US 5,856,966 A · Disk transferring device that employs a fixed disk guide supporting one edge of a disk and a drive side disk guide having a revolving belt to support and drive an opposite edge of the disk

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. Because the belt follows a linear path, the disk center follows a linear path. In addition, the disk center position is a linear function of displacement of the encoder. This makes design of the positioning logic simpler and therefore storable in a smaller memory. In addition, the present invention makes positioning reliable since the variable stretch properties of the belt do not have to be considered.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A disk transferring device for transferring a disk having an edge between first and second positions of a disk player, comprising:

a chassis;
first and second disk guides connected to said chassis, each having means for supporting said disk between said first and second disk guides;
said first disk guide having a revolving belt, supported between first and second supports on said first disk guide;
said revolving belt having a longitudinal spanning portion between said first and second supports;
said belt having an outside face for engaging said edge of said disk and an inside face opposite said outside face;
means for urging said disk edge against said outside face, to move said disk when said revolving belt is revolved;
support means affixed to said first disk guide between said first and second supports;
said support means being adjacent said inside face;
and
said support means reinforcing at least one of said first and second supports to prevent said belt from bowing across and longitudinal spanning portion.

7 more elements

A disk transferring device for transferring a disk having an edge between first and second positions of a disk player, comprising:

a chassis;
first and second disk guides connected to said chassis, each having means for supporting said disk between said first and second disk guides;
said first disk guide having a revolving belt, supported between first and second supports on said first disk guide;
said revolving belt having a longitudinal spanning portion between said first and second supports;
said belt having an outside face for engaging said edge of said disk and an inside face opposite said outside face;
means for urging said disk edge against said outside face, whereby said disk is moved when said revolving belt is revolved;
means, located between said first and second supports and adjacent said inside face, for preventing a bowing of said spanning portion;
said means for preventing includes a reinforcement guide running substantially a length of said spanning portion;
said means for preventing includes means for permitting said belt to move adjacent said reinforcement guide;
said reinforcement guide has a sliding surface adjacent said inside face;
said means for permitting includes means for reducing friction between said sliding surface and said inside face;
and
said means for reducing includes rollers on said reinforcement guide forming a roller bearing.

10 more elements

A disk transferring device, for transferring a disk having a disk diameter and having a first position and a receiving position, comprising:

a chassis;
a disk transfer guide movably connected to said chassis and held in a ready position;
said disk transfer guide including first means for engaging an edge of said disk at a first point of said edge;
second means, connected to said chassis opposite said disk transfer guide, for engaging a second point of said edge opposite said first point;
said first and second means for engaging being separated by a distance less than said disk diameter when said disk transfer guide is in said ready position;
said disk transfer guide shifting away from said second means for engaging upon an insertion of said disk between said first and second means for engaging until said disk is positioned between said first and second means for engaging at said receiving position, whereupon a shifting of said disk transfer guide occurs until said first and second means for engaging are separated by a distance substantially equal to said disk diameter;
drive means for actively transferring said disk along said disk transfer guide in a direction leading between said receiving position and said first position;
said drive means including a belt having a belt surface;
said belt being revolvably supported at two support points on one of said first and second means for engaging to form a loop;
means for urging said disk edge against said belt surface;
support means being between said two support points;
said support means reinforcing at least one of said two support points countering a force of said urging transmitted by said means for urging, said support means preventing said belt from bowing when said disk edge is urged against said belt by said means for urging.

9 more elements

A disk transferring device, for transferring a disk having a disk diameter and having a first position and a receiving position, comprising:

a chassis;
a disk transfer guide movably connected to said chassis and held in a ready position;
said disk transfer guide including first means for engaging an edge of said disk at a first point of said edge;
second means, connected to said chassis opposite said disk transfer guide, for engaging a second point of said edge opposite said first point;
said first and second means for engaging being separated by a distance less than said disk diameter when said disk transfer guide is in said ready position;
said disk transfer guide shifting away from said second means for engaging upon an insertion of said disk between said first and second means for engaging until said disk is positioned between said first and second means for engaging at said receiving position, whereupon a shifting of said disk transfer guide occurs until said first and second means for engaging are separated by a distance substantially equal to said disk diameter;
drive means for actively transferring said disk along said disk transfer guide in a direction leading between said receiving position and said first position;
said drive means including a belt having a belt surface;
said belt being revolvable supported at two support points on one of said first and second means for engaging to form a loop;
said loop having a long axis;
means for urging said disk edge against said belt surface;
means, connected to said one of said first and second means, for supporting said belt by countering a force of said urging transmitted by said means for urging;
said means for supporting said belt includes a longitudinal reinforcement guide having a length substantially equal to a length of said long axis;
means for permitting said belt to move adjacent said reinforcement guide;
said belt has a inside face facing an interior of said loop;
said reinforcement guide has a surface adjacent said inside face;
said means for permitting includes means for reducing friction between said sliding surface and said inside face;
and
said means for reducing includes rollers on said reinforcement guide forming a roller bearing.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Disk transferring device that employs a fixed disk guide supporting one edge of a disk and a drive side disk guide having a revolving belt to support and drive an opposite edge of the disk

Life of this patent

Disk transferring device that employs a fixed disk guide supporting one edge of a disk and a drive side disk guide having a revolving belt to support and drive an opposite edge of the disk

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31