plane in the thickness direction of the third cartridge 43, which is the center of each storage section of the stocker 3. For this reason, the first cartridge 4
When the first and fifth cartridges 45 are respectively transferred, the curvatures of the curved guide grooves 20 and 24 can be made substantially the same,
The curvature of either one does not increase, and both transfer resistances can be minimized.

When the first cartridge 41 is played, the position of the axis 16 is set so that the cartridge accommodating portion 14 and the optical deck 8 at that time have a shape in which the stocker 3 side is raised. When transferring the first cartridge 41, the magnetic head 13 rotates around the support shaft 30 to a position where it does not interfere with the first cartridge 41 and retracts. The state at this time is shown in the position of FIG. Here, the retracting space of the magnetic head 13 during the transfer of the cartridge is shown in FIG.
Since the magnetic head 13 does not protrude above the storage portion of the first cartridge 41 of the stocker 3 in the area 46, the height of the apparatus can be reduced unlike the conventional example.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, in the cartridge transfer state when the lowermost cartridge is played, the axis 1
By setting the position 6, the cartridge accommodating portion 14 is inclined with the stocker 3 side lowered. Similarly, the optical deck 8 is also at a position where the stocker 3 side is lowered and inclined.

Here, since the vertical movement of the spindle motor 12 mounted on the optical deck 8 is performed by the rotation operation about the axis 16 of the optical deck 8, the vertical movement is smaller than the vertical movement while maintaining the horizontal state. The amount of projection downward is small, so that the height of the apparatus can be suppressed.

Further, in the lower space of the inclined optical deck 8, a part of the optical deck elevating mechanism 19 and the drive motor 36 are provided.
And its speed reduction mechanism, etc., and the cartridge transfer mechanism 18
Can be installed, which leads to effective use of the space in the apparatus and the height of the apparatus can be reduced.

The axis 16 which is the center axis of rotation is coaxial with the cartridge accommodating section 14 and the optical deck 8 and is located at the same position, so that the optical deck 8 and the cartridge accommodating section 14 are separately arranged in order with respect to the chassis 15. Can be assembled, and assemblability is improved.

If the rotation axis positions of the cartridge accommodating portion 14 and the optical deck 8 are different from each other, the optical deck 8 is rotatably assembled to the cartridge accommodating portion 14 and then the cartridge of the unstable combination is formed. The shaft of the housing 14 must be assembled at the position of the rotation axis of the chassis 15, which is difficult to assemble. In addition, when the rotation axis positions of the cartridge accommodating portion 14 and the optical deck 8 are set at different positions on the chassis 15, the cartridge accommodating portion and the optical deck are parallel at only one location, and each of the plurality of cartridges The corresponding position cannot be taken.

As shown in FIG. 13, the insertion port member 4 of the stocker 3 has five insertion ports 33, and guides the insertion of the cartridge 1 into the stocker 3. The insertion port member 4 is conductive and is formed of a resin having conductivity. As shown in FIG. 13, the insertion port member 4 forms a shield box together with the shield case 34, and the optical deck 8 and its drive circuit 35
Has the effect of shielding electromagnetic wave noise from inside the device when recording on the optical disk 2, mainly electromagnetic wave noise generated from the drive circuit of the magnetic head 13.

Since the insertion member 4 is provided with conductivity in the insertion member 4 and is also located in the space 50 formed between the cartridges to be accommodated, each opening may be slightly larger than the cartridge size. When not covered, the maximum electromagnetic wave noise shielding performance can be obtained. The cartridge can be attached and detached even during operation such as during performance, and is easy to use, as compared with the case where all of the cartridge insertion openings 33 and 5 are covered with the shield member.
Since the insertion port member 4 is also used as a cartridge insertion guide and an electromagnetic wave shielding member, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced by combining the cartridge insertion guide with a resin and the shielding member with a conductive material (for example, a metal plate).

Finally, according to the present invention, in the case of an apparatus exclusively for reproduction, the optical deck is fixed at the lowest level while being inclined, and the cartridge accommodating portion is rotated and moved, so that each of the accommodated cartridges is moved. The configuration in which the sheet is conveyed from the stocker to the fixed optical deck is also useful for reducing the height and size of the apparatus.

[0032]

As described above, according to the optical disk autochanger of the present invention, the space for retracting the magnetic head 13 during the transfer of the cartridge can be set to a height equal to or less than the storage portion of the first cartridge 41 of the stocker 3, so that the apparatus height can be reduced. The size can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

Further, the spindle motor 12 mounted on the optical deck 8 has a smaller amount of downward projection than the horizontal installation because the optical deck 8 is inclined, so that the apparatus height can be reduced. Similarly, by using the lower space of the inclined optical deck 8, a part of the optical deck raising / lowering mechanism 19, mainly a drive motor 36 and its reduction mechanism, and a drive motor 37 of the cartridge transfer mechanism 18 can be installed. The space can be effectively used and the height of the device can be reduced.

Also, since the axis 16 of the cartridge accommodating portion is arranged at a position where the center of the stocker 3 is extended, curved guide grooves 20, 24 for transferring the first cartridge 41 and the fifth cartridge 45, respectively. Can be made substantially the same, the curvature of either one does not become large, and both transfer resistances can be minimized.

Also, since the axis 16 which is the center axis of rotation is coaxial and in the same position in the cartridge housing 14 and the optical deck 8, the optical deck 8 and the cartridge housing 14 are separately assembled to the chassis 15 in this order. It is possible,
The assemblability is improved.

Also, since the insertion port member 4 of the stocker 3 is provided with conductivity to form a shield box together with the shield case 34, electromagnetic noise from inside the apparatus during recording, mainly generated from the drive circuit of the magnetic head 13 Electromagnetic noise can be reduced. Each opening of the insertion port member 4 may be slightly larger than the cartridge size, and when the cartridge insertion port is not covered, the maximum electromagnetic wave noise shielding performance can be obtained. The cartridge can be attached and detached even during operation such as during performance, making it easy to use. Since the cartridge is also used as the cartridge insertion guide and the electromagnetic wave shielding member, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a mechanism arrangement of an optical disk autochanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 shows a cartridge 1 and an optical disk.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a mechanism arrangement of an optical disc autochanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a mechanism arrangement of the optical disk autochanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a mechanism arrangement of the optical disk autochanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a mechanism arrangement of an optical disk autochanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a recording operation state of a first cartridge of the optical disk autochanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of a recording operation on the second cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a performance operation state of the third cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a performance operation state of the fourth cartridge.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state of a recording operation on the fifth cartridge.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an insertion member and a shielding case of the cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cartridge 2 Optical disk 3 Stocker 4 Insertion member 5 Cartridge holder 6 Right guide wall 7 Left guide wall 8 Optical deck 9 Optical pickup 10 Optical pickup drive mechanism 11 Turntable 12 Spindle motor 13 Magnetic head 14 Cartridge accommodating part 15 Chassis 16 Axis 17 Base frame 18 Cartridge transfer mechanism 19 Optical deck elevating mechanism 20 First guide groove 21 Second guide groove 22 Third guide groove 23 Fourth guide groove 24 Fifth guide groove 30 Support shaft 32 Damper 33 Insertion opening 34 Shielding case 35 Optical deck Drive circuit 36 Optical deck lifting / lowering mechanism drive motor 37 Cartridge transfer mechanism drive motor 38 Guide pin 39 Guide pin 40 Guide pin 41 First cartridge 42 Second cartridge 43 Third cartridge 4 Fourth cartridge 45 fifth cartridge

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A stocker for storing a plurality of cartridges containing an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel and stacked manner, and a plurality of cartridges contained in the stocker are rotated around an axis parallel to one side of the cartridge to correspond to each cartridge. And a driving means for rotating the cartridge storage unit, and guide the cartridge to the cartridge storage unit which is provided on both sides of the cartridge on the stocker and which takes a position corresponding to the cartridge. An optical disc autochanger having a curved guide that moves and a transfer unit that transfers a cartridge from the stocker to the cartridge accommodating portion along the guide. 2. A stocker for accommodating a plurality of cartridges accommodating an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel stacked state, and an extension of a plane parallel to one side of the cartridge accommodated in the stocker and substantially dividing the stocker into two. A cartridge accommodating portion that pivots around a certain axis and takes a position corresponding to each cartridge, a driving unit that pivots the cartridge accommodating portion, and a cartridge that is installed on both sides of the cartridge on the stocker and that attaches the cartridge to the cartridge. An optical disc autochanger comprising: a curved guide for guiding the cartridge accommodating portion at a position corresponding to the above; and transfer means for transferring a cartridge from the stocker to the cartridge accommodating portion along the guide. 3. A cartridge having a plurality of cartridges accommodating an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel stacked state, and a cartridge having a rotation axis for rotating to take a position corresponding to the cartridge contained in the stocker. A container, and an optical deck mounted with an optical pickup, a turntable, and the like, which is rotatably supported with respect to the cartridge container at the same rotation axis as the cartridge container,
An optical disc autochanger for rotating the optical deck in the direction of the cartridge accommodating portion to chuck the cartridge transferred onto the cartridge accommodating portion on the optical deck. 4. A stocker for accommodating a plurality of cartridges containing an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel stacked state, and a plurality of cartridges accommodated in the stocker are rotated around an axis parallel to one side of the cartridge to correspond to each cartridge. An optical deck, which is rotatably supported with respect to the cartridge accommodating portion and has an optical pickup, a magnetic head for applying a recording magnetic field, a turntable, and the like, the cartridge accommodating portion and the light Drive means for rotating the deck, curved guides installed on both sides of the cartridge on the stocker for guiding the cartridge to the cartridge accommodating portion at a position corresponding to the cartridge, and Transfer means for transferring the cartridge from the stocker to the cartridge storage section. An optical disc autochanger wherein the uppermost guide is curved downward, and the upper portion of the cartridge accommodating portion is used as a retreat area for a recording magnetic field applying magnetic head when a cartridge is transferred. 5. A stocker for accommodating a plurality of cartridges containing an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel and stacked manner, and a plurality of cartridges accommodated in said stocker are rotated around an axis parallel to one side of each cartridge to correspond to each cartridge. Cartridge receiving section, a driving means for rotating the cartridge storing section, an optical pickup on which an optical pickup, a turntable and the like are mounted, and a cartridge installed on both sides of the cartridge on the stocker. A curved guide that guides the cartridge accommodating portion at a position corresponding to the above, and transfer means for transferring the cartridge from the stocker to the cartridge accommodating portion along the guide. When playing the bottom cartridge, the cartridge An optical disc autochanger in which a container and the optical deck are inclined with the stocker side lowered, and a drive motor of the cartridge transfer means is installed below the inclined optical deck. 6. A stocker for accommodating a plurality of cartridges accommodating an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel and stacked manner, and a plurality of cartridges accommodated in the stocker are rotated around an axis parallel to one side of the cartridge to correspond to each cartridge. Cartridge receiving section, a driving means for rotating the cartridge storing section, an optical pickup on which an optical pickup, a turntable and the like are mounted, and a cartridge installed on both sides of the cartridge on the stocker. A curved guide that guides the cartridge accommodating portion at a position corresponding to the above, and transfer means for transferring the cartridge from the stocker to the cartridge accommodating portion along the guide. When playing the bottom cartridge, the cartridge An optical disc autochanger in which a container portion and the optical deck are inclined with the stocker side lowered, and a part of the driving means for rotating the cartridge accommodating portion is provided below the inclined optical deck. 7. A stocker for accommodating a plurality of cartridges accommodating an optical disk therein in a substantially parallel stacked manner, an optical deck on which an optical pickup, a turntable and the like are mounted, and
Transport means for selecting one cartridge and transporting the cartridge to the optical deck, wherein the stocker is provided with a cartridge insertion member having an opening corresponding to each of a plurality of stored cartridges, wherein the cartridge insertion member is An optical disc autochanger made of a conductive material and used as a part of an electromagnetic wave shielding case.