Disc changer having disc discharge mechanism

• US 20060168603A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Goto, Tsutomu
• Granted Patent: US 7,730,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 720/619
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/021 Selecting or spacing of record carriers for introducing the heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/051 Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/223 in a vertical direction

Abstract

There is provided a disc changer for a disc drive unit, including: a disc accommodation section capable of accommodating plural discs: a disc pushing mechanism that pushes a disc from a specific rack of the disc accommodation section to a disc discharge position within the disc drive unit; and a disc discharge mechanism that securely sends the disc at the disc discharge position, to a disc insertion/discharge opening of the disc drive unit. The disc exchanger further includes a disc guiding device that has: an upper and a lower guiding members, which are provided in an area within the disc drive unit adjacent to the disc insertion/discharge opening, and guide the disc pushed by the pushing mechanism, to the disc insertion/discharge opening; and a drive mechanism of the guiding members, that opens the lower guiding member from the upper guiding member, when the pushing mechanism pushes the disc.

Claims

1. A disc changer for a disc drive unit, comprising:

a disc accommodation section capable of accommodating a plurality of discs;

a disc reproducing section that reproduces content of a disc;

a disc discharge mechanism that discharges a disc carried by a carrying mechanism to a discharge direction, from a discharge opening of the disc drive unit;

a guiding member that is provided near the disc discharge opening, and that guides the disc carried by the carrying mechanism, to the disc discharge mechanism; and

a guiding member drive mechanism that evacuates the guiding member to a position where the guiding member is not brought into contact with the disc, at the time of reproducing the content of the disc, and that moves the disc carried by the carrying mechanism, to a guided position, at the time of discharging the disc.

2. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 1, wherein

the drive mechanism drives the guiding member at the disc discharge time so as to form a tapered surface from the carrying mechanism side toward the disc discharge opening.

3. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 1, wherein

the guiding member includes an upper guiding member and a lower guiding member, the upper guiding member is fixed to the disc drive unit, and only the lower guiding member is moved.

4. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 1, wherein

a drive source of the carrying mechanism and a drive source of the drive mechanism of the guiding member are the same.

5. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 1, wherein

the drive mechanism of the guiding member drives the guiding member linked to the move of a disc pushing lever of the carrying mechanism.

6. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 5, wherein

the drive mechanism of the guiding member increases a slope angle of the tapered surface of the guiding member when a rotation angle of the pushing lever becomes larger, linked to the move of the disc pushing lever of the carrying mechanism.

7. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 1, wherein

the height of an opening of the guiding member is usually the height of one disc.

8. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 2, wherein

the guiding member includes an upper guiding member and a lower guiding member, the upper guiding member is fixed to the disc drive unit, and only the lower guiding member is moved.

9. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 8, wherein

a drive source of the carrying mechanism and a drive source of the drive mechanism of the guiding member are the same.

10. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 9, wherein

the drive mechanism of the guiding member drives the guiding member linked to the move of a disc pushing lever of the carrying mechanism.

11. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 10, wherein

the drive mechanism of the guiding member increases a slope angle of the tapered surface of the guiding member when a rotation angle of the pushing lever becomes larger, linked to the move of the disc pushing lever of the carrying mechanism.

12. The disc changer for a disc drive unit according to claim 11, wherein

the height of an opening of the guiding member is usually the height of one disc.