US 6,785,898 B1Granted

Disk transporting device with disk transfer guides

AssigneeNakamichi Corporation

InventorNiro Nakamichi

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Abstract

A compact disk player/changer for compact disks fits within the standard half-height disk drive form factor for computer peripherals. A disk, either 5 ¼-inch or 3 ½ inch in size, is inserted through an aperture and supported, at opposite contact points on its edge, between laterally movable left and right-side disk guides. The disk's left side contacts a belt revolved on the left-side disk guide. The disk's right side contacts a fixed wall on the right-side disk guide. The belt slides along a rigid wall that prevents bowing from pressure exerted by the disk's edge. Thus, the right-side disk guide presents a flat movable wall that rolls the disk into the disk player along the fixed wall. The left and right-side disk guides move laterally to accommodate the disk as it is inserted. The spacing between the disk guides, once the disk is fully supported between the disk guides, is detected by a controller to determine the size of the disk. The position of the disk at insertion is accurately registered by the closing of a flap at the entrance of the front aperture. The position of the belt is detected by a rotational encoder on a pulley that supports one end of the belt. The disk size and registration position are used with belt position information to position the disk accurately irrespective of the disk size.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A disk transporting device for transporting a disk, with an edge, from an insertion position to a first position of said device, comprising:

first and second disk transfer guides movably supported in said disk transporting device and initially separated by a first distance;
said first disk transfer guide including first means for engaging a first portion of said edge;
said second disk transfer guide including, second means for engaging a second portion of said edge;
means for separating said first and second disk transfer guides a further distance apart than said first distance in, response to an insertion of said disk between said first and second disk transfer guides, said further distance apart being a support distance sufficient to receive said disk between said first and second disk transfer guides;
at least one of said first and second disk transfer guides including drive means for moving said disk along said first and second disk transfer guides responsively to said separating;
said drive means including means for transporting said disk from said insertion position to said first position responsively to said separating;
said first means for engaging has a first engagement surface contacting said first portion of said edge;
said drive means includes means for moving said first engagement surface relative to said first disk transfer guide;
said second means for engaging having a second engagement surface contacting said second portion of said edge;
means for preventing said first portion of said edge from slipping with respect to said first engagement surface;
means for preventing said second portion of said edge from slipping with respect to said second engagement surface, whereby said disk rolls along said second engagement surface when said first engagement surface is moved by said means for moving;
means for manually inserting said disk between said first and second disk transfer guides;
said means for manually inserting including an insertion aperture through which said disk is insertable, and a fixed guide, on one side of said insertion aperture, having a sliding surface;
said sliding surface being positioned to face one of said first means for engaging and said second means for engaging;
and
said fixed guide being positioned so that a third portion of said edge slides along said sliding surface while a fourth portion of said edge, opposite said third portion, rolls along said one of said first and second means for engaging.

13 more elements

A disk transporting device for transporting a disk, with an edge, from an insertion position to a first position of said device, comprising:

first and second disk transfer guides movably supported in said disk transporting device and initially separated by a first distance;
said first and second disk transfer guides being substantially parallel;
said first disk transfer guide including first means for engaging a first portion of said edge;
said second disk transfer guide including second means for engaging a second portion of said edge;
means for separating said first and second disk transfer guides a further distance apart than said first distance in response to an insertion of said disk between said first and second disk transfer guides, said further distance apart being a support distance sufficient to receive said disk between said first and second disk transfer guides;
at least one of said first and second disk transfer guides including drive means for moving said disk alone said first and second disk transfer guides responsively to said separating;
said drive means including means for transporting said disk from said insertion position to said first position responsively to said separating, whereby said disk is moved in a direction substantially parallel to said first and second disk transfer guides;
said first means for engaging has a first engagement surface contacting said first portion of said edge;
said drive means includes means for moving said first engagement surface relative to said first disk transfer guide;
means for interconnecting said first and second disk transfer guides so that said first and second disk transfer guides are forced to move equal distances in opposite directions;
said second means for engaging having a second engagement surface contacting said second portion of said edge;
means for preventing said first portion of said edge from slipping with respect to said first engagement surface;
and
means for preventing said second portion of said edge from slipping with respect to said second engagement surface;
means for manually inserting said disk between said first and second disk transfer guides;
said means for manually inserting includes an insertion aperture through which said disk is insertable, and a fixed guide, on one side of said insertion aperture, having a sliding surface;
said sliding surface being positioned to face one of said first means for engaging and said second means for engaging;
and
said fixed guide being positioned so that a third portion of said edge slides along said sliding surface while a fourth portion of said edge, opposite said third portion, rolls along said one of said first and second means for engaging.

16 more elements

A device for transporting a disk with a disk size and an edge from an insertion position to a first position of said device, comprising:

a disk transfer guide;
means for movably supporting said disk transfer guide;
means for holding said disk transfer guide in a receiving position in preparation for receiving said disk;
said disk transfer guide including one of a first means for engaging said edge at a first point thereof and a second means for engaging said edge at a second point thereof;
another of said first and second means for engaging positioned opposite said disk transfer guide;
said first and second means for engaging including means for supporting said disk;
said first means for engaging including a first longitudinal surface adjacent said edge at said first point;
said second means for engaging including a second longitudinal surface adjacent said edge at said second point;
said first and second longitudinal surfaces being substantially parallel;
means for shifting said disk transfer guide, in response to an insertion of said disk, by forcing said disk transfer guide to one side by said edge, an amount of said shifting being dependent on said disk size;
means for urging said disk transfer guide toward said another of said first and second means for engaging whereby said disk edge positively engages said first and second means for engaging;
first means for detecting said shifting, whereby said insertion is detected;
said first and second longitudinal surfaces having respective longitudinal axis and extending at least from said insertion position to said first position;
drive means for moving at least one of said first and second longitudinal surfaces along said longitudinal axis thereof, whereby said disk is transported from said insertion position to said first position;
and
said drive means being responsive to said first means for detecting;
said first means for engaging including a belt having a surface;
said first means for engaging also including a first support and a second support for revolvably supporting said belt;
said first longitudinal surface being a portion of said surface,
said means for movably supporting includes a housing and a loading plate;
said housing having a loading chassis;
said loading plate slidably connected to said loading chassis;
said first support including a first pulley rotatably mounted on said loading plate;
said second supports including a second pulley rotatably mounted on said loading plate;
said means for movably supporting also includes means for insuring said loading plate remains at a constant angular orientation with respect to said loading chassis;
said second means for engaging including a second longitudinal guiding recess;
means for movably connecting said second means for engaging to said loading chassis;
and
means for forcing said first means for engaging and said second means for engaging to move equal distances in opposite directions;
said means for forcing includes a pinion gear rotatably connected to said loading chassis;
said means for forcing also includes respective racks on said loading plate and said second means for engaging;
and
each of said respective racks being in mesh with said pinion gear.

30 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.