Patent Grant
7231648
The present invention relates to a disk supporting apparatus, a disk holding apparatus and a disk apparatus that are appropriately applied to a disk player or the like that is equipped at an acoustic apparatus such as a component stereo apparatus.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a disk apparatus that is appropriately applied to a disk changer in which a tray having a plurality of compact disks mounted thereon is rotatably disposed
Further, the present invention relates to a disk apparatus in which a tray having a plurality of compact disks mounted thereon is movably disposed.
Moreover, the present invention relates to a disk apparatus that comprises turntables each having a compact disk mounted thereon.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a disk holding apparatus that is appropriately applied to a disk apparatus for reproducing information that is recorded on, for example, a compact disk.
As shown in
The tray 494 slides along the base 496 by the slide mechanism, and is ejected from or returned to a door leaf of the apparatus body. In other words, an unillustrated “eject” button is pressed to pull the tray 494 out from or pull the tray 494 back to the door leaf of the apparatus body.
In the state in which the tray 494 is pulled out from the door leaf of the apparatus body, one of the mounting portions of the turntable 492 that comes on this side of the tray 494 has no disks or is vacant. Further, concave portions having diameters of two types are formed on each mounting portion so as to correspond to both 12 cm-disk and 8 cm-disk (not shown). Moreover, the disk 10 is chucked by an unillustrated damper at a damper holding portion 493 and an unillustrated turntable of a disk reproducing apparatus beneath the turntable 492 so as to face this clamper, and then reproduced.
A user mounts a disk on the mounting portion that is made vacant by pressing the unillustrated button. The tray 494 is pulled back into the apparatus body by repressing the “eject” button. The disk is reproduced or the like by pressing an unillustrated “play” button.
The rotation mechanism for rotating the turntable 492 and the slide mechanism for sliding the tray 494 are provided at the disk changer 490 shown in
In the disk changer 490, since a plurality of disks must be arranged on the same plane of the turntable 492, the tray 494 must be spacious.
As shown in
The turntable 84 comprises a metal ring portion 85A at a portion at which the disk 10 is mounted, and a trunk portion 85B whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of a hole of the disk 10. Further, the upper end of the trunk portion 85B is tapered. Moreover, a motor shaft 87 of a motor 86 is fixed to the bottom portion of the turntable 84, and when the motor 86 is driven, the turntable 84 is rotated.
The mounting portions 83A and 83B of the mounting table 82 are respectively caved so as to correspond to the 12 cm-disk 10 and the 8 cm-disk 10. Further, each of the mounting portions 83A and 83B has a through hole 82A through which the turntable 84 is passed. The through hole 82A has a diameter that is slightly larger than that of the ring portion 85A of the turntable 84.
Therefore, the turntable 84 moves vertically along the mounting table 82 that stops at a predetermined position, while passing through the through hole 82A. Namely, the turntable 84 moves the disk 10 up/down with respect to the mounting portion 83A.
The damper 90 is rotatably mounted to a supporting portion 94, and has a ring-shaped magnet 92. Further, an unillustrated hole is formed at the damper 90 so as to correspond to the configuration of the trunk portion 85B of the turntable 84. When the trunk portion 85B passes through the unillustrated hole, the magnet 92 magnetically attracting the ring portion 85A of the metal turntable 84 chucks the damper 90 (including the magnet 92) and the turntable 84 with each other.
On the other hand, in the disk apparatus 80 that is shown in
In the disk apparatus 80, the mounting portion 83A or 83B on which a 12 cm-disk or an 8 cm-disk 10 is mounted must be formed on the mounting table 82 to be concentric with each other. Further, in order to appropriately mount on the mounting portion 83A of the mounting table 82 a so-called deformed disk which is formed into a heart shaped configuration or the like, it is necessary to correspond the configuration of the mounting portion 83A to that of the deformed disk. However, it is difficult to make the configuration of the mounting portion 83A correspond to various configurations of the deformed disks.
Accordingly, it is difficult to appropriately mount and chuck all of the disks such as the deformed disks onto the mounting portion 83A or 83B. A problem is caused in that smooth and reliable chucking cannot be conducted on all of the disks.
Further, when the turntable is attached to the mounting table 82, in order to connect the motor to the turntable, connection portions of the motor and the turntable are reliably positioned at a predetermined position therebetween. On the other hand, if a distance between a disk surface of the disk attached to the turntable and a pickup varies, a focal distance between the disk surface and the pickup may displace, and thereby causes a problem in that a focus servo control does not work successfully.
The distance between the disk surface and the pickup should be strictly adjusted such that the tolerance of the distance with respect to a reference value is ±0.1 mm. Further, during the rotation of the turntable, when the rotation center is displaced in the radial direction thereof, a case in which a tracking serve control does not work appropriately. As described above, if the focus servo control or the tracking servo control does not work appropriately, a case occurs in which a reproducing operation cannot be carried out.
A conventional disk changer comprises a tray on which a plurality of turntables on each of which a disk is mounted is disposed, a motor for the tray that rotates the tray by being connected to the tray, a pickup for reproducing data from the disk mounted on the turntable, a spindle of a spindle motor that is connected to the turntable, a chassis on which the spindle motor and the pickup are disposed, and a motor for the chassis for moving the chassis so that the spindle is connected to the turntable of the tray.
When a disk mounted on the turntable is reproduced, after the disk-change has been carried out, the spindle and the turntable must be connected to each other. Namely, the tray is rotated through the motor for the tray, so that the turntable having a disk mounted thereon corresponds to the spindle of the chassis. Thereafter, the chassis is moved (upward) through the motor for the chassis in order to connect the spindle to the turntable of the tray.
Further, in the conventional disk changer, a rotational movement of the tray and a (vertical) movement of the chassis have been performed by separate motors comprising a motor for the tray and a motor for the chassis. Therefore, in the conventional disk changer, since two motors have been required, separate gears have been also required for forming a driving path for the motors. Accordingly, the conventional disk changer requires more parts, needs be structured in a more complicated manner, and is thereby manufactured at more expense.
As described above, among the conventional disk changers, there has been provided a type of a disk changer comprising a tray in which a plurality of turntables on each of which a disk is mounted is disposed, a pickup for reproducing data from the disks mounted on the turntables, and a spindle of a spindle motor that is connected to each of the turntables, and a chassis on which the spindle motor and the pickup are disposed.
The aforementioned type of the disk changer is structured such that the turntables that are rotatably disposed on the tray and the spindle of the spindle motor that is disposed at the chassis can be separated from each other. For this reason, in the state in which each of the turntables and the spindle are not connected to each other (such as in a disk-change mode), for example, the bottom surface of each of the turntable abuts the upper surface of the tray.
On the other hand, in the state in which the turntable and the spindle are connected to each other (such as in a play mode), for example, in order not to damage a rotation of the turntable, the spindle is used to separate (float) the turntable from the tray and prevent the turntable and the tray from abutting to each other.
When a disk mounted on the turntable is reproduced, after a disk-change has been carried out, the spindle and the turntable must be connected to each other. Namely, the tray is rotated so as to correspond the turntable having a disk mounted thereon to the spindle of the chassis, and thereafter, the chassis is moved (upward) so that the spindle is connected to the turntable of the tray.
In the conventional disk changer described above, since the turntable disposed on the tray and the spindle of the spindle motor disposed on the chassis are structured to be separated from each other, a gap (play) must be formed between the turntable and the tray in order to separate (float) the turntable from the tray.
In the state in which the turntable and the tray are not connected to each other, for example, during the disk-change during which the tray is rotating or while the disk apparatus is being carried, a play between the turntable and the tray causes a so-called rattling noise.
In the conventional disk changer, in a connection mode in which the spindle and the turntable are connected to each other, the chassis is supported to the apparatus body merely by an operation lever. Namely, in the connection mode, for example, when a disk is attached or detached with respect to the turntable, it is feared that an unexpected load is applied to the tray, thus entering an unstable state. In this case, attaching/detaching operation of a disk with respect to the turntable becomes difficult.
In the above-described conventional disk changer, in a case in which a tray is formed into a rectangular shape having solid-angle portions, for example, because the tray rotates, a gap between each of turntables disposed on the tray and an opening portion of a panel must be made larger. Namely, in this case, since a user needs to stretch his or her hand to the turntable at a position that is separated from the opening portion of the panel, an attaching/detaching operation of a disk with respect to the turntable becomes difficult.
On the other hand, among conventional disk apparatuses, there has been provided a type of a disk apparatus in which an engaging member (balls, coil springs, and the like) for positioning a disk on a mounting surface of a turntable is provided at the turntable. Then, in order to position (attach) a disk on the mounting surface of the turntable, the disk must pass through the engaging member.
When a disk is incompletely attached to the turntable, information recorded on the disk cannot be reproduced. Further, in a disk changer of a type in which a tray being rotated, when a disk is incompletely attached to a turntable disposed on the tray, it is feared that, during a rotation of the tray, the disk flies away from the turntable due to a centrifugal force.
As shown in
In the disk changer 300 shown in
Further, conventionally, as a disk holding apparatus for holding a disk at a turntable, a ball-chuck mechanism is provided at a trunk portion of the turntable. As shown in
When the disk 10 shown in
In the ball-chuck mechanism shown in
When the disk 10 engaged by the balls 474 is forcibly detached from the turntable 470, the disk 10 is prone to be damaged so that a careful handling is needed during the detachment of the disk 10.
In order to solve the aforementioned facts, it is considered to reduce the urging force of the coil springs. However, in this case, when a shock is applied to the apparatus body, it is feared that the disk 10 is easily ejected from the trunk portion 471.
An object of the present invention is to provide a disk supporting apparatus whose space is minimized, and can be manufactured simply and inexpensively.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk holding apparatus and a disk apparatus in which positioning between a turntable and a disk is carried out smoothly and reliably.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the disk apparatus in which both rotation of a tray having a plurality of turntables disposed thereon and movement of a holder having information processing means disposed thereon are carried out via a common driving path.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the disk apparatus in which a rattle or a rattling noise due to a play between the turntable and the tray can be prevented.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the disk apparatus in which a disk can be detached or attached with respect to a turntable with more excellent workability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the disk apparatus in which it is detected whether or not a disk is appropriately attached to the turntable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the disk apparatus in which an apparatus body having a tray which is formed into a triangular configuration as seen from a plan view is made compact.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk holding apparatus in which a disk is reliably held on a turntable even if a weak urging force is applied to urge an engaging means.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk holding apparatus in which a turntable and first driving means can be connected to each other and positioned smoothly and reliably.
The disk supporting apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention characterized in that the apparatus comprises, first holding means for rotatably holding a disk, and supporting means for supporting a plurality of the first holding means to be concentric therewith, wherein the supporting means rotates to be concentric with the first holding means.
In accordance with the disk supporting apparatus of claim 1 of the present invention, since disks are supported and held rotatably by the plurality of first holding means that are supported concentrically with the supporting means, a disk can be inclined or placed upright at each of the first holding means. In this case, a planar dimension (space) of the disk supporting apparatus can be saved.
The disk supporting apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the first holding means is connected to or released from disk driving means that is provided at reproducing means for reproducing the disk, and in a reproducible state of the disk held by the first holding means, the supporting means support the first holding means, and surfaces of respective disks form faces of a polygonal pyramid configuration including a predetermined point on the axis, as a vertex.
In accordance with the disk supporting apparatus of claim 3 of the present invention, since, in a reproducible state of the disk held by the first holding means, the supporting means support the first holding means, and surfaces of respective disks form faces of a polygonal pyramid configuration including a predetermined point on the axis, as a vertex, a planar dimension (space) of the disk supporting apparatus can be lessened. Namely, in accordance with the disk supporting apparatus of claim 3 of the present invention, since a planar dimension of the disk supporting apparatus of the present invention becomes narrower than that of a conventional turntable, a plurality of disks can be disposed at the disk supporting apparatus.
The disk supporting apparatus according to claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that a distance between the engaging portion and an opening end portion of the supporting portion is shorter than a radius of a disk. In accordance with the disk supporting apparatus of claim 5 of the present invention, since the distance between the engaging portion and the opening end portion of the supporting portion is shorter than the radius of the disk, the supporting portion can be made smaller than a mounting portion of a conventional turntable.
The disk holding apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a turntable for rotatably holding a disk, first driving means for rotating and driving the turntable, and connecting means for connecting the first driving means and the turntable to each other, wherein the first driving means and the turntable are self-held by the connecting means.
The disk apparatus according to claim 7 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a turntable for rotatably holding a disk, disk driving means which can be connected to or released from a turntable for rotating and driving the turntable, connecting means for connecting the turntable and the first driving means to each other, and first moving means for moving the turntable between one position at which the turntable and the first driving means are connected to each other and another position.
In accordance with the disk supporting apparatus or the disk apparatus of claim 6 or 7 of the present invention, a disk is held at the turntable. The connecting means connects the first driving means and the turntable to each other. In this connecting state, the connecting means self-holds the first driving means and the turntable. Here, “self-holding” is an idea that the first driving means and the turntable are held by being tightly kept in contact with each other due to a magnetic force and the like. In other words, in accordance with claim 6 or 7 of the present invention, since the turntable and the first driving means are self-held by the connecting means, they can be connected to each other smoothly and reliably.
In the above-described connecting state, the first driving means is driven to rotate the turntable, and accordingly, the disk held by the turntable is rotated. Further, connection of the first driving means and the turntable is released by the connecting means.
In accordance with the disk supporting apparatus or the disk apparatus of claim 6 or 7, if a disk apparatus is structured so as to move the turntable between one position at which the turntable and the first driving means are connected to each other and the other, a disk is rotatably held at the turntable in advance, and the disk is not displaced from the turntable, whereby a conventional mis-chucking of a disk can be prevented. Further, In accordance with the present invention of claims 6 and 7, since a disk is rotatably held at the turntable in advance, even when a deformed disk is used, the disk can be positioned smoothly and reliably at the turntable.
The disk holding apparatus according to claim 8 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a turntable which has a first connecting portion and rotatably holds a disk, first driving means which has a second connecting portion that connects to the first connecting portion for rotatably driving the turntable, connecting means for connecting the first driving means and the turntable to each other by connecting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and first positioning means for positioning one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion in the state in which the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected to each other.
In accordance with the disk holding apparatus of claim 8 of the present invention, the disk is held at the turntable. The first driving means and the turntable are connected to each other by the connecting means. Further, One of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion is positioned by the first positioning means in the state in which the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected to each other. Then, in the aforementioned connected state, the first driving means is driven to rotate the turntable. Accordingly, the disk held at the turntable is rotated. Moreover, connection of the first driving means and the turntable is released by the connecting means.
In accordance with the disk holding apparatus of claim 8 of the present invention, the first positioning means urges one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion in a single direction (a direction of a “reference surface” in a first embodiment of the present invention that will be described below). Accordingly, a radial alignment of the first driving means and the turntable is carried out. Consequently, a rotational run-out of the turntable that may occur during the rotation of the first driving means can be prevented.
Further, in accordance with the disk holding apparatus of claim 8 of the present invention, a distance between a pickup disposed at the disk apparatus and the disk attached to the turntable and a rotational center of the turntable is always maintained constant. Accordingly, the focus servo and the tracking servo can appropriately be controlled.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 9 of the present invention, even if the disk apparatus is structured so as to move the turntable between one position at which the turntable and the first driving means are connected to each other and the other, since a disk is rotatably held at the turntable in advance, the disk is not displaced from the turntable. Accordingly, conventional mis-chucking of a disk can be prevented. Further, in accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 9 of the present invention, since a disk is rotatably held at the turntable in advance, even when a deformed disk is used, the disk can be positioned smoothly and reliably at the turntable.
The disk apparatus according to claim 10 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a tray which is rotatably disposed and which has turntables on which disks are mounted, the turntables being disposed so as to correspond to a plurality of supporting portions; a holder which has connecting means which is movably disposed so as to connect to each of the turntables and which has information processing means for conducting information processing with respect to the disks, and second driving means for rotating the tray and moving the holder via a common driving path.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 10 of the present invention, since the tray is rotated and the holder is moved, respectively, by the same second driving means and a common driving path, the number of parts used for the apparatus of the present invention can be reduced as compared to those in a conventional disk changer, whereby the disk apparatus is structured more simply and manufactured inexpensively.
The disk apparatus of claim 11 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a tray which is disposed rotatably and which has turntables on which disks are mounted so as to correspond to a plurality of supporting portions, information processing means which has connecting means which is movably disposed so as to connect to each of the turntables and which conducts information processing with respect to a disk, and lock means which locks the turntable at a predetermined position in an unconnected mode in which the connecting means is not connected to the turntable.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 11 of the present invention, the lock means locks the turntable at a predetermined position in the unconnected mode in which the connecting means is not connected to the turntable. On the other hand, in the connected mode in which the connecting means is connected to the turntable, the lock means is separated from the turntable, the turntable is floated away from the tray, and becomes rotatable.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 11 of the present invention, the lock means locks the turntable at a predetermined position in an unconnected mode in which the connecting means is not connected to the turntable. Accordingly, even when the turntable and a spindle are not connected to each other, for example, during a disk change time at which the tray is rotating, or at the time when the disk apparatus is carried, occurrence of a rattle or a rattling noise due to a play between the turntable and the tray can be prevented.
The disk apparatus according to claim 12 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a movable tray which has turntables on which disks are mounted, information processing means that has connecting means which is movably disposed so as to connect to each of the turntables and that performs information processing with respect to the disks, and third positioning means for positioning the information processing means for which connection between the connecting means and the turntable has been completed.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 12 of the present invention, the third positioning means positions the information processing means in the state in which connection between the connecting means and the turntable has been completed. Therefore, when a disk is detached or attached with respected to a turntable, if an unexpected load is applied to the tray, the tray is reliably supported. Accordingly, since the tray for which the connection between the connecting means and the turntable has been completed is reliably supported by the third positioning means, the disk can be detached or attached with respect to the turntable with more excellent workability.
The disk apparatus of claim 13 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a tray which has solid-angle portions and on which turntables having disks mounted thereon are disposed, an apparatus body for rotatably supporting the tray, a panel having an opening portion through which disks are attached to/removed from a turntable, and second moving means for moving the apparatus body in order to place the tray in the vicinity of the panel when a disk is attached to/removed from the turntable through the opening portion.
The second moving means moves the apparatus body in order to place the tray in the vicinity of the panel when a disk is attached to/removed from the turntable through the opening portion i.e., after the tray has been rotated (e.g. after a disk has been changed). Namely, in accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 13 of the present invention, after the disk has been changed, the second moving means moves the apparatus body in order to place the tray in the vicinity of the panel. Accordingly, a gap between the turntable and the opening portion of the panel becomes smaller than that of a conventional disk apparatus. As a result, a disk is attached to/removed from the turntable through the opening portion with more excellent workability.
The disk apparatus of claim 14 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a turntable having a mounting surface for mounting a disk thereon, second holding means that is disposed at the turntable and holds a disk on the mounting surface, and detecting means for detecting whether or not a disk is inclined with respect to the mounting surface when the disk is positioned at the second holding means.
When a disk is not appropriately attached to the turntable, i.e., when a disk is placed on the second holding means, the detecting means detects that the disk is inclined with respect to the mounting surface of the turntable. On the other hand, when a disk is appropriately attached to the turntable, the detecting means detects that the disk is mounted on the mounting surface in parallel thereto.
Consequently, since the detecting means detects that a disk is not appropriately attached to the turntable, in the disk changer, for example, a disk is prevented from flowing away from the turntable due to a centrifugal force.
The disk apparatus of claim 15 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a tray which has a plane surface having triangular solid-angle portions and which is provided with a plurality of supporting portions at which turntables having disks mounted thereon are disposed, an apparatus body for rotatably supporting the tray, and sliding means that, during the rotation of the tray, slides the tray in a direction opposing a direction in which one solid-angle portion protrudes, from an initial position at which one supporting portion is positioned at a front of the apparatus body.
During the rotation of the tray, the sliding means slides the tray in the direction opposing the direction in which one solid-angle portion protrudes from an initial position at which one supporting portion is positioned at a front of the apparatus body. Namely, in accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 15 of the present invention, during the rotation of the tray, since the sliding means slides the tray such that the solid-angle portion of the tray does not protrude from the apparatus body, the apparatus body can be made more compact than a conventional one.
The disk holding apparatus of claim 16 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a turntable having both a mounting portion on which a disk is mounted and an attachment portion onto which a central hole of the disk is fitted, engaging means which is disposed at the turntable and moves in a radial direction to thereby engage the disk with the attachment portion, urging means which is disposed at the turntable and urges the engaging means away from the attachment portion, control means that is movably disposed at the turntable to control the engaging means to move into the attachment portion, and release means which is movably disposed at the turntable to release the control means from the engaging means.
When a disk is mounted on the turntable, the engaging means abuts the disk in order to hold the disk at the turntable. The release means is moved in order to detach a disk from the turntable. When the release means is moved, the engaging means becomes movable into the attachment portion, and a disk becomes detachable from the mounting portion. Thereafter, the disk is detached from the turntable.
On the other hand, in the state in which the engaging means and the control means are opposed to each other (e.g. in the stop mode), even if unexpected force (load) is applied into a disk, the engaging means is appropriately positioned by the control means so that a disk can be appropriately held at the turntable.
In accordance with the disk holding apparatus of claim 16 of the present invention, for example, even if a shock is applied to the apparatus body, since the engaging means and the control means abut with each other, a disk is not easily ejected from the turntable, and the disk can reliably be held at the turntable.
The disk holding apparatus of claim 18 of the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a turntable which has a third connecting portion and rotatably holds a disk, first driving means which can be connected to the turntable and drives to rotate the turntable and has a fourth connecting portion which connects to the third connecting portion, and second positioning means for positioning the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion in a connected state thereof.
The second positioning means positions the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion in the connected state thereof. In this state, the first driving means is driven to rotate the turntable, and accordingly, a disk held at the turntable rotates.
In accordance with the disk holding apparatus of the claim 18 of the present invention, the disk holding apparatus is structured to be connectable to the turntable. However, since the second positioning means is provided between the third connecting portion of the turntable and the fourth connecting portion of the first driving means, the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion are tightly connected and secured to each other by the second positioning means, whereby the turntable becomes more resistant to vibration.
Further, in accordance with the disk holding device of claim 18 of the present invention, since the second positioning means is provided between the third connecting portion of the turntable and the fourth connecting portion of the first driving means, the first driving means and the turntable are radially aligned to each other, whereby a rotational run-out of the turntable during the rotation of the first driving means can be prevented.
Moreover, in accordance with the disk holding device of claim 18 of the present invention, since a distance between a pickup provided at the disk apparatus and a disk attached to the turntable, and a rotational center of the turntable are maintained constant, a focus servo and a tracking servo are normally controlled.
With reference to
Overall Structure of the Component Stereo Apparatus
As shown in
An unillustrated opening/closing button for opening/closing the door leaf 14 is disposed at the stereo apparatus, and due to an operation of an opening/closing button, the door leaf 14 is slid to open/close the opening portion 13. Further, an unillustrated tuner, tape recorder or the like is incorporated in the stereo apparatus.
Structure of the Disk Changer
As shown in
A pickup 36 is disposed so as to move slidably at the disk drive unit 24. A motor 38 (see
A head portion 40A whose diameter is larger than that of the motor shaft 39 is formed at a tip end portion of the ring member 40. The tip end portion of the head portion 40A is tapered. A magnet member 41 for constituting the connecting means is concentrically fixed to the ring member 40 at the head portion 41 side thereof.
As shown in
A top portion 46 as a rotational center of the tray 26 is flat shaped, and accordingly, formed into a truncated polygonal pyramid configuration. As shown in
A motor 52 for rotating and driving the tray 26 is mounted at a proximal end of the spindle 50. Due to a rotation of the motor 52, the tray 26 rotates around the vertex P1 (i.e., the shaft center P2 of the spindle 50) as a center. Further, unillustrated selection keys corresponding to the respectively supporting portions 44 are disposed at the stereo apparatus. Namely, inherent identifiers (identification numbers) are previously denoted to the respective supporting portions 44. Due to an operation of a selection key corresponding to each of the identification numbers, the tray 26 rotates around the spindle 50 as a center, and the selected supporting portion 44 faces the door leaf 14 (i.e., the opening portion 13) shown in
As shown in
A ball-chuck mechanism as holding means for rotatably holding the disk 10 is disposed at the trunk portion 42B of the turntable 42. As shown in
When the disk 10 is mounted on the mounting portion 42A, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The base 28 shown in
In the state in which the ring member 40 is separated from the turntable 42 (see
In the rotatable state of the turntable 42, the turntable 42 is rotated by the motor 38, and the pickup 36 shown in
As shown in
The first embodiment of the present invention corresponds to claim 4. A distance between the through hole 45 as an engaging portion and an opening end portion of the supporting portion 44 is structured to be shorter than a radius of the disk 10.
As shown in
Subsequently, a description of an operation of the present embodiment will be made. As shown in
Since the desired supporting portion 44 faces the opened opening portion 13, the disk 10 is attached to the turntable 42 of this supporting portion 44. Namely, the disk 10 is rotatably held at the supporting portion 44 by the turntable 42 having the ball-chuck mechanism (such as the balls 54).
In the present embodiment, the tray 26 is formed into a substantially triangular pyramid (three-dimensional) configuration, and a planar dimension thereof can be made smaller than that of a conventional turntable 492 (see
The turntable 42 for holding the disk 10 or 11 is not fixed to the supporting portion 44. Accordingly, in a waiting state shown in
On the other hand, in the state in which reproduction is enabled such that the magnet member 41 that is disposed at the disk drive unit 24 is connected to the ring member 43 of the turntable 42 (see
In order to face the supporting portion 44 of the tray 26 with the opening portion 13 in parallel thereto, the rotational axis P2 of the tray 26 may be inclined at a suitable angle. Therefore, it becomes necessary to use a conventional slide mechanism for sliding the tray 494 (see
In accordance with the present embodiment, since the ball-chuck mechanism including the balls 54 or the like is provided at the turntable 42, as shown in
In the state in which the tray 26 is stopped (see
As shown in
At this point, “self-holding” means that the ring member 40 and the turntable 42 for constituting the first drive means are held in the state of being magnetically kept in close contact with one another. Namely, in accordance with the present embodiment, the surfaces of the magnet member 41 and the ring member 43 are magnetically self-held so that connection between the turntable 42 and the ring member 40 can be carried out smoothly and reliably, and axial alignment between the motor 38 and the turntable 42 can be carried out smoothly and reliably.
In the state in which the turntable 42 is made rotatable, due to a driving of the motor 38, the turntable 42 is rotated. Accordingly, data recorded in the disk 10 is reproduced by the pickup 36.
As shown in
Accordingly, due to a rotation of the spindle 50 shown in
In the present embodiment, since the disk 10 (or 11) is rotatably held at the turntable 42 in advance, the disk 10 does not displace from the turntable 42. Namely, in the disk 10 according to the present embodiment, use of a conventional chucking becomes unnecessary, whereby mis-chucking does not occur.
In the present embodiment, if the 8 cm-disk 11 as shown in
In accordance with the present embodiment, since a mechanism capable of holding disks such as the ball chuck mechanism is disposed at the turntable 42, use of an eject prevention mechanism for preventing ejection of disks from the mounting portion when the stereo apparatus i.e., the disk changer 20 is subjected to a shock and inclined.
In the present embodiment, if the door leaf 14 is clear or semi-clear, the tray 26 becomes visually recognizable, and a rotational state of the tray 26 during the disk change also becomes recognizable. Namely, in accordance with the present embodiment, rotational operation of the tray 26 is unique, looks excellent and has something to satisfy users.
A connection mechanism shown in
As shown in
A groove 42C is formed along an outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion 42A. The through hole 45 is formed at the supporting portion 44 at a portion corresponding to the groove 42C of the mounting portion 42A. The groove 42C of the mounting portion 42A is rotatably fitted into the through hole 45.
The groove of the turntable 42C is fitted into the through hole 45 of the supporting portion 44, and the turntable 42 is rotatably supported by the supporting portion 44. The metal ring member 43 as the connecting means is fixed to the mounting portion 42A of the turntable 42 on the surface facing the ring member 40.
The hole 56 as shown in
The guide portion 56A has a diameter that is almost twice as large as that of the motor shaft 39. The reference portion 56B has an intermediate diameter between the motor shaft 39 and the guide portion 56A. Further, the guide portion 56 is tapered at the reference portion 56B side to guide the motor shaft 39 when the motor shaft 39 is inserted into the reference portion 56B of the hole 56.
As shown in
A mounting portion 56E is formed in continuous with the arc surface 56D at a portion of the turntable 42 so as to face the reference surface 56C. A plate spring 57 for constituting the first positioning means is disposed at the mounting portion 56E. The plate spring 57 has a base portion 57A that is fixed to an outer surface of the trunk portion 42B of the turntable 42 via an unillustrated fixing means (for example, vis).
A folded portion 57B which is folded into a substantially V shape is formed at a free end side of the plate spring 57. Further, the plate spring 57 is mounted such that the folded portion 57B is positioned within the reference portion 56B. And as shown in
In the state in which the motor shaft 39 is inserted into the hole 56, the magnet member 41 magnetically attracting the metal ring member 43 connects the turntable 42 and the motor 38 with each other. Namely, the base 28 shown in
In this connecting state, by urging the motor shaft 39 to the reference surface 56C by using the plate spring 57, the motor shaft 39 and the turntable 42 are center-aligned by the outer circumferential surface of the motor shaft 39 and the reference surface 56C at the shaft center P4. Further, an axial alignment between the motor 38 and the turntable 42 is carried out on the basis of a distance between the surfaces of the magnet member 41 and the ring member 43 when they are connected to each other.
In the example in
For this reason, as shown in
When a predetermined length of the motor shaft 39 is inserted into the hole 56, the magnet member 41 is kept into contact with the ring member 43, whereby the metal ring member 43 is magnetically attracted to and connected to the magnet member 41. In this connected state, the turntable 42 and the ring member 40 are self-held by the magnetic member 41 and the ring member 43.
Accordingly, in accordance with the present embodiment, a distance L1 (see
In the state in which the turntable 42 is rotatable (i.e., the state shown in
With reference to
As shown in
The motor 38 shown in
In the present embodiment, the elastic portion 48 is pressed toward the arc potion 49 by the motor shaft 39, and the reference portion 56B is deformed by the motor shaft 39. Then, in the state in which the motor shaft 39 is inserted into the reference portion 56B, the motor shaft 39 is urged toward the reference surfaces 56C by the elastic portion 48.
Accordingly, in accordance with the present embodiment, the motor shaft 39 and the turntable 42 are center-aligned by the outer circumferential surface of the motor shaft 39 and the reference surface 56C at the shaft center P4. Accordingly, a radial alignment of the motor shaft 39 and the turntable 42 can be carried out smoothly and reliably. Further, since other arrangement, operation, and effect of the present embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment shown in
With reference to
As shown in
In the state in which the motor shaft 39 is inserted into the reference 56B, the motor shaft 39 is urged toward the vertex 74A of the reference surface 74 by the elastic portion 48. Accordingly, in accordance with the present embodiment, since the motor shaft 39 and the turntable 42 are center-aligned at the shaft center P4 (see
With reference to
As shown in
Abutting portions 79 are formed into a V-shaped configuration at portions of the hole 78 corresponding to the end portions 76B of the plate spring 76. In the state in which the motor shaft 39 is inserted into the hole 78, the plate spring 76 and the abutting portion 79 and the motor shaft 39 and the hole 78 are concentric with each other at the shaft center P4.
The abutting portions 79 are formed respectively at both axial end portions of the hole 78, and an axial movement of the plate spring 76 in the axial direction of the hole 78 is controlled by a pair of the abutting portions 79. Accordingly, as shown in
Therefore, in the state in which the motor shaft 39 is inserted into the hole 78, the plate spring 76 is urged toward a sidewall 78A of the hole 78 corresponding to the plate spring 76. Then, the motor 39 is kept in contact with two points of the plate spring 76 and with one point of the sidewall 78A of the hole 78 so that the motor 39 and the hole 78 become concentric with each other at the shaft center P4. Namely, the present embodiment relates to an example in which positioning of the motor shaft 39 with respect to the hole 78 is carried out by the plate spring 76.
In accordance with the present embodiment, the motor shaft 39 and the turntable 42 are center-aligned at the shaft center P4 by the plate spring 76 and the sidewall 78A of the hole 78 corresponding to the plate spring 76. Accordingly, the motor shaft 39 and the turntable 42 can be radially aligned smoothly and reliably. Further, since other arrangement, operation, and effect of the present embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment shown in
With reference to
The door leaf 14 of the present embodiment is structured so as to rotate around the supporting shaft 59 as a center. Since other arrangement, operation and effect are similar to those shown in
With reference to
The disk changer 20 comprises the supporting portions 44 that are respectively disposed so as to correspond to the door leaves 14. Namely, the present embodiment is structured such that two of the supporting portions 44 are right-angled to each other. Since other arrangements are the same as those in
In the present embodiment, since the door leaf 14, through which the disk 10 can be attached to/removed from a turntable, are provided at two positions. Accordingly, while the disk 10 that is placed on one supporting portion 44 is reproduced, the disk 10 can be attached/detached with respect to the other supporting portion 44. Since other operation and effect are similar to those in the embodiment shown in
With respect to
In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a chucking mechanism of the disk 10 (or 11) is operated by a turntable 60 and a damper 62 clamping the disk 10 (see an imaginary line of
In the present embodiment, each of supporting portions 66 of a tray 64 has a space that is larger than that of the example shown in
The damper 62 is movably disposed at a portion that opposes the opening portion 13. Further, in a disk changer 58, in the state in which the turntable 60 and the ring member 40 are connected to each other (i.e., a state in which the disk is rotatable), as shown in
In the present embodiment shown in
This embodiment is suitable for holding a disk encased in a cartridge such as a mini-disk. The cartridge is supported by a holding portion provided at each of the supporting portions 66, and the disk encased in the cartridge is held at the turntable, whereby operational effects similar to the above-description can be obtained. Since other operation and effect are the same as those in the embodiment shown in
With reference to
In the present embodiment, a configuration of each of the supporting portions 44 and a relational position between the hook piece 68 and each supporting portion 44 of the embodiment shown in
As shown in
In accordance with an embodiment shown in
With reference to
Overall Structure of the Component Stereo Apparatus
A disk changer 120 as shown in
An unillustrated opening/closing button for opening/closing the door leaf 114 is disposed at the stereo apparatus. Due to an operation of the opening/closing button, the door leaf 114 is slid so that the opening portion 113 is opened/closed. Further, an unillustrated tuner, tape recorder or the like is incorporated in the stereo apparatus.
Overall Structure of the Disk Changer
As shown in
The disk drive unit 124 (the base 129) rotates (inclined) with respect to the frame 122 around the supporting shaft 130 as a center, and the tray 126 is rotatably supported by a support 123 standing upright from the frame 122.
The tray 126 is formed into a substantially triangular pyramid configuration whose side surfaces are formed by supporting portions 128. Namely, a plurality of the supporting portions 128 (three in the present embodiment) are formed integrally with the tray 126. Further, a turntable 180 is rotatably disposed at each of the supporting portions 128 so as to hold a disk such as 12 cm-disk 10 (see
Each supporting portion 128 is inclined such that a shaft center P6 (see
A shown in
Unillustrated selection keys that respectively correspond to each of the supporting portion 128 are disposed at the stereo apparatus. Namely, identifiers (identification numbers) to the respective supporting portions 128 are denoted in advance. Due to an operation of a selection key corresponding to each of the identification numbers, the tray 126 rotates around the spindle 183 as a center, and the selected supporting portion 128 thereby faces the door leaf 114 (i.e., the opening portion 113).
Driving Structure of the Disk Drive Unit 124 and the Tray 126
With reference to
The gear 138 has a small gear portion 138B whose diameter is smaller than that of the worm gear portion 138A. The small gear portion 138B is formed integrally with an upper portion of the worm gear portion 138A. A cam gear 140, at which a lower gear portion 141A is formed to mesh with the small gear portion 138B, is rotatably disposed at the frame 122. As shown in
The lower gear portion 141A is formed at the lower portion of the cam gear 140. The upper gear portion 141B is formed at the upper portion of the cam gear 140. The cam portion 142 is formed at the lower gear portion 141A side. The cam groove 143 is formed between the lower gear portion 141A and the upper gear portion 141B. Pins 144A and 144B are formed at the upper gear portion 141B side. Further, specific structures of the cam portion 142 and the cam groove 143 will be described later.
A gear 148 is rotatably disposed at a supporting base 146 mounted on the support 123. A small gear portion 148A is formed at the gear 148 and meshes with the upper gear portion 141B. The gear 148 has a large gear portion 148B whose diameter is larger than that of the small gear portion 148A. The large gear portion 148B is formed integrally with an upper portion of the small gear portion 148A. As shown in
As shown in
A gear ratio of the inner gear 127A to the upper gear portion 141B of the cam gear 140 is 3 (the inner tooth portion 127A):1 (an upper gear portion 141 B). That is to way, a gear ratio of the inner tooth portion 127A between non-tooth portion 127B to the upper gear portion is 1:1. Therefore, the tray 126 rotates one time while the cam gear 140 rotates 3 times.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Detents 154A, 154B, and 154C are respectively formed inside the gear portion 127 of the tray 126 so as to form an angle of 120° therebetween in order to detect a rotational position of the tray 126. As shown in
Operators 156A and 157A are slidably disposed at the switches 156 and 157. When the operator 156A or 157A is pressed, the switch 156 or 157 outputs on-signal to an unillustrated microcomputer as control means.
On the other hand, the detent 154A is circumferentially formed such that both the operator 156A of the switch 156 and the operator 157A of the switch 157 face the detent 154A. The detent 154B is circumferentially formed such that the operator 156A of the switch 156 solely faces the detent 154B. The detent 154C is also circumferentially formed such that the operator 157A of the switch 157 solely faces the detent 154C.
The unillustrated microcomputer judges a rotational position of the tray 126 on the basis of a detected signal (i.e., an on-signal) of the switches 156 or 157. A stop position sensor such as an unillustrated switch is disposed at the supporting base 146. The stop position sensor detects that the tray 126 in a stop mode is positioned at a predetermined stop position (i.e., a position at which the turntable 180 disposed at the supporting portion 128 faces a spindle 183 of a spindle motor 182 disposed at the disk drive unit 124). Further, the turntable 180 and the spindle 183 constitute the connecting means.
An unillustrated detecting portion is formed at the cam gear 140 at a portion corresponding to the aforementioned stop position sensor. A position of the detecting portion is predetermined such that the stop position sensor is turned on when the tray 126 is positioned at the predetermined stop position.
In the present invention, a structure for detecting a rotational position and a stop position of the tray 126 can arbitrarily be changed. For example, the present invention can be changed in such a manner that a gear ratio of the cam gear 140 to the inner tooth portion 127A of the tray 126 is 1:1, and a positional detection is done only for the cam gear 140. In this case, the present invention can be structured such that the rotational position and the stop position of the tray 126 (i.e., the supporting portion 128) can be detected only by the switches 156 and 157.
The driving path of the disk drive unit 124 will be explained next. The disk drive unit 124 moves vertically along the cam groove 143 of the cam gear 140. Namely, an operation lever 152 as is shown in
A pin-receiving portion 152A is formed at a substantially central portion of the operation lever 152. A pin 122B (see
Therefore, when the cam gear 140 rotates the motor 134 and the gear 138 for constituting the second driving means and the driving path, since the engaging pin 152B moves vertically along a cam configuration of the cam groove 143, the operation lever 152 thereby rotates around the pin 122B as a center. Further, as shown in
On the other hand, an elongated hole 152C is formed at the operation lever 152 at a tip end side (at the disk drive unit 124 side). The elongated hole 152C inclines downwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the operation lever 152. An engaging pin 124A is protruded from the disk drive unit 124. The engaging pin 124A is inserted into the elongated hole 152C of the operation lever 152, and is connected to the disk drive unit 124. Accordingly, when the operation lever 152 rotates, the disk drive unit 124 rotates (moves inclined) around the supporting shaft 130 as a center.
The disk drive unit 124 is positioned by a positioning lever (positioning means) 160. The positioning lever 160 operates in accordance with the cam portion 142 of the cam gear 140. Namely, the positioning lever 160 as is shown in
As shown in
The pin 162 is disposed at the front of the positioning lever 160 so as to protrude inwardly. The pin 162 is inserted into the pin-receiving portion 122C formed at the frame 122. Namely, the positioning lever 160 rotates around the pin 162 as a center. An engaging pin 163 is provided so as to protrude from the positioning lever 160 at a proximal end side (at the cam gear 140 side). The engaging pin 163 is disposed so as to abut the cam portion 142 of the cam gear 140.
As shown in
On the other hand, a pin-receiving portion 164 caves in the positioning lever 160 at the tip end side (at the side of the disk drive unit 124). A positioning pin 124B is provided so as to protrude from a side surface of the disk drive unit 124, and inserted into the pin-receiving portion 164 (see
In the present embodiment, the disk drive unit 124 is reliably positioned by the pin 124B being inserted into the pin-receiving portion 164 of the positioning lever 160. Namely, in the present embodiment, in a connection-complete state in which connection of the spindle 183 of the spindle motor 182 and the turntable 180 has been completed (the state as shown in
In accordance with the present embodiment, in the connection-complete state, since the positioning lever 160 positions the disk drive unit 124 in the connection complete state, when the disk 10 shown in
Next, with reference to
In the cam configuration of the cam groove 143, when the cam groove 143 is positioned over the cam gear 140, the disk drive unit 124 moves downwardly via the operation lever 152. Meanwhile, when the cam groove 143 is positioned beneath the cam gear 140, the disk drive unit 124 moves upwardly via the operation lever 152.
As shown in
In the cam region K3, the disk drive unit 124 is moved downwardly via the operation lever 152 (waiting mode), and enters a rotational mode for rotating the tray 126 (disk change mode). On the other hand, the cam region K5 comprising all of the cam regions K1, K2, and K4 stops a rotation of the tray 126 and enters a vertically moving mode for vertically moving the disk drive unit 124 (chucking mode).
In the first cam portion 143A, since the engaging pin 152B is moved downwardly (see
The second cam portion 143B inclines upwardly from the first cam portion 143A to the third cam portion 143C. The fourth cam portion 143D inclines downwardly from the third cam portion 143C to the first cam portion 143A. Namely, the second cam portion 143B and the fourth cam portion 143D moves the engaging pin 152B to the first cam portion 143A and the third cam portion 143C, respectively.
The cam portion 142 comprises a first cam surface 142A including a cam region K6 (within an angle range of 75°) between 0° and 10° and between 295° and 360°, and a second cam surface 142B including a cam region K7 between 10° and 295° (within an angle range of 285°). Further, a linear portion of the first cam surface 142A is between 320° and 345°. Moreover, the aforementioned linear portion of the first cam surface 142A inclines upward at the front portion and inclines downward at the rear portion.
Since the engaging pin 163 moves upwardly on the cam surface 142B (see
In the stop or play mode of the disk changer 120, the operation lever 152 and the positioning lever 160 are positioned as shown in
When the cam gear 140 corresponds to an “ST” position, the disk change 120 is in a stop mode in which the disk changer 120 is disposed at the initial position, and the spindle 183 of the disk drive unit 124 is connected to the turntable 180 of the supporting portion 128.
Accordingly, in the stop or play mode shown in
The disk drive unit 124 is reliably supported by the positioning lever 160, and is held in the stop or play mode. Further, in the stop mode, each of the components for forming the disk changer 120 enters their initial state (a state in which the cam gear 140 corresponds to the “ST” position). Namely, if an unillustrated stop key is operated by a user in the play mode, when a stop position sensor (not shown) is turned on by an unillustrated detection portion of the cam gear 140, each of the components of the disk changer 120 stops in its initial state by the unillustrated microcomputer.
A description of the state of the disk changer 120 corresponding to the cam portion 142 (the cam surfaces 142A and 142B) and the cam groove 143 (cam portions 143A to 143D) of the cam gear 140 will be made hereinafter. Further, reference numerals (shown in
Operational State of the Operation Levers 152 and 160 Corresponding to the Cam Gear 140
When the engaging pin 163 moves from the ST position of the cam gear 140 to a position of the cam region K7, the positioning lever 160 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown in
When the engaging pin 152B moves along the cam region K2 of the cam gear 140, the engaging pin 152B moves upward, and the operation lever 152 thereby moves in a clockwise direction. Therefore, the disk drive unit 124 rotates in a counterclockwise direction around the supporting shaft 130 as a center, and accordingly, gradually moves downwardly.
The engaging pin 152B is positioned in the cam region K3 of the cam gear 140, as shown in
When the cam gear 140 further rotates, and moves along the cam region K4, the engaging pin 152B moves downwardly, and the operation lever 152 rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the disk drive unit 124 rotates in a clockwise direction around the supporting shaft 130, and accordingly, gradually moves upwardly.
When the engaging pin 152B is positioned at the cam region K1 of the cam gear 140, as shown in
Operational State of the Driving Path Corresponding to the Cam Gear 140
Next, with reference to
Further,
In the state shown in
As shown in
In the state of the scale of the cam groove 143 at an angle of 220° in
Due to a further rotation of the cam gear 140, as shown in
In
In the present embodiment, as described above, the motor 134 as a single second driving means rotates the tray 126, and moves (inclined) the disk drive unit 124 as a holder via a common driving path (comprising the motor shaft 135, the worm gear 136, the gear 138, and the cam gear 140). Namely, in accordance with the present embodiment, rotation of the tray 126 and inclined movement of the disk drive unit 124 are respectively carried out by the motor 134, the motor shaft 135, the worm gear 136, the gear 138, and the cam gear 140 in a common driving path, a number of parts can be reduced as compared to a conventional disk changer, and the disk changer can be structured simply and manufactured inexpensively.
Positioning Structure of the Tray 126 and the Disk Drive Unit 124
First, a structure of a stopper lever 170 will be explained. As shown in
As shown in
The concave portions 169 are respectively disposed within an angle range of 120°. As shown in
As shown in
Therefore, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The tray 126 that moves in accordance with the cam gear 140, the disk drive unit 124, and the like are structured such that the tip end of the tongue portion 171B faces the anchor portion 124C just before the stopper lever 170 rotates in a counterclockwise direction and the disk drive unit 124 moves upwardly.
Next, a structure of an engaging pin 125A will be explained. As shown in
When the support portion 128 of the tray 126 stops at a predetermined position corresponding to the opening portion 113 of the cabinet 112, due to a rotation of the disk drive unit 124 around the support shaft 130 as a center, the engaging pin 125A is fitted into the stopper portion 174, and the disk drive unit 124 positions the tray 126, and thereby prevents the tray 126 from rotating.
In the present embodiment, in the play mode or the stop mode in which the spindle 183 of the spindle motor 182 is connected to the turntable 180, since the stopper lever 170 and the engaging pin 125A are structured as described above, the disk drive unit 124 and the support portion 128 of the tray 126 can reliably be positioned.
Detection Structure of a Disk Attachment
As shown in
The turntable 180 is provided with a chucking mechanism as a holding means for rotatably holding the disk 10 at the trunk portion 180B. As shown in
When each of the engaging pawls 190 is pressed by the inner diametrical portion of the disk 10, the disk 10 passes through the engaging pawl 190, and is mounted on the mounting portion 180A. On the other hand, when the disk 10 is mounted on the mounting portion 180A, as shown in
An ejection button 192 is slidably disposed at an upper portion of the trunk portion 180B of the turntable 14. When the ejection button 192 is operated, the engaging pawl 190 is moved into the trunk portion 180B, and the disk 10 can be easily ejected from the turntable 14.
Among the plurality of the engaging pawls 190 with respect to the trunk portion 180B, at least one engaging pawl 190 is different from the other engaging pawls 190 in a height from a mounting portion 180A to each of the engaging pawls 190 at a side portion 190A (a portion protruding outwardly from the trunk portion 10B). In other words, the present embodiment is structured such that at least one engaging pawl 190 has a different height at its side portion 190A from a mounting portion 180A. For this reason, as shown in
As shown in
The infrared LEDs 194 and the phototransistors 198 are connected to the microcomputer. Then, the disk changer 120 is structured such that the infrared LEDs 194 emit light in response to operational signals from the microcomputer. The phototransistors 198 receive light from the reflectors 196 and transmit the detected signals to the microcomputer.
The pair of infrared LEDs 194, the reflectors 196, and the phototransistors 198 are located as shown by one dotted line in
As shown in
On the other hand, as shown in
If the microcomputer determines that the disk 10 is not appropriately attached to the turntable 180, neither rotation of the turntable 180 in the play mode nor rotation of the tray 126 in the disk change mode are permitted. The inappropriate attachment of the disk 10 to the turntable 180 is displayed or warned by unillustrated displaying means (such as a display) or warning means (such as a speaker voice).
Structure of the Chucking Mechanism of the Turntable 180
As shown in
A ring member 184 for constituting the connecting means is fixed to the spindle 183 of the spindle motor 182 shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The groove 180C of the turntable 180 is fitted into the through hole 128A of the supporting portion 128, whereby the turntable 180 is rotatably supported by the supporting portion 128. A connecting portion 180E is formed at the turntable 180 at a surface side of the mounting portion 180A so as to correspond to the ring member 184. The connecting portion 180E has a diameter that is larger than that of the through hole 128A. Further, a metal ring member 181 as the connecting means is fixed to the connecting portion 180E at a portion corresponding to the magnet member 185.
A hole 186 as is shown in
The taper portion 186C guides the tip end of the spindle 183 inserted into the hole 186. Further, an unillustrated plate spring is formed at the turntable 180 at a portion corresponding to the hole portion 186B. A substantially V-shaped curve portion (not shown) is formed at the plate spring. Then, the plate spring urges the spindle 183 toward a circumferential wall of the hole portion 186B in the state in which the spindle 183 is inserted into the hole portion 186B, and the unillustrated curve portion is kept in contact with the spindle 183.
As shown in
In this connection state, the unillustrated spindle 183 urges the spindle 183 toward the circumferential wall of the hole portion 186B. Accordingly, the spindle 183 and the turntable 180 are aligned at the axis center P7 by the outer circumferential surface of the spindle 183 and the circumferential wall of the hole portion 186B. Further, the spindle motor 182 and the turntable 180 are axially aligned with each other due to a connection between the surfaces of the magnet member 185 and the ring member 181.
On the other hand, in the state in which the ring member 184 is separated from the turntable 180 (in the state shown in
In the state in which the turntable 180 is able to rotate, as shown in
In the state in which the turntable 180 is able to rotate, the spindle motor 182 allows the turntable 180 to rotate, and a reproducing processing of data recorded in the disk 10 (see
Locking Structure of the Turntable 180 for the Supporting Portion 128
With reference to
A coil spring 206 is interposed between the pair of the clamping portions 202 and urges the pair of the clamping portions 202 always in a direction in which the clamping portions 202 are clamped (i.e., a direction in which each of the clamping portions 22 moves along the groove 180C of the turntable 180). Therefore, as shown in
Namely, in an unconnected state in which the magnet member 185 of the ring member 184 for constituting the connecting means is not yet connected to the ring member 181 of the turntable 180, the turntable 180 is mounted on the supporting portion 128 by its own weight (see
An engaging portion 204 is formed at each of the clamp portions 202 to open the clamp portions 202. The engaging portion 204 is positioned at each clamping portion 202 at the side of the support point 201, and an angle between the abutting portions 203 becomes larger. On the other hand, an engaging pin 125B is disposed at the disk drive unit 124 so as to correspond to the engaging portion 204. Further, a tapered taper portion 125C is formed at the tip end portion of the engaging pin 125B.
As shown in
Since the taper portion 125C of the engaging pin 125B is slightly inserted into the engaging portions 204, the clamp portions 202 are slightly open to resist the urging force from the coil spring 206 (see
A timing at which the clamp portions 202 are open (the abutting portions 203 are separated from each other) is one at which the engaging pin 125B is inserted into the engaging portions 203. Accordingly, control of the timing depends on a length (height) of the engaging pin 125B. Further, in the state shown in 42, a curve portion of an unillustrated plate spring does not abut the spindle 183.
When the disk drive unit 124 further rotates, as shown in
As shown in
When the disk drive unit 124 rotates, as shown in
The state shown in
Accordingly, in accordance with the present embodiment, in the aforementioned unconnected mode, since the clamp members 200 position the turntable 180 at a predetermined position, even if the turntable 180 and the spindle 183 are not connected to each other, for example, during a disk change time when the tray 126 is rotating, or during carrying of a disk apparatus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a rattle or a rattling noise due to a play between the turntable 180 and the supporting portion 128.
Operation of the Second Embodiment of the Present Invention
An operation of the present embodiment will be explained hereinafter. First, as shown in
In the stop mode, in order to mount the disk 10 on the turntable 180 of the supporting portion 128, due to an operation of the unillustrated button, the door leaf 114 is slid to open the opening portion 113. The supporting portion 128 is stopped so as to correspond to the opened opening portion 113, and the disk 10 is then mounted to the turntable 180 of the supporting portion 128.
In the present embodiment, in the stop mode i.e., in the state in which connection between the spindle 183 of the spindle motor 182 and the turntable 180 has been completed (in a connection-complete state), the positioning lever 160 positions the disk drive unit 124. Accordingly, during attachment/detachment of the disk 10 with respect to the turntable 180, even when an unexpected load is applied to the tray 126, the tray 126 is reliably supported. Consequently, in accordance with the present embodiment, since the tray 126 is reliably supported by the positioning lever 160 in the connection-complete state, workability in attaching/detaching the disk 10 with respect to the turntable 180 can improve.
When the disk 10 is attached to the turntable 180, as shown in
As shown in
If the microcomputer determines that the disk is not appropriately mounted to the turntable 180, rotation of the turntable 180 in the play mode or that of the tray 126 in the disk change mode later described is suppressed. Accordingly, it is displayed or warned by the unillustrated displaying means or warning means that the disk 10 is not appropriately mounted to the turntable 180.
In accordance with the present embodiment, since the infrared LEDs 194, the reflectors 196, and the phototransistors 198 as the detecting means detect that the disk 10 is not appropriately attached to the turntable 180, rotation of the turntable 180 in the play mode or that of the tray 126 in the disk change mode later described can be inhibited. Accordingly, in accordance with the present embodiment, during the rotation of the tray 126 or the like, the disk 10 is prevented from ejecting from the turntable 180 by the centrifugal force. Consequently, the disk 10 does not fall off from the tray 126.
If the disk is appropriately mounted on the turntable 180, reflected light from the reflectors 196 are not blocked by the disk 10, and are transmitted to the phototransistors 198. Accordingly, the microcomputer determines that the disk 10 is property mounted on the turntable 180. In this case, the microcomputer drives the spindle motor 182 or the motor 134 on the basis of an operational signal of a play key or a selection key for a disk change.
The play mode is maintained almost in the similar manner to the stop mode except that the spindle motor 182 rotates, and the pickup 178 slides to perform a reading processing of data from the disk 10. Then, since the turntable 180 rotates and the pickup 178 slides in the play mode, the reproducing (play mode) processing of data from the disk 10 is carried out by the pickup 178. Further, when the specified reproducing processing (play mode) is completed, a waiting mode (stop mode) shown in
Movement During the Disk Change
In the case of the disk change, the unillustrated selection key for the disk change is selected, and a desired supporting portion 128 is faced with the opening portion 113. Namely, the unillustrated microcomputer drives the motor 134 shown in
Therefore, the pin-receiving portion 164 of the positioning lever 160 is separated from the positioning pin 124B of the disk drive unit 124, and the operation lever 152 rotates the disk drive unit 124 in a counterclockwise direction around the supporting shaft 130 as a center. Namely, as shown in
As shown in
Namely, in accordance with the present embodiment, in the unconnected mode shown in
The tray 126 passes through the drive path comprising the motor 134, the cam gear 140, the gear 148, the drive gear 150, and the gear portion of the tray 126, and stops at a position at which the selected supporting portion 128 faces the opening portion 113 (see the above-description in
The operation lever 152 rotates the disk drive unit 124 in a clockwise direction around the support shaft 130 as a center, and the pin-receiving portion 164 of the positioning lever 160 is inserted into the positioning pin 124B of the disk drive unit 124.
In accordance with the present embodiment, in the stop mode (or play mode) in which the spindle 183 of the spindle motor 182 is connected to the turntable 180, the disk drive unit 124 and the supporting portion of the tray 126 are reliably positioned by structuring the stopper lever 170, the engaging pins 125A and the like as described above.
In the present embodiment, the tray 126 shown in
In accordance with the present embodiment, since both the rotation of the tray 126 and the inclined movement of the disk drive unit 124 are carried out through the motor 134 and the motor shaft 135, the worm gear 136, the gear 138, and the cam gear 140, the number of parts can be reduced as compared to the conventional disk changer, whereby the disk changer can be structured more simply, and manufactured inexpensively.
With respect to
As shown in
Meanwhile, a plate-shaped cam plate 214 is provided perpendicularly from a rear portion of the supporting apparatus 210 in a lengthwise direction thereof. As shown in
An engaging pin 217 is formed at a proximal end of the tilt lever 216, and is inserted into the cam groove 215 of the cam plate 214. An engaging pin 218 is formed at a tip end of the tilt lever 216, and is inserted into the cam groove 143 of the cam gear 140. Further, a supporting pin 222 protruding from the sidewall 220 of the frame 122 is pivotally supported at a solid-angle portion 216A of the tilt lever 216.
Since the engaging pin 218 is controlled by the cam groove 143 and moves vertically, the tilt lever 216 rotates around the supporting pin 222 as a center. When the tray 126 is rotated or when a disk is changed, as shown in
The tilt lever 216 rotates the disk changer 120 in a clockwise direction (see the arrow of
In the present embodiment, when the engaging pin 218 is positioned at the cam portion 143A of the cam groove 143, as shown by the imaginary lines of
The present embodiment is structured such that the entire disk changer 120 is made to come close to or separate from the cabinet 112 by using the cam groove 143 of the cam gear 140 for moving the disk drive unit 124. Accordingly, the disk changer 120 can be synchronized with the timing during the disk change.
Since other structures and operational effects of the present embodiment are the same as in the second embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, in the present invention, a structure of separating or approaching the entire disk changer with respect to the cabinet can be carried out by another driving means (a motor, an operation lever and the like) through an unillustrated sensor.
With reference to
As shown in
Meanwhile, as shown in
The cam apparatus 236 comprises the gear 237, a cam plate 238, and a connecting shaft 239 that connects the gear 237 and the cam plate 238 to each other. An ellipse-shaped cam groove 238A shown in
As shown in
Subsequently, with reference to
When the cam gear 140 rotates, the tray 126 rotates, and as shown in
Due to the further rotation of the cam gear 140, when the cam plate 239 rotates 90°, the disk changer 120 is returned to its initial position shown in
In the present embodiment, during the rotation of the tray 126, the cam gear 140 and the cam apparatus 236 that moves in accordance with the cam gear 140 slide the tray 126 in a direction opposed to a direction in which a solid-angle portion of the supporting portion 128 projects from the initial position at which the supporting portion 128 is positioned at the front surface of the apparatus body (see
The present embodiment is structured such that the cam gear 140 and the cam apparatus 236 are connected to each other, and accordingly, they can be synchronized with the timing of the disk change. Namely, in accordance with the present embodiment, when the tray 126 rotates ⅓ (120° rotation), and one adjacent supporting portion 128 comes to the front of the tray 126, the disk changer 120 can be slid in a widthwise direction.
In the present embodiment, the rotation of the tray 126 and the transverse (slide) movement of the disk changer 120 can create a unique combination of movements. Accordingly, for example, if the door leaf is formed by a clear, and visually recognizable material, users can enjoy a unique behavior of the disk changer 120. Since other structures and operational effects are the same as those of the second embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Further, in claim 15, the structure in which the entire disk changer moves (slides) with respect to the supporting apparatus may be realized by using another driving means (a motor, an operation lever and the like) via an unillustrated sensor. Further, in the present invention, the above-described second to fourth embodiments of the present invention can be combined arbitrarily and modified.
With reference to
Rotational Structure for Rotating the Turntable
As shown in
The connecting portion 417 is formed in continuous with the mounting portion 416, and an insertion portion 417B is formed between a lower portion 417A of the connecting portion 417 and the mounting portion 416. The insertion portion 417B has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the lower portion 417A. Further, a taper portion 417C is formed at the insertion portion 417B, tapering from the mounting portion 416 toward the insertion portion 417B. Moreover, a ring-shaped metal plate 432 is mounted to the lower portion 417A of the connecting portion 417.
The insertion portion 417B of the turntable 414 is inserted into a hole 435 of a tray 434. The hole 435 has substantial the same diameter as the maximum diameter of the taper portion 417C. In a connection state in which the spindle motor 440 is connected to the turntable 414 (a state shown in
In this connection state, in order not to prevent damaging the rotation of the turntable 414, the turntable 414 and tray 434 are inhibited from contacting with each other. When the spindle motor 440 rotates, the turntable 414 rotates via the spindle 20.
A plurality of the supporting portions 436 (for example, three in the present embodiment) is disposed at the tray 434 of the present embodiment. The turntables 414 are placed respectively on these supporting portions 436. Further, the tray 434 is formed into a substantially triangle pyramid configuration by inclining each of the supporting portion 436, and is able to rotate. Further, the spindle motor 440 is disposed at only predetermined position.
An insertion hole 418 is formed at the center of the turntable 414, and a spindle 441 of the spindle motor 440 is inserted thereinto. Further, a connection concave portion 419 in continuous with the insertion hole 418 is formed at the connection portion 417. The connection concave portion 419 has a diameter that is larger than that of the insertion hole 418, and a taper portion 419A is formed at the insertion hole 418 side of the connection concave portion 419 and is tapered toward the insertion hole 418.
A connection member 442 is disposed substantially at a center of the spindle 441. A connection portion 443 that is formed at the tip end of the connection member 442 is formed substantially in conformity with a configuration of the connection concave portion 419 of the turntable 414. Namely, the maximum diameter of the connection portion 443 is slightly smaller than that of the maximum hole diameter of the connection concave portion 419. In other words, the connection portion 443 can be inserted into the connection concave portion 419, and the connection portion 443 is prevented from being caught at an inner wall of the connection concave portion 419.
A ring shaped magnet 444 is mounted at a portion of the connection portion 443 corresponding to a metal plate 432 disposed at the connection portion 417. As shown in
As shown in
In the present embodiment, the spindle 441 serves as release means for releasing the locking member 428 as well as the connection portion. Further, the release means or the connection portion can be provided not only at the spindle 441 but also at the spindle motor 440.
The spindle motor 440 is mounted on an unillustrated base. When this base moves, the spindle 441 is inserted into the connection concave portion 419 and the insertion hole 418 of the turntable 414 or pulled out therefrom.
Structure of the Disk Holding Apparatus
As shown in
The hook lever 422 is plate-shaped, and comprises a lock portion 422A and the eject portion 422B formed thereon. The hook lever 422 is rotatably mounted to the turntable 414 via a pin 450 that is inserted between the lock portion 422A and the eject portion 422B.
As shown in
As shown in
In order to position the disk 10 at the turntable 414, a lock surface 423D of the lock portion 422A protruding from the hole 414A presses the disk 10 onto the mounting surface 416A. Further, as shown in
The inverting coil 424 comprises a substantially flat-shaped mounting portion 424A, and spring portions 425 that are formed in conformity with the mounting portion 424A. Further, the inverting coil 424 is formed as a one-piece component. The mounting portion 424A is mounted on the base 415B of the attachment portion 415, and a notch 424B is formed at a portion corresponding to the insertion hole 418 (see
The spring portions 425 are respectively disposed to correspond to the hook levers 422 (see
The tilt portion 425A is disposed so as to substantially correspond to a pin 450 of the hook lever 422. The spring portions 425 are formed so as to respectively abut the abutting surfaces 423A to 423C of the lock portion 422B. Namely, in a first abutting state in which the tilt portion 425A of the spring portion 425 abuts the abutting surface 423A of the lock portion 422B, a position at which the tilt portion 425A and the abutting surface 423A abut to each other is higher than the central position of the pin 450. Accordingly, the spring portion 425 urges the hook lever 422 in a clockwise direction (in directions of arrows of
In a second abutting state in which the tilt portion 425A of the spring portion 425 abuts the abutting surface 423A of the lock portion 422B (the state shown by solid line in
In the second abutting state, the abutting surface 423C abuts the connecting portion 425. Namely, a direction in which the hook lever 422 is urged can change in accordance with a position at which the hook lever 422 abuts the spring portion 425.
A substantially disk-shaped lock member 428 is slidably disposed along a plurality of guide portions 415D (two in the present embodiment) protruding from the base surface 415C. Namely, the lock member 428 is formed so as to slide along the shaft center of the turntable 414.
As shown in
The lock member 428 is urged to the base surface 415C by the coil spring 430, while the ejection button 426 is urged by the coil spring 430 in a direction the button 425 protrudes from the attachment portion 415.
The ejection button 426 is slidably disposed along the shaft center of the turntable 414. An unillustrated stopper is disposed at the ejection button 426 to suppress the ejection button 426 from falling off from the turntable 414, and as shown by a solid line in
An operation of the present embodiment will be explained. First, a case will be explained in which an arbitrary disk 10 is attached to the turntable 414. In this case, in the stop mode (the state shown in
As shown in
In the above-described connection state, since the hook lever 422 is in the state shown by a solid line or an imaginary line in
As shown in
When the tray 434 is rotated during the disk change or in the state in which the disk 10is attached to the turntable 470, the connection member 442 is separated from the connection portion 417. Namely, as shown in
For this reason in this state (in the stop mode or the play mode in which the connection member 442 of the spindle 441 is connected to the turntable 414), the lock surface 429 of the lock member 428 faces the abutting surface 423C of the hook lever 422, and enters in a lock state for controlling unexpected rotation of the hook lever 422. Further, it is not shown: however, the tray 434 rotates in the state the spindle 441 is completely separated from the turntable 414.
On the other hand,
In accordance with the present embodiment, a shock is applied to the disk apparatus body, the disk 10 is not easily ejected from the turntable 414, whereby the disk 10 can reliably be held at the turntable. Particularly in such a structure as in the present embodiment in which the tray 434 whose supporting portion 436 is inclined and which is rotated, it is essential to prevent the disk 10 attached to the turntable 414 from falling off from the turntable 414.
In the stop mode (the state shown in
The aforementioned embodiment is an example in which the spindle 441 is used as releasing means according to claim 16. However, in the invention according to claim 16, a button that s located at the upper portion of a turntable can be used as releasing means. Namely, the invention according to claim 17 can be applied to an apparatus of one type in which a turntable and a spindle motor can be connected to each other. However, in the same manner as this type, the invention according to claim 17 can be applied to an apparatus of another type in which a spindle is fixed to a turntable. In this case, in accordance with the operation of the button, the hook lever can be used to eject the disk from the turntable. In the same manner as this, only during attachment/detachment of a disk, the present invention can be structured such that the control means can be withdrawn from the engaging means.
With respect to
Structure of the Disk Holding Apparatus
As shown in
A substantially cylindrical attaching portion 515 into which a central hole 10A of the disk 10 is fitted, a flat-shaped mounting portion 516 for mounting the disk 10 thereon, and a connecting portion 517 as a third connection portion which is connected to the spindle motor 514 are integrally formed with one another at the turntable 514. Further, a taper surface 515A is formed at an upper portion of an outer circumferential surface 515B of the attaching portion 515. The outer circumferential surface 515B of the attaching portion 515 has a diameter that is slightly smaller than that of the central hole 10A of the disk 10.
The connection portion 517 is formed in continuous with the mounting portion 516, and an insertion portion 517B is formed between a lower portion 517A of the connection portion 517 and the mounting portion 516. The insertion portion 517B has a diameter that is smaller than that of the lower portion 517A. Further, a taper portion 517C is formed at the insertion portion 517B so as to taper from the mounting portion 516 to the insertion portion 517B. Moreover, a ring shaped metal plate 532 is mounted to the lower portion 517A of the connection portion 517.
The insertion portion 517B of the turntable 514 is inserted into a hole 5353 of the tray 534. The hole 535 has substantially the same diameter as a maximum diameter of the taper portion 517C. Then, in the state in which the spindle motor 540 is connected to the turntable 514 (the state that is shown in
In this connection state, in order to prevent damaging the rotation of the turntable 514, the turntable 514 and the tray 534 do not contact with each other. When the spindle motor 540 rotates, the turntable 514 rotates via the spindle 20.
A plurality (e.g. three) of supporting portions 536 is disposed at the tray 534 of the present embodiment, and the turntables 514 are respectively placed on these supporting portions 536. Further, each of the supporting portions 536 inclines to thereby form the tray 534 into a substantially triangular pyramid configuration, and make the tray 534 rotatable. Moreover, the spindle motor 540 is disposed at only predetermined position.
An insertion hole 518 is formed at the connection portion 517 inside the attaching portion 515 at a position corresponding to the attaching portion 515. A spindle 541 as a fourth connection portion of the spindle motor 540 is inserted into the insertion hole 518. Further, a connection concave portion 519 is formed at the connection portion 517 in continuous with the insertion hole 518. The connection concave portion 519 has a diameter that is larger than that of the insertion hole 518, and a taper portion 519A tapering toward the insertion hole 518 is formed at the insertion hole 518 side of the connection concave portion 519.
A ring-shaped connection member 542 having a substantially T-shaped cross-section is fixed to the spindle 541 at a substantially central portion thereof. A ring-shaped magnet 544 is mounted to the connection member 542 at a portion corresponding to a metal plate 532 that is disposed at the connection portion 517 thereof.
As shown in
The turntable 514 comprises a hook lever 522 that is disposed rotatably at the attaching portion 515, a spring 524 that always urges the hook lever 522 in an outer direction of the attaching portion 515, and an ejection button that is disposed slidably at an upper portion of the attaching portion 515, and coil springs 530 that are disposed at the ejection button 526 and on an upper surface 517D of the connecting portion 517, and an ejection lever 528 that is shown by an imaginary line.
The ejection lever 528 is disposed inside an elongated hole 516A that is formed at the attaching portion 515, and protrudes from the elongated hole 516A in accordance with the operation of the ejection button 526. Further, the hook lever 522 and the ejection lever 528 are disposed so as to separate from each other at a predetermined angle (120° in the present embodiment).
As shown in
A stopper 527 for suppressing the disk 10 from being removed from the turntable 514 is disposed at the ejection button 526. Further, the ejection button 526 is urged by the coil springs 530 in a direction in which the button 526 protrudes from the attaching portion 515, and during the operation of the ejection button 526, the spring 524 moves inwardly.
Structure of Second Positioning Means
As shown in
A sagittate-shaped hook 549 is formed at the tip end portion of each leg portion 548 so as to protrude outwardly. The hook 549 faces the lower surface 542A of the connection member 542 in the state in which the collar 546 is attached to the spindle 541 and the connection member 542. Namely, the hook 549 is used to suppress the collar 546 from falling off from the connection member 542.
As shown in
As shown in
The slits 547B shown in
Notches 547C are formed at the outer circumferential end portions of the head portion 547, and each of the notches 547C is formed into an arc shaped configuration which becomes larger from a portion close to the center of the head portion 547 to a circumferential portion thereof. Further, the notch 547C is not formed at the tip end of the head portion 547. Further, as shown in
As shown in
The configuration of the head portion 547 of the collar 546 substantially corresponds to that of the connection concave portion 519 of the turntable 514. Namely, the head portion 547 can be inserted into the connection concave portion 519 without being caught at the inner wall of the connection concave portion 519 during the insertion.
As shown in
The end portions of the leg portions 548 of the collar 546 are fitted into the grooves 542B so that the collar 546 is attached to the spindle 541 and the connection member 542. Further, the collar 546 is always urged toward a tip end 541A of the spindle 541by the urging force of the coil spring 550.
At this point, it is structured that the urging force of the coil spring 550 is smaller than the magnetic force of the magnet 544 at the time when the magnet 544 magnetically attracting the metal plate 532 integrates the connection member 542 and the turntable 514 with each other. Namely, in the state in which the turntable 514 and the connection member 542 (i.e., the spindle motor 540) are connected to each other (the state shown in
As described above, the hook 549 suppresses the collar 546 from falling off from the connection member 542. Further, the spindle motor 540 is mounted to an unillustrated base, and when this base moves, the spindle 541 is inserted into or withdrawn from the connection concave portion 519 and the insertion hole 518 of the turntable 514.
Subsequently, an operation of the present embodiment will be explained. First, a description of changing the play mode i.e., the separation state shown in
The spindle motor 540 that is separated from the turntable 514 moves toward the connection concave portion 519 of the turntable 514 that stops at a predetermined position. When the spindle motor 540 moves toward the connection concave portion 519, the spindle 541 and the collar 546 are inserted into the connection concave portion 519, and as shown in
Further, when the spindle motor 540 moves toward the connection concave portion 519, as shown in
When the outer circumferential surface of the collar 546 is pressed toward the inner wall of the connection concave portion 519, the slits 547A, the notches 547B, and the grooves 547C that are formed at the head portion 547 are used to elastically deform the head portion 547 and keep the outer circumferential surface of the collar 546 and the inner circumferential surface of the connection concave portion 519 in closer contact with each other. Namely, in the present embodiment, the collar 546 and the turntable 514 are kept in close contact with each other, whereby the collar 546 and the turntable 514 are rigidly integrated with each other to remove a rattle occurring between the tip end portion 541A of the spindle 541 and the insertion hole 518 of the turntable 514.
In accordance with the present embodiment, the coil spring 550 urges the collar 546 to the connection concave portion 519 to keep the collar 546 and the connection concave portion 519 in close contact with each other, a rattle between the tip end portion 541A of the spindle 541 and the insertion hole 518 of the turntable 514 can be prevented. Namely, in accordance with the present embodiment, even in a structure in which the spindle motor 540 is made connectable to the turntable 514, the collar 456 as the second positioning means is provided between the connection portion 517 of the turntable 514 and the connection member 542 of the spindle motor 540. Accordingly, the collar 546, which also has a damping function, rigidly connects the connection portion 517 and the connection member 542 and fixes them to each other. As a result, the turntable 514 resists vibration.
In accordance with the present embodiment, as shown in
In accordance with the present embodiment, since the collar 546 is provided between the connection portion 517 of the turntable 514 and the connection member 542 of the spindle 541, alignment of the turntable 514 and the spindle 541 in a radial direction is carried out. Accordingly, rotational run-out of the turntable during the rotation of the first driving means can be prevented.
In accordance with the present embodiment, since a distance between the pickup (not shown) disposed at the unillustrated disk apparatus and the disk 10 mounted on the turntable 514, and a rotational center of the turntable 514 are maintained constant, a focus servo and a tracking servo can appropriately be controlled.
After the collar 546 has been kept into close contact with the inner wall of the connection concave potion 519, the collar 546 moves toward the spindle motor 540 to resist the urging force of the coil spring 550. Namely, the collar 546 slides along the spindle 541 in the axial direction thereof, and held in a tightly contacted state with the inner wall of the connection concave portion 519 due to the urging force of the coil spring 550. Further, when the collar 546 slides along the spindle 541, the leg portions 548 of the collar 546 slide along the grooves 542B of the connection member 542 and escape.
In the stop mode (the state shown in
In each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the tray 26 is formed into a substantially triangular pyramid configuration. However, the tray 26 can be formed into an arbitrary configuration such as a quadrangular pyramid, a pentagonal pyramid, or a prism for forming a polygon surface. Further, if the disk supporting apparatus is formed into a substantially quadrangular pyramid or a pentagonal pyramid, the number of supporting portions is four or five, whereby a lot of disks (more than four disks) can be disposed on the tray 26. Further, the door leaf 14, the turntable 42, the motor 38 for driving the turntable 42, and the motor 52 for driving the tray 26 can arbitrarily be changed.
Regarding claim 1 of the present invention, the tray 26 can be changed into a planar configuration as in a conventional rotation table 492. With reference to
A disk shaped concave portion 71 is formed at the mounting table 70. The turntable 42 is disposed rotatably at the center of the concave portion 71. The turntable 42 is structured in the same manner as shown in
The motor 38 is movably disposed inside the cabinet 72. As shown in
The unillustrated slide mechanism for constituting the first moving means is disposed inside the cabinet 72. The slide mechanism slides between a position at which the mounting table 70 is withdrawn into the cabinet 72 to make the turntable 42 and the motor 38 connectable, and a position at which the mounting table 70 is withdrawn from the cabinet 72 so that a disk can be inserted into or ejected from the concave portion 71 of the mounting table 70.
In the present embodiment, the cabinet 72 can be mounted in a horizontal direction as shown in
In the above-described embodiments, examples of the connecting means include the ring member 40 and the magnet member 41 which are connected to the motor 38, and the ring member 43 which is connected to the turntable 42. However, as long as the turntable and the motor are held by them and connected to each other, other connecting means can be used.
The connecting portion of the present invention can be structured inversely to the structures of the above-described embodiments (i.e., the ring member 40, the hole 56 of the turntable 42 and the like). For example, the connecting portion may be structured such that a hole is formed on the ring member 40 and a protruding portion corresponding to this hole is provided at a turntable, and the protruding portion is positioned by a plate spring provided at the hole and a reference surface.
The disk according to the present invention may include a so-called mini-disk, a compact disk, a digital video disk (DVD) and the like. Further, the disk apparatus of the present invention can be applied to a personal computer comprising an electronic apparatus such as a disk apparatus, other than a component stereo apparatus. Further, the disk apparatus to which the disk holding apparatus according to the present invention is applied can be used for a disk changer, a portable disk player, and the like.
As described above, in accordance with the disk supporting apparatus of claim 1 of the present invention, since disks are supported and held rotatably by the plurality of first holding means that are supported concentrically with the supporting means, a disk can be inclined or placed upright at each of the first holding means. In this case, a planar dimension (space) of the disk supporting apparatus can be lessened.
In accordance with the disk supporting apparatus of claim 3 of the present invention, since, in a reproducible state of the disk held by the first holding means, the first holding means is supported by the supporting means so as to form a disk surface into a polygonal pyramid configuration including a predetermined point on the axis as a vertex, a planar dimension (space) of the disk supporting apparatus can be lessened. Namely, in accordance with the disk supporting apparatus of claim 3 of the present invention, since a planar dimension of the disk supporting apparatus of the present invention becomes narrower than that of a conventional turntable, a plurality of disks can be disposed at the disk supporting apparatus.
In accordance with the disk holding apparatus or the disk apparatus of claim 6 or 7 of the present invention, since the turntable and the first driving means are self-held by the connecting means, the turntable and the first driving means can be connected to each other smoothly and reliably.
In accordance with the disk supporting apparatus or the disk apparatus of claim 6 or 7 of the present invention, if a disk apparatus is structured so as to move the turntable between one position at which the turntable and the first driving means are connected to each other and the other, a disk is rotatably held at the turntable in advance, and the disk is not displaced from the turntable, whereby a conventional mis-chucking of a disk can be prevented.
Further, In accordance with the disk holding apparatus or the disk apparatus of claims 6 and 7 of the present invention, since a disk is rotatably held at the turntable in advance, even when a deformed disk is used, the disk can be positioned smoothly and reliably at the turntable.
In accordance with the disk holding apparatus or the disk apparatus of claim 8 or 9 of the present invention, the connecting means connects the first drive means and the turntable, and in the state in which the first connection portion and the second connection portion are connected to each other, the first positioning means positions the first or second connection portion. Accordingly, the turntable can be positioned smoothly ad reliably.
In accordance with the disk holding apparatus or the disk apparatus of claim 8 or 9 of the present invention, a distance between a pickup disposed at the disk apparatus and the disk attached to the turntable and a rotational center of the turntable is always maintained constant. Accordingly, the focus servo and the tracking servo can appropriately be controlled.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 10 of the present invention, since the tray is rotated and the holder is moved, respectively, by the same second driving means and a common driving path, the number of parts used for the apparatus of the present invention can be reduced as compared to those in a conventional disk changer, whereby the disk apparatus is structured more simply and manufactured inexpensively.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 11 of the present invention, the lock means locks the turntable at a predetermined position in an unconnected mode in which the connecting means is not connected to the turntable. Accordingly, even when the turntable and a spindle are not connected to each other, for example, during a disk change time at which the tray is rotating, or at the time when the disk apparatus is carried, occurrence of a rattle or a rattle noise due to a play between the turntable and the tray can be prevented.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 12 of the present invention, the third positioning means positions the information processing means in the state in which connection between the connecting means and the turntable has been completed. Therefore, when a disk is detached or attached with respected to a turntable, if an unexpected load is applied to the tray, the tray is reliably supported. Accordingly, in accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 12 of the present invention, since the tray for which the connection between the connecting means and the turntable has been completed is reliably supported by the third positioning means, the disk can be detached or attached with respect to the turntable with more excellent workability.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 13 of the present invention, after the disk has been changed, the second moving means moves the apparatus body in order to place the tray in the vicinity of the panel. Accordingly, a gap between the turntable and the opening portion of the panel becomes smaller than that of a conventional disk apparatus. As a result, a disk can be attached to/removed from the turntable through the opening portion with more excellent workability.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 14 of the present invention, since the detecting means detects that a disk is not appropriately attached to the turntable, in the disk changer, for example, a disk is prevented from flowing away from the turntable due to a centrifugal force.
In accordance with the disk apparatus of claim 15 of the present invention, during the rotation of the tray, since the sliding means slides the tray such that the solid-angle portion of the tray does not protrude from the apparatus body, the apparatus body can be made more compact than a conventional one.
In accordance with the disk holding apparatus of claim 16 of the present invention, for example, even if a shock is applied to the apparatus body, since the engaging means and the control means abut with each other, a disk is not easily ejected from the turntable so that the disk can reliably be held at the turntable.
In accordance with the disk holding device of claim 18 of the present invention, since the second positioning means is provided between the third connecting portion of the turntable and the fourth connecting portion of the first driving means, the first driving means and the turntable are radially aligned to each other, whereby a rotational run-out of the turntable during the rotation of the first driving means can be prevented.
Further, in accordance with the disk holding device of claim 18 of the present invention, since a distance between a pickup provided at the disk apparatus and a disk attached to the turntable, and a rotational center of the turntable are maintained constant, a focus servo and a tracking servo are normally controlled.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-377216 | Dec 2000 | JP | national |
| 2000-377217 | Dec 2000 | JP | national |
| 2000-377219 | Dec 2000 | JP | national |
| 2001-087257 | Mar 2001 | JP | national |
| 2001-087258 | Mar 2001 | JP | national |
| 2001-102399 | Mar 2001 | JP | national |
| 2001-102400 | Mar 2001 | JP | national |
| 2001-102401 | Mar 2001 | JP | national |
| 2001-102402 | Mar 2001 | JP | national |
| 2001-102403 | Mar 2001 | JP | national |
| 2001-102404 | Mar 2001 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP01/10672 | 12/6/2001 | WO | 00 | 1/21/2004 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO02/49028 | 6/20/2002 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4655342 | Brauner et al. | Apr 1987 | A |
| 5067116 | Kadrmas | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5386403 | Morioka et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 19527259 | Mar 1996 | DE |
| 1110391992 | Sep 1992 | JP |
| 9-326152 | Dec 1997 | JP |
| 10064157 | Mar 1998 | JP |
| 10255364 | Sep 1998 | JP |
| 11-339359 | Dec 1999 | JP |
| 2000-100044 | Apr 2000 | JP |
| 2000-322799 | Nov 2000 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040139455 A1 | Jul 2004 | US |
