Information recording-reproducing apparatus

#This invention relates to an information recording-reproducing apparatus which records and/or reproduces information on a recording medium, such as a CD (compact disc) and a DVD (digital versatile disc), and more particularly to an information recording-reproducing apparatus of this kind, which has a slot-in type carrier mechanism provided therefor, for installing and ejecting the recording medium.

#There are known information recording-reproducing apparatuses having a slot-in type carrier mechanism provided therefor, among which is an information reproducing apparatus mounted in vehicles, i.e. an in-vehicle information reproducing apparatus. The conventional in-vehicle information reproducing apparatus includes carrier mechanism composed of carrier rollers which carry a recording medium into the interior of the apparatus (loading) and eject the recording medium from the apparatus (unloading), and photo sensors which detect the position of the recording medium. The carrier rollers are controlled based on detection signals output from the photo sensors, to thereby carry out the above-mentioned loading and unloading of the recording medium.

#In these years, however, various types of recording media have been developed which are the same in information recording and reproducing method but different in standard. For instance, with respect to CD's (compact discs), in addition to two conventionally known discs, i.e. a 8-cm diameter disc and a 12-cm diameter disc, a Maxi single disc has been standardized recently. To cope with the variety of the types, it is a significant challenge for the information reproducing apparatus to enhance its general applicability, i.e. to be applicable to any discs irrespective of their types.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of the essential part of an information recording-reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the construction of an optical pickup mechanism and a clamping mechanism of the information recording-reproducing apparatus;

#FIG. 3(a) is a plan view showing disc carrier mechanisms of the information recording-reproducing apparatus, in positions assumed during loading and unloading of a disc;

#The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. The term the information recording-reproducing apparatus according to the invention refers to an information recording apparatus which records information on a recording medium, an information reproducing apparatus which reads and reproduces information recorded on the recording medium, and an information recording-reproducing apparatus which records information and reproduces the recorded information on the recording medium. Specifically, in the following embodiment, description will be made of an information reproducing apparatus to be mounted in vehicles, which has provided therefor a slot-in type carrier mechanism and a so-called auto-changer mechanism, and accepts and installs discs having the same information reproducing method but being different in standard (format), as well as an adapter, shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, by way of example.

#Referring first to FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated the construction of an information reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment, in which a housing thereof is removed. The information reproducing apparatus is comprised of a pair of disc carrier mechanisms 1,2, a clamping mechanism 3, an optical pickup mechanism 4, a fixed chassis 5, and a plurality of (e.g. 6) accommodating trays 12 (not shown in FIG. 1). The carrier mechanisms 1, 2 function to install a disc DS which is inserted into the interior of the information reproducing apparatus from a disc insertion port (not shown) formed in a front panel of the housing, and to eject the disc DS housed in the apparatus out of the disc insertion port. The clamping mechanism 3 is arranged at a rear region of the apparatus, and the optical pickup mechanism 4 is arranged under a rear side of the clamping mechanism 3 such that the clamping mechanism 3 is superposed on the pickup mechanism 4. The fixed chassis 5 has a pair of columnar shafts 5a, 5b raised thereon, and the accommodating trays 12, referred to hereinafter, are vertically moved by means of an elevator mechanism, not shown, supported by the columnar shafts 5a, 5b.

#The front panel is provided thereon with an open/close door which is driven by a predetermined actuator mechanism, for opening and closing the disc insertion port, a display section, and operation button switches. Further, a carriage path having a width almost equal to a diameter of the 12-cm diameter disc DS is formed in the apparatus at a location between the disc insertion port and the disc carrier mechanisms 1, 2, along which a disc guide is arranged for guiding the disc DS passing therethrough. These component elements mentioned above are not shown in FIG. 1.