Centering device for disks of different sizes for use in a disc-record player

Claim 2

A disc-record player for scanning a rotating disc-shaped information carrier having a circumferential edge, comprising: a frame; a turntable comprising a supporting surface for said information carrier; and means for rotating said turntable with respect to said frame, during operation, about an axis of rotation; and a centering device comprising a pair of pivotal arms and a pair of further pivotal arms, each of said arms comprising a respective centering element arranged for engaging said circumferential edge to bring said information carrier into a centered position relative to a centering axis which is at least parallel to said axis of rotation during a centering operation; means for mounting said pair of pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, are spaced from each other and are fixed with respect to said frame; and means for mounting said pair of further pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective further arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, and are spaced from each other, characterized in that said device further comprises: means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, at a location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said one of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said one of said pivotal arms; and means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, at an other location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said other of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said other of said pivotal arms; each of said further arm axes being spaced from each of said arm axes; and each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in at least one position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a circle concentric with said centering axis.

Claim 3

A player as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said further arm axes are fixed with respect to said frame, and the device further comprises means for coupling said pair of arms to each other for symmetrical pivotal movement.

Claim 4

A player as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, in said at least one position, each of said respective centering elements engages said circumferential edge in a respective different quadrant of said circle, whereby said information carrier is centered both longitudinally and transversely.

Claim 5

A player as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, and said means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, each comprise a respective pin-slot linkage.

Claim 6

A player as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, for centering information carriers of mutually different diameters, each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling are arranged such that, in a further position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a further circle concentric with said centering axis, said circle and said further circle corresponding to said mutually different diameters.

Claim 7

A player as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in said at least one position, each of said respective centering elements engages said circumferential edge in a respective different quadrant of said circle, whereby said information carrier is centered both longitudinally and transversely.

Claim 8

A player as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, and said means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, each comprise a respective pin-slot linkage.

Claim 9

A player as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, and said means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, each comprise a respective pin-slot linkage.

Claim 10

A disc-record player for scanning a rotating disc-shaped information carrier having a circumferential edge, and having either of two mutually different diameters, comprising: a frame; a turntable comprising a supporting surface for said information carrier; and means for rotating said turntable with respect to said frame, during operation, about an axis of rotation; and a centering device comprising a pair of pivotal arms and a pair of further pivotal arms, each of said arms comprising a respective centering element arranged for engaging said circumferential edge to bring said information carrier into a centered position relative to a centering axis which is at least parallel to said axis of rotation during a centering operation; means for mounting said pair of pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, are spaced from each other and are fixed with respect to said frame; and means for mounting said pair of further pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective further arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, and are spaced from each other, characterized in that said device further comprises: means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, at a location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said one of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said one of said pivotal arms; and means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, at an other location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said other of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said other of said pivotal arms; each of said further arm axes being spaced from each of said arm axes, and fixed with respect to said frame, each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in one position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a circle having a diameter equal to one of said mutually different diameters, concentric with said centering axis, and each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in another position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a circle having a diameter equal to the other of said mutually different diameters, concentric with said centering axis.

Claim 11

A disc-record player for scanning a rotating disc-shaped information carrier having a circumferential edge, and having either of two mutually different diameters, comprising: a frame; a turntable comprising a supporting surface for said information carrier; and means for rotating said turntable with respect to said frame, during operation, about an axis of rotation; and a centering device comprising a pair of pivotal arms and a pair of further pivotal arms, each of said arms comprising a respective centering element arranged for engaging said circumferential edge to bring said information carrier into a centered position relative to a centering axis which is at least parallel to said axis of rotation during a centering operation; means for mounting said pair of pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, are spaced from each other and are fixed with respect to said frame; and means for mounting said pair of further pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective further arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, and are spaced from each other, characterized in that said device further comprises: means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, at a location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said one of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said one of said pivotal arms; and means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, at an other location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said other of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said other of said pivotal arms; each of said further arm axes being spaced from each of said arm axes, and fixed with respect to said frame, each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in one position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a circle having a diameter equal to one of said mutually different diameters, concentric with said centering axis, and each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in another position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a circle having a diameter equal to the other of said mutually different diameters, concentric with said centering axis.

Claim 12

A player as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said centering elements each comprise pins or rollers each having a respective central axis and a respective conical circumferential surface, said central axes extending parallel to said centering axis.

Claim 13

A disc-record player for scanning a rotating disc-shaped information carrier having a circumferential edge, and having either of two mutually different diameters, comprising: a frame; a turntable comprising a supporting surface for said information carrier; and means for rotating said turntable with respect to said frame, during operation, about an axis of rotation; and a centering device comprising a pair of pivotal arms and a pair of further pivotal arms, each of said arms comprising a respective centering element arranged for engaging said circumferential edge to bring said information carrier into a centered position relative to a centering axis which is at least parallel to said axis of rotation during a centering operation; means for mounting said pair of pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, are spaced from each other and are fixed with respect to said frame; and means for mounting said pair of further pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective further arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, and are spaced from each other, characterized in that said device further comprises: means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, at a location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said one of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said one of said pivotal arms; means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, at an other location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said other of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said other of said pivotal arms, and means for coupling said pair of arms to each other for symmetrical pivotal movement; each of said further arm axes being spaced from each of said arm axes, and fixed with respect to said frame, each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in one position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a circle having a diameter equal to one of said mutually different diameters, concentric with said centering axis, and each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in another position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a second circle having a diameter equal to the other of said mutually different diameters, concentric with said centering axis, and in said another position, each of said respective centering elements engages said circumferential edge in a respective different quadrant of said second circle, whereby said information carrier is centered both longitudinally and transversely.

Claim 14

A disc-record player for scanning a rotating disc-shaped information carrier having a circumferential edge, and having either of two mutually different diameters, comprising: a frame; a turntable comprising a supporting surface for said information carrier; and means for rotating said turntable with respect to said frame, during operation, about an axis of rotation; and a centering device comprising a pair of pivotal arms and a pair of further pivotal arms, each of said arms comprising a respective centering element arranged for engaging said circumferential edge to bring said information carrier into a centered position relative to a centering axis which is at least parallel to said axis of rotation during a centering operation; means for mounting said pair of pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, are spaced from each other and are fixed with respect to said frame; and means for mounting said pair of further pivotal arms for pivotal movement about respective further arm axes which are parallel to said centering axis, and are spaced from each other, characterized in that said device further comprises: means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, at a location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said one of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said one of said pivotal arms; means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, at an other location spaced from said arm axes and said further arm axes, to cause pivotal movement of said other of said further pivotal arms responsive to pivotal movement of said other of said pivotal arms, and means for coupling said pair of arms to each other for symmetrical pivotal movement; each of said further arm axes being spaced from each of said arm axes, and fixed with respect to said frame, each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in one position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a circle having a diameter equal to one of said mutually different diameters, concentric with said centering axis, and each of said arms with their respective centering elements and each of said means for coupling being arranged such that, in another position of said pair of pivotal arms, said centering elements are disposed at least substantially on a second circle having a diameter equal to the other of said mutually different diameters, concentric with said centering axis, and in said another position, each of said respective centering elements engages said circumferential edge in a respective different quadrant of said second circle, whereby said information carrier is centered both longitudinally and transversely.

Claim 15

A player as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said means for coupling said pair of arms to each other for symmetrical pivotal movement comprises a pin-slot linkage.

Claim 16

A player as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, and said means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, each comprise a respective pin-slot linkage.

Claim 17

A player as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said means for coupling one of said pivotal arms to one of said further pivotal arms, and said means for coupling the other of said pivotal arms to the other of said further pivotal arms, each comprise a respective pin-slot linkage.