JP2009087384A - Disk housing type disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a carrying-in time period and a carrying-out time period when disks are successively carried into a plurality of supports and the disks are successively carried out from the plurality of supports. <P>SOLUTION: The first disk is carried into a vacant support in a state that all of the vacant supports are moved below a drive unit, a support for carrying the disk next is then moved to a selection position while the drive unit is positioned at an intervention position (ST29 to ST33). This operation is performed for all of the vacant supports, and the disks are successively carried into the supports. According to this operation, the time period when the disks are successively carried in is shortened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a disk storage type disk device capable of storing a plurality of disks inside a housing.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a disk storage type disk device that can store a plurality of disks inside a housing.

  In this disk storage type disk device, a plurality of supports for supporting the disk are stacked in the thickness direction of the disk in the housing, and any one of the supports is moved to the selected position by the support selection means. Be made. In the selection operation of the support, the support is moved up and down in a state where the drive unit having the rotation drive unit is in a retracted position away from the outer peripheral edge of the disk supported by the support.

  When the disc is carried into the support at the selected position, the drive unit is moved from the retracted position to an intervention position overlapping the lower side of the support at the selected position. In this state, the disc inserted from the insertion port of the housing is fed by the transfer roller and supplied to the lower side of the support. Then, after the disk is pressed against the support by the rotation drive unit of the drive unit and the disk is held on the support, the transfer roller is detached from the disk. By performing this operation, the disk can be reliably supported by the support at the selected position. Thereafter, the rotational drive unit of the drive unit is separated from the disk, the drive unit is moved to the retracted position, and the support that supports the disk is moved upward or downward and stored.

When unloading the disk supported by the support, the drive unit is moved to the retracted position, the support is moved up and down, and the support supporting the disk is moved to the selected position. Then, the drive unit is moved to the intervention position, and the disk is clamped by the transfer roller in a state where the disk is pressed against the support by the rotation drive unit of the drive unit. Then, the rotational drive part of the drive unit is separated from the disk, and the disk is carried out toward the insertion port of the housing by the rotational force of the transfer roller.
JP 2006-269010 A

  In the disk storage type disk device of Patent Document 1, when the disk is held on the empty support, the drive unit is moved to the retracted position, the support is moved to the selected position, and then the drive unit is moved to the intervention position. Therefore, it is necessary to carry in the disc. Therefore, when all the supports in the housing are empty, or most of the supports are empty, if the disk is loaded and held in all of the empty supports, the operation is performed for each support. Is repeated, the waiting time for supplying the discs one by one from the insertion slot becomes longer, and the entire processing time also becomes longer.

  Similarly, when the disc held on the support is ejected to the insertion slot, it is necessary to move the drive unit from the retracted position to the intervention position each time the support stops at the selected position. Yes. For this reason, when a plurality of discs are continuously ejected, the pause time when the discs are ejected one by one from the insertion slot is lengthened, and the overall processing time is also lengthened.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and the loading time and the unloading time are reduced when a disk is continuously loaded into a plurality of supports or when a disk is continuously unloaded from a plurality of supports. An object of the present invention is to provide a disk storage type disk device that can be shortened.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of supports that can support a disk and are arranged in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction of the disk, and move each of the supports in the vertical direction in the casing. Disc storage provided with support selection means for moving the support to the selected position, a transfer unit for loading the disc into the support moved to the selected position, and a drive unit having a rotation drive unit for rotating the disc Type disk device,
A drive mechanism is provided for moving the drive unit between a retracted position that does not overlap vertically with the disk supported by the support and an intervention position that overlaps below the disk supported by the support at the selected position,
The drive unit has a shape that does not overlap vertically with a support that does not support the disk when in the intervention position;
A plurality of supports that do not support the disk are moved below the drive unit, and the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position with the transfer unit relative to the support at the selected position. Carry in the disk, support this disk on the support at the selected position, move the support up after supporting the disk,
Next, while the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position, the support body located on the lower side of the drive unit is raised and stopped at the selected position, and the transfer unit is moved to the support body at the selected position. Carry in the disk, support this disk on the support at the selected position, move the support up after supporting the disk,
While the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position, the operation is repeatedly performed on all the support bodies that are located below the drive unit and do not support the disk. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the disk is continuously supported on each of the plurality of supports, the drive unit is continuously stopped at the intervention position, and the drive unit is moved between the intervention position and the retracted position each time the disk is loaded. Since the operation of moving between them is unnecessary, the loading of a plurality of discs can be completed in a short time.

  Further, every time a disk is carried into the support at the selected position, the drive unit is raised, and the rotation drive unit is inserted into the center hole of the disk, so that the disk is securely held by the support at the selected position. Operation is performed.

  By always arranging the drive unit at the intervention position, the disk can be pressed against the support by the rotation drive unit each time the disk is loaded, and the disk can be securely held on the support.

  The present invention is effective when all the supports are moved below the drive unit and the operation is repeated to support the disks on all the supports.

  However, the present invention can also be implemented when the disk is continuously supplied to some empty supports instead of all the supports in the housing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of supports that can support a disk and are arranged in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction of the disk, and move each of the supports in the vertical direction in the casing. Disc storage provided with support selection means for moving the support to the selected position, a transfer unit for loading the disc into the support moved to the selected position, and a drive unit having a rotation drive unit for rotating the disc Type disk device,
A drive mechanism is provided for moving the drive unit between a retracted position that does not overlap vertically with the disk supported by the support and an intervention position that overlaps below the disk supported by the support at the selected position,
The drive unit has a shape that does not overlap vertically with the support that does not support the disk when in the intervention position;
A disk supported by a support in a selected position in a state where a plurality of supports each supporting a disk are moved above the drive unit and the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position. The support unit after the disk is taken out is moved below the drive unit without moving the drive unit from the intervention position,
Next, the support located above the drive unit is lowered to stop at the selected position, the disk supported by the support located at the selected position is unloaded by the transfer unit, and the disk is removed. Without moving the drive unit from the intervention position, the rear support is moved below the drive unit;
While the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position, the above operation is repeatedly performed on all the support bodies that are positioned above the drive unit and that support the disk. .

  In this case as well, every time the support that supports the disk moves to the selected position and stops, the drive unit is raised, and the disk is transported with the rotary drive part intervening in the center hole of the disk. An operation is performed to set the unit in a transportable state.

By this operation, the disk can be securely held by the transfer unit and carried out.
In addition, the present invention is effective when all the supports are set to a state in which no disk is supported by moving all the supports above the drive unit and repeating the above operation.

  In this case, if there is a support that does not support the disk, the support is moved below the drive unit without performing the disk unloading operation when the support moves to the selected position. It may be moved to the side.

  In the present invention, the disk may be continuously ejected from a part of the support instead of all the support in the housing.

  In the disk storage type disk device according to the present invention, the loading time and unloading time can be shortened when the disk is continuously loaded into the plurality of supports or when the disk is continuously unloaded from the plurality of supports.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire structure of a disk storage type disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3 are plan views showing the structure of the first power transmission unit by operation, FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views showing the structure of the second power transmission unit by operation, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are disks. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show the upper casing 180 degrees inverted to the left and right (X1 side and X2 side). FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a structure of a rotation detecting unit provided in the support body selecting means.

(Overall structure)
The disk storage disk device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a box-shaped housing 2. The reference direction of the housing 2 is the lower side on the Z1 side, the upper side on the Z2 side, the left side on the X1 side, the right side on the X2 side, the near side on the Y1 side, and the rear side on the Y2 side. The X1-X2 direction is the horizontal direction, and the Y1-Y2 direction is the depth direction.

  The housing 2 is assembled by sequentially stacking a lower housing 3, an intermediate housing 4, and an upper housing 5 from the bottom to the top. The lower housing 3 has a bottom surface 6 of the housing 2, and the intermediate housing 4 has a front surface 7 and a right surface 8 of the housing 2. The upper housing 5 has a left side surface 9, a rear side surface 10, and a ceiling surface 11 of the housing 2.

  A first power transmission unit 12 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom surface 6 of the lower housing 3. A unit support base 13 is supported on the first power transmission unit 12, and a drive unit 14 is mounted on the unit support base 13. A mechanism base 15 parallel to the bottom surface 6 is provided on the upper portion of the intermediate casing 4, and a second power transmission unit 16 is provided on the mechanism base 15. In the intermediate housing 4, a transfer unit 17 is provided below the mechanism base 15 and inside the front surface 7.

  In the upper housing 5, an area surrounded by the left side surface 9, the rear side surface 10, and the ceiling surface 11 is a disk storage area 20, and each of the disk storage areas 20 has a plurality of supports capable of supporting the disk D. A body 21 is provided. In this embodiment, six support bodies 21 are provided, and the support bodies 21 are arranged so as to overlap in the thickness direction. The upper casing 5 is provided with a support body selection means 22, and by the operation of the support body selection means 22, any one of the 6 support bodies 21 is selected and moved to the selected position, and is selected. The space | interval of the support body 21 and the support body 21 adjacent under it is expanded.

  The disk D has a diameter of 12 cm and is, for example, a CD (compact disk), a CD-ROM, a DVD (digital versatile disk), or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, an insertion port 23 is opened on the front surface 7 of the housing 2.
The transfer unit 17 is at the same height as the insertion slot 23, and the disk D inserted from the insertion slot 23 is transferred toward the disk storage area 20 by the transfer unit 17. The support 21 that has reached the selected position is at the same height as the insertion slot 23, and the disk D inserted from the insertion slot 23 is transferred by the transfer unit 17, so that the lower surface (Z1 side surface) of the support 21 at the selected position is transferred. ) And is supported by the support 21 at the selected position.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the width of the insertion port 23 formed in the front surface 7 of the housing 2 is divided into two and the imaginary line extending inward of the housing 2 perpendicular to the front surface 7 is inserted into the center. Line Oa.

  In FIG. 1, the drive unit 14 is in the retracted position. At this time, the drive unit 14 is located on the right side (X2 side) away from the insertion center line Oa and is located immediately inside the right side surface 8. The disc D supported by the disc 21 is located slightly away from the outer peripheral edge of the disc D so that it does not overlap vertically.

(First power transmission unit)
Next, the structure of the 1st power transmission part 12 provided on the bottom face 6 of the housing | casing 2 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the first power transmission unit 12, a slider 31 that moves linearly in the Y1-Y2 direction on the bottom surface 6 and a rack member 32 that moves the slider 31 via a connecting member (not shown). And are provided. A first motor M1 that is a drive source of the first power transmission unit 12 is fixed to the front side (Y1 side) on the bottom surface 6, and a lock switching member 42 is provided on the bottom surface 6. The lock switching member 42 can slide in the (b) direction and the (c) direction.

  On the bottom surface 6, a connection rotation lever 44 is rotatably supported. The connection rotation lever 44 and the rack member 32 are connected via a cam portion (not shown), and the connection rotation lever 44 is in two stages during the process of moving the rack member 32 in the Y1 direction. It is turned counterclockwise by the operation. When the connection rotation lever 44 is rotated counterclockwise by the movement force of the rack member 32 in the Y1 direction, the lock switching member 42 is moved in the direction (c) by the rotational force of the connection rotation lever 44. Be made.

  As shown also in FIG. 1, a lock member 54 is provided on the back side of the lower housing 3, and the lock member 54 is supported so as to be linearly movable in the X1-X2 direction. A lower rack portion 54 c is formed on the upper edge portion of the lock member 54. A connecting arm 51 is rotatably supported on the bottom surface 6, and the moving force of the lock switching member 42 is transmitted to the lock member 54 via the connecting arm 51. When the lock switching member 42 moves in the direction (c) from the position shown in FIG. 3, the connecting arm 51 is rotated counterclockwise, and the lock member 54 is moved in the X1 direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a lock control hole 56 is opened in the lock member 54. The lock control hole 56 includes a restraining portion 56a formed at a position approaching the bottom surface 6 on the X1 side, and a lifting portion 56b located on the X2 side of the restraining portion 56a and on the upper side of the restraining portion 56a. have. A relatively large circular relief hole 56d is formed at the end of the lifting portion 56b on the X2 side.

  Another locking member is also provided on the front side (Y1 side) of the lower housing 3. The other lock members are also connected to the lock switching member 42 and can move linearly in the X1-X2 direction. When the lock switching member 42 is moving in the (b) direction, the other lock member is positioned on the X2 side, and when the lock switching member 42 is moving in the (c) direction, the lock switching member 42 is moved. The other lock member is moved in the X1 direction by the force.

  The other lock member has a pair of lock control holes. Each lock control hole has a restraining portion formed at a position approaching the bottom surface 6 on the X1 side, and a lifting portion located on the X2 side from the restraining portion and above the restraining portion. Have. Furthermore, a relatively large circular relief hole is formed at the end of the lifting portion on the X2 side.

  The operation of the first power transmission unit 12 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the rack member 32 is moved to the starting end on the back side (Y2 side), the slider 31 is positioned on the Y2 side. At this time, the connecting rotation lever 44 is rotating clockwise, and the lock switching member 42 is moving in the (b) direction. The lock member 54 and other lock members shown in FIG. 1 are both moved to the X2 side.

  The slider 31 moves in the Y1 direction together with the rack member 32 while the rack member 32 is moved in the Y1 direction from the position in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3 by the power of the first motor M1. Shiru. However, while the rack member 32 reaches the position shown in FIG. 3 from the position shown in FIG. 2, the connecting rotation lever 44 is not rotated, and the lock switching member 42 stops at the position moved in the direction (b). And does not move in the direction (c).

(Unit support base and drive unit)
The inner edge 13d of the unit support base 13 shown in FIG. 1 has a concave arc shape, and is located slightly away from the outer peripheral edge of the disk D supported by the support 21 in the disk storage area 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, dampers 71, 72, and 73 that are elastic support members are fixed to three locations on the bottom surface 6 of the lower housing 3, and the unit support base 13 includes the dampers 71, 72 and 73 enables elastic support on the bottom surface 6.

  The unit support base 13 is provided with one restraint shaft 77 protruding in the Y2 direction, and the restraint shaft 77 is inserted into the lock control hole 56. The unit support base 13 is provided with a pair of restraining shafts 78, 78 projecting in the Y1 direction, and the restraining shafts 78, 78 are in lock control holes of other lock members located on the Y1 side. Each is inserted.

  The drive unit 14 has an elongated drive base 81. On the back side of the unit support base 13, a support shaft 84 protrudes vertically upward, the drive base 81 is supported by the support shaft 84, and the drive unit 14 is rotatable along the XY plane. ing.

  The rotation range of the drive unit 14 is from the retracted position shown in FIG. 1 to the intervention position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 1, when the drive unit 14 is in the retracted position, the side of the drive base 81 is positioned in parallel with the right side surface 8 in the immediate vicinity of the right side surface 8 of the housing 2. The drive unit 14 in the retracted position is slightly away from the outer peripheral edge of the disk D supported by the support 21 in the disk storage area 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the drive unit 14 rotates clockwise ((a) direction) and moves to the intervention position, a turntable 82 that is a rotational drive unit provided in the drive base 81 is Transition to the inside of the disk storage area 20. In this intervention position, the turntable 82 overlaps with the lower side of the center hole of the disk D supported by the support 21 that has moved to the selected position, and the center of the disk D and the center of the turntable 82 are vertically located. Almost matches.

  A drive slider (not shown) is provided on the lower surface of the unit support base 13, and this drive slider is slidably supported in the Y1-Y2 direction. A drive link mechanism (not shown) is mounted between the drive slider and the unit support base 13. While the rack member 32 moves in the Y1 direction from the start end on the Y2 side shown in FIG. 2 and reaches the position shown in FIG. 3, the drive slider is moved in the Y1 direction by the rack member 32, and the moving force is the driving force. The drive unit 14 is rotated from the retracted position shown in FIG. 1 to the intervention position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 by the drive link mechanism.

  A spindle motor is mounted on the rotation free end side of the drive base 81 of the drive unit 14, and a turntable 82 is fixed to the motor shaft of the spindle motor. As shown in FIG. 1, the turntable 82 has a central convex portion 82 b that enters the central hole Da of the disk D, and a flange portion 82 c that extends from the central convex portion 82 b to the periphery. A clamp mechanism is mounted in the turntable 82. The clamp mechanism has clamp claws that project radially from the central protrusion 82b. The non-clamping mode is when the clamp claw is retracted into the central convex portion 82b, and the central convex portion 82b can enter the central hole Da of the disk D. When the clamp claw protrudes, the clamp mode is set, and the peripheral portion of the center hole Da of the disc D is sandwiched between the clamp claw and the flange portion 82c, and the disc D is clamped to the turntable 82.

  The drive base 81 of the drive unit 14 is equipped with a clamp switching mechanism that operates the clamp claws. After the rack member 32 moves to the position of FIG. 3 and the drive unit 14 moves to the intervention position, the rack member 32 further moves in the Y1 direction, and the driving force when the drive slider moves in the Y1 direction The clamp switching mechanism operates and the clamp pawl is switched from the non-clamp mode to the clamp mode.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the drive base 81 is provided with an optical head 83. An objective lens 83 a is provided on the upper surface of the optical head 83. The drive base 81 is provided with a sled mechanism, and by this sled mechanism, the optical head 83 is moved in a direction away from the turntable 82 from a position approaching the turntable 82. At this time, the objective lens 83a can move in the radial direction of the disk D clamped to the turntable 82.

(Second power transmission unit)
Next, the structure of the 2nd power transmission part 16 provided in the intermediate | middle housing | casing 4 is demonstrated.

  In the second power transmission unit 16, an arc-shaped switching member 91 is provided on the mechanism base 15. The switching member 91 is formed with a pair of guide elongated holes 91a and 91a extending along an arc locus. On the mechanism base 15, a pair of guide shafts 92, 92 are projected and fixed upward, and the respective guide shafts 92 are inserted into the guide long holes 91a. By this support mechanism, the switching member 91 is slidably guided in the direction (d) and the direction (e) shown in the figure along the arc locus. In addition, rack teeth 91b are formed along the arc locus on the outer peripheral edge of the switching member 91.

  A second motor M2 is provided on the mechanism base 15, and a worm gear 93 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the second motor M2. An output gear 94 is provided on the mechanism base 15, and the output gear 94 always meshes with the worm gear 93.

  The rotational power of the second motor M2 is decelerated and transmitted from the output gear 94 to the pinion gear 97 via the gears 95 and 96. The pinion gear 97 always meshes with the rack teeth 91b of the switching member 91. As shown also in FIG. 8, the upper housing 5 is rotatably provided with a transmission gear 99 for transmitting rotational power to the support body selecting means 22. A switching gear 98 is provided between the output gear 94 and the transmission gear 99. The switching gear 98 always meshes with the transmission gear 99 and moves around the transmission gear 99 as a planet.

  On the mechanism base 15, there is provided switching means (not shown) for moving the switching gear 98 to the meshing position with the output gear 94 and to the position for releasing the meshing with the output gear 94. This switching means is operated by the power of the first motor M1. By connecting the output gear 94 and the transmission gear 99 by the switching gear 98, the power of the second motor M2 can be transmitted to the support body selecting means 22.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a transfer unit 17 is provided under the mechanism base 15. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transfer unit 17 has a unit frame 100. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a roller shaft 111 is provided in the unit frame 100. The roller shaft 111 extends parallel to the upper surface of the unit frame 100 and is rotatably supported. A first transfer roller 112 and a second transfer roller 113 formed of a material having a high friction coefficient such as synthetic rubber or natural rubber are provided on the outer periphery of the roller shaft 111. The transfer rollers 112 and 113 are spaced apart in the axial direction. When the transfer unit 17 is in the standby position shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, the transfer rollers 112 and 113 are arranged at a position that is substantially parallel to the front surface 7 of the housing 2 and equidistant from the insertion center line Oa to the left and right. Has been.

  An intermediate portion 114 positioned between the first transfer roller 112 and the second transfer roller 113 is a portion that does not substantially apply a transfer force to the disk D. The intermediate portion 114 is formed integrally with the two transfer rollers 112 and 113 and has a smaller diameter than the two transfer rollers 112 and 113, or is formed by directly exposing the roller shaft 111.

  The first transfer roller 112 and the second transfer roller 113 are opposed to a clamping portion (not shown) fixed to the lower side of the ceiling surface of the unit frame 100. The transfer rollers 112 and 113 are urged by a spring toward the clamping unit, and the transfer rollers 112 and 113 and the clamping unit are elastically pressed against each other. Therefore, the disk D can be clamped between the transfer roller 112 and the clamping unit and between the transfer roller 113 and the clamping unit. In this pressure contact state, the gap between the intermediate portion 114 and the sandwiching portion is wider than the thickness dimension of the disc D, and the disc D is not sandwiched between the intermediate portion 114 and the sandwiching portion.

  The first transfer roller 112 and the second transfer roller 113 are rotatably inserted into the outer periphery of the roller shaft 111 without adhering to the outer periphery of the roller shaft 111. When the clamping pressure with respect to the disk D is acting on the transfer rollers 112 and 113, the frictional force between the transfer rollers 112 and 113 and the roller shaft 111 increases, and the roller shaft 111 and the transfer rollers 112 and 113 are integrated. Rotate.

  The transfer unit 17 can be rotated from the standby position shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 to the transfer operation position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the fulcrum shaft 131 as a fulcrum. 4 and 7, the unit frame 100 is located inside the front surface 7 of the housing 2, and the roller shaft 111 extends substantially in the X1-X2 direction. Further, in the transfer unit 17 in the standby position, the unit frame 100 is slightly separated from the outer peripheral edge of the disk D supported by the support 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, while the transfer unit 17 rotates and reaches the transfer operation position, the transfer rollers 112 and 113 continue to rotate, and the rotation power of the transfer unit 17 and the rotation of the transfer rollers 112 and 113 are rotated. The disk D is transferred toward the support 21 by the force.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, in the second power transmission unit 16, an arcuate guide hole 15 c is opened in the mechanism base 15. The guide hole 15c extends along an arc locus having the fulcrum shaft 131 as the center of curvature.

  A drive shaft 133 that extends vertically upward is fixed to the unit frame 100 of the transfer unit 17 on the free end side away from the fulcrum shaft 131. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the drive shaft 133 is inserted into the guide hole 15c from below to above. The tip of the drive shaft 133 protrudes above the mechanism base 15, and a rotation ring 134 is rotatably provided on the drive shaft 133 on the mechanism base 15.

  A drive lever 135 is provided on the mechanism base 15. A base portion of the drive lever 135 is rotatably supported by the mechanism base 15 via a shaft 136. A drive elongated hole 135a is opened in the drive lever 135, and a rotation ring 134 provided on the outer periphery of the drive shaft 133 is inserted into the drive elongated hole 135a. A control pin 135 b is fixed to the drive lever 135, and the control pin 135 b is inserted into a cam long hole 91 c formed in the switching member 91.

  The drive lever 135 is rotated counterclockwise by the cam slot 91c while the switching member 91 further slides from the position shown in FIG. 4 in the direction shown in FIG. 5E to the position shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the transfer unit 17 rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum shaft 131 and reaches the transfer operation position. In the transfer operation position shown in FIG. 5, the drive shaft 133 is pressed against the Y2 side end of the guide hole 15c, and the transfer unit 17 is stabilized at the transfer operation position.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the transfer unit 17 is provided with a right optical detector F1 and a left optical detector F2 that constitute a transfer detection mechanism. The optical detectors F <b> 1 and F <b> 2 are provided on the unit frame 100 of the transfer unit 17. Each of the optical detectors F1 and F2 has a light emitting element on one side and a light emitting element on the other side with the disk D passing between the holding member provided in the transfer unit 17 and the transfer rollers 112 and 113 interposed therebetween. The light receiving elements are configured to face each other.

  The optical detectors F1 and F2 are arranged equidistantly on the left and right with respect to the insertion center line Oa. Each of the optical detectors F1 and F2 is located between the first transfer roller 112 and the second transfer roller 113, and is provided closer to the insertion port 23 than the roller shaft 111.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the transfer unit 17 is in the standby position, the optical detectors F <b> 1 and F <b> 2 are located between the roller shaft 111 and the insertion port 23. In a state before the disk D is inserted from the insertion port 23, the detection light emitted from the light emitting elements of the optical detectors F1 and F2 is not blocked and is in a light transmitting state to the light receiving element. At this time, the detection outputs of the optical detectors F1 and F2 are at a high level (H level). When the disc D is inserted from the insertion port 23, the optical detectors F1 and F2 are detected by the disc D before the leading edge in the insertion direction hits the first transfer roller 112 and the second transfer roller 113. The light is blocked and the optical detectors F1 and F2 are in the light blocking state. At this time, the detection outputs of the optical detectors F1 and F2 are switched from the H level to the L level (low level). Thereby, it can be detected that the disk D is inserted from the insertion slot 23.

  When the disk D is inserted from the insertion opening 23 and at least one of the optical detector F1 and the optical detector F2 is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state, the first motor M1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is started. The first transfer roller 112 and the second transfer roller 113 start to rotate in the disk loading direction.

(Disc storage area and support selection means)
Next, the structure of the disk storage area 20 and the support body selection means 22 provided in the upper housing 5 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, three selection shafts 151 </ b> A, 151 </ b> B, and 151 </ b> C that extend downward in parallel with each other are rotatably supported on the ceiling surface 11 of the upper housing 5. 8 shows the upper housing 5 turned upside down. In FIG. 8, the selection shaft 151A is not shown, and only the selection shafts 151B and 151C are shown.

  A spiral selection groove 152 is formed on the outer periphery of each selection shaft 151A, 151B, 151C. As shown in FIG. 8, the selection groove 152 has a spiral shape in which the selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C have a dense pitch portion 152a above and a dense pitch portion 152b below. In the upper dense pitch portion 152a and the lower dense pitch portion 152b, the selection groove 152 is formed with a short pitch, and in each upper dense pitch portion 152a and the lower dense pitch portion 152b, the selection groove 152 has at least five rounds. (5 pitches) or more. The selection groove 152 is a sparse pitch part 152c in the middle part of the selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C. In the sparse pitch part 152c, the selection groove 152 is located between the upper dense pitch part 152a and the lower dense pitch part 152b. Is formed for one pitch.

  Six support bodies 21 are provided so as to overlap in the vertical direction. Each support 21 is formed of a thin metal plate. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each support body 21 includes a left side edge 21 b that faces the left side surface 9 of the housing 2 substantially in parallel and a rear edge that faces the rear side surface 10 of the housing 2 substantially in parallel. 21c.

  The inner edge 21a of the support 21 directed inward of the housing 2 has a concave curve shape. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the drive unit 14 is installed at the intervention position, the inner edge 21 a of the support 21 is formed at a position that does not overlap the entire drive unit 14.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a bearing 25 </ b> A is fixed to each support body 21 at an end portion on the X1 side and an end portion on the Y1 side. Further, the bearing 25B is fixed to the end portion on the X2 side and the end portion on the Y2 side of each support body 21, and the bearing 25C is fixed to the inside of the corner portion of the left edge 21b and the rear edge 21c. The bearing 25A is inserted through the outer periphery of the selection shaft 151A, the bearing 25B is inserted through the outer periphery of the selection shaft 151B, and the bearing 25C is inserted through the outer periphery of the selection shaft 151C. Each of the bearings 25A, 25B, and 25C is integrally formed with a latching portion, and this latching portion is slid into a selection groove 152 formed on the outer periphery of each of the selection shafts 151A, 151B, and 151C. It is locked freely.

  Each of the latching portions of the six supports 21 is arranged to be latched at each of the five adjacent pitches of the selection groove 152. Therefore, when the selection shafts 151A, 151B, and 151C rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 6, the support body 21 is sent downward along the selection shafts 151A, 151B, and 151C one by one, and the selection shafts 151A, 151B, and 151C are sent. Is rotated clockwise, the support 21 is sent upward one by one along the selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C. At this time, since the inner edge 21a of the support 21 is formed away from the outer shape of the drive unit 14, the support 21 can be moved in the vertical direction while the drive unit 14 remains in the intervention position. it can. Then, any one of the support bodies 21 that are hooked on the sparse pitch portion 152c reaches the selected position, and the support body 21 that stops at the selected position and the support body 21 that is positioned below the dense pitch portion 152b. In addition, there is a space in the vertical direction in which the drive unit 14 can enter.

  As shown in FIG. 8, small gears 153B and 153C are integrally provided at the upper ends (ends on the Z2 side) of the selection shafts 151B and 151C. A small gear 153A is also provided at the upper end of the selection shaft 151A. The selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C and the small gears 153A, 153B, 153C are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and the small gears 153A, 153B, 153C are formed thin, and the ceiling surface 11 of the upper housing 5 is formed. It is in close contact with the lower surface.

  A thin ring gear 160 having a large diameter is rotatably provided on the lower surface of the ceiling surface 11 of the upper housing 5, and the ring gear 160 has a tooth portion on the outer periphery. The small gears 153A, 153B, 153C provided on the selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C are all meshed with the teeth of the ring gear 160. By rotation of the ring gear 160, all the small gears 153A, 153B, 153C are rotationally driven in synchronization. Therefore, the three selection shafts 151A, 151B, and 151C are rotationally driven in synchronization.

  A rotating shaft 99a is rotatably supported on the lower surface of the ceiling surface 11 of the upper housing 5. The transmission gear 99 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft 99a, and the transmission gear 99 can mesh with the switching gear 98. A thin gear 99b is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 99a, and the thin gear 99b meshes with a tooth portion on the outer periphery of the ring gear 160. As shown in FIG. 4, when the second motor M <b> 2 is started when the switching gear 98 is meshed with the output gear 94 and the transmission gear 99, the power is transmitted to the transmission gear 99 and integrated with the transmission gear 99. The ring-shaped gear 160 is driven by the thin gear 99b.

  When the power of the second motor M2 is transmitted from the output gear 94 to the transmission gear 99, the switching member 91 is also driven in the (d)-(e) direction by the rotational force of the output gear 94. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the control pin 135 b provided on the drive lever 135 slides in the arc portion of the cam long hole 91 c formed in the switching member 91, so that the drive lever 135 rotates clockwise. The transfer unit 17 maintains the state stopped at the standby position. That is, when the transfer unit 17 is in the standby position, the ring gear 160 shown in FIG. 8 is driven, and the support 21 is selected.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a rotation detector 170 is provided on the lower surface of the ceiling surface 11 of the upper housing 5. The rotation detection unit 170 has a rotation member 171. A support shaft 172 is fixed to the lower surface of the ceiling surface 11 of the upper housing 5, and the rotating member 171 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 172. The rotating member 171 is integrally formed with a detection portion 171a and a gear 171b, and the gear 171b is always meshed with a tooth portion on the outer periphery of the ring-shaped gear 160.

  A cutout portion 171c is formed in the detection portion 171a of the rotating member 171. A printed circuit board 173 is fixed vertically to the lower surface of the ceiling surface 11, and a pair of optical detection elements 174 and 175 are fixed to the printed circuit board 173. The respective optical detection elements 174 and 175 are arranged side by side in the rotation direction of the detection unit 171a. Each of the optical detection elements 174 and 175 is a light emitting element facing the upper surface of the detection unit 171a, and a light receiving element facing the lower surface of the detection unit 171a have.

  When the notch 171c of the detection unit 171a faces both the optical detection elements 174 and 175, the light emitted from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element in both the optical detection element 174 and the optical detection element 175, and the detection output is generated. Both are turned ON. Further, when the light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked by the detection unit 171a, the detection output is turned off. In the rotation detection unit 170, when the ring gear 160 rotates and the selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C are rotated and any one of the supports 21 reaches the selection position, the optical detection elements 174 and 175 are detected. Are turned on at the same time. Further, when the rotating member 171 rotates once and the optical detection elements 174 and 175 are turned on next, the support body 21 positioned next to the support body 21 reaches the selected position. Further, after both of the optical detection elements 174 and 175 are turned on, the rotation direction of the rotating member 171 can be recognized depending on which optical detection element is turned off first, and thus the rotation direction of the ring gear 160 is recognized. it can.

  The control unit of the disk storage type disk device 1 monitors the optical detection elements 174 and 175 to determine in which direction each of the selection shafts 151A, 151B, and 151C is rotated, that is, the support body 21 is directed downward. It can be recognized whether it is moving or moving upward. Further, when both the optical detection elements 174 and 175 are simultaneously turned ON, the support body 21 can be stopped at the selected position by stopping the second motor M2 of the second power transmission unit 16. In addition, by counting the number of times both the optical detection elements 174 and 175 are turned on, it is possible to recognize which of the six supports 21 has reached the selected position.

(Disk holding mechanism on the support)
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each support body 21 is provided with three holding members 26, 27, and 28 on the lower surface (the surface on the Z1 side). However, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the holding members 26, 27, and 28 are illustrated through the support 21 for the convenience of illustration.

  The holding member 26 is supported so that the outer periphery of the bearing 25A inserted through the selection shaft 151A can be rotated. The holding member 27 is supported so that the outer periphery of the bearing 25B inserted through the selection shaft 151B can be rotated, and the holding member 28 is supported so that the outer periphery of the bearing 25C inserted through the selection shaft 151C can be rotated. Has been. The holding members 26, 27, and 28 are integrally formed with holding claws 26b, 27b, and 28b at their tip portions.

  A tension coil spring 29a is hung between the holding member 26 and the support body 21, and the holding member 26 is urged to rotate counterclockwise. The support 21 is provided with a stopper (not shown), and the holding member 26 is regulated so as not to rotate counterclockwise (γ2 direction) from the posture shown in FIG. The holding member 27 is urged clockwise by the tension coil spring 29b and is not rotated clockwise (γ4 direction) from the posture shown in FIG. 6 by a stopper (not shown) provided on the support 21. So that it is regulated. Similarly, the holding member 28 is urged clockwise by a tension coil spring 29c, and a stopper (not shown) provided on the support 21 causes the holding member 28 to rotate clockwise (γ4 direction) from the posture shown in FIG. It is regulated not to turn to

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the disk D is carried into the support 21 at the selected position, both the holding member 27 and the holding member 28 are rotated in the γ4 direction by the urging force of the tension coil springs 29b and 29c. The holding member 26 is rotated in the γ2 direction by the urging force of the tension coil spring 29a. The disk D sent into the housing 2 by the transfer rollers 112 and 113 of the transfer unit 17 enters between the lower surface of the support 21 and the holding claw 28b. Further, the upper surface of the disk D is supported by the support body 21, and the lower surface is supported by the holding claws 26b, 27b, and 28b.

  At the corner between the left side surface 9 and the rear side surface 10 of the housing 2, a loading detection unit 180 that detects that the disk D is loaded on the support 21 at the selected position is provided. The loading detection unit 180 is provided with an optical detection element 181. The optical detection element 181 is configured such that a light emitting element and a light receiving element face each other. As shown in FIG. 8, only one optical detection element 181 is provided in the housing 2 and is provided at the same height as the support 21 that has moved to the selected position. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each holding member 28 provided in each support body 21 is integrally formed with a detection portion 28 h that extends to the opposite side of the holding claw 28 b.

  When the support 21 is moved to the selected position, the detection unit 28 h faces the optical detection element 181. At this time, if the disk D is not held by the support 21 moved to the selected position, the holding member 28 is greatly rotated in the γ4 direction by the tension coil spring 29c as shown in FIG. The unit 28h intervenes between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the optical detection element 181, and the detection output is turned OFF. As shown in FIG. 7, when the disk D is supplied to the support 21 in the selected position, the arm portion 28a of the holding member 28 is pushed at the outer peripheral edge of the disk D, and the holding member 28 is moved in the γ3 direction. Can be rotated slightly. Therefore, the detection unit 28h comes out of the optical detection element 181 and the detection output of the optical detection element 181 is turned on.

  The control unit can recognize that the disk D is held on the support 21 by monitoring that the detection output of the optical detection element 181 is switched from OFF to ON when the disk D is loaded.

(Holding release mechanism)
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a first holding release member 403 is provided inside the left side surface 9 of the housing 2 so as to be movable in the Y1-Y2 direction. Further, a second holding release member 505 is provided inside the rear side surface 10 so as to be movable in the X1-X2 direction. As shown in FIG. 8, a relay gear 401 is rotatably provided inside the rear side surface 10, and a transmission member 402 is provided so as to be movable in the X1-X2 direction.

  An upper rack portion 402a is formed in the transmission member 402, and the relay gear 401 meshes with the upper rack member 402a. Further, the lower rack member 54 c formed on the upper side of the lock member 54 shown in FIG. In the first power transmission unit 12, when the lock member 54 moves in the X1 direction, the transmission member 402 is driven in the X2 direction via the relay gear 401. As shown in FIG. 8, the moving force of the transmission member 402 is transmitted to the second holding / release member 505 via the relay link 501 provided on the rear side surface 10, and the second holding / release member 505 is transmitted in the X1 direction. Driven to. Further, the first holding release member 403 is interlocked with the second holding release member 505 via a coupling mechanism (not shown), and when the second holding release member 505 moves in the X1 direction, the first holding release member 403 is moved. The member 403 is moved in the Y2 direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the first holding release member 403 is moving in the Y1 direction, the release piece 403b bent at the end of the first holding release member 403 on the Y2 side is held. The concave portion 26g of the member 26 is not restrained, and the holding member 26 is in a position where the disk D can be held by rotating in the γ2 direction by the urging force of the tension coil spring 29a. Further, when the second holding release member 505 is moved in the X2 direction, the release pieces 505a and 505b bent at both ends thereof restrain the concave portion 27g of the holding member 27 and the concave portion 28g of the holding member 28. First, the holding member 27 and the holding member 28 are rotated in the γ4 direction by the tension coil springs 29c and 29d and are in a position where the disk D can be held.

  As described above, when the lock member 54 moves in the X1 direction and the first holding release member 403 moves in the Y2 direction, the holding member 26 is rotated in the γ1 direction by the release piece 403b. Further, the second holding release member 505 moves in the X1 direction, and the holding member 27 and the holding member 28 are rotated in the γ3 direction by the releasing piece 505a and the releasing piece 505b. When the holding members 26, 27, and 28 are rotated as described above, the holding of the disk D by the support 21 is released.

(Operation)
Next, the operation in the disc storage type disc device 1, particularly the operation in which the disc D is not loaded in all the supports 21 and the disc D is continuously carried into all the empty supports 21, and all The operation in which the disk D is loaded on the support 21 and the disk D is continuously carried out from the support 21 will be described.

  FIGS. 10A to 10C are flowcharts showing the operation of continuously loading the disks D into all empty supports 21, and FIGS. 11A to 11C are the operations of continuously unloading the disks D from all the supports 21. It is a flowchart which shows. In the flowcharts of FIGS. 10A to 10C and FIGS. 11A to 11C, each step is indicated by a symbol “ST”.

(Continuous loading operation)
In ST1 shown in FIG. 10A, when an operation unit or a remote controller provided on the front surface 7 of the housing 2 is operated, a continuous carry-in mode in which the disks D are carried into all the supports 21 is set. The continuous carry-in mode is set by a special operation such as pressing an insertion button that is operated when inserting a disc one by one longer than usual.

  When the continuous carry-in mode is set, in ST2, the support body selection means 22 moves all six empty support bodies 21 that do not support the disk D downward from the selected position. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the switching gear 98 is switched to a position that meshes with both the output gear 94 and the transmission gear 99 while the transfer unit 17 is in the standby position. Then, the second motor M2 is driven, power is transmitted to the transmission gear 99, and the ring gear 160 shown in FIG. 8 is rotated. The ring-shaped gear 160 rotates the selection shafts 151A, 151B, and 151C synchronously, and all the supports 21 are assembled in the dense pitch portion 152b on the lower side of the selection groove 152 formed on each selection shaft.

  Whether or not all the supports 21 are gathered in the lower dense pitch portion 152b is confirmed by monitoring the rotational phase of the ring gear 160 by the rotation detecting portion 170 shown in FIG.

  In ST3, the uppermost support body 21 among the support bodies 21 positioned in the dense pitch portion 152b is moved upward and stopped at the selected position. This operation is performed by rotating the ring gear 160 with the second motor M2 as described above. At this time, the rotation detector 170 shown in FIG. 9 is monitored, and if it is determined that the uppermost support 21 has reached the selected position, the process proceeds to ST6.

  If it is not possible to detect that the uppermost support 21 has moved to the selected position within a predetermined time after starting the second motor M2 in ST3, the second motor M2 is turned on in the retry operation of ST4. The rotation is reversed to return the support 21 to the lower dense pitch portion 152b, and then the support 21 is again raised to the selected position. In ST4, if it is not possible to confirm that the uppermost support 21 has moved to the selected position even after performing a predetermined number of retry operations (three in the embodiment), the process proceeds to ST5 and the disk device is moved to ST1. Return to the state before the operation, and restart the operation from that state. If the operation cannot proceed even if this redo is repeated a predetermined number of times, the disk device is stopped.

  In ST2, when the support body 21 is lowered, the uppermost support body 21 is left to be stopped at the selected position, and the five lower support bodies 21 are lowered to close the dense pitch portion 152b. May be stored in the storage area, and then the process may proceed to ST6.

  In ST6 below, the drive unit 14 is rotated to the intervention position. However, when the continuous loading mode is set by the operation of ST1 without the processing of ST6, the drive unit 14 is rotated to the intervention position. Then, the operation may be moved to ST2 and the operation of lowering all the supports 21 may be performed. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the support 21 has a shape that does not hit the drive unit 14 at the intervention position. Therefore, even if the drive unit 14 stops at the intervention position, all the supports 21 are moved downward. Can be moved.

  In ST6, the control unit starts the first motor M1 shown in FIGS. The rack member 32 is moved in the Y1 direction from the position shown in FIG. 2 by the power of the first motor M1, and the first motor M1 stops when the rack member 32 moves to the position shown in FIG. When the rack member 32 moves from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3, the slider 31 moves in the Y1 direction together with the rack member 32. Then, the drive unit 14 is rotated about the support shaft 84 in the direction (a) shown in FIG. In ST7, it is determined whether or not the drive unit 14 has reached the intervention position shown in FIGS. In the lower housing 3, a plurality of detection switches (not shown) for detecting the movement position of the rack member 32 are provided, and the detection switch detects that the rack member 32 has moved to a predetermined position. When this is done, it is determined that the drive unit 14 has reached the intervention position.

  In ST7, when it cannot be determined that the drive unit 14 has reached the intervention position within a predetermined time after starting the first motor M, the process proceeds to ST8 and a retry operation is performed. This retry operation returns to the state before the drive unit 14 is rotated, and the rotation operation of the drive unit 14 is performed again from there. If the drive unit 14 cannot move to the intervention position after retrying a predetermined number of times (three times), the process proceeds to ST5 and returns to the state before the operation start of ST1.

  If it is determined in ST7 that the drive unit 14 has reached the intervention position, the first motor M1 stops and the process proceeds to ST9.

  In ST9, an operation for opening the shutter that closes the insertion port 23 is performed by a shutter opening / closing member or an opening / closing cam (not shown). In ST10, the output of the switch that detects that the shutter is opened is monitored. If the shutter cannot be opened, a retry operation for opening the shutter is performed in ST11. If the shutter cannot be opened even after a predetermined number of (three) retries, the process proceeds to ST5.

  In ST12 and ST13, it waits for the insertion of the disk D from the insertion slot 23. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the detection outputs of the optical detectors F1 and F2 provided in the transfer unit 17 at the standby position are monitored. If it is detected in ST13 that the disc D is inserted within a predetermined time after the shutter is opened, the process proceeds to ST15. However, if the insertion of the disk D cannot be detected after a predetermined time in ST14, it is assumed that the user does not intend to insert the disk D from the insertion slot 23, and the process proceeds to ST5 to stop the disk device.

  In ST13, when the optical detector F1 or F2 detects the insertion of the disk D, the process proceeds to ST15, a transport motor (not shown) is started, and the roller shaft 111 is started in the loading direction in the transfer unit 17 at the standby position. The disk D is sandwiched between the first transfer roller 112 and the second transfer roller 113 and the clamping unit, and is carried into the housing 2 by the rotational force of the transfer rollers 112 and 113.

  When the disc D is carried in a predetermined distance, the process proceeds to ST16, and the transfer unit 17 is rotated in the (f) direction from the standby position. That is, after the switching gear 98 is separated from the output gear 94 from the state of FIG. 4 and the power from the output gear 94 to the transmission gear 99 is not transmitted, the second motor M2 is restarted and the switching member is restarted. 91 is moved in the direction (e). At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the control pin 135b is pushed by the cam elongated hole 91c formed in the switching member 91, and the drive lever 135 is rotated counterclockwise. Then, the transfer unit 17 is rotated in the (f) direction with the fulcrum shaft 131 as a fulcrum, and reaches the moving operation position.

  During this time, the disk D is supplied from the transfer rollers 112 and 113 to the lower surface of the support 21 at the selected position by both the transfer force and the rotational force of the transfer unit 17.

  In ST17 shown in FIG. 10B, it is monitored whether or not the transfer unit 17 has been rotated to the moving operation position shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, this is performed by monitoring whether the changeover member 91 moving in the direction (e) has been detected by the detection switch to the predetermined movement completion position.

  Measurement is started when the insertion of the disk D can be detected in ST15. If the transfer unit 17 cannot be moved to the transfer operation position within a predetermined time in ST17, the process proceeds to ST18 and a retry operation is performed. . In this retry operation, the transfer unit 17 is returned to the standby position shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the transfer rollers 112 and 113 are reversed, and the disc D is ejected from the insertion port 23 to a position protruding a predetermined amount. Carry-in operation. In ST18, if the transfer unit 17 cannot be rotated to the transfer operation position after a predetermined number of times (three times), the process proceeds to ST5.

  If it is determined in ST17 that the transfer unit 17 has been rotated to the transfer operation position, the process proceeds to ST19.

  As a result of the carry-in operation, the disk D is moved to the holding claws 26b, 27b, 28b of the holding members 26, 27, 28 rotating in the γ2 direction and the γ4 direction, as shown in FIG. Held between. Then, in a state where the disk D is held between the lower surface of the support 21 and the holding claw 28b, the arm portion 28 of the holding member 28 is pushed by the tip of the disk D, and the holding member 28 rotates in the γ3 direction. The detection unit 28h formed integrally with the holding member 28 is moved out of the optical detection element 181, and the detection output of the optical detection element 181 is switched from OFF to ON. When this detection output is obtained, it is determined that the loading of the disk D into the support 21 at the selected position is completed.

  In ST19, it is monitored whether or not the optical detection element 181 is switched from OFF to ON within a predetermined time after the insertion of the disk D is detected in ST15. If switched on within a predetermined time, the process proceeds to ST21.

  In ST21, the second motor M2 is stopped, the movement of the switching member 91 in the (e) direction is stopped, and the transfer motor that drives the transfer rollers 112 and 113 is stopped. As a result, the transfer unit 17 stops at the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 while the disk D is held between the transfer rollers 112 and 113 and the holding unit.

  In ST19, if the optical detection element 181 is not switched ON within a predetermined time, the process proceeds to ST20 and a retry operation is performed. This retry operation is the same as the retry operation in ST18. The transfer unit 17 is returned to the standby position, and the disk is unloaded to the predetermined position by the transfer rollers 112 and 113, and then the disk D loading operation is resumed.

  In ST20, if the optical detection element 181 is not turned ON by a predetermined number of times (three times), the process proceeds to ST5.

  When the disk D is held by the support 21 at the selected position and the transfer motor is stopped in ST21, the process proceeds to the disk clamping operation in ST22.

  In this disk clamping operation, the first motor M1 of the first power transmission unit 12 is started, the rack member 32 is moved in the Y1 direction, and the connecting rotation lever 44 is rotated counterclockwise by the rack member 32. By being moved, the lock switching member 42 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is moved in the direction (c). The movement force of the lock switching member 42 is applied from the connecting arm 51 to the lock member 54, and the lock member 54 is moved in the X1 direction to almost half of its movement range. At the same time, the other lock members provided on the Y1 side are also moved in the X1 direction by almost half of the movement range.

  At this time, the restraint shaft 77 provided at the rear of the unit support base 13 is guided to the lifting portion 56b of the lock control hole 56 formed in the lock member 54, and at the same time, the restraint shaft provided at the front of the unit support base 13. 78 and 78 are led to a lifting portion of a lock control hole formed in another lock member. Therefore, the unit support base 13 is lifted away from the bottom surface 6, the drive unit 14 supported by the unit support base 13 is also lifted, and the center convex portion 82 b of the turntable 82 provided in the drive unit 14 is It enters the center hole Da of the disk D from below.

  When the center convex portion 82 b of the turntable 82 enters the center hole Da of the disk D, the disk D is pressed against the lower surface of the support 21. Further, the rack member 32 and the slider 31 move in the Y1 direction, and the clamping force provided on the turntable 82 operates by the moving force, and the clamp claws project from the periphery of the central convex portion 82b of the turntable 82, The peripheral edge of the center hole Da of the disc D is sandwiched between the flange portion 82c and the clamp pawl, and the center hole Da of the disc D is clamped to the turntable 82. By this clamping operation, the disk D sent to the lower surface of the support 21 at the selected position is securely held by the support 21.

  Whether the clamping operation of the disk D has been completed is confirmed by detecting whether the rack member 32 or the slider 31 has moved to a predetermined position in the Y1 direction with a detection switch, or provided in the drive unit 14. This is confirmed by detecting that the operation of the clamping mechanism is completed with the detection switch.

  In ST23, the detection switch is monitored to determine whether or not the clamping operation is completed within a predetermined time from the start of the disk clamping operation. When the clamping operation is not completed within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to ST24 and a retry operation is performed. In this retry operation, the operation state of the mechanism is returned to before the start of the clamp operation and the clamp operation is executed again. If the disc clamping cannot be completed by the predetermined number of times (three times) of retry operations in ST24, the process proceeds to ST5.

  If it can be confirmed in ST23 that the disk D supplied to the support 21 at the selected position is clamped on the turntable 82, the process proceeds to ST25 and the transfer unit 17 is returned to the standby position.

  In ST25, the second motor M2 of the second power transmission unit 16 is started from the state shown in FIG. 5, and the switching member 91 is moved in the (d) direction. Due to the moving force of the switching member 91 in the (d) direction, the drive lever 135 is rotated in the clockwise direction, and the transfer unit 17 is moved to the standby position shown in FIG. During this time, the transfer rollers 112 and 113 are rotated in the disk loading direction. Therefore, when the transfer unit 17 returns to the standby position, the transfer rollers 112 and 113 roll on the surface of the disk D, and unnecessary carry output does not act on the disk D. When the transfer unit 17 returns to the standby position, the rotation of the transfer rollers 112 and 113 stops.

  Whether or not the transfer unit 17 has returned to the standby position is confirmed by detecting whether or not the switching member 91 has moved a predetermined distance in the direction (d) with a detection switch. In ST26, it is monitored whether or not the transfer unit 17 has returned to the standby position within a predetermined time from the start of the movement of the switching member 91 in the (d) direction, and if not completed, the operation proceeds to the retry operation in ST27. . In the retry operation, after the switching member 91 is returned to the state shown in FIG. 5, the switching member 91 is moved again in the (d) direction. In ST27, when the transfer unit 17 cannot return to the standby position after a predetermined number of times (three times), the process proceeds to ST5.

  In ST26, if the transfer unit 17 can return to the standby position, the process proceeds to ST28, and an operation of separating the turntable 82 from the disk D on the lower surface of the support 21 is performed.

  In ST28, the rack member 32 is moved in the Y2 direction by the first motor M1 of the first power transmission unit 12, and the clamping mechanism in the drive unit 14 is released. With this releasing operation, the clamp claw is retracted into the central convex portion 82b of the turntable 82, and the clamp of the disk D on the turntable 82 is released.

  Further, in ST29, the rack member 32 is moved in the Y2 direction by the first motor M1 of the first power transmission unit 12, the connecting rotation lever 44 is rotated in the clockwise direction, and the lock switching member 42 is moved. It is moved in the direction (b). At this time, the lock member 54 returns to the initial position on the X2 side, and the other lock members return to the initial position on the X2 side. Therefore, the restraint shaft 77 provided in the unit support base 13 is held by the restraint portion 56a of the lock control hole 56 formed in the lock member 54, and the restraint shafts 78, 78 provided in the unit support base 13 The lock member is held by a restraining portion of a lock control hole formed in the lock member.

  Therefore, in ST 29, the unit support base 13 and the drive unit 14 are lowered to a position approaching the bottom surface 6, and the center convex portion 82 b of the turntable 82 moves from the center hole Da of the disk D held on the support 21 to the Z 1 side. Get out.

  In ST30, it is monitored whether the drive unit 14 is lowered and the turntable 82 is moved downward from the center hole of the disk D. This is confirmed by detecting the movement position of the rack member 32, the movement position of the slider 31, or the movement position of the lock switching member 42 with a detection switch.

  In ST30, it is monitored whether the descent of the drive unit 14 is completed within a predetermined time from the start of the clamp release operation in ST28. If it does not descend within the predetermined time, the operation proceeds to ST31 and a retry operation is performed. In the retry operation, the operation of the mechanism is returned until the clamp release operation of ST28, and the operations of ST28 and ST29 are performed again. When the drive unit 14 cannot be lowered for a predetermined number of times (three times) in ST31, the process proceeds to ST5.

  With the above operation, the disk D is reliably supplied and held on the uppermost support 21. When the holding of the disk D on the uppermost support 21 is completed, as shown in FIG. 7, the transfer unit 17 has returned to the standby position, but the drive unit 14 has stopped at the intervention position.

  After that, the process proceeds to ST32, the support body selection means 22 is started, and the next support body 21 is moved to the selected position. That is, when the selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C are rotated, the uppermost support 21 already holding the disk D moves to the dense pitch portion 152a on the upper side of the selection groove 152, and the lower dense pitch portion 152b. The uppermost one of the supports 21 stacked on the guide is guided to the sparse pitch portion 152c and moves to the selected position. At this time, the drive unit 14 is stopped at the intervention position shown in FIG. 7, but the support 21 located at the dense pitch portion 152 b can move to the selected position without hitting the drive unit 14.

  In ST33, it is monitored from the output of the rotation detector 170 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 whether the next support 21 has moved to the selected position, and the selected position within a predetermined time after the support selecting means 22 is started. If it cannot be moved, a retry for moving the support 21 to the selected position is performed again in ST34. At this time as well, if the support 21 does not move to the selected position by a predetermined number of times (three times), the process proceeds to ST5.

  If it is determined in ST33 that the next support 21 has moved to the selected position and stopped, the process returns to ST12 and the next disk D is supplied to the support 21. Thereafter, the operations after ST12 are repeated for all the supports. That is, all the supports 21 are sequentially moved to the selected position, the disk D inserted from the insertion slot 23 is held by the support 21, and the support 21 holding the disk D is higher than the drive unit 14. Stored in the space.

  During this time, the drive unit 14 remains stopped at the intervention position. In the operation after the disk D is held on the uppermost support 21, the operations of ST6 to ST10 can be omitted in the subsequent operation of supplying the disk D to the support 21. Therefore, the entire processing time can be shortened.

  In the above operation, all the six supports 21 in the housing 2 are in an empty state, and the operation of continuously storing the disks D in all the six supports 21 is taken as an example. For example, when the disk D is held in advance only on the uppermost support 21 and all the second and lower supports 21 from the top are empty and do not hold the disk D, in ST2 Only the support 21 is moved to the selection position and the dense pitch portion 152b below the selection groove 152, and the support 21 holding the uppermost disk is not lowered, and the operation proceeds to ST6. Also good.

(Continuous carry-out operation)
Next, an operation of carrying out all the disks D in order from the insertion port 23 when the disks D are loaded on all the supports 21 in the housing 2 will be described.

  In ST101 of FIG. 11A, for example, when a special operation is performed such as a push-out operation button provided on the operation unit on the front surface 7 of the housing 2 or the remote controller being pressed for a long time, the control unit performs a continuous carry-out mode. It is determined that is set.

  In this continuous carry-out mode, in ST102, the support body selection means 22 is operated, and all of the 6 support bodies 21 holding the disk D are moved upward from the selected position. That is, all the supports 21 are moved to the dense pitch portions 152a on the upper side of the selection grooves 152 of the selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C shown in FIG.

  In ST102, the support body selection means 22 is operated to lower the lowermost support body 21 of the support body 21 located in the upper dense pitch portion 152a to the selected position. At this time as well, whether or not the support 21 has moved within a predetermined time is monitored in ST103, and if it cannot be moved, the process proceeds to ST104 and retry is performed a predetermined number of times (three times). And when it cannot move to a selection position, it moves to ST105 and returns to the state before operation of ST101.

  In ST102, the lowermost support 21 may be installed in a selected position in advance, and only the support 21 above it may be moved to the upper dense pitch portion 152a.

  In ST106, the drive unit 14 is rotated from the retracted position shown in FIG. 1 to the intervention position shown in FIG. Also at this time, the completion of movement within a predetermined time is monitored in ST107, and if it cannot be completed, the retry of ST108 is performed.

  In ST109, the drive unit 14 is lifted by the moving force in the X1 direction of the lock member 54 shown in FIG. 1, and the convex portion 82b of the turntable 82 is held in the center hole of the disk D held on the lower surface of the support 21. Enter Da. Further, the clamping mechanism is operated, and the center hole Da of the disk D is clamped to the turntable 82 by the clamping claws. This operation is also monitored in ST110, and when it cannot be completed within a predetermined time, a retry is performed in ST111.

  In the state where the disk D is pressed against the lower surface of the support 21 by the turntable 82, the process proceeds to ST112, and the transfer unit 17 is rotated in the (f) direction. At this time, the transfer rollers 112 and 113 rotate in the carry-out direction, so that the transfer rollers 17 and 113 roll on the surface of the disk D, and the transfer unit 17 rotates to the transfer operation position shown in FIGS. Move.

  In this way, the disk D is securely sandwiched between the transfer rollers 112 and 113 of the transfer unit 17 and the clamping unit in a state where the disk D on the lower surface of the support 21 is clamped to the turntable 82. When the movement of the transfer unit 17 to the transfer operation position is completed, the transfer rollers 112 and 113 are stopped.

  Whether or not the rotation operation of the transfer unit 17 is also completed within a predetermined time is monitored in ST113, and if it cannot be completed, the process proceeds to retry in ST114.

  When the disk D is clamped between the transfer rollers 112 and 113 of the transfer unit 17 and the clamping unit, the process proceeds to ST115, and the clamp of the disk D on the turntable 82 is released. In ST116, the lock member 54 shown in FIG. 1 is moved in the X2 direction, the drive unit 14 is lowered, and the turntable 82 is released downward from the center hole Da of the disk D. This operation is also monitored in ST117, and if the drive unit 14 cannot be lowered within a predetermined time, the process proceeds to ST118 and is retried.

  Thereafter, the disk D is unloaded in ST119. In the disc carry-out operation, the transfer unit 17 rotates from the transfer operation position shown in FIG. 6 to the standby position shown in FIG. 7, and the transfer rollers 112 and 113 are also rotated in the disc carry-out direction.

  In ST120, it is monitored whether the transfer unit 17 has moved to the standby position shown in FIG. 7 within a predetermined time. If the transfer unit 17 has been moved, the rotation of the transfer unit 17 is stopped in ST122. In this case, if it cannot be completed, a retry is performed in ST121.

  In ST123, it is monitored whether or not the disk D carried out by the transfer rollers 112 and 113 has been carried out until it protrudes from the insertion port 23 by a predetermined amount. This is determined by the output of a detector (not shown) provided inside the insertion port 23 of the housing 2. When the disk D cannot be unloaded to a predetermined position within a predetermined time, the process proceeds to the retry of the unloading operation in ST124. When the disk D is carried out to a predetermined position, the transfer rollers 112 and 113 are stopped at ST125 in FIG. 11C.

  Next, in ST126, it is monitored whether or not the disk D carried out from the insertion port 23 to a position protruding a predetermined amount is pulled out within a predetermined time. If both the optical detectors F1 and F2 shown in FIG. 7 become H level within a predetermined time, it is determined that the disk D has been removed. However, if the disk D is not pulled out at a predetermined time, the process proceeds to ST127, the operation of the mechanism is returned to the state where the disk D is held on the support 21 at the selected position, and the operation is stopped at that time. Thereafter, when the eject button is pressed, the normal one-by-one carry-out operation is performed.

  When the disk D held on the lowermost support 21 is pulled out from the housing 2 in this way, the process proceeds to ST128, and the support selection means 22 is driven to gather at the top of the housing 2. The lowermost one of the supporting members 21 is moved to the selected position. At this time as well, monitoring is performed in ST129, and retry processing is performed as necessary in ST130.

  In ST128, when the support body selection means 22 is operated, the support body 21 in which the disk D is unloaded and is empty is guided downward by the selection grooves 152 of the selection shafts 151A, 151B, 151C shown in FIG. Then, it is moved to the dense pitch portion 152 b below the selection groove 152. At this time, the drive unit 14 remains stopped at the intervention position shown in FIG. 7, and the support 21 passes through the side of the drive unit 14 without hitting the drive unit 14 and enters the dense pitch portion 152b. Transition. At this time, the lowermost one of the supports 21 positioned in the upper dense pitch portion 152a is guided to the coarse pitch portion 172c and descends to the selected position and stops.

  Thereafter, the operation proceeds to ST109. That is, the disk D newly lowered to the selected position and held by the support 21 is pressed from below by the turntable 82, the transfer unit 17 is rotated to the transfer operation position, and the disk D is transferred to the transfer roller 112. , 113 and the clamping part are carried out.

  Further, the lowest part of the upper support 21 is lowered to the selected position. By repeating this, the disks D held on all the supports 21 are carried out. During this time, the drive unit 14 is stopped at the intervention position and only the step of shifting to ST109 is repeated, so that the entire processing time can be shortened.

  In ST102, when all the supports 21 are moved above the drive unit 14 and the process is started, the operation is performed even if any of the six supports 21 does not hold the disk. It can be performed.

  In this case, when the support 21 that does not hold the disk D is moved to the selected position, the holding member 28 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is rotated clockwise by the tension coil spring 29c. Is L. At this time, it can be determined that the support 21 at the selected position does not hold the disk D. In this case, the support body 21 may be moved downward, the next support body 21 may be moved to the selected position, and the process of ST109 may be performed thereafter.

(Normal disk drive)
In normal disk drive, the disk D inserted from the insertion slot 23 is held by the support 21 at the selected position and clamped to the turntable 82. Alternatively, when any one of the supports 21 moves to the selected position, the disk D held on the support 21 at the selected position is clamped to the turntable 82.

After that, the lock member 54 shown in FIG. 1 moves in the X1 direction, the restriction shaft 77 of the unit support base 13 enters the relief hole 56d of the lock control hole 56 formed in the lock member 54, and the unit support base 13 becomes the damper. 71, 72 and 73 are elastically supported. Furthermore, the holding member 26 is rotated in the γ1 direction and the holding members 27 and 28 are rotated in the γ3 direction by the first holding releasing member 403 and the second holding releasing member 505 shown in FIGS. The holding of the disk D at 21 is released.
Then, the disk D is rotationally driven on the drive unit 14 in the elastic floating state.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall structure of a disk storage type disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention; The top view which shows the structure of a 1st power transmission part according to operation | movement, The top view which shows the structure of a 1st power transmission part according to operation | movement, The top view which shows the structure of a 2nd power transmission part according to operation | movement, The top view which shows the structure of a 2nd power transmission part according to operation | movement, A plan view showing the disc loading operation and the disc holding operation with the support, A plan view showing the disc loading operation and the disc holding operation with the support, A perspective view showing a disk storage area and the like, showing the upper housing inverted 180 degrees left and right (X1 side and X2 side); A partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the rotation detection unit provided in the support body selection means, which is shown by inverting the upper case 180 degrees left and right (X1 side and X2 side); A flowchart showing the operation of continuously loading the discs on all empty supports, A flowchart showing the operation of continuously loading the discs on all empty supports, A flowchart showing the operation of continuously loading the discs on all empty supports, A flowchart showing the operation of continuously unloading the disc from all the supports, A flowchart showing the operation of continuously unloading the disc from all the supports, Flow chart showing the operation of continuously unloading discs from all supports

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disc storage type disk apparatus 2 Housing | casing 12 1st power transmission part 14 Drive unit 16 2nd power transmission part 17 Transfer unit 21 Support body 22 Support body selection means 82 Turntable

Claims (7)

A plurality of supports that can support the disk and are arranged in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction of the disk, and move each support in the vertical direction to move one of the supports to the selected position. In a disk storage type disk device provided with a support body selection means, a transfer unit for carrying a disk into a support body moved to a selected position, and a drive unit having a rotation drive unit for rotating the disk.
A drive mechanism is provided for moving the drive unit between a retracted position that does not overlap vertically with the disk supported by the support and an intervention position that overlaps below the disk supported by the support at the selected position,
The drive unit has a shape that does not overlap vertically with a support that does not support the disk when in the intervention position;
A plurality of supports that do not support the disk are moved below the drive unit, and the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position with the transfer unit relative to the support at the selected position. Carry in the disk, support this disk on the support at the selected position, move the support up after supporting the disk,
Next, while the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position, the support body located on the lower side of the drive unit is raised and stopped at the selected position, and the transfer unit is moved to the support body at the selected position. Carry in the disk, support this disk on the support at the selected position, move the support up after supporting the disk,
A disc storage type wherein the operation is repeated with respect to all supports not supporting the disc located below the drive unit while the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position. Disk unit.   Each time the disk is loaded into the support at the selected position, the drive unit is raised, and the rotation drive unit is inserted into the center hole of the disk to reliably hold the disk on the support at the selected position. The disk storage type disk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disk storage type disk apparatus is performed.   3. The disk storage type disk device according to claim 1, wherein all the supports are moved below the drive unit and the operation is repeated to support the disks on all the supports. A plurality of supports that can support the disk and are arranged in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction of the disk, and move each support in the vertical direction to move one of the supports to the selected position. In a disk storage type disk device provided with a support body selection means, a transfer unit for carrying a disk into a support body moved to a selected position, and a drive unit having a rotation drive unit for rotating the disk.
A drive mechanism is provided for moving the drive unit between a retracted position that does not overlap vertically with the disk supported by the support and an intervention position that overlaps below the disk supported by the support at the selected position,
The drive unit has a shape that does not overlap vertically with the support that does not support the disk when in the intervention position;
A disk supported by a support in a selected position in a state where a plurality of supports each supporting a disk are moved above the drive unit and the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position. The support unit after the disk is taken out is moved below the drive unit without moving the drive unit from the intervention position,
Next, the support located above the drive unit is lowered to stop at the selected position, the disk supported by the support located at the selected position is unloaded by the transfer unit, and the disk is removed. Without moving the drive unit from the intervention position, the rear support is moved below the drive unit;
A disc storage type wherein the operation is repeated with respect to all supports supporting the disc located above the drive unit while the drive unit is stopped at the intervention position. Disk unit.   Each time the support that supports the disk moves to the selected position and stops, the drive unit is raised, and the disk can be transferred by the transfer unit with the rotary drive part intervening in the center hole of the disk. 5. The disk storage type disk device according to claim 4, wherein an operation for setting to a proper state is performed.   6. The disk storage type disk device according to claim 4, wherein all the support bodies are moved above the drive unit and the operation is repeated to set all the support bodies in a state in which the disks are not supported.   When there is a support that does not support the disk, when the support moves to the selected position, the support is moved below the drive unit without performing the disk unloading operation. The disk storage type disk apparatus according to claim 6.

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