Autochanger type disc player

An autochanger type disc player characterized by the fact that it is equipped with trays that contain discs, a cartridge capable of containing plural number of trays, a vertical tray transfer member that is moved to a position corresponding to a desired tray contained in the cartridge, a tray horizontal tray transferring mechanism that turns over the tray between the vertical tray transfer member and the cartridge, and a carrier mechanism that carries the vertical tray transfer member from a position corresponding to the desired tray a disc playback position, and that the carrier mechanism is equipped with a rotating body that has plural number of cams formed corresponding to moving paths of the vertical tray transfer member from respective positions corresponding to the trays contained in the cartridge to the disc playback position, and when the vertical tray transfer member is at a position corresponding to a desired tray in the cartridge, the cam of the rotating body corresponding to the moving path between the vertical tray transfer member position and the disc playback position is selected and the vertical tray transfer member is carried by this cam.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to an autochanger type disc player, 
and more particularly, to a disc automatically changing mechanism suitable 
for a compact disc players. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Recently, in the field of audio equipment, digital audio disc playback 
systems utilizing pulse code modulation (referred as PCM hereinafter) 
technology to playback sound as faithfully as possible have been 
developed. Of these systems, playback systems employing digital audio 
discs, so-called as compact discs (compact disc will be referred as CD 
hereinafter), have become especially popular. 
Specifically, the CD used in the digital audio disc playback system is 
typically formed in the type of record disc which is made from a 
transparent resin and has a diameter of 12 cm and a thickness of 1.2 mm. 
The CD has a thin metal film deposited on at least one surface thereof, 
and pits or recesses are formed in the thin metal film, corresponding to 
digitized data (PCM data) so that logic 1 and 0 may produce different 
light reflectivities. The PCM data are read out from the CD, when the CD 
is rotated at a variable rotation frequency of 200 to 500 rpm with a 
constant linear velocity. The PCM data of the CD are read by an optical 
pickup incorporating a semiconductor laser or photoelectric transducer 
device which traces the record track of the CD and moves rectilinearly 
from the inner side toward the outer side of the CD during the tracing. 
The CD stores a large quantity of information that it permits a 
stereophonic playback for about one hour even if only one side of the CD 
is used for information storage. 
It has been theoretically proved that the CD is much superior to the 
conventional analog phonograph record in both playback characteristics and 
information storage density. 
In view of the excellent characteristics of the CD, it has been suggested 
to use CDs in an automatic multi-CD playback system for personal and/or 
business use. It is possible to realize the automatic multi-CD playback 
system by means of an autochanger type CD player. An autochanger mechanism 
in the CD player automatically selects a desired CD in a cartridge 
accomodated in the CD player and carries the selected CD to the playback 
position. When the playback of the selected CD is finished, the 
autochanger type CD player returns the CD from the playback position to 
the original position in the cartridge if the autochanger mechanism is 
installed to the main unit of the CD player in advance with plural number 
of CDs contained. 
Conventional autochanger type CD players of this kind are complex in 
structure and bulky, however, partially because they have been designed 
for use with analog phonograph records. 
Therefore, the conventional autochanger type CD players present control 
problems. Further, the requirement of more certain operation limits the 
number of CDs held within such a CD player. Another problem is the long 
time it takes to exchange one CD for another. 
For these reasons, if the conventional autochanger type CD player is 
applied to CDs without changing the essential structure of the CD player, 
there arise numerous problems. Hence, the development of an autochanger 
type CD player suitable for CDs is a matter of urgency. 
In these autochanger type CD players, the autochanger mechanism carries out 
some complicated processes as follows. First, the autochanger mechanism 
pulls out a desired CD from a cartridge which houses a number of CDs 
therein. The CDs are stored in the cartridge by being raised on exclusive 
carrying trays, respectively. That is, the autochanger mechanism pulls out 
a tray supporting a desired CD. Then, the autochanger mechanism carries 
the CD together with the corresponding tray to a playback position. For 
example, the autochanger mechanism lowers the CD on a turntable of a 
playback section. When the playback of the CD has finished, the 
autochanger mechanism lifts up the CD from the turntable to a prescribed 
height position. And then, the autochanger mechanism returns the CD into 
the storing position in the cartridge where the CD was originally housed. 
As described above, complicated motions are needed for the automatic CD 
change. In connection with this, the autochanger mechanism requires a 
large number of parts. Furthermore, there will be such a problem that the 
size thereof may become large in scale so that the size of the entire CD 
player is enlarged. 
The same circumstances apply to video CD players and optical CD document 
file systems which are soon to be put into practical use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to 
provide an autochanger type disc player equipped with an autochanger 
mechanism which is simple in structure and effective for miniaturizing the 
entire size of the player. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an autochanger type 
disc player which is simple in construction. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an autochanger 
type disc player which is capable of selecting with certainty a 
predetermined CD among many CDs stored close each other in a CD storage 
section. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, the autochanger type CD 
player includes a cartridge capable of housing multiple CDs, a number of 
trays for exclusively holding the CD in the cartridge, a vertical tray 
transfer member which is movable between a position corresponding to a 
desired tray in the cartridge and a playback position, a CD search 
mechanism for accessing a desired CD in the cartridge, a mechanism for 
taking/returning a tray holding a desired CD from/to the cartridge, a tray 
transferring mechanism for carrying the tray to/from a CD playback 
position, and a rotary cam which has a plurality of cams formed 
corresponding to the moving routes of the vertical tray transfer member 
from respective positions corresponding to the trays contained in the 
cartridge of the above-mentioned CD playback position and is so designed 
that when the vertical tray transfer member is at the position 
corresponding to a desired tray of the cartridge, the cam of the 
above-mentioned rotating body corresponding to the moving path from the 
vertical tray transfer member's position to the CD playback position is 
selected and the vertical tray transfer member is carried by the guide of 
this cam. 
According to the above-mentioned means, when the vertical tray transfer 
member is moved between each tray position (the position from where the 
vertical tray transfer member is moved for searching a CD) and the CD 
playback position (the turntable), the rotating body of the carrier 
mechanism selects the cam corresponding to the moving path of the vertical 
tray transfer member. Therefore, when the rotating body is turned in the 
forward direction, the vertical tray transfer member is moved to the CD 
playback position by the selected cam. On the other hand, when the 
rotating body is turned in the reverse direction, the vertical tray 
transfer member is returned to the original position. This action is 
realized for each of the trays by the rotational driving motion of a 
single rotating body. 
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent 
to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description 
and the accompanying drawings, which are hereby incorporated in and 
constitute a part of this specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
An embodiment of the autochanger type CD player according to the present 
invention will be described in detail with reference to the FIGS. 1 
through 17. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the autochanger type CD player comprises a cartridge 
100, a playback section 200, a search mechanism 300 and a transferring 
mechanism 400. The cartridge 100 contains a plurality of trays, e.g., six 
pieces of trays 101 to 106 for removably housing six pieces of CDs in the 
cartridge 100. The playback section 200 comprises a turntable drive motor 
201, a turntable 202 and a pickup 203. The search mechanism 300 is 
provided for the search of a desired CD for reproduction selected from the 
CDs stored in the cartridge 100. The transferring mechanism 400 transfers 
the selected CD between the cartridge 100 and the playback section 200. 
The transferring mechanism 400 comprises a vertical transferring section 
500, a clamp mechanism 600 and a horizontal transferring section 700. Each 
of the components, i.e., the cartridge 100, the playback section 200, the 
search mechanism 300, the transferring mechanism 400, the vertical 
transferring section 500, a clamp mechanism 600 and a horizontal 
transferring section 700 will be described in detail later. 
The CDs are removably housed in the cartridge 100 by being held on the 
trays 101 to 106, as described above. The trays 101 to 106 are stacked in 
the cartridge 100 in the vertical direction and each exclusively holds a 
piece of the CDs. The cartridge 100 is defined a rectangular opening 
through which the trays 101 to 106 can be put in or pulled out as they 
holding the CDs thereon. The cartridge 100 is removably mounted to a 
specified space of the player. An extra tray 107 other than the trays 101 
to 106 in the cartridge 100 is provided in the apparatus below the 
cartridge 100. The extra tray 107 can allow a temporal reproduction for 
additional CD other than the CDs stored in the cartridge 100. 
FIG. 2 shows a typical example of the trays 101 to 106, e.g., the tray 104. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the tray 104 has a rectangular thin plate shape. A 
round recess 15 is formed at the center to the tray 104. The round recess 
15 defines a space fit to the CD for holding the CD on the tray 104. 
Furthermore, an opening 16 is formed in the round recess 15. The opening 
16 extends from the center to the one end of the round recess 16 so that 
the pickup 203 (see FIG. 1) is able to face with the CD for reproducing 
PCM data recorded on the CD through the opening 16. In addition, a pair of 
L-shaped notches 17 and 18 are defined near both sides of the front end of 
the tray 104. At least one of the L-shaped notches 17 and 18 can be 
engaged with the transferring mechanism 400, when a prescribed CD held on 
the tray 104 is accessed for reproduction by the search mechanism 300, as 
described later. The transferring mechanism 300 pulls out the tray 104 
from the cartridge 100 or puts the tray 104 into the cartridge 100. A 
selected CD held on the tray 104 is taken out from the cartridge 100 or 
returned into the cartridge 100. 
In a CD loading operation, the transferring mechanism 400 pulls out the 
tray 104 holding the selected CD and then transfers the tray 104 on a tray 
support member 501 of the vertical transferring section 500. In a CD 
unloading operation, the transferring mechanism 400 puts the tray 104 from 
the tray support member 501 of the transferring mechanism 400 into a 
prescribed portion of the cartridge 100. The vertical transferring section 
500 constitutes the transferring mechanism 400 together with the 
horizontal transferring section 700, as described before. 
Prior the loading operation, the search mechanism 300 vertically moves the 
transferring mechanism 400 for accessing a desired CD stored in the 
cartridge 100 of the CD held on the extra tray 107 for reproduction. So 
that the tray support member 401 is controlled to face a selected tray 
holding the desired CD, e.g., the tray 104 in the cartridge 100. 
As shown, the search mechanism 300 comprises a clutch gear 301, a pair of 
idler gears 302, 303, a search drive gear 304 and a screw rod 305. The 
clutch gear 301 is selectively driven by a turntable motor 201 through a 
gear engagement between the clutch gear 301 and a turntable 202 coupled to 
the turntable motor 201. The rotation of the turntable motor 201 is 
transmitted to the search drive gear 304 through the clutch gear 301 and 
the idler gears 302, 303. Thus, the search drive gear 304 rotates the 
screw rod 305. A travelling nut 306 meshed on the screw rod 305 is allowed 
to move in the vertical direction along the screw rod 305, i.e., in the 
direction shown by arrows +Y or -Y in the drawing. The travelling nut 306 
is regulated its rotation by a rotation regulator (not shown). 
A vertical position of the travelling nut 306 is defined by a tray position 
indicator 310. The tray position indicator 310 comprises a rotary disc 
plate 310a coaxially mounted to the idler gear 303, a light source 310b 
provided above the rotary disc plate 310a and a photosensor 310c provided 
under the rotary disc plate 310a in corresponding to the light source 
310b. The rotary disc plate 310a has a prescribed number of slits or 
openings (not shown) each capable of crossing the light from the light 
source 310b to the photosensor 310c in the rotation of the rotaly disc 
plate 310a. Thus, the position of the travelling nut 306 is indicated by 
counting output pulses from the photosensor 310c for the search of the 
selected tray 104 holding the desired CD. 
The travelling nut 306 has an engaging arm 307. The engaging arm 307 is 
provided for a selective engagement with a lock lever 502. The lock lever 
502 is mounted on the tray support member 501 of the vertical transferring 
section 500 by a support pin 503. The lock lever 502 is biased by a spring 
504 in the unti-clockwise direction, as shown by an arrow W, in the 
drawing. Thus, the lock lever 502 is normally kept engaged with the 
engaging arm 307 of the travelling nut 306. The vertical transferring 
section 500 moves upward or downward in accompany with the travelling nut 
306 through the engagement between the engaging arm 307 and the lock lever 
502 when the travelling nut 306 moves upward or downward in the search 
operation. Thus, the transferring mechanism 400 faces with a selected 
tray, e.g., the tray 104 holding a desired CD according to the search 
operation of the travelling nut 306 of the search mechanism 300. When the 
tray position indicator 310 counts a prescribed number of pulses 
corresponding to the position of the tray 104 holding the desired CD, the 
turntable motor 201 is deactivated. Thus, the search operation of the 
search mechanism 300 for the desired CD is completed. FIG. 3 shows the 
state that the vertical transferring section 500 of the transferring 
mechanism 400 is located at the position corresponding to the selected 
tray 104. 
After the search operation, the selected tray 104 is horizontally moved 
from the cartridge 100 to the vertical transferring section 500 by a 
horizontal transferring section of the transferring mechanism 400, as 
shown in FIG. 4. The horizontal transferring section will be described in 
detail later. When the tray 104 is moved on the vertical transferring 
section 500, the lock lever 502 is turned in the clockwise direction, as 
shown by the arrow V, in the drawing against the spring 504. The lock 
lever 502 is driven by a lock releasing mechanism, as described later (see 
FIGS. 11, and 13). As a result, the engagement between the lock lever 502 
and the engaging arm 307 of the travelling nut 306 is released. 
The vertical transferring mechanism 500 moves toward the playback section 
200, when the transferring mechanism 400 is released from the search 
mechanism 300. FIG. 5 shows the state that the vertical transferring 
section 500 is located at the playback section 200. The vertical movement 
of the transferring mechanism 400 other than the movement at the search 
operation is carried out by a vertical transfer drive mechanism, as 
described later. 
The travelling nut 306 is kept in the vertical position, after the vertical 
transferring section 500 is moved downward for the reproduction of the CD. 
Therefore, the travelling nut 306 has a mechanical memory for the vertical 
position where the selected tray 104 was removed from the cartridge 100. 
When the vertical transferring mechanism 500 reaches the playback position 
200, a part of the vertical transferring mechanism 500 presses the clutch 
gear 301 downward, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the clutch gear 301 is 
released from the turntable 201. The turntable motor 201 drives only the 
turntable 202, when it is activated for the reproduction of the CD. The 
clutch gear 301 is biased upward by a coil spring 311 so that the clutch 
gear 301 is normally engaged with the turntable motor 201. However, the 
vertical transferring mechanism 500 pushes the clutch gear 302 downward 
against the coil spring 311, so that the turntable motor 201 becomes free 
from the search mechanism 300 during the reproduction of the CD. 
The vertical transferring section 500 of the transferring mechanism 400 is 
provided with the clamp mechanism 600, as described before. The clamp 
mechanism 600 comprises a clamp lever 601, a clamper 602 and an adjustable 
pin 603, as shown in FIG. 1. The clamp lever 601 is rockably mounted on 
the vertical transferring section 500 by a support pin 604. The clamp 
lever 601 is biased in the clockwise direction by a spring (not shown). 
The clamper 602 is rotatably mounted to one end of the clamp lever 601. 
The adjustable pin 603 is mounted to the other end of the clamp lever 601. 
The adjustable pin 603 has a screw engagement with the other end of the 
clamp lever 601. 
When the vertical transferring mechanism 500 moves downward, the adjustable 
pin 602 engages with a projection 605 protruding from a chassis (not 
shown) of the apparatus. Thus, the clamp lever 601 is rocked in the 
clockwise direction around the support pin 604, as shown in FIG. 5, when 
the vertical transferring mechanism 500 reaches the playback section 200. 
The clamper 602 on the one end of the clamp lever 601 presses the CD 
against the turntable 202. The CD is stably supported on the turntable 202 
by the clamp mechanism 600. The clamper 602 is rotatably mounted to the 
clamp lever 601, as described above. So that, the CD is driven by the 
turntable motor 201 during the reproduction of the CD. The adjustable pin 
603 adjusts the clamping pressure of the clamper 602 against the CD. A 
pickup 203 provided in the playback section 200 moves along the radius of 
the CD supported on the turntable 202 for reproduction of the CD. 
The vertical transferring section 500 moves upward, when the reproduction 
of the CD finishes. The vertical transferring section 500 again engages 
with the search mechanism 300, as shown in FIG. 4, when the vertical 
transferring section 500 reaches the vertical position where the selected 
tray 104 was pulled out from the cartridge 100. The lock lever 502 turns 
in the unti-clockwise direction according to the spring 504 so that the 
lock lever 502 engages with the engaging arm 307 of the travelling nut 
306. The tray 104 is then returned into the prescribed position in the 
cartridge 100, where the tray 104 was stored before. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 12, the horizontal transferring section 
700 of the transferring mechanism 400 will be described. The horizontal 
transferring section 700 is provided for transferring a prescribed tray, 
e.g., the tray 104 in the cartridge 100 or the extra tray 107 between the 
vertical transferring section 500 and the cartridge 100 or the space for 
the extra tray 107. 
As shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal transferring section 700 comprises a 
first slider 701, a second slider 702, a rotary cam 703 and a transfer 
drive motor 704. The first slider 701 is slidably supported by a guide 
rail 705. The second slider 702 is provided in parallel with the first 
slider 701. The rotary cam 703 is rotatably mounted on the chassis of the 
apparatus by a support pin 706. The guide rail 705 is fixed to the chassis 
of the apparatus along the horizontal direction, as shown by the arrows +x 
and -x in the drawing. The first slider 701 is thus movable in the 
horizontal direction. The first slider 701 has a first rack portion 707. 
The second slider 702 has a pair of guide slits 708a and 708b extending in 
the horizontal direction. The guide slits 708a and 708b fit to a pair of 
guide pins 709a and 709b provided on the chassis of the apparatus, 
respectively. Thus, the second slider 702 is slidable in the horizontal 
direction. The second slider 702 has a pinion 710 rotatably mounted in the 
middle of the second slider 702. The pinion 710 engages with both the 
first rack portion 707 of the first slider 701 and a rack member 711 fixed 
on the chassis of the apparatus. The rack member 711 is also extending in 
the horizontal direction. 
Further, the second slider 702 has a second rack portion 712 and a cam pin 
713. The second rack portion 712 engages with a slider drive gear 714. The 
slider drive gear 714 is coupled to the transfer drive motor 704 through 
an idler gear 715 and a motor gear 716. The cam pin 713 engages with a 
vertical transfer trigger cam groove 717 of the rotary cam 703. The motor 
gear 716 is mounted to the drive shaft of the motor 703. 
The slider drive gear 714 is driven by the transfer drive motor 704 through 
the motor gear 716 and the idler gear 715, when the transfer drive motor 
704 is activated. The transfer drive motor 704 starts the operation at the 
time that the search operation of the search mechanism 300 for a 
prescribed tray, e.g., the tray 104 holding a desired CD is completed. 
Such a control for the motors 704, 201 and the like is carried out by a 
conventional manner using a microcomputor. 
The slider drive gear 714 rotates in the clockwise direction, when the 
transfer drive motor 704 is activated. The slider drive gear 714 drives 
the second slider 702 rightward in the drawing, i.e., in the direction of 
the arrow +x, through the gear engagement between the slider drive gear 
714 and the second rack portion 712. The pinion 710 mounted on the second 
slider 702 rotates in meshing with the fixed rack member 711. The pinion 
710 engages with the first rack portion 707 of the first slider 701. Thus, 
the first driver 701 is driven in the direction of the arrow +x. Gear 
ratios among the pinion 710, the rack member 711 and the first rack 
portion 707 are set so that, for instance, the first slider 701 moves the 
distance two times that of the second slider 702. 
Prior the movement of the second slider 702, the rotary cam 703 is 
maintained in a state where the first straight portion 717a of the 
vertical transfer trigger cam groove 717 has the horizontal position, as 
shown in FIG. 6. The cam pin 713 of the second slider 702 is positioned in 
the leftward end of the straight portion 717a. Thus, the cam pin 713 moves 
rightward along the straight portion 717a without rotating the rotary cam 
703, at first the movement of the second slider 702. 
The cam pin 713 engages with the second straight portion 717b of the 
vertical transfer trigger cam groove 717, when the second slider 702 moves 
rightward for a prescribed distance, as shown in FIG. 7. In the position, 
the second rack portion 712 is disengaged from the slider drive gear 714. 
While, the cam pin 713 drives the rotary cam 703 to rotate in the 
unti-clockwise direction. The rotary cam 703 is formed a gear section 718 
on the periphery of the cam 703. The gear section 718 is defined a notch 
719. The notch 719 of the gear section 718 faces with the slider drive 
gear 714 prior the operation of the second slider 702, as shown in FIG. 6. 
According to the unti-clockwise rotation of the rotary cam 703, the gear 
section 718 comes into the engagement with the slider drive gear 714. 
Thus, the rotary cam 703 is driven by the transfer motor 704. The rotary 
cam 703 in the rotation drives the cam pin 713 to move rightward. Then the 
second and first sliders 702 and 701 are driven to the rightward 
positions, as shown in FIG. 8. After the first and second sliders 701 and 
702 have reached to the positions, the cam pin 713 can follow the round 
section 717c of the vertical transfer trigger cam groove 717. The rotary 
cam 703 in the rotation drives the vertical transferring section 500, as 
described in detail later. 
During the rotation of the rotary cam 703, the first and second sliders 701 
and 702 are maintained in the rightward positions, as shown in FIG. 8. 
Thus, the cam pin 713 can follow the round section 717c of the vertical 
transfer trigger cam groove 717. 
The horizontal transferring section 700 of the transferring mechanism 400 
further comprises a tray carrier 800. The tray carrier 800 is provided for 
pulling out a prescribed tray, e.g., the tray 104 holding the CD to be 
transferred to the playback section 200. The tray carrier 800 will now be 
described in detail in reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. 
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the tray carrier 800 is mounted to the first 
slider 701. The tray carrier 800 comprises a third slider 801, a cylinder 
802 and a piston rod 803. The third slider 801 is movably coupled to the 
tray support member 501 of the vertical transferring section 500. The tray 
support member 501 is defined a slit 505 extending in the direction of the 
arrows +x and -X. The third slider 801 fits in the slit 505. 
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, one end of the cylinder 802 is rotatably 
mounted to the first slider 701. The rotating axis of the cylinder 802 
extends along the direction of arrows +x and -X (see FIGS. 9 and 10). The 
piston rod 803 is coupled between the cylinder 802 and the third slider 
801. One end of the piston rod 803 movably fits in the cylinder 802. Thus, 
the piston rod 803 is pushed out from the cylinder 802 when the tray 
support member 501 moves downward. 
As shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the third slider 801 has a hook 804 at its 
one end. The hook 804 has a shape in flat section capable of passing 
through each of the L-shaped notches 17 of the trays 101 to 106 stored in 
the cartridge 100 and the extra tray 107 positioned below the cartridge 
100. Thus, the hook 804 can move in the vertical direction without being 
interfered with the trays 101 to 107, for the search operation according 
to the search mechanism 300. 
The third slider 801 of the tray carrier 800 is provided with a lock 
release part 805. The lock release part 805 runs against a lock release 
mechanism 900. The lock release mechanism 900 comprises a lock lease lever 
901 which is movably mounted to the underside of the tray support member 
501. The lock release lever 901 has an L-shape opening 902 and an engaging 
pin 903. The L-shape opening 902 loosely fits to a regulation pin 506 
provided to the tray support member 501. The engaging pin 903 faces to the 
slit 505 of the tray support member 501 so that the lock release part 805 
interferes with the engaging pin 903 when the third slider 801 moves in 
the direction of the arrow +x. 
The regulation pin 506 of the tray support member 501 engages with one end 
of the L-shape opening 902. Thus, the regulation pin 506 regulates the 
movement of the lock release lever 901 in the direction of the arrow +X. 
When the third slider 801 moves in the direction of the arrow +x, as shown 
in FIG. 10, the lock release part 805 engages with the engaging pin 903. 
The lock release part 805 has a slant so that the lock release part 805 
pushes the engaging pin 903 in the direction of the arrow Z in the 
drawing. The L-shape opening 902 is released from the regulation by the 
regulation pin 506. As a result, the lock release lever 901 is allowed to 
slightly move in the direction of the arrow +X. 
As shown in FIG. 14, the leftward end of the lock release lever 901 is 
coupled to the lock lever 502. Thus lock release lever 901 rotates the 
lock lever 502 in the direction of the arrow V (see FIG. 1) according to 
the slight movement in the direction of the arrow +X. Then, the 
transferring mechanism 400 is disengaged from the engaging arm 307 of the 
travelling arm 307, as described before. 
The reason for providing the above-mentioned lock release mechanism 900 is 
as follows. When such an autochanger type CD player is transported or is 
given with a mechanical shock, the lock lever 502 is easily disengaged 
from the engaging arm 308. The tray support member 501 may be shifted from 
a given vertical position or may work inadvertently. The lock release 
mechanism 900 can prevent the defect. The portion of the L-shape opening 
902 extending in the direction of the arrow Z runs against the regulation 
pin 506 to regulate the movement of the lock lease lever 901. 
Referring now to FIGS. 15 to 18, the vertical transferring mechanism 500 
will be described. The vertical transferring mechanism 500 is provided for 
driving the tray support member 501 in the vertical direction. The 
vertical transferring mechanism 500 comprises the rotary cam 703 and a 
vertical drive lever 510. The rotary cam 703 has cam grooves on both 
surfaces. One surface of the rotary cam 703 is provided the vertical 
transfer trigger cam groove 717, as described above. Other surface has a 
vertical transfer drive cam groove 720. FIGS. 17 and 18 show the vertical 
transfer trigger cam groove 717 and the vertical transfer drive cam groove 
720 formed on the surfaces of the rotary cam 703. 
As shown in FIG. 15, the vertical drive lever 510 is rotatably mounted to 
the chassis of the apparatus by a support pin 511. The vertical drive 
lever 510 is provided a cam pin 512 and an engaging pin 513 on their 
respective ends. The cam pin 512 fits to the vertical transfer drive cam 
groove 720 of the rotary cam 703. The engaging pin 513 fits to a slit 514 
defined on the tray support member 501. 
The rotary cam 703 is triggered to rotate in the unti-clockwise direction, 
when the search operation has been carried out. The triggered rotation of 
the rotary cam 703 is made by the engagement of the cam pin 713 of the 
second slider 702 with the second straight portion 717b of the vertical 
transfer trigger cam groove 717, as described before (see FIG. 6). The 
vertical transfer drive cam groove 720 further rotates in the 
unti-clockwise direction by the transfer drive motor 704. The rotation of 
the rotary cam 704 after the trigger operation is carried out by the 
transfer drive motor 704, as also described before. 
The vertical transfer drive cam groove 720 is provided for driving the 
vertical drive lever 510. As shown in FIG. 18, the vertical transfer drive 
cam groove 720 comprises a common portion 720a and a group of first to 
seventh divided portions 720b to 720h. The common portion 720a extends 
along the radius of the rotary cam 703. Each one end of the divided 
portions 720b to 720h meets the common portion 720a. Then the divided 
portions 720b to 720h spirally extend toward the periphery of the rotary 
cam 703. The divided portions 720b to 720h of the vertical transfer drive 
cam groove 720 correspond to the vertical positions of the trays 101 to 
106 stored in the cartridge 100 and the extra tray 107 positioned below 
the cartridge 100. 
The position of the cam pin 512 is defined by the search mechanism 300. 
This is because the tray support member 501 is moved to a prescribed 
vertical position by the travelling nut 306 of the search mechanism 300, 
as described before. During the search operation, the vertical drive lever 
510 is rotated by the tray support member 501. The cam pin 512 thus moves 
in the common portion 720a of the vertical transfer drive cam groove 720. 
When the tray 103 is selected, the cam pin 512 faces to the divided 
portion 720c. Then the cam pin 512 follows the divided portion 720c in the 
rotation of the rotary cam 703. At this time, the tray support member 501 
is disengaged from the search mechanism 300, as described before. Thus, 
the rotary cam 703 driven by the transfer drive motor 704 rotates the 
vertical drive lever 510 in the clockwise direction in the drawing, i.e., 
in the direction of the arrow N. The vertical drive lever 510 thus lowers 
the tray support member 501 to the playback section 200 (see FIG. 5). At 
this time, the rotary cam 703, the vertical drive lever 510 and the tray 
support member 501 have the positions, as shown in FIG. 16. 
When the playback operation is completed or finished, the transfer drive 
motor 704 is driven in the reverse direction by the microcomputor. Then 
reverse operations for the rotary cam 703, the vertical drive lever 510 
and the tray support member 501 are carried out. The reverse rotation of 
the rotary cam 703 also carries out reverse operations of the horizontal 
transferring section 700. Thus, a prescribed tray 103, e.g., the tray 104 
transferred to the playback section 200 for the playback operation of the 
CD is returned to the specified position in the cartridge 100 where the 
tray 104 was stored before. 
As shown in FIG. 15, the vertical transferring section 500 further 
comprises a stabilizer link 515. One end of the stabilizer link 515 is 
rotatably coupled to the vertical drive lever 510 by a support pin 516. 
Other end of the stabilizer link 515 engages with a stabilizer 517 
provided to the chassis. That is, an engaging pin 518 provided on the 
other end of the stabilizer link 515 engages with a slit 519 defined in 
the stabilizer 517. Thus, the stabilizer 517 and the stabilizer link 515 
stabilize the rotations of the vertical drive lever 510 in both the 
directions of the arrows M and N. 
On the rotary cam 703, as shown in FIG. 18, the respective one ends of the 
divided portions 720b to 720h of the vertical transfer drive cam groove 
720 are led to the common portion 720a but their positions differ to each 
other along the radius of the rotary cam 703. 
As described above, the present invention can provide an extremely 
preferable autochanger type disc player. 
While there has been illustrated and described what are at present 
considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will 
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and 
modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements 
thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention. In 
addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation 
or material to the teaching of the present invention without departing 
from the central scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present 
invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the 
best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that 
the present invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of 
the appended claims. 
The foregoing description and the drawings are regarded by the applicant as 
including a variety of individually inventive concepts, some of which may 
lie partially or wholly outside the scope of some or all of the following 
claims. The fact that the applicant has chosen at the time of filing of 
the present application to restrict the claimed scope of protection in 
accordance with the following claims is not to be taken as a disclaimer or 
alternative inventive concepts that are included in the contents of the 
application and could be defined by claims differing in scope from the 
following claims, which different claims may be adopted subsequently 
during prosecution, for example for the purposes of a dividual 
application.