# US 5,703,844 A · Device for playing back disks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,844 A - Document ID: US5703844A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/689,330 - Filed: 1996-08-09 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1993-06-03 - Assignees: Nakamichi Corporation - Inventors: Michihiro Asano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703844A ## CPC - G11B 27/002: {Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; (transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22)} - G11B 17/221: {with movable magazine (G11B17/24 - G11B17/28 take precedence)} - G11B 17/228: {Control systems for magazines (G11B17/225 takes precedence)} - G11B 19/00: Driving, starting, stopping record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function {; Driving both disc and head} - G11B 19/10: by sensing presence or absence of record in accessible stored position or on turntable - G11B 2220/20: Disc-shaped record carriers - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## 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. A transport mechanism moves carriages between the magazine, the playback position and an eject position. A disk sensor senses the presence of a disk in the transport mechanism before the carriage is reinstalled in the magazine and a memory updated to indicate that the selected carriage is occupied by a disk. If an extra disk is inadvertently placed on the selected carriage, after the transport mechanism reinstalls the selected carriage, the sensor indicates that a disk remains on the transport mechanism. The transport mechanism then brings the extra disk to the eject position before moving the magazine to prevent the extra disk from being damaged by the movement of the magazine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for playing back disks comprising: means for storing a plurality of disks; said device having a playback position; means for reading a selected disk of said disks, at said playback position; means for transporting said selected disk between said playback position and a store position in said means for storing; said means for transporting having means for holding at least said selected disk; and means for detecting a presence of a further disk being held by said means for holding while said selected disk is also being held by said means for holding. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising means for displaying an error message, responsive to said means for detecting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting includes means for detecting said presence when said selected disk is in said playback position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising: said device having an eject position whereat access is provided for loading and unloading disks; and means for transporting said further disk to said eject position, responsive to said means for detecting, whereby said further disk may be removed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: said device having an eject position whereat access is provided for loading and unloading disks; and means for transporting said further disk to said eject position responsive to said means for detecting, whereby said further disk may be removed. ### Claim 6 A device for playing back disks, comprising: means for storing a plurality of disks; said device having a playback position; means for reading a selected disk of said disks while at said playback position; means for transporting said selected disk between said playback position and a store position in said means for storing; said means for transporting having means for holding at least said selected disk; and means for detecting a faulty attempt to transport said selected disk from said playback position to said store position; said means for detecting a faulty attempt including means for detecting a presence of said selected disk remaining in said playback position after said means for transporting unsuccessfully has attempted to transport said selected disk and has moved from said playback to said store position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising means for displaying an error message responsive to said means for detecting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said means for detecting includes means for detecting a presence of one of said selected disk and another disk in said playback position subsequent to a transporting of one of said selected disk and said another to said store position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising: said device having an eject position whereat access is provided for loading and unloading disks; and means for transporting said another disk to said eject position, responsive to said means for detecting a presence, whereby said another may be removed. ### Claim 10 A device for playing back disks, comprising: carriages; a magazine for storing said carriages; each of said carriages having means for carrying one disk of said disks; means for transporting a selected carriage, of said carriages, between said magazine and an eject position whereat access is provided for loading and unloading disks; means for playing a disk carried by a selected carriage of said carriages to a playback position accessible by said means for transporting; means for detecting when another disk and said selected disk are simultaneously carried by said selected carriage during transport of said selected carriage into said magazine; and means, responsive to said means for detecting, for permitting said another disk to be removed from said device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said means for detecting is effective for detecting a disk in a range between said magazine and an eject position including said playback position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said means for permitting includes means for transporting said another disk to said eject position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said means for permitting includes means for transporting said another disk to said eject position.