US6081494A — Disc recording and reproducing apparatus having a…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 292 words

A disc device comprising: a floating base supported by a chassis through a plurality of elastic members; a holder supported on said floating base so as to be able to move vertically with respect to said floating base; a slider for holding and carrying a disc cartridge into and out of said holder, said slider slidably disposed in said holder so as to move in directions of inserting and discharging the disc cartridge into and out of said holder; locking means which secures said floating base to said chassis when inserting the disc cartridge held in said slider into said holder and when discharging the disc cartridge out of said holder, and which releases said floating base from said chassis when writing to and replaying the disc cartridge inserted into said holder; and driving arm means, rotatably disposed in the chassis and including a first arm having an end part selectively engaged with a groove in said slider, wherein rotation of said first arm in a first direction causes said end part to slide within said groove so as to carry said slider together with the disc cartridge in the inserting direction when inserting the disc cartridge into said holder, rotation of said first arm in a second direction causes said end part to slide within said groove so as to carry said slider together with the disc cartridge in the discharging direction when discharging the disc cartridge out of said holder, and further rotation of said first arm in said first direction when the disc cartridge is within said holder causes said end part to disengage from said groove so that said first arm is disconnected from said slider when writing to and replaying the disc cartridge inserted into said holder.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 292 words

A disc device comprising: a floating base supported by a chassis through a plurality of elastic members; a holder supported on said floating base so as to be able to move vertically with respect to said floating base; a slider for holding and carrying a disc cartridge into and out of said holder, said slider slidably disposed in said holder so as to move in directions of inserting and discharging the disc cartridge into and out of said holder; locking means which secures said floating base to said chassis when inserting the disc cartridge held in said slider into said holder and when discharging the disc cartridge out of said holder, and which releases said floating base from said chassis when writing to and replaying the disc cartridge inserted into said holder; and driving arm means, rotatably disposed in the chassis and including a first arm having an end part selectively engaged with a groove in said slider, wherein rotation of said first arm in a first direction causes said end part to slide within said groove so as to carry said slider together with the disc cartridge in the inserting direction when inserting the disc cartridge into said holder, rotation of said first arm in a second direction causes said end part to slide within said groove so as to carry said slider together with the disc cartridge in the discharging direction when discharging the disc cartridge out of said holder, and further rotation of said first arm in said first direction when the disc cartridge is within said holder causes said end part to disengage from said groove so that said first arm is disconnected from said slider when writing to and replaying the disc cartridge inserted into said holder.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 108 words

The disc device according to claim 1, wherein said driving arm means includes an engaging portion, and wherein said disc device further comprises a rotary member having a projection portion which can move along said engaging portion of said driving arm means so as to cause said driving arm means to rotate as said rotary member rotates, and a holding means for securely holding said projecting portion of said rotary member which is engaged in said engaging portion of said driving arm means at least while said driving arm means is separate from said slider and said projecting portion is located in one end of said engaging portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

The disc device according to claim 2, wherein said driving arm means further includes a second arm having an edge portion spaced apart from an edge portion of said first arm such that a driving gap is formed between the spaced apart edge portions, said engaging portion being the driving gap.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 90 words

The disc device according to claim 3, wherein said holding means is a spring, engaged between said first and second arms, for urging them towards each other so as to narrow said gap in which said projecting portion of said rotary member is-engaged, and wherein said gap is formed so that said projecting portion of said rotary member is securely held in said gap by said spring at least while said first arm is separate from said slider and said projecting portion is located in one end of said gap.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The disc device according to claim 1, wherein said first arm includes a pin disposed at said end part thereof, said pin sliding within said slider groove as said driving arm means rotates.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The disc device according to claim 1, wherein said disc device further comprises a switch means for activating and deactivating said driving means in accordance with whether or not said driving arm means is in contact with said switch means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 179 words

A disc device comprising: a slider, slidably disposed so as to move in directions of inserting and discharging a disc cartridge into and out of said disc device, for holding and carrying a disc cartridge insert thereinto; a first arm, one end part of which is rotatably supported on an axis, and another end part of which can be engaged with said slider for inserting and discharging the disc cartridge; a second arm, one end part of which is rotatably supported on the axis, and which forms a gap in cooperation with said first arm; a rotary member having a projecting portion which is loosely engaged in said gap; and a spring, engaged and interconnected with said first and second arms, for urging said first and second arms towards each other so as to narrow said gap, said gap being formed so that said projecting portion of said rotary member is securely held in said gap by said spring as said first arm disconnects from said slider and said projecting portion is located in one end of said gap.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 179 words

A disc device comprising: a slider, slidably disposed so as to move in directions of inserting and discharging a disc cartridge into and out of said disc device, for holding and carrying a disc cartridge insert thereinto; a first arm, one end part of which is rotatably supported on an axis, and another end part of which can be engaged with said slider for inserting and discharging the disc cartridge; a second arm, one end part of which is rotatably supported on the axis, and which forms a gap in cooperation with said first arm; a rotary member having a projecting portion which is loosely engaged in said gap; and a spring, engaged and interconnected with said first and second arms, for urging said first and second arms towards each other so as to narrow said gap, said gap being formed so that said projecting portion of said rotary member is securely held in said gap by said spring as said first arm disconnects from said slider and said projecting portion is located in one end of said gap.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 135 words

A disc device comprising: a floating base supported by a chassis through a plurality of elastic members; at least two slide platens slidably fixed on said chassis, movable between a locking position for securing said floating base to said chassis and an unlocking position for releasing said floating base from said chassis; a rotary cam including at least two cam grooves on a face surface thereof; and at least two arms rotatable about a first axis of rotation, each of said arms having an end portion connected to a corresponding slide plate a including a projection portion on a face surface thereof, said projection portion engaging said rotary cam such that travel of the projection portions along corresponding cam grooves interacts with said arms to move said slide plates between the locked and unlocked positions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 135 words

A disc device comprising: a floating base supported by a chassis through a plurality of elastic members; at least two slide platens slidably fixed on said chassis, movable between a locking position for securing said floating base to said chassis and an unlocking position for releasing said floating base from said chassis; a rotary cam including at least two cam grooves on a face surface thereof; and at least two arms rotatable about a first axis of rotation, each of said arms having an end portion connected to a corresponding slide plate a including a projection portion on a face surface thereof, said projection portion engaging said rotary cam such that travel of the projection portions along corresponding cam grooves interacts with said arms to move said slide plates between the locked and unlocked positions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

The disc device according to claim 8, wherein said disc device further comprises an urging means for urging said pair of slide plates in opposite directions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

The disc device according to claim 8, wherein each of said pair of slide plates is provided with two locking grooves respectively engaged with two pins attached on said floating base when said floating base is locked.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

The disc device according to claim 8, wherein one of said pair of slide plates is provided with two slide plate members which can slide in opposite directions through a link plate engaged with said slide plate members.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 83 words

The disc device according to claim 8, wherein said holder comprises an inclined portion, and wherein said holder moves vertically and dissociates itself from said floating base when said inclined portion of said holder is engaged with one of said pair of slide plates, and wherein said holder-moves vertically toward said floating base and a disc cartridge in said holder is loaded onto said floating base when the engagement of said inclined portion of said holder with said one slide plate is released.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 42 words

The disc device according to claim 8, wherein said device further comprises a switch means for activating and deactivating said driving means in accordance with whether or not one of said pair of slide plates is in contact with said switch means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 43 words

A disc device according to claim 8, wherein said at least one slide plate includes first and second slide plates; said at least one arm includes first and second arms; and said at least one cam groove includes first and second cam grooves.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 185 words

A disc device comprising: a holder supported on a floating base so as to be able to move vertically with respect to said floating base; a slider for holding and carrying a disc cartridge into and out of said holder, said slider movable between a disc cartridge insertion position and a disc playback position; and driving arm means for moving said slider between the disc cartridge insertion position and the disc playback position, said driving arm means including a first arm having an end part selectively engaged with a groove in said slider, wherein rotation of said first arm in a first direction causes said end part to slide within said groove so as to carry said slider together with the disc cartridge from the disc insertion position into the disc playback position, and further rotation of said first arm in said first direction when the disc cartridge is in the disc playback position causes said end part to disengage from said groove so that said first arm is disconnected from said slider when writing to and replaying the disc cartridge inserted into said holder.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 185 words

A disc device comprising: a holder supported on a floating base so as to be able to move vertically with respect to said floating base; a slider for holding and carrying a disc cartridge into and out of said holder, said slider movable between a disc cartridge insertion position and a disc playback position; and driving arm means for moving said slider between the disc cartridge insertion position and the disc playback position, said driving arm means including a first arm having an end part selectively engaged with a groove in said slider, wherein rotation of said first arm in a first direction causes said end part to slide within said groove so as to carry said slider together with the disc cartridge from the disc insertion position into the disc playback position, and further rotation of said first arm in said first direction when the disc cartridge is in the disc playback position causes said end part to disengage from said groove so that said first arm is disconnected from said slider when writing to and replaying the disc cartridge inserted into said holder.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 152 words

A disc device comprising: a slider movable between a disc cartridge insertion position and a disc playback position; and a driving mechanism including, a rotary cam rotatable about a first axis of rotation and including a projection portion on a face surface thereof, an ejector arm engaging said slider and said projection portion such that rotation of said rotary cam moves said projection portion along an edge portion of said ejector arm to move said slider from the disc cartridge insertion position to the disc playback position, and a spacer arm; wherein said spacer arm and said ejector arm are rotatable about a second axis of rotation; the edge portion of said ejector arm is spaced apart from an edge portion of said spacer arm such that a driving gap is formed between the spaced apart edge portions; and said projection portion travels along the driving gap as said rotary cam rotates.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 152 words

A disc device comprising: a slider movable between a disc cartridge insertion position and a disc playback position; and a driving mechanism including, a rotary cam rotatable about a first axis of rotation and including a projection portion on a face surface thereof, an ejector arm engaging said slider and said projection portion such that rotation of said rotary cam moves said projection portion along an edge portion of said ejector arm to move said slider from the disc cartridge insertion position to the disc playback position, and a spacer arm; wherein said spacer arm and said ejector arm are rotatable about a second axis of rotation; the edge portion of said ejector arm is spaced apart from an edge portion of said spacer arm such that a driving gap is formed between the spaced apart edge portions; and said projection portion travels along the driving gap as said rotary cam rotates.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 109 words

A disc device comprising: a slider movable between a disc cartridge insertion position and a disc playback position; and a driving mechanism including, an ejector arm engaging said slider; a spacer arm resiliently coupled to said ejector arm, said spacer arm having an edge portion spaced apart from an edge portion of said ejector arm such that a driving gap is formed between the spaced apart edge portions; and a projection engaging said ejector arm and said spacer arm such that travel of the projection along the driving gap interacts with said ejector arm to move said slider from the disc cartridge insertion position to the disc playback position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 109 words

A disc device comprising: a slider movable between a disc cartridge insertion position and a disc playback position; and a driving mechanism including, an ejector arm engaging said slider; a spacer arm resiliently coupled to said ejector arm, said spacer arm having an edge portion spaced apart from an edge portion of said ejector arm such that a driving gap is formed between the spaced apart edge portions; and a projection engaging said ejector arm and said spacer arm such that travel of the projection along the driving gap interacts with said ejector arm to move said slider from the disc cartridge insertion position to the disc playback position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-06-27	2003-12-27	2004-06-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-06-27	2007-12-27	2008-06-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-06-27	2011-12-27	2012-06-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Disc recording and reproducing apparatus having a drive mechanism for loading and ejecting a disc cartridge

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