JPS63220459A - Disk auto-changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a series of operations such that a prescribed disk case is pulled out from a housing part and is loaded on a reproducing device, and a disk after reproduction is housed again in a vacant disk case, and the case is housed in its original position of the housing part, by using a specific operating means. CONSTITUTION:By depressing a button 32, a disk case travel mechanism C is descended, and when it stops at a desired disk position, a case clamping mechanism G is moved, and it sandwiches a disk unit 4 and pulls it in the disk case travel mechanism C. When the disk unit 4 is housed in a travel mechanism C3, the travel mechanism C is descended again, and after being stopped at a position confronting with the case insertion opening 7a of the reproducing device 7, the case clamping mechanism G is moved forward, and inserts the disk unit 4, then, the disk 4 is fetched. After completing the reproduction, the clamping mechanism G is moved, and after the disk is housed in the vacant disk case again, the clamping mechanism G is moved, and the disk unit 4 is housed in the travel mechanism C, and a returning operation to a disk case housing part A is performed. In such a way, it is possible to perform all of the operations such as the loading, the re-housing, and the returning to the housing part of the disk unit automatically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a disc playback 5! used for playing back information recording discs such as video discs. The present invention relates to a disc autochanger that automatically operates to take out a designated disc from a storage position, load it into a CR11, and return it to the storage position again after playback.

<Prior art> Discs with high-density information recorded are always kept in the case when not being played, in order to protect the disc surface and prevent dust from adhering to it. You can store the disc in one disc and then load it or re-storage it without touching the disc during playback. ! Good. Therefore, when you insert and pull out a disc case with a stored disc, the disc is removed from the disc case and loaded into the specified position, and when you insert and pull out an empty disc case, the loaded disc is moved back into the disc case. Disk playback devices have been provided that are configured to be re-stored and allow playback operations to be performed without touching the disk.

The disk unit used in such a device is made of Pt
As shown in FIG. 51, a disk 2 is stored inside a disk case 1 having a flat bag structure, and
1510 part 5 is! It is blocked by 3. Storing the disc 2 into the disc case 1 and attaching the lid 3 are automatically performed within the playback device.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> As mentioned above, the storage of the disc 2 into the disc case 1 and the attachment of the lid 3 are automatically performed within the playback device. Inserting and removing discs must be done by hand, one disc at a time, and if you want to play multiple discs one after another, you have to repeat the cumbersome manual operation over and over again.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and includes steps such as selecting a disc, loading it into a playback device, re-storing it, and
The object of the present invention is to provide a disc auto-changer that automatically performs all operations up to the operation of returning it to a storage section.

Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the disc autochanger of the present invention includes a storage section capable of arranging and storing a plurality of disc cases with discs stored in them at predetermined positions, and When the case is inserted or removed, the disc is taken out from the disc case and is stored in the disc case.C) When the empty disc case is pulled out after playing the information, the disc that was rcjIlK is re-stored in the disc case. an insertion/extraction means for inserting and removing a predetermined disc case into and from the storage section and the disc playback device; and an eleventh position for inserting and removing the disk case from the storage section and the disk playback device. and a transfer means that carries the insertion/extraction means and moves between positions fl where the disk case is inserted/extracted.

<Operation> A designated predetermined disc case is taken out by the insertion/extraction means from among the disc cases in which a plurality of discs are stored, transported to the disc playback device by the transport means, and inserted into the disc playback device to load the disc. Ru. After playback, an empty disc case is inserted into the disc playback device by the insertion/extraction stage, and after the disc is re-stored in the disc case, the transport means transports the disc to the storage section and stores it in the original position. These operations are automatic.
Since this process is repeated twice, the disc is always kept in good condition without being touched by hands or dust.

<Example> Next, the illustrated embodiment will be described.

(i) General structure of the entire disc autochanger 6, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, is composed of a disc case storage part A, a disc playback device 7, a control circuit part B, a disc case transfer structure C, etc. Frame 8 (12th
(see figure). Disc case storage part A
is fixed and formed in seven frames 8 so as to store 25 disc units 4 in a predetermined storage position, and when replacing the disc unit 4, the disc unit 4 is inserted into the disc case storage section A in Fig. 2. It is configured so that it can be inserted and removed in the opposite direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the disk case storage section A is configured to be closed by a door 10 which is configured to be freely rotatable with a hinge 9, so that the stored disk unit 4 will not come out). It's turning.

In Figures 2 and 3, disc case storage Fr6
Disk case transfer provided on the right side of A%l'itC
Bearing 1 fixed to disk case transfer rock MQC
3.14 is guided by the idle rail 11 and the anti-rotation rail 12 fixed to the frame 8, and the disk case transfer cost JJC is structured so that it can only move to the upper and lower blade surfaces of fpJ2 and 1 and 4. has been done.

A drive unit) 15 is fixed to the frame 8, a drive timing boot 9-16 is fixed to the drive unit 15+i, and a driven gear is rotatably supported by a pin 17 fixed to the frame 8. A timing bell (19) is installed between the timing pulley (18) and the timing pulley (18).

A belt fixing fitting 21 is firmly attached to the frame 20 of the disk case transfer R structure C, and one part of the timing belt 19 is fixed to the belt fixing fitting 21. That is, the drive unit shaft 15a, which can be rotated forward and backward, is fixed to the belt fixing fitting 21. The timing belt 19 rotates in accordance with the forward and reverse rotations, and the disk case transfer mechanism C moves up and down in Figs. An imaginary line indicates that the disk case transfer unit VTC is movable in order to take out the disk unit 4 from the disk case storage section A and insert it into the disk case insertion lower a of the disk playback device 7, and vice versa. It shows the upper limit and lower limit.

Case insertion/removal 117+ 1 for disk case transfer Isokare C
Built-in 1g component. The disk case is transferred by a roller 22 having a rotatable shaft 22a rotatably supported on the frame 20 of structure C, and a bearing 23 fixed to the frame 20 to rotate the case in and out. 24 and pongee 25 are rotatably supported, and the case insertion/extraction rotation mechanism E1 can be rotated forward and backward as shown by arrow F in FIG. 4. Frame 20
There is a rotary drive! I! The IJ gear motor 26 is fixed, and the timing pulley 27 is fixed to the main shaft 26a of the rotary drive gear motor 26. A timing pulley 28 is fixed so as to be concentric with 25, and a timing belt 29 is passed between both timing pulleys 27 and 28. Therefore, as the rotary drive gear motor 26 rotates forward and backward, the case insertion/extraction rotation mechanism E rotates forward and backward in the direction of the pointer as indicated by arrow F in FIG.

Case insertion/removal rotation fi? JE has a case clamp rock structure G inside, and the case clamp mechanism G moves only in the left and right directions in Figs. be able to. The case clamp mechanism G is configured 111 so as to be able to clamp and take out the disc unit 4 from the disc case storage part, or to return the disc unit 4 to the disc case storage part A and release it.

Case clamp +fi in Figure 2? The reason why there are two 4Gs is so that when the disk unit storing the disk to be played next to the disk being played is reserved, the disk unit can be taken into the disk case transfer mechanism C in advance. This is to make it possible to eliminate the lost time of removing and transporting the disk unit when playing back the disks continuously. A storage panel 31 is provided on the upper left side of the front panel 30 of the disc auto changer 6 in FIG. AM has been constructed so that it is possible to do the following.

(ii) Structure of disk case storage section Next, the detailed structure of each part of the disk automatic chain 6 will be explained.

First, the disk case storage section will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 6, the stay 33 is fixed to a frame 8 (not shown).

The rail angle 34 is fixed to the stay 33, and the case guide rail 35 is fixed to the rail angle 34. Case guide rail 35! As shown in FIG. Part 4 35ii
Therefore, five pairs of case guide rails 35 are fixed to the two rail angles 34 so that 5 disc cases can be stored without resistance, and 25 disc cases can be stored.

A sloped part 35b is formed around the recessed part 35a at the end of the disc unit 4' of the case guide rail 35 on the dual exchange side, so that it is easy to guide the disc unit 4 when replacing the disc unit 4. The idle rod 36 straddles the two rail angles 34, which are supported by the rail angle 34 so as not to fall, so that the cross section of the case guide rail 35 in FIG. It overlaps with the comb-shaped convex portion 35c in the figure, and is located at the boundary between the storage positions of the disk unit 4 formed by the four parts 35a of the case guide rail 35, and is located further than the case guide rail 35 as shown in the rjSG figure. It is located on the left side, that is, on the opening side for replacing the disk unit 4. The idle rod 36 is provided across the storage position of each disk unit as shown in Figure tlS5, and guides the disk unit 4 when replacing the disk unit 4. When the disk unit 4 is connected to the case guide rail 35
It works to prevent the items from being stored on different levels.

One side of the hinge 9 is fixed to the stay 33, and the other side is fixed to the door 10.
is fixed to. Therefore, rilo can be rotated clockwise from the closed state in FIG. 6 using the hinge 9 as a fulcrum to open it, and conversely, it can be closed.

In the closed state, the door 10 is fixed to the stay 33 with a lever 37 as shown in FIG. 6, and is locked to prevent the stored disk unit 4 from jumping out. An angle 38 is fixed to the door 10.
A reverse storage detection switch 39 is fixed to. One reverse storage detection switch 39 is provided for each disk unit 4 corresponding to the storage position of each disk unit 4, and the operation lever 39a1. It protrudes into the disk unit 4 storage space through an escape hole 10a made in the tJilO. Then, disk unit 4 is the sixth disk unit.
As shown in the figure, if the disk unit is stored correctly with the opening 5 on the left side, even if the disk unit is pressed against the door 10, the operating lever 39a will not open with the M3 notch! It is configured so that it does not fit into 3a and be pushed. Disk unit 4
If the disk unit 4 is accidentally stored in the opposite direction, when the disk unit 4 is pressed against the door 10, the operation lever 39a is pushed by the bottom 1b of the disk case 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the reverse storage detection switch 39 is activated. . That is, by pressing the disk unit 4 against the door 10, it can be determined whether or not the disk unit is erroneously stored in the opposite direction. A mechanism for pressing the disk unit 4 against the door 10 will be described later.

The detection mechanism of the disk unit 4 housed in the disk case storage section A will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. The detection angle 40 is fixed to the rail angle 34, and the case detection lever 41 is rotatably supported by a pin 42 fixed to the detection angle 40.

That is, the case detection lever 41 can rotate within a plane perpendicular to the direction of insertion and removal of the disk unit 4 when replacing the disk unit 4.

The detection part 41& of the case detection lever 41 is connected to the hole 34a1 made in the rail angle 34.
When the disk unit 4 is not inserted, the case guide rail 35 [! The first portion 35a1 protrudes into the disk unit 4 entry space. The reason why the detection part 41 protrudes into the recess 35a is because the operating part 41b of the case detection lever 41 is pushed by the operating force of the operating lever 43a of the case detection switch 43 fixed to the detection ring 40. This is because 41 is fjS81 middle counterclockwise middle white clockwise. Of course, as the case detection lever 41 rotates counterclockwise, the operating part 41b comes into contact with the rail angle 34 and cannot rotate any further.
The cross-sectional shape of the detection g41a is roughly triangular, and the cross-sectional shape of the detection g41a is shown in FIG. 9 as viewed from the H direction of 1a. , since the bottom part 1b of the disk unit 4 pushes down the slope 41e of the detection gls 41g, the detection f
11s41a retreats into the convex portion 35c of the case guide rail 35 (as shown in Figure t57), the case detection lever 41 rotates clockwise and the operating part 41b pushes the operating lever 43a, that is, the case detection switch 43 operates and the disc It is detected that the unit 4 is stored. The disk unit detection mechanism is 1 for each 4 disk units.
They are set up one after another. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, there is no disk unit detection mechanism for detecting the disk unit 4 stored in the disk unit 4 storage section to the left of the illustrated disk unit detection mechanism due to space constraints. The disk 2nd detection mechanism is disk unit 4.
This is because two rows are arranged alternately on every other sheet.

Next, the stopper filI of the disk unit 4 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 shows the vicinity of the bottom ib of the disk unit 7) 4 stored in the disk case storage section. The disk auto chain 6 according to this embodiment has the disk unit 4 stored in the disk case storage 111A. When storing the disk unit 4, the door 10 is opened and the disk unit 4 is stored with the bottom 1b facing first, as shown in FIG. ttS6 and FIG. tjS15. As explained above, when the door 10 is closed, the disk unit 4 cannot be moved in the width and thickness directions and in the direction in which it projects from the door 10. When storing the disc unit 4 in a predetermined position in the disc case storage section A,
In addition to a member that guides the disk unit 4 in the width and thickness directions, a stopper that stops the disk unit 4 at a predetermined storage depth is required. In the ptS15 diagram, stay 4
4 is fixed to 7 frame 8. stopper bin 45
The stopper angle 46 to which is fixed is fixed to the stay 44. Stopper 4 by stopper bin 45
7 is rotatably supported, and the stopper 47 is biased by a spring 48, so that the stopper MiI shown at the top and bottom of FIG. ing. Therefore, when storing the disk unit, when the disk unit 4 is guided by the case guide rail 35 and inserted, both corners 1 of the bottom gib of the disk unit 4
c comes into contact with the stopper 47, and the storage in the predetermined position is completed. It is necessary to release the stopper to a position where it does not interfere, but the stopper release operation will be described later.

(iii) Configuration of disk case transfer 1flW First, tj
The disk case insertion/extraction rotation mechanism E built in the disk case transfer machine M4C will be explained with reference to FIG. S14 to FIG. Pt516. A roller 22 is rotatably supported by a pin 49 fixed to the seven frames 20 of the disk case transfer mechanism C. A disc-shaped 7-run 24 is rotatably supported by the id 122a of the roller 22, and the +7111125 is rotatably supported by the wheel support 23 fixed to the frame 20. 7Ranno 24 has a disc unit 4 and a case clamp 8 in the center! A hole 24a for passing through structure G (described later) is open. 7 rank 24 and pongee 2
5 is fixed via a rear plate 50, a relay plate 51, and a rail 52, and the whole (disc case insertion/extraction rotary machine groove E)
can be rotated while being guided by rollers 22 and bearings 23. The disc case insertion/extraction rotation fivtE is a timing applied between the timing pulley 28 fixed to the rear plate 50 and the timing pulley 2 fixed to the main shaft 26a of the rotary drive gear motor Z6 fixed to the frame 20. It can be rotated in forward and reverse directions by a rotary drive gear motor 26 via a belt 29. The frame 20 shown in FIG. 16 has a hole 20a with the same diameter as the 7 langes 24 (visible to overlap with the outer diameter of the 7 langes 24), and the holes 20a between the disk case storage section A and the disk case transfer avIC. Unit 4's Uke is designed to allow handing over. As shown in FIG. 16, case guide rails 53, in which the cases constituting the disk case storage section A utilize the idle rails 35, are fixed to the two relay plates 51, respectively. Disk unit 4
Case clamp 8, which will be described later! sandwiched by structure G,
The case is guided by the case guide rail 53 and temporarily stored in a predetermined position within the disk case transfer mechanism C when preparing to play the disk.

Two sliders 54 are fixed to the chassis 55 of the case clamp mechanism G, and the sliders 54 move the rail 52 in the width direction of the rail 52 using grooves 54a formed therein.
As shown in Fig. 6, the case clamp fi41G can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the rail 52.There are two case clamp mechanisms G as shown in Figs. 14 and 16. However, they have the same function as described above.The insertion/extraction drive gear motor 56 is fixed to the rail 52, and the timing pulley 57 is attached to the main shaft 5an of the insertion/extraction drive gear motor 56 in VA. 52 includes a pin 59 that rotatably supports the timing pulley 58 on the side of the disc case storage section A.
A timing belt 60 is passed between the timing pulley 57 and the timing pulley 58.

As shown in FIG. 14, the timing belt 60 has a valley portion sandwiched between a pin 61 fixed to the steering wheel 55 and an angle 62 that penetrates the pin 61 and is rotatably supported by the pin 61. It cannot be pulled out. Therefore, the forward and reverse rotations of the insertion/extraction drive gear motor 56 are transmitted via the timing belt 60, causing the case clamp taM'ta to reciprocate.

The case clamp mechanism G shown by the solid line in FIG. 15 is in a state where it does not clamp the disk unit 4! ! ! (however,
(has been moved from the standby position for ease of explanation). Pins 63 and 64 installed on the chassis 55
, the clamp trays ff-45 and 68 are each rotatably supported! do. The clamp tray -65 is biased by the spring 67 and rotates counterclockwise to tighten the chassis 5.
It is in contact with the bent and raised portion 55a of No. 5.

The abutting protrusion 65a with the disk unit 4 with the clamp trie of -65 is in a state of protruding from an escape hole (not shown) made in the bent and raised portion 55a of the chassis 55. Clamp door FF-68 is also urged by spring 68 to rotate clockwise, and is symmetrical to clamp door TF-65. The clamp cam 69 is rotatably supported by a pin 70 provided upright on the chassis 55, and is supported by a spring 71.
Despite the clockwise rotational bias caused by the locking mechanism, the locking member 65 is locked with the locking portion 65b of the clamp tray 65, and remains in the state shown in Figure t515. Cutting and raising the chassis 55 55b
The clamp levers A2B and B74 are rotatably supported by a pin 72 provided parallel to the chassis 55 and fitted in the width direction of the disk unit 4, and the clamp levers A2B and B74 are held against each other by a spring 75. is biased in the direction of Clamp lever-A2B
, a roller 77 rotatably supported by a pin 76 erected on the side surface of the clamp cam 69 pinches both end cams 69a formed on both the front and back surfaces of the clamp cam 69 under the bias of a spring 75, as shown in FIG. The situation is as shown in . What is the condition of each component of the case clamp mechanism G shown in FIG. 15 compared to the two case clamp machines shown in FIG. 14? +
As shown by the case clamp mechanism G on the lower side of the NG case, the disk unit 4 is not clamped, that is, the clamp levers A2B, B74 and the disk unit clamping portions 73a and 74a are engaged. clamp cam 69
, that is, when the end surface cams 69a further rotate clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 15, the clamp levers A2B and l
374 is configured to close under the bias of a spring 75. Further, a pin 8 is fixed to the rail 52 on the disk unit side, and a pin 78 allows the release lever 7 to be
9 is rotatably supported. The release lever 79 is stably stationary in the state shown in FIG. 15 due to the bias of the spring 80.

When the release lever 79 passes through the case clamp mechanism G,
The clamp cam 69 does not interfere with anything other than the clamp cam 69.
It is configured so that it can engage only with the protrusion 69b that is vertically provided.

Next, the disk unit clamping operation of the case clamp machine *G will be explained. The position of the case clamp mechanism G shown by the solid line in the Pt5ls diagram is the position moved to the middle of the rail 52 in order to explain the details of the mechanism.

Standby position of case clamp fi*G not clamping the disc unit 4, clamping or releasing position of the disc unit 4, transporting the disc unit 4 to the disc case mvt
The positions completely captured in c are G', G'', respectively.
At the standby position shown by G'', the mechanism of the case clamping machine ellG, shown by G'', is in the same state as shown by the solid line, but when the case clamping mechanism G is driven by the insertion/extraction drive gear motor 56, When you advance to just before the position shown in , first of all, the clamp tray? -65, 66 contact protrusions 6
5a*66a abut against the bottom 1b of the disk unit 4. Then, the clamp tree of spring 67°68, f-65,
Since the insertion/extraction drive gear motor 56 presses the case clamp [IIG] against the disk unit 4 with a force greater than the bias applied to the case clamp 66, the clamp trays γ-65 and 66 rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. When the clamp tree-65 rotates clockwise, the clamp tree-65 locks ff.
1s65b also escapes from the clamp cam 69, the clamp cam 69 becomes free, and the clamp cam 69 rotates clockwise due to the bias of the spring 71. Then clamp lever A2
B.

B74 is idle, and the clamping parts 73a+74a clamp the gripping part 1a of the disk unit 4. Subsequently, when the case clamp (mechanism G) retreats from the drive 1 of the insertion/extraction drive gear motor 56, the disc unit 4 is also clamped and pulled out from the disc case storage part A. The protrusion 69b of the clamp cam 69 A to hold the
When moving forward, the release lever 79 can freely move forward without coming into contact with the locking part 79a, and when moving backward while holding the disc unit 4, it comes into contact with the inclined part 79b and pushes the release lever 79 away. So you can retreat freely.

If the stopper 47 is not released, the disk unit 4
cannot be pulled out from the disc case storage section A, but the operation of releasing the stopper 47 will be described later. The disk unit 4 pulled out from the disk case storage section A is inserted into the rA groove 53a (first
4 and 16), both sides of the disk unit 4 are guided and positioned, and the disk case transfer mechanism C
Predetermined storage position i? Z (indicated by 4' in FIG. 15) is stored when the case clamp mechanism G arrives at G'.

Next, the re-storing of the disc unit 4 into the disc case storage section A after the completion of disc playback will be described. When the case clamp mechanism G holding the disc unit 4 moves forward, the disc unit 4 resists the bias of the spring 48 and moves the slope 47a of the stopper 47 to the corner part 1d (PtS1
(see figure) is pushed away, so that the disk unit/unit 4 can advance into the disk case storage section A. The disk unit 4 is in the predetermined position (the position shown by the solid line in Fig. 15).
Immediately before reaching this point, the protrusion 69b of the clamp cam 69 engages with the lock g79a of the release lever 79, and the case clamp also tries to move forward, causing the release lever to move forward.
79 rotates to rotate the clamp cam 69 counterclockwise against the bias of the spring 71. Then, both end cams 69
Row with 2 a's? -77 is widened and the clamp levers A2B and 1374 are moved, so the clamping parts 73a,
74a opens to release the disk unit 4. When the case clamp RMG retreats after the disc unit 4 reaches the predetermined position in the disc case storage gA, the disc unit 4 is released from the clamp levers A2B and B74, so it remains in the predetermined position and is clamped).
F-65 and f-66 are also returned to the state shown by solid lines in the t51S diagram by the biasing of springs 67 and 138, respectively. A little more case clamp IU! ! When G moves backward, release lever 79
The engagement between the locking portion 79a of the clamp cam G9 and the protrusion 69b of the clamp cam 69 begins to disengage, and the clamp cam G9 gradually begins to rotate clockwise due to the bias of the spring 71. 65b and the clamp cam 69 engage, each part of the case clamp mechanism G returns to the standby state shown by the solid line in FIG. 15, and the position returns to the position shown by G'. The release lever 79 also returns to the position shown in FIG. 15, of course.

Next, the release operation of the stopper 47 will be described with reference to FIG.
A release lever 85.86 is rotatably supported by vertically installed pins 83.84, and a roller 91. ．． 92°93.94 are rotatably supported, respectively. The release levers 85 and 86 are biased to rotate counterclockwise S1'' and clockwise by springs 95 and 96, respectively, and are pressed against the abutting portions 81a and 82a of the angles 81 and 82, respectively.
15, and maintains the posture shown in FIG. Angles 97.98 are fixed to the frame 20, and operating bars 99.100 are supported movably only in the hand direction of the rail 52v by two bins (not shown) fixed to each of the angles 97.98. Spring 101.
102, it is attached toward the disk case housing section A. The abutting portions 99a, 100a fixed to the operating bars 99, 100, respectively, are connected to rollers 91, 94, respectively.
The operating bars 99, 100 are configured to come into contact with each other.
The release portions 99b and 100b respectively fixed to the stopper 47 are configured to come into contact only with the protrusion 4Th of the stopper 47, respectively. Further, the rollers 92 and 93 are configured to come into contact with the slope 55c1 and the side surface 55d of the chassis 55 of the case clamp mechanism G, and are connected to the chassis 55 and the release lever 8.
5.86 etc. are configured so as not to interfere.

When the case clamp mechanism G moves forward to clamp the disk unit 4, the slope 55c of the chassis 55 pushes away the rollers 92 and 93. Then the release lever 85
．． 86 rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, and rollers 91 and 94 abut contact portions 99a and ]OOa, respectively, and move operating bars 99 and 100 against the bias of springs 101 and 102 to rotate the disc case. Move it in the direction away from storage section A. Then, the release H99b, 100L+ comes into contact with the protrusion 47L+ of the stopper 47, and the stopper 47
is moved away from both corner portions 1c of the disk unit 4 against the bias of the spring 48. Therefore, the stopper 47 is released and the disk unit 4 is transferred to the disk case.
It becomes possible to integrate the information into the RmC. After the disc unit is clamped, when the case clamp mechanism G retreats to a predetermined position, the release lever 85, 86 and the operating part 99, 100 are released.
returns to the original state shown in FIG.

The stopper 47 also tries to return, but comes into contact with the side surface of the disk unit 4, and returns at the same time as the disk unit 4 is completely removed. In FIG. 15, the optical switch 10
3, 104, and 105 are fixed to the rail 52, and from one passage through the shutter 55e fixed to the chassis 55 of the case clamp TFI611G, the structure G is moved to the standby position of the structure G, the disk unit clamping release position, and the disk unit storage position, respectively. The end position is configured to be detected. A switch 106 fixed to the relay plate 51 is for detecting whether the disk unit 4 is normally and reliably housed in the disk case transfer mMlc. The case guide member 107 shown in FIG. 14 is located just in front of the switch 106 and is fixed to the relay plate 51, and by gradually narrowing down the position of the disk unit 4 in the direction perpendicular to the case storage direction with the slope 107a, the disk unit 4 positioning. This is because the case guide rail 53 alone requires an allowance for the concave groove 53a and cannot perfectly position the disk unit 4 in the direction perpendicular to the case storage direction. This is to ensure that the disk unit 4 comes into contact with the disk unit 4 reliably.

f:1S16 As shown in figure 1, angles 135 and 108 are fixed to the back side of the 7 frame 20, and angles 1
Optical switches 109 and 110 are fixed to each of 35g108. 7. The lunge 24 is provided with two cut-out shutter parts, and when the shutter part 24b passes through the optical switches 109 and 110, the disc case can be inserted and removed. The normal attitude of structure E shown in FIG. 16 and the reversed attitude of front and back rotated by 180 degrees are detected.

Next, the position detection mechanism of the disk case transfer mechanism C will be described with reference to Fig. f:tS10 and Fig. PA13. mt.

In the figure, the disk case is transferred to the frame 8 in the moving direction of the structure C, that is, the position detection angle A111. B112. The seven 0 position detection angles A11l and B112 to which C113 is fixed are integrated. An optical switch angle 114 is fixed to the rear surface 20a of the frame 20 of the disk case transfer mechanism C.
The optical switch angle 114 has optical switches 115 and 11.
6,117 is fixed. light switch 115°11
1L117 are position detection angles A111. B1
12°C113, the zero position detection angle Al11. B112. C11
13 shows the notch provided in 3.

Uni, optical switch 115. The upper limit of the movement of the disk case transfer mtmc is detected by the 0 position detection angle B112 and the limit switch 116, which will be described as liB, 117 is turned off when the light is blocked, and turned on otherwise. That is, the ON region of the optical switch 116 is the movement region of the disk case transfer mmc.

What is detected by the output switch 115 and the position detection angle A111 is the stop position at which the disk case transfer 'amc takes each disk unit 4 into the disk case storage section A. That is, m2 due to the notch 118
A disk unit 4 in which the lower case clamp mechanism G shown in the figure is stored at the top of the disk case storage section A.
The positions are sequentially detected, such as the position where the disk unit 4 is taken in, the position where the second disk unit 4 from the top is taken in by the notch 119, and so on.

The position where the upper case clamp assembly *G shown in FIG. Position detection angle A
111 notch 118, 119, 120° 121.122
are arranged at a pitch corresponding to the disk unit arrangement pitch, but the upper case clamp +f shown in Figure @2
The reason why the position of the notch that should be detected in order to take in the same disk unit 4 between ivtG and lower case clamp mvtG is two pitches apart is because of the upper and lower case clamps fi6.
This is because the interval 'tG is a distance equivalent to two notch pitches. What is detected by the position detection angle C113 and the optical switch 117 is the position where the case clamp mechanism G on the lower side of FIG. 1
24, the upper case clamp tjlvtG is at the position where the disk unit 4 is inserted into and removed from the disk case insertion lower a. Therefore, the optical switch 116 is turned from OFF to ON.
By counting the notches using the optical switch 115 from the position switched to , it is possible to detect which position corresponds to the disc unit 4 stored in the disc case storage section from the top. By counting the notches, it is possible to detect which of the upper and lower case clamps fi4NG corresponds to the case insertion lower a.

Next, the balance mechanism K (described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11; PVC tubes 125 and 126 are not shown) is fixed to the 7 frames of the autochanger at the top and bottom in FIG. 111. The pulleys 127, 128, 129, and 130 are each rotatably supported by a pin provided upright on a stay (not shown) that is fixed to the recording frame.

PVC pipes 125 and 126 are each provided with balance weights 131 and 132, each having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter, so as to be movable within the pipes, and one end of which is moved via pulleys 127 and 128 to the disk case 11 of structure C. A wire 133 connected to the seven frames 20 at the upper left in the figure is connected to a balance weight 131 at the other end.

One end of the wire 134 is connected to the frame 20 on the upper right side in FIG.
The t end is connected to the balance weight 132 via 29.130. The balance weights 131 and 132 work to lift the disk case transfer mechanism C, and the total weight of the two balance ways (1:11, 132) is approximately equal to the weight of the disk case transfer mechanism C, and the balance weight ) 131 and 132, the load acting on the drive unit 15 is reduced.

(1v) Disc Reproducing Operation Next, the disc reproducing operation of the disc auto-changer 6 will be described. First, the pushbutton 32 for specifying the desired disc on the production panel 31 is pressed.

Then, the disk case transfer mechanism C, which was in the standby state as shown in FIG. When the disk case transfer mechanism C stops at the position corresponding to the desired disk, the insertion/extraction drive gear motor 56
The case clamp mechanism G does not move due to the drive of the second
In this embodiment, the lower case clamp in the figure is configured so that the mechanism G operates to take the disk unit 4 into the disk case transfer mechanism C). Pull into C.

When the disc unit 4 is completely stored in the disc case transport mechanism C, the disc case transport mechanism C is lowered again by the drive unit 15, and the stored disc unit 4 is inserted into the case of the disc playback device 7. It stops at a position facing lower a. Then, the insertion/extraction drive gear motor 56 is driven again, the case clamp mechanism G moves forward, and the disk unit 4 is inserted into the case insertion lower a.

Of course, when inserting the disc case into case insertion lower a,
Since the case clamp mechanism G does not move forward to the position where it engages with the release lever 79, the disk case is not released. In this way, the disc is taken out from the disc case and loaded into the disc playback device M, the empty disc case is pulled out from the case insertion lower a and returned to the disc case transfer mechanism C, and the loaded disc is played. . If a disc to be played next to the disc being played is reserved using the push button 32, the disc case transfer mechanism C moves while the disc is being played and moves to the other vacant case clamp mechanism G. Then, the disc unit 4 containing the disc to be played next is held and stored in the disc case transfer mechanism C, and the empty disc case returns to the position facing the case insertion slot. When the playback of the disc is completed, the case clamp mechanism G moves, the empty disc case is inserted into the case insertion lower a, the disc is re-stored in the empty disc case, and when storage is completed, the case clamp mechanism G moves. Then, the disk unit 4 is stored in the disk case transfer case C. When storage is completed, the disc unit containing the disc to be played next, that is, the other case clamp 8! The disk case transfer mechanism C moves to a position where the disk unit 4 held by the vtG faces the case insertion lower a, and the disk is loaded 93 into the disk playback device 7 in the same manner as described above, and the empty disk case is replaced with a disk. The case is returned to the Wih'IC, and disc playback starts. While the disc is being played, in order to return the played disc unit 4 to the disc case storage part, the disc case transfer mechanism C removes the disc unit 4 to be returned and stores it in the disc case storage part A. Move to a position where the disk unit 4 to be returned faces the space, and then close the case clamp mechanism G.
moves and returns the disk unit 4 to the disk case storage section A. Furthermore, if the next disc to be played is reserved, the disc unit 4 containing the disc is stored in the disc case transport fi4Mc, and then the disc case transport Isokai C moves to remove the disc that is currently being played. to the standby position for re-storing the disk into the empty disk enclosure. Thereafter, the disc is repeatedly played in the same manner.

When playing the back side of the disc, the disc case transfer mechanism C moves the disc case storage section A and the disc playback device f.
While moving between i7, the case insertion/extraction rotation mechanism E rotates and turns over the disk unit 4. When returning the disk unit 4, the case insertion/extraction rotation mechanism E rotates, and when returning the disk unit 4, the case insertion/extraction rotation mechanism E rotates.
Turn it over and return it.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above-mentioned embodiments, the automatic disc changer of the present invention has an insertion/extraction means that is mounted on a transport means and moves to extract a predetermined disc case from the storage section and transport it to the playback device. Carry and load, and also use this insertion/extraction means,
This system automatically performs a series of operations such as re-storing the disc in the playback device into an empty disc case, transporting it to the storage section, and storing it in its original position.

Therefore, the cumbersome manual operations required in the past are no longer necessary, and even when playing multiple discs one after another, no manual work is required at all, and operability is clearly improved. There is no possibility of the disc being touched or dust attached, allowing the disc to be kept in good condition at all times.

In addition, as in the embodiment, if the insertion/extraction means is constructed so that it can rotate 180 degrees with the direction of insertion/extraction of the disc case as the rotation axis, it becomes possible to continuously reproduce both sides of the disc. By arranging the transfer means in an extension of the storage section in the direction in which the disk cases are arranged, the structure of the transfer means becomes simple and the apparatus can be easily miniaturized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disk unit used in the disk autochanger of the present invention, FIG. 12 and subsequent figures show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. , a plan view and a side view, Pt55 is a partially cutaway side view of the disk case storage section viewed from the disk case replacement opening side, and FIG.
7 and 8 are side views of the disk unit detection mechanism, Figure m9 is a view taken in the direction of arrow ① in Figure 8, and Figures 10 and 11. The figure is a schematic plan view and a schematic side view of the balance mechanism of the disk case moving mechanism, and FIG.
A perspective view of the main structural member (frame), FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the shape of the position detection angle of the disk case transfer mechanism, and FIGS. 14 to 16 are a front view, a plan view, and a side view of the case insertion/extraction rotation mechanism. It is a diagram. 1... Disc case, 2... Disc 3...
Lid, 4...Disk unit 6...
Disc auto changer, 7... Disc playback g
crIi, 7a...Disc case insertion slot, 8...Frame, 35...Case guide rail 36...Id rod, 39...Reverse storage detection switch 43...Case detection switch, A...・Disc case storage section, B...control circuit section, C...disk case transfer mechanism, E...case insertion/extraction cycle @Isokare, G...case clamp mechanism,

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A storage part capable of arranging and storing a plurality of disc cases with discs stored in them at predetermined positions, and a disc case with discs stored therein, when the disc case with discs stored therein is inserted or removed, a disc is taken out from the disc case and loaded, and a disc is removed from the disc case. A disc playback device is configured so that when an empty disc case is inserted or removed after playing back information, the loaded disc is re-stored in the disc case, and a predetermined disc case is connected to the storage section and the disc playback device. and an insertion/extraction means for inserting/extracting the disc case into/from the storage section, and a movement with the insertion/extraction means mounted between a first position for inserting/extracting the disc case into/from the storage section and a second position for inserting/extracting the disc case from/to the disc playback device. A disc autochanger characterized in that it is equipped with a means for transporting. 2. The disc autochanger according to claim 1, wherein the insertion/extraction means mounted on the transfer means is configured to be rotatable at least 180 degrees about the direction of insertion/extraction of the disc case with respect to the storage section and the disc playback device as a rotation axis. . 3. A patent claim in which the storage unit is configured to arrange the disc cases in a stacked manner at a predetermined interval in the thickness direction, and the disc playback device is arranged on an extension of the storage unit in the direction in which the disc cases are arranged. The disc autochanger according to item 1 or 2.