US4601026A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Autochanger type disc player
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1984-06-08
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Granted: 1986-07-15
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Expires: 2004-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An autochanger type optical compact disc player includes a tray for holding a large number of discs in close proximity, a disc selection mechanism for selecting a disc from the tray, a disc port for entering a disc from the outside of the player, a disc playback mechanism for playing a disc, a first loading mechanism for transferring a selected disc from the tray to the disc playback mechanism, a second disc loading mechanism for transferring a disc from the port to the disc playback mechanism, an unloading mechanism for selectively returning a disc to the tray or to the port, and a control section for controlling operations of the player. A disc is returned from the tray by a roller for contacting the edge of the disc during movement through a limited arc to impart rotational force to the disc.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Kawakami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:38
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01D; D01D1/00; D01D1/10; D01D1/106; G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/22; B; B01; B01D; B01D25/00; B01D25/22; B01D25/26; B01D29/00; B01D29/39; B01D29/41; B29; B29B; B29B13/00; B29B13/10; G11B17/02; G11B17/04; G11B17/28; B01D2201/00; B01D2201/32; B01D2201/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
314 words
An autochanger type disc player for selectively playing stored dics or externally-inserted discs, said disc player comprising: a housing having disc insertion means at one end of said housing for inserting or withdrawing externally-inserted discs from said housing; a disc storage section in said housing having means for retaining a plurality of stored discs, said disc storage section positioned at an opposite end of said housing from said disc insertion means; a disc playback section including means for playing either stored or externally-inserted discs and means for holding said playback section in a first position and a second position, and an opening through which said disc may be loaded into or unloaded from said disc playback section, said disc playback section positioned substantially between said disc insertion means and said disc storage section; a first disc transferring means between said disc storage section and said disc playback section to allow transfer of discs between said disc storage section and said disc playback section, said first disc transferring means having one end opposite said opening when said disc playback section is held in said first position; a second disc transferring means connected with said disc insertion means and said disc playback section to allow transfer of discs between said disc insertion means and said disc playback section, said second disc transferring means having one end opposite said opening when said disc playback section is in said second position; and means for controlling said disc playback section to hold said disc playback section in said first position to transfer discs to and from said first disc transferring means and to hold said disc playback section in said second position to transfer discs to and from said second disc transferring means and thereby to allow said disc playback section to play stored discs from said disc storage section or externally-inserted discs supplied through said disc insertion means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
314 words
An autochanger type disc player for selectively playing stored dics or externally-inserted discs, said disc player comprising: a housing having disc insertion means at one end of said housing for inserting or withdrawing externally-inserted discs from said housing; a disc storage section in said housing having means for retaining a plurality of stored discs, said disc storage section positioned at an opposite end of said housing from said disc insertion means; a disc playback section including means for playing either stored or externally-inserted discs and means for holding said playback section in a first position and a second position, and an opening through which said disc may be loaded into or unloaded from said disc playback section, said disc playback section positioned substantially between said disc insertion means and said disc storage section; a first disc transferring means between said disc storage section and said disc playback section to allow transfer of discs between said disc storage section and said disc playback section, said first disc transferring means having one end opposite said opening when said disc playback section is held in said first position; a second disc transferring means connected with said disc insertion means and said disc playback section to allow transfer of discs between said disc insertion means and said disc playback section, said second disc transferring means having one end opposite said opening when said disc playback section is in said second position; and means for controlling said disc playback section to hold said disc playback section in said first position to transfer discs to and from said first disc transferring means and to hold said disc playback section in said second position to transfer discs to and from said second disc transferring means and thereby to allow said disc playback section to play stored discs from said disc storage section or externally-inserted discs supplied through said disc insertion means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 1, wherein said disc playback section includes a disc drive portion and a disc loading portion, said disc drive portion including means for rotationally driving discs and said disc loading portion for loading including means for unloading said discs into or from said disc drive portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 2, wherein said disc loading portion is movable between said first and second positions and wherein said disc loading portion includes a third position in which said disc loading portion loads a disc on said disc drive portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
304 words
An autochanger type disc player for selectively playing a disc stored therein or another disc supplied from outside thereof, said disc player comprising: a housing having a disc insertion port through which a disc is taken into or taken out of said housing from or to the outside thereof; a disc storage section defined in said housing, said storage section for holding a plurality of discs therein; a disc playback section for playing a disc and for selectively taking first, second, third and fourth positions, said playback section having an opening through which a disc is loaded therein or unloaded therefrom; a first disc transferring passage for transferring a disc from said disc storage section to said disc playback section, said first disc transferring passage having one end opposite said opening when said disc playback section takes said first position; a second disc transferring passage formed for transferring a disc from said disc playback section to said disc storage section, said second disc transferring passage having one end opposite to said opening when said disc playback section takes said second position; a third disc transferring passage for transferring a disc from said disc port to said disc playback section, said third disc transferring passage having one end opposite to said opening when said disc playback section takes said third position; a fourth disc transferring passage for transferring a disc from said disc playback section to said disc port, said fourth disc transferring passage having one end opposite to said opening when said disc playback section takes said fourth position; and means for controlling said disc playback section to be positioned in said first, second, third or fourth position to selectively receive or return an internally stored disc from or to said disc storage section or an externally supplied disc to or from said port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
304 words
An autochanger type disc player for selectively playing a disc stored therein or another disc supplied from outside thereof, said disc player comprising: a housing having a disc insertion port through which a disc is taken into or taken out of said housing from or to the outside thereof; a disc storage section defined in said housing, said storage section for holding a plurality of discs therein; a disc playback section for playing a disc and for selectively taking first, second, third and fourth positions, said playback section having an opening through which a disc is loaded therein or unloaded therefrom; a first disc transferring passage for transferring a disc from said disc storage section to said disc playback section, said first disc transferring passage having one end opposite said opening when said disc playback section takes said first position; a second disc transferring passage formed for transferring a disc from said disc playback section to said disc storage section, said second disc transferring passage having one end opposite to said opening when said disc playback section takes said second position; a third disc transferring passage for transferring a disc from said disc port to said disc playback section, said third disc transferring passage having one end opposite to said opening when said disc playback section takes said third position; a fourth disc transferring passage for transferring a disc from said disc playback section to said disc port, said fourth disc transferring passage having one end opposite to said opening when said disc playback section takes said fourth position; and means for controlling said disc playback section to be positioned in said first, second, third or fourth position to selectively receive or return an internally stored disc from or to said disc storage section or an externally supplied disc to or from said port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 4, wherein said first and second disc transferring passages are positioned on one side of said disc playback section and said third and fourth disc transferring passages are positioned on another side of said disc playback section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 5, wherein said first, second, third and fourth disc transferring passages have their ends respectively facing said disc playback section, said end of said first disc transferring passages being positioned higher than said end of said second disc transferring passages and said end of said third disc transferring passages being positioned higher than said end of said fourth disc transferring passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 6, wherein said first and third disc transferring passages are slant downwardly toward their said respective ends and said second and fourth disc transferring passages slant upwardly toward their respective ends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 7, wherein said disc playback section selectively moves to be opposite to one of said openings to said respective ends of said first, second, third and fourth disc transferring passages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 8, wherein said disc playback section makes one helical movement between positions respectively corresponding to said ends of said first and second disc transferring passages and another helical movement between positions respectively corresponding to said ends of said third and fourth disc transferring passages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 4, wherein said disc playback section is comprised of a disc drive portion and a disc loading portion, said disc drive portion for rotatingly driving a disc and said disc loading portion for loading or unloading a disc on or from said disc drive portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An autochanger type disc player according to claim 10, wherein said disc loading portion is movable among said first, second, third, and fourth positions and a fifth position in which said disc loading portion loads a disc on said disc drive portion.
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) | 1989-07-14 | 1990-01-13 | 1990-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-14 | 1994-01-13 | 1994-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-14 | 1998-01-13 | 1998-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |