Abstract: As a caddy is inserted into the player to load a record therein, it displaces the carriage locking lever to its retracted position to release the carriage. The record retaining spine of the caddy holds the carriage locking lever at the retracted position thereof as long as the record/spine assembly is inside the player. Upon removal of the record/spine assembly from the player, the carriage locking lever moves to its advanced position to arrest the carriage.

Abstract: A molding apparatus for molding a recorded disc includes a pair of mold plates adapted to form a mold cavity therein and a center hole forming pin slidably mounted in one of the mold plates. The center hole forming pin is larger in diameter than the hole to be formed and has a projection on its end which is of a diameter equal to the hole to be formed and a length about one-half the length of the hole to be formed. The other mold plate includes a projection extending therefrom of a diameter equal to the diameter of the hole to be formed and a length one-half the length of the hole. In the molding of the disc the projection on the center hole forming pin engages the projection on the other mold plate to form a hole in which a flash is spaced from the edges of the hole.

Abstract: A video disc player is provided with a set of depressible receiving pads for supporting a record retained therein. An actuating member, subject to engagement with a portion of a leading surface of a record caddy during insertion thereof into said player, depresses the record receiving pads to permit the caddy insertion.

Abstract: A video disc caddy comprises a jacket and a record retaining spine. The jacket includes a U-shaped rigid frame having a peripheral edge wall and an intermediate flange extending inwardly from the edge wall at substantially right angles thereto. The intermediate flange in conjunction with the interior surfaces of the edge wall defines a pair of channels. A pair of inexpensive panels, made from sheet stock, are securely mounted in the respective channels to define a record enclosing cavity.

Abstract: A record caddy, suitable for use with a video disc player, includes a sleeve and a record retaining spine removably located therein. Disposed on the spine are latch members for releasably locking the spine to the sleeve. Latch defeat fingers, disposed in the player, are wedged between the respective spine latch fingers and interior portions of the sleeve during an occupied caddy arrival at a fully inserted position in the player, so that the spine latch fingers are deflected in a manner freeing the spine from the sleeve. The player is further equipped with spine gripper members for locking the spine to the player during such caddy arrival, whereby subsequent sleeve withdrawal removes the spine and the accompanying record from the sleeve for retention in player. To retrieve the retained record, an empty sleeve is inserted into the player.

Abstract: A disc record caddy comprises a jacket having an edge opening in communication with a record enclosing cavity, and a record retaining spine subject to insertion into the jacket. The spine defines a first portion forming a closure for the edge opening, and a further portion having a perimetrical wall defining an opening in which the enclosed record is received. A portion of the perimetrical wall disposed between the enclosed record and the closure portion of the spine defines a molded-in recess for selectively receiving a peripheral portion of the enclosed record.

Abstract: A record caddy, suitable for use with a video disc player, comprises a jacket and a record retaining spine removably located therein. Disposed on the spine are lateral latch fingers for releasably locking the spine to the jacket. The spine has a pair of slots into which a locating member disposed in the player is received to assure accurate location of the spine in the player. A pair of cutouts are disposed in the spine in which gripper members of the record extracting mechanism are received to lock the spine to the player so that the record/spine assembly is retained in the player during subsequent jacket withdrawal.

Abstract: A video disc player includes a turntable for centering and rotatably supporting a record for playback. A pickup stylus for recovering information stored on a turntable-supported record is mounted in a compartment provided in a carriage. A common drive belt is provided for selectively translating the carriage. The player is equipped with a first drive mechanism for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during playback toward the turntable center at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable while stylus/record engagement is permitted. A second drive mechanism is employed for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during active searching toward and away from the turntable center at a speed independent of the speed of rotation of the turntable while the stylus is riding on the record.

Abstract: A video record player includes a common drive belt for selectively translating a pickup stylus carriage. The player is equipped with a first drive mechanism, including a turntable-driven pulley, for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during playback toward the center of a turntable at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable while stylus/record engagement is effected. The first drive mechanism includes a slip clutch interposed between the common drive belt and the turntable-driven pulley. In such players, a record caddy is used to push the carriage back to a starting position away from the turntable center, when it is at a position other than at the starting position during a caddy insertion into the player.

Abstract: A video record player includes a common drive belt for selectively translating a pickup stylus carriage. The player is equipped with a first drive mechanism, including a turntable-driven pulley, for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during playback toward the center of a turntable at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable while stylus/record engagement is effected. A manually-actuated second drive mechanism is employed for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during active searching toward and away from the turntable center at a speed independent of the speed of rotation of the turntable while the stylus is in engagement with the record.

Abstract: A player, such as a video disc player, includes a signal pickup carriage, which carries a travel-limit switch and which is translated during playback toward the turntable center in correlation with the speed of rotation of the turntable. The player is provided with a movable endless belt, which carries a stop element and which extends along a path parallel to the carriage path. A time-setting wheel is coupled to the belt for selectively positioning the stop element. The position of the stop element determines the point at which the carriage-mounted switch engages the stop element during carriage translation toward the turntable center. The engagement between the two elements shuts off power to the turntable motor and lifts the stylus away from a turntable-supported record.

Abstract: A record is removably subject to occupancy of a protective caddy comprising a jacket and a record retaining spine. The record is enclosed in the caddy such that a first side of the record is associated with a given side of the spine. To load a record into a player, such as a video disc player, an occupied caddy is inserted into an input slot provided in the player. A record extracting mechanism mounted in the player removes the retaining spine and the associated record from the jacket during jacket withdrawal subsequent to the occupied cover arrival at a fully inserted position in the player, whereby the record and the spine are retained within the player.

Abstract: To load a record into a player, such as a video disc player, a record caddy is inserted into the player housing along a path. The player has a mechanism for retaining the enclosed record therein during subsequent caddy withdrawal. A turntable is provided for centering and rotatably supporting the retained record. The player includes a mechanism for translating a pickup carriage along a second path substantially parallel to the caddy path at a speed correlated with the speed of rotation of the turntable during playback. For subsequent record retrieval, an empty caddy is inserted into the player, thereby returning the record back into the caddy.

Abstract: To load a record into a player, such as a video disc player, a record caddy is inserted into the player housing through an input slot. The player is equipped with rails for guiding caddy insertion along a path. A record extracting mechanism mounted in the player removes the enclosed record from the caddy during subsequent caddy withdrawal, whereby the record is retained in the player. A platform mounted in the housing is subject to motion between an elevated position and a depressed position. In the elevated position, the platform supports the retained record in the raised position. The retained record is transferred to a turntable for rotation therewith when the platform is depressed. The player is further equipped with a second set of rails for guiding a signal pickup carriage along a second path disposed parallel to the caddy path. A translating apparatus drives the pickup carriage along the carriage guide rails at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable during playback.

Abstract: A protective cover for a video disc comprises an enclosure having an edge opening in communication with a record enclosing cavity and a record retaining member slidably mounted within the cavity for to-and-fro movement therein. The record retaining member includes a spine portion and an annular portion having an opening. The opening in the annular portion substantially encircles an enclosed record such that to-and-fro movement of the record retaining member is transmitted to the enclosed record. The spine portion substantially extends into the edge opening of the enclosure when it is fully inserted therein. The spine portion has a record extracting member receiving hole that is accessible in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the to-and-fro movement of the record retaining member.

Abstract: A video disc package includes a jacket having a record enclosing cavity and an end access opening in communication therewith. A record retaining member, comprising a spine and an annular element, is reciprocably mounted within the cavity. The spine portion forms a closure for the jacket when the retaining member is fully inserted therein. The annular element has a through opening for receiving a record. An edge of the spine portion remains exposed upon full insertion of the spine into the jacket. Indicia are secured to the exposed edge of the spine for associating a given side of the spine with the first side of an enclosed record and the other side of the spine with the second side of the enclosed record. The record is enclosed within the package such that its first side is adjacent to the given side of the spine and its second side is contiguous to the other side of the spine.

Abstract: A protective cover for a video disc record comprises a jacket and a record retaining tray removably located therein. A video disc player includes latch arms which engage the record retaining tray when an occupied cover is fully inserted into the player. Such engagement causes an extraction of the record retaining tray from the jacket during jacket withdrawal subsequent to the occupied cover arrival at the fully inserted position, whereby an enclosed record is retained in the player resting on a depressible platform upon a completion of such a jacket withdrawal. A subsequent lowering of the platform effects a transfer of the retained record to the player turntable for rotation therewith with independence from the record retaining tray.