Abstract: Process for memorizing the references of recordings carried on a medium. The process is active in play mode in a device provided with means for recognizing a medium and automatically carries out the following steps for each recording carried on said medium: monitoring the continuity of reproduction, automatically memorizing the reference of said recording if it is played in its entirety or if a predetermined proportion of it is played.

Abstract: A removing mechanism for a plug assembly which is inserted in an retracted from a socket upon axial movement of the plug assembly, the mechanism having relatively movable concentric members arranged around either a plug assembly or a socket, one of the members being an actuating member, a retainer which holds the actuating member to the plug assembly or the socket and allows relative rotational movement, and one of the members transmitting axial movement to cause axial movement of the plug assembly to retract the plug from the socket; and a motion converting connection between the members including an angled cam on the actuating member and cooperating surface on the other member which converts a manual force applied to rotate the actuating member relative to the other member into an axial force pressing against the socket and an equal and opposite axial force applied to the plug assembly which moves the plug assembly axially in a direction away from the socket and retracts the plug assembly.

Abstract: A drying cassette for circulating drying air over internal components of a player/recorder unit is contained within a cassette housing similar to a conventional tape cassette, and is self powered or may be powered from a spindle within the player/recorder unit. A fan within the cassette housing generates forced air, and an outlet opening in the cassette housing directs the forced air toward the internal components, in particular the rotating drum and magnetic head assembly of conventional VCR units. A combined cleaning and drying cassette is also disclosed.

Abstract: A single-handle faucet has a valve, a connecting rod and a handle on the connecting rod which can be pivoted between an OFF position and a full ON position. The handle is movably mounted on the connecting rod. When the handle is moved to a first position, the handle is prevented from pivoting past an intermediate position between the OFF position and the full ON position. When the handle is moved to a second position, the handle can be moved to the full ON position.

Abstract: A mechanism for centering discs of different diameters includes a generally flat plate containing a plurality of slots, a guide rotatably mounted on one side of the plate for rotation about the axis along which a disc is to be centered, at least three pins, each of which slidably engages one of the slots and protrudes through the plate for engaging the periphery of a disc to be centered, a separate linkage pivotally connected between each of the pins and the guide to coordinate the displacement of the pins in the slots according to the rotation of the guide, and a biasing spring urging the pins toward the ends of the slots closer to the axis. The centering mechanism is employed in a playback apparatus for records, particularly compact discs of different diameters.

Abstract: A disc player/recorder apparatus for loading. centering and ejecting optical discs. The apparatus has a horizontal spindle for operating the disc in a vertical plane and a pivotal door, and is operative with discs of different diameters.

Abstract: A changer for sequentially playing back at least two records without any interruption includes a magazine for storing records along a number of storage planes in side-by-side compartment and two mechanisms for transferring stored records to and from the magazine, and for playing back the records. The mechanisms are commonly movable relative to the magazine for alignment of one mechanism with a stored record while another record is being played back in the other mechanism.

Abstract: A record detector includes a member having a capacitance that changes in response to capacitive coupling with a metallic layer of the record. The variable capacitance member controls an electrical oscillator that produces an electrical signal having a frequency that varies in response to the value of the capacitance. Changes in the frequency of the electrical signal are measured in analog or digital form. The magnitude of the frequency change is compared to one or more reference values to determine whether an optical disc record is present and to determine other characteristics, such as size and orientation, of an optical disc record. The variable capacitance member is constructed by applying one or more metallic plates to an optical disc record support, or to the periphery of an optical disc record insertion slot, that is part of an optical disc record playback unit.

Abstract: A record disc player apparatus of the type having a front loading drawer incorporates a centering mechanism for centering record discs of different diameters. At least three movable studs are disposed generally equidistantly about an axis of the loading drawer and are carried by support members mounted to the underside of the bottom of the drawer. Slots in the bottom of the drawer guide the studs inwardly generally toward the axis from a position spaced outwardly of the periphery of a larger of the different record discs which the loading means is adapted to carry concentric with the axis. The movable supports carrying the studs are interconnected for coordinating inward movement of the studs to engage the periphery and center a smaller record disc supported on the loading drawer only after a predetermined displacement of one of the movable supports.

Abstract: A record changer apparatus having a removable magazine for storing a plurality of records, a playback/recording mechanism for receiving and playing or recording a record transferred from the magazine, a housing mounted adjacent the playback/recording mechanism and adapted to receive the removable magazine, the housing being mounted for swiveling about a mounting axis between an operating position in which the magazine in the housing is located to allow transfer of a selected record between the mechanism and the magazine and a loading position angularly displaced from the operating position in which the magazine may be removed or loaded into the housing. The housing and magazine are swiveled between operating and loading positions either manually or by power.

Abstract: A sound reproducing system including a portable appliance reproducing sound from a recording and a transmission path transmitting reproduced sound to headphones worn by a user, and an apparatus for indicating to the user the occurrence of an abnormal event, causing a surge of ambient sound.

Abstract: A record disc player apparatus having a front loading drawer supported for in-and-out substantially horizontal movement between an external loading/unloading position and an internal operating position and a support carried by the drawer and engageable with a record disc on the drawer for raising and tilting the record disc into an inclined position with the record disc facing upwardly and toward a front portion of the drawer when the drawer is in the loading/unloading position and for lowering the record disc into a substantially horizontal position before the drawer is moved into the internal operating position to facilitate the user gripping the record disc at its periphery without touching its surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for reproducing information carried along a spiral track of a record disc having a controller to locate a reproduction element so that it follows the information track and to maintain a substantially linear reproduction speed as the reproduction element recovers the information recorded along the information track at a normal rhythm. The controller compares the progression of the recovery of the information with a time-based reference signal and delivers a control signal when a predetermined difference occurs indicative of a break in the rhythm of the progression of the recovery. The control signal corrects the relative movement between the record disc and the reproduction element to restore the rhythm of the progression of the recovery.

Abstract: An automatic changer apparatus having a control system permitting the successive and/or selective playback of a plurality of record carriers having memory for storing a user-selected command value representing, for a record carrier, a total number of individual recorded pieces for playback, control devices included in the control system operative under program control for starting the playback of a first record carrier and playing back recorded pieces on the record carrier, and said control devices connected to said memory to receive the command value, and responsive thereto, to direct the automatic changer apparatus through a "variety" mode of operation including changing the first for a second record carrier when the registered number of recorded pieces played back from the first record carrier reaches the user-selected value, and repeating the starting and changing steps until all or a selection of the plurality of record carriers have been played back.

Abstract: A control system for a record changer apparatus having a plurality of record discs containing different kinds of information, such as entertainment, either music or video, and navigation information, Upon an interruption in operation, the operating positional location of a reproduction unit relative to the disc is determined and stored so as to permit the resumption of reading the information on that disc at the point of interruption or at a predetermined location when the reading of that disc is resumed.

Abstract: Record changing apparatus for the successive and/or selective reproduction and/or recording of records having a magazine for storing records and a loading/reproducing mechanism for receiving the records, the loading/reproducing mechanism and the magazine both being mounted for pivoting about distinct parallel axes and being driven and coordinated to provide opposite angular displacements between a plurality of fixed positions in each of which a compartment in the magazine faces the loading/reproducing mechanism for transfer of a record therebetween.

Abstract: A power-driven apparatus for assisting in loading and unloading a disc into a player or recording apparatus comprising a housing for receiving and supporting the disc, a power-operated movable roller driven by a motor to rotate the disc and a movable detector for energizing the motor for guiding the disc into and out of the housing of the player. The edge of the disc is engaged by the roller which positively rolls the disc along an entrance surface, the roller and entrance surface being covered by a material having a high coefficient of friction so that the roller positively rolls the disc both into and out of the apparatus to assist in the loading and unloading.

Abstract: A slot-loading apparatus for a playback and/or recording device comprising a front panel having a slot defining a path for inserting and ejecting a record element and a door operated responsive to the insertion and ejection of the element. The angle and height of insertion are independently controlled by providing a door unit having a curved section facing a curved portion of the slot in the front panel. The movement of the door relative to the slot can be effectively utilized to provide light indicators for the apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic loading and unloading mechanism for a slot-type record disc apparatus including three conical elements mounted in a mechanically variable triangle arrangement and having surfaces tapering inwardly in the upward direction and engaging the edge of a disc at an upper portion of said tapering surfaces to hold a disc when the disc is partially inserted into the slot of the apparatus; the conical elements are movable edgewise in the loading and unloading directions while maintained in contact at upper portions thereof with different portions of the edge of the disc as the conical elements move edgewise to move the disc to and from an intermediate position above a drive hub; the conical elements are movable radially outwardly relative to the center of a disc held by the conical elements to lower the disc between the intermediate position and an operating position on a drive hub caused by the edge of the disc riding down the tapered surfaces of the conical elements to lower portions thereof; the conical

Abstract: A storage device for record discs having a housing defining a compartment for holding a record disc in a fixed position and having an entrance through which the disc is inserted edgewise in its own plane to the fixed position; a first V-grooved member fixed in the compartment generally adjacent and behind the transverse center line is adapted to engage the lateral edge of the disc when in the fixed position; a second V-grooved member fixed in the compartment generally adjacent and disposed on the opposite side of the longitudinal center line from the first member in a back portion of the compartment is adapted to engage the back edge of the disc when in the fixed position; a securing lever pivotally mounted in the compartment generally adjacent and forward of the transverse center line and urged in one direction by a spring has a third V-grooved member adapted to engage another lateral edge and hold the record disc resiliently against the first and second members in the fixed position; and a fourth V-grooved