Abstract: An identification method using a magnetic marker including a plurality of amorphous magnetic, thin wires or thin bands which have highly rectangular hysteresis curves and different coercive forces, and are disposed in a parallel fashion with a predetermined separation each other. The magnetic marker is attached to an article passing through the alternating magnetic field. This induces a temporal pulse train in a detection coil, which serves to identify the magnetic marker and therefore the article by pattern recognition of the pulse train. An instrumentation unit stores in advance the occurrence time of each pulse when the magnetic marker passes through the alternating magnetic field with the standard maximum value, and the stored occurrence time (phase) of each pulse is adopted as the reference. A magnetic marker, is identified by passing the marker through a first alternating magnetic field to produce a first pulse train corresponding to the magnetic thin wires or bands.

Abstract: A loading device comprises a frame (103), a drawer (100) which is movable between a first and the second position, guide means for guiding the drawer, and an electric motor (115) for driving the drawer. The guide means comprise a supporting body (117) which is movable in the frame and which comprises supporting elements (123), guide elements (139) secured to the frame, and at least one stop element (137) secured to the frame. The supporting elements serve for supporting the drawer and the supporting body in such a way that they are movable relative to one another during the movement of the drawer between the first and the second position, and the guide elements serve for moving the drawer relative to the frame in a direction parallel to a supporting surface (101) of the drawer. The stop element serves for guiding the drawer in a direction transverse to said supporting surface.

Abstract: Binary image processing techniques are provided for decoding bitmap image space representations of self-clocking glyph shape codes of various types (e.g., codes presented as original or degraded images, with one or a plurality of bits encoded in each glyph, while preserving the discriminability of glyphs that encode different bit values) and for tracking the number and locations of the ambiquities (sometimes referred to herein as "errors") that are encountered during the decoding of such codes. A substantial portion of the image processing that is performed in the illustrated embodiment of this invention is carried out through the use of morphological filtering operations because of the parallelism that is offered by such operations.

Abstract: A loading mechanism for a data storage device is provided in which the data storage device is housed in a cartridge. The loading mechanism includes a mounting frame. A holder is mounted on the frame and receives and maintains the cartridge in place. A chassis is mounted on the mounting frame so that when the cartridge is loaded, the holder and the chassis move in opposite directions relative to the mounting frame.

Abstract: A disk record sound reproducing apparatus includes a turntable having a cylindrical rib formed on the lower surface thereof and protruding downwardly therefrom. A plurality of selection levers, equal in number to a number of modulated grooves of a disk record, are pivotably disposed below the turntable, the levers being arranged radially with respect to the center of the turntable. Each selection lever has a drawn-down arm and a holding arm which are respectively engageable with a part of the turntable and the lower edge of the rib. When one of the selection levers is turned, the turntable is lowered by the draw-down arm which presses down the part of the turntable, and at the same time, the holding arm rides over the lower edge of the rib and enters the inside of the rib. Thus, the turntable together with the record disk is maintained at its lowered position, and the application of stylus force to the disk record is released.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk storage has an erroneous insertion preventing mechanism which projects into a holder so that it can touch the magneto-optical disk cartridge in order to prevent the same from being inserted. The erroneous insertion preventing mechanism mechanically engages with the magneto-optical disk cartridge and moves in a direction approximately vertical to the recording suface of the magneto-optical disk to allow the magneto-optical disk cartridge to be inserted only if the magneto-optical disk cartridge is being inserted into the holder with a correct orientation.

Abstract: A control circuit of a tray loading apparatus determines, according to a disc size and a tray moving direction, a time during which to control the motor at a constant speed. When the specified time has elapsed after the motor was started, the control circuit produces a pulse-width modulated output to slowly lower the motor speed, eliminating impact noise when the tray strikes a stopper. This motor deceleration time is measured. When the measured deceleration time disagrees with a preset or previously detected target deceleration time, the difference is either added to or subtracted from a constant-speed motor operation time and the resultant value is taken as the next target time for constant-speed motor operation. In this way, by changing the time during which the motor is driven at a constant speed, any variations in the tray moving speed as might occur from varying loads on the motor are absorbed to keep the motor deceleration time and decelerating speed unchanged, thus making the tray motion smooth.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vibration preventive device for an optical disc player comprising a moving part supported movably relative to a stationary part, and a drive force generator including a coil fitted on either the stationary part or moving part and a magnet fitted on the other, the coil or magnet being supported resiliently on the stationary part.

Abstract: A swing-type actuator has (a) a housing including a pair of yokes and a permanent magnet attached to at least one of the yokes opposing each other for defining a magnetic gap therebetween; and (b) a swingable arm having at one end a hold member encompassing a movable coil, such that the hold member and movable coil have essentially the same thickness and the movable coil is swingable in the magnetic gap, the arm and the hold member being integrally formed of a thermoplastic resin having a longitudinal modulus of 30.times.10.sup.4 kg/cm.sup.2 or more.

Abstract: A disc cartridge made up of a cartridge housing and a disc-shaped recording medium, such as an optical disc or a magneto-optical disc, accommodated in the cartridge housing, is disclosed. The cartridge housing of the disc cartridge is provided with a recording/reproducing aperture for exposing a part of the disc-shaped recording medium to the outside along the radius of the disc, and with a shutter member for opening or closing the aperture. Within a shutter opening actuating recess formed in the cartridge housing, a discriminating member associated with the type of the disc-shaped recording medium accommodated in the cartridge housing is provided for closing at least a part of the recess to prevent insertion of the disc cartridge into a recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is not suited to the type of the disc-shaped recording medium of the disc cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge loading/unloading apparatus having a base, and a carrier movably supported on the base and capable of carrying a tape cartridge. The carrier with the cartridge is moved between an unloading position and a loading position by a drive motor by way of a cam member, a flexible arm, and a pivot arm. A stopper is provided for retaining the carrier at the loading position. The carrier is urged against the stopper by a deformation of the flexible arm at the loading position.

Abstract: A device for actuating a shutter of a disc cartridge along with insertion of the disk cartridge into a holder of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus is disclosed. The device includes an engaging pin mounted on a lever member and adapted to be in engagement with one end of the shutter during the travel of the cartridge from a half-loaded position to a full-loaded position. The engaging pin extends downwardly through an oblique-inwardly engaging slot and protrudes into a cartridge accommodating space within the holder. A very small force is needed to smoothly actuate the shutter because a guide pin secured to the cassette or disc cartridge holder will act as an axis of rotation for the lever member 14 by vitrue of a slot provided in the other end of the lever member from the engaging pin. The guide pin is rotatably and linearly displaced with regard to the slot in the lever member.

Abstract: A mass loader stores a plurality of cartridges for loading a selected one of the cartridges into an optical disk reader. The loader comprises a magazine carrier and a cartridge loading apparatus. The cartridges are stored in a vertical and parallel orientation within slots in a magazine which is then inserted into the magazine carrier. The magazine carrier depends from a follower nut which travels along a lead screw in a direction transverse to the parallel orientation of the cartridges. As the leadscrew turns, the follower nut travels therealong to move the magazine into the correct position to load the selected one of the cartridges into the reader. After the magazine is properly positioned, another lead screw is driven to propel another follower nut therealong. The follower nut has a loading pin protruding therefrom which engages the selected one of the cartridges for loading. The leadscrew is then driven to propel the cartridge via the pin on the follower nut into the reader.

Abstract: A disk cartridge with an integral plastic shutter for shutting/opening an aperture formed in a cartridge case rotatably accommodating a disk-shaped recording medium therein characterized in that a faceplate part of the shutter has an outer surface including a large number of ridges. The shutter of this disk cartridge has a high dimensional stability and mechanical strength.

Abstract: Device for holding an optically readable disc in a flat position during playing has concentric annular depressions to which vacuum is supplied by a passage to a rotatably journalled connection having an airtight lead-through.

Abstract: A compact disk player wherein more compact disks can be loaded within a limited space and can be reproduced continuously. A disk setting device on which the disks are placed is arranged as an up-and-down double structure. The disks laid on the disk setting device are lifted-up and lowered in conformity with the heights of a disk chuck, a disk clamp and a pick-up driving part, and also compensated for by a height compensating device for compensating for the difference in height of the disk setting device in order to accomplish the proper chucking of the disks and reproduction of material recorded on the disks.

Abstract: An optical information read/write apparatus that comprises a casing for installing an optical disk therein and a first movable unit having an objective lens for converging an optical beam on the disk. The lens center moves on a radial direction line originated from the disk center. A first fixed unit is disposed aside the disk in the casing. The fixed unit has an optical source for emitting the beam and constitutes a reading optical pickup in conjunction with the first movable unit. A second movable unit is disposed in the same half side of the disk as the first movable unit. The second movable unit has an objective lens for converging an optical beam on the disk. The lens center of the second unit moves on a radial direction line originated from the disk center. A second fixed unit is disposed aside the disk. The second fixed unit has an optical source for emitting the beam of the second movable unit and constitutes a writing optical pickup in conjunction with the second movable unit.

Abstract: A turn table having a sound recording disk or record mounted thereon is normally urged upwardly by a spring disposed between a lower surface of the turn table and a chassis of a casing to apply a stylus force to a pickup. A weight member is rotatably and eccentrically supported on an inside mounting plate, and an operating claw having a slant surface formed on a lower surface is fixed to the weight member. When a shock is applied to the weight member externally, the weight member rotates by an inertia force in a plane perpendicular to a rotary shaft of the turn table. As a result, the operating claw on the weight member moves toward an upper end of the rotary shaft. The slant surface of the operating claw rides over the upper end of the rotary shaft to downwardly press the rotary shaft together with the turn table. Thus, the stylus force of the pickup is released.

Abstract: A disc ejecting structure capable of positively detecting the position of a disc during a disc ejecting operation to eject the disc from a disc player with safety and high reliability. The disc ejecting structure includes a plurality of disc detecting sensors which are so arranged that a disc which is in the course of ejection or at an ejection completing position is detected depending upon patterns of combination of detection and non-detection modes of the sensors.

Abstract: A depository apparatus includes a common entry slot (14) for receiving both envelopes and single sheets, such as checks and a thickness sensor (216) for providing an output indicative of whether a deposit item is an envelope or a sheet. Transport apparatus (38) transports deposit items along a common feed path to a printer (42) for printing data on envelopes and sheets, and to a read head (40) for reading data from sheets. A sheet alignment mechanism is included in the common feed path and is operable to bring about alignment of a sheet relative to the read head (40) by moving the sheet into engagement with a reference member (170). Operation of the transport apparatus (38) is interrupted during operation of the alignment mechanism. Envelopes are fed directly into a first container (146). After reading of data from a sheet, operation of the transport apparatus (38) is reversed to feed the sheet into a selected one of two additional containers (138, 140).