JPH06176467A - Autochanger for disk - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a space for carrying a disk and to miniaturize a device by providing a tray carrying means executing specified pull-in and push-back actions. CONSTITUTION:A control motor is driven at a specified rotational angle by a command from an operation part and a disk player 2 is rotated at a desired angle from the horizontal, then a disk loading port is opposited to a tray housing part 3A housing a desired disk D and the player 2 is fixed and positioned to a rotary supporting frame 8. Next, a solenoid mechanism 18C is driven and an operation lever 18B is rocked, then the port of the housing part 3A is opened and the tray 4 is made to freely come in and out. Then, the tray 4 is pulled into the player 2 from the housing part 3A. Then, the player 2 is returned to the horizontal again by the reverse rotation of the control motor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc autochanger, and more particularly to a disc autochanger in which an optical disc, a magnetic disc or the like is selected from a rack and automatically loaded into a disc player for recording / reproducing. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of disc autochanger, a disc player and a disc rack are fixedly arranged in an apparatus casing, and an appropriate disc exchanging means is used to provide a tray storage portion (disc A desired disk is selected and taken out together with a tray (disk cartridge) that stores the desired disk from the cartridge storage section, and is loaded into the disk drive section through the disk loading port of the disk player, or conversely The disc drive unit of the player returns the disc to the tray storage unit of the rack together with the tray.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional disc automatic changer,
Since the transport distance between each tray storage portion of the rack and the disc loading opening of the disc player is not constant, the disc exchanging means corresponds to the tray storage portion in which the selected disc and its tray are stored. The reciprocating operation must be variably controlled. For this reason, there is a problem that the disc exchanging means becomes complicated, time is spent for transporting the player or the tray, and quick disc exchanging operation cannot be performed.

Further, in order to take out, convey and load the disc and its tray by the disc exchanging means, it is necessary to secure a considerable occupied space in the apparatus casing. Therefore, there is a problem that the entire device becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and devises the structure of the disk player and the arrangement of the disk racks to simplify the disk exchange means and to occupy an occupied space for disk transportation. It is a first object of the present invention to provide an autochanger for a disc, which is eliminated to reduce the size of the device.

Further, by devising the structure of the disc player and the arrangement of the disc racks, the disc exchanging means is simplified, the occupied space for disc conveying is eliminated, the device is miniaturized, and the disc exchanging is shortened. A second object of the present invention is to provide an autochanger for discs which can be realized in time.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an automatic disc changer that ensures reliable support of the discs stored in the disc tray, has excellent vibration resistance of the disc player, and enables accurate positioning of the disc player when the disc is replaced. The purpose of.

[0008]

For this reason, the disc autochanger of the present invention according to claim 1 has a disc player rotatably supported and a disc player at substantially equal distances around the disc player's rotation region. A tray rack in which a large number of tray accommodating parts are arranged, and a large number of disc trays accommodated in the tray rack so that they can be taken in and out corresponding to the disc loading ports of the disc player,
The present invention is characterized by further comprising a tray carrying means for drawing the disc tray corresponding to the disc loading port toward the disc player side and pushing it back to the tray rack.

Further, in the disk autochanger according to a second aspect, in addition to the structure according to the first aspect, each disk tray is equipped with a shutter that is closed so as to support the peripheral edge of the disk accommodated therein. It is characterized by that.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an autochanger of the present invention, a rotary support frame rotatably supported, a disk player elastically supported by the rotary support frame via an elastic holding mechanism, and the disk. A tray rack having a large number of tray storage sections equidistantly around the player's rotation area, and a large number of discs stored in the tray rack so that they can be taken in and out corresponding to the disc loading slot of the disc player The tray and the tray transporting means for retracting the disc tray corresponding to the disc loading port to the disc player side and pushing back to the tray rack, and the disc player when the disc loading port faces the tray storing section. Positioning means for fixing the rotary support frame at a predetermined position. It is intended.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an autochanger of the present invention in which a disc player rotatably supported and a plurality of tray accommodating portions arranged at equal distances around a rotation area of the disc player. A rack, a large number of disc trays stored in the tray rack so that they can be inserted and removed corresponding to the disc loading port of the disc player, and provided at the loading and unloading port of the tray storage section corresponding to the disc loading port. A stopper for holding the tray, a stopper releasing means provided on the side of the disc player for releasing the stopper when the tray is taken in and out of the tray storage portion, and a disc tray corresponding to the disc loading port. A tray carrier that reciprocates to draw in the disc player and push back to the tray rack. It is characterized in further comprising and.

[0012]

In the automatic changer according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the disc player is rotatably supported, the disc player is rotated by a predetermined angle so that the disc loading port faces the selected tray storage portion. You can This makes it possible to load the disc by pulling the disc tray containing the desired disc into the disc drive unit from the disc loading port without passing through the disc transport space, or conversely from the disc drive unit. The disc and its tray
It can be pushed back from the player to the tray storage.
In this case, the tray transfer means may have a simple structure in which it carries out a certain pull-in and push-back operation, and since the disk transfer space is not required, the apparatus can be made compact.

In the automatic changer according to the second aspect of the invention, since the disk tray is provided with the shutter, the tray rack accommodates the disk tray vertically in a certain angle range in addition to the above-mentioned operation. , Even if the open side of the tray is diagonally downward, the peripheral edge of the disc is supported by the shutter provided there, so the disc is securely supported on the tray, and
There is no fear that the disk surface will bend.

Further, in the automatic changer according to the third aspect, in addition to the structure according to the first aspect, the elastic mechanism and the positioning means are provided. Can face the selected tray storage section. At this time, the disc player can accurately face and hold the disc loading port with the loading and unloading port of the tray storage portion by the function of the positioning means. As a result, the disc tray containing the desired disc can be pulled into the disc drive unit from the disc loading port and the disc can be loaded there without passing through the disc transport space. The disc and the disc tray can be pushed back from the disc player to the tray storage portion. Further, when the disc player is returned to the posture for recording and / or reproducing, the fixing by the positioning means is released, the elastic support for the disc player is restored, and it is affected by external vibration. Recording / playback operations can be realized without any.

According to the automatic changer of the fourth aspect, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, since the stopper and the stopper releasing means are provided at the entrance / exit of the tray accommodating portion, the disc player can rotate by a predetermined angle. , The disc loading opening can be made to face the selected tray storage portion. In this state, the stopper is released by the stopper releasing means, and the reciprocating movement of the tray conveying means from the disc player side allows the disc tray containing the desired disc to be inserted from the disc loading port without passing through the disc conveying space. The disc drive unit can be quickly pulled in and the disc can be loaded therein, and conversely, the disc drive unit and the disc tray thereof can be quickly pushed back from the disc player to the tray storage unit. In this case, the tray transfer means may have a simple structure in which only a fixed pull-in and push-back operation is performed, the transfer operation can be realized in a short time, and the apparatus can be downsized because no disk transfer space is required. it can.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to FIGS. The disc autochanger according to the present invention includes a disc player 2 rotatably supported in the center of a box-shaped device housing 1, and a large number of disc players 2 equidistantly around a rotation region of the disc player 2. Fan-shaped tray racks 3 and 3 ', which are located above and below the apparatus housing 1 with the tray storage 3A positioned,
A large number of disc trays 4 accommodated in the tray racks 3 and 3'so that they can be inserted / removed corresponding to the disc loading port 2A of the disc player 2 (these are respectively
The desired disc D is stored) and the desired disc tray 4 corresponding to the disc loading port 2A
The disk player 2 is equipped with a tray transfer means 5 for pulling in to the player 2 side or pushing back to the tray racks 3 and 3 '. It should be noted that in the figure, reference numeral 6 is a disc drive unit mounted in the disc player 2.

More specifically, in FIG. 2, the means for rotatably supporting the disc player 2 absorbs vibrations from the outside while the disc player 2 is performing a recording / reproducing operation. , A rotary support frame 8 that elastically supports the casing of the disc player 2 via a resilient mechanism 7 such as a compression coil spring, a shaft support member 9 provided at both ends of the rotary support frame 8, and a shaft support member. A bearing 10 such as a roller bearing mounted on the side wall 1A of the apparatus housing 1 is provided to rotatably support the device 9. Particularly, in this embodiment, a driven gear 11 having a coaxial center is attached to one of the shaft support members 9 on the rotation support frame 8, and an output pinion 12A of a control motor (for example, a stepping motor) 12 attached to the side wall 1A is output from the output pinion 12A. A rotational force is received via the intermediate gears 13 and 14.

Further, when the disc player 2 is rotated by a required angle by the rotation of the rotation support frame 8, the disc loading port 2A is accurately and stably positioned so as to face the selected tray storage portion 3A. As described above, the elastic support mechanism 15 and the positioning means 16 are provided on both sides of the rotation support frame 8. In this embodiment, the elastic support mechanism 15
Is a roller support member 15A that advances and retreats from the side surface of the rotation support frame 8 toward the side wall 1A facing the side surface, and the guide roller 15 attached to the tip of the roller support member 15A.
B, and a compression coil spring 15C installed between the roller support member 15A and the rotation support frame 8, facing the guide roller 15B, the side wall 1A has inclined guide surfaces on both sides. The guide groove 1B which it has is formed. Then, when the guide roller 15B is guided along the inclined guide surface and reaches the side wall 1A, the fitting portion 15D provided on the roller supporting member 15A fits into the housing of the disc player 2 and is rotatably supported. The housing is fixedly held on the frame 8.

Further, the positioning means 16 has a structure shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the positioning member 16A mounted on the side wall 1A coaxially with the shaft supporting member 9 and the positioning member 1 penetrating the shaft supporting member 9 and protruding to the side surface of the disc player 2
It is composed of a grooved fitting member 16B provided on the above-mentioned side surface of the disc player 2 so as to face the tip of 6A.
The tip end of the positioning member 16A is formed into a flat plate shape, and when the disc player 2 is in a horizontal state (see FIG. 2).
(See (a)), the movement of the disc player 2 with respect to the rotation support frame 8 provided by the elastic holding mechanism 7 corresponding to the groove 16C of the fitting member 16B is allowed, but the disc player 2 rotates. , Selected tray storage 3
When the disk loading port 2A is facing A (Fig. 2 (b))
(See), the groove is disengaged and fitted into the fitting member 16B, which serves to suppress the movement of the disc player 2 with respect to the rotation support frame 8.

The tray racks 3 and 3'described above have stoppers having hook portions 17A and operating portions 17B formed of elastic members at both ends of the tray storage portion 3A facing the disc loading opening 2A. 17 are provided separately, and the engagement formed at both corners of the tray 4 when the disc tray 4 is pushed back into the tray storage 3A along the guide rails 3B formed at both ends inside the tray storage 3A. The hook portion 17A can be engaged with the portion 4A by its elasticity. Therefore, the tray 4 can be retained in the tray storage portion 3A even when the tray storage portion 3A has an opening / closing opening downward. Further, in this embodiment, when the tray 4 holding the disc D is pulled into the opposing disc loading opening 2A from the selected tray storage portion 3A,
Alternatively, from the disc player 2 to the disc loading port 2
When the tray 4 holding the used disc is pushed back to the required tray storage portion 3A via A, the operation portion 17B is operated to elastically retract the hook portion 17A to the outer side,
Stopper releasing means 18 for allowing the tray 4 to be put into and taken out of the tray housing portion 3A is provided on the disc player 2 side.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 5, the stopper releasing means 18 is a pair of operating levers 18B swinging around a fulcrum 18A in the housing of the disc player 2.
In order to swing both operating levers 18B, a solenoid mechanism 18 for releasing the stopper, which is provided in the housing of the disc player 2 in a state in which they are commonly connected to one end of each
C, a stopper releasing bar 18D pivotally attached to each of the other ends of the operating levers 18B, and an inside of the housing of the disc player 2 for guiding the stopper releasing bar 18D to advance and retreat toward the operating portion 17B. It is provided with guide members 18E provided on both sides. Then, when the operation portion 17B of the stopper 17 is pressed by the tip of the stopper releasing bar 18D, the hook portion 17A can be retracted to the outside to open the inlet / outlet of the tray storage portion 3A.

The tray carrying means 5 is provided with a disc loading port 2A.
A lead guide shaft 5A extending from the inside to the housing of the disc player 2, a tray lead carrying piece 5B having a hook portion at the tip thereof, and a timing belt driving means 5C arranged along the lead guide shaft 5A. The conveying piece 5B is connected to the belt of the timing belt driving means 5C, and the conveying piece 5B can be moved along the lead guide shaft 5A by the driving of the timing belt driving means 5C.

On the other hand, corresponding to the carrier piece 5B, the tray 4 is provided with an engaging portion 4B which is removably engaged with the hook portion of the carrier piece 5B. Then, the timing belt driving means 5C causes the hook portion at the tip of the carrying piece 5B to project to the outside through the disc loading port 2A, and is engaged with the engaging portion 4B by an appropriate operating means (not shown). At this stage, the timing belt driving means 5C is reversely driven to move the transporting piece 5B backward, and the tray 4 is moved through the disc loading port 2A.
Can be pulled toward the disc player 2. Also, the tray 4 can be pushed back from the disc player 2 to the tray rack 3 or 3'by the reverse operation. In this case, the conveyance piece 5B is operated by the operation means described above.
The hook portion is operated to release the engagement with the engaging portion 4B, and finally pulled into the housing of the disc player 2.

On the tray 4, as shown in detail in FIG.
Positioned on both sides of the stage portion 4C supporting the disc D, a pair of left and right lever-shaped tray shutters 4D are provided. Tray / Shutter 4D is Tray 4
The rear end is pivotally supported by the pivot pin 19, and the front side thereof is provided with the slit 21 guided by the guide pin 20 provided on the tray 4, and the torsion spring 22 provided on the tray 4 is used to Held and held in the shutter closed position. And the tray shutter 4D
Is the arcuate peripheral edge portion 23 in the shutter closed position.
Thus, it supports a part of the peripheral edge of the disk D housed in the stage portion 4C. For this reason, as described above, the tray racks 3 and 3 ′ accommodate the vertically long disc trays 3A within a certain angle range, but even if the open surface side of the tray 4 is inclined downward. In addition, since the peripheral edge of the disc D is supported by the tray / shutter 4D provided there, the disc D is reliably supported on the tray 4, and the disc surface is not likely to bend.

On the disc player 2 side, the torsion spring 22 is provided at a position where the tray 4 is received.
In order to move the tray / shutter 4D left and right against the edge of the disk D to remove the arcuate peripheral edge 23 from the peripheral edge of the disk D and open the shutter, the operator 24 for pressing the free end of the tray / shutter 4D operates. Equipped.

As described above, in the shutter open state,
The disc D in the tray 4 is rotationally driven by the disc drive unit 6. In this case, the engagement / disengagement operation of the disc D with respect to the disc drive unit 6 may be performed by using any appropriate means known in the art.

Next, the operation will be described. In such a configuration, first, the control motor 12 is driven by a required rotation angle in response to a command from an operation unit (not shown) of the autochanger to bring the disc player 2 into a horizontal state (FIGS. 1 and 2).
From (a) and FIG. 6 (a), a required angle (for example, 90 as shown in FIG. 2 (b) and FIG. 3 (a).
The disk loading port 2A faces the tray storage portion 3A in which the desired disk D is stored. At this time, the positioning member 16A is fitted to the fitting peripheral portion of the fitting member 16B, and the guide roller 15B
Moves along the inclined guide surface of the guide groove 1B, and the side wall 1A
In this process, the fitting portion 1 of the roller supporting member 15A is reached.
5D is fitted into the casing of the disc player 2 (see FIG.
(A) and FIG. 4 (a)), whereby the disc player 2 is fixed to the rotation support frame 8 and the relative position between the tray storage portion 3A and the disc loading port 2A is accurately positioned.

Next, the timing belt driving means 5C is driven to move the conveying piece 5B along the lead guide shaft 5A.
Is moved to engage the hook portion of the carrying piece 5B with the engaging portion 4B. At the same time, the solenoid mechanism 18C is driven, the operation lever 18B is swung, the stopper release bar 18D presses the operation portion 17B, the hook portion 17A is disengaged from the engagement portion 4A, and the entrance / exit of the tray storage portion 3A is opened. Open. As a result, the tray 4 can be freely moved in and out of the corresponding tray storage portion 3A, so that the timing belt driving means 5C is driven in the opposite direction to retract the transport piece 5B toward the disc player 2 side. From the tray storage unit 3A, the tray 4 through the disc loading port 2A,
It can be pulled into the housing of the player 2 (see FIG. 5).

Then, again, the disc player 2 is returned to the horizontal state by the control operation of the autochanger, that is, the reverse rotation of the control motor 12. As a result, the positioning member 16A returns to the groove portion 16C of the fitting member 16B, and the guide roller 15B moves along the inclined guide surface of the guide groove 1B, and in this process, the fitting portion 15D of the roller support member 15A. Is removed from the housing of the disc player 2. For this reason, a disc
The player 2 is elastically supported by the bullet holding mechanism 7 and can avoid the influence of external vibration during recording / reproduction. Then, the disk D in the tray 4 is loaded into the disk drive unit 6. In this case, the operator 24 presses the free end of the tray / shutter 4D against the torsion spring 22 to drive the disk. It enables the rotation operation of the disk D in the tray 4 by the part 6.

When the disk D is returned from the disk player 2 to the rack 3 or 3'after the recording / reproducing is completed, first, the disk drive unit 6 is stopped, and the operator 24 is operated in reverse. Return the tray shutter 4D to the closed position. Next, the control motor 12 is driven by the required rotation angle, and the disc player 2 is rotated from the horizontal state again by the required angle (for example, 90 degrees) to the tray storage portion 3A in which the disc D is stored. The disk loading port 2A is made to face to. After that, the solenoid mechanism 18C is driven to swing the operation lever 18B, and the stopper release bar 1
The operation portion 17B is pressed by 8D, the hook portion 17A is disengaged from the engagement portion 4A, and the inlet / outlet opening of the tray storage portion 3A is opened. As a result, the tray 4 can be freely moved in and out of the corresponding tray storage portion 3A, so that the timing belt driving means 5C is driven to operate the transport piece 5B again to return the tray 4 to the tray storage portion 3A. , The hook portion of the carrying piece 5B is disengaged from the engaging portion 4B, and the carrying piece 5B is retreated to the disc player 2 side by the reverse driving of the timing belt driving means 5C, and the control motor 12 is again driven in reverse. The disc player 2 is returned to the horizontal state.

In the above embodiment, the recording / reproducing disc player is exemplified as the disc player, but it may be a reproducing only disc player. Various types of discs such as an optical type, a magneto-optical type, and an electrostatic type can be adopted for the disc used in the disc player.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a disc player rotatably supported and a large number of tray accommodating portions at equal distances around the rotation area of the disc player. A tray rack that has been placed, a large number of disc trays that are stored in the tray rack so that it can be taken in and out corresponding to the disc loading port of the disc player, and a disc corresponding to the disc loading port. Since a tray transporting means for pulling the tray toward the disc player side or pushing back the tray to the tray rack is provided, the disc loading port can be selected by rotating the disc player by a predetermined angle. It can be made to face the tray storage part.

With this, the disc tray containing the desired disc can be pulled into the disc drive portion from the disc loading port and the disc can be loaded therein without passing through the disc transport space. Further, conversely, the disc and its disc tray can be pushed back from the disc player to the tray storing part from the disc driving part. In this case, the tray transfer means may have a simple structure in which it carries out a certain pull-in and push-back operation, and since the above-mentioned disk transfer space is not required, the device can be downsized, which is an excellent effect. .

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the above effects, each disc tray is equipped with a shutter that is closed so as to support the peripheral edge of the disc stored therein. The disk exchange means is simplified, the space occupied by the disk for transportation is eliminated to reduce the size of the device, and the tray rack is opened vertically in a certain angle range. Even if the surface side is directed obliquely downward, it is possible to reliably support the disk with respect to the tray in the state of being stored in the tray rack, and moreover, it is possible to store and hold the disk so that the disk surface does not bend.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1, in a state where the disk loading opening faces the tray storage portion, the disk player is moved with respect to the rotation support frame. Since it has a positioning means for fixing it at a predetermined position, the disk exchanging means is simplified, the space occupied by the disk for transporting the disk is eliminated and the size of the apparatus is reduced, and the disk has a relatively simple structure. -It has an anti-seismic structure for the player, and moreover, the disc player can be accurately positioned when the disc is replaced.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect described in claim 1, a stopper for holding a tray provided at an inlet / outlet port of the tray accommodating portion corresponding to the disc loading port, and the above-mentioned. Since it is provided with stopper releasing means provided on the disc player side for releasing the stopper when the tray is put in and out of the tray storing portion, the disc exchanging means is simplified and occupied for disc transfer. It is possible to obtain an excellent effect that the space can be eliminated, the device can be downsized, and the disk can be replaced in a short time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the above embodiment in a horizontal state (a) and a rotating state (b) of the disc player, (c).
[Fig. 4] is an enlarged side view of the positioning means.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view and a schematic plan view showing the above-described embodiment in a rotating state (a) and a horizontal state (b) of the disc player.

4A and 4B are a schematic front view and a schematic plan view showing a main part of FIG. 3 in a rotating state (a) and a horizontal state (b) of the disc player.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the disc and the tray are pulled into the disc player in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing the embodiment described above in a horizontal state (a) and a rotating state (b) of the disc player.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the main part (a) and (b) of FIG.
It is a schematic front view shown in a horizontal state of a player.

8A and 8B are a front view and a schematic end view showing the structure of the tray of the above embodiment in FIGS.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Housing 1A Sidewall 1B Guide Groove 2 Disc Player 2A Disc Loading Port 3, 3'Tray Rack 3A Tray Storage 4 Tray 5 Tray Conveyor 5A Lead Guide Shaft 5B Conveyor 5C Timing Belt Drive 6 Disc Drive 7 Retention mechanism 8 Rotation support frame 9 Shaft support member 10 Bearing 12 Control motor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A disc player rotatably supported, a tray rack in which a large number of tray accommodating portions are arranged at substantially equal distances around a rotation area of the disc player, and a disc loading port of the disc player. A tray for retracting a large number of disc trays accommodated in the tray rack so that the disc tray can be loaded and unloaded and a disc tray corresponding to the disc loading port to the disc player side and pushed back to the tray rack. An automatic changer for a disk, which is provided with a conveying means. 2. The disk autochanger according to claim 1, wherein each of the disk trays is provided with a shutter that closes so as to support a peripheral edge of the disk housed in the tray. 3. A rotatable support frame rotatably supported, a disc player held by the rotatable support frame via a holding mechanism, and at a substantially equal distance around the rotation area of the disc player. Corresponding to a tray rack in which a large number of tray accommodating parts are arranged, a large number of disc trays accommodated in the tray rack so that they can be taken in and out corresponding to the disc loading port of the disc player, and the disc loading port Put the disc tray above the disc
Tray transporting means for retracting to the player side and pushing back to the tray rack, and positioning means for fixing the disc player at a predetermined position with respect to the rotation supporting frame when the disc loading opening faces the tray storing portion. An auto changer for discs. 4. A disc player rotatably supported, a tray rack in which a large number of tray accommodating portions are arranged at substantially equal distances around a rotation area of the disc player, and a disc loading port of the disc player. A large number of disc trays that are stored in the tray rack so that they can be loaded and unloaded, a tray holding stopper that is provided at the loading / unloading port of the tray storage section that corresponds to the disc loading port, and the tray storage. Stopper releasing means provided on the disc player side for releasing the stopper when the tray is inserted into or removed from the tray, and a disc tray corresponding to the disc loading port is drawn into the disc player side and the tray rack. An automatic checker for a disc, comprising: Nger.