US5067121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disc-record player comprising a disc-loading device for a disc supported on a tray
Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1988-10-27
•
Granted: 1991-11-19
•
Expires: 2008-10-27
Abstract
Abstract Optical disc player having a frame (61), a turntable (17) including a centering mandrel (17c) and a supporting surface (17b) for a disc (3), a disc-pressure member (191) for pressing the disc onto the turntable in a clamping position, and a disc-loading device (151). The loading device comprises a holder (153) which is adapted to receive, in an initial position, a tray (23) having a carrying surface (29) for the disc. The holder can perform a loading movement to move the tray to and deposit the disc on the turntable and separate the disc from the tray, and an unloading movement to return the disc to the initial position. At opposite sides of the holder the loading device further comprises pivotal elements (155, 156) which are pivotally connected to the frame and which are movably connected to the holder. During loading the pivotal elements are pivotal in a first direction to move the supporting surface of the tray beyond the supporting surface of the turntable, viewed along the axis of rotation of the turntable, and during unloading they are pivoted in an opposite second direction to lift the disc off the turntable.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermanus F. Einhaus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:45
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/04; G11B17/05; G11B17/053; G11B17/054; G11B17/056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A disc-record player comprising: a frame and a turntable mounted to be rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to said frame, said turntable comprising a supporting surface for a disc placed on the turntable, a device for recording and/or reading information on/from a disc placed on said turntable, and a disc-loading device comprising a holder which is adapted for receiving, while the holder is in an initial position, a tray having a supporting surface for a disc placed thereon; and means for moving said holder, and for transferring said tray and disc to said turntable and separating said disc from said tray, during movement in a loading direction from said initial position, and for returning said disc by an unloading movement to the initial position, characterized in that said disc-loading device comprises two pivotal elements which are pivotally connected to the frame, and are movably connected to the holder at respective sides of the holder transverse to the loading direction, said pivotal elements being pivoted in a first direction during said movement in a loading direction to move the supporting surface of the tray at least in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the turntable to a position beyond the supporting surface of the turntable, thereby placing the disc on the turntable supporting surface; and being pivoted in an opposite second direction during said unloading movement to life the disc off the turntable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A disc-record player comprising: a frame and a turntable mounted to be rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to said frame, said turntable comprising a supporting surface for a disc placed on the turntable, a device for recording and/or reading information on/from a disc placed on said turntable, and a disc-loading device comprising a holder which is adapted for receiving, while the holder is in an initial position, a tray having a supporting surface for a disc placed thereon; and means for moving said holder, and for transferring said tray and disc to said turntable and separating said disc from said tray, during movement in a loading direction from said initial position, and for returning said disc by an unloading movement to the initial position, characterized in that said disc-loading device comprises two pivotal elements which are pivotally connected to the frame, and are movably connected to the holder at respective sides of the holder transverse to the loading direction, said pivotal elements being pivoted in a first direction during said movement in a loading direction to move the supporting surface of the tray at least in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the turntable to a position beyond the supporting surface of the turntable, thereby placing the disc on the turntable supporting surface; and being pivoted in an opposite second direction during said unloading movement to life the disc off the turntable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the loading device comprises coupling means for coupling the tray to the holder during at least a final stage of said movement in loading direction from said initial position, and during at least an initial stage of said unloading movement to the initial position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 2, for use with a tray having at least one lateral surface formed with a recess, characterized in that said coupling means comprises at least one projection which is pivotally supported in the holder to engage the recess in the tray during the said final and initial stages of movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said projection forms part of a lever which can be actuated by one of the pivotal elements, the relevant pivotal element cooperating with a first contact face of the lever during the loading movement of the holder to cause the projection to engage said recess, and the relevant pivotal element cooperating with a second contact face of the lever during the unloading movement of the holder to disengage the projection from said recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that inside the holder a resilient element is secured to a rear wall of the holder to cooperate with the tray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said projection forms part of a lever which can be actuated at least by said resilient element during the loading movement of the holder to cause the projection to engage said recess and which can be actuated by one of the pivotal elements during the unloading movement of the holder to disengage the projection from said recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the lever comprises a contact portion which cooperates with the tray during the loading movement of the holder to assist the action of the resilient element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 1 in which the disc-pressure member is secured to a pressure element which is movable between a clamping position adjacent to and a position spaced from the turn-table, characterized in that at opposite sides, viewed in a direction of movement of the holder, the pressure element is movably secured to one of the pivotal elements and is also slidably secured to the holder, the pressure element being moved to the clamping position during the loading movement of the holder and to said other position during the unloading movement of the holder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the pressure element is provided with a spring construction to exert on the disc-pressure member a spring force which is directed towards the turntable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the pressure element and the disc-pressure member reach the clamping position after the disc has been deposited on the turntable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 1, in which the disc-pressure member is secured to a pressure element which is movable between a clamping position adjacent and a position spaced from the turn-table, characterized in that at opposite sides, viewed in a direction of movement of the holder, the pressure element is pivotally secured to two of the pivotal elements, the pressure element being moved to the clamping position during the loading movement and to said other position during the unloading movement of the holder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the pressure element and the disc-pressure member reach the clamping position after the disc has been deposited on the turntable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the pressure element is provided with a spring construction to exert on the disc-pressure member a spring force which is directed towards the turntable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a resilient element is arranged between the frame and at least one of the pivotal elements, to retain the holder by spring force in an end position reached after a pivotal movement of the pivotal elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
121 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 1, for use with a tray provided with at least one fixed latching element and at least one elastically movable latching element, which latching elements are adapted to retain the disc on the supporting surface of the tray and in which the loading device comprises a release mechanism for releasing the latching elements during the loading movement of the holder, characterized in that the release mechanism comprises a release arm which is pivotally supported in the frame and which during the loading movement of the holder performs a pivotal movement to move the elastically movable latching element of the tray relative to the supporting surface of the tray in order to release the disc.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 15 characterized in that said release mechanism is arranged such that the release arm cooperates with said movable latching element to allow the tray to move clear of the disc after the disc has reached the supporting surface of the turntable during the loading movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 15 characterized in that said release mechanism is arranged such that during the initial stage of unloading movement the release arm cooperates with said movable latching element to allow the the disc to engage the supporting surface of the tray with the fixed latching element engaging over the disc; and during further unloading movement the release arm releases the movable latching element to allow the movable latching element to engage over the disc to retain the disc on the supporting surface of the tray.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A disc-record player as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that inside the holder a resilient element is secured to a rear wall of the holder to cooperate with the tray.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3833926A
Cited
US4535373A
Cited
US4509158A
Cited
US4516678A
Cited
US4607361A
Cited
US4692916A
Cited
US4631716A
Cited
US4627037A
Cited
US4731775A
Cited
US4722439A
Cited
US4815066A
Cited
US4825429A
Cited
US4780868A
Cited
US4799209A
Cited
US4811323A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-18 | 1995-05-20 | 1995-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-05-20 | 1999-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-18 | 2003-05-20 | 2003-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |