Abstract:
A disk reproducing apparatus with a plurality of disks arrayed and held therein selects a desired disk for reproduction from the arrayed disks. The disk reproducing apparatus includes an insertion slot which defines an insertion executable position, a disk holding device including a plurality of disks inserted through the insertion slot by arraying the disks in a direction perpendicular to main surfaces of the disks, the disk holding device being movable in a direction of arrangement of the disks, a disk reproducing device having upper and lower surfaces opposing in the direction of arrangement of the disks, the disk reproducing device being movable in the direction of arrangement of the disks, and reproducing a disk to be reproduced at a reproduction executable position at which the upper surface faces the disk to be reproduced. When a disk is to be inserted, the disc reproducing device is placed at a position where the lower surface is positioned near to the insertion executable position in the direction of arrangement of the disks. When a disk is to be reproduced, the disk reproducing device is placed at a position where the distance of the upper surface from the insertion executable position in the direction of arrangement of the disks is smaller than its distance at the time of insertion of a disk. Thereby the reduction in size of the apparatus as a whole and a smooth execution of the reproduction operation are attained.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a disk reproducing apparatus which can contain a plurality of information recording disks (referred to simply as disk hereinafter) arrayed in series and can serially reproduce the disks, and more particularly to an on vehicle disk reproducing apparatus installed in a dashboard of a vehicle. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As a disk player which contains a plurality of disks arrayed in series and allows reproduction of a desired disk any time, there is a known apparatus which uses a magazine or the like containing therein disks separately from a main unit of the player. In this type of player, when a disks is to be reproduced, at first a disk contained in a magazine is protruded in the horizontal direction together with a tray, and a reproducing means including a turn table or the like is moved near to the disk having been moved in the horizontal direction from the underside, and the disk is clamped onto the turn table for reproduction. 
     Also there is an apparatus in which magazines each containing a disk therein are moved apart in the vertical direction, and a reproducing means is moved into a space between the separated magazine parts for reproducing a disk, as, for instance, the disk player disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai No. Hei 3-235249. 
     Furthermore, there is a known disk player in which a plurality of disks are inserted from a disk insertion slot, each disk is transferred by a disk carrier means such as a roller mechanism into a disk storage section, a plurality of disks are contained and arrayed in multiple stages therein, a desired disk is selected from the contained ones, and the selected disk is reproduced. In this type of disk player, when a disk to be reproduced is selected, it is required to move the disk storage section in the direction of disk array, namely in the vertical direction, and to position the desired disk at a specified height against the reproducing means including the turn table or the like. When a disk to be released is selected, it is necessary to move the disk storage section also in the vertical direction and to position the disk to be released at a specified height against the disk carrier means. 
     However, in the disk players as described above, as relative movement to position a disk against the reproducing means is made by either one, a longer time from generation of an instruction for disk reproduction until execution of reproduction is required as compared to a signal disk player which contains only one sheet of disk. 
     In a disk player having a disk insertion slot, a disk carrier means, and a multiple-stage disk storage section, when a disk to be reproduced is to be selected, it is necessary to enable movement of the disk storage section in a range so as to be capable of selecting all disks contained therein at a position of the reproducing means as a reference. When a disk is to be inserted and also a disk to be discharged is selected, it is required to enable movement of the disk storage section in a range so as to be capable of selecting all the disks contained therein at a position of the disk carrier means as a reference. Accordingly, size of the apparatus inevitably becomes larger in the direction of movement of the disk storage section, for example, in the vertical direction. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was made in the lights of the circumstances as described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a disk reproducing apparatus having a disk holding part containing a plurality of disks being held, in which reduction in size in the direction of arrangement of the disks is possible. 
     It is another object of the present invention that the reduction of a total size of the apparatus is enabled especially by reducing the depth of the apparatus in a direction parallel to main surfaces of the disks. 
     The disk reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an insertion slot which defines an insertion executable position through which a disk can be inserted; a disk holding means for holding a plurality of disks inserted through said insertion slot by arranging said disks in a direction perpendicular to main surfaces thereof, said disk holding means movable in a direction of arrangement of said disks; a disk transporting means for transporting a disk inserted through said insertion slot to said disk holding means; and a disk reproducing means for reproducing a disk to be reproduced, said disk reproducing means having first and second ends, said first end facing said disks in said direction of arrangement of said disks, said disk reproducing means being movable in said direction of arrangement of said disks, and reproducing said disk to be reproduced at a position at which said first end of said reproducing means faces said disk to be reproduced, wherein, when a disk is to be inserted, said disk reproducing means is placed at a position where said second end is positioned near to said insertion executable position in said direction of arrangement of said disks, and when reproducing said disk to be reproduced, said disk reproducing means is placed at a position in which a distance between said first end and said insertion executable position in said direction of arrangement of said disks is shorter than a distance between said first end and said insertion executable position at a time of insertion of a disk. 
     With these features, miniaturization of the apparatus can be achieved, especially the thickness of the apparatus in the direction of arrangement of the disk can be reduced. 
     More particularly, the disk reproducing means having a certain thickness is moved relative to the disk holding means in such a manner that when a disk is to be inserted, its side which is opposite to its part for holding a disk is positioned near to the disk insertion position, and when reproducing a near to the disk insertion position, and when reproducing a disk, its part holding a disk is placed near to the disk insertion position. With this feature, the thickness of the apparatus in the direction of arrangement of the disks is reduced as compared with conventional arrangements in which the disk holding means is moved in the direction of arrangement of the disk by using positions of the disk reproducing means and the disk transporting means (or a insertion slot) respectively as a reference. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a disk reproducing apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a positional relation of components in the disk reproducing apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view showing a positional relation of components in the disk reproducing apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG.  4  and FIG. 5 are views each showing a disk carrier means according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a plan view, while FIG. 5 is a front view thereof; 
     FIGS. 6 to  10  are views each showing a carriage  30  according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 7 is a plan view, FIG. 6 is a front view, FIG. 8 is a rear view, while FIG.  9  and FIG. 10 are side views thereof respectively; 
     FIGS. 11 to  15  are views each showing a reproducing means holding frame according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 12 is a plan view, FIG. 11 is a front view, FIG. 13 is a rear view, while FIG.  14  and FIG. 15 are side views thereof respectively; 
     FIGS. 16 to  19  are views each showing a carriage holding frame according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 16 is a plan view, FIG. 17 is a front view, while FIG.  18  and FIG. 19 are side views thereof respectively; 
     FIG. 20 is a right side view of a main chassis according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 21 is a left side view of the main chassis according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a driving lever for moving up and down the carriage according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a carriage transporting means according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a carriage transporting means according to the present invention; 
     FIGS. 25,  26  are views each showing a disk holding means according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 25 is a rear view, while FIG. 26 is a right side view thereof respectively; 
     FIGS. 27 to  30  are views each showing a lower holder according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 28 is a plan view, FIG.  29  and FIG. 30 are side views, while FIG. 27 is a rear view thereof; 
     FIG. 31 is a plan view of a tray according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 32 is a plan view of a disk holding means according to the present invention; 
     FIGS. 33,  34  are views each showing an upper holder according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 34 is a plan view, while FIG. 33 is a rear view thereof; 
     FIGS. 35 to  37  are views each showing a state before a tray separating means according to the present invention operates, wherein FIG. 35 is a plan view, while FIG.  36  and FIG. 37 are side views thereof; 
     FIGS. 38 to  40  are views each showing a state after the tray separating means according to the present invention operates, wherein FIG. 38 is a plan view, while FIG.  39  and FIG. 40 are side views thereof respectively; 
     FIGS. 41,  42  are views each showing a state in which the tray holding thereon a selected disk is separated by the tray separating means according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 41 is a right side view, while FIG. 42 is a left side view thereof respectively; 
     FIGS. 43,  44  are views each showing a construction of the tray separating means according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 45 to FIG. 47 are views each showing one of components constituting the tray separating means according to the present invention respectively; 
     FIGS. 48,  49  are views each showing a construction of the tray separating means according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 50 is a plan view showing a moving up/down means for moving up and down the disk holding means according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 51 is a plan view showing a disk-guide positioning means and an ejecting means according to the present invention; 
     FIGS. 52,  53  are side views each showing a positional relation between a roller and a tray when a disk is carried in and discharged according to the present invention respectively; 
     FIG. 54 is a front view of a clamping means according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 55 is a plan view showing a locking means for locking a disk retrieving means as well as the disk holding means according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 56 is a plan view showing the locking means for locking the disk retrieving means as well as the disk holding means according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 57 is a plan view showing a disk returning means according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 58 is a plan view showing a locking means in the main unit of the apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 59 is a left side view showing the locking means in the main unit of the apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 60 is a right side view showing the locking means in the main unit of the apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 61 is a side view showing a state in which a disk is going to be taken in one of trays in the apparatus according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 62 is a side view showing a state in which the disk is reproduced in the apparatus according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Detailed description will be made for embodiments of the disk reproducing apparatus according to the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. 
     An outer frame of the disk reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a housing  1  inserted thereinto through a port for installation formed on a dashboard (not shown in the figures) of a car and fixed to a bracket or the like to hold it, and a front section of this housing, namely a front panel  2  exposed to the passenger compartment of the car. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, provided on the front panel  2  forming the front section of the housing  1  are a control panel section  3  for controlling generation of an instruction for disk reproduction or some other instructions and a display section  4  each in the upper side thereof, and a linear disk insertion slot  5  for inserting therethrough a disk to be reproduced is formed in the lower section of the front panel  2 , and this disk insertion slot  5  is closed, when a disk is not reproduced, by a closing cover (not shown in the figure) that is fixed thereto so as to be capable of swinging or sliding. Provided in the housing  1  is a main chassis  6  through rubber cushions  1   a  (Refer to FIG. 2) as a vibration insulating mechanism, and various types of mechanisms are arranged on this main chassis. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a carriage  30  of the reproducing means, which includes a pickup  10  and a turn table  20  each required for reproducing a disk, is provided on the main chassis  6  and is movable in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis) so that the carriage  30  is positioned substantially at the center (C 2 ) of the apparatus at the time of reproduction and is positioned in the front side at the time of non-reproduction. Provided in a region in the depth (rear side) of the main chassis  6  is a disk holding means  50  including trays  53  or the like for holding a plurality of disks (four disks in the embodiment) arrayed in the vertical direction (direction of Z-axis), and this disk holding means  50  is designed to move in the vertical direction (direction of Z-axis) by a moving-up/down mechanism or the like having a pantograph mechanism. A tray separating means  60  constituting a part of a disk selecting means for selecting a desired disk to be reproduced and separating the disk from other disks is provided along side faces  6   a ,  6   b  of the main chassis  6  and is movable along the side faces in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis). Further, a printed circuit board  7  with a control circuit or the like of the apparatus formed thereon is provided in the outer side from one side  6   b  of the main chassis in parallel to the side face thereof and is fixed onto the internal wall of the housing  1 . 
     Also, as shown in FIG. 3, a roller  40  constituting a part of the disk carrier means is provided in the lower side of the carriage located at a not-reproducing position and extends in the lateral direction (direction of X-axis). It should be noted that each solid line used for illustrating the carriage  30 , turn table  20  and clamping means  100  indicates a state in which each of the components is located at each retreat position (non-reproduction position), and each phantom line indicates a state in which each of the components is located at a reproducing position. 
     Detailed description is made hereinafter for the various types of mechanism. At first, description is made for the disk carrier means for transferring a disk inserted through the disk insertion slot  5  of the housing  1  as far as a disk storing position, namely the trays  53  provided inside the housing and transferring the disk back to the disk insertion slot from the disk storing position when the disk is to be elected. 
     As shown in FIG.  4  and FIG. 5, a pair of cantilever-formed plate springs  41  are screwed to positions adjacent to both edges of the top surface of a substantially L-shaped carriage holding frame  31 , and a shaft  40   a  of the roller  40  is rotatably supported by bearing holes formed at free edges of the plate springs  41  respectively. The roller  40  is fitted with a shrouded member made of resin and having a tapered shape so that the outer diameter of the roller to the shaft  40   a  increases from the center of the shaft toward both edges thereof. A gear  42  is fixed to one edge of the shaft  40   a , and this gear  42  engages a worm  45  fixed to a motor  44  providing a driving power via an intermediate gear  13  provided on the side face  6   b  of the main chassis  6 . A rear section of a bottom face of the carriage  30  positioned in an outer side from the region where arrayed and held disks D are located is positioned in the upper side of the roller  40  when a disk is not reproduced (or reproduction is stopped), and the carriage  30  and the roller  40  are positioned so that the carriage lies over the roller in the direction in which disks are arrayed when a disk is not reproduced. With this arrangement of the carriage and roller as described above, the depth dimensions of the apparatus can be reduced, which allows the apparatus to be minimized. Further, a smoothing film  30   g  made of resin is adhered to the bottom face of the carriage functioning as a second end of the carriage. Accordingly, in the non-reproduction state, a space is formed between the roller  40  and the smoothing film  30   g  so that the space is largest at the central section thereof in the lateral direction (direction of X-axis) and is getting narrower toward both edges of the carriage. In the construction as described above, when the roller  40  is rotated by the motor  44 , a disk inserted through the disk insertion slot  5  is transferred toward an internal side of the housing with the peripheral region of the disk held by the roller  40  and the smoothing film  30   g . When the roller  40  is reversely rotated, the disk is transferred back to the disk insertion slot. In this step, the space is formed with a shape like a wedge in which both of the edges are narrow, so that the disk is transferred to a specified disk storing position while a force toward the center of the roller namely self-centering of a disk is provided, and conversely, the disk can surely be transferred back toward the center of the disk insertion slot  5 . 
     The disk carrier means for transferring a disk to the internally provided disk storing position (trays) and transferring the disk back to the disk insertion slot from the storing position when the disk is to be ejected comprises the roller  40  and the smoothing film  30   g.    
     Also the driving means for driving the disk carrier means comprises the gear  42 , intermediate gear  43 , worm  45 , and the motor  44 . 
     Next, description is made for the carriage  30  for holding the pickup  10  and the turn table  20  each required for reproducing a disk or the like and a carriage moving up/down means for reciprocating the carriage  30  in the vertical direction (direction of Z-axis). 
     As shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 10, the carriage  30  having a substantially rectangular form when viewed from the top has a box shape with a top surface thereof open, and accommodates the reproducing means holding frame  35  comprising the pickup  10  and the turn table  20  or the like, each described later, in the internal space of the box. One side of the carriage  30  has three guide pins  30   b  planted and provided thereon and projecting in the horizontal direction, while the other side thereof opposite to the side described above has two guide pins planted and provided thereon and projecting in the horizontal direction, and those three and two guide pins  30   b  penetrate linear guide holes  6   c  (Refer to FIGS. 20 and 21) formed on the side walls  6   a  and  6   b  of the chassis  6  and extend in the longitudinal directions respectively. 
     An engaging pin  30   c  engaged in a long hole  37   c  of a swing arm  37  for driving the carriage described later is provided on one side of the bottom face of the carriage  30  so that it projects downward, and a rotatable rolling ring  30   d  is fitted around the outer periphery of this engaging pin  30   c.    
     Formed on side walls in the front and back sides of the carriage  30  are, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, two units of guiding long hole  30   e  extending in the horizontal direction and two units of vertically long hole  30   f  each with an upper edge thereof open respectively. Further, slide plates  32  are provided along the internal sides of the side walls thereof, and pins  32   a  planted and provided on these slide plates  32  are slidably inserted in and engaged in the guiding long holes  30   e  respectively. Cam holes  32   b  each reversely acting are also formed on the slide plates  32  respectively, and pins  35   a  (Refer to FIGS. 11 to  15 ) projecting from the reproducing means holding frame  35  penetrate the cam holes. The pins  35   a  also penetrate the vertically long holes  30   f  and are movable in the vertical direction. 
     The slide plates  32  provided in the front and rear sides thereof are correlated to each other, by a coupling link  33  provided and rotatable around a supporting shaft  33   a  provided in the bottom face of the carriage, so that both of the plates move in the direction opposite to each other in the lateral direction (direction of X-axis) respectively. It should be noted that, in coupling sections, pins  33   b  of the coupling link  33  are inserted and engaged in engaging holes  32   c  of the slide plates  32  respectively. Accordingly, when a force in the lateral direction is exerted on a U-shaped engaging piece  32   d  provided in one edge side of the rear side slide plate  32 , the front and the rear slide plates  32  slide in the opposite directions to each other respectively, for example, when the engaging piece  32   d  is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of X-axis, the pin  35   a  penetrating the cam hole  32   b , namely the reproducing means holding frame  35  is pushed upward along the vertically long hole  30   f . Conversely, when the engaging piece  32   d  is moved in the direction of X-axis, the pin  35   a  namely the reproducing means holding frame  35  is moved downward. 
     As shown in FIGS. 11 to  15 , the reproducing means holding frame  35  holds and supports components such as the pickup  10  for picking up information recorded on a disk, turn table  20  for supporting and rotating the disk, a spindle motor  21  providing driving power, and a feed screw  11  for moving the pickup  10  in the lateral direction (direction of X-axis) namely in the direction parallel to the recorded surface (main surface) of the disk. A female screw  10   a  projecting from and provided on the front edge side of the pickup  10  engages the feed screw  11 , while the engaging piece  10   b  projecting from and provided on the rear edge thereof is slidably supported by a guiding groove  35   b  formed on the wall in the rear side of the holding frame  35 . The feed screw  11  is also rotatably supported by the holding frame  35 , and a gear  12  is fixed to one edge of the screw. This gear  12  engages teeth of a gear with a pulley  13  also rotatably supported by the holding frame  35 . The teeth section of this gear with a pulley  13  is formed by two pieces of gear to have a scissors-gear construction to eliminate backlash. A motor  15  providing driving power is fixed to a bottom surface of the carriage  30 , and a pulley  16  fixed to the spindle of this motor  15  and a pulley of the gear with a pulley  13  are coupled to each other by a rubber belt  14  through a notched section  35   c  of the holding frame  35 . As described above, a heavily-weighted substance such as the motor  15  is fixed to the carriage  30 , so that the weight thereof to be moved up/down together with the reproducing means holding frame  35  can be reduced, which allows the load on the driving power to be reduced. With this construction, reciprocal movements of the pickup  10  is executed by rotating the motor  15 . Namely the pickup driving means for moving the pickup  10  in the radial direction along the recorded surface of the disk comprises the motor  15 , pulley  16 , rubber belt  14 , gear  13  with a pulley, gear  12 , feed screw  11 , and female screw  10   a.    
     The carriage holding frame  31  having a substantially L-shape when viewed from the top is located in the lower side of the carriage  30  as shown in FIGS. 16 to  19 , and cam plates  36  also forming an L-shape are located in the lower part of this carriage holding frame  31 . Provided at upper edges in both sides of the carriage holding frame  31  are U-shaped engaging grooves  31   a  each opening to the rear side, and the guide pins  30   b  engage in the engaging grooves  31   a  when the carriage  30  is located at a stand-by position. 
     Accordingly, a relative movement of the carriage  30  and the carriage holding frame  31  is restricted in the vertical direction (direction of Z-axis) when the carriage  30  is at the standby position, while, in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis), a relative movement thereof, namely the reciprocal movements of the carriage  30  can be performed. 
     Two pieces of pin  31   b  are provided on one of the side walls of the carriage holding frame  31  and one piece of pin  31   b  is provided on the other side wall each by projecting therefrom in the horizontal direction, and the bottom face sections of those pins  31   b  are positioned in the lower part of the carriage holding frame  31  and the pins on the side walls thereof are inserted in the cam holes  36   a  of the cam plates  36  positioned in the outer side from the side walls of the carriage holding frame  31  respectively. These pins  31   b  are further inserted, as shown in FIG.  20  and FIG. 21, into the vertically long holes  6   e  and  6   d  formed on the side walls  6   a  and  6   b  of the main chassis  6  so as to be movable only in the vertical direction. 
     Accordingly, the cam plates  36  are moved in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis), whereby the carriage holding frame  31  is moved in the vertical direction (direction of Z-axis). 
     It should be noted that, the cam plates  36  are inserted by pins  6   f  planted and provided on the bottom face of the main chassis  6  into the guiding long holes  36   b  of the cam plates supported by the main chassis so as to be capable of reciprocating in the longitudinal direction, and an engaging pin  110   a  of a driving lever  110  for moving up/down a carriage located in the outer side from the bottom face of the main chassis  6  is engaged in an engaging hole  36   c  (Refer to FIG.  16 ). 
     Namely, as shown in FIG. 22, a cam gear  8  is provided on the top surface of the main chassis  6  and is rotatable around a supporting shaft  8   i , while the driving lever  110  for moving up/down a carriage is provided on the bottom surface of the main chassis  6 , and this driving lever  110  is inserted by a guide pin  110   d  planted and provided on the main chassis into the guiding long hole  110   c  thereof so as to be capable of reciprocating in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis). Also, an engaging pin  110   b  planted and provided on the driving lever  110  is inserted and engaged in a cam groove  8   e  formed on the cam gear  8 , so that this engaging pin  110   b  moves along the cam groove  8   e.    
     Accordingly, when the cam gear  8  is rotated in the clockwise direction by driving means  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ,  75 , and  76  each described later, the driving lever  110  is moved forward (F direction) by means of the cam action of the cam groove  8   e  engaged by the engaging pin  110   b . Also, the engaging pin  110   a  is engaged in an engaging hole  36   c  of the cam plate  36 , so that the cam plate  36  moves forward in correlation to the movement of the driving lever  110 . The engaging pins  31   b  of the carriage holding frame  31  are held up by means of the cam action of the cam grooves  36   a , and the carriage  30  is moved upward to a specified height together with the carriage holding frame  31 . When the cam gear  8  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction from the state described above, the carriage  30  is moved downward to a specified height in a sequence reverse to that described above. 
     The carriage moving up/down means, for moving the carriage  30  upward as far as the specified height (a position where a disk can be inserted) when a disk is not reproduced and for moving the disk downward as far as the specified height (a position where a disk can not be inserted) when a disk is reproduced (Refer to FIG.  3 ), comprises the cam plates  36 , carriage holding frame  31 , and the driving lever  110  or the like. 
     As described above, by moving upward the disk carrier means comprising the carriage  30  and roller  40  when a disk is not reproduced, especially when a disk is stored in and retrieved from a storage section in the apparatus, a disk can be stored in and retrieved therefrom by moving the disk storage section (disk holding section) with a plurality of disks arrayed in the vertical direction by a stroke as short as possible, which allows the thickness of the apparatus to be decreased, namely the apparatus itself to be minimized. Similarly, when two positions for a reproducing position are set in a upper side as well as a lower side, further minimization of the apparatus can be expected. 
     Next description is made for a carriage carrier means for transferring a carriage (namely a reproducing means) between a standby position and a reproducing position. 
     As shown in FIG. 23, the disk-shaped cam gear  8  is fixed on the top surface of the main chassis and is movable around the central shaft  8   i , and this cam gear  8  has a first cam groove  8   a  for transferring a carriage, a second cam groove  8   b  for separating a tray from others, a third cam groove  8   c  for moving up and down a disk reproducing means, a fourth cam groove  8   d  for taking out a disk, and a fifth cam groove  8   e  for moving up and down a carriage each formed thereon. 
     Also, the cam gear has teeth  8   f  and  8   g  formed on portions of the periphery thereof and is rotated by a motor  76  through a gear array such as a gear  71  engaging the teeth  8   f , double gears  72 ,  73 , a gear with a worm  74 , and a worm  75  engaged and fixed to the spindle. A swing arm  37  for driving a carriage is provided in the front side and upper side of the cam gear  8  so as to be capable of swinging around a supporting shaft  37   a  fixed to the main chassis  6 . This swing arm  37  has an engaging pin  37   b  projecting downward from a substantially middle section of the arm that is engaged in the first cam groove  8   a  of the cam gear  8  and is movable along the cam groove, and also a guide pin  37   d  projecting downward and engaging in a guiding groove (not shown in the figure) formed on the main chassis  6  is provided in the edge of a swing section thereof, and the long hole  37   c  in which the engaging pin  30   c  projecting downward from the bottom face of the carriage  30  is slidably inserted and engaged is also formed in the edge thereof. 
     Accordingly, when the cam gear  8  is rotated by a predetermined angle from the stand-by position shown in FIG. 23 in the counterclockwise direction, the swing arm  37  is swung rearward (in the direction opposite to the direction of Y-axis) according to the cam action of the first cam groove  8   a  to reach the reproducing position as shown in FIG.  12 . In this step, the carriage  30  is correlated, as the engaging pin  30   c  thereof is engaged in the long hole  37   c , to the movement of the swing arm  37 , and is transferred to the reproducing position with the guide pins  30   b  of the carriage moving along the guiding holes  6   c  provided on the side faces  6   a ,  6   b  of the main chassis. This reproducing position is located in the front side than the center of a disk stored in the disk storage section described later (Refer to FIG.  2  and FIG.  57 ). 
     The carriage carrier means for transferring the carriage in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis) comprises the cam gear  8 ; swing arm  37 ; and a driving means  70  comprising the gear array  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ,  75  and the motor  76 ; or the like. 
     A slide lever  39  moved reciprocally in the lateral direction (direction of X-axis) is provided in the rear side of the main chassis  6  and in the upper side of the cam gear  8 . In this slide lever  39 , as shown in FIG. 23, a guide pin  39   b  planted and provided on the main chassis  6  is inserted and engaged in the guiding long hole  39   a  and is movably held in the lateral direction, and an engaging pin  39   c  projecting downward is inserted and engaged in the third cam groove  8   c  on the cam gear  8  and is movable along the cam groove, and furthermore an engaging pin  39   d  projecting upward is provided in one edge section of the slide lever. It should be noted that a lower cylindrical member  130  is provided on the top side of the slide lever  39  around the central shaft  8   i  (Refer to FIG.  23  and FIG.  24 ), and this lower cylindrical member  130  is engaged in a central hole of the disk separated to be downward by a tray separating means described later, which allows backlash of the disk to be prevented. 
     When the carriage  30  has reached the reproducing position with the rotational movement of the cam gear  8 , the U-shaped engaging piece  32   d  of the slide plate  32  supported by the carriage  30  engages an engaging pin  39   d  so as to be located between both edges of the U-shaped portion. When the cam gear  8  kept in this state is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 12, the slide lever  39  is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of X-axis by means of the cam action of the third cam groove  8   c , and at the same time the engaging piece  32   d  is also moved in the same direction. Then, the reproducing means holding frame  35  is moved upward by means of actions of the slide plate  32 , coupling link  33 , and the cam hole  32   b  or the like, and then the turn table  20  supports a disk to be reproduced. When the slide lever  39  is moved in the direction of X-axis, the reproducing means holding frame  35 , namely the disk reproducing means is moved downward. 
     The moving up/down means for moving up and down the reproducing means such as the pickup and turn table comprises the cam gear  8 , slide lever  39 , slide plates  32 , coupling link  33 , and cam holes  32   b  or the like. 
     Next description is made for a disk holding means for holding a plurality of disks arrayed in the vertical direction (direction of Z-axis). 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a disk holding means  50  is provided in the deepest section in the back of the apparatus and comprises, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, a lower holder  52  supported by a pantograph mechanism  51 , a plurality of trays (four pieces in the embodiment) for holding disks lay over this lower holder, an upper holder  54  for pressing these trays  53  from the upper side, and a spring  55  (Refer to FIGS. 20 and 22) engaging the lower holder  52  and the upper holder  54  to be energized therebetween so that both of the holders pull each other. 
     FIGS. 25 and 26 show an outline of the disk holding means  50 , and FIG. 25 is a rear side of the apparatus, while FIG. 26 is a side view thereof. It should be noted that FIG. 26 shows a state in which the lowest tray is separated from other trays. As shown in the figure, the pantograph mechanism  51  comprises a first lever lever  51   a  and a second lever  51   b  positioned in the rear side as well as a third lever h and a fourth lever  51   i  each positioned in the side face thereof, and one edge of the first lever  51   a  is supported against the main chassis  6  so that it can rotate around the supporting shaft  51   c , a pin  51   g  planted and provided on the other edge thereof is slidably inserted and engaged in a long hole  52   b  of the lower holder  52 , while the second lever  51   b  has a pin  51   d  planted and provided on one edge thereof that is slidably inserted and engaged in a long hole  51   e  of the main chassis  6  and the other edge thereof is supported so as to be rotatable around a supporting shaft  51   f  engaged in a hole  52   a  of the lower holder  52 . Similarly, one edge of the third lever  51   h  is supported so as to be rotatable around a supporting shaft  51   j  engaging the main chassis  6 , and a pin  51   n  planted and provided on the other edge thereof is slidably inserted and engaged in a long hole  52   d  of the lower holder  52 , while the fourth lever  51   i  has a pin  51   k  planted and provided on one edge thereof that is slidably inserted and engaged in a long hole  51   l  of the main chassis  6 , and the other edge thereof is supported so as to be rotatable around a supporting shaft  51   m  engaged in a hole  52   c  of the lower holder  52 . 
     Further, a spring  51   p  extends between the lower edge sections of the first lever  51   a  and the second lever  51   b  so that the lower sections thereof are pulled to each other, namely the spring is energized in the direction to which the lower holder  52  is held up by the pantograph  51 . 
     As described above, four pieces of tray  53  for directly holding disks are stuck on each other on the top surface of the lower holder  52  (Refer to FIGS. 27 to  30 ) supported by the pantograph  51 . 
     The tray  53  comprises, as shown in FIG. 31, a disk holding section  53   a  for holding a disk D, a region in which a restriction piece  53   d  positioned at a position close to the periphery of the disk D held by the disk holding section for restricting the disk in the radial direction and the vertical direction (direction of Z-axis) is formed, and three tray supporting sections  53   b  supported by the tray separating means described later each extending in the lateral direction (direction of X-axis). It should be noted that tapered sections  53   c  each tapered in the direction of Y-axis are formed in these tray supporting sections  53   b , so that the tray separating means described later easily and surely engages each of the tray supporting sections. Also, provided in the right front side is a guide piece  53   e  extending in the direction of Y-axis, which plays a roll of guiding when the held disk is moved forward to the reproducing position when the disk is to be reproduced or when the disk is returned again to the tray  53 . Further, a fabric piece  53   f  for preventing the held disk from dropping is adhered on the top surface of the disk holding section  53   a.    
     FIG. 32 is a plan view showing a state in which the trays  53  are laid over the lower holder  52  and a disk D is held on each of the trays. As shown in the figure, a region of a rear side section  52   p  of the lower holder  52  is provided so as to expose even when the trays  53  and disks D are lay over each other, and an abutting member  82  of the moving up/down means described later is abutting with this region  52   p.    
     The upper holder  54  is provided on the top on of the trays laid as described above. Further, a cover plate (not shown in the figure) attached to the upper edge sections of side walls  6   a ,  6   b  of the main chassis is provided in the upper side of this upper holder  54 , and an upper cylindrical member  131  engaging in the central hole of a disk is provided on the bottom surface inside of the cover plate (Refer to FIG.  3  and FIG.  32 ). The upper cylindrical member  131  is provided so as to engage in the central hole of the disk separated to be upward by the tray separating means described later and to prevent backlash of the disk. 
     As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the upper holder  54  has the substantially same form as that of the tray  53 , and also has engaging sections  54   e ,  54   f , and  54   g  each formed so as to extend in the lateral direction and to hang downward. As shown in FIGS. 27 to  30 , the lower holder  53  has engaging sections  52   e ,  52   f , and  52   g  each formed so as to also extend in the lateral direction and project upward, and each of the springs  55  (Refer to FIGS. 20,  21 ) is engaged between corresponding engaging sections in each of the lower holder  52  and the upper holder  54  to be energized so as to pull both of the holders to each other namely to hold the lay-over trays  53  from the upper side as well as from the lower side. 
     Next description is made for a tray separating means  60  for separating, when a desired disk is to be selected from a plurality of disks held on the disk holding means  50  to be reproduced, any tray holding the disk from other ones. 
     As shown in FIGS. 35 to  37 , a slide plate  61  for tray separation is provided on the bottom surface outside of the main chassis  6  along the surface, and a pin  61   d  planted and provided in the main chassis  6  is inserted in a guiding long hole  61   b  of the plate, and an engaging pin  61   a  thereof is inserted and engaged in the second cam groove  8   b  of the cam gear  8  provided in the upper side of the bottom face of the main chassis  6  so as to be movable along the groove  8   b.    
     Namely, the slide plate  61  for tray separation is so supported as to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis) by means of rotation of the cam gear  8 . 
     Both edges in the lateral direction (direction of X-axis) of the slide plate  61  for tray separation are bent upward (direction of Z-axis) and engaging pins  61   c  are planted and provided thereon to be engaged in an engaging hole  63   f  (Refer to FIG. 47) of a first separating lever  63  as a wedge-formed member and in an engaging hole  66   f  (Refer to FIG. 45) of a third separating lever  66  also as a wedge-formed member respectively. It should be noted that the first separating lever  63  and a second separating lever  64  are coupled to each other through a coupling plate  67  so as to move in correlation to each other in the directions opposite to each other as described later. 
     Accordingly, when the cam gear  8  is rotated from the stand-by position shown in FIGS. 35 to  37  by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction by the motor  76  as shown in FIGS. 38 to  40 , the slide plate  61  for tray separation is moved toward the rear side (in the backward direction) by a specified distance by means of the cam action of the second cam groove  8   b  engaged by the engaging pin  61   a , and at the same time the first separating lever  63  and third separating lever  66  are moved rearward, while the second separating lever  64  is moved forward (in the front direction) to reach a position where separation is operated. 
     FIGS. 41 and 42 show states each in which the separating levers  63 ,  64 , and  66  operate for separating one of the trays  53  from the other trays, and in the figures, seven pieces of trays are provided in the embodiment, in which the fourth tray (namely a disk) from the bottom is separated from the other trays. 
     Description is made herein for a construction of a separating lever with reference to FIG. 41 to FIG.  49 . 
     The separating levers  63 ,  64 , and  66  each as a wedge formed member are provided, as shown in FIG. 2, FIGS. 35 to  37 , and FIGS. 38 to  40 , along the side walls  6   a  and  6   b  of the main chassis, and those separating levers are supported through brackets  65  and  62  fixed to the side walls  6   a  and  6   b.    
     As shown in FIGS. 43,  44  and FIGS. 45 to  47 , the first separating lever  63  and second separating lever  64  have guiding long holes  63   d  and  64   d  which are supported movably in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis) respectively by engaging a central shaft  67   b  inserted in the central hole  62   a  provided in the bracket  62  as well as engaging the guide pins  62   b . Also, the substantially diamond-shaped coupling plate  67  is attached to the central hole  62   a  of the bracket  62  so as to be rotatable around the position of the central shaft  6   b , and further an engaging pin  67   a  provided on the coupling plate  67  is inserted into an engaging hole  63   e  of the first separating lever  63  as well as into an engaging hole  64   e  of the second separating lever  64 , and also inserted into an arc-shaped groove  62   e  of the bracket  62  so that the coupling plate  67  is rotatable in a range of the arc-shaped groove  62   e.    
     Accordingly, when the engaging pin  61   c  of the slide plate  61  for tray separation is moved rearward from the stand-by position shown in FIG. 43, the first separating lever  63  moves rearward together with the engaging pin  61   c , while the coupling plate  67  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the second separating lever  64  moves forward in accordance with the rotation of the plate to reach the position where separation is operated shown in FIG.  44 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, the third separating lever  66  has guiding long holes  66   d  thereon that are supported movably in the longitudinal direction by being engaged by the guide pins  65   a  provided in the bracket  65 . 
     Accordingly, when the engaging pin  61   c  of the slide plate  61  for tray separation is moved rearward (in the direction opposite to the direction of Y-axis) from the stand-by position shown in FIG. 48, the third separating lever  66  moves rearward together with the engaging pin  61   c  to reach the position where separation is operated shown in FIG.  49 . 
     Portions for performing an separating action of the separating levers  63 ,  64 , and  66  have substantially wedge forms, and are formed so that the portions have first tapered sections  63   a ,  64   a , and  66   a  as slope sections going upward smoothly and second tapered sections  63   b ,  64   b , and  66   b  as slope sections going downward steeply with U-shaped notched sections  63   c ,  64   c , and  66   c  catching the supporting section  53   b  of the tray  53  in between respectively. 
     The second tapered sections  63   b ,  64   b , and  66   b  have steep slopes as compared to those in the first tapered sections  63   a ,  64   a , and  66   a  respectively, so that the travel of a tray to be separated downward is longer than that of a tray to be separated upward when the trays are separated to be upward and downward by both of the tapered sections. 
     Accordingly, a space which a clamping means enters is maintained in the upper side of the tray holding a disk selected for reproduction and a sufficient space is also maintained in the lower side thereof, so that the carriage  30  holding the reproducing means can enter the region in the lower side thereof. 
     It should be noted that, in the position where the separating operation is executed, as shown in FIGS. 41 and 42, the tray  53  vertically separated by tapered sections is securely fixed in the vertical direction (direction of Z-axis) in contact of the top surface or the bottom surface of the supporting section  53   b  of the tray with each of flat sections  63   g ,  64   g , and  66   g  of the separating levers  63 ,  64 , and  66  respectively. 
     The tray separating means  60  for separating the tray  53  holding a disk to be reproduced from other trays in the vertical direction comprises the second cam groove  8   b  of the cam gear  8 , slide plate  61 , the first separating lever  63 , the second separating lever  64 , the third separating lever  66 , and the coupling plate  67 . 
     As described above, as a means for selecting a tray holding thereon a desired disk and separating it from other trays, a wedge-formed member acting from the direction in which the trays are arrayed as well as from the substantially vertical direction is provided, which allows the construction to be simplified and an apparatus to be minimized. Further, a number of trays can easily be increased or decreased, which allows varieties of the apparatus to increase. 
     Next description is made for the moving up/down means for moving up and down the disk holding means  50  when a specified disk to be reproduced is to be selected and positioning the disk at a specified height in the vertical direction. 
     As shown in FIG. 50, an abutting member  82  slidably engaging a guide shaft  81  extending in the vertical direction is located in the right back side section of the apparatus so that the member abuts the region  52   p  of the lower holder  52  from the upper side. This abutting member  82  is screwed by a vertically extending feed screw  83  that is integrally formed with a gear  84 . The gear  84  engages a gear  85 , and this gear  85  engages a worm  86  fixed to a spindle of a motor  87 . Accordingly the abutting member  82  is moved in the vertical direction by rotating the motor  87  through the worm  86 , gear  85 , gear  84 , and feed screw  83 . In this step, the lower holder  52  is energized upward by the pantograph mechanism, so that, when the abutting member  82  is move upward, the lower holder  52  is also moved upward following the butting member  82  by means of its resilient force. When the abutting member  82  is moved downward, the lower holder  52  is moved downward against the resilient force. 
     The moving up/down means  80  for moving up and down the disk holding means  50  and positioning a desired disk at a specified height comprises the guide shaft  81 , abutting member  82 , feed screw  83 , gears  84 ,  85 , worm  86 , and motor  87 . 
     Also, the disk selecting means for selecting a desired disk comprises the moving up/down means  80  and tray separating means  60 . 
     Next description is made for a disk-guide positioning means for inserting a disk through the disk insertion slot  5  and positioning the disk on a tray  53  as well as for a disk retrieving means for taking out the disk on the tray  53  to outside of the apparatus. 
     As shown in FIGS. 51 to  53 , a disk-guide swing arm  91  engaging the outer periphery of a disk when the disk is transferred and guiding the disk in a specified direction is located in the front left side section of the apparatus. This swing arm  91  is provided so as to be capable of swinging within a horizontal plane around a supporting shaft  91   a  planted and provided on the top surface of the carriage holding frame  31 , and a spring  91   f  is extended between an engaging piece  31   c  of the carriage holding frame  31  and an engaging piece  91   d  of the swing arm and engages a stopper  31   d  at a stop position A by being energized in the clockwise direction. 
     Similarly, a disk-guide swing arm  92  engaging the outer periphery of a disk and guiding the disk in a specified direction is located in the front right side section of the apparatus. This swing arm  92  is provided so as to be capable of swinging within a horizontal plane around a supporting shaft  92   a  planted and provided on the bottom face of the carriage holding frame  31 , and a spring  92   f  is provided between an engaging piece  31   e  of the carriage holding frame  31  and an engaging piece  92   d  of the swing arm and engages a stopper  31   f  at a stop position A as being urged in the counterclockwise direction. 
     In the structure having the arm as described above, when a disk is transferred towards the interior of the apparatus by the roller  40 , the outer periphery of the disk engages serially engaging sections  92   b  and  91   b  of the arms  92  and  91  respectively, which makes each of the arms swing toward a retreat position B against a resilient force of the spring. Further, when the disk is transferred to the internal side thereof, the disk leaves the roller  40  at a certain point of time, so that a driving force of the roller  40  does not effect thereon. At this point of time, the disk-guide swing arms  91  and  92  make the disk moved toward a specified holding section  53   a  for the tray  53  by means of the resilient force, and then the operation of transferring the disk is completed. 
     Transfer of disks to all trays  53  can be achieved by positioning each of the trays at a specified height with the operation of the moving up/down means. 
     It should be noted that all the engaging sections  91   b  and  92   b  of the arms  91  and  92  are slightly spaced, when a disk is located at a specified holding position on the tray  53 , from the outer periphery of the disk. 
     When a disk on the tray  53  is to be ejected to outside of the apparatus, the disk is pushed out by means of action of an ejecting arm  94  provided in the back side of the apparatus so as to be capable of swinging around a supporting shaft  94   a  and extended by a spring  94   c  between an engaging piece  94   b  of the arm and an engaging piece of the chassis to be energized in the clockwise direction. Namely, the roller  40  is rotated in the opposite direction to that at the time of taking it in, and at the same time the ejecting arm  94  is rotated by a driving means (not shown in the figures) in the counterclockwise direction from a retreat position B to an acting position A. Then a free edge of the ejecting arm  94  engages the outer periphery of the disk to push up the disk forward. This movement of the disk makes the arms  92 ,  91  swing toward the retreat positions B respectively. Then, when the front portion of the disk is held between the roller  40  and the bottom surface of the carriage  30 , the disk is transferred toward the disk insertion slot  5  by means of the driving force of the roller  40 . 
     With the guiding effect of those arms  91 ,  92 , restriction piece  53   d , and guide piece  53   e  as well as with the self-centering effect of the roller  40  with the central section thereof in the axial direction formed in a tapered form, a disk is securely transferred in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis) without displacement of the disk in the lateral direction (direction of X-axis). 
     The disk-guide positioning means comprises the disk-guide swing arms  91  and  92 , restriction piece  53   d , guide piece  53   e , and the roller  40  with a tapered structure formed so that the outer diameter of the roller increases from the center toward both edges thereof. 
     Also the disk ejecting means for ejecting a disk from the apparatus comprises the ejecting arm  94  and the roller  40 . 
     It should be noted that the disk-guide swing arm  91  is swung once to the retreat position B when a disk is reproduced, which allows the carriage  30  to move. Namely there is a construction that, when reproduction is started, if the carriage  30  is moved rearward, the rolling ring  30   d  engaging the engaging pin  30   c  projecting downward from the bottom face of the carriage  30  engages an edge section  91   c  of the swing arm  91  to make the swing arm  91  swing in the counterclockwise direction in accordance with the rearward movement of the carriage  30  so that the upright engaging section  91   b  of the swing arm  91  does not contact the bottom surface nor the side face of the carriage  30 . 
     Accordingly, a space required for installation of the components can be reduced by a space for the height of the upright engaging section  91   b  of the swing arm  91 , and with this feature, and the thickness of the apparatus can be made thinner, which allows the apparatus to be minimized as a whole. 
     Next description is made for a clamping means  100  for clamping a disk in cooperation with the turn table when the disk is reproduced. 
     As shown in FIG.  54  and FIG. 2, the clamping means  100  for pressing down and fixing a disk to be reproduced from the upper side toward the turn table  20  is located above the carriage  30 . Namely, the clamper frame  101  is provided above the pickup  10  and the turn table  20  or the like in a specified space therebetween and fixed to the carriage  30 . Then, a clamper  102  is inserted in a hole provided in the clamper frame  101  from the upper side, and the outer peripheral edge of the clamper is supported and is energized by a spring arm  103  from the further upper side to the lower side. When a disk is to be clamped, the clamper  102  is slightly pushed upward to leave the clamper frame  101 , and a supporting pin  102   a  of the clamper  102  is rotatably supported by a bearing hole  103   a  of the spring arm  103 . 
     The clamping means  100  for clamping a disk in cooperation with the turn table  20  comprises the clamper frame  101 , clamper  102 , spring arm  103 , and the bearing hole  103   a.    
     It should be noted that, in FIG. 54, the reproducing means holding frame  35  indicated by a solid line shows the frame located at the reproducing position, and the frame indicated by a phantom line shows the frame located at a stand-by position respectively. 
     Next description is made for a disk retrieving means  140  for taking out a desired disk held on the tray  53  in the forward direction (direction of Y-axis) toward the disk reproducing means. 
     As shown in FIG.  55  and FIG. 56, the disk take-out means  142  and a lock arm  143  for locking the disk holding means  50  are coaxially provided in the left back side section of the apparatus so as to be rotatable around the supporting shaft  141  planted and provided on the main chassis. It should be noted that the disk take-out means  142  and the lock arm  143  are energized by a spring  144  in the direction of approaching each other. Also, a coupling arm  142   a  is integrally formed in the lower edge of the rotational center in the disk retrieve arm  142 , and a long hole  142   b  is provided in a free edge side of the arm. Further, a V-shaped slide lever  145  is located above the coupling arm  142   a  and the cam gear  8 , a guide pin  146  is inserted into a long hole  145   c  of the lever, and engaging pins  145   a ,  145   b  of the lever are inserted into the cam groove  8   d  as well as a long hole  142   b , so that the slide lever  145  reciprocates in a specified direction by means of rotation of the cam gear  8 . 
     Namely, the slide lever  145  reciprocates in association with rotation of the cam gear  8 , which makes the disk retrieve arm  142  rotate. 
     FIG. 55 shows a state of the disk take-out means  140  when a disk is inserted through the disk insertion slot  5 . In this state, the disk retrieve arm  142  has rotated by a specified angle in the clockwise direction, the lock arm  143  also rotates in the clockwise direction by means of a resilient force of the spring  144 , the free edge of the lock arm engages the lower holder  52 , four trays  53 , and one edge of the upper holder  54 , which prevents backlash of the components. Accordingly, when a disk is to be transferred to a specified tray, positional displacement of a disk can be prevented, and the disk can securely be transferred. 
     FIG. 56 shows a state of the disk take-out means when a disk stored and held on the tray  53  of the disk holding means is moved to the reproducing position in the front side. This state indicates a state where the cam gear  8  rotates by a specified angle in the counterclockwise direction from the state shown in FIG. 55, and during the rotation of the cam gear  8 , the disk retrieve arm  142  and the lock arm  143  rotate in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 2, to leave the disk holding means and then rotate again in the clockwise direction as shown in the figure. During the rotation in the clockwise direction, the free edge of the disk retrieve arm  142  engages the outer periphery of a disk to be reproduced to push the disk forward, and at the same time the pushed-out disk is guided by the guide piece  53   e  of the tray to be positioned at the reproducing position (the central position C 2  in FIG. 2) while the disk is restricted by a disk returning arm described later. It should be noted that FIG. 56 shows a state where the disk is positioned at the reproducing position and is clamped by the clamping means and then the disk retrieve arm  142  is slightly rotated in the counterclockwise direction to be away from the outer periphery of the disk. 
     The disk take-out means for taking out a disk to be reproduced from a tray when the disk is to be reproduced as well as the locking means for locking the disk holding means at specified positions comprise the supporting shaft  141 , disk retrieve arm  142 , lock arm  143 , spring  144 , V-shaped slide lever  145 , and the cam groove  8   d.    
     Next description is made for a disk returning means  160  for returning a disk of which has been reproduced to a specified tray  53 . As shown in FIG. 57, a disk returning arm  161  is located in the lower left side of the clamper frame  101  so as to be rotatable around a supporting shaft  161   a . This disk returning means  161  is energized, when the carriage  30  is located at the stand-by position (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line), by a spring  162  so that the free edge of the arm is directed toward the rear side of the apparatus by rotating in the counterclockwise direction, and engages a stopper (not shown in the figure) formed in the clamper frame  101 . 
     FIG. 57 shows a state of a disk at the reproducing position, and when the disk is pushed out by the disk retrieve arm  142  from the storing position (D 1 ) to the reproducing position (D 2 ), the free edge of the disk returning arm  161  engages the outer periphery of the disk, and the disk returning arm  161  rotates in the clockwise direction in accordance with the forward movement of the disk. Then, the disk reaches the reproducing position, the reproducing means holding frame  35  moves upward, and the disk is clamped by the clamper  102 , and at the same time or in a slight delay thereafter, the tapered engaging piece  35   d  of the reproducing means holding frame  35  engages a hanging piece  161   c  of the disk returning arm  161  (Refer to FIG. 54) and the disk returning arm  161  is further rotated slightly in the clockwise direction by means of the cam action due to the tapered section of the cam to leave the outer periphery of the disk, and simultaneously with this leaving operation, the disk retrieve arm  142  also slightly rotates in the counterclockwise direction to leave the outer periphery of the disk, then the state shown in the figure is obtained. 
     When reproduction is finished and the reproducing means holding frame  35  moves down, the hanging piece  161   c  and the engaging piece  35   d  are disengaged from each other simultaneously when or right before the clamping of the disk is released, and then the disk returning arm  161  rotates in the counterclockwise direction to engage the outer periphery of the disk. The disk retrieve arm  142  also rotates in the clockwise direction to engage the outer periphery of the disk. Then, when the cam gear  8  rotates in the clockwise direction, the disk is returned to a tray  53  while the disk returning arm  161  rotates in the counterclockwise direction by the resilient force of the spring  162  in accordance with rotation of the disk retrieve arm  142  in the counterclockwise direction. It should be noted that the disk returning arm  161  is so constructed that the engaging piece  161   b  thereof is temporarily guided by the guide plate  101   a  formed in a portion of the clamper frame so that the rotation can smoothly be executed. 
     Next description is made for a cover driving means  150  for operating the cover for opening or closing the disk insertion slot  5  when a disk is to be taken in or taken out through the disk insertion slot  5 . 
     As shown in FIG.  55  and FIG. 56, a slide plate  151  is located on the top surface of the main chassis  6  in the front left side of the apparatus, a guide pin  151   e  planted and provided on the main chassis is inserted into a long hole  151   b  of the plate, so that the plate can reciprocate in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis). A rack  151   a  engaging a gear  152  that can engage the teeth  8   g  of the cam gear  8  is formed on the slide plate  151 , so that the plate can be reciprocated in the longitudinal direction in accordance with rotation of the cam gear  8 . Further, one edge of the spring  153  engages the engaging pin  151   c  planted and provided on the right front edge section of the slide plate  151  and the slide plate  151  is always energized to move rearward. 
     In the construction as described above, as shown in FIG. 55, when the cam gear  8  is rotated in the clockwise direction, the slide plate  151  is moved forward through the teeth  89   g , gear  152 , and the rack  151   a , the front edge section  151   d  of the plate engages the cover to open the disk insertion slot  5 . When, as shown in FIG. 29, the cam gear  8  rotates in the counterclockwise direction and the teeth  8   g  do not engage the gear  152 , the slide plate  151  is moved rearward by means of the resilient force of the spring  153 , and the front edge section  151   d  thereof leaves the cover, whereby the disk insertion slot  5  is closed. 
     The cover driving means  150  for opening and closing a cover comprises the slide plate  151 , gear  152 , teeth  8   g , and the spring  153 . 
     Next description is made for a locking means for locking the main chassis  6  against the housing  1  when the carriage  30  is located at a stand-by position and a disk is not reproduced. 
     As shown in FIG. 58, a lock lever  121  lengthy in the longitudinal direction (direction of Y-axis) is located in the bottom surface (outside of the bottom face) of the main chassis, pins  121   a  and  121   b  planted and provided on this lever  121  are inserted and engaged in guide long holes (not shown in the figure) formed in the main chassis  6  respectively to be energized so as to be capable of reciprocating in the longitudinal direction as well as to move rearward (toward the back of the apparatus) by a spring  122 . 
     Also the pin  121   a  of the lock lever  121  extends upward so that it can engage a cam section  37   e  of the swing arm  37 . 
     The main chassis  6  is supported through the supporting member (Refer to FIG. 2) such as rubber cushions so that a specified space between the chassis and the internal wall of the housing  1  can be maintained because of the necessity to prevent vibration when a disk is reproduced (this state is referred to as a neutral position). 
     When the swing arm  37  is swung by rotation of the cam gear  8  in the clockwise direction from this neutral position, namely from the position corresponding to that when the carriage  30  is located at the reproducing position toward a position corresponding to that when the carriage  30  is located to the frontward stand-by position, the cam section  37   e  formed in the front side of the substantially middle section of the swing arm  37  engages the pin  121   a , the lock lever  121  is projected forward from the front edge of the main chassis  6  with the edge section  121   c  of the lock lever abutting the internal surface of the front wall of the housing  1 . 
     By abutting the lock lever  121  to the housing  1 , the supporting member such as rubber cushions is forcefully deformed in the longitudinal direction, and the main chassis  6  is moved rearward (toward the back of the apparatus) by a specified distance L relatively to the housing  1 . 
     With this feature, the main chassis  6  is energized in one direction to the housing  1  and a locking effect can be obtained by means of this resilient force. Also the main chassis  6  is relatively moved rearward, whereby a space can be maintained between the front edge of the main chassis and the front wall of the housing  1 , so that the carriage  30  can be moved to this region (so as to project forward from the main chassis). 
     Accordingly, differently from a structure in which a space for vibration isolation is constantly maintained between the main chassis  6  and the housing  1 , the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has the construction in which a portion of the apparatus can be in a stand-by state using the space at the time of non-reproduction when vibration isolation is not required, which allows depth dimensions of the apparatus to be reduced by the dimensions L and the apparatus to be minimized as a whole. 
     As shown in FIG.  59  and FIG. 60, lock levers  124  and  126  for locking the main chassis  6  against the housing  1  when a disk is inserted or taken out through the disk insertion slot  5  are provided. Namely coupling levers  123 ,  125  each with a lower edge thereof coupled to a pin  31   b  of the carriage holding frame  31  so as to be rotatable extend substantially upward, and the upper edges thereof are coupled to coupling pins  124   b ,  126   b  of the lock levers  124 ,  126  fixed so as to be capable of swinging around supporting shafts  124   a ,  126   a  provided adjacent to the upper edges of the side faces  6   a  and  6   b  respectively. Then, when the carriage holding frame  31  is positioned in the lower side, the lock levers  124 ,  126  are set to stay substantially horizontal, but when the carriage holding frame  31  is positioned in the upper side namely the carriage  30  is held up at a specified height, the lock levers  124 ,  126  swing upward respectively to abut the internal surface of the top plate of the housing  1 . 
     With this feature, especially the vertical movements of the main chassis, namely the main unit of the apparatus is restricted, so that the main unit of the apparatus can be prevented from experiencing backlash when power to the apparatus is cut off, and when a disk is inserted or taken out through the disk insertion slot  5 , each of the operations can easily and securely be performed. 
     It should be noted that a starting point or an end point of the various operational steps as described above is detected by using a detecting sensor (not shown in the figure) for detecting the timing thereof by means of contact or non-contact of the moving member with each corresponding component. 
     Next description is made for operations of the disk reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     At first, when power to the apparatus is cut off, as shown in FIG. 61, the carriage  30  is located at the stand-by position set at the specified height in the side of the disk insertion slot. 
     In this state, when the power is tuned ON and the disk insertion mode is specified, at first detection is made as to whether a disk is held on a tray or not. This detection is executed by making the moving up/down means serially select trays, making the disk take-out means move each tray to a specified position, making a photo-sensor provided at a specified position detect whether a disk is on the tray or not, and making the disk take-out means store again the tray back in the original position. All these operations are repeated for all trays. 
     Then, when any tray with no disk thereon has been detected through the above detection, the tray  53  with no disk thereon is positioned at a specified height (a height required for taking in or taking out a disk) by the moving up/down means  80 . The cam gear  8  is rotated by a specified angle in the clockwise direction, the slide plate  151  of the cover driving means  150  moves forward, whereby the cover is opened, and the disk insertion slot  5  is opened. Then, the roller  40  rotates in the take-in direction, so that a disk is ready to be inserted. When a plurality of disks are inserted, disks may be inserted continuously or discretely for each instruction according to operations for a desired instruction. 
     It should be noted that FIG. 61 shows a state in which a disk D 4  is going to be taken in one of the trays  53  which is in the lowest stage. In this disk taken-in state, the disk holding means  50  such as trays  53  is locked by the lock arm  143 , while the main chassis  6  is locked against the housing  1  by the lock levers  121 ,  124  and  126 , whereby the operation for taking in a disk can securely be performed. 
     When the operation for carrying in or out a carriage is finished, the operating mode shifts to the reproduction mode according to a specific instruction. At first, when the cam gear  8  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the driving means  70 , the slide plate  151  is pulled in, the cover is closed, the lock arm  143  rotates in the counterclockwise direction to leave the disk holding means  50 , so that the disk holding means can move up and down. Also, the carriage  30  moves down a distance H (FIG. 3) to a specified height, that is, the carriage  30  moves down so that its upper surface which functions as its first end approaches the insertion executable position, and the lock levers  124  and  126  also rotate downward to leave the housing  1 . Then, when an operation for selecting a desired disk has been performed, any tray holding the disk thereon is positioned at the specified height (the height required for the disk reproduction) by the moving up/down means  80 . 
     Then, the cam gear  8  is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the driving means  70 . With the rotation of the cam gear  8 , at first the slide plate  61  is moved rearward by means of action of the second cam groove  8   b , and at the same time the levers  63 ,  64 , and  66  each for separating a tray are moved in the longitudinal direction to separate a tray  53  holding a disk to be reproduced thereon from other trays. 
     When the cam gear  8  rotates further, the swing arm  37  is swung rearward by means of action of the first cam groove  8   a , and at the same time the carriage  30  is moved from the stand-by position (the position shown in FIG. 61) to the reproducing position (C 2  in the FIG. 62) between the trays. Locking due to the lock lever  121  is released in accordance with the rearward movement of the swing arm  37 , and the main chassis  6  returns to the neutral position which is supported with vibration isolation. 
     Simultaneously when the carriage  30  moves to the reproducing position, the disk retrieve arm  142  rotates in the clockwise direction by means of action of the cam groove  8   d  to butt the rear section of the outer periphery of a disk to be reproduced, and this disk is moved from the stored position (C 1  in FIG. 62) to the reproducing position. The forward movement of the disk is executed while it is guided by the guide piece  53   e  of the tray  53  and also against the resilient force of the disk returning arm  161 , so that the center of the disk may not be displaced in the direction of X-axis, which allows transfer of a disk to be accurately performed with high precision. It should be noted that, with the rotation of the disk retrieve arm  142 , the lock arm  143  also rotates in the clockwise direction to lock a tray  53  or the like at a specified position according to a resilient force of the spring  144 . Backlash of the trays  53  or the like can be prevented by means of the locking action, so that transfer of a disk can accurately be performed with high precision. 
     Then, the carriage  30  reaches the reproducing position and the disk reaches the reproducing position, and at the same time the U-shaped engaging piece  32   d  on the carriage  30  engages the engaging pin  39   d  on the slide lever  39 . 
     When the cam gear  8  rotates further, the slide lever  39  is moved by means of action of the third cam groove  8   c  in the direction opposite to the direction of X-axis, and at the same time the slide plate  32  shifts to move up the reproducing means holding frame  35 , then the turn table  20  holds up and supports a selected disk from the lower side and at the same time clamps the disk in cooperation with the clamper  102 . 
     Simultaneously when or with a slight delay after this clamping operation is executed, the disk returning arm  161  is slightly rotated in the clockwise direction by means of action of the tapered engaging piece  35   d  to leave the peripheral section of the disk, while the disk retrieve arm  142  is slightly rotated in the counterclockwise direction by means of action of the cam groove  8   d  also to leave the peripheral section of the disk. 
     As described above, when a disk is to be reproduced, the reproducing means and a disk to be reproduced are simultaneously moved so as to approach each other, so that a time required from generation of an instruction for disk reproduction until execution of reproduction can be reduced, which allows smooth reproduction to be achieved. 
     With this operation, a disk is ready to be reproduced and then the disk is reproduced. It should be noted that, when the reproduction of the disk is ended, the reproducing means is returned to the stand-by position, and the disk is returned to the original position to be stored, the processing is executed in the reverse order of the operations described above, so that description thereof is omitted herein. 
     When a disk stored in the disk holding means  50  is to be retrieved, if a predetermined disk retrieval mode is specified, any tray holding thereon the selected disk to be retrieved is positioned at a specified height by the moving up/down means, then the ejecting arm  94  is rotated by the driving means in the counterclockwise direction, and the ejecting arm  94  moves the disk forward by a specified distance. Then, the front edge section of the disk goes into a space between the roller  40  located in the position shown in FIG.  61  and rotating in the disk carrying out direction and the bottom surface of the carriage  30 , and then the carry-out of the disk is ended by the rotating force of the roller  40 . 
     As described above, with the disk reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the size of the apparatus can be reduced, especially the thickness of the apparatus in the direction of arrangement of the disks can be reduced. Specifically, the disk reproducing means having a certain thickness is moved, when a disk is to be inserted, in a manner that an end (a second end) opposite to the end (a first end) for carrying a disk is positioned near to the disk insertion executable position in the direction of arrangement of the disks. When a disk is to be reproduced, the disk reproducing means is moved so that its end for carrying a disk (the first end) is positioned near to the disk insertion executable position. By this feature, the thickness of the apparatus in the direction of arrangement of the disks is reduced as compared with an arrangement in which the disk holding means is moved in the direction of arrangement of the disks relative to the disk reproducing means and the disk transporting means using these means respectively as a reference, as in conventional cases. 
     Furthermore, by placing the disk transporting means at the disk transportation executable position when a disk is to be inserted, and placing the disk transporting means at the disk transportation inexecutable position when a disk is to be reproduced, the disk insertion and ejecting operations are surely prevented from being executed during the reproduction of a disk. Consequently, a reliable reproduction operation can always be performed in the apparatus according to the present invention.