US3899181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Playback method and system
Assignee: Deutsche Thomson OHG
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Filing: 1974-05-28
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1994-05-28
Abstract
Abstract An automatic system for the insertion into, and removal from, a playback device of a record carrier normally stored in a protective cover, by transporting the protective cover to a playback surface of the playback device in such a manner that the record carrier moves out of the protective cover for playback, centering the record carrier with respect to the playback surface, and opening of the protective cover for reinserting the record carrier therein and removing the protective cover from the playback device. The protective cover includes a top and bottom wall and is open along one edge for the introduction and removal of a record carrier and is provided with a recess in one of the walls for the passage of record carrier supporting structure. The recess terminates at the open edge of the cover. Portions of the walls are flexible such that when the walls are oriented horizontally, the wall portions adjacent the open edge are displaced into an open position at least at their center portion due to gravity forces acting on the lower wall when the adjacent part of the upper wall is supported.
Inventors
- 👤 Dietmar Dannert
- 👤 Rainer Ihlenburg
- 👤 Dietrich Nackmayr
- 👤 Rudolf Goetze
- 👤 Wolfgang Kruger
- 👤 Hartmut Peter
- 👤 Klaus Westphal
- 👤 Hans-Joachim Thuy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:32
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/04; G11B17/041; G11B17/049; G11B19/00; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/03; G11B23/0328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A playback device for a disc-shaped record carrier which is inserted into and removed from the playback device while contained within a protective cover, comprising: a drive apparatus; means defining a playback surface; means defining an insert opening to said playback surface; transporting means for sequentially inserting such a protective cover through said insert opening and onto said playback surface, and removing such cover, through said insert opening, from said playback surface; holding means disposed for holding a record carrier on said playback surface after the first such insertion and during the first such removal, for permitting the cover to be withdrawn from the carrier, and for releasing such carrier at least after the second such insertion for permitting the record carrier to be removed from the playback surface together with its associated cover during the second such removal; means for centering the record carrier with respect to the playback surface; and mechanical means disposed in the vicinity of said insert opening for effecting a spreading of the protective cover opening for reinserting the record carrier into the protective cover.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A playback device for a disc-shaped record carrier which is inserted into and removed from the playback device while contained within a protective cover, comprising: a drive apparatus; means defining a playback surface; means defining an insert opening to said playback surface; transporting means for sequentially inserting such a protective cover through said insert opening and onto said playback surface, and removing such cover, through said insert opening, from said playback surface; holding means disposed for holding a record carrier on said playback surface after the first such insertion and during the first such removal, for permitting the cover to be withdrawn from the carrier, and for releasing such carrier at least after the second such insertion for permitting the record carrier to be removed from the playback surface together with its associated cover during the second such removal; means for centering the record carrier with respect to the playback surface; and mechanical means disposed in the vicinity of said insert opening for effecting a spreading of the protective cover opening for reinserting the record carrier into the protective cover.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A playback device as defined in claim 1, wherein said playback surface is so dimensioned that the edge of the record carrier protrudes beyond the edge of said playback surface at said insert opening of said playback device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A playback device as defined in claim 1, further comprising guide surfaces for raising a lower wall of the protective cover which droops downwardly due to the gravity forces acting thereon when the protective cover is moved into said playback device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A playback device as defined in claim 1, wherein said mechanical means are provided in the area of said insert opening for engaging an opening edge of one wall of the protective cover which protrudes beyond the opening edge of an associated wall of the protective cover and effecting the spreading of the protective cover opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A playback device as defined in claim 1, further comprising funnel-type oblique guide surfaces adjacent said insert opening of said playback device to facilitate insertion of the protective cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A playback device as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a magazine containing the record carriers in their protective covers; and a transporting device for said magazine which moves said magazine in a direction perpendicular to the walls of the protective covers when the protective covers containing the record carriers are stacked in the magazine in such a manner that the walls are adjacent to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A playback device as defined in claim 6 wherein said transporting means are provided for transporting the protective covers containing the record carriers from the magaZine to the playback device and vice versa.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A playback device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a block which permits the complete insertion of the protective cover into said playback device only when the edge of the protective cover which is inserted as a leading edge contains an appropriate mechanical coding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A playback device as defined in claim 8, further comprising a sensing element which is so arranged that it is actuated by the edge of the protective cover provided with the mechanical coding only when the protective cover is inserted into the playback device in a predetermined position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A playback device as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a pivotally mounted lever provided with a contact surface and an abutment, said lever being mounted to press the record carrier against said abutment with its contact surface when said holding device is actuated, so that a force-transmitting connection is established between the record carrier and said holding means, with the friction forces between said contact surface and the record carrier being greater than the friction forces between the protective cover and the record carrier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
A playback device as defined in claim 10, wherein the contact surface presses the record carrier against an inner surface of one wall of the protective cover and the upper surface of this wall against said abutment so that a force-transmitting connection is established between the record carrier protective cover and said holding means, with the friction forces between said contact surface and the record carrier being greater than the friction forces between the protective cover and said abutment and between the protective cover and the record carrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A playback device as defined in claim 10, wherein said contact surface is provided with a coating of an elastic material having a high coefficient of friction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A playback device as defined in claim 10, wherein said abutment comprises a rotatably mounted roller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
A playback device as defined in claim 10, further comprising: spring means for biasing said lever toward said abutment; a control wheel in the form of a cam; and a latch which arrests said lever against the bias force produced by said spring means, said latch being so arranged that it releases said lever as soon as the record carrier has reached the playback position and the protective cover engages said latch and causes it to be displaced by a given amount.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
A playback device as defined in claim 10, further comprising: spring means for biasing said lever toward said abutment; a control wheel in the form of a cam; and a latch which arrests said lever against the bias force produced by said spring means, said latch being so arranged that it releases said lever as soon as the record carrier has reached the playback position and the record carrier engages said latch and causes it to be displaced by a given amount.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
A playback device as defined in claim 10, further comprising: spring means for biasing said lever toward said abutment; a control wheel in the form of a cam; and a latch which arrests said lever against the bias force produced by said spring means, said latch being so arranged that it releases said lever as soon as the record carrier has reached the playback position and the protective cover and record carrier engage said latch and cause it to be displaced by a given amount.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A playback device as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a rotatably mounted pressure element and a centrally disposed follower device, and wherein the pressure element presses the vicinity of the center portion of the record carrier, which is in the playback position, against said centrally disposed follower device in order to produce a force-transmitting connection, said follower device simultaneously serving to center the record carrier for the playback process and drive the record carrier during the playback process.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A playback device as dEfined in claim 17, wherein said means for producing a force-transmitting connection further includes a magnet armature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
A playback device as defined in claim 17, further comprising: an electrical switch sensing element; a lifting magnet which is actuated by said switch; and a control cam which is turned by said magnet in stepwise movements for actuating said holding means, said control cam being so designed that with each stepwise movement said holding means is alternatingly actuated and released.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
A playback device as defined in claim 19, further comprising: a capacitor which feeds said lifting magnet and which is connected to a voltage source via a resistor, wherein the combination of said resistor and said capacitor is so dimensioned that said capacitor is sufficiently charged only after a predetermined period of time, for actuating the operation of said lifting magnet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |