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 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 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 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: 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 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.