US4561078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disc changer and disc holder and box for use with such a changer
Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1983-07-25
•
Granted: 1985-12-24
•
Expires: 2003-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A disc changer is provided with a player deck with a turntable and a light pen and a loading device. The loading device comprises a platform which is movable up and down relative to the turntable, a box with a plurality of disc holders, horizontally slidable into and out of the platform and provided with a hole. The hole in each holder is formed so that the holder can pass the turntable and the light pen unimpededly. The loading device further comprises a transport mechanism engaging the respective holders alongside the platform for moving the respective holders from the box to the platform and a lift mechanism with a lift compartment for the box to move the box to a specific height position. The loading device co-operates with a loading lever with a disc loader for urging a disc on the turntable.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitsuhisa Nakayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:23
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/04; G11B17/05; G11B17/053; G11B17/056; G11B17/22; G11B17/221; G11B17/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
A disc changer comprising a player deck, provided with a turntable which is mounted for rotation in a chassis and a loading device for transferring a disc to and from the turntable, which loading device comprises: a platform mounted for selective movement up and down relative to the turntable, a plurality of disc holders, configured for selective sliding movement onto and off of the platform, each disc holder having a circular recess, which is open at the top for receiving a disc, each disc holder having a hole in the bottom of the recess, each disc holder being movable to a position where the disc holder is supported by the platform after the disc holder is moved to the platform, a box having a plurality of disc holder compartments, each compartment being dimensioned to receive a disc holder, a transport mechanism for moving the respective disc holders in a substantially horizontal direction to a predetermined position on the platform, a lift mechanism comprising a lift compartment for the box, said compartment and the box being movable up and down to one of a plurality of predetermined height positions, said transport mechanism moving a disc holder between the holder compartment and the platform, the lift compartment having first and second adjoining upright sides and a first opening in said first upright side, said first opening being dimensioned and configured for sliding the box into and out of the compartment, the player deck further comprising an optical head disposed adjacent the turntable and which is movable relative to the turntable, for playing optically readable information discs, the hole in each holder being formed so that the holder as it moves to a position below the top of the turntable can pass the optical head without impediment, the loading device including a loading lever provided with a disc loader for urging a disc into the correct position on the turntable, the transport mechanism including means for engagement with respective disc holders during the movement alongside the platform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
A disc changer comprising a player deck, provided with a turntable which is mounted for rotation in a chassis and a loading device for transferring a disc to and from the turntable, which loading device comprises: a platform mounted for selective movement up and down relative to the turntable, a plurality of disc holders, configured for selective sliding movement onto and off of the platform, each disc holder having a circular recess, which is open at the top for receiving a disc, each disc holder having a hole in the bottom of the recess, each disc holder being movable to a position where the disc holder is supported by the platform after the disc holder is moved to the platform, a box having a plurality of disc holder compartments, each compartment being dimensioned to receive a disc holder, a transport mechanism for moving the respective disc holders in a substantially horizontal direction to a predetermined position on the platform, a lift mechanism comprising a lift compartment for the box, said compartment and the box being movable up and down to one of a plurality of predetermined height positions, said transport mechanism moving a disc holder between the holder compartment and the platform, the lift compartment having first and second adjoining upright sides and a first opening in said first upright side, said first opening being dimensioned and configured for sliding the box into and out of the compartment, the player deck further comprising an optical head disposed adjacent the turntable and which is movable relative to the turntable, for playing optically readable information discs, the hole in each holder being formed so that the holder as it moves to a position below the top of the turntable can pass the optical head without impediment, the loading device including a loading lever provided with a disc loader for urging a disc into the correct position on the turntable, the transport mechanism including means for engagement with respective disc holders during the movement alongside the platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A disc changer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loading lever is pivotable about a spindle which is situated adjacent the platform, is coupled to the platform at least during a part of its movement and is moved away from and towards the turntable via this coupling, while the platform positions the loading lever in the upper position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A disc changer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the loading lever comprises two parts which enclose an obtuse angle, of which a first part which adjoins the pivotal spindle is urged against a wall of the plate by a spring and slides along this wall during the pivotal movement, a second part carrying the disc loader.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A disc changer as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the platform is mounted for movement up and down by means of a reversible motor and is coupled to the motor at two locations which are situated near facing side walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A disc changer as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the platform has substantially horizontal grooves in facing first and second side walls, for guiding the sliding movement and for positioning the disc holder, and has a slot in a third side wall which adjoins the lift compartment, for the passage of the holder, a hole being formed in at least one of the facing side wall for the cooperation of the transport mechanism with the disc holder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A disc changer as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the transport mechanism comprises at least one drive wheel, which is arranged to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the disc holder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A disc changer as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the transport mechanism comprises a first and second drive wheels which are coupled to each other and which can be driven by a reversible motor, said wheels being connected to a sub-frame by means of pivotal arms which sub-frame is movable in said direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the disc holder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A disc changer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the box has an opening in an upright side wall which opening extends across the box compartments in the vertical direction, and the lift compartment also has an opening in an upright side wall adjacent said opening in the box, a first drive wheel being disposed in the two openings and a second drive wheel extending through the hole in the side wall of the platform, for moving the disc holder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A disc changer as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the lift compartment has a second opening in a second of first and second adjoining upright sides, the second opening being intended for sliding the disc holder into and out of the box.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A disc changer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lift compartment comprises a pivotally mounted roller which is rotatable about an upright axis, which is situated near the first opening, which extends into a further opening in the box, and which is urged against the disc holders in the box under the influence of a spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A disc holder for use in conjunction with a disc changer as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the hole in the bottom of the recess has a central part for the passage of the turntable and an adjacent outward part for the passage of the light pen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A disc holder as claimed in claim 11, the disc holder comprising two edge portions which extend parallel to each other and which are situated on facing sides, the first edge portion having a smaller height than a second edge portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A box for use in conjunction with a disc changer as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the box has horizontal grooves in two facing upright side walls, each pair of said grooves forming a holder compartment for receiving a disc holder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A box as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the grooves in one side wall have a smaller height than the grooves in the other side wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A box as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that in two opposite side walls of the box openings are formed which extend in the direction of the height dimension of the box.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-23 | 1989-06-24 | 1989-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-23 | 1993-06-24 | 1993-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-23 | 1997-06-24 | 1997-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |