Recording and/or reproducing device for disks

Abstract

In an on-vehicle disc player having a disc elevator ( 22 ) for making a plurality of trays ( 2 ) each having a CD placed on it stacked one over another in the vertical direction move in the stacking direction, there is provided plate springs ( 2 e) for pressing an inserted CD at both sides of the tray ( 2 ). Further, there is provided separating cams ( 82 ) for forming spaces at both side of the tray ( 2 ) having a CD to be reproduced, by the movement in the fore-and-aft direction. Holding means for holding and rotating the CD are inserted to the spaces formed by the separating cams ( 82 ) to hold the CD. Thereafter, by pushing down the plate springs ( 2 e) which has pushed and caught the CD in the tray ( 2 ) by means of peripheral portions ( 82 x) of lower faces of upper stage entering portions ( 82 j) of the separating cams ( 82 ), the CD is released and the tray ( 2 ) is pushed down to be separated from the CD. This enables the reproduction at the same position as the supporting position, and thereby it becomes possible to make the apparatus small in size.

1. A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:
 a catching means for catching a disc to a first location, said catching means being provided in a disc mounting means for mounting said disc; 
 a releasing means for releasing said disc from said first location after seating said disc to a turntable, said seated disc is not offset in a planar direction with respect to said first location; 
 a reproducing means for accessing data of the disc, said reproducing means having a base fixed in location with respect to the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus; and 
 a separating means for separating said disc mounting means from said disc in a condition that said disc is set on said turntable; 
 wherein the base of said reproducing means is not offset in a planar direction during the accessing of data. 
 
     
     
       2. A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said catching means comprises a plate spring which presses a face of a circumferential portion of said disc. 
     
     
       3. A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said catching means comprises at least two members which are apart from each other. 
     
     
       4. A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said catching means comprises a first plate spring which presses a face of a circumferential portion of said disc and a second plate spring which presses another face of the circumferential portion of said disc. 
     
     
       5. A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:
 a catch, receiving a disc to a first location, said catch being provided in a disc mount that mounts said disc; 
 a release, releasing said disc from said first location after seating said disc to a turntable, said seated disc is not offset in a planar direction with respect to said first location; 
 a reproduction unit that accesses data of the disc, said reproduction unit having a base fixed in location with respect to the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus; and 
 a separater that separates said disc mount from said disc in a condition that said disc is set on said turntable; 
 wherein the base of said reproduction unit is not offset in a planar direction during the accessing of data. 
 
     
     
       6. A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said catch comprises a plate spring which presses a face of a circumferential portion of said disc. 
     
     
       7. A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said catch comprises at least two members which are apart from each other. 
     
     
       8. A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said catch comprises a first plate spring which presses a face of a circumferential portion of said disc and a second plate spring which presses another face of the circumferential portion of said disc. 
     
     
       9. A disc changer, comprising:
 a front face plate including an insertion slot;   a plurality of trays, each tray of the plurality of trays configured to support a disc in a predetermined position, the disc received from the insertion slot of the front face plate of the disc changer to the predetermined position;   a separating mechanism configured to separate a tray of the plurality of trays having a selected disc, from others of the plurality of trays, the separation from the others of the plurality of trays defined by a first side space and a second side space;   a moving mechanism configured to position a chuck plate in the first side space, and, position a turn table and reproducing unit in the second side space,   wherein, said reproducing unit accesses the selected disc located between the chuck plate and the turn table for reproduction of content thereon, the disc being accessed at the predetermined position in a planar direction.   
     
     
       10. The disc changer according to claim 9, wherein the disc is located between the chuck plate and the turn table upon operation of the separating mechanism. 
     
     
       11. The disc changer according to claim 9, further comprising:
 an eject mechanism configured to urge a peripheral edge of the disc from a corresponding tray of the plurality of trays according to the operation of the separating mechanism.   
     
     
       12. The disc changer according to claim 9, wherein the moving mechanism positions a holding unit, the holding unit including the chuck plate, the turn table and reproducing unit. 
     
     
       13. The disc changer according to claim 12, further comprising:
 a guide member configured to accurately position the plurality of trays within the disc changer; and   a shaft configured to provide a turning axis for the moving mechanism,   wherein the guide member and shaft extend in a parallel direction from a base plate of the holding unit.   
     
     
       14. A recording/reproducing apparatus for writing/accessing content of a selected disc medium of a plurality of disc mediums, comprising:
 a front face plate including an insertion slot;   a plurality of trays, each tray of the plurality of trays configured to support a disc medium in a predetermined position, the disc medium received from the insertion slot of the front face plate of the recording/reproducing apparatus to the predetermined position;   a separating mechanism configured to separate a tray of the plurality of trays having a selected disc medium, from others of the plurality of trays, the separation from the others of the plurality of trays defined by a first side space and a second side space;   a moving mechanism configured to position a chuck plate in the first side space, and, position a turn table and reproducing unit in the second side space,   wherein, said reproducing unit accesses the selected disc medium located between the chuck plate and the turn table for reproduction of content thereon, the disc medium being accessed at the predetermined position in a planar direction to write/access content to/from the selected optical disc medium.   
     
     
       15. The recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the disc is located between the chuck plate and the turn table upon operation of the separating mechanism. 
     
     
       16. The recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:
 an eject mechanism configured to urge a peripheral edge of the disc from a corresponding tray of the plurality of trays according to the operation of the separating mechanism.   
     
     
       17. The recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the moving mechanism positions a holding unit, the holding unit including the chuck plate, the turn table and reproducing unit. 
     
     
       18. The recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:
 a first roller configured to rotate about an axis to transport the disc in a planar direction from the insertion slot to the plurality of trays; and   a pair of second rollers configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the planar direction to urge the disc positioned by the first roller to the predetermined position.