EP0200705A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Automatic disc loading and unloading mechanism for record player apparatus
Assignee: Staar SA
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Filing: 1986-04-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-04-22
Abstract
Abstract 0 The device comprises at least three conical elements (24A, 24B, 24C) which engage with the disc edge and which are positioned at the vertices of a triangle with mechanically variable geometry whose sole linear displacement provides the horizontal and vertical transfers of the disc (D) from its insertion to its operative position and vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Pierre César Agostini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:52
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/04; G11B17/05; G11B17/051; G11B17/0515
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An automatic loading and unloading mechanism for a slot-type record disc apparatus comprising a housing (12) for receiving a disc (D) inserted edgewise along an insertion path in said plane and drive means (22) to drive a disc when in an operating plane, characterized in that it comprises three conical elements (24A, 24B, 24C) mounted in a mechanically variable triangle arrangement in said housing (12) and engaging the edge of a disc (D) at their upper portion in the loading position, means (32A, 32B) for moving and coordinating said conical elements (24A, 24B, 24C) from a loading triangle arrangement to an intermediate triangle arrangement to move said disc (D) to an intermediate position above a drive hub (22), and then outwardly relative to the center of the disc while retaining a triangular arrangement to lower said disc onto said drive hub (22).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An automatic loading and unloading mechanism for a slot-type record disc apparatus comprising a housing (12) for receiving a disc (D) inserted edgewise along an insertion path in said plane and drive means (22) to drive a disc when in an operating plane, characterized in that it comprises three conical elements (24A, 24B, 24C) mounted in a mechanically variable triangle arrangement in said housing (12) and engaging the edge of a disc (D) at their upper portion in the loading position, means (32A, 32B) for moving and coordinating said conical elements (24A, 24B, 24C) from a loading triangle arrangement to an intermediate triangle arrangement to move said disc (D) to an intermediate position above a drive hub (22), and then outwardly relative to the center of the disc while retaining a triangular arrangement to lower said disc onto said drive hub (22).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
An automatic loading and unloading mechanism according to claim 1 including drive means (54) and coordinating levers (32A, 32B) for moving said conical elements (24A, 24B, 24C) in a variable triangle arrangement dimensioned such that said conical elements remain in contact with the edges of the disc (D) until said disc is lowered onto said drive hub (22) and are released from contact with said disc to allow said disc to be rotated by said drive hub when in its operating plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
An automatic loading and unloading mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a pair (24A, 24B) of said conical elements are located symmetrically with respect to a center line (CL) bisecting a disc (D) in said partially inserted position in the slot (20) and the third conical element (24C) is centrally located on said center line (CL).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
A loading and unloading mechanism according to claim 2 including means (38A, 38B) for pivotally mounting said coordinating levers (32A, 32B), said levers having intersecting slots (44A, 44B) shaped as arcs or circles, a pin (46) for mounting one of said conical elements (24C) passing through said intersecting slots of said levers at the point of intersection, said pin (46) being mounted for linear movement, motor driven meansa(54) for moving said pin linearly and for producing the coordinating movement of said coordinating levers, slide members (30A, 30B) carrying two of said conical elements (24A, 24B) and means connecting said coordinating levers to move said slide members and said two conical elements thereby moving all three conical elements edgewise upon power driven movement of said pin, mounting pin of said first mentioned conical element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A loading and unloading mechanism according to claim 4, including a housing (12) for said mechanism having a top plate (26) with slots (42A, 42B, 48) for guiding the displacement of all three conical elements (24A, 24B, 24C).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A loading and unloading mechanism according to any of the preceding claims wherein said apparatus includes a clamping magnet (58) adapted to be raised and lowered relative to said drive hub (22), and means (64A, 64B) operated by said mechanism for raising and lowering said clamping magnet (58) coordinated with the movement of the disc (D).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
An automatic loading and unloading mechanism according to any preceding claims further including a member (flap 76) mounted for pivotal movement from a position intersecting a disc when inserted in the slot (20) of said apparatus to maintain the disc above said drive hub (22) upon its movement from the loading to the intermediate position, and movable to a lower position to allow the disc to be lowered from the intermediate position to the position on the drive hub (22).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automatic loading and unloading mechanism according to claim 7 further including power driven means (46, 92, 90) for moving said flap (76) coordinated with the movement of said disc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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