Disc loading mechanism for disc recording and/or reproducing device

• US 7,576,946 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TEAC Corporation
• Original Assignee: TEAC Corporation
• Inventors: Fujisawa, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOMA, TAWFIK A
• Application Number:
  US11/019,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30.27, 369/30.32, 369/30.36, 720/619, 720/626, 720/660, 720/638, 720/622, 720/631, 720/645
• US Class Current: 360/99.06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/051 Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means

Abstract

In the loading of a disc in a slot-in type of disc apparatus, time lag occurs at the time of shift from an operation that manually inserts the disc to an operation that automatically swallows the disc. In order to solve this problem, a switch for detecting the position of a disc at the beginning of insertion thereof and a switch for detecting a position where the loading of the disc has been completed are provided respectively. The modification of control is made so that the disc support arm is driven with a weak electric power from the beginning of the insertion of the disc, and an error caused by time-out is further detected. If the error has been detected, the disc is ejected.

Claims

1. A disc apparatus comprising:

a loading mechanism for carrying a disc from a drive starting position via an intermediation position to a loading position, the loading mechanism comprising a disc support arm for supporting the disc at a front end of the disc in a disc carrying direction and rocking rearward and a support plate rotating in cooperation with the support arm;

a driving means for driving the loading mechanism;

an operating piece rotated by pushing and driving of the support plate when the disc support arm rocks rearward;

a first detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the drive starting position, the first detecting means being operated by the operating piece;

a second detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the intermediate position, the second detecting means being operated by the operating piece; and

a control means for controlling the driving means;

wherein the control means is connected to the driving means, the first detecting means and the second detecting means, and

the control means is operative to enable the driving means to generate a first driving force that is not capable of carrying the disc without a force for pushing the disc applied by an operator in response to detection of the disc having been carried to the drive starting position by the first detecting means, and to enable the driving means to generate a second driving force, which is larger than the first driving force, that is capable of carrying the disc without the force for pushing the disc applied by the operator, in response to detection of the disc having been carried to the intermediate position by the second detecting means, while the first driving force is generated.

2. The disc apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the control means has a timer built therein, and when through the timer it is detected that the second detecting means is unable to detect the disc having been carried to the intermediate position before a lapse of predetermined time after detecting the disc having been carried to the drive starting position by the first detecting means and generating the first driving force to the driving means, the control means controls the driving means so as to stop an operation for carrying the disc to the loading position and to eject the disc by the loading mechanism.

3. The disc apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the loading position,

wherein the control means has a timer built therein, and when through the timer it is detected that the third detecting means is unable to detect the disc having been carried to the loading position before lapse of predetermined time after detecting the disc having been carried to the intermediate position by the second detecting means and generating the second driving force to the driving means, the control means controls the driving means so as to stop an operation for carrying the disc to the loading position and to eject the disc to a reverse direction by the loading mechanism.

4. The disc apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a third detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the loading position,

wherein the control means has a timer built therein, and when through the timer it is detected that the third detecting means is unable to detect the disc having been carried to the loading position before lapse of predetermined time after detecting the disc having been carried to the intermediate position by the second detecting means and generating the second driving force to the driving means, the control means controls the driving means so as to stop an operation for carrying the disc to the loading position and to eject the disc to a reverse direction by the loading mechanism.

5. A disc apparatus comprising:

a loading mechanism for carrying a disc from a drive starting position via an intermediation position to a loading position, the loading mechanism comprising a disc support arm for supporting the disc at a front end of the disc in a disc carrying direction and rocking rearward and a support plate rotating in cooperation with the support arm;

a driving means for driving the loading mechanism;

an operating piece rotated by pushing and driving of the support plate when the disc support arm rocks rearward;

a first detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the drive starting position, the first detecting means being operated by the operating piece;

a second detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the intermediate position, the second detecting means being operated by the operating piece;

a control means for controlling the driving means; and

wherein the control means is connected to the driving means, the first detecting means and the second detecting means, and

the control means is operative to enable the driving means to generate a first driving force that is not capable of carrying the disc without a force for pushing the disc applied by an operator in response to detection of the disc having been carried to the drive starting position by the first detecting means, and to enable the driving means to generate a second driving force, which is larger than the first driving force, that is capable of carrying the disc without the force for pushing the disc applied by the operator, in response to detection of the disc having been carried to the intermediate position by the second detecting means, while the first driving force is generated,

wherein the loading mechanism comprises a first link arm and a second link arm disposed between the driving means and the disc support arm, the first link arm being slidably connected to the second link arm, and

wherein when the driving means is stationary and the loading mechanism is in an initial standby state for receiving the disc, the first link arm is structured and arranged to slide relative to the second link arm in an unlocked state, allowing the disc support arm to pivot about a point rearwards in the disc carrying direction, and

when the disc inserted by an operator is moved to the drive starting position, the first link arm is structured and arranged to slide relative to the second link into an integrally locked state, allowing the disc support arm to pivot further about the point rearwards in the disc carrying direction.

6. The disc apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the control means has a timer built therein, and when through the timer it is detected that the second detecting means is unable to detect the disc having been carried to the intermediate position before a lapse of predetermined time after detecting the disc having been carried to the drive starting position by the first detecting means and generating the first driving force to the driving means, the control means controls the driving means so as to stop an operation for carrying the disc to the loading position and to eject the disc by the loading mechanism.

7. The disc apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a third detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the loading position,

wherein the control means has a timer built therein, and when through the timer it is detected that the third detecting means is unable to detect the disc having been carried to the loading position before lapse of predetermined time after detecting the disc having been carried to the intermediate position by the second detecting means and generating the second driving force to the driving means, the control means controls the driving means so as to stop an operation for carrying the disc to the loading position and to eject the disc to a reverse direction by the loading mechanism.

8. The disc apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a third detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the loading position,

wherein the control means has a timer built therein, and when through the timer it is detected that the third detecting means is unable to detect the disc having been carried to the loading position before lapse of predetermined time after detecting the disc having been carried to the intermediate position by the second detecting means and generating the second driving force to the driving means, the control means controls the driving means so as to stop an operation for carrying the disc to the loading position and to eject the disc to a reverse direction by the loading mechanism.

9. A disc apparatus comprising:

a loading mechanism for carrying a disc from a drive starting position via an intermediation position to a loading position, the loading mechanism comprising a disc support arm for supporting the disc at a front end of the disc in a disc carrying direction and rocking rearward with the disc and a support plate rotating in cooperation with the support arm;

a driving means for driving the loading mechanism;

an operating piece rotated by pushing and driving of the support plate when the disc support arm rocks rearward;

a first detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the drive starting position, the first detecting means being operated by the operating piece;

a second detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the intermediate position, the second detecting means being operated by the operating piece;

a third detecting means for detecting the disc having been carried to the loading position; and

a control means for controlling the driving means;

wherein the control means is connected to the driving means, the first detecting means, the second detecting means and the third detecting means, and

the control means having a timer built therein and that is operative to enable the driving means to generate a first driving force that is not capable of carrying the disc without a force for pushing the disc applied by an operator in response to detection of the disc having been carried to the drive starting position by the first detecting means, and to enable the driving means to generate a second driving force, which is larger than the first driving force, that is capable of carrying the disc without the force for pushing the disc applied by the operator, in response to detection of the disc having been carried to the intermediate position by the second detecting means, while the first driving force is generated, and

wherein the control means is adapted to control the driving means to stop an operation for carrying the disc to the loading position and to eject the disc to a reverse direction by the loading mechanism

by generating the first driving force to the driving means whenever, after the first detecting means detects the disc at the drive starting position, the second detecting means is unable to detect the disc at the intermediate position before a lapse of predetermined time; and

by generating the second driving force to the driving means whenever, after the second detecting means detects the disc at the intermediate position, the third detecting means is unable to detect the disc at the loading position before a lapse of predetermined time.