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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disc case for receiving a disc on which
information data are recorded and for supporting the disc rotatably in the
disc case, the disc case being able to be set into a reproducing apparatus
with the disc received in the disc case.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
There is known a disc case to preserve such disc as a compact disc of the
Compact Disc digital audio system or optical video disc, etc. Such case is
to be used after all to preserve a disc and not to be set into a
reproducing apparatus together with the disc to be reproduced. Such disc
as mentioned above has been handled as naked with a human hand when the
apparatus is to be loaded with the disc, there have been disadvantages
that a finger print will be deposited on the surface of the disc, an
external force will be applied directly to the disc when striked with the
apparatus or the like and the disc set in the apparatus will be exposed to
a high temperature by the heat generation of the apparatus.
There is also such conventional disc case as a case for floppy discs used
in relation to various office automation equipments, etc. The floppy disc
is enclosed within the case, and the equipment is to be loaded with the
disc together with the case when the disc is to be reproduced. Therefore,
the disc can be protected such as by preventing a finger print from being
deposited. However, there has been a defect that, as the case is so formed
that the disc can not be taken out of the case, the disc can never be
replaced. Further, there has been a defect that, as it is a prerequisite
to provide all such formation as, for example, a disc case positioning
means on the equipment side in forming an automatic loading mechanism,
such mechanism on the equipment side will be much complicated.
Further, there is known, among various floppy cases, such a case wherein a
magnetic head inserting hole is closed with a shutter plate in the normal
state (when the disc case is not set into the equipment) so as to protect
the disc by preventing dust from entering the case through this hole. FIG.
1 is a plan view showing an example (a case for a 3-inch compact floppy
disc) of such disc case. In the disc case shown in this drawing, in a
space formed within the case 1, a disc 2 is enclosed so as not to be able
to be taken out and a shutter plate 5 rotatable about a shaft part 3
arranged in the central part and free to open and close the magnetic head
inserting hole 4 is arranged in the case 1, a release 7, which is movable
in the directions indicated by the arrows C and D along the guide groove 6
formed through the upper and lower sides of the case 1, is fixed at one
end to the shutter plate 5 and at the other end to an operating piece 8,
and further in the case 1 provided a spring 9 biasing the shutter plate 5
in the direction indicated by the arrow E via the release 7 so that the
shutter plate 5 may close the hole 4. In this case 1, in the normal state,
the shutter 5 will close the hole 4 but, when the case is set into the
equipment, the operating piece 8 will move to the 2-dotted chain line
position, thereby the release 7 will move in the direction indicated by
the arrow D and the shutter plate 5 will rotate in the direction indicated
by the arrow F to open the hole 4.
Now, in the above mentioned disc case 1, such internal parts as the shutter
plate 5, release 7 and spring 9, etc. are all secured in predetermined
respective positions by the case 1 itself and therefore, if the disc 2
within is to be replaced, that is, if the case 1 is so constructed as to
be able to be opened, these internal parts will all slip down or remove
and will become never useful. This shows that the construction of such
disc case is never considered so as to open the case, that is to say, to
replace the disc. Therefore, there are defects that such disc case can not
be adopted as a case required to replace the disc, for example, as a case
applicable to a compact disc or the like with which the apparatus has been
loaded as naked so far and that the construction of opening and closing
the shutter plate 5 in the above mentioned case uses the release 7 or the
like and is therefore complicated in the construction and assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a disc case which can
replaceably receive a disc and be set into a reproducing apparatus with
the received disc to reproduce the disc so that the protection of the disc
may be confirmally achieved and the handling of the disc may be
simplified.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disc case which can
simplify the construction of the automatic disc loading mechanism on the
reproducing apparatus side.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a disc case which
can be set into the reproducing apparatus together with the received disc
exactly in a predetermined position.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disc case
wherein a shutter for opening and closing an aperture through which the
reproducing head of the reproducing apparatus accesses the part of the
information data recorded on the disc is provided, and wherein a mechanism
for opening and closing the shutter can be simply constructed.
These objects are achived by that, when set into the reproducing apparatus,
while the disc case is fixed in position within the reproducing apparatus,
the disc is driven in rotation and the information data are reproduced by
the reproducing apparatus, and that the disc case comprises a disc case
carrying mechanism for carrying the disc case in cooperation with the
reproducing apparatus so as to be loaded or unloaded to the reproducing
apparatus.
According to this invention, the disc can be handled always as received
within the disc case so as be protected from a finger print, external
force and dust and to be easy to handle. Further, the disc is received
replaceably within the disc case and therefore the disc case can be used
also for such disc as a compact disc so far used as a part of an automatic
disc loading mechanism is also formed on the disc case so that the
construction of the automatic disc loading mechanism on the reproducing
apparatus side may be very simple. In such case, if a guide groove for
carrying the disc case is formed on the disc case and a rack of the
automatic disc loading mechanism is formed on the bottom surface of this
guide groove, the rack will not directly contact the reproducing apparatus
or the like and will be able to be protected from being damaged. Further,
if the disc case is provided with a detection part for detecting that the
disc case is positioned in a predetermined position in the reproducing
apparatus, the disc case will be able to be set exactly in the
predetermined position with the simple construction. If the shutter plate
is provided on the disc case so that, when the disc case is taken out of
the reproducing apparatus, the aperture can be closed by the shutter
plate, dust will be prevented from entering the case and the shutter plate
opening and closing mechanism will be able to be simply constructed.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent
during the course of the follwing detailed description and appended claims
.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional disc case;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a disc case according to
the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the disc case of FIG. 2 as the upper case
and middle case are opened;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the disc case of FIG. 2 as the middle case
and lower case are opened;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the disc case of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line VI--VI in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line VII--VII in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is is a sectional view along line VIII--VIII in FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line IX--IX in FIG. 5;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a disc supporting part in the disc
case in FIG. 2;
FIG. 11 is a view explaining an operation of a shutter plate in the disc
case in FIG. 2;
FIG. 12 is a plan view of an important part of a reproducing apparatus,
showing as loaded with the disc case of FIG. 2;
FIG. 13 is an elevation as seen in the direction of line XIII--XIII in FIG.
12;
FIG. 14 is a side view as seen in the direction of line XIV--XIV in FIG.
12;
FIG. 15 is the same side view as in FIG. 14, showing the housing in the
raised position;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of an important part of a location
pin;
FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view showing the engaged relation of the
disc case and location pin;
FIG. 18 is a view showing the relative positions of the disc case, guide
member, pinion and microswitch;
FIG. 19 is a detailed view of the part indicated by the arrow Z in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a disc case
according to the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a partial enlarged perspective view showing the function of the
disc case of FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 is further another embodiment of a disc case according to the
present invention;
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the disc case of FIG. 23, shown as closed;
and
FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the disc case of FIG. 22.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention shall be explained on the embodiments applied to the
case of a compact disc of the Compact Disc digital audio system with
reference to the drawings in the following:
FIGS. 2 to 11 are views showing the construction of the first embodiment of
a disc case A according to the present invnetion and FIGS. 12 to 16 are
views showing an example of an reproducing apparatus (compact disc player)
for reproducing a disc received in the disc case A.
First of all, the disc case A shown in FIGS. 2 to 11 is so constructed as
to be able to receive a disc (compact disc) 31 replaceably and
reproduceably and has as main components an upper case 32, middle case 33
and lower case 34 made of a transparent synthetic resin.
The upper case 32 has side walls 36 and 37 formed respectively on both left
and right sides of the rear end of a rectangular top plate 35, guide
grooves 38 and 39 formed respectively on the surfaces of these side walls
36 and 37, a shaft 40 formed on the inner surface as shown in FIG. 6 and a
cut part 41 formed in the rear end portion of the top plate 35.
The middle case 33 has a front wall 43 and side walls 44 and 45 formed
respectively in the front end portion and both left and right sides of a
rectangular plate 42 so as to project vertically from the plate 42 and a
rear wall 46 formed in the rear end portion of the plate 42. Here, a hole
47 is formed in the central portion of the plate 42 and a thrust receiving
plate fixing hole 48 is formed around this hole 47. Guide grooves 49 and
50 are formed respectively on the surfaces of the side walls 44 and 45. A
rack 51 is formed on the front half part of the bottom surface of the
guide groove 49. A recess 52 is formed on a predetermined portion of the
bottom surface of the guide groove 50. A cut part 53 is formed in the
middle portion of the lower end of the side wall 44. The rear end portions
of the side walls 44 and 45 are cut on the surface sides so as to be
formed to be thin. In the rear end portion of each of these thin portions,
as shown in FIG. 7, a hole 54 is formed on the outer surface side and a
shaft 55 is formed on the inner surface side.
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, a clamper 57 is arranged within the hole 47,
is an annulus having a projection 59 which has a tapered surface 58 on the
lower surface and is fixed with a thrust spring 60 made of spring steel on
the inner surface side. A ball supporting member 61 is fixed in the center
of the thrust spring 60, and a steel ball 63 is fitted in a substantially
hemispherical recess 62 formed in this supporting member 61. Such clamper
57, thrust spring 60 and ball supporting member 61 are integrally formed
by injection molding. The clamper 57 and the respective members fixed to
it are arranged with the above mentioned tapered surface 58 engaged the
tapered surface 64 formed within the hole 47 so as to be inhibited to drop
down. The portion, in which the thrust receiving plate fixing hole 48 is
formed, of the middle case 33 is a circular recess 65 within which a
disc-shaped thrust receiving plate 66 is fitted. A projection 67 formed on
the lower surface of the thrust receiving plate 66 is inserted in the
fixing hole 48 and is welded to the middle case 33 side. By this
construction, the clamper 57 and the members fixed to it can not be pulled
out upwardly but are rotatable with the steel ball 63 in contact with the
bottom surface of a recess 68 formed on the lower surface of the thrust
receiving plate 66 as a center.
The lower case 34 has a rear wall 71 formed in the rear end of a
rectangular bottom plate 70 and has connecting walls 72 formed in the
right and left ends of this rear wall 71. Here, the bottom plate 70 has a
turntable inserting hole 73 formed in its central portion a laser beam
introducing hole 74 formed in its front portion, right and left engaging
holes 75 for positioning formed in its rear portion and further an arcuate
groove 76 formed on the upper surface of its front portion. Further, a
back-title note inserting groove 77 opening upward as shown in FIG. 8 is
formed in the rear wall 71 and a hole 78, as is shown in FIG. 9, is formed
in the connecting wall 72.
A sub-turntable 79 is arranged in a turntable inserting hole 73 in the
bottom plate 70, is a disc-shaped member holding the disc 31 in
cooperation with the above mentioned clamper 57, and has a disc mounting
wall 80 formed on the central part of the upper surface, a disc holding
wall 81 projecting upward formed on the upper surface of the outer
peripheral portion and an engaging wall 83 which has a tapered surface 82
on the side formed in the lower portion of the outer peripheral part. This
sub-turntable 79 is to be engaged with the tapered surface 84 within the
inserting hole 73 formed in the bottom plate 70 so as not to be pulled out
downwardly. A circular recess 85 is formed on the periphery of the
inserting hole 73 of the upper surface of the bottom plate 70. A shutter
plate 86 is inserted with its flange 87 into this recess 85 and is shown
in detail in FIGS. 4, 5, 10 and 11. The shutter plate 86 opens and closes
the laser beam introducing hole 74, prevents the sub-turntable 79 from
being pulled out upwardly, and has a shutter part 89 extending radially
outward on the outer peripheral portion of the flange 87 expanding
slightly upwardly on the center hole 88 side, a side plate part 90
extending horizontally from the shutter part 89 which has an arc edge 91
formed to be concentric with the center hole 88, a hook 92 formed at the
outside end of the shutter part 89, and an engaging part 93 formed at the
outside end of the side plate part 90. This shutter plate 86 is arranged
with its shutter part 89 positioned in the laser beam introducing hole 74
and with its flange 87 positioned within the recess 85. A flange member 94
to prevent the flange 87 from being pulled out of the recess 85 is fixed
to the upper surface of the bottom plate 70.
On the other hand, a shutter spring 95 which is secured at one end to the
one end of the groove 76 and at the other end to the securing hook 92 of
the shutter plate 86 is arranged within the groove 76 of the bottom plate
70, and is so held as to be flexible only within the groove 76 by a
retaining member 97 having a spring retaining part 96 fixed to the bottom
plate 70. In this construction, the shutter plate 86 will be rotatable in
the directions indicated by the arrows E and F in FIG. 11 with the flange
87 held within the recess 85 as a center and will be normally biased by
the shutter spring 95 so that the shutter part 89 will close the laser
beam introducing hole 74. The engaging part 93 is positioned as projected
slightly outward from the side edge of the bottom plate 70 as shown in
FIG. 11. Further, the sub-turntable 79 can move slightly vertically within
the inserting hole 73 but is prevented by the flange 87 held within the
recess 85 from being pulled out upwardly.
The upper case 32, middle case 33 and lower case 34 respectively
constructed as mentioned above and fitted with the above mentioned members
connected with each other in such way that they are positioned as shown in
FIG. 5 with the respective cases arranged on the front, rear, right and
left and that the upper case 32 is engaged in the right and left shafts 40
with the right and left holes 54 in the middle case 33 and that the middle
case 33 is engaged in the right and left shafts 55 with the right and left
holes 78 in the lower case 34. The thus connected respective cases 32, 33
and 34 can be opened and closed as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 with the shafts
40 and 55 as respective centers. When the cases 32, 33 and 34 are closed,
the recesses and projections (not illustrated) formed in the respective
cases will be enganged with each other so as not to be accidentally
opened. Here, if the upper case 32 and middle case 33 are closed, a slight
space will be defined between the top plate 35 and plate 42 and will be
utilized as a space in which a liner note 98 or the like showing in detail
the recorded contents of the disc 31 will be inserted. In this time, the
guide grooves 38 and 39 of the upper case 32 will be aligned respectively
with the guide grooves 49 and 50 of the middle case 33 and the rear wall
46 of the middle case 33 will be positioned within the cut part 41 of the
upper case 32. The back-title inserting groove 77 formed in the rear wall
71 of the lower case 34 will be used to receive a back-title note or the
like showing the main contents of the disc 31 and will be closed by the
rear wall 46 when the middle case 33 and lower case 34 are closed. The
space between the middle case 33 and lower case 34 is a space for
receiving the disc 31. When the cases 33 and 34 are closed, the engaging
part 93 of the shutter plate 86 will project out of the cut part 53 of the
middle case 33.
The method of using the disc case A constructed as mentioned above shall be
explained. First of all, the back-title note (not illustrated) and liner
note 98 corresponding to the contents of the disc 31 are prepared. The
middle case 33 and lower case 34 are opened, then the back-title note is
inserted into the inserting groove 77, and the upper case 32 and middle
case 33 are opened, then the liner note 98 is inserted between them. As
the above mentioned respective cases are formed of a transparent material,
when they are closed, the contents of the back-title note and liner note
98 will be visible outside the case. In receiving the disc 31 in the case,
while the upper case 32 and middle case 33 are closed to each other, the
middle case 33 and lower case 34 are expanded from each other and the disc
31 is mounted to the sub-turntable 79 by relatively advancing the mounting
wall 80 of the sub-turntable 79 into the center hole of the disc 31. Then
the middle case 33 and lower case 34 are closed. In this state, the disc
31 will be held between the holding wall 81 of the sub-turntable 79 and
clamper 57 as mounted to the mounting wall 80 of the sub-turntable 79 as
shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows that the disc case A is set into the
reproducing apparatus and the sub-turntable 79 is pushed upwardly. When
the disc case A is not set into the reproducing apparatus, the disc 31,
clamper 57 and sub-turntable 79 will be positioned below the positions
shown in the drawing. That is to say, the clamper 57 is biased downwardly
by the force of the thrust spring 60 to press the disc 31 toward the
sub-turntable 79 side. Therefore, the sub turntable 79 will contact on the
tapered surface 82 with the tapered surface 84 of the lower case 34 and
will be positioned to close the inserting hole 73. As a result, the disc
31 will be held between the clamper 57 and sub-turntable 79 by the biasing
force of the spring 60 and therefore will not move accidentally within the
case. When the sub-turntable 79 is raised upward as shown in FIG. 10, the
disc 31, clamper 57 and sub-turntable 79 will be rotatable with the steel
ball 63 as a center.
If the disc 31 is received within the disc case A as mentioned above, when
the disc 31 is to be handled, the disc can be handled without being
directly held by hands and a finger print can be prevented from being
deposited on the disc 31. Further, in this disc case A, when the case A is
not set into the reproducing apparatus, the inserting hole 73 is closed
with the sub-turntable 79, the laser beam introducing hole 74 is closed
with the shutter plate 86 and therefore the disc 31 can be covered
substantially on the entire outside so that the disc can be positively
protected from an external force and dust, etc.
In order to take the disc 31 out of the disc case A, in the order reverse
to the above, the middle case 33 and lower case 34 may be opened and the
disc 31 may be removed from the sub-turntable 79. Thus, in the disc case
A, the disc can be replaced and the replacing operation is very simple. In
this time, the parts within the disc case will not be likely to slip down.
In this embodiment, as the three of the clamper 57, thrust spring 60 and
ball supporting member 61 are integrally molded by insertion molding, the
number of parts can be reduced, the assembly can be facilitated, the
manufacture cost can be reduced and the entire case can be formed to be
thin.
When the disc case A is set into the reproducing apparatus, though the
functions of the respective parts shall be detailed later, the guide
grooves 38, 49, 39 and 50 will be utilized as guides to control the
carrying direction of the case, the rack 51 will be utilized as a
mechamism of carrying the case in cooperation with the pinion on the
reproducing apparatus side, the recess 52 will be utilized as a delection
part for detecting the position of the disc case in controlling the
movement of the disc case, the engaging holes 75 will be utilized to
position the disc case relative to the reproducing apparatus to be loaded
and the engaging part 93 of the shutter plate 86 will be utilized as an
actuator to open and close the laser beam introducing hole 73.
The reproducing apparatus to be loaded with the disc case A to reproduce
the disc 31 shall be explained in the following. FIGS. 12 to 19 are views
showing the construction of the reproducing apparatus B to be loaded with
the disc case A. In FIGS. 12 to 15, the reference numeral 100 represents
an outer case of the reproducing apparatus, and a chassis 101 is arranged
within this outer case 100, and is fitted with a disc motor 102 having a
turntable 103 fixed to a rotary shaft thereof. The turntable 103 is formed
to be disc-shaped and engageable with the sub-turntable 79 through the
inserting hole 73 of the disc case A so as to transmit a power. A loading
motor 104 is mounted to the chassis 101 so that its torque may be
transmitted through a driving force transmitting mechanism to a shaft 105
rotatably supported on the chassis 101. A pinion 106 is mounted to the
shaft 105 so as to be vertically movable and to be able to transmit a
power of the motor 104.
Further, right and left location pins 108 are fixed to the chassis 101 and
a housing 109 is supported on the chassis 101. The location pin 108 in a
cylindrical member having an engaging part 110 having a tapered top
portion at the upper end as shown in FIG. 16 so that the engaging part 110
may engage with the engaging hole 75 of the disc case A as shown in FIG.
17 to position the disc case A. The housing 109 is supported on the
chassis 101 by links 111 and pins 112 so as to be free to contact with and
separate from the chassis 101 by rotating the links 111. On the housing
109, holes are formed in the parts in which the turntable 103, pinion 106,
location pins 108 and an optical head (not illustrated) mounted to the
chassis 101 are located so that the above mentioned respective members may
be projected or exposed above the housing 109. Guide members 115 having
projections 114 on the right and left are mounted on the upper surface of
this housing 109. The projections 114 of the guide members 115 are located
within the guide grooves 38, 49, 39 and 50 of the disc case A to guide
this disc case A in the directions indicated by the arrows G and H.
Further, a microswitch 116 is mounted to the upper surface of the housing
109 as shown in FIGS. 12, 18 and 19. The microswitch 116 is to be switched
when an actuator 117 is contacted with the above mentioned guide groove 50
of the disc case A and when an actuator 117 is engaged with the recess 52
to control turning on and off of the loading motor 104. The housing 109 is
biased downwardly by a clamp spring 118 tensed between the chassis 101 and
the housing 109.
A lock plate 122 rotatable with a pin 120 as a center and biased in the
direction indicated by the arrow I by a lock spring 121 is provided in the
rear end portion of the chassis 101. The lock plate 122 to lock the
housing 109 in position by engaging the rear end edge of the housing with
the engaging recess 123 when the housing 109 moves upwardly. An ejecting
lever 124 operated by a driving mechanism not illustrated to raise the
housing 109 is provided in the rear end portion of the chassis 101.
In this reproducing apparatus B, instructions of various operation are to
be made by manipulating operating buttons not illustrated.
In order to reproduce the disc by the reproducing apparatus B, first of
all, the disc case A containing the disc 31 as described above is inserted
to the position indicated by the two-dotted chain lines in FIG. 12, that
is, the position in which the bottom surface of the guide groove 50
contacts the actuator 117 and the end portion of the rack 51 contacts the
pinion 106. In the apparatus B, at first, the housing 109 is in the raised
position as shown in FIG. 15 and the lock plate 122 is engaged with this
housing 109. In inserting the disc case A, the projection 114 of the guide
member 115 is positioned within the guide grooves 38, 49, 39 and 50 to
guide the disc case A in the direction indicated by the arrow G. When the
actuator 117 contacts the guide groove 50 so as to be displaced, the
microswitch 116 will be switched so that the control circuit not
illustrated will thereby turn on the loading motor 104. When the motor 104
is turned on, the pinion 106 will be rotated clockwise in FIG. 12 and will
be thereby meshed with the rack 51 to further carry the disc case A in the
direction indicated by the arrow G. Here, when the disc case A is inserted
and moved in the direction indicated by the arrow G with the guide member
115 as a guide, as shown in FIG. 11, the engaging part 93 of the shutter
plate 86 will engage with the projection 114 of the guide member 115 so
that thereby the shutter plate 86 will be rotated in the direction
indicated by the arrow E against the biasing force of the shutter spring
95 and the laser beam introducing hole 74 having been closed by the
shutter part 86 will open.
As this opening and closing operations of the shutter plate 86 are made by
the direct engagement of the engaging part 93 of the shutter plate 86 and
the guide member 115 of the reproducing apparatus side with each other,
the construction will be simple and the operation itself will be more
positive.
When the disc case A is carried to the position indicated by the solid
lines in FIGS. 12 and 14, it will push the lock plate 122 on the upper end
portion to disengage the lock plate 122 and housing 109 with each other.
On the other hand, at this time, the microswitch 116 will be switched by
the engagement of the actuator 117 with the recess 52 of the disc case A
so that thereby the control circuit will turn off the loading motor 104,
that is to say, at this time, the microswitch 116 will detect that the
disc case A has reached the predetermined loading position. When the lock
plate 122 disengages with the housing 109, the housing 109 will be moved
downwardly by the biasing force of the clamp spring 118. At this time, the
turntable 103 will relatively advance into the disc case through the
inserting hole 73 of the disc case A and will engage with the lower
surface of the sub-turntable 79 as shown in FIG. 10. The right and left
location pins 108 will engage with the engaging holes 75 of the disc case
A to hold the disc case A in a predetermined position.
Here, if the playing button is operated, the disc motor 102 will be turned
on to rotate the turntable 103 and this rotation will be transmitted to
the sub-turntable 79 to rotate the disc 31. Here, the optical head will
emit a laser beam onto the disc 31 through the laser beam introducing hole
74 of the disc case A from the chassis 101 side and the reflected beam by
the disc 31 will be detected to read out the signal recorded on the disc
31. This signal will be reproduced as an audio signal through a
reproducing circuit and amplifier, etc. not illustrated.
In order to take out the disc case A after the disc 31 is reproduced, when
the ejecting button is operated, the driving mechanism will drive the
ejecting lever 124 upwardly to raise the housing 109 and the housing 109
will be engaged with the lock plate 122 by the biasing force of the spring
121 so as to be held in the raised position. At this time, when the
control circuit turns on the loading motor 104, the pinion 106 will rotate
counterclockwise in FIG. 12 so that thereby the disc case A will be moved
in the direction indicated by the arrow H. This movement will stop when
the actuator 117 of the microswitch 116 separates from the guide groove
50. If the disc case A is taken out of the reproducing apparatus B, the
shutter plate 86 will be biased by the spring 95 and rotate in the
direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 11 and will close the laser
beam introducing hole 74.
Thus the disc case A can be automatically loaded to the reproducing
apparatus so the disc 31 received within the disc case A can be
reproduced.
FIG. 20 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In
this embodiment, in addition to the construction of the above mentioned
embodiment, stopper pieces 160 are formed in the end portions of the guide
grooves 38 and 39 of the upper case 32. According to this construction, if
the disc case is to be inserted into the reproducing apparatus B
errorneously from an opposite side, as shown in FIG. 21, the stopper
pieces 160 will contact the projections 114 of the guide members 115 to
prevent the misinsertion of the disc case.
In the above mentioned embodiments, the engaging holes 75 for the location
pins formed on the disc case are formed only in the lower case, but they
may be formed through the middle case and upper case. Instead of these
engaging holes, projections may be formed on the disc case side and may be
engaged with recesses or holes formed on the reproducing apparatus side
position the disc case.
In the above mentioned embodiments, the recess 52 as a detection part is
provided on the guide groove 50 side but may be provided on the guide
groove 49 side or on both sides.
Also in the above mentioned embodiments, a detection part in the form of a
recess is provided on the bottom surface of the guide groove but may be
provided in any place on | | |
