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Description  |
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The present invention generally relates to video disc systems. More
particularly, this invention relates to a novel record side identification
system for a video disc package.
In systems involving high density information records, such as video discs,
it has been found desirable to provide a package/player combination
wherein a disc record is inserted into, and removed from, the player while
it remains enclosed in its protective package. For example, a package
interface apparatus for a video disc player is described in the U.S.
patent application, Ser. No. 801,604, of L. A. Torrington, which was filed
on May 31, 1977. Additionally, reference may be made to the U.S. patent
application, Ser. No. 801,603, also of L. A. Torrington and filed on May
31, 1977, for an advantageous package suitable for use with such automatic
record insertion/extraction system.
As described in the aforementioned applications, the novel package includes
a jacket having a record enclosing cavity and an edge opening in
communication therewith. A record retaining member, comprising a spine and
an annular portion, is reciprocably mounted within the jacket. The spine
forms a closure for the jacket when the record retaining member is
completely inserted therein. The annular portion has a through opening for
receiving a record. An edge of the spine remains exposed upon full
insertion of the spine into the jacket.
When an occupied jacket is fully inserted into a record player, a record
extracting means disposed in the player engages the spine portion of the
record retaining member. Such an engagement precludes a removal of the
record retaining member from the player during jacket withdrawal
subsequent to an occupied jacket arrival at the fully inserted position in
the player, thereby causing retention of an enclosed record in the player.
A platform mounted in the player supports a retained record when it is
disposed in a raised position. The platform is thereafter depressed to
transfer the retained record from the platform to the turntable for
playback.
When an empty jacket is inserted into the player after playback, the
platform, carrying the record retaining member and the retained record, is
raised to cause the reversion of the record retaining member and the
retained record into the empty jacket during jacket insertion. Subsequent
withdrawal of the jacket from the player retrieves the record retaining
member and the enclosed record therewith.
In such systems, where the record player is supplied with covered discs, it
is desirable that the record package be provided with convenient means for
identifying the two sides of the enclosed record.
In order to provide record side identification, one may employ a jacket
which is transparent or has a window adjacent to the label area of an
enclosed labeled record. A transparent jacket is undesirable because it
does not permit use of lower-priced plastic materials. A windowed jacket
is undesirable because it allows dust and debris to enter into the record
enclosing cavity.
Pursuant to the principles of the present invention, indicia are secured to
the exposed edge of the spine for associating a given side of the spine
with the first side of a record and the other side of the spine with the
second side of the record. A record is enclosed within the package such
that its first side is next to the given side of the spine and its second
side is near the other side of the spine.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, cutouts are
provided on the opposing sides of the jacket through which respective
portions of the spine are exposed when the spine is fully retrieved into
the jacket. Indicia are secured to the exposed portions of the spine for
associating a given side of the spine with the first side of a record and
the other side of the spine with the second side of the record. A record
is enclosed within the package such that its first side is adjacent to the
given side of the spine and its second side is contiguous to the other
side of the spine.
Since the orientation of the record with respect to the record retaining
member is constant, securing of the record side identifying indicia to the
spine portion provides a unique system for identifying the record sides
independent of how a record is retrieved into its jacket.
Several advantages flow from applicants' novel system. In retrieving the
record from the player, the user is freed from the inconvenience of
inserting an empty jacket in a certain manner to obtain a given
orientation of the enclosed record relative to the jacket, since the
applicants' system works independent of the orientation of the record
relative to the jacket. Furthermore, since the applicants' system removes
the need for a transparent jacket, lower priced impact resistant plastic
materials can be used for the jacket. Having now cleared the way for an
opaque jacket the need for labeling the discs for consumer purposes is
eliminated.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a record package embodying the
concepts of the present invention; the novel record package comprising a
jacket and a record retaining member slidably mounted therewithin;
FIG. 2 shows the top view of the record retaining member of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 depicts the top view of the jacket of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a record package in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 represents a video disc player suitable for use with the record
packages of FIGS. 1-4;
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the end views of the video player of FIG. 5, where
a record supporting platform is shown, respectively, in an elevated
position and a depressed position; and
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a record extracting mechanism suitable for use with the
video disc player of FIGS. 5-7; wherein latch arms are illustrated,
respectively, in a withdrawn and an extended position.
FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a record protective cover 50
suitable for use with a video disc system described subsequently. As shown
therein, the record cover comprises a sleeve-type jacket 52 and a record
retaining tray 54. FIGS. 2 and 3 show, respectively, the top views of the
tray and the jacket of FIG. 1. The jacket 52 has an end access opening 56
having dimensions permitting the tray 54, carrying a video disc 58, to
slide freely therethrough.
The thickness of the tray 54 is about the same as the thickness of the
video disc 58. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the tray 54 is comprised
of a spine portion 60 and an annular portion 62 formed by a looped wire
having its ends secured to the spine portion. The inner walls of the
looped wire define an opening 64 having a diameter slightly greater than
the diameter of the video disc 58. The tray 54 allows access to both faces
of the video disc 58 without requiring any alteration of the position of
the video disc within the tray or the jacket 52. Both the tray 54 and the
video disc 58 are supported within the jacket 52 by the interior surfaces
of the jacket forming panels 66 and 68 as shown in FIG. 1.
When the tray 54 is fully inserted into the jacket 52, a front portion 70
of the spine 60 extends into the access opening 56 and closes it to keep
dust or other contaminants from entering into the record enclosing cavity
of the jacket.
The front portion 70 of the spine 60 has a record extracting member
receiving hole 72 which is accessible in a direction substantially
parallel to the direction of the to-and-fro movement of the tray 54 in the
jacket 52.
The tray 54 includes detents which are received in the depressions provided
in the jacket 52 when the tray is fully inserted into the jacket. The
detents prevent inadvertent slippage of an enclosed video disc from the
jacket.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, artwork 74 is secured to the opposing sides of
the jacket 52. The artwork 74 includes graphics as well as information
regarding the contents of the two sides of the video disc 58.
The opposing panels 66 and 68 of the jacket 52 have cutouts 76 and 78 in
which blocks 80 and 82, secured to the spine portion 60, are snugly
received when the record retaining member 54 is completely inserted into
the jacket. The blocks 80 and 82 carry record side identification indicia
in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The relative dispositions of the
cutouts 76 and 78 on the opposing panels 66 and 68 of the jacket 52 are
such that each one of the two cutouts is capable of receiving either one
of the two indicia carrying blocks 80 and 82 depending upon the
orientation of the jacket relative to the record retaining member 54. An
advantage of such disposition of the cutouts is that identical panels can
be used to construct the jacket.
The video disc 58 is enclosed in the package 50 such that its side one is
contiguous to the side of the spine 60 having indicia indicating "SIDE 1"
and the side two of the video disc is adjacent to the side of the spine
having indicia indicating "SIDE 2."
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a record package pursuant to the present
invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the record side identifying
indicia is secured to the exposed edge of the front portion 70 of the
spine 60 as shown. As shown therein, the spine portion 60 includes detents
84 and 86 which are received in depression (not shown) provided in the
jacket 52 when the record retaining tray 54 is fully inserted into the
jacket.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a video disc player 100 which includes a package
interface apparatus. The player is shown with its lid removed for exposing
underlying details. FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views of the video disc
player of FIG. 5 along the center line thereof while a dust excluding flap
102 is disposed, respectively, in a closed position and an open position.
The player has a pollution free chamber 104 into which the record cover 50
is inserted through an input slot 106. The input slot 106 has dimensions
which permit the record cover to slide therethrough without hindrance. The
dust excluding flap 102 is pivotally mounted to the player housing 108 for
motion between the closed position denying access to the chamber 104 (FIG.
6), and the open position permitting access to the chamber (FIG. 7). The
flap 102 serves to keep the chamber 104 from being contaminated by dust or
other foreign matter.
The player housing 108 is provided with a pair of channels 110 and 112 for
guiding the insertion and removal of the record cover into and from the
player. The channels 110 and 112 are disposed at an angle relative to the
player housing 108 such that they are aligned with the input slot 106 at
the front end of the player.
The video disc player further includes a turntable 114 for rotatably
supporting a video disc during playback. The turntable 114 has a central
spindle 116 subject to reception in the centering aperture of the video
disc. A stylus arm carriage carrying a signal pickup device is not shown
for the sake of clarity. The stylus arm carriage traverses the signal
pickup across a turntable mounted video disc during playback.
A platform 118 is pivotally mounted about a rod 120 for motion between a
depressed position (FIG. 6) and an elevated position (FIG. 7). The
platform 118 comprises a pair of side rails 122 and 124 joined by a cross
member 126 at the rear end of the player 100.
As shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, a record extracting mechanism 128, having a
pair of latch arms 130 and 132 which are pivoted around pins 134 and 136,
is mounted at the rear end of the player 100 on the cross member 126. As
can be seen from FIG. 7, the latch arms 130 and 132 are aligned with the
center line of the channels 110 and 112 when the platform 118 is occupying
the elevated position. The latch arms 130 and 132 are admitted into the
hole 72 provided in the tray 54 when the record cover 50 is fully inserted
into the player 100.
The record extracting mechanism 128 includes a paddle arm 138 pivoted about
a pin 140 mounted on the cross member 126. The paddle arm 138 is rotated
clockwise through an arc when the record cover is fully inserted into the
player. The clockwise rotation of the paddle arm 138 causes a ratchet
wheel 142, rotatably mounted on the cross member 126, to advance by one
tooth, also in a clockwise direction, via a retractable pin 144 mounted on
the paddle arm. Such rotation of the ratchet wheel 142 causes a
square-shaped cam 146, disposed between the latch arms 130 and 132 and
secured to the ratchet wheel, to advance by one step (e.g., 45.degree.) in
a clockwise direction. Such advancement of the square-shaped cam 146
causes the latch arms 130 and 132 to alternate between an extended
condition (FIG. 9) and a retracted condition (FIG. 8). A spring 148
interconnects the rear ends of the latch arms 130 and 132 in order to
assure continuous engagement between the latch arms and the cam 146.
When the record cover is withdrawn from the player 100, a spring 150 causes
the paddle arm 138 to return to its home position shown in FIGS. 5 and 9.
The record extracting mechanism 128 includes a pawl 152 for preventing a
reversal of the motion of the ratchet wheel 142 as the paddle arm 138
returns to its home position. It can be seen from FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, that
although the pawl 152 prevents a motion of the ratchet wheel 142 in the
reverse (anti-clockwise) direction, it allows the forward motion
(clockwise) of the ratchet wheel. The pin 144 is made retractable in order
to allow the paddle arm 138 to return to its home position without
requiring the ratchet wheel 142 to rotate in the reverse direction.
Thus, each time the record cover is fully inserted into the player 100, the
condition of the latch arms 130 and 132 is alternated between the extended
condition (FIG. 9) and the retracted condition (FIG. 8). The alternating
apparatus is disclosed in the copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No.
801,602 of C. A. Elliott, et al. entitled, "PACKAGE ACTUATED RECORD
EXTRACTING MECHANISM FOR A VIDEO DISC PLAYER." The Elliott, et al.
application is assigned of record to the assignee of the instant
application. The function of the record extracting mechanism 128 will be
explained in detail subsequently.
The player 100 further includes platform linkage assembly 154 for causing
the motion of the platform 118 between the depressed position (FIG. 6) and
the elevated position (FIG. 7) in response to motion of the flapper door
102, respectively, between the access denying position (FIG. 6) and the
access permitting postion (FIG. 7). The platform linkage assembly 154
includes a pair of levers 156 and 158 secured to the door 102 for rotation
therewith. The platform linkage assembly 154 further includes a pair of
springs 160 and 162 interconnecting the free end of the levers 156 and 158
and the side rails 122 and 124. A pair of stop pins 164 and 166 are
mounted to the player housing 108 for ensuring that the platform 118 is
raised to a correct height when the flapper door 102 is opened, as a
result of the insertion of the record cover into the player 100, in the
manner shown in FIG. 7. The springs 160 and 162 allow the flapper door 102
to over-travel when the record cover is fully inserted into the player so
that the platform 118 rises to the correct height without the need for
precision parts.
A set of spring loaded lifting pads 168-174 are pivotally mounted to the
rails 122 and 124 for a purpose which will be described subsequently. A
set of wire springs (e.g., 176 and 178) are provided to bias the lifting
pads (e.g., 172 and 174) toward a raised position as shown in FIGS. 6 and
7. A set of pins (e.g., 180 and 182) are secured to the rails (e.g., 124)
for reception in apertures (e.g., 184 and 186) provided in the lifting
pads (e.g., 172 and 174) to accurately locate the top surfaces of the
lifting pads relative to the platform 118 (FIGS. 6 and 7). A member 188
(FIG. 5) interconnects the rear lifting pads 170 and 172.
The operation of the player 100 will now be described in conjunction with
FIGS. 5-9. When the record cover, carrying a video disc, is inserted into
the player 100 through the input slot 106, it lifts the flapper door 102
whereby the platform 118 is caused to rise as shown in FIG. 7. The
insertion of the record cover into the player 100 causes the lifting pads
168-174 to retract within the confines of the platform 118, allowing the
record cover to arrive at a fully inserted position in the player. As the
record cover arrives at the fully inserted position in the player 100, the
latch arms 130 and 132 are admitted into the hole 72 of the tray 54 (FIG.
8).
The arrival of the record cover at the fully inserted position in the
player 100 causes the latch arms 130 and 132 to change from the retracted
condition (FIG. 8) to the extended condition (FIG. 9), thereby locking the
tray 54 to the platform 118. As the jacket 52 is withdrawn thereafter (1)
the latch arms 130 and 132 retain the tray 54, carrying the video disc 58,
in the player and (2) the wire springs (e.g., 176 and 178) cause the
lifting pads 168-174 to return to the desired raised position. Thus, the
tray 54 and the video disc 58 are retained in the player 100 resting on
the lifting pads 168-174 at an appropriate level (i.e., having their
center lines aligned with the center lines of the channels 110 and 112)
upon a conclusion of jacket withdrawal.
Additionally, jacket withdrawal from the player 100 allows the flapper door
102 to move to the access denying position shown in FIG. 6. Such motion of
the flapper door 102 causes the platform 118 to move to the depressed
position, as shown in FIG. 6, effecting a transfer of the video disc 58
from the lifting pads 168-174 to the turntable 114 for playback.
When an empty jacket is inserted into the player 100 through the input slot
106 (FIG. 7), the flapper door 102 is opened causing the platform 118 to
rise to the elevated position (FIG. 7). as the platform 118 rises, the
lifting pads 168-174 lift the tray 54 and the video disc 58 therewith.
When the platform 118 reaches the elevated position (FIG.7), the lifting
pads 168-174 support the tray 54 and the video disc 58 so that their
center lines are aligned with the center line of the empty jacket 52,
causing the tray and the video disc to return to the jacket during its
insertion. The alignment apparatus is described in the copending U.S.
patent application, Ser. No. 801,728 of R. DeStephanis entitled, "RECORD
SUPPORT AND ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR A VIDEO DISC PLAYER." The DeStephanis
application is assigned of record to the assignee of the instant
application. When the jacket 52 is fully inserted into the player 100, it
causes the latch arms 130 and 132 to change from the extended condition
(FIG. 9) to the retracted condition (FIG. 8) releasing the tray 54. When
the jacket 52 is removed from the player 100, detents (e.g., 84 and 86 in
FIG. 4) cause the enclosed tray 54 and the video disc 58 to leave the
player.
Thus, it will be seen that the above-described player allows a video disc
to be inserted into and removed from the player without its direct
handling by the user. A record handling system of this type is described
in the copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 801,604 of L. A.
Torrington and entitled, "RECORD HANDLING SYSTEM FOR A VIDEO DISC PLAYER."
The Torrington application is assigned of record to the assignee of the
instant application.
In order to play the first side of the disc, for example, the package 50 is
inserted into the player such that the side of the spine having indicia
"SIDE 1" is facing toward the user. When the jacket 52 is withdrawn after
full insertion thereof into the player, the record 58 and the retaining
member 54 are caused to remain in the player. The depression of the
platform results in deposition of the record on the player turntable with
its first side facing the playback stylus. When an empty jacket is
inserted into the player after playback, the platform lifts both the
record and the retaining member so as to cause their reversion into the
jacket. Since the orientation of the record relative to the spine remains
constant and since the record side identification is on the spine,
identification of the record side does not depend upon orientation of the
jacket relative to the spine.
In the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 821,201, of F. X. Conaty, entitled,
"VIDEO RECORD PACKAGE," and filed concurrently herewith, a record side
identification system is disclosed wherein the record side identifying
indicia are secured to a portion of the spine which protrudes beyond the
edges of the jacket which define the end access opening therein.
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