Abstract: The controller selects one command of the plurality of commands included in the command list. The controller selects one magazine that stores therein one recording medium designated by the one selected command, based on the magazine information, the controller moves the one selected magazine between the storing position of the one selected magazine and the plurality of recorder and player apparatuses using the carrier mechanism. The controller extracts all commands designating recording media stored in the one selected magazine, from the command list, based on the magazine information. The controller moves all the recording media designated by the extracted commands between the one selected magazine and the plurality of recorder and player apparatuses using the carrier mechanism.

Abstract: A load/unload ramp configured for a multiple disk-stack, shared actuator hard disk drive (HDD) includes a ramp part configured for loading and unloading a head stack assembly (HSA) from multiple directions, e.g., from multiple disk stacks, and a tooling part configured to couple with an HSA handling part. The HSA handling part is useful for handling a ramp-HSA assembly during installation, such as for moving the ramp along a guide channel of an HDD base, from an initial position to a final position at which a guide channel stop is reached.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a master disk in which there is precise feeding accuracy of the master disk by using a horizontally moving device which moves with curvature. The method of manufacturing a master disk includes the steps of rotating a resist master disk; moving the resist master disk; reading a moving distance on a path of the center point of the resist master disk associated with the movement; detecting a difference between the moving distance on the path of the center point and a moving distance on a straight line of the center point of the resist master disk associated with the movement; and controlling a predetermined manufacturing parameter on the basis of the detection result.

Abstract: A plurality of optical disks 2 and 3 are housed inside one cartridge 1. Cartridge 1 containing a plurality of optical disks 2 and 3 is loaded. Inside the optical disk recording/reproducing device, the two optical disks 2 and 3 inside cartridge 1 are mounted on two turntables and rotated, the two optical disks both being accessible by a single optical head, thereby enabling a recording time that is two or more times that of the prior art and free of any interruptions.

Abstract: A disc drive device for holding plural discs of different sizes in stable state such as to provide a sufficient recording area for each disc. In addition, the disc drive device is adapted for setting the discs of different sizes accommodated in cartridges of different thicknesses at a predetermined height in order to run the disc in the cartridge in stability. With the disc drive device, turntables 31, 32 for rotatably holding the discs vary the holding areas for the discs depending on the disc size.

Abstract: A disc control apparatus handles an even number of disc-shaped recording mediums run in rotation at a constant angular velocity and to which addresses are accorded for incrementing from an inner disc rim side or from an outer disc rim side. The disc control apparatus effectuates data accessing with the disc-shaped recording mediums in terms of a pre-set block as a unit. The control apparatus includes an accessing control unit which effectuates data accessing on the block basis by addressing from the outer disc rim side for one of the disc-shaped recording mediums of the set while effecting data accessing on the block basis by addressing from the inner disc rim side for the other disc-shaped recording medium of the set. During data recording/reproduction, one of two contiguous blocks is recorded/reproduced on the disc-shaped recording medium accessed from the outer disc rim side while the other block is recorded/reproduced on the disc-shaped recording medium accessed from the inner disc rim side.

Abstract: The speed of a disc handling operation by a disc apparatus having disc changer capability is significantly increased and, at the same time, the disc handling operation is performed with stability. In the disc apparatus according to this invention, a plurality of reproducing units loaded with discs are moved independently and disc reproduction is started by returning the reproducing units to their dedicated positions. Simultaneous returning of the plurality of reproducing units is prevented and each reproducing unit moves for refuge while reproducing the disc. This novel setup significantly shortens the time for moving the reproducing units for disc reproduction. When continuously reproducing a plurality of discs accommodated in proximity, the plurality of reproducing units are moved in a stacked state rather than independently. This also contributes to a significant reduction of the time in the disc handling operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a disc-shaped recording medium, such as an optical disc, includes first and second recording and/or reproducing units and a supporting member. The first and second recording and/or reproducing units record and/or reproduce the discs and are mounted in a layered fashion parallel to each other on the supporting member. One of the first and second recording and/or reproducing units is arranged on one surface of the supporting member, while the other recording and/or reproducing unit is arranged on the opposite surface of the supporting member.

Abstract: An optical pickup device for reading a multitude of disks. A first optical system for reading a first optical disk by generating a first laser beam, exposing the first laser beam on the first optical disk and receiving a first reflected light from the first optical disk system, and a second optical system for reading a second optical disk by producing a second laser beam, exposing the second laser beam on the second optical disk and receiving a second reflected light from the second optical disk are provided. Reproduction of the multitude of disks without transporting the pickup device can be formed continuously.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disc player for reproducing a minidisc and a compact disc. The disc player includes a disc tray and a base plate. The disc tray has a compact disc and minidisc mounting parts placed on the upper surface thereof, cut portions to expose the discs to a pickup, a rack gear disposed on a lower edge of one side wall thereof and first cam grooves disposed on both side walls thereof. The base plate has a rectangular cut portion formed at a center thereof enabling the pickup to read out data from the discs and first shafts projected from both side walls thereof to be inserted into the first cam grooves of the tray. An outer chassis having first vertical cut portions is formed on both side walls to guide the elevating movement of the first shafts. A pickup feeding device is secured to a bottom surface of the base plate. A compact disc turntable and a minidisc turntable are secured respectively to a front center and a rear center of the rectangular cut portion of the base plate.

Abstract: An improved compact disk player device is provided which has compact dimensions and results in reduced cost of manufacturing. The compact disk player device achieves the above described advantages by providing a unique construction whereby multiple compact disks can be loaded onto a retractable tray along parallel, spaced apart planes. In doing so, compact disks to be loaded onto the receiving tray are positioned so as to overlie one another. An angularly rotatable pick-up is provided which reads disk data from a selected one of the compact disks and which rides along a tilted guide which compensates for differences in height between respectively selected disks. The overlying disk construction results in a compact design which will ultimately reduce cost of manufacture. Clamping elements are also used to stabilize, control and protect a rotating disk during a read operation.

Abstract: In a multi-disk player, disks such as compact disks and video disks are positioned on at least two tray mechanisms so that the signal reproducing surfaces of the disks on the respective tray mechanisms face in predetermined directions. Drive units are provided for each of the tray mechanisms, and each drive unit moves its the respective tray mechanism between a disk playback position and a disk ejecting position. A disk is clamped selectively from the tray mechanism which is at the disk playback position. An optical pickup device traverses the signal reproducing surface of the disk thus clamped to playback the data recorded on the surface of the clamped disk. Thus, a compact disk can be played back without removing a video disk situated in the disk player, and vice versa. Additionally, a video disk can be loaded and positioned in the disk player while playing back a compact disk, and vice versa.

Abstract: A disc player including a fixed chassis provided with a disc transport tray reciprocatingly movably, and a movable chassis liftably supported by the fixed chassis. The movable chassis has mounted thereon a disc rotating turntable and a signal reproduction pickup reciprocatingly movable along a radial line of a disc on the turntable. The tray and the movable chassis are driven by a loading motor serving as a common power source. First and second power transmission routes from the motor to the tray and movable chassis are changed over to each other by an intermediate gear mechanism provided between the tray and the movable chassis.

Abstract: A disk drive device is disclosed including a supporting mechanism for supporting a plurality of magnetic disks, a single motor, and a transmitting mechanism. The supporting mechanism comprises a plurality of bearing mechanisms, each of which rotatably supports each of the magnetic disks, respectively. Each bearing mechanisms is formed as a tube, and a rotatable shaft is connected to each disk and rotatably supported in each tubular bearing mechanism. The rotatable shaft is provided with grooves which generate a pumping effect when a fluid is passed therethrough, whereby the rotatable shaft is supported in the tubular bearing mechanism without friction therebetween. The transmitting mechanism comprises an endless belt for transmitting a rotation of the motor to the supporting mechanism.

Abstract: A beam of light emitted from a light source and then modulated is focused through a write head onto a surface of a substrate which is coated with a photosensitive material and is rotated at a predetermined constant rotational speed. The write head and the substrate are displaced relatively in the radial direction of the substrate. While an optical axis of the beam of light is displaced in the direction in which the relative displacement speed between the write head and the substrate is decreased or increased, the substrate is exposed in such a way that a locus of a first turn or wind of predetermined tracks or pit arrays is recorded. Thereafter, while the substrate is rotated at the constant rotational speed, during the next rotation of the substrate the projection of the beam of light is interrupted and the optical axis of the beam of light is returned to its initial position.

Abstract: A locking device for clamping plates, such as printing plates, in place includes a housing. A jaw is in the housing with a plurality of sets of clamp members mounted in the jaw. Each of the clamp members has rounded clamp surfaces. Spacers separate the sets of clamp members from each other. A fixed stop member is located at one end of the jaw and an actuating member is movably mounted at the other end of the jaw. When the actuating member is manipulated to move further into the jaw the spacers press against the clamp members to displace a clamp member of each set into its clamping or locking position with the plate clamped between the inside jaw and a wall of the housing.

Abstract: An integrated audio and pictorial display system, especially for use in cars, in which two compact disc players contain a disc with audio recordings and a disc with pictorial information. The audio disc is demodulated and applied to an audio output. The video disc is applied to a video display in digital form. Whether one player contains a video or audio disc may be determined by special signals recorded thereon.

Abstract: A disk player for both optical and compact disk having two spindle motors for the two types of disk. One of the spindle motors is located far enough from the other spindle motors to receive its own smaller disk and is movable to allow the other spindle motor to receive the larger disk. The disks are carried on a tray to the respective spindle motor and are clamped thereagainst. The tray comprises two carriers for two disk sizes which are separable from each other inside the disk player.

Abstract: A disc player comprising two drivable turntables (14, 19) on a common supporting member (4) which can be swung about a swing axis between a first position in which a disc supported by one turntable will be in a play position opposite to a clamping member (21) and a second position in which a disc supported by the other turntable will be in the play position opposite to the recording member. The two turntables are coupled for their drive to the same motor (11) supported by the supporting member, the supporting member being swingable through 180 between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing signals recorded on a selected one of first and second discs of different diameters, such as, a relatively large diameter video disc and a relatively small diameter compact disc, has a disc-transporting tray mounted for substantially horizontal movement between a first or operative position within a housing and a second or disc-inserting and withdrawing position in which the tray projects substantially forwardly from the housing through an opening at the front of the latter, the tray having first and second disc mounting portions dimensioned for receiving and holding the relatively large and small diameter discs, respectively, and the second or relatively small-diameter disc mounting portion being disposed at a front part of the tray and substantially contained within the confines of the first or large-diameter disc mounting portion for minimizing the required size of the tray, and hence the overall size of the apparatus.

Abstract: A front-loading type disk player, such as a video or compact disk player, having an improved front loading mechanism which absorbs any play or backlash that occurs during the movement of the carriage so that the carriage is accurately controlled in position as it moves in and out of the housing of the player. Support members for the chassis have a stopper with which the carriage comes into contact when the disk reaches a predetermined playing or recording position. An energizing force is applied during the time an accelerating mechanism drives the carriage in the direction of the accommodation position inside the housing, continuing for a short time after the carriage contacts the stopper. The excess force is absorbed by urging the carriage against the stopper.

Abstract: A disc player for playing compact audio discs includes a plurality of horizontally spaced disc compartments each including a disc tray for holding a disc horizontally and a disc playback module horizontally movable between and alignable with the disc compartments for playing the discs held in the disc trays. Each disc tray is independently extendable from or retractable into its respective disc compartment for loading and unloading discs in the disc compartment.

Abstract: A disc player comprises a first driver for driving a first turntable for a first kind of an information-recorded disc, a second driver for driving a second turntable for a second kind of an information-recorded disc, a single holder for holding thereon the first and second drivers, holder drive means for driving the holder, and a pickup for reproducing signals from one of the first and second kinds of information-recorded discs at a predetermined play position, in which the single holder is moved so that one of the first and second kinds of information-recorded disc is selectively positioned at the predetermined play position.