JPS5857831B2 - Record surface identification device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to video disc record players, and more particularly to a player suitable for use with a disc record (hereinafter abbreviated as record) storage container.

In some types of video recording systems, information is recorded in the form of geometrical changes in the bottom surface of continuous spiral grooves formed on the surface of a disk-shaped record, and information is recorded in the form of geometric changes in the bottom surface of continuous spiral grooves formed on the surface of the disk-shaped record. The recorded information is reproduced by sensing the change in capacitance between the film and the film.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,194 exemplifies this capacitive video record system.

In this system, it is convenient to attach the pickup accumulator that rides on the groove to a removable cartridge, and the player is provided with a rail for guiding a pedestal having a small chamber for storing the pickup cartridge along one path. During playback, the pedestal is driven along the pedestal guide rail in correlation with the movement of the accumulator on the groove.

US Pat. No. 3,870,320 discloses an example of this frame movement system.

It is convenient to store the records in a thin plastic container that protects them from the mantle and record holder.

When loading this record into a player, a solid container is inserted into an input slot provided in the player.

The player has a separate pair of rails to guide this container insertion along a path following the slot, and then, during withdrawal of the mantle, by a record extraction mechanism provided within the player. The holder and the record held therein (hereinafter referred to as the "record structure") are removed from the mantle,
The record structure is maintained within the player.

The player has an abutment that supports the held record structure in the raised position, and the held record is transferred to a turntable for playback while the abutment moves to the lowered position.

Next, when a record is taken out, the stand on which the record structure rests is raised, and when an empty mantle is inserted into the player, the record mantle is returned to the mantle.

At this point, the record is taken out from the player by pulling out the container.

US Pat. No. 8,016,04 (Torrington) exemplifies a suitable manner in which such a record container may be used.

It is desirable to provide a means for identifying the face of the record being played.

The device according to the invention has a sensing means capable of assuming a first and a second state, the state of which is determined by a control means on the record holder depending on whether a predetermined side of the container into which it is inserted is facing upwards or downwards; The display means displays to the player user the record side to be played according to the state of the sensing means.

It is also advantageous if the user is shown the side of the record that will be played as soon as the container is inserted into the player, for example to load the record into the player.

According to one embodiment of the invention, sensing means is provided in the player in the immediate vicinity of the input slot, such that when a solid container is inserted into the player with a predetermined side up, the solid container is deflected in a first direction, When the disc is inserted with the disc facing downward, it is biased in the opposite second direction, and there is means for displaying the surface of the record to be reproduced in accordance with the direction of deflection of the sensing means.

A biasing means that engages the record holder when the container reaches a fully inserted position within the player holds the sensing means in a biased orientation during insertion of the container throughout the time the holder is in the player.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a video record player 10 equipped with a record surface identification device according to the present invention has an input slot 12 into which a record container 14 shown in FIG. 2 is inserted for loading records therein.

A pickup accumulator that rides in a groove is attached to a removable cartridge housed in a small chamber in a pedestal that is reciprocably mounted in the player.

A splash lid 16 is provided on the top lid of the player for contacting the pickup cartridge.

The pickup mount is moved in correlation with the movement of the accumulator on the groove during playback, and the recorded information is played back from the record supported by the turntable.

The front instrument panel 20 of the player has a scale plate 18 that displays playback time.

A function selection rod 22 protrudes from a slot in the instrument panel and can be selectively tilted to one of three positions: "cut off", "record loading/unloading", and "playback".

To load a record, press the function selection rod "Record loading/unloading"
position and insert the solid container containing records into the player.

When the container is pulled out, the records inside are retained within the player.

To play this residual record, press the function selector "Play"
fall into position.

When the pause button 24 is pressed, the movement of the pedestal is stopped and the pickup needle is lifted up and away from the record on the turntable.

To actively scan a record, when the scan button 26 is pressed, the mount is moved by the sliding wheel 28 while the pickup needle is in contact with the record on the turntable.

In this case, the sliding wheels allow the frame to be moved in either direction with a wide range of variable speeds.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the record container 14 consists of a jacket 30 and a record holder 32 that is housed in the jacket 30 so as to be freely accessible. It consists of a section 34 and (2) a section 38 which functions as a lid to prevent dust from entering the record storage cavity.

There is an aperture 40 in the opening 40 into which the locking arms 42 and 44 of the record extraction mechanism 46 (FIGS. 3-6) extend while the record container reaches its fully inserted position within the player. .

As shown in more detail in FIG. 3, portion 38 has wedge-shaped portions 48, 50 at each end thereof.

The function of this wedge-shaped portion will be described later in connection with the explanation of the operation of the record surface identification device of the present invention.

An abutment 52 (FIGS. 6 and 7) mounted within the player 10 and responsive to the position of the function selection frame is adapted to move between a raised position and a lowered position.

The "record in/out" position and the "playback" position of the function selection frame correspond to the raised and lowered positions of the support, respectively.

A pair of rails are attached to this abutment, and the container can be inserted in one direction.
A groove is provided for guiding along one path.

6 and 7, one of the abutment mounting rails 54 having a container guide groove 56 is shown.

The front end of this container guide groove aligns with the input slot 12 when the abutment is in the raised position to facilitate the insertion and removal of containers.

To load the record into the player, use the locking arm 42.44.
is reduced (FIG. 4), the function selection frame is moved to the "record in/out" position, the support base 52 is placed in the raised position, and the solid container is inserted through the input slot 12.

When the container reaches its fully inserted position within the player, the locking arms 42, 44 enter the apertures 40 in the section 38, and the locking arms are in an expanded state (FIG. 5) when the container abuts the actuating arm. and moor the holder and the record therein (i.e., the record structure) to the support.

When the container is then pulled out, the record assembly is pulled out and remains in the player, resting on the support in the raised position.

To transfer the remaining record to a turntable 58 rotatably mounted within the player, the stand is lowered to the lowered position.

To retrieve the record, reverse the above steps.

That is, the stand on which the record structure is placed is raised to the raised position.

The abutment has a retractable lifting butt (not shown) for aligning the record structure thereon with the container guide groove so that the record structure can be returned to when an empty container is inserted into the player.

When the container collides with the actuating arm, the locking arm retracts, releasing the record assembly from the player.

Next, when the container is pulled out, the record structure is taken out along with it.

It can be seen that throughout the above procedure, the holder and the record therein are always together and their relative orientation remains unchanged.

It is desirable that such a player be provided with a means for identifying the surface of the record to be played, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show one embodiment of a record surface identification device 60 according to the present invention.

As shown, the device includes a sensing member 62 secured to a clasp 64 which is further pivoted to a bracket 66 attached to the abutment.

The sensing member 62 has an end proximate to the input slot 12 that tapers toward a conical tip 68 so that when the solid container 14 is inserted into the player with the "first side" of the section 38 up, The wedge-shaped portion 48 abuts the conical tip 68 of the sensing member 62 and deflects it upwardly.

Conversely, when the container is inserted into the player with the "second side" facing up, the sensing member 62 is deflected downward.

For symmetry, the opposite end of sensing member 62 is also provided with a conical tip 70.

An electrical switch 72 having an upper element 74, a lower element 76 and a central element 78 is secured to a second bracket 80 attached to the abutment 52.

A light bulb 82 illuminating the "first side" indicators of the player's front instrument panel 20 is connected in series between the top element 74 and a terminal 84 of a power supply 86, and a light bulb 86 illuminating the "second side" indicator is connected in series between the upper element 74 and a terminal 84 of a power supply 86. inserted between the terminal 84 of 86 and the lower element 76,
Central element 78 is connected to the other terminal 90 of power supply 86 .

The central element 78 has a fork-shaped free end 92 which connects the clasp 6.
Part 94 of 4 is held in between.

The upward deflection of the sensing member 62 creates contact between the center element 78 and the upper element 74 and illuminates the "first side" bulb 82.

Conversely, if the container 14 is inserted with the "second side" of the section 38 facing up, the sensing member 62 will be deflected downward and the light bulb 8 on the "second side" will be deflected downward.
Turn on 8.

Thus, it will be appreciated that for recording devices, the record surface can be identified immediately upon insertion of the container into the player (i.e., before the container reaches its fully inserted position within the player).

As mentioned above, the holder and the record therein (i.e., the record structure) are held in the player after the empty mantle 30 is pulled out of the player, and the record surface remains unchanged while the record structure is held in the player. To perform the identification,
Sensing member 62 must maintain its deflected position even after withdrawing the empty mantle from the player.

This sensing member holding mechanism 100 (FIGS. 6 and 7) has an operating frame 102 pivotally supported on a support 52, one end 104 of which is in the container insertion path, and the other end 104 of the operating frame 102.
06 is adapted to abut the first end of switch control rod 108 .

The control rod 108 is supported for axial movement by a pair of brackets 110, 112, and its second end 114 is abuttingly adjacent a portion 116 of the catch 64. are doing.

part 38 while the container reaches the fully inserted position within the player.
pushes the end 104 of the working frame 102 away from the center of the turntable, and the working frame 102 remains rotated by the section 38 while the record assembly is retained in the player.

Rotation of the actuating frame 102 causes the other end 106 to displace the control rod 108 toward the input slot 12 such that the second end 114 of the control rod 108 is activated depending on whether the deflection of the sensing member 62 is downward or upward. They each pass over or under a portion 116 of the catch, which secures the sensing member in a deflected position when inserting the container into the player.

When the record structure is removed from the player, coil spring 1
18 returns control rod 108 and operating frame 102 to their original positions.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment 51 of the record disc identification device according to the present invention.

As shown, the device has a microswitch 53 mounted in the player, which microswitch 53 has a sensing element 55 located within the container entry path.

When the container 14 is inserted into the player with the "first side" of the record facing up as shown in FIG. A light bulb 59 connected to closed terminal 61 is coupled to power source 63 to illuminate a "first side" indicator on the front instrument panel of the player.

Also, when the container is loaded into the player with the "second side" of the record facing up, the part 65 of the record part 38 (on the opposite side to the cutout part 57) presses the sensing element 55, which activates the microswitch 53. The light bulb 6γ is coupled to the power supply 63 via the terminal 69 of the microswitch.

The terminal 69 is normally open when the sensing element 55 of the microswitch is not activated, and the bulb 67 illuminates the "second side" indicator on the front instrument panel 20 of the player when turned on.

When shutting off the player, the power supply 63 is shut off.

In this way, the light bulb 59°67 is connected to the front instrument panel 20 of the player.
It can be seen that each of the indicators above "first surface" and "second surface" is illuminated.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment 71 of the invention.

When the player is turned on, the power source 73 is connected, and the light bulb T connected to the normally closed terminal NC of the micro switch 79 is connected.
5 is coupled to power supply 73 to illuminate the indicator "Player Empty" on the front instrument panel of the player.

When the container 14 is inserted into the player, the bulb 75 (which was illuminating the "player empty" indicator) goes out because the switch 38 pushes the sensing element 83 of the microswitch 79.

The terminal 85 of the microswitch 79 is normally open, but is connected to the power source 73 when the microswitch γ9 is activated.

A terminal 89 of the second microswitch 87 is connected to a normally open terminal 85 of the first microswitch.

When the container 14 is inserted into the player with the "first side" of the record facing up, the sensing element 9 of the second microswitch 87
1 is prevented from operating by the notch 57 of the second microswitch, so the light bulb 93 connected to the normally closed terminal 95 of this second microswitch lights up and the indicator on the player's front instrument panel lights up.
Illuminate the first side.

When the container 14 is inserted into the player with the "second side" of the record facing up, both microswitches 79 and 87 are activated (
(connected to normally open terminal 99 of the second microswitch)
Only light bulb 97 lights up.

When the light bulb 97 is turned on, it illuminates the indicator "second surface" on the front instrument panel of the player.

In this way, when there are no records in the player, the player is empty, when the container is inserted into the player with the first side of the record facing up, it is the first side, and the second side is the record.
It can be seen that if the container is inserted with the side up, the "second side" will be displayed.

FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment 101 of the record surface identification device of the present invention.

This device has an operating frame 103 pivotally supported on the player's housing, and has a sensing element 105 at one end of the operating frame 103 that projects into the container movement path.

The other end of the operating frame 103 is connected to a flexible shutter member 107 located near the front instrument panel 20 of the player.

The flexible shutter member 107 has a window 109 adapted to selectively align with the indicators "Player Empty", "Side 1", "Side 2" located on the front instrument panel of the player.

When there is no record in the player, the coil spring 111 presses the operating frame 103 to the first position and the window 109 aligns with the indicator "Player Empty".

When the container is inserted into the player with the "first side" of the record facing up, the section 38 (its notch 57 is connected to the sensing element 105
10) and the window 109 is aligned with the index "first surface".

Furthermore, when the container is inserted with the "second side" of the record facing up, the operating frame 10 is set so that the window 109 is aligned with the index "second side".
Move 3.

Light bulbs 113, 115, 117 illuminate each indicator through its window 109.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a video record player equipped with a record surface identification device according to the principles of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a record container suitable for use in the player of FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the record container shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the operation of the record extracting mechanism attached to the player of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the record surface identification device of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a side view of the record surface identification device of FIGS. 1 and 6. FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the record disc identification device of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the record surface identification device according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of still another embodiment of the record surface identification device according to the present invention. 10...Record player, 12...
Input slot, 14...Record container, 30...
... Cloak, 32 ... Record holder, 36.
...Record, 46...Extraction mechanism, 48
, 50... Wedge-shaped portion, 60... Record surface identification device, 62... Sensing member, 72...
...Switch, 82,86.88...Lighting bulb, 100...Sensing member holding mechanism, 102.
...Actuation frame, 108...Switch control rod.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a player for a disc record that is removably housed in a protective container that includes a jacket and a record holder that is removably housed within the jacket, the record has its first surface placed in a predetermined position of the holder. the player has an input slot for inserting a solid container and loading records stored therein into the player; a record extraction mechanism for removing the holder from the mantle and retaining the holder and the record held therein in the player while the mantle is pulled out after reaching the fully inserted position in the player; When preparing the device, the device provided in the player assumes a first state in response to insertion of a solid container with the predetermined surface of the holder facing upward, and the predetermined surface of the holder assumes a first state facing downward. a first sensing means controlled by a control means provided on the record holder to assume a second state in response to insertion of the container;
and second means for displaying the surface of the record to be reproduced according to the state of the first sensing means.