JPH10188431A - Disk changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly and easily perform the loading and unloading operations of disk and to enable a disk changer to be used for on-vehicle by miniaturization of the device, by transporting the disk inserted to a slit-stated disk port on a 1st transporting route in the extended direction of this insertion to attain the stock position and after that, transporting it on a 2nd transporting route having an angle against the 1st route to mount on a rotation operating mechanism. SOLUTION: A disk transporting mechanism provided with an upper, medium and lower stages is disposed corresponding to the disk ports 5, 6, 7. The inserted recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c are moved along the extended direction of insertion by 1st rollers 11, 12, 13, etc., perpendicular to the 1st transporting route to attain the stock position. Next, the disk is moved on the 2nd transporting route which is arranged with 2nd rollers 17, 18, 19 while taking the angle of 45-60 deg. against the 1st route, and mounted on the rotation operating mechanism corresponding to the transporting mechanism provided with the upper, medium and lower stages.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a disk changer which stores a plurality of recording disks and selectively reproduces information signals from these recording disks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a disc changer in which a plurality of recording disks are housed in an outer casing and information signals are selectively reproduced from these recording disks. Also,
With respect to such a disc changer, a so-called in-vehicle disc changer has been proposed in which the device configuration is reduced in size and can be installed in the cabin of an automobile (passenger car). In such a vehicle-mounted disc changer, an optical disc having a diameter of about 120 mm, on which music information is mainly recorded, is used as a recording disc.

[0003] Such a disc changer includes a stocker section for holding a plurality of recording discs in an outer casing,
A first transport mechanism (eject mechanism) for transporting the recording disk from the stocker portion to the outside of the outer housing; a rotating operation mechanism for mounting the recording disk and rotating the recording disk; A second transport mechanism (loading mechanism) for selectively transporting one of the held recording disks to be mounted on a rotary operating mechanism, and a pickup device for reading an information signal from the recording disk rotated by the rotary operating mechanism And is configured.

As such a disc changer, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, a plurality of recording discs to be housed in an outer housing are firstly loaded into a magazine (storage box) for housing and holding these recording discs. After loading
A magazine adopting a configuration in which the magazine is mounted in an outer housing to form a stocker section has been proposed. As described above, by using the magazine separable from the outer housing as the stocker portion, the first transfer of the recording disk from the inner side to the outer side (for example, the front panel side) of the outer housing. Since the mechanism can be omitted, the device configuration can be reduced in size.

[0005]

By the way, in a disk changer in which the size of the apparatus is reduced by providing a magazine as described above, when a recording disk is mounted on the disk changer, the recording disk must be inserted into the magazine. The user has to load the magazine and mount the magazine, and when taking out the recording disk, the user has to take out the magazine and take out the recording disk from the magazine, so that the operation is complicated. In particular, even when a single recording disk is loaded or unloaded, there is a problem that a magazine in which all of the multiple recording disks are loaded must be handled.

In the above-described disc changer, when performing a replacement operation of returning a recording disc mounted on the rotary operation mechanism to a magazine and mounting another recording disc loaded in the magazine to a recording / reproducing apparatus, Some magazines have a structure in which a part of the magazine protrudes outward from the outer housing. In this case, especially when used for a vehicle, the operability is not good.

If the depth of the disk changer is not particularly short, installation may not be possible depending on the type of automobile to be installed.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and enables smooth and easy operation of loading and unloading a recording disk, and has a small device configuration for use in a vehicle. However, an object of the present invention is to solve the problem of providing a disk changer that can be installed in a sufficiently large number of types of vehicles.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a disk changer according to the present invention accommodates a plurality of recording disks in an outer casing and selectively transmits information signals from the plurality of recording disks. A disk changer for performing reproduction, wherein a number of slit-shaped disk insertion ports having a length corresponding to a diameter of the recording disks parallel to each other and a number corresponding to the number of recording disks housed in the outer housing; A plurality of disk transport mechanisms arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of disk transport mechanisms, and a plurality of disk rotation operating mechanisms configured to hold and rotate the recording disks transported by the corresponding disk transport mechanisms disposed corresponding to the respective disk transport mechanisms And a pin for reading an information signal from the recording disk facing one main surface portion of the recording disk rotated by each disk rotation operation mechanism. Each of the disk transport mechanisms transports the recording disk inserted into the disk insertion slot on the first transport path extending in the direction of insertion and reaches the stock position. Transporting on a second transport path that forms an angle with respect to one transport path,
This is to be mounted on a disk rotation operation mechanism.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned disc changer, after reading the information signal from the first recording disk, the information is read from the second recording disk located on the other main surface side of the first recording disk. When the signal is read, the first recording disk is returned to the stock position on the first transport path.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned disc changer, each of the disc transport mechanisms is rotated around a rotation axis orthogonal to the first transport path and rolls on the recording disk to transfer the recording disk to the first transport path. A first roller for moving on a path, and a second roller for rotating and operating around a rotation axis orthogonal to the second conveyance path to roll on the recording disk and move the recording disk on the second conveyance path. It is configured to have the following.

According to the present invention, in the above-described disc changer, the diameter of the recording disc is set to 120 mm or less, and the outer dimensions of the outer casing are set to 178 mm × 50 mm × 165.
mm or less.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 shows a disc changer according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, it is configured to have an outer housing 1, and as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of recording disks 101a, 101b, 1
01c is housed in the outer housing 1 and selectively reproduces information signals from the plurality of recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c.

In this embodiment, a recording disk 1
01a, 101b and 101c are polycarbonate (Po
lycarbonate) and polymethyl methacrylate (Polymethy)
It has a disk substrate made of a transparent synthetic resin material such as lmethacrylate) and a signal recording layer formed on the main surface of the disk substrate. The recording disk is formed by irradiating a signal recording layer with a light beam condensing and irradiating the signal recording layer from one main surface side through the disk substrate, and detecting the light beam reflected by the signal recording layer to form a signal recording layer. Is configured to read out the information signal recorded in the.

In this embodiment, the recording disks 101a, 101b and 101c have a diameter of 12
It has a disk substrate of 0 mm or 80 mm, and has a chucking hole 102 at the center. As such a recording disk, there is a recording disk based on the so-called "CD" (compact disk: trade name) standard. The outer dimensions of the outer housing 1 are 178 in width.
mm, the height is 50 mm, and the depth is 165 mm. The width of 178 mm is a size corresponding to the width of a vehicle-mounted audio device according to the German industrial standard (so-called DIN (din) standard).

On the front panel of the outer housing 1, recording disks 101a, 101b, 10 stored in the outer housing 1 are provided.
Three disc insertion ports corresponding to the number (three) of 1c, that is, an upper disc insertion slot 5, a middle disc insertion slot 6, and a lower disc insertion slot 7 are provided. These disk insertion ports 5, 6, 7 are formed in slits parallel to each other and having a length corresponding to the diameter of the recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c.
These disk insertion openings 5, 6, 7 are formed with the longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction. These disc insertion slots 5,
Nos. 6 and 7 are designed such that one recording disk can be inserted horizontally with the main surface portion horizontal.

As shown in FIG. 2, a floating housing 2 which is so-called floating supported on an inner wall portion of the outer housing 1 via a plurality of dampers 3 is provided in the outer housing 1. . As shown in FIG. 6, a disk having substantially the same shape as the disk insertion ports 5, 6, 7 is inserted into the front surface of the floating housing 2 as shown in FIG. The mouths 8, 9, 10 are provided. That is, the recording disks 101a, 101b, and 101c inserted from the disk insertion ports 5, 6, and 7 are inserted through the corresponding disk insertion ports 8, 9, and 10, and are inserted into the floating housing 2.

In the floating housing 2, each of the disk insertion ports 5, 6, 7 and each of the disk insertion ports 8,
A plurality of disk transport mechanisms, that is, an upper disk transport mechanism, a middle disk transport mechanism, and a lower disk transport mechanism are provided corresponding to 9 and 10. As shown by an arrow C in FIG. 2, these disk transport mechanisms transfer recording disks 101a, 101b, and 101c inserted into the respective disk insertion openings 5, 6, and 7 from the front side to the rear.
After being conveyed on the first conveyance path in the extension direction of the insertion direction to reach the stock position, the second conveyance formed at an angle with respect to the first conveyance path as shown by an arrow D in FIG. It is transported on a path and mounted on a disk rotation operation mechanism described later.

That is, these disk transport mechanisms are provided with rotary shafts 11a, 12a, 13a orthogonal to the first transport path.
It has first rollers 11, 12, 13 that are rotated around. These first rollers 11, 12, 13
As shown in FIG. 6, the rotating shaft is located immediately after the disk insertion ports 8, 9, and 10, and the rotation axis is set to these disk insertion ports 8, 9, and 10.
Are parallel to the longitudinal direction. Also, each first roller 1
1, 12, 13 are recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c which are inserted through the disk insertion ports 5, 6, 7 respectively.
It is arranged at a position where the upper surface portion is in contact with one main surface portion, which is the lower surface portion of. These first rollers 11,
12 and 13 are formed in a substantially columnar shape with a reduced diameter at the center.

The first rollers 11, 12,
13, each first roller 11, 1
2, 13, the upper, middle, and lower sliding contact members 1
4, 15, and 16 are provided. The recording disk 101a inserted from the upper disk insertion slot 5 is
The upper surface of the roller 11 and the lower surface of the upper sliding contact member 14 are sandwiched. The recording disk 101b inserted through the middle disk insertion slot 6 is sandwiched between the upper surface of the first roller 12 in the middle and the lower surface of the sliding member 15 in the middle. Further, the recording disk 101c inserted from the lower disk insertion slot 7 is held between the upper surface of the lower first roller 13 and the lower surface of the lower sliding contact member 16.

Each of the first rollers 11, 12, 13
Is rotated by a rotation drive mechanism (first loading motor) not shown. These first rollers 11,
When rotated, the upper and lower parts of the recording disks 101a, 101b and 101c are brought into rolling contact with one of the main surfaces (lower parts) of the recording disks 101a, 101b and 101c, and cooperate with the respective sliding members 14, 15, and 16 to rotate these members. While sandwiching the recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c, these recording disks 101a, 101b,
101c is moved on the first transport path.

Each of the disk transport mechanisms has second rollers 17, 18, and 19 that are rotated around rotating shafts 17a, 18a, and 19a orthogonal to the second transport path. As shown in FIG. 1, these second rollers 17, 18, and 19 are located on the rear side of the disk insertion ports 8, 9, and 10, and make the rotating shafts 17a, 18a, and 19a horizontal. 18a, 19a and the longitudinal direction of these disc insertion openings 8, 9, 10 are 45 to 60 degrees.
It is arranged in a state of about °. Also, each second roller 17, 18, 19 is provided with a respective first roller 11, 12,
13, the recording disks 101a and 101 conveyed by
It is arranged at a position where the upper surface portion is in contact with one of the main surface portions of b and 101c. These second rollers 17,
18 and 19 are formed in a substantially columnar shape with a reduced diameter at the center.

The second rollers 17, 18,
As shown in FIG. 10, upper, middle and lower sliding contact members 44, 45 and 46 are arranged on the upper sides of the respective 19, corresponding to the respective second rollers 17, 18 and 19. .
The recording disk 101a conveyed by the upper first roller 11 is held between the upper surface of the upper second roller 17 and the lower surface of the upper sliding member 44. The recording disk 10 conveyed by the first roller 12 in the middle stage
1b is sandwiched between the upper surface of the middle second roller 18 and the lower surface of the middle sliding member 45. Further, the recording disk 101 conveyed by the lower first roller 13
c is held between the upper surface of the lower second roller 19 and the lower surface of the lower sliding member 46.

Further, each of the first rollers 11, 12, 13
Is a state in which the recording disks 101a, 101b, and 101c are held in cooperation with the sliding members 14, 15, and 16;
The moving operation can be performed in the up and down direction over the state in which a, 101b and 101c are opened.

Then, each of the second rollers 17, 18, 19
Is rotated by a rotation drive mechanism (second loading motor) not shown. These second rollers 17,
When rotated, the upper and lower parts of the recording disks 101a, 101b and 101c are brought into contact with one of the main surfaces (lower parts) of the recording disks 101a, 101b and 101c, and cooperate with the respective sliding members 44, 45 and 46. While sandwiching the recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c, these recording disks 101a, 101b,
101c is moved on the second transport path. This second transport path is 45 ° to 60 ° with respect to the first transport path.
It forms an angle of about °.

Each of the second rollers 17, 18, 19
8 shows a state in which the recording disks 101a, 101b and 101c are held in cooperation with the sliding members 44, 45 and 46, as shown in FIG. 8, and the sliding members 44, 4 as shown in FIG.
The recording disks 101a, 101
The moving operation can be performed in the up and down direction over the state in which b and 101c are opened.

The disc changer has upper, middle, and lower rotary operation mechanisms provided corresponding to the respective disc transport mechanisms. These rotary operating mechanisms hold and rotate the recording disks 101a, 101b, and 101c transported by the corresponding disk transport mechanisms.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper rotary operation mechanism has an upper disk table 21 and an upper chucking plate 20. The upper disk table 21 is rotatably supported via a support shaft 41 on an upper support plate 26 protruding from the inner wall portion of the floating housing 2 toward the inside of the floating housing 2. I have. A rotation bearing 35 is provided between the support shaft 41 and the upper support plate 26. The upper disk table 21 is formed in a substantially disk shape, and has a truncated conical positioning projection 3 fitted into the chucking hole 102 at the center of the upper surface.
4 are provided. Upper chucking plate 20
Is rotatably supported on the ceiling of the floating housing 2 via a support shaft 40, and can be moved toward and away from the upper disk table 21. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper chucking plate 20 is connected to the support shaft 17a of the upper second roller 17 by a connecting member 58, and is moved in conjunction with the vertical movement of the second roller 17. You.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rotary operation mechanism at the middle stage has a middle disk table 23 and a middle chucking plate 22. The middle disk table 23 is rotatably supported via a support shaft 42 on a lower support plate 27 protruding from the inner wall portion of the floating housing 2 toward the inside of the floating housing 2. ing. A rotation bearing is provided between the support shaft 42 and the lower support plate 27. This middle stage disk table 2
3 is formed in a substantially disk shape, and is provided with a truncated cone-shaped positioning projection 37 that fits into the chucking hole 102 at the center of the upper surface. The middle chucking plate 22 is rotatably supported by the upper support plate 26 via a support shaft 41,
The middle disk table 23 can be moved in and out of contact with it. This middle chucking plate 22 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), it is connected to the support shaft 18a of the second roller 18 at the middle stage by the connecting member 58, and is moved in conjunction with the vertical movement of the second roller 18.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lower rotating mechanism has a lower disk table 25 and a lower chucking plate 24. The lower disk table 25 is positioned on the bottom of the floating housing 2.
It is rotatably supported via a support shaft 43. The lower disk table 25 is formed in a substantially disk shape, and is provided with a truncated conical positioning projection 39 that fits into the chucking hole 102 at the center of the upper surface. The lower chucking plate 24 is rotatably supported by the lower support plate 27 via a support shaft 42, and is capable of operating toward and away from the lower disk table 25. As shown in FIG. 8, the lower chucking plate 24 is connected to the support shaft 19a of the lower second roller 19 by a connecting member 58, and is moved in conjunction with the vertical movement of the second roller 19. You.

The spindles 40, 41, 42, 43 for supporting the disk tables 21, 23, 25 and the chucking plates 20, 22, 24 are coaxial with each other. Then, the disk table 2 of each rotary operation mechanism
1, 23 and 25 are rotated by the same spindle motor 28. The spindle motor 28 is located on the rear side inside the floating housing 2 and is disposed on the bottom surface of the floating housing 2. A drive gear 29 is attached to a drive shaft of the spindle motor 28. The drive gear 29 has a length such that its tip is close to the ceiling of the floating housing 2 and is erected upward. The drive gear 29 and a gear portion 33 provided on the lower surface side of the upper disc table 21
, An upper timing belt 30 is wound. The drive gear 29 and the middle disk table 23
The middle-stage timing belt 31 is wound around the gear portion 36 provided on the lower surface side of. Further, a lower timing belt 32 is wound between the drive gear 29 and a gear portion 38 provided on the lower surface side of the lower disk table 25. That is, when the spindle motor 28 is driven to rotate, each of the disk tables 21, 23, 25
Is rotated.

In the upper rotary operation mechanism, the upper disk table 21 and the upper chucking plate 20 are inserted from the upper disk insertion hole 5 by moving the upper chucking plate 20 toward the upper disk table 21. The central portion of the recording disk 101a conveyed by the operated and conveyed by the conveying mechanism is pinched and held. At this time, the positioning projections 34 are
2 to center the recording disk 101a. The recording disk 101a thus held
When the upper disk table 21 is rotated, the rotary table is rotated together with the upper disk table 21.

In the middle rotary operation mechanism, when the middle chucking plate 22 is moved toward the middle disk table 23, the middle disk table 23 and the middle chucking plate 22 are inserted through the middle disk insertion hole 6. The center portion of the recording disk 101b that has been operated and conveyed by the conveyance mechanism is nipped and held. At this time, the positioning protrusion 37 is
2 to center the recording disk 101b. Recording disk 101b thus held
Is rotated together with the middle disk table 23 when the middle disk table 23 is rotated.

In the lower rotary operating mechanism, the lower disk table 25 and the lower chucking plate 24 are inserted from the lower disk insertion holes 7 by moving the lower chucking plate 24 toward the lower disk table 25. The center portion of the recording disk 101c conveyed by the operated conveyance mechanism is nipped and held. At this time, the positioning projection 39 is inserted into the chucking hole 10.
2 to center the recording disk 101c. The recording disk 101c thus held
Is rotated together with the lower disk table 23 when the lower disk table 25 is rotated.

The disc changer is provided with the recording discs 101a, 101b, 101c opposed to one main surface of the recording discs 101a, 101b, 101c which are rotated by the respective disc rotating operation mechanisms.
Pickup device 48 for reading information signal from c
Is provided. This optical pickup device 48
An optical pickup device, wherein a light source such as a semiconductor laser is built in an optical block unit. The light beam emitted from the light source is emitted from the optical block through the objective lens 49 and is collected at one point on the outer side of the optical block. Further, the pickup device 48 includes a photodetector for detecting a reflected light beam of the light beam emitted through the objective lens.

The objective lens 49 is attached to the optical block via a biaxial actuator. The biaxial actuator supports the objective lens 49 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction of the objective lens 49 and in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. In this two-axis actuator, when a driving current is supplied to the focus coil, the objective lens 49
Is moved in the direction of the optical axis. In the two-axis actuator, the drive current is supplied to the tracking coil, so that the objective lens 49 is operated to move in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the objective lens 49.

The pickup device 48 is movably attached to an elevator block 47 provided in the floating housing 2 via a guide shaft 50. The pickup device 48 is moved along a guide shaft 50 by a thread motor (not shown). The elevator block 47 is supported by a pair of screw shafts 53 and 54 disposed in the floating housing 2 so as to be movable up and down as shown by an arrow A in FIG. Each of the screw shafts 53 and 54 is installed with its central axis vertical, and can be rotated around the central axis. The elevator block 47 includes screw shafts 53 and 54.
The support holes 51 and 52 are screwed into the helical grooves on the outer periphery of the shaft. The support holes 51 and 52 support the screw shafts 53 and 54, respectively. That is, the elevator block 47 is provided with each screw shaft 5
By rotating the 3, 54, the moving operation is performed in the vertical direction. These screw shafts 53 and 54 are
The rotating operation is performed by an elevator motor which is a stepping motor (pulse motor) not shown.

Objective lens 49 of pickup device 48
Are directed upward. That is, the pickup device 48 can irradiate the signal recording layer of the recording disk with a light beam from the lower surface side of the recording disk located above the pickup device 48. When the pickup device 48 is moved along the guide shaft 50, the pickup device 48 moves toward and away from each rotary operation mechanism as shown by an arrow B in FIG. 2, that is, the recording held by each rotary operation mechanism. Disk 101a,
The moving operation is performed in the radial direction of 101b and 101c. That is, in this pickup device, reading of the information signal recorded on the signal recording layer is performed over the entire signal recording area of the recording disk by detecting the light beam reflected on the surface of the signal recording layer by the photodetector. Can be done.

The pickup device 48 is moved up and down along each of the screw shafts 53 and 54 so as to read information signals from the recording disk held by the upper rotary operation mechanism. The lifting and lowering operation is performed over a height position at which the information signal is read from the recording disk held by the middle rotation operation mechanism and a height position at which the information signal is read from the recording disk held by the lower rotation operation mechanism. Is done.

In this disc changer, the motors and sensors constituting each of the above driving mechanisms are the same as those shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the operation is controlled by the control circuit 67. That is, the signal output from the pickup device 48 is sent to the DSP (digital signal processing circuit) 60 via the RF amplifier 59. The output signal of this DSP 60 is a servo DSP (servo digital signal processing circuit).
61, which are sent to a D / A (digital / analog) converter 71 and a control circuit 67. The servo DSP 61 drives a spindle motor 28, a sled motor 63, a focus coil 64, and a tracking coil 65 via a driver 62. The D / A converter 71 converts the transmitted signal into an analog signal, and outputs the analog signal via the amplifier 72 and the audio output terminal 73.

A sensor 66 and first to third eject switches 55, 56, 57 are connected to the control circuit 67. The sensor 66 is for detecting the presence or absence of a recording disk in the floating housing 2 and the like. Also, the first to third eject switches 55 and 5
6, 57 are disposed on the front panel of the outer housing 1, as shown in FIG. These first to third eject switches 55, 56, and 57 correspond to the upper, middle, and lower transport mechanisms, and the first rollers 11, 12, 1, and 1, respectively.
This operation is performed when the recording disk in the floating housing 2 is ejected to the outside of the outer housing 1 by rotating 3. In addition, the control circuit 67 outputs
Elevator motor 68, first loading motor 69
And the second loading motor 70 is driven. Since the elevator motor 68 is a stepping motor, the control circuit 67 sets the initial state (for example, the elevator block 47).
Is set to the lowest position), the height position of the elevator block 47 can be determined thereafter based on the number of pulses supplied to the elevator motor 68. Further, the control circuit 67 outputs control data to a control data terminal 75 via the S data circuit 74. The above-described circuits operate by being supplied with power from a power supply circuit 76 to which external power supplies Acc and + B are supplied via power supply terminals 77 and 78.

In this disk changer,
The connector including the audio output terminal 73 and the power supply terminals 77 and 78 is connected to the floating housing 2 via a flexible cord. Therefore, even if the connector incorporating these terminals moves with the deformation of the damper 3 with respect to the outer housing 1 of the floating housing 2, the connector moves to the outer housing 1 and the connection portion to the outside. Nothing.

In the disk changer configured as described above, as shown in FIG.
When the recording disks 101a, 101b, and 101c are inserted into the recording disks 6 and 7, the presence of the recording disk thus inserted is detected by the sensor 66, and the control circuit 67 operates the first loading motor 69 to perform the insertion operation. The recorded recording disk is drawn into the floating housing 2 by the first rollers 11, 12, and 13 as shown by an arrow H in FIG. The recording disk pulled in in this manner is transported on the first transport path, and is stopped at a stock position on the first transport path as shown in FIG. In this way, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c corresponding to the respective disk insertion openings 5, 6, 7 are stored in the floating housing 2.

Incidentally, such a pull-in operation is performed in the upper stage,
Each of the middle and lower recording disks 101a, 101b,
101c can be performed in any order or simultaneously. Further, during the execution of such a retracting operation, the movement of the floating casing 2 with the deformation of the damper 3 with respect to the outer casing 1 is prevented.

When an instruction to select and reproduce one of the recording disks at the stock position is input to the control circuit 67, the control circuit 67 operates the second loading motor 70 to The recorded disc
As shown by arrow K in FIG.
The transport is performed on the second transport path to the play position that can be held by the rotary operation mechanism by 7, 18, and 19. The recording disk transported in this manner is, as shown in FIG.
It stops at the position where the central portion is placed on the corresponding disk table. At this time, the control circuit 67 activates the elevator motor 68 and, as shown by the arrow J in FIG. 11, causes the pickup device 48 to select the information signal from the recording disk conveyed on the selected second conveyance path. Move to a height position where reading can be performed.

The recording disk at the play position is held between the corresponding disk table and chucking plate. At this time, the second rollers 17, 18, and 19 are, as shown by the arrow G in FIG.
The recording disk 1 which is separated from the recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c and cooperates with the sliding members 44, 45, 46.
The pinching for 01a, 101b, and 101c is released.

The control circuit 67 controls the servo DSP 6
1, the spindle motor 28 is operated to rotate the recording disk held by the rotation operation mechanism.
The servo DSP 61 executes a so-called spindle servo to control the rotation speed of the spindle motor 28. The servo DSP 61 controls the thread motor 63 to control the position of the pickup device 48 in the radial direction of the recording disk. Furthermore, the servo DSP 61
By controlling the focus coil 64 and the tracking coil 65, the focus servo and the tracking servo are executed, and the focal point of the light beam formed by the objective lens 49 follows the recording track formed on the signal recording layer of the recording disk. To do it. In this state, reading and reproduction of information signals from the recording disk held by the rotary operation mechanism are executed.

When an instruction to end the reproduction of the recording disk is input to the control circuit 67, the control circuit 67
Terminates the operation of the pickup device 48 and stops the spindle motor 28. Then, the control circuit 67
The disk table holding the recording disk and the chucking plate are separated from each other, and the recording disk is opened. At this time, the second rollers 17, 18, 19
As shown by an arrow F in FIG.
01b, 101c, and slide contact members 44, 45, 46
And recording disks 101a, 101b, 101c
Sandwich. The control circuit 67 operates the second loading motor 70, and causes the recording disk that has been reproduced to move to the second roller 17, 1 as indicated by an arrow D in FIG.
According to 8 and 19, the sheet is transported on the second transport path to the stock position.

The operation of selecting and reproducing the recording disks as described above is performed by the upper, middle, and lower recording disks 10
1a, 101b, and 101c can be performed in any order. Here, assuming that the recording disk being reproduced is referred to as a first recording disk, the control circuit 67 reads the information signal from the first recording disk,
Located on the other main surface side of the first recording disk,
That is, when the information signal is read from the second recording disk located above the first recording disk, the first recording disk is returned to the stock position. By returning the first recording disk to the stock position in this way, the pickup device 48 can be moved (elevated) to a height position at which information signals can be read from the second recording disk.

Then, the eject switches 55, 56,
When any one of 57 is operated, the control circuit 67
Of the upper, middle, or lower first rollers 11, 12, corresponding to the operated eject switch, as indicated by an arrow E in FIG.
By rotating the recording disk 13, the recording disk corresponding to the first roller is discharged to the outside of the outer casing 1.

It is to be noted that such an ejection operation is performed by the upper, middle, and lower recording disks 101a, 101b, 1
01c can be performed in any order or simultaneously. Further, during the execution of such a discharging operation, the deformation of the damper 3 with respect to the outer housing 1 of the floating housing 2 is prevented from moving.

[0053]

As described above, in the disc changer according to the present invention, the disc transport mechanism has the recording media inserted into the slit-shaped disc insertion openings in the number corresponding to the number of recording disks stored in the outer casing. After the disc is transported on the first transport path in the extension direction of the insertion direction to reach the stock position, the disk is transported on the second transport path that forms an angle with respect to the first transport path. Attach to the disk rotation operation mechanism.

This disc changer can be used when the diameter of the recording disc is 120 mm or less.
The outer dimensions of the outer housing are 178mm x 50mm x 165mm
It can be:

That is, according to the present invention, the operation of loading and unloading the recording disk can be performed smoothly and easily, and the apparatus configuration is small, so that it can be installed in a sufficiently large number of types of vehicles even when used for in-vehicle use. It is possible to provide a disc changer which is made possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of a disc changer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of a main part of the disc changer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a recording disc is inserted or ejected in the disc changer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where a recording disk is stored in the disk changer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a recording disk is mounted on a rotary operation mechanism in the disk changer.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a disc changer according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a configuration of a rotation operation mechanism of the disc changer.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which a recording disk is being conveyed in a main part of the rotation operation mechanism and the conveyance mechanism of the disc changer.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state in which a recording disk is mounted on the rotation operation mechanism in a main part of the rotation operation mechanism and the transport mechanism of the disk changer.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing a state in which a recording disk is being conveyed in the disk changer.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a state where a recording disk is stored in the disk changer.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a state in which a recording disk is mounted on a rotary operation mechanism in the disk changer.

FIG. 13 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of the disc changer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 outer casing, 5, 6, 7 disc insertion slot, 11, 1
2,13 first roller, 17,18,19 second roller, 21,23,25 disk table, 28 spindle motor, 48 pickup device, 101a,
101b, 101c Recording disk

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A disc changer for accommodating a plurality of recording disks in an outer housing and selectively reproducing information signals from the plurality of recording disks, wherein the number of recording disks accommodated in the outer housing is reduced. A corresponding number of parallel-shaped slit-shaped disk insertion openings having a length corresponding to the diameter of the recording disk, a plurality of disk transfer mechanisms arranged corresponding to the respective disk insertion openings, A plurality of disk rotation operating mechanisms that are arranged corresponding to the mechanisms and that rotate and hold the recording disk transported by the corresponding disk transport mechanism; and one of the recording disks that is rotated by the disk rotation operating mechanisms. A pickup device for reading an information signal from the recording disk in opposition to the main surface of the disk. After the recording disk inserted into the disc insertion slot is conveyed on the first conveyance path extending in the insertion direction to reach the stock position, the second recording medium is angled with respect to the first conveyance path. A disc changer that is transported on a transport path and mounted on a disk rotation operation mechanism. 2. After reading the information signal from the first recording disk, when reading the information signal from the second recording disk located on the other main surface side of the first recording disk, 2. The disc changer according to claim 1, wherein the first recording disc is returned to a stock position on the first transport path. 3. A first roller for rotating each of the disk transport mechanisms about a rotation axis orthogonal to the first transport path and rotatingly contacting the recording disk to move the recording disk on the first transport path. And a second roller that is rotated about a rotation axis orthogonal to the second transport path, is rotated to contact the recording disk, and moves the recording disk on the second transport path. The disc changer according to claim 1. 4. A recording disk having a diameter of 120 mm or less and an outer casing having an outer dimension of 178 mm × 50 mm × 1.
2. The disc changer according to claim 1, which is 65 mm or less.