Pioneer Electronic Corporation

Pioneer Electric Corporation

Isami Kenmotsu

Tadashi Funabashi

Hideyuki Takahashi

Takahiro Okajima

Yusuke Akama

Katsuhiko Tanimoto

Tomonari Ishikawa

Osamu Yagisawa

Yuji Ikedo

Yoshio Takahashi

Junji Takahashi

Toshihiko Kurihara

Taichi Akiba

Shogo Sato

Nobuyuki Isobe

Masakazu Yamashita

Toshio Hirano

Masao Abe

Yasuhiko Seto

Tomohiro Mizuno

Yositsugu Araki

Yoshihisa Itoh

An optical disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus records and/or reproduces information on an information record surface of an optical disk loaded thereto. The optical pickup apparatus for the optical disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with: two types of optical pickups for at least two types of optical disks respectively; first and second guiding rails arranged substantially parallel to each other such that the information record surface of the loaded optical disk is disposed between the first and second guiding rails, for respectively guiding the optical pickups along the information record surface of the loaded optical disk in a radial direction of the loaded optical disk; first and second retracting rails respectively connected to the first and second guiding rails, for retracting thereonto the optical pickups from the first and second guiding rails through linkages with the first and second guiding rails respectively; a rotator frame for holding the first and second retracting rails; and a rotating mechanism for rotating the rotator frame around an axis parallel to the first and second retracting rails and for swapping the first and second retracting rails to each other.

Optical pickup apparatus

An optical disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus, records and/or reproduces information on an information record surface of an optical disk loaded thereto. The optical pickup apparatus for the optical disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with: a base having a pair of plate portions opposed to each other; two types of optical pickups; first and second guiding rails arranged substantially parallel to each other and disposed on the plate portions of the base respectively, for respectively guiding the optical pickups along the information record surface of the loaded optical disk in a radial direction of the loaded optical disk; first and second retracting rails respectively connected to the first and second guiding rails, for retracting thereonto the optical pickups from the first and second guiding rails through linkages with the first and second guiding rails respectively; a rotator frame for holding the first and second retracting rails; a swinger frame, for holding the rotator frame through a first spindle parallel to the first and second retracting rails, held by the base through a second spindle parallel to the first spindle; a swinging mechanism for swinging the swinger frame around the second spindle; and a rotating mechanism for rotating the rotator frame and for swapping the first and second retracting rails to each other after the swinging mechanism swings the swinger frame toward one direction.

A compatible disc player includes a first tray for carrying an LD arranged to protrude and withdraw from and into a player housing and a second tray for carrying a CD mounted on the first tray, in such a manner as to be movable in directions of the movement of the first tray, and the first and second trays are latched or released to and from each other by use of a latch mechanism in response to a selected one of an LD playing mode and a CD playing mode. The disc player is provided with a single position signal generating switch for sensing positions of the trays, for example, a position in which the trays are completely protruded, and the timing of operation of the switch is changed depending on whether the first tray is moved or the second tray only is moved. Further, the operation of the latch mechanism is controlled by an engagement of a pickup of the player with the latch mechanism.

Multi-tray disk player with selective tray latching

A double-sided playing disc player is disclosed in which recorded signals are reproduced from a disc, on both faces of which signals are recorded, by a pickup disposed on the side of a turntable (4) or another pickup disposed on the side opposite to the turntable. The disc player comprises a first centering hub (6) mounted on the turntable, a clamping mechanism (11) for clamping the disc placed on the turntable, and a second centering hub (14) mounted on the clamper mechanism.

Double-sided disk player

Dual side disc player having separate centering hubs for each side of

A disk drive according to a first embodiment includes a pickup movable along a radial direction of the disk and a reversing mechanism for moving the pickup from one side of the disk to the other side by rotating the pickup about an axis corresponding to the radial direction of the disk. In a second embodiment, there can be only one pickup which can reverse sides of the disk or a pickup on each side of the disk. The pickup(s) are moved along guide rails on either side of the disk and the guide rails are supported by rotatable base members. A linking arm links the two base members together so that rotation of one will cause rotation of the other. In a third embodiment, a pickup and a rack are supported on a slider for moving the pickup along the surface of a disk. The rack has three toothed surfaces including first, second, and third surfaces for engaging first, second and third feed screws, respectively. In the fourth embodiment, a disk player includes either a single, reversible pickup or a pickup on each side of a disk.

Disk drive with means to play either side of a disk

A double-side playing optical disk player which plays both sides of a disk placed on a turntable by driving and guiding a carriage carrying an optical pickup with a guide driving mechanism along both surfaces of the disk. The guide driving mechanism is composed of first and second guide mechanisms disposed on respective sides of the disk-carrying surface of the turntable, and a transfer mechanism for transferring the carriage between prescribed engaging/disengaging positions on the front and rear sides of the disk.

Double-side playing optical disk player

A disk record/playback machine including a carriage which is movable relative to a casing, racks which are slidably mounted on the carriage, a locking device for locking the racks to the carriage, a rest for supporting a disk and cams for supporting the rest to the racks. The rest is movable to a first elevational position during a disk discharge mode, to a second elevational position in a record/playback mode, and to a third elevational position located between the first and second elevational positions, during a stand-by mode.

Disk record/playback machine with disk rest movable to an intermediate

A double-sides playable disc player for playing back an information recording disk composed of a pair of circular base plates having signal recording layers, respectively, has a disc centering device for centering the information recording disc with respect to a turntable. The disc centering device comprises a first centering member fittable into the central hole of one of the circular base plates for centering the circular base plate with respect to the turntable, a second centering member fittable into the central hole of the other circular base plate for centering the other circular base plate with respect to the turntable, and a drive assembly for moving the first and second centering members. Even if the circular base plates are displaced with respect to each other, they can accurately be centered with respect to the turntable at all times. The components of the drive assembly double as components of a disc clamp mechanism, so that the disc player is of a low cost.

Double-sides playable disc player

A double-sided playing disc player is disclosed in which recorded signals are reproduced from a disc, on both faces of which signals are recorded, by a pickup disposed on the side of a turntable or another pickup disposed on the side opposite to the turntable. The disc player comprises a first centering hub mounted on the turntable, a clamping mechanism for clamping the disc placed on the turntable, and a second centering hub mounted on the clamper mechanism.

Dual side disc player having a pickup reversing mechanism

A disk clamping device for a compatible disk player capable of playing both compact disks and video disks in which the clamping force for the thicker video disk is greater than that for the thinner compact disk. The clamping device includes a turntable for mounting a selected one of a video disk and a compact disk, a hub for centering the disk mounted on the turntable, a clamper having a first surface for pressing the video disk and a second surface projecting in a clamping direction further than the first surface for pressing the compact disk, and a magnet constituting at least a part of the second surface of the clamper or the turntable for generating a force urging the clamper against the turntable.

Disk clamping device

A front-loading type disk player, such as a video or compact disk player, having an improved front loading mechanism which absorbs any play or backlash that occurs during the movement of the carriage so that the carriage is accurately controlled in position as it moves in and out of the housing of the player. Support members for the chassis have a stopper with which the carriage comes into contact when the disk reaches a predetermined playing or recording position. An energizing force is applied during the time an accelerating mechanism drives the carriage in the direction of the accommodation position inside the housing, continuing for a short time after the carriage contacts the stopper. The excess force is absorbed by urging the carriage against the stopper.

Loading mechanism for disk player

An automatic record loading player having a slit through which a record is inserted, the slit is formed in front of player cabinet, a drive mechanism for transferring the inserted record to a centering position, a centering mechanism for achieving the centering operation of the record in abutment with an outer periphery of the record, and a loading mechanism for transferring the centered record onto a turntable while maintaining the record at its center hole.

Automatic record loading player

An automatic disc player system with means for automatically selecting the disc and loading the disc on a turntable. A carrier assembly including a pickup means is slidable along a longitudinal axis of a disc holder portion in which the discs are arranged face to face on a longitudinal holder member. In order to load the disc on the turntable, a slider having a roller to guide the disc forces the same to a position of play where a clamper having a portion cooperative with the turntable catches the disc to load the same on the turntable. The operation of selecting and loading the disc is controlled by a microcomputer assisted control system.

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Isami Kenmotsu