Abstract: A disk player has a magazine for storing disks and a disk transport mechanism transporting a selected disk between a playback position outside the magazine and a store position located entirely within the magazine. The carriages are stacked upon each other and pivotally supported within the magazine. The carriages are extracted from the stack by lifting a front end of a carriage above a selected carriage. Subsequent to the lifting of the carriage, the selected carriage is withdrawn from the magazine to the playback position. When a selected carriage is moved to the playback position, the disks on carriages above and below the selected carriage are prevented from shifting with the removal of the selected carriage by coaxial opposing shafts which extend through spindle holes in the disks on the carriages above and below the selected disk. A closeable gap between the two shafts permits the selected disk to be shifted.

Abstract: A disk playback device provides a space above and below a selected disk held in a disk holder. A turntable and optical pickup reside within the space. The turntable is moved inward in the space from a storage position to chuck, and withdraw, the selected disk from its disk holder to a playback position in which the axis of the turntable is within the outline of disks stored in disk holders. The storage position places the axis of the turntable outside the outline of disks stored in the disk holders. In a single play mode, a disk not stored in a disk holder is moved directly from outside the disk playback device to the playback position where it is chucked and played. On conclusion of single play, the disk is transported out of the disk playback device without being resident in a disk holder.

Abstract: A cam member, having a cam groove on its outer surface, is slidably mounted on a rotating shaft to allow for movement of disk holders between a playback position and a stored position. In one embodiment, the cam groove is continuous about the cam member, making two complete rotations around the cam member. When a first disk holder is at the playback position, the cam groove engages the second disk holder at the stored position. When the second disk holder is selected to be played, rotation of the cam member causes the first disk holder to move to a stored position on an opposite end of the cam member while the second disk holder is in the playback position. The overall height required for such a disk holding device is constant, providing for a multiple disk playback device with minimal height requirements.

Abstract: The impact of disturbances on the amplifier parts for the L and R channels is reduced by attaching the cases for the L and R channels, spaced apart, to the case for the power supply. Only the relatively massive power supply is directly supported on a supporting surface. Independent support on the supporting surface of the signal processing parts of the L and R channel is omitted.

Abstract: A disk transferring device has a driven disk guide and a fixed disk guide. The fixed disk guide includes a plurality of guide blocks, each having a guide groove. At least one of the guide blocks is a straightening arm that is rotateably mounted on the fixed disk guide through a first and second gear. A spring biases the second gear so that the straightening arm is biased toward a front of the device. As a disk is inserted, the guides move apart. When the guides are moved a predetermined distance, a stopper engages with the second gear and forces it to rotate against the biasing force of the spring. This causes the straightening arm to move into a recessed position away from the disk.

Abstract: A disk changer employs two disk guides to support a recorded disk at opposite points along its edge. One of the disk guides has a belt that revolves around two pulleys. A surface of the belt frictionally engages an edge surface of the disk. The other disk guide has two surfaces, a low-friction guide surface parallel to the recorded surface of the disk and a resilient sloped surface that forms an angle with both the recorded surface of the disk and the perpendicular to the recorded surface of the disk. Both guides are urged together, and, as a result, the sloped surface is urged against the disk edge. Because of the slope of the surface, the sloped surface meets a corner where the recorded surface of the disk meets the edge surface of the disk and urges the disk's recorded surface toward the guide surface. This stabilizes the disk against pitching motion.

Abstract: A clamper mechanism in a changer-type disk playback device has a clamper and a clamper arm with a locking mechanism which engages the clamper. A magnet on the clamper attracts a corresponding magnet on a turntable of the disk playback device. This attraction disengages the locking mechanism thereby releasing the clamper and allowing the clamper to clamp a disk when the clamper arm is moved from a position in axial alignment with the turntable. The clamping mechanism moves in a plane substantially parallel to a recorded surface of stored disks in the playback device so that the space required to operate the clamping mechanism is minimized.

Abstract: A disk transfer device provides positive, reliable disk transfer. The device comprises a pair of moveable, opposed disk guide members which grip the outer edge of a disk disposed therebetween. A spring constantly urges the disk guide members closer together. A pinion gear connects the disk guide members and controls their movement together or apart. A bias device applies a torque to the pinion gear so as to urge the disk guide members together to increase the disk gripping force of the disk guide members during disk transfer.

Abstract: A compact disk player/changer for compact disks fits within the standard half-height disk drive form factor for computer peripherals. A disk, either a 5-1/4-inch or 31/2 inch in size, is inserted through an aperture and supported, at opposite contact points on its edge, between laterally movable left and right-side disk guides. The disk's left side is frictionally engaged by a belt revolved on the left-side disk guide. The disk's right side rolls along a fixed wall on the right-side disk guide. The belt slides along a rigid wall of the left-side disk guide that prevents bowing from pressure exerted by the disk's edge. A motor that drives the revolving belt is fixedly mounted on a chassis. An extensible transmission transmits rotational force from the motor to a timing pulley to propel the belt on the laterally movable left-side disk guide. The extensible transmission consists of gear train on a pair of hinged members to provide a thin profile.

Abstract: A disk transport mechanism for a disk player employs a fixed disk guide and drive-side disk guide, the latter with a revolving belt, to support opposite edges of a disk. The disk is held between the fixed and drive-side disk guides to press the revolving belt against the disk edge causing the disk to roll along the fixed disk guide. Both guides have high friction surfaces, such as rubber, to prevent slipping of the disk. For user comfort, the revolving belt is on a side closest to the anticipated position of the user so the disk rotates in the most natural direction. To protect the belt and fixed support surface of the fixed disk guide, a disk guide of low friction material is located at the front of the fixed disk guide opposite the revolving belt.

Abstract: A disk player supports a disk between two opposing longitudinal disk guides, one with a moving belt running along it. The belt frictionally engages an edge of the disk to roll the disk along the opposite guide. Disks are inserted through an insertion aperture, normally covered by a flap. When the player is ready to receive a disk, the flap opens outwardly. The disk is inserted between the guides through the aperture. The guides separate to accommodate the disk causing the flap to drop onto the back of the disk. As the disk moves, the flap rides the back face of the disk until it falls off a trailing edge, registering a reference position of the disk. Encoder pulses indicate increments of advancement of the belt position. The pulses are counted after passing the reference position, to determine when the disk has arrived at the playback position. A turntable is moved toward the disk until a spindle inserts into a center hole of the disk.

Abstract: A disk transfer device includes first and second edge supporting transfer elements. First and second edge supporting transfer elements are urged toward each other, thereby supporting a disk between them. When no disk is between them the transfer elements are a predetermined distance apart. That predetermined distance is less than the diameter of a disk. Therefore, when a disk is inserted in the disk transfer device at an eject position by a user, the first and second edge supporting transfer elements are pushed apart until they support the disk at diametrically opposed points on the disk. The movement of the first and second transfer elements is detected and the detector to produce a signal indicating that a disk has been inserted in the disk transfer device. In response to this signal, automatic loading of the disk is initiated.

Abstract: A disk player receives a disk through an insertion aperture and supports the disk opposite contact points on its edge, between laterally movable left and right-side disk guides. The disk's left side contacts a belt revolved on the left-side disk guide causing the disk to roll along the right side disk guide. An outwardly opening flap hinged at the top of the insertion aperture is held open when the disk player is prepared to receive a disk. As the disk is inserted the disk guides begin moving apart which causes the flap, urged by a spring, to drop to the back surface of the disk. The disk holds the flap partly open until a trailing edge of the disk passes inside at which point the flap's closure is detected and the flap locked in the closed position to prevent irregular insertion of additional disks. The closure of the flap registers the precise position of the disk.

Abstract: A disk player supports a disk between two opposing longitudinal disk guides, one with a moving belt running along it. The belt frictionally engages an edge of the disk to roll the disk along the opposite guide. A stocker includes supports spaced apart at intervals that allow the disk to be inserted between adjacent supports. The supports are lined with a non-woven cloth to prevent abrasion and to cushion the disk when it is in the stocker. The supports are narrower than the disk so that the disk edge protrudes from the stocker at the sides permitting the guides to engage the disk edge when it is in the stocker. To assemble the lining material to the stocker, a sheet of non-woven cloth is folded, accordion-style, and a comb of projecting elements lined up with and pushed into recesses formed in the sheet. The projecting elements with the sheeting folded about them are then lined up with the spaces between the supports and inserted, forcing the lining material into the spaces.

Abstract: A disc player moves a selected disc between a playback position and a stocker. Carriages, for holding discs, are stacked concentrically and pivotally supported tightly together within the stocker. The carriages are extracted from the stocker by lifting a front end of an adjacent carriage above the selected carriage. A shuttle then moves the selected carriage from the stocker to the playback position. When the disc player is turned on, the device goes through an initialization sequence to determine whether the carriage, aligned with the playback position, is in the store position within the stocker. If not, the shuttle moves the carriage to the store position. If the carriage and shuttle do not return to the store position within a predetermined period of time, then the disc player attempts to re-engage the shuttle with the carriage by shifting the stocker slightly to clear the shuttle path, while attempting to drive the shuttle to its home position.

Abstract: A disk transport mechanism for a disk player employs a fixed disk guide to support one edge of a disk and a drive-side disk guide, with a revolving belt, to support and drive an opposite edge of the disk. The disk is held between the fixed and drive-side disk guides to press the revolving belt against the disk edge causing the disk to roll along the fixed disk guide. The disk is positioned by registering its position using an engaging flap near an insertion aperture. Eject, playback, and storage positions are established by cumulating pulses from an encoder, connected to the belt drive, as the belt moves from a registration position to the target position. The fixed and drive-side disk guides are movably supported on a chassis and urged together by a spring. The guides have sufficient range of movement to accommodate 80 and 120 mm disks. The revolving belt is supported by a wall that prevents the belt from bowing under the force of the disk edge.

Abstract: A disk playback device has at least one endless drive belt stretched along a direction of disk transport between a store position, a playback position and an eject position. The endless drive belt is translated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of disk transport along a plane parallel to said disk, allowing the drive belt to move away from said disk rim without requiring a large space parallel to the disk.

Abstract: A disk playback device precisely positions disks of various sizes at playback, store, and eject positions. A disk is inserted between two longitudinal disk guides, movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction of transport of the disk. An indicator indicates the amount of separation of the two disk guides caused by insertion, thereby indicating the size of the disk. A belt revolves along one of the disk guides frictionally engaging an edge of the disk and rolling the disk along the opposite disk guide. A flap at an insertion aperture is dropped onto the surface of the disk as it is drawn into the disk player until the flap drops off the trailing edge of the disk indicating the disk is at a registration position. A controller which counts pulses from an encoder connected to the drive mechanism to determine the accruing distance of the disk from the registration position. The controller stops the belt after a specified number of pulses to position the disk center at the playback position.

Abstract: A disc player has a magazine for storing discs and a disc transport mechanism transporting a selected disc between a playback position outside the magazine and a store position located within the magazine. The carriages are stacked upon each other and pivotally supported within the magazine. The carriages are extracted from the stack by lifting a front end of a carriage above a selected carriage. Subsequent to the lifting of the carriage, the selected carriage is withdrawn from the magazine to the playback position. When a selected carriage is moved to the playback position, the discs on carriages above and below the selected carriage are prevented from shifting with the removal of the selected carriage by coaxial opposing shafts which extend through spindle holes in the discs on the carriages above and below the selected disc. A closeable gap between the two shafts permits the selected disc to be shifted.

Abstract: A disk transport mechanism for a disk player employs a fixed disk guide to support one edge of a disk and a drive-side disk guide, with a revolving belt, to support and drive an opposite edge of the disk. The revolving belt is supported at two points by pulleys. The disk is held between the fixed and drive-side disk guides to press the revolving belt against the disk edge causing the disk to roll along the fixed disk guide. The fixed and drive-side disk guides are movably supported on a chassis and urged together by a spring. When a disk is transported to a playback position, the disk guides are separated to disengage the disk by a rack and pinion mechanism. The rack and pinion mechanism employs a pinion gear coaxially connected to one of the pulleys supporting the revolving belt. A drive gear, also coaxially connected with the pinion gear and pulley, is driven by a motor on the chassis through an extensible transmission to power the revolving belt.