Automatic disc loading and unloading mechanism for record player

Abstract

An automatic loading and unloading mechanism for a slot-type record disc apparatus including three conical elements mounted in a mechanically variable triangle arrangement and having surfaces tapering inwardly in the upward direction and engaging the edge of a disc at an upper portion of said tapering surfaces to hold a disc when the disc is partially inserted into the slot of the apparatus; the conical elements are movable edgewise in the loading and unloading directions while maintained in contact at upper portions thereof with different portions of the edge of the disc as the conical elements move edgewise to move the disc to and from an intermediate position above a drive hub; the conical elements are movable radially outwardly relative to the center of a disc held by the conical elements to lower the disc between the intermediate position and an operating position on a drive hub caused by the edge of the disc riding down the tapered surfaces of the conical elements to lower portions thereof; the conical elements are movably radially inwardly to raise the disc from the operating position to the intermediate position in the ejecting operation caused by the edge of the disc riding up the tapered surfaces of the conical elements to the upper portions thereof; the tapered surfaces of the conical elements are moved away from contact with the edge of the disc when the disc is in the operating position to allow the disc to be rotated by the drive hub.