Video disc player having unitary record handling platform construction

Claim 2

A player for use with a disc record removably subject to occupancy of a protective caddy; said player comprising: (A) a housing having an input slot into which a caddy is inserted; (B) means for guiding caddy insertion into said housing along a path; (C) a turntable for centering and rotatably supporting a record; (D) means for removing a record from a caddy during caddy withdrawal subsequent to arrival of a record-carrying caddy at a fully inserted position in said housing, whereby a record is retained in said housing upon conclusion of such caddy withdrawal; (E) a platform mounted in said housing subject to motion between an elevated position and a depressed position (1) for supporting a retained record while occupying said elevated position, and (2) for effecting transfer of said retained record to said turntable during its motion toward said depressed position; (F) a signal pickup for recovering prerecorded information from a turntable-supported record during playback; (G) a carriage for supporting said signal pickup; (H) means for guiding said carriage in said housing along a second path lying parallel to said path of caddy insertion; (I) means coupled to said carriage for selectively translating said carriage during playback along said guiding means away from a starting position in correlation with the rotation of said turntable; and (J) means for fixedly mounting said caddy guiding means and said carriage guiding means on said movable platform.

Claim 3

A player in accordance with claim 1 wherein said caddy guiding means and said carriage guiding means are structurally integral.

Claim 4

A player in accordance with claim 1 wherein said caddy guiding means, said carriage guiding means and said platform are all structurally integral.

Claim 5

A player for use with a disc record removably subject to occupancy of a protective caddy; said player comprising: (A) a housing having an input slot into which a caddy is inserted; (B) means for guiding caddy insertion into said housing along a path; (C) a turntable for centering and rotatably supporting a record; (D) means for removing a record from a caddy during caddy withdrawal subsequent to arrival of a record-carrying caddy at a fully inserted position in said housing whereby a record is retained in said housing upon conclusion of such caddy withdrawal; (E) a platform mounted in said housing subject to motion between an elevated position and a depressed position (1) for supporting a retained record while occupying said elevated position, and (2) for effecting transfer of said retained record to said turntable during its motion toward said depressed position; (F) a signal pickup for recovering prerecorded information from a turntable-supported record during playback; (G) a carriage for supporting said signal pickup; (H) means for guiding said carriage in said housing along a second path lying parallel to said path of caddy insertion; (I) means coupled to said carriage for selectively translating said carriage during playback along said guiding means away from a starting position in correlation with the rotation of said turntable; and (J) means for fixedly mounting said caddy guiding means and said carriage guiding means on said movable platform; wherein said platform is pivoted about an axis, which is located toward the end of said housing remote from said input slot, for arcuate motion between said elevated position and said depressed position; wherein said carriage translating means includes an endless belt disposed about a pair of spaced pulleys; one of said spaced pulleys being rotatably mounted coaxially with said platform axis; the other of said spaced pulleys being secured to said platform for rotation about a second axis disposed parallel to said platform axis; the location of said pulleys relative to said platform being such that said endless belt is disposed parallel to said paths; wherein said carriage translating means further includes means for connecting said endless belt to said carriage.

Claim 6

A player for use with a disc record removably subject to occupancy of a protective caddy; said player comprising: (A) a housing having an input slot into which a caddy is inserted; (B) means for guiding caddy insertion into said housing along a path; (C) a turntable for centering and rotatably supporting a record; (D) means for removing a record from a caddy during caddy withdrawal subsequent to arrival of a record-carrying caddy at a fully inserted position in said housing whereby a record is retained in said housing upon conclusion of such caddy withdrawal; (E) a platform mounted in said housing subject to motion between an elevated position and a depressed position (1) for supporting a retained record while occupying said elevated position, and (2) for effecting transfer of said retained record to said turntable during its motion toward said depressed position; (F) a signal pickup for recovering prerecorded information from a turntable-supported record during playback; (G) a carriage for supporting said signal pickup; (H) means for guiding said carriage in said housing along a second path lying parallel to said path of caddy insertion; (I) means coupled to said carriage for selectively translating said carriage during playback along said guiding means away from a starting position in correlation with the rotation of said turntable; and (J) means for fixedly mounting said caddy guiding means and said carriage guiding means on said movable platform; wherein said platform is pivoted about an axis, which is located toward the end of said housing remote from said input slot, for arcuate motion between said elevated position and said depressed position; wherein said carriage translating means includes an endless belt disposed about a pair of spaced pulleys; one of said spaced pulleys being rotatably mounted coaxially with said platform axis; the other of said spaced pulleys being secured to said platform for rotation about a second axis disposed parallel to said platform axis; the location of said pulleys relative to said platform being such that said endless belt is disposed parallel to said paths; wherein said carriage translating means further includes means for connecting said endless belt to said carriage.