The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 16, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1999
Lloyd D. Herring, Rockford, MI (US);
Peter Chaikowsky, Bel Air, MD (US);
Rowe International, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A disc player and changer mechanism adapted for use in a jukebox comprises a disc carrier which has a clamping arm movably mounted thereto, a translating tower and a drive system operable to move the carrier and/or the translating tower. The clamping arm includes a first disc engaging portion at one end thereof, which is positioned substantially opposite to a second disc engaging portion of the disc carrier. The disc carrier is slidably mounted on the translating tower and the clamping arm is movable as the disc carrier is moved on the translating tower such that the first disc engaging portion moves to contact an edge of a disc while the second disc engaging portion correspondingly contacts the edge of the disc substantially diametrically opposite of the first disc engaging portion. The disc is thus positively secured between the first and second disc engaging portions and may be transported from its initial position to a disc playing mechanism in a conventional manner. Preferably, the translating tower includes a magnetic hub assembly which is mechanically operable to engage a magnetic hub with the disc as the disc is positioned substantially adjacent to the player mechanism. The magnetic hub assembly is pivotally attached to the translating tower and operable by a stationary extension contacting a portion of the magnetic hub assembly as the translating tower approaches the disc player mechanism.