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 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 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 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: 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

Abstract: A cassette of cleaning tape for cleaning the driving, play-back and recording components of a magnetic tape apparatus. The cleaning cassette has a tape and a roller rotatably supported in the cassette housing having a core of absorbent material adapted to be impregnated with cleaning liquid, and absorbent material exposed on a portion of the surface of the roller for applying liquid to wet a surface of the tape intermittently as the tape is moved in the cassette, the intermittent liquid application preventing the tape from sticking to components as the tape is driven through the magnetic tape apparatus being cleaned.

Abstract: A video cassette adapter allowing a miniature cassette to be played in conventional video apparatus is disclosed. The adapter has the outer shape and dimensions of a standard, large size video cassette and has a cut-out portion in one face for receiving a miniature cassette having spools and recording tape extending therebetween normally in a small loop. Guide rollers are mounted on pivotable arms movable by a motor in the adapter for forming a large loop of the recording tape of a miniature cassette in the cut-out portion with a section of the large loop extending along a straight elongated path. Hubs are rotatably mounted for access through a face thereof by and for cooperation with spindles of a video apparatus and connected to rotate the miniature cassette spools to transfer recording tape along the path of the large loop.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and/or playback of recordings on discs including a selective disc changer suited particularly for discs of the "compact disc" type. The playback unit has a housing mounted for helicoidal movement between a disc operating plane and an entrance plane for receiving a disc inserted edgewise and rolling into the housing along the entrance plane. A removable magazine provides a plurality of disc storage compartments arranged side by side and successively movable into alignment with the entrance plane, the magazine being received on a tray mounted on the chassis of the apparatus. The magazine is locked against being removed from the tray responsive to transfer of a disc from a storage compartment of the magazine to ensure that the magazine is locked against removal from the time that one of the discs stored in a compartment of the magazine has left its storage position until it is returned to the magazine compartment.

Abstract: A laser disk record player particularly adapted for mobile applications such as in portable players and automobile mounted players. The player is provided with locking means for preventing free movement of the laser carrying scanning assembly when the player is switched off, thereby to prevent excessive wear or accidental damage caused by random acceleration of the normally free arm. With the record player in the load position, the locking means engages the scanning assembly to prevent motion thereof. When a disk is inserted and the player is switched to the play position, means are provided for automatically freeing the locking means thereby to allow the control circuit of the laser player to take over positioning of the arm.

Abstract: A record disc player apparatus has a frame including an entrance for a disc inserted through the entrance to a loading position, the disc being movable from the loading position to a playing position in an operating plane. A drive spindle mounted perpendicularly relative to the operating plane and aligned with the center of a disc in loading position is driven by a drive motor having a wound stator, a permanent magnet rotor, and a drive shaft mounted for movement axially of the spindle from a disc loading position in which the rotor is offset from the stator to a disc playing position in which the rotor is proximate to and rotated by the magnetic field of the stator. The stator of the motor is formed as a printed circuit on a board.