Device for sequentially feeding a plurality of disk-shaped recording media

A device for sequentially feeding a plurality of disk-shaped recording media in an apparatus for performing a data recording or reproducing operation on a rotating disk-shaped recording media, comprising:

• loading means for holding the plurality of disk-shaped recording media, said loading means being insertable into and removable from apparatus and including a plurality of loading members rotatable about a common axis, each of said loading members being capable of holding one of the disk-shaped recording media, each of said loading members comprising a swing plate having a recess which is shaped to hold one of the disk-shaped recording media, each of said loading members further including a photoelectric switch, positioned in said recess, for detecting the presence or absence of one of the disk-shaped recording media within said recess;
• feeding means for feeding a selected one of the plurality of disk-shaped recording media from a stored position to a feeding position and from the feeding position to the stored position;
• lifting means for lifting the selected disk-shaped recording medium from the feeding position into an operating position at which the data recording or reproducing operation can be performed, and for returning the selected disk-shaped recording medium to the feeding position the data recording or reproducing operation has been performed;
• and
• control means, coupled to said feeding means and to said lifting means, for determing the selected disk-shaped recording medium, for actuating said feeding means to feed the selected disk-shaped recording medium to the feeding position, for actuating said lifting means to lift the selected disk-shaped recording medium into the operating position and to return the selected disk-shaped recording medium to the feeding position after the data recording or reproducing operation has been performed, and for actuating said feeding means to return the selected disk-shaped recording medium to the stored position after said lifting means has returned the selected disk-shaped recording medium to the feeding position, said control means for actuating said feeding means and said lifting means to sequentially feed a plurality of disk-shaped recording media for the data recording or reproducing operation, said control means including:
• first switch means, positioned at the stored position and the feeding position, for detecting, for each of the plurality of disk-shaped recording media, whether that medium is at the feeding position or the stored position, and for generating detection signals;
• second switch means, positioned adjacent said lifting means, for determining whether said lifting means is at the feeding position or at the operation position and for generating detection signals;
• and
• a microprocessor, coupled to said first and second switch means, said feeding means and said lifting means, for receiving the detection signals output by said first and second switch means and for actuating said feeding means and said lifting means.

A device for sequentially feeding a plurality of disk-shaped digital recording media in an apparatus for performing a digital data recording or reproducing operation on a rotating disk-shaped digital recording medium, comprising:

• loading means for holding a plurality of disk-shaped digital recording media, said loading means being insertable into and removable from the apparatus and including a plurality of loading members rotatable about a common axis, each of said loading being capable of holding one of the disk-shaped recording media, each of said loading members comprising a swing plate having a geared portion extending therefrom, said geared portions of said swing plates being rotatable about the common axis;
• transport means for transporting a selected one of the plurality of disk-shaped digital recording media from a stored position to an operating position at which the data recording or reproducing operation can be performed, and for returning the selected disk-shaped digital recording medium to the stored position after the data recording or reproducing operation has been performed, said transport means including means for rotating a selected one of said swing plates, corresponding to the selected disk-shaped digital recording medium, about the common axis through a predetermined angle to the feeding position, said means for rotating the selected one of said swing plates including:
• a drive gear engaging the geared portion of the selected one of said swing plates when said loading means is inserted in the apparatus, said drive gear being movable in the direction of the common axis;
• means for moving said drive gear in the direction of the common axis;
• and
• means for driving said drive gear to rotate said geared portion of the selected one of said swing plates, so that the selected one of said swing plates is transported to the feeding position;
• and
• control means, coupled to said transport means, for determining the selected one of the plurality of disk-shaped digital recording media, for actuating said transport means to transport the selected disk-shaped recording medium to the operating position, and for actuating said transport means to transport the selected disk-shaped recording medium back to the stored position after the data recording or reproducing operation has been performed, said control means for actuating said transport means to sequentially feed at least two of the plurality of disk-shaped recording media to the operating position for the data recording or reproducing operation.