Cd player with linear array of stationary disc holders

Abstract

A player apparatus for compact discs (CD discs) and similar signal carriers, has a playing station designed to hold and rotate CD discs and a pick-up device for detecting signals from the discs and is of the type which has a magazine for two or more discs and a device for selectively bringing any of these discs into and out of operative engagement with the playing station. The player is also provided with a number of stationary disc holder stations arranged in a linear formation on a chassis so as to be operable to hold a linear row of discs side by side in a common plane, while at least the pick-up device of the playing station is provided on a sledge that can be displaced along the chassis so as to be selectively operatively engageable with the individual discs in the row of discs. The entire row of discs is visually exposed except for any station covered by the playing station. A control is provided for effecting stoppage of played discs in positions with generally the same orientation of imprints on the discs, in which an associated memory unit serves to register an identification signal of each new disc in a relevant disc collection and, in response to initial playing of the disc, also serves to register the angle of rotation of the disc from a starting position thereof to a position in which the pick-up device detects the passage of a `pause bit` of the CD disc, so that the memory unit will thereafter effect stoppage of the rotation of the disc with an orientation corresponding to the orientation with which it was originally placed in the player.