Movement apparatus and recording/reproducing apparatus

A lift stage that may be moved vertically by being guided by a longitudinal groove in a lateral wall is uplifted or lowered via a pin by first and second cams. The first cam has a zigzag-shaped cam groove to permit periodic reciprocating movement. The second cam performs a reciprocating movement with a pre-set phase difference with respect to the first cam. When the pin reaches a branching point of the zig-zag shaped cam groove, the uplifting or the descent is selected in dependence upon the direction of rotation of a rotary cam causing rotation of the respective cams, with the second cam supporting or not supporting the pin. There is provided a system which is small-sized, simple in construction and superior in load bearing capability and durability and which is suited for use in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to a movement device for selectively moving objects 
in one or in the other direction. The object to be moved includes a 
certain portion of an electronic audio/video apparatus, such as a disc 
player or a tape player, a lift stage carrying the personnel, motor-car or 
freight in general, or a pallet. 
This invention also relates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus for 
recording and/or reproduction on or from a disc cartridge comprised of a 
cartridge main member and a recording disc contained therein, and to a 
recording and/or reproducing apparatus designed as a disc changer having 
plural disc cartridges housed therein and adapted for selecting one of 
these disc cartridges for recording/reproduction. 
The invention also relates to a disc loading apparatus constituting the 
recording and/or reproducing apparatus and a cartridge holder. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the conventional disc player, designed and constructed as an 
auto-changer, a mechanical chassis carrying essential components of the 
disc player apparatus, such as a spindle motor or an optical pickup, is 
selectively moved as moved components in one direction, such as downwards, 
or in the other direction, such as upwards, by a movement device. The 
mechanical chassis is moved between positions associated with plural 
recording discs loaded in a stacked fashion within the disc player 
apparatus and selectively loaded with a recording disc for writing and/or 
reading information signals on or from the disc. 
The movement device may be a lift stage loaded with personnel, vehicles or 
luggage in general, or a device for lifting a pallet as a moved article, 
or a so-called elevator or lift. 
Such movement device is designed to move the moved article from one extreme 
position to the other extreme position and to be halted at at least one 
position between these extreme positions. That is, with the 
above-mentioned movement device for moving the mechanical chassis of the 
disc player apparatus, the mechanical chassis is halted at a plurality of 
positions each facing a recording disc. With the movement device designed 
as the lift, the lift stage or the pallet is halted at plural positions 
corresponding to the floor surfaces of the respective stories. 
A variety of different types of the movement devices, including those 
having a horizontally movable plate cam 101, as shown in FIGS. 99 to 108, 
have hitherto been proposed. The upper edge of the plate cam 101 is 
designed as an inclined portion generally inclined in one direction having 
intermediate first to fifth horizontally extending sections 101a, 101b, 
101c, 101d and 101e. On the upper edge of the plate cam 101 is set a 
profiling pin 102 mounted on a moved article. The profiling pin 102 is 
guided by a vertically extending guide groove 103 so as to be movable only 
in the vertical direction. The plate cam 101 is movable on the first 
horizontal section 101a by movement means, not shown, in a horizontal 
direction perpendicular to the guide groove 103 between a position in 
which the first horizontal section 101a is in registration with the guide 
groove 103, as shown in FIG. 103, and a position in which the fifth 
horizontal section 101e is in registration with the guide groove 103, as 
shown in FIG. 99. 
When the first horizontal section 101a is in registration with the guide 
groove 103, the profiling pin 102 is set on the first horizontal section 
101a and is at a standstill at the lower most position. When set on the 
second, third or fourth horizontal sections 101b, 101c or 101d, the 
profiling pin 102 is moved to progressively high positions. By the plate 
cam 101 being halted at a pre-set position, the profiling pin 102 is set 
on the upper edge of one of the second to fourth horizontal sections 101b, 
101c and 101d and halted thereat. When the fifth horizontal section 101e 
is at a position registering with the guide groove 103, the profiling pin 
102 is set on the fifth horizontal section 101e and hence is halted at the 
upper most position. 
If, with the above-described movement device having the plate cam 101, the 
profiling pin 102 is to be halted on one of the horizontal sections 101a 
to 101e, the profiling pin 102 can be halted at a precisely set height, 
without regard to accuracy in the plate cam halting position, since the 
upper edges of the horizontal sections 101a to 101e are horizontal, that 
is parallel to the direction of movement of the plate cam 101. 
There is also known a movement device employing a disc-shaped rotary plate 
cam 104 rotated about a center shaft 105, as shown in FIGS. 104 to 108. 
The rotary plate cam 104 has an inclined cam surface 104a extending 
towards its rim. The outer edge portion of the inclined cam surface 104a 
is generally spirally-shaped and has a plurality of intermediate 
concentric portions. These concentric portions are in the form of arcs of 
circles centered about the center shaft 105. On the outer edge of the 
inclined cam surface 104a is set a profiling pin 102 mounted on the moved 
article. The profiling pin 102 is movable only in the up-and-down 
direction by being guided by a guide groove extending in the up-and-down 
direction with the center shaft 105 as the lower most end. The rotary 
plate cam 104 is rotated by movement means, not shown, between a 
rotational position shown in FIG. 108 in which the portion of the inclined 
cam surface 104a closest to the center shaft 105 is in registration with 
the guide groove and a rotational position shown in FIG. 104 in which the 
portion of the inclined cam surface 104a remotest from the center shaft 
105 is in registration with the guide groove. 
When the rotary plate cam 104 is at the rotational position shown in FIG. 
108 in which the portion of the inclined cam surface 104a closest to the 
center shaft 105 is in registration with the guide groove, the profiling 
pin 102 is set on the concentric circle and is halted at the lower most 
position. The profiling pin 102 is moved to progressively higher positions 
by the rotation of the rotary plate cam 104. When the rotary plate cam 104 
is at such a rotational position in which the portion of the inclined cam 
surface 104a remotest from the center shaft 105 is in registration with 
the guide groove, as shown in FIG. 104, the profiling pin 102 is halted at 
the upper most position. 
For halting the profiling pin 102 at the respective concentric circles in 
the movement device having the rotary plate cam 104, since the upper edges 
of the concentric circles are in the from of arcs of circles centered 
about the center shaft 105, the profiling pin 102 can be halted at correct 
height positions without regard to accuracy in the plate cam halting 
position. 
There is also known a movement device shown in FIGS. 109 to 113 which is 
comprised of a pair of bell cranks 110, 110 and a horizontal rod 130 
interconnecting these bell cranks 110, 110 and adapted to lift a moved 
article 111. Each bell crank 110 has its mid portion rotatably supported 
with respect to a base 106 by a pivot 107. Each of these bell cranks 110, 
110 has its one end rotatably mounted by rotary shafts 109, 109 on the 
horizontal rod 130 so that the bell cranks will have the same rotational 
angular position with respect to the base 106. Each bell crank 110 has its 
opposite end connected via rotary shafts 108, 108 to the moved article 
111. Each bell crank 110 has an elongated engagement opening engaged by 
the rotary shaft 108. The engagement opening is elongated in the direction 
towards the pivot 107. The rotary shafts 108, 108 are engaged in a pair of 
guide grooves 112, 112 formed in the base 106, such that the moved article 
111 is movable only in the up-and-down direction with respect to the base 
106. 
With the above movement device, the moved article 111 may be moved between 
the upper position shown in FIG. 109 and the lower position shown in FIG. 
113 via the bell cranks 110, 110 by horizontally shifting the horizontal 
rod 130. 
There is also known a movement device constituted by links 113, 114 and a 
horizontal rod 115. With such movement device, the moved article 111 and 
the horizontal rod 115 are interconnected by a pair of elongated links 
113. That is, each of the elongated links 113, 113 has its one end 
rotatably mounted to the moved article 111, while having its other end 
rotatably mounted on the horizontal rod 115. The horizontal rod 115 is 
supported by the base 106 for movement only in the horizontal direction. 
The moved article 111 is movable only in the up-and-down direction by a 
pair of guide grooves 112, 112 formed in the base 106. The mid portions of 
the elongated links 113, 113 and the base 106 are interconnected by 
reduced-length links 114, 114. That is, each of the reduced-length links 
114, 114 has its end rotatably mounted on a mid portion of each elongated 
links 113, 113, while having its opposite end rotatably mounted on the 
base 106. 
With such movement device, the moved article 111 may be lifted via the 
elongated and reduced-length links 113, 113, 114, 114 by horizontally 
moving the horizontal rod 115. 
There is also known a movement device shown in FIGS. 119 to 123 including a 
pair of rotary links 116, 117 each having its mid portion rotatably 
supported with respect to the base 106. The rotary links 116, 117 are 
mounted on the base 106 for rotation by support shafts 128, 129. The one 
ends of the rotary links 116, 117 are rotatably connected to each other by 
a connecting shaft 118. That is, the rotary links 116, 117 are formed at 
one ends thereof with elongated holes 121, 122 each having its long axis 
extending towards the supporting shafts 128, 129, and are connected to 
each other by the connecting shaft 118 being passed through these 
elongated holes 121, 122. The other ends of the rotary links 116, 117 are 
formed with elongated openings extending towards the supporting shafts 
128, 129 and adapted for being passed through by the rotary shafts 119, 
120. The rotary shafts 119, 120 are movable only in the up-and-down 
direction via a pair of guide grooves 112, 112 formed in the base 106. 
With the above-described movement device, the moved article 111 may be 
moved between an upper position shown in FIG. 119 and a lower position 
shown in FIG. 123 by rotating the rotary links 116, 117 about the support 
shafts 128, 129. 
There is also known a movement device having a Geneva wheel 123 and a rack 
gear 126 meshing with the Geneva wheel 123, as shown in FIGS. 124 to 136. 
The geneva wheel 123 is mounted for rotation about the center shaft with 
respect to the moved article. The Geneva wheel 123 has a pair of 
engagement pins 124, 125 provided at an interval of 180.degree. via the 
center shaft. The rack gear 126 has plural grooves 127 arrayed at a 
pre-set interval and adapted for being engaged by the engagement pins 124, 
125, and is fixedly mounted on a base, not shown. 
If, with the above movement device, the engagement pins 124, 125 are 
engaged in the grooves 127, 127, as shown in FIG. 124, and the Geneva 
wheel 123 is rotated in one direction as indicated by arrow J in FIG. 124, 
only the engagement pin 125 is ready to be engaged in the groove 127, 
while the Geneva wheel 123 is moved relative to the rack gear 126 in a 
direction corresponding to the rack gear 126. When the Geneva wheel 123 
has been rotated through 180.degree. from the initial state, the pins 124, 
125 are engaged in the grooves 127, 127, as shown in FIG. 138. The Geneva 
wheel 123 is moved at this time a distance equal to one pitch of the 
groove 127 relative to the rack gear 126. 
With such movement device, shown in FIGS. 99 to 103, if the angle of 
inclination or the pressure angle of the cam surface, which is the upper 
edge of the plate cam 101, is set to within a practical range, the 
distance of horizontal movement of the plate cam 101 needs to he increased 
relative to the distance of vertical movement of the profiling pin 102. 
The result is that the movement device is increased in size. 
On the other hand, the movement device shown in FIGS. 104 to 108 is 
increased in size because the rotary plate cam 104 has a diameter equal to 
at least twice the distance of movement of the profiling pin 102. 
With the movement device shown in FIGS. 109 to 113, it is difficult to 
control the device for halting the moved article 111 at the pre-set 
position. If an impact is applied from outside, the risk is high that the 
moved article 111 be moved under the shock applied thereto. The movement 
device has a large number of component parts and hence is complicated and 
difficult to put together. 
With the movement device shown in FIGS. 114 to 118, since the distance of 
movement of the horizontal rod 115 is not proportionate to that of the 
moved article, it is difficult to control the position of the moved 
article 111. Aside from the difficulties in halting the moved article 111 
at the pre-set position, there is a risk that the moved article 111 be 
moved under the impact applied from outside. In addition, the movement 
device also has a large number of component parts and hence is complicated 
to put together. 
With the movement device shown in FIGS. 119 to 123, it is difficult to 
control the moved article so as to be halted at the pre-set position. In 
addition, there is a risk that the moved article 111 be moved under the 
impact applied from outside. Besides, the movement device also has a large 
number of component parts and hence is complicated to put together. 
Furthermore, with the movement device shown in FIGS. 124 to 138, since the 
Geneva wheel is mounted on the moved article, driving means, such as an 
electric motor, needs to be provided on the moved article, and hence the 
moved article becomes complicated in structure. Since a number of Geneva 
wheels need to be provided on the moved article, it is difficult to 
synchronize the rotation of the respective Geneva wheels. 
There is also known a movement device having a feed screw. Since the feed 
screw is rotated with the direction of movement of the moved article as 
its axis, the mechanism for rotating the feed screw become bulky in size. 
Besides, it is similarly difficult to halt the moved article at a pre-set 
position. 
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to 
provide a movement device which is simple in structure and easy to 
assemble, and in which, despite the small size of the device, the moved 
article can be halted with accuracy at a pre-set position and can be 
positively maintained at the halted position despite the shock applied 
thereto from outside. 
There has also hitherto been proposed a recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus, as a so-called disc changer device, in which a plurality of 
disc cartridges, each comprised of a recording disc housed within a 
cartridge main member, are accommodated, and in which one of these disc 
cartridges is selected for recording/reproducing information signals on or 
from the disc cartridge. 
With such disc changer apparatus, the disc cartridges are accommodated and 
held in a disc stocker provided in a casing of the disc changer device. 
With such disc changer device, the recording/reproducing unit, having a 
spindle motor, an optical pickup and so forth, is moved between the 
positions facing the disc cartridges housed within the disc stocker, for 
selecting the disc cartridge and loading the selected disc cartridge 
thereon for recording/reproducing information signals on or from the disc 
cartridge. 
With such recording and/or reproducing apparatus, constituted as a disc 
changer device, since each disc cartridge is housed within the disc 
changer device and hence cannot be visually recognized from outside, it is 
impossible to read indications on an outer surface of the disc cartridge 
or on the label affixed thereto. These indications are relative to the 
contents of the information signals recorded on the disc cartridge. 
Consequently, if it is desired with such recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus to confirm the indications concerning the disc cartridge housed 
therein, it is necessary to take out these disc cartridges out of the 
apparatus by a laborious operation. 
On the other hand, if, with the above-described recording and/or 
reproducing apparatus, one of the disc cartridges contained therein is 
selected and loaded on the recording/reproducing unit, it is 
inconveniently not clear which of the disc cartridges has been selected. 
Although a device may be annexed for indicating which disc has been 
selected, such device complicates the structure of the 
recording/reproducing apparatus. 
In addition, it is not possible with such recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus to exchange a disc cartridge during recording and/or 
reproduction on or from another disc cartridge, such that it is not 
possible to effect continuous recording/reproduction. 
Furthermore, with the above recording and/or reproducing apparatus, since 
the disc cartridge is housed in the disc cartridge inserting direction, it 
is difficult to reduce the size of the disc cartridge along the inserting 
direction, that is the depth of the disc cartridge. 
In view of the foregoing, it is another object of the present invention to 
provide a recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which each of the disc 
cartridge loaded thereon may be visually recognized from outside, in which 
it can be clearly indicated which of the disc cartridges is currently 
recorded/reproduced, without complicating the structure of the apparatus, 
the disc cartridge loaded in the recording/reproducing unit can be 
exchanged for another disc cartridge, and in which the apparatus can be 
reduced in size along the disc cartridge inserting direction, that is 
along the depth of the disc cartridge. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
For solving the above problem and accomplishing the above object, the 
present invention provides a movement device including a profiling pin 
inserted into a guide slit formed in an object to be moved for extending 
in an up-and-down direction so that the profiling pin is movable only in 
the up-and-down direction, a first cam plate having at least one first 
horizontal section, a second horizontal section contiguous to the first 
horizontal section via a branch point and a first inclined section and 
lying above said first horizontal section, and a third horizontal section 
contiguous to the first horizontal section via the branch point and a 
second inclined section and lying below the first horizontal section, with 
first cam plate being horizontally movable between an initial position 
positioning the profiling pin at the first horizontal section and an 
operative position positioning the profiling pin at the second position or 
the third position. The movement device also includes movement means for 
periodically moving the first cam plate in reciprocation in a forward 
direction and in a reverse direction between the initial position and the 
operative position, and a second cam plate having at least one horizontal 
abutment support and being horizontally movable between a supporting 
position supporting the profiling pin by the abutment support and a 
non-supporting position receding the abutment support away from a locus of 
movement of the profiling pin, with the second cam plate being 
periodically movable in a forward direction and in a reverse direction by 
the movement means with a pre-set phase difference relative to the first 
cam plate. When the movement means performs a forward periodic movement 
and the first cam plate is horizontally moved from the initial position to 
the operative position, the second cam plate is at the supporting position 
during the time the profiling pin passes through the branching point, 
thereby guiding the profiling pin to the first inclined section leading to 
the second horizontal section. When the movement means performs a reverse 
periodic movement and the first cam plate is horizontally moved from the 
initial position to the operative position, the second cam plate is at the 
non-supporting position during the time the profiling pin passes through 
the branching point, thereby guiding the profiling pin to the second 
inclined section leading to the third horizontal section. 
With the movement device, the profiling pin inserted into a guide slit 
formed in an object to be moved for extending in an up-and-down direction 
so that the profiling pin is movable only in the up-and-down direction, is 
inserted into a first cam plate having at least one first horizontal 
section, a second horizontal section contiguous to the first horizontal 
section via a branch point and the first inclined section and lying above 
the first horizontal section, and a third horizontal section contiguous to 
the first horizontal section via the branch point and the second inclined 
section and lying below the first horizontal section, and into a second 
cam plate having at least one horizontal abutment support and being 
horizontally movable between a supporting position supporting the 
profiling pin by the abutment support and a non-supporting position 
receding the abutment support away from a locus of movement of the 
profiling pin. The first cam plate is horizontally movable between an 
initial position positioning the profiling pin at the first horizontal 
section and an operative position positioning the profiling pin at the 
second position or the third position. The second cam plate is 
periodically movable in a forward direction and in a reverse direction by 
movement means with a pre-set phase difference relative to the first cam 
plate. 
When the movement means performs a forward periodic movement and the first 
cam plate is horizontally moved from the initial position to the operative 
position, the second cam plate is at the supporting position during the 
time the profiling pin passes through the branching point, so that the 
profiling pin is guided to the first inclined section leading to the 
second horizontal section. On the other hand, when the movement means 
performs a reverse periodic movement and the first cam plate is 
horizontally moved from the initial position to the operative position, 
the second cam plate is at the non-supporting position during the time the 
profiling pin passes through the branching point, so that the profiling 
pin is guided to the second inclined section leading to the third 
horizontal section. 
When halted at the horizontal section or at the halt portion, the profiling 
pin is held at an accurate position as set by the first cam plate as 
reference, even although the halt position of the first cam plate is not 
maintained with high accuracy. On the other hand, the profiling pin is not 
moved along the guide slit under an external impact. In addition, with the 
present movement device, there is no necessity of providing driving means, 
such as an electric motor, on the object for effecting its movement. 
Since the cam plates are reciprocated in a direction at right angles to the 
direction of movement of the object, there is no necessity of increasing 
the stroke of the reciprocating movement, even although the distance of 
movement of the object is increased, so that the movement device is not 
increased in size. 
The present invention also provides a movement device including a profiling 
pin inserted into a guide slit formed in an object to be moved for 
extending from one to the opposite side and movable only in a direction 
along the guide slit, biasing means for biasing the object towards the one 
side, a first cam plate having at least one first halt portion formed in a 
direction substantially normal to the guide slit, a second halt portion 
contiguous to the first halt portion via a branching point and a first 
inclined section inclined relative to the direction of the guide slit, 
which second halt portion is closer to said opposite side than said first 
halt portion, and a third halt portion contiguous to the first halt 
portion via the branching point and a second inclined section inclined 
relative to the direction of said guide slit. The third halt portion is 
closer to the one side than the first halt portion, with the first cam 
plate moving the profiling pin in a direction substantially normal to the 
guide slit between an initial position abuttingly supporting the profiling 
pin by the first halt portion and an operative position abuttingly 
supporting the profiling pin by the second halt portion or by the third 
halt portion. The movement device also includes movement means for 
periodically moving the first cam plate in reciprocation in a forward 
direction and in a reverse direction between the initial position and the 
operative position, and a second cam plate having at least one abutment 
support and being movable by the abutment support in a direction 
substantially normal to the guide slit between a supporting position 
abuttingly supporting the profiling pin by said abutment support and a 
non-supporting position receding the abutment support away from the locus 
of movement of the profiling pin. The second cam plate is periodically 
movable by the movement means in reciprocation in a forward direction and 
in a reverse direction with a pre-set phase difference relative to the 
first cam. When said movement means performs a forward periodic movement 
and the first cam plate is moved from the initial position to the 
operative position, the second cam plate is at the supporting position 
during the time the profiling pin passes through the branching point, 
thereby prohibiting the profiling pin from being moved in one direction 
under the bias of the biasing means and guiding the profiling pin to the 
first inclined section leading to the second horizontal section. On the 
other hand, when the movement means performs a reverse periodic movement 
and the first cam plate is moved from the initial position to the 
operative position, the second cam plate is at the non-supporting position 
during the time the profiling pin passes through the branching point, 
thereby enabling the profiling pin to be moved in one direction under the 
bias of the biasing means and guiding the profiling pin to the second 
inclined section leading to the third horizontal section. 
With the movement device, the profiling pin inserted into a guide slit 
formed in an object to be moved for extending in an up-and-down direction 
so that the profiling pin is movable only in the up-and-down direction, is 
inserted into a first cam plate having at least one first halt portion 
formed in a direction substantially normal to the guide slit, a second 
halt portion contiguous to the first halt portion via a branching point 
and a first inclined section inclined relative to the direction of the 
guide slit, which second halt portion is closer to the opposite side than 
the first halt portion, and a third halt portion contiguous to the first 
halt portion via the branching point and a second inclined section 
inclined relative to the direction of the guide slit, which third halt 
portion is closer to the one side than the first halt portion, and a 
second cam plate having at least one abutment support and being movable by 
the abutment support in a direction substantially normal to the guide slit 
between a supporting position abuttingly supporting the profiling pin by 
the abutment support and a non-supporting position receding the abutment 
support away from the locus of movement of the profiling pin. The first 
cam plate moves the profiling pin in a direction substantially normal to 
the guide slit between an initial position abuttingly supporting the 
profiling pin by the first halt portion and an operative position 
abuttingly supporting the profiling pin by the second halt portion or by 
the third halt portion. The second cam plate is periodically movable by 
the movement means in reciprocation in a forward direction and in a 
reverse direction with a pre-set phase difference relative to the first 
cam. 
When said movement means performs a forward periodic movement and the first 
cam plate is moved from the initial position to the operative position, 
the second cam plate is at the supporting position during the time the 
profiling pin passes through the branching point, thereby prohibiting the 
profiling pin from being moved in one direction under the bias of the 
biasing means and guiding the profiling pin to the first inclined section 
leading to the second horizontal section. When the movement means performs 
a reverse periodic movement and the first cam plate is moved from the 
initial position to the operative position, the second cam plate is at the 
non-supporting position during the time the profiling pin passes through 
the branching point, thereby enabling the profiling pin to be moved in one 
direction under the bias of the biasing means and guiding the profiling 
pin to the second inclined section leading to the third horizontal 
section. 
When halted at the horizontal section or at the halt portion, the profiling 
pin is held at an accurate position as set by the first cam plate as 
reference, even although the halt position of the first cam plate is not 
maintained with high accuracy. On the other hand, the profiling pin is not 
moved along the guide slit under an external impact. In addition, with the 
present movement device, there is no necessity of providing driving means, 
such as an electric motor, on the object for effecting its movement. 
Since the cam plates are reciprocated in a direction at right angles to the 
direction of movement of the object, there is no necessity of increasing 
the stroke of the reciprocating movement, even although the distance of 
movement of the object is increased, so that the movement device is not 
increased in size. 
The movement means in the present movement device has a rotatable cam 
member and rotational driving means for selectively rotating the rotatable 
cam member in a forward direction or in a reverse direction. The rotatable 
cam member has a first cam section for moving the first cam plate and a 
second cam section for moving the second cam plate. 
In such case, the phase difference between the first cam plate and the 
second cam plate may be maintained accurately. 
The abutment support of the second cam plate is a side edge portion of a 
lug having its one end supported by a main portion of the second cam plate 
and having its opposite end as a free end. The second cam plate is moved 
in reciprocation with a period equal to one-half the period of the 
movement of the first cam plate. 
In such case, the second cam plate may be simplified in profile for 
facilitating the manufacture. 
Thus the present invention provides a movement device in which, despite its 
simplified construction, facilitated assembling and small-size, the object 
may be halted correctly at a pre-set position, and which may be positively 
held at the halt position even if an impact is applied thereto from 
outside. 
The recording and/or reproducing device has a disc stocker for holding a 
plurality of disc cartridges in tiers. Each disc cartridge is comprised of 
a recording disc housed within a cartridge main member, and transporting 
means for selecting one of the disc cartridges held by the disc stocker 
and transporting the selected disc cartridge to a recording and/or 
reproducing unit. The disc stocker holds the disc cartridges so that each 
disc cartridge is partially exposed to outside. 
With the present recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the disc stocker 
for holding plural disc cartridges in tiers holds the disc cartridges so 
that portions thereof are exposed to outside. Consequently, with the 
present recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the exposed portions of 
the disc cartridges van be visually identified from outside, while the 
disc cartridges may be exchanged if they are not loaded on the recording 
and/or reproducing device. On the other hand, if the disc cartridges are 
loaded on the recording and/or reproducing device, the exposed portions 
thereof are contained within the recording and/or reproducing device, thus 
allowing to recognize that the disc cartridges have been loaded on the 
recording and/or reproducing unit. 
According to the present invention, each of the loaded disc cartridges may 
be viewed from outside, while the type of the disc cartridge being 
recorded or reproduced can be indicated without complicating the 
construction of the device. In addition, the disc cartridges other than 
the disc cartridge loaded on the recording and/or reproducing unit can be 
exchanged. Furthermore, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can be 
reduced in depth. 
In the recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the 
recording and/or reproducing unit is arranged on the side of the disc 
stocker which is opposite to its side via which the disc cartridges are 
inserted and taken out. 
The transporting means is responsive to a portion exposed to outside the 
disc stocker of one of the disc cartridges held by the disc stocker being 
thrust towards the inside of the disc stocker to initiate the operation of 
selecting the one of the disc cartridges and transporting the selected 
disc cartridge into said recording and/or reproducing unit. 
The recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a movement device 
having a movably supported movement member, and an endless driving belt 
having a portion lying along a path of movement of said movement member, 
which endless belt is placed around a driving pulley member and fed by the 
driving pulley member. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus also 
includes a follower pulley member arranged on the movement member and 
carrying the endless driving belt placed therearound, a profiling member 
movably mounted on the movement member and moved by rotation of the 
follower pulley member, and a cam member arranged along a path of movement 
of the movement member for limiting movement of the profiling member 
relative to the movement member. The driving force transmitted by the 
endless driving belt acts in dependence upon the position of the movement 
member relative to the cam member so that the driving force rotates the 
follower pulley member to cause movement of the profiling member relative 
to the movement member when the cam member enables movement of the 
profiling member relative to the movement member. Such driving force moves 
the movable member when the cam member inhibits movement of the profiling 
member relative to the movement member. 
With the present recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the driving force 
transmitted by the endless driving belt placed around the follower pulley 
arranged on the movement member is responsive to the position of the 
movement member relative to the cam member limiting the movement of the 
profiling member, so that, when the cam member enables or prohibits 
movement of the profiling member by the cam member, the profiling member 
is moved by rotating the follower pulley member, or the movement member is 
moved, respectively. 
Consequently, with the movement device of the present recording and/or 
reproducing apparatus, the changeover timing for the driving force 
transmission route is determined only by the profile of the cam member 
without being fluctuated under e.g., the external force. 
The profiling member moves an engagement arm for engaging a disc cartridge 
held by the disc stocker of a disc changer device with the movement member 
via the engagement arm. 
In such case, in a disc player device, such as a disc changer device having 
the disc stocker, it is possible with the movement device to positively 
move the disc cartridge via a pre-set movement route. 
Thus the present invention provides a movement deice which is reduced in 
size and in which there is no risk of the driving changeover timing being 
fluctuated by the external force. 
The movement device according to the present invention may be 
advantageously applied to a disc changer device having plural recording 
discs housed therein and adapted for selecting one of these discs for 
recording and/or reproducing the information signals on or from the 
selected disc. 
The recording and/or reproducing apparatus also includes a disc loading 
device, which disc loading device includes in turn a cartridge holder for 
holding a disc cartridge comprised of a recording disc housed within a 
cartridge main member, a recording and/or reproducing unit for 
recording/reproducing information signals on or from the recording disc 
and transport means for transporting the cartridge holder in one direction 
or towards the recording and/or reproducing unit. The transport means 
moves the recording and/or reproducing unit since a mid point of the 
transport process for the cartridge holder in synchronism with transport 
of the cartridge holder. The transport means moves the recording and/or 
reproducing unit via cam means for loading the disc cartridge held by the 
cartridge holder on the recording and/or reproducing unit. 
The transport means further transports the cartridge holder and the 
recording and/or reproducing unit in one direction for approaching a 
magnetic head carried by the recording and/or reproducing unit towards the 
recording disc of the disc cartridge. 
The transport means opens a shutter member of the disc cartridge held in 
the cartridge holder as the cartridge holder is transported in one 
direction. 
The recording and/or reproducing apparatus also has a cartridge holder 
having a holding member for holding a disc cartridge inserted therein from 
the front side. The disc cartridge is comprised of a recording disc housed 
within a cartridge main member and having a shutter member on a lateral 
side thereof normal to the inserting direction. The shutter member is 
slidable in the inserting direction for opening or closing an aperture, a 
slider slidably mounted on the holding member, a retention member provided 
on the slider for retaining the disc cartridge inserted into the holding 
member relative to the slider, and a shutter engagement member movably 
mounted on the holding member and moved in unison with the slider for 
being engaged with the shutter member. The slider engages the shutter 
engagement member with the shutter member of the disc cartridge inserted 
into the holding member for moving the disc cartridge to a closure 
position of the shutter member. 
The recording and/or reproducing device includes a holding member movably 
supported by a chassis member. The shutter engagement member is engaged 
with the chassis member when the shutter engagement member is disengaged 
from the shutter member. 
The recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a movement device 
having a profiling pin inserted into a guide slit formed in an object to 
be moved for extending in an up-and-down direction so that the profiling 
pin is movable only in the up-and-down direction, and a first cam plate 
having at least one first horizontal section, a second horizontal section 
contiguous to the first horizontal section via a branch point and a first 
inclined section and lying above the first horizontal section and a third 
horizontal section contiguous to the first horizontal section via the 
branch point and a second inclined section and lying below the first 
horizontal section. The first cam plate is horizontally movable between an 
initial position positioning the profiling pin at the first horizontal 
section and an operative position positioning the profiling pin at the 
second position or the third position. The recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus also includes movement means for periodically moving the first 
cam plate in reciprocation in a forward direction and in a reverse 
direction between the initial position and the operative position, and a 
second cam plate having at least one horizontal abutment support and being 
horizontally movable between a supporting position supporting the 
profiling pin by the abutment support and a non-supporting position 
receding the abutment support away from a locus of movement of the 
profiling pin. The second cam plate is periodically movable in a forward 
direction and in a reverse direction by the movement means with a pre-set 
phase difference relative to the first cam plate. When the movement means 
performs a forward periodic movement and the first cam plate is 
horizontally moved from the initial position to the operative position, 
the second cam plate is at the supporting position during the time the 
profiling pin passes through the branching point, thereby guiding the 
profiling pin to the first inclined section contiguous to the second 
horizontal section. When the movement means performs a reverse periodic 
movement and the first cam plate is horizontally moved from the initial 
position to the operative position, the second cam plate is at the 
non-supporting position during the time the profiling pin passes through 
the branching point, thereby guiding the profiling pin to the second 
inclined section contiguous to the third horizontal section. 
The recording and/or reproducing apparatus also includes a movement device 
having a profiling pin inserted into a guide slit formed in an object to 
be moved from one to the opposite side. The profiling pin is movable only 
in a direction along the guide slit. The recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus also includes biasing means for biasing the object towards the 
one side, a first cam plate having at least one first halt portion formed 
in a direction substantially normal to the guide slit, a second halt 
portion contiguous to the first halt portion via a branching point and a 
first inclined section inclined relative to the direction of the guide 
slit, which second halt portion is closer to the opposite side than the 
first halt portion, and a third halt portion contiguous to the first halt 
portion via the branching point and a second inclined section inclined 
relative to the direction of the guide slit, which third halt portion is 
closer to the one side than the first halt portion. The first cam plate 
moves the profiling pin in a direction substantially normal to the guide 
slit between an initial position abuttingly supporting the profiling pin 
by the first halt portion and an operative position abuttingly supporting 
the profiling pin by the second halt portion or by the third halt portion. 
The recording and/or reproducing apparatus also includes movement means 
for periodically moving the first cam plate in reciprocation in a forward 
direction and in a reverse direction between the initial position and the 
operative position, and a second cam plate having at least one abutment 
support and being movable by the abutment support in a direction 
substantially normal to the guide slit between a supporting position 
abuttingly supporting the profiling pin by the abutment support and a 
non-supporting position receding the abutment support away from the locus 
of movement of the profiling pin. The second cam plate is periodically 
movable by the movement means in reciprocation in a forward direction and 
in a reverse direction with a pre-set phase difference relative to the 
first cam. When the movement means performs a forward periodic movement 
and the first cam plate is moved from the initial position to the 
operative position, the second cam plate is at the supporting position 
during the time the profiling pin passes through the branching point, 
thereby prohibiting the profiling pin from being moved in one direction 
under the bias of the biasing means and guiding the profiling pin to the 
first inclined section contiguous to the second horizontal section. When 
the movement means performs a reverse periodic movement and the first cam 
plate is moved from the initial position to the operative position, the 
second cam plate is at the non-supporting position during the time the 
profiling pin passes through the branching point, thereby enabling the 
profiling pin to be moved in one direction under the bias of the biasing 
means and guiding the profiling pin to the second inclined section 
contiguous to the third horizontal section. 
The movement means in the present recording and/or reproducing apparatus 
has a rotatable cam member and rotational driving means for selectively 
rotating the rotatable cam member in a forward direction or in a reverse 
direction. The rotatable cam member has a first cam section for moving the 
first cam plate and a second cam section for moving the second cam plate. 
The abutment support of the second cam plate in the present recording 
and/or reproducing apparatus is a side edge portion of a lug having its 
one end supported by a main portion of the second cam plate and having its 
opposite end as a free end. The second cam plate is moved in reciprocation 
with a period equal to one-half the period of the movement of the first 
cam plate in a forward direction or in a reverse direction. 
The present recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a recording 
disc holding unit holding plural recording discs in tiers, transporting 
means for transporting one of recording discs held in the recording disc 
holding unit for loading on the recording and/or reproducing unit, and a 
movement device for moving the transporting means between positions 
associated with the recording discs for causing the transporting means to 
select one of the recording discs. The transporting means is driven by a 
first motor and the movement means is driven by a second motor. 
The disc loading device includes a cartridge holder for holding a disc 
cartridge comprised of a recording disc housed within a cartridge main 
member, a recording and/or reproducing unit for recording/reproducing 
information signals on or from the recording disc and transport means for 
transporting the cartridge holder in one direction or towards the 
recording and/or reproducing unit. The transport means moves the recording 
and/or reproducing unit since a mid point of the transport process for the 
cartridge holder in synchronism with transport of the cartridge holder. 
The transport means moves the recording and/or reproducing unit via cam 
means for loading the disc cartridge held by the cartridge holder on the 
recording and/or reproducing unit. 
With the present disc loading device, the transport mechanism for 
transporting the cartridge holder holding the disc cartridge in one 
direction towards the recording and/or reproducing unit moves the 
recording and/or reproducing unit since a mid point of the transport 
process for the cartridge holder in synchronism with transport of the 
cartridge holder for loading the disc cartridge held by the cartridge 
holder on the recording and/or reproducing unit. Thus the transporting 
mechanism completes the loading operation by movement in one direction by 
a sole motor. 
The transport means in the disc loading device further transports the 
cartridge holder and the recording and/or reproducing unit in one 
direction for approaching a magnetic head carried by the recording and/or 
reproducing unit towards the recording disc of the disc cartridge. 
In such case, the transporting mechanism completes the loading operation 
and the changeover between the recording mode and the reproducing mode by 
movement in one direction by a sole motor. 
The transport means in the disc loading device opens a shutter member of 
the disc cartridge held in the cartridge holder as the cartridge holder is 
transported in one direction. 
In such case, the transporting mechanism completes the loading operation 
and the changeover between the recording mode and the reproducing mode as 
well as the shutter opening/closure by movement in one direction by a sole 
motor. 
Thus the present invention provides a disc loading device which is simple 
in construction and easy to assemble while being able to be reduced in 
size. 
The cartridge holder in the disc loading device has a holding member for 
holding a disc cartridge inserted therein from the front side. The disc 
cartridge is comprised of a recording disc housed within a cartridge main 
member and has a shutter member on a lateral side thereof normal to the 
inserting direction. The shutter member is slidable in the inserting 
direction for opening or closing an aperture, a slider slidably mounted on 
the holding member, a retention member provided on the slider for 
retaining the disc cartridge inserted into the holding member relative to 
the slider, and a shutter engagement member movably mounted on the holding 
member and moved in unison with the slider for being engaged with the 
shutter member. The slider engages the shutter engagement member with the 
shutter member of the disc cartridge inserted into the holding member for 
moving the disc cartridge to a closure position of the shutter member. 
The holding member is movably supported by a chassis member and the shutter 
engagement member is engaged with the chassis member when the shutter 
engagement member is disengaged from the shutter member. 
With the present disc loading device, a plurality of the cartridge holders 
are housed and held within a disc stocker in tiers, and the transporting 
means are arranged for movement between positions associated with the disc 
cartridges held in the disc stocker and for selecting and transporting one 
of the cartridge holders for loading on the recording and/or reproducing 
unit. 
The disc loading device includes a recording disc holding unit holding 
plural recording discs in tiers, transporting means for transporting one 
of recording discs held in the recording disc holding unit for loading on 
the recording and/or reproducing unit, and a movement device for moving 
the transporting means between positions associated with the recording 
discs for causing the transporting means to select one of the recording 
discs. The transporting means is driven by a first motor and the movement 
mans is driven by a second motor. 
The cartridge holder according to the present invention includes a holding 
member for holding a disc cartridge inserted therein from the front side. 
The disc cartridge is comprised of a recording disc housed within a 
cartridge main member having a shutter member on its lateral side normal 
to the inserting direction. The shutter member is slidable in the 
inserting direction for opening or closing an aperture. A slider is 
slidably mounted on the holding member, and a retention member is provided 
on the slider for retaining the disc cartridge inserted into the holding 
member relative to the slider. A shutter engagement member is movably 
mounted on the holding member and moved in unison with the slider for 
being engaged with the shutter member. The slider engages the shutter 
engagement member with the shutter member of the disc cartridge inserted 
into the holding member for moving the disc cartridge to a closure 
position of the shutter member. 
With the present cartridge holder, the slider mounted for sliding in the 
fore-and-aft direction on a holding member holding the disc cartridge 
inserted from the front side is engaged with the shutter member of the 
disc cartridge inserted into the holder member by movement of the shutter 
engagement member movably mounted on the holding member. The slider moves 
the disc cartridge to a position of opening of the shutter member. The 
disc cartridge houses a recording disc and has the shutter member on its 
lateral side extending in the inserting direction, with the shutter member 
being slidable along the inserting direction for opening or closing an 
aperture in the disc cartridge. 
Thus, with the present cartridge holder, the disc cartridge can be held 
with the shutter member remaining in the closure state. 
That is, according to the present invention, the disc cartridge may be 
maintained under the state of optimum storage by holding the disc 
cartridge without opening the shutter member. 
The holding member of the cartridge holder is movably supported by a 
chassis member and the shutter engagement member is engaged with the 
chassis member when the shutter engagement member is disengaged from the 
shutter member. 
In such case, the cartridge holder is movable relative to the chassis 
member under the opening state of the shutter member, while being 
prohibited from being moved relative to the chassis member when the disc 
cartridge is held with the shutter member in the closed state. 
Thus, when the cartridge holder is applied to the disc changer device, it 
becomes possible for the transporting device of the disc changer device to 
transport the disc cartridge held by the cartridge holder along with the 
cartridge holder, thus rendering it possible to simplify the construction 
of the disc changer device. 
That is, when applied to the disc changer device, the present invention 
provides a cartridge holder which renders it possible to facilitate 
assembling of the disc changer device without complicating the 
construction of the disc changer device. 
The disc changer device according to the present invention includes a 
recording disc holding unit holding plural recording discs in tiers, 
transporting means for transporting one of recording discs held in the 
recording disc holding unit for loading on the recording and/or 
reproducing unit, and a movement device for moving the transporting means 
between positions associated with the recording discs for causing the 
transporting means to select one of the recording discs. The transporting 
means is driven by a first motor and the movement means is driven by a 
second motor. 
With the present disc changer device, the transporting mechanism for 
transporting one of the recording discs held by the recording disc holding 
unit holding plural recording discs in tiers and for loading the 
transported recording disc on the recording and/or reproducing unit is 
driven by a first motor, while the movement mechanism for moving the 
transporting mechanism across the positions facing the recording discs is 
driven by a second motor. 
Consequently, with the present disc changer device, the operations of 
selecting the recording disc, transporting the selected recording disc and 
loading the transported disc on the recording and/or reproducing unit can 
be performed by two motors. 
Thus the present invention provides a disc changer device capable of 
satisfactorily recording and/or reproducing information signals on or from 
plural recording discs despite the small-sized and simplified construction 
and facilitated assembling. 
The movement device of the disc changer device includes a profiling pin 
inserted into a guide slit formed in an object to be moved for extending 
in an up-and-down direction so that the profiling pin is movable only in 
the up-and-down direction, a first cam plate having at least one first 
horizontal section, a second horizontal section contiguous to the first 
horizontal section via a branch point and a first inclined section and 
lying above the first horizontal section and a third horizontal section 
contiguous to the first horizontal section via the branch point and a 
second inclined section and lying below the first horizontal section. The 
first cam plate is horizontally movable between an initial position 
positioning the profiling pin at the first horizontal section and an 
operative position positioning the profiling pin at the second position or 
the third position, movement means for periodically moving the first cam 
plate in reciprocation in a forward direction and in a reverse direction 
between the initial position and the operative position, and a second cam 
plate having at least one horizontal abutment support and being 
horizontally movable between a supporting position supporting the 
profiling pin by said abutment support and a non-supporting position 
receding the abutment support away from a locus of movement of the 
profiling pin. The second cam plate is periodically movable in 
reciprocation in a forward direction and in a reverse direction by the 
movement means with a pre-set phase difference relative to the first cam 
plate. When the movement means performs a forward periodic movement and 
the first cam plate is horizontally moved from the initial position to 
said operative position, the second cam plate is at the supporting 
position during the time the profiling pin passes through the branching 
point, thereby guiding the profiling pin to the first inclined section 
contiguous to the second horizontal section. When the movement means 
performs a reverse periodic movement and the first cam plate is 
horizontally moved from the initial position to the operative position, 
the second cam plate is at the non-supporting position during the time the 
profiling pin passes through the branching point, thereby guiding the 
profiling pin to the second inclined section contiguous to the third 
horizontal section. 
The disc changer device has a movement device includes a profiling pin 
inserted into a guide slit formed in an object to be moved for extending 
from one to the opposite side. The profiling pin is movable only in a 
direction along the guide slit. The disc changer device also includes 
biasing means for biasing the object towards the one side, a first cam 
plate having at least one first halt portion formed in a direction 
substantially normal to the guide slit, a second halt portion contiguous 
to the first halt portion via a branching point and a first inclined 
section inclined relative to the direction of the guide slit, and a third 
halt portion contiguous to the first halt portion via the branching point 
and a second inclined section inclined relative to the direction of the 
guide slit. The second halt portion is closer to the opposite side than 
the first halt portion, while the third halt portion is closer to the one 
side than the first halt portion. The first cam plate moves the profiling 
pin in a direction substantially normal to the guide slit between an 
initial position abuttingly supporting the profiling pin by the first halt 
portion and an operative position abuttingly supporting the profiling pin 
by the second halt portion or by the third halt portion. The disc changer 
device also includes movement means for periodically moving the first cam 
plate in reciprocation in a forward direction and in a reverse direction 
between the initial position and the operative position, and a second cam 
plate having at least one abutment support and being movable by the 
abutment support in a direction substantially normal to the guide slit 
between a supporting position abuttingly supporting the profiling pin by 
the abutment support and a non-supporting position receding the abutment 
support away from the locus of movement of the profiling pin. The second 
cam plate is periodically movable by the movement means in reciprocation 
in a forward direction and in a reverse direction with a pre-set phase 
difference relative to the first cam. When the movement means performs a 
forward periodic movement and the first cam plate is moved from the 
initial position to the operative position, the second cam plate is at the 
supporting position during the time the profiling pin passes through the 
branching point, thereby prohibiting the profiling pin from being moved in 
one direction under the bias of the biasing means and guiding the 
profiling pin to the first inclined section contiguous to the second 
horizontal section. When the movement means performs a reverse periodic 
movement and the first cam plate is moved from the initial position to the 
operative position, the second cam plate is at the non-supporting position 
during the time the profiling pin passes through the branching point, 
thereby enabling the profiling pin to be moved in one direction under the 
bias of the biasing means and guiding the profiling pin to the second 
inclined section contiguous to the third horizontal section. 
In the above disc changer device of the present invention, the movement 
means has a rotatable cam member and rotational driving means for 
selectively rotating the rotatable cam member in a forward direction and 
in a reverse direction. The rotatable cam member has a first cam section 
for moving a first cam plate and a second cam section for moving a second 
cam plate. 
In he above disc changer device of the present invention, the abutment 
support of the second cam plate is a side edge of a lug having one end 
supported by a main member of the second cam plate and having the opposite 
end as a free end. The second cam plate is moved in reciprocation in a 
forward direction and in a reverse direction with a period equal to 
one-half the period of reciprocating movement of the first cam plate.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention 
will be explained in detail. 
The movement device according to the present invention is adapted to move 
an object on a straight trajectory within a pre-set range. In the present 
embodiment, the movement device according to the present invention is 
designed as a device for vertically moving an object 11. Thus the object 
11 is biased downward under the effect of gravity. 
The object 11 has on its both lateral sides a forward pair and a rear pair 
of profiling pins 12, 13, 12 and 13. The object 11 is arranged between a 
pair of sidewall sections 1, 2 set upright on a base plate 10 parallel to 
each other. The sidewall sections 1, 2 are each formed with a forward pair 
and a rear pair of guide slits 8, 9, 8 and 9, which are formed as 
vertically extending straight slits. The profiling pins 12, 13, 12 and 13 
are introduced into the slits 8, 9, 8 and 9. Thus the object 11 is 
vertically movable within a range of possible movement of the profiling 
pins 12, 13, 12 and 13 in the guide slits 8, 9, 8 and 9, as indicated by 
arrows D and C in FIG. 2. 
On the outer sides of the sidewall sections 1 and 2 are mounted a left side 
pair and a right side pair of first and second cam plates 4, 3, 4 and 3 
for movement in the fore-and-aft direction. The first cam plate 4 is 
substantially planar and has a central upper supporting slit 33 and lower 
lateral supporting slits 34, 35, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. On the 
sidewall section 1 are formed outwardly extending supporting stud pins 5, 
6 and 7, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. These stud pins 5 to 7 are passed 
through the supporting slits 33 to 35 for supporting the first cam plate 4 
for sliding in the fore-and-aft direction. The first cam plate 4 is 
movable a distance corresponding to the length of the supporting slits 33 
to 35. Similarly to the sidewall section 2, the opposite sidewall section 
2 also has supporting stud pins 5, 6 and 7 for supporting the first cam 
plate 4 for movement in the fore-and-aft direction. These first cam plates 
4, 4 are of the same shape and are mounted with the back sides thereof 
directed to the sidewall sections 1 and 2. 
A forward pair and a rear pair of cam slits 38, 39 similar in contour to 
each other are formed in both lateral sides of the first cam plate 4. 
These cam slits 38, 39 are each zigzag-shaped by having plural horizontal 
sections (halt portions) 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, 38e, 38f, 38g, 38h, 38i, 39a, 
39b, 39c, 39d, 39e, 39f, 39g, 39h, 39i and inclined sections sequentially 
interconnecting these horizontal sections. The horizontal sections 38a, 
38b, 38c, 38d, 38e, 38f, 38g, 38h, 38i are different in height level and 
staggered in the fore-and-aft direction. 
That is, if, with the forward side cam slit 38, the second highest 
horizontal section 38b is the first horizontal section, the highest 
horizontal section 38a communicates with the first horizontal section 38b 
via a branching point and a first inclined section. The highest horizontal 
section 38a is higher in height level than the first horizontal section 
38b. Thus the highest horizontal section 38a is the second horizontal 
section. The first horizontal section 38b, lower in height than the second 
horizontal section 38a, communicates with the third highest horizontal 
section 38c via the branching point and a second inclined section. Thus 
the third highest horizontal section 38c is the third horizontal section. 
The same holds true for the remaining horizontal sections 38c to 38h (the 
lowest horizontal section 38i is excluded). That is, if any of these 
sections is the first horizontal section, the first horizontal section 
communicates with a second horizontal section via a branching point and a 
first inclined section and with a third horizontal section via the 
branching point and a second inclined section. The same holds true for the 
rear side cam slit 39. 
These first cam plates 4, 4 are movable between a rear position or an 
initial position in which the forward side horizontal sections 38a, 38c, 
38e, 38g, 38i, 39a, 39c, 39e, 39g and 39i of the cam slits 38, 39 are 
superimposed on the guide slits 8, 9 and a forward position or an 
operative position in which the rear side horizontal sections 38b, 38d, 
38f, 38h, 39b, 39d, 39f, 39h of the cam slits 38, 39 are superimposed on 
the guide slits 8, 9. 
The second cam plate 3 is substantially planar and similar in size to the 
first cam plate 4, and has an upper central supporting slit 28 and lower 
both side supporting slits 29, 30, as shown in FIG. 5. The supporting stud 
pins 5, 6, 7 are passed through these supporting slits 28, 29, 30 for 
supporting the second cam plate 3 for sliding in the fore-and-aft 
direction. That is, the distance of possible movement of the second cam 
plate 3 corresponds to the length of each of the supporting slits 28, 29, 
30. On the opposite sidewall section 2, similarly to the sidewall section 
1, the second cam plate 3 is supported by the supporting stud pins 5, 6, 7 
for movement in the fore-and-aft direction. These second cam plates 3, 3 
are similar to each other in shape and are mounted with the respective 
back sides facing the sidewall sections 1, 2. These second cam plates 3, 3 
are interposed between the first cam plates 4, 4 and the sidewall sections 
1, 2. 
Each of the second cam plates 3, 3 has a forward set and a rear set of 
abutting supporting pieces 31, 32. These abutting supporting pieces 31, 32 
are formed the rear edges of through-holes 45, 46 formed in the second cam 
plate 3. These sets of abutting supporting pieces 31, 31 are each similar 
in shape to each other and are each composed of plural abutting supporting 
pieces. Each abutting supporting piece has its proximal side integrally 
connected to and supported by the main member of the second cam plate 3 
and has its distal free end protruded into each of the through-holes 45, 
46. Thus the sets of the abutting supporting pieces 31, 32 are each 
comb-shaped. Each abutting supporting piece has its upper end formed as 
abutment supports 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 31h, 31i, 32a, 32b, 
32c, 32d, 32e, 32f, 32g, 32h and 32i. These abutting supports 31a, 31b, 
31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 31h, 31i, 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, 32f, 32g, 32h 
and 32i are of height levels corresponding to those of the horizontal 
sections 39a, 39b, 39c, 39d, 39e, 39f, 39g, 39h, 39i of the first cam 
plate 4. 
These second cam plates 3, 3 may be moved between a forward side position, 
that is a supporting position, of superimposing the abutting supports 31a, 
31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 31h, 31i, with the guide slits 8, 9, and a 
rear position, that is a non-supporting position, of receding the abutting 
supports 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 31h, 31i towards the back side 
of the guide slits 8, 9. 
A lower mid side of the second cam plate 3 is provided with a slit 44 
through which a support shaft 24 of a rotary cam member 25 as later 
explained is passed and a profiling pin 40 engaged for profiling movement 
in a cam groove 27 in the rotary cam member 25. 
The profiling pins 12, 13, 12, 13 are passed through the guide slits 8, 9, 
8, 9 and through the through-holes 45, 46, 45, 46 in the second cam plates 
3, 3 and the cam slits 38, 39, 38, 39 of the first cam plates 4, 4. 
The movement device is provided with movement means composed of a left pair 
and a right pair of rotary cam members 25, 25, rotatably mounted on the 
sidewall sections 1, 2 via supporting shafts 24, 24 and a motor 14 as 
rotational driving means for the rotary cam members 25, 25. 
The motor 14 is mounted on the base 10. A driving pulley 15 is mounted on a 
driving shaft of the motor 14. An endless driving belt 16 is placed around 
the driving pulley 15. The endless driving belt 16 is placed around a 
follower pulley 17 rotatably mounted on the base 10. That is, the follower 
pulley 17 is rotated by the motor 14. A worm gear 18 is mounted as one and 
coaxially with the follower pulley 17. The worm gear 18 meshes with a worm 
wheel 19 mounted on a rotation transmitting shaft 20 mounted for rotation 
between the sidewall sections 1 and 2. The rotation transmitting shaft 20 
has its both ends protruded outwardly of the sidewall sections 1 and 2 and 
first transmission gears 21, 21 are mounted on the protruded ends of the 
shaft 20, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Each of the first transmission gears 
21, 21 meshes with second transmission gears 23, 23 rotatably mounted on 
the sidewall sections 1, 2 via support shafts 22, 22. These first 
transmission gears 21, 21 are engaged in gears 43, 43 formed on the outer 
rims of the rotary cam members 25, 25. That is, the rotary cam members 25, 
25 are run in rotation in the same direction (in the mutually reverse 
directions when looking from the side of the support shaft 24) by the 
motor 14 which is run in rotation. 
The rotary cam members 25, 25 are arranged between the first cam plates 4, 
3, 4, 3 by the support shafts 24, 24 being passed through the slits 44, 44 
in the second cam plates 3, 3. On the surface of the rotary cam member 25 
facing the back side of the first cam plate 4 is set a driving pin 28 
acting as a first cam member. The driving pin 26 is passed through and 
engaged with a profiling slit 36 formed in an up-and-down direction at a 
mid portion of the first cam plate 4. That is, when the rotary cam members 
25, 25 make one complete revolution, the first cam plates 4, 4 perform a 
complete revolution between the initial position and the operative 
position as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2. The back surface of the first 
cam plate 4 is formed a recess 37 for avoiding abutment by the rotary cam 
member 25. 
On the back sides of the rotary cam members 25, 25 facing the front 
surfaces of the second cam plates 3, 3 are formed the cam grooves 27, 27 
acting as second cam members. These cam grooves 27, 27 are oval-shaped and 
include two distal points separated 180.degree. from each other and two 
medial points separated 90.degree. from these distal points and separated 
180.degree. from each other. The cam groove 27 is engaged by the profiling 
pin 40 set upright on the surface of the second cam plate 3. That is, when 
the rotary cam members 25, 25 complete one revolution, the second cam 
plates 3, 3 are reciprocated twice in the fore-and-aft direction between 
the supporting position and the non-supporting position as indicated by 
arrow B in FIG. 2. 
Meanwhile, both sides of the second cam plate 3 may be used and, to this 
end, a pair of engagement openings 41, 42 are formed on both sides of the 
slit 44 in order to permit the profiling pins 40 to be set upright on both 
sides of the second cam plate. Specifically, the second cam plates 3, 3 
are of the same shape and the cam plate 3 mounted on the sidewall section 
1 has its front surface directed to the outer lateral side of the base 10 
while the cam plate 3 mounted on the opposite sidewall section 2 has its 
back surface directed to the outer side of the base 10. The profiling pin 
40 is set on one of the engagement holes 41, 42 and on the front or back 
surface of the second cam plate 3 depending on which of the sidewall 
sections 1, 2 the second cam plate 3 is mounted. That is, the profiling 
pin 40 is set in the rear engagement opening 41 in a direction towards the 
outer surface of the base 10 on the second cam plate 3 mounted on one of 
the sidewall sections 1, and in the front engagement opening 42 in a 
direction towards the outer surface of the base 10 on the second cam plate 
3 mounted on the opposite sidewall sections 2. 
The first and second cam plates 4, 3, 4, 3 are periodically reciprocated 
with a pre-set phase difference from each other by rotation of the 
rotatable cam members 25, 25. As regards the cam plates 3, 4 mounted on 
the sidewall section 1, if the rotary cam member 25 is rotated clockwise, 
there is produced a phase difference such that the maximum point of the 
sliding movement of the second cam plate 3, corresponding to the maximum 
rightward movement of the second cam plate to the non-supporting position, 
is delayed 45.degree. in terms of the rotational angle of the rotary cam 
member 25 with respect to the maximum point of the sliding movement of the 
first cam plate 4 corresponding to the maximum rightward or leftward 
movement of the first cam plate 4 to the initial position or to the 
operative position, as shown in FIG. 51. As regards the cam plates 3, 4 
mounted on the opposite sidewall section 2, if the rotary cam member 25 is 
rotated counterclockwise, there is produced a phase difference such that 
the maximum point of the sliding movement of the second cam plate 3, 
corresponding to the maximum rightward movement of the second cam plate to 
the supporting position, is advanced 45.degree. in terms of the rotational 
angle of the rotary cam member 25 with respect to the maximum point of the 
sliding movement of the first cam plate 4 corresponding to the maximum 
rightward or leftward movement of the first cam plate 4 to the initial 
position or to the operative position, as shown in FIG. 52. 
The sidewall section 1 or 2 is provided with a thrust switch 47 for 
detecting that the first cam plate 4 is at the initial position, as shown 
in FIG. 8. When the first cam plate 4 is at the above-mentioned initial 
position, the thrust switch 47 is thrust by a switch thrusting piece 48 or 
49 protruded from the lower surface of the first cam plate 4 for detecting 
that the first cam plate 4 is not at the initial position. If the first 
cam plate 4 is not at the initial position, the thrust switch 47 is not 
thrust. 
With the above-described movement device, the rotary cam member 25 may be 
replaced by first and second cam gears 51, 53 meshing with each other, as 
shown in FIGS. 10-24. In such case, the first cam plate 4 is periodically 
reciprocated by a driving pin 52 set upright on the first cam gear 51. The 
second cam plate 3 is periodically reciprocated by a driving pin 54 set 
upright on the second cam gear 54. The second cam gear 53 has the number 
of teeth equal to one-half that of the first cam gear 51 and hence is 
rotated at a period equal to one-half that of the first cam gear 51. 
Consequently, the operation of the cam plates 3 and 4 is similar to the 
operation of the movement device having the rotatable cam member 25. In 
this case, the first and second cam gears 51, 53 are rotated in mutually 
reverse directions. Consequently, as regards the cam plates 3, 4, if the 
first cam gear 51 is rotated clockwise, there is produced a phase 
difference such that the maximum point of the sliding movement of the 
second cam plate 3 corresponding to the maximum rightward movement of the 
second cam plate as far as the non-supporting position is delayed 
45.degree. in terms of the rotational angle of the first cam gear 51 with 
respect to the maximum point of sliding movement of the first cam plate 4 
corresponding to the maximum rightward or leftward movement of the first 
cam plate as far as the above-mentioned initial position or the operative 
position, as shown in FIG. 50. 
With the above-mentioned movement device having the first and second cam 
plates 4, 3, the object 11 is raised or lowered depending on whether the 
rotational driving direction of the motor 14 is positive or negative. 
Specifically, it is assumed that, when the first cam gear 51 is at the 
initial position (0.degree. position), the first cam plate 4 is at the 
initial position and the profiling pin 12 is positioned at the n'th 
horizontal section 38n of the cam slit 38, as shown in FIG. 11. If the 
fist cam gear 51 starts to be rotated and has assumed a position rotated 
clockwise 30.degree., the second cam plate 3 is at the above-mentioned 
support position, as shown in FIG. 12. That is, the profiling pin 12 is 
supported at the n'th abutting supporting section 31n. When the first cam 
gear 51 is at the 60.degree. position, the second cam plate 3 is still at 
the above-mentioned support position, while the profiling pin 12 is still 
at the branch point of the cam slit 38, as shown in FIG. 13. However, the 
profiling pin 12 is supported by the n'th abutting support 31n without 
being moved downwards. 
When the first cam gear 51 is at the 90.degree. position, the second cam 
plate 3 is about to be moved away from the supporting position towards the 
non-supporting position, as shown in FIG. 14. The profiling pin 12 
traverses the branch point of the cam slit 38 and is about to reach the 
first inclined section. When the first cam gear 51 reaches the 120.degree. 
position, the profiling pin 12 traverses the branch point of the cam slit 
38 and is supported on the first inclined section, as shown in FIG. 15. 
Since the second cam plate 3 is at the non-supporting position, the 
profiling pin 12 is moved upwards along the first inclined section. When 
the first cam gear 51 reaches the 150.degree. position, the profiling pin 
12 is at the second horizontal section 38(n-1), with the horizontal 
section 38n being assumed to be the first horizontal section, as shown in 
FIG. 18. 
When the first cam gear 51 is at the 180.degree. position, the first cam 
plate 4 is at the operative position, while the profiling pin 12 is 
supported by the horizontal section, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. When the 
first cam gear 51 is further rotated as far as the 210.degree. position, 
the second cam plate 3 is at the above-mentioned supporting position, as 
shown in FIG. 19. That is, the profiling pin 12 is supported by the 
abutment support. When the first cam gear 51 is at the 240.degree. 
position, the second cam plate 3 is still at the above-mentioned 
supporting position, as shown in FIG. 20. Although the profiling pin 12 is 
positioned at the branch point of the cam slit 38, it is supported by the 
abutment support without being moved downwards. 
When the first cam gear 51 reaches the 270.degree. position, the second cam 
plate 3 is about to be moved away from the supporting position to the 
non-supporting position, as shown in FIG. 21. However, the profiling pin 
12 traverses the branch point of the cam slit 38 and is about to reach the 
inclined section. When the first cam gear reaches the 300.degree. 
position, the second cam plate 3 is at the non-supporting position, as 
shown in FIG. 22. However, the profiling pin 12 already traverses the 
branch point of the cam slit 38 and is now supported on the inclined 
section. When the first cam gear reaches the 330.degree. position, the 
traversing pin 12 is in the vicinity of the horizontal section, as shown 
in FIG. 23. When the first cam gear 51 is further rotated 30.degree. to 
return to the 360.degree. position, that is to the 0.degree. position, the 
first cam plate 4 is at the initial position, while the profiling pin 12 
is at the (n-2)th horizontal section 38(n-2) of the cam slit 38. 
That is, by one complete clockwise rotation of the first cam gear 51, the 
profiling pin 12 is moved from the n'th horizontal section 38n of the cam 
slit 38 to the horizontal section 38(n-2) directly above the horizontal 
section 38n. Thus the object 11 is sequentially moved towards above by 
continued positive rotation of the first cam gear 51. 
If the first cam gear 51 is rotated counterclockwise, the process reversed 
from the process shown in FIGS. 11 to 24 is followed, that is the state 
shown in FIG. 11 in which the profiling pin 12 is positioned at the 
horizontal section 38n is reached beginning from the state shown in FIG. 
24 in which the profiling pin 12 is positioned at the horizontal section 
38(n-2). This causes descent of the object 11. Thus the object 11 is 
sequentially lowered by continued counterclockwise rotation of the first 
cam gear 51. 
The abutment support of the second cam plate 3 in the movement device 
according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described 
comb-shaped abutting support 61 as shown in FIG. 25 in which both ends are 
free ends to permit passage of the profiling pin 12. In this case, the 
second cam gear 53 is replaced by a cam gear 57 having the same radius as 
the first cam gear 51 (R.sub.1 =R.sub.2) and the same number of teeth as 
that of the first cam gear 51, as shown in FIG. 25. The cam gear 57 causes 
the periodic reciprocating movement of the third cam plate 3 by a driving 
pin 58. With the present movement device, the cam plates 3, 4 are 
reciprocated with the same period with a phase difference therebetween 
such that, when the first cam gear 51 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 49, the 
second cam gear 3 is delayed relative to the first cam plate 4 by 
45.degree. in terms of the rotational angle of the first cam gear 51. 
With the present movement device, the movement device 11 may be raised or 
lowered depending on whether the direction of rotational driving of the 
motor 14 is forward or reverse, that is whether the rotational direction 
of the first cam gear 51 is forward or reverse. 
Specifically, it is assumed that, when the first cam gear 51 is at the 
initial position (0.degree. position), the first cam plate 4 is at the 
initial position and the profiling pin 12 is at the horizontal section of 
the cam slit 60, as shown in FIG. 25. When the first cam gear 51 starts 
its rotation and assumes the position in which it has been rotated 
30.degree. clockwise, the second cam plate 3 is the supporting position, 
as shown in FIGS. 26 to 27. That is, the profiling pin 12 is supported on 
the abutting support 61. When the first cam gear 51 is at the 60.degree. 
position, the second cam plate 3 is still at the above-mentioned support 
position, with the profiling pin 12 being positioned at the branch point 
of the cam slit 60, as shown in FIGS. 28 to 29. The profiling pin 12, 
however, is supported by the abutting support member 61 without being 
moved downwards. 
When the first cam gear 51 is at the 90.degree. position, the second cam 
plate 3 is about to be moved away from the supporting position to the 
non-supporting position, as shown in FIGS. 30 to 31. However, the 
profiling pin 12 traverses the branch point of the cam slit 60 and is 
about to reach the first inclined section. When the first cam gear 51 is 
at the 120.degree. position, the second cam plate 3 is at the 
above-mentioned non-supporting position, as shown in FIGS. 32 to 33. 
However, the profiling pin 12 already traverses the branch point of the 
cam slit 60 and is supported on the first inclined section. When the first 
cam gear 51 is at the 150.degree. position, the profiling pin 12 is at the 
second horizontal section, with the horizontal section positioned at the 
initial position being assumed to be the first horizontal section, as 
shown in FIGS. 34 to 35. 
When the first cam gear 51 reaches the 180.degree. position, the first cam 
plate 4 is at the operative position, with the profiling pin 12 being 
supported on the horizontal section, as shown in FIGS. 36 to 37. When the 
first cam gear 51 is rotated further to its 210.degree. position, the 
second cam plate 3 is at the above-mentioned supporting position, as shown 
in FIGS. 38 to 39. That is, the profiling pin 12 is supported on the 
abutting support member 61. When the first cam gear 51 is at the 
240.degree. position, the second cam plate 3 is still at the supporting 
position, with the profiling pin 12 being positioned at the branch point 
of the cam slit 60, as shown in FIGS. 40 to 41. However, the profiling pin 
12 is supported by the abutting support member without being moved 
downwards. 
When the first cam gear 51 is at the 270.degree. position, the second cam 
plate 3 is about to be moved from the supporting position towards the 
non-supporting position, as shown in FIGS. 42 to 43. However, the 
profiling pin traverses the branch point of the cam slit 60 and is about 
to reach the inclined section. When the first cam gear 51 is at the 
300.degree. position, the second cam plate 3 is at the non-supporting 
position, as shown in FIGS. 44 to 45. However, the profiling pin 12 
already traverses the branch point of the cam slit 60 and is supported on 
the inclined section. When the first cam gear 51 is at the 330.degree. 
position, the profiling pin 12 is positioned in the vicinity of the 
horizontal section, a shown in FIGS. 46 to 47. When the first cam gear 51 
is further rotated 30.degree. and returned to the 360.degree. or 0.degree. 
position, via the 345.degree. position, the first cam plate 4 is at the 
initial position, with the profiling pin 12 being positioned at the 
horizontal section directly above the horizontal section on which it was 
supported in the initial state. 
That is, by the clockwise complete revolution (in the positive direction) 
of the first cam gear 51, the profiling pin 12 is moved away from the n'th 
horizontal section 60n of the cam slit 60 to the horizontal section 
60(n-2) directly above the n'th horizontal section. Thus the object 11 is 
sequentially moved towards above as a result of continued rotation of the 
first cam gear 51 in the positive direction. 
If the first cam gear 51 is rotated in reverse, the process reverse to that 
shown in FIGS. 25 to 48 is followed, with the object 11 being moved 
downwards. Thus the object is sequentially moved downwards as a result of 
continued counterclockwise rotation of the first cam gear 51. 
The above-described movement device according to the present invention may 
be applied to a disc changer device, which is the recording and/or 
reproducing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 53. That is, the above-mentioned 
disc changer device is completed by arranging a disc player having an 
optical pickup 65, a disc table 64 and disc cartridge positioning pins 66, 
66, 66, 66 on the movement device 11, and by causing the object 11 to face 
a disc stocker 62 in which plural disc cartridges 68 are stacked in tiers. 
With the disc changer device, the object 11 is moved in the up-and-down 
direction for selecting one of plural disc cartridges 68 housed within the 
disc stocker 62. The selected disc cartridge 68 is loaded by a pull-out 
mechanism as later explained, and the information signals are recorded on 
or reproduced from a recording disc housed within the disc cartridge 68. 
The disc changer device may also be arranged as a recording/reproducing 
device employing a tape cassette as a recording medium in place of the 
disc cartridge 68. 
The movement device according to the present invention may be employed as a 
so-called lift device such as is employed in a grade car-parking area, as 
shown in FIG. 98. That is, the object 11 is adapted to support a car 72 
thereon, which car may be accommodated on a selected floor on selecting 
the floor by the object 11 being moved in the up-and-down direction. In 
the present embodiment, a fence 73 is provided around the object 11. There 
is also provided a slope 75 having a fence 74 on both sides in order to 
permit facilitated entrance of the car 72 on the object 11. The lift 
device may also be configured to lift the personnel or the cargo in 
general in place of the car 72. 
The movement device according to the present invention is not limited to 
the device for lifting the object 11, as in the above-described 
embodiment. Thus it may be arranged as a device for moving the object 11 
in the horizontal direction or in the inclined direction by 
unidirectionally biasing the object 11 by an elastic member such as a 
spring. That is, the object 11 may be positively moved in a pre-set 
direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the motor 14 if 
the object 11 is biased in downward movement, even if in the levelled down 
state. In the following, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus 
according to the present invention is designed as a disc changer device in 
which a plurality of disc cartridges each comprised of a recording disc 
contained in a cartridge main member and in which one of these disc 
cartridges is selected for recording/reproducing information signals on or 
from the disc contained therein. The disc changer device is now explained 
in the following sequence. 
(i) Construction of a disc cartridge (FIGS. 94 to 97) 
(ii) Outline of a disc changer device (FIGS. 54 and 61 to 63) 
(iii) Construction of a lift device (FIGS. 1 to 24) 
(iv) Construction of a mechanical chassis (FIGS. 82 to 88) 
(v) Construction of a cartridge holder (FIGS. 55 to 58 and 69) 
(vi) Construction of a disc stocker (FIGS. 60, 64 to 68) 
(vii) Construction of a transporting device (FIGS. 59, 61, 70 to 81 and 89 
to 92) 
(viii) Operation of a disc changer device 
(iX) Another construction of a cartridge holder (FIG. 93) 
(i) Construction of a disc cartridge (FIGS. 94 to 97) 
As the disc cartridge employed in the disc changer device, a 
recording/reproducing disc cartridge 320, employing a magneto-optical disc 
as a recording disc, as shown in FIGS. 94 to 96, and a read-only disc 
cartridge 321, employing an optical disc as a recording disc, are 
selectively employed. 
The magneto-optical disc is comprised of a disc substrate, about 64 mm in 
diameter, formed of a transparent synthetic resin, such as polycarbonate, 
and a signal recording layer deposited thereon. Information signals are 
recorded on the signal recording layer by locally heating it to a 
temperature higher than the Curie temperature by radiation of a converged 
laser beam and by applying an external magnetic field to the heated area. 
The information signals thus written may be read out by radiating a 
linearly polarized light beam on the signal recording layer and by 
detecting the rotation of the reflected light beam in the direction of 
polarization on the signal recording layer under the Kerr effect. 
The optical disc is comprised of a disc substrate similar to that of the 
magneto-optical disc and a reflective layer of aluminum or the like metal 
deposited thereon. Micro-sized pits corresponding to information signals 
are formed by, for example, injection molding, on the disc substrate of 
the optical disc. The information signals written on the optical disc may 
be read by radiating a coherent light beam, such as a laser light beam, on 
the pits, and by detecting changes in the light volume caused by diffusion 
or interference of the reflected light beam by the signal recording layer. 
The magneto-optical disc and the optical disc are rotatably housed within 
disc cartridges 305, 316 for making up disc cartridges, respectively, as 
shown in FIGS. 94 to 97. The cartridge main member 305, housing the 
magneto-optical disc for completing the recording/reproducing disc 
cartridge 320, is in the form of a thin casing having a rectangular-shaped 
major surface having a side substantially equal in length to the diameter 
of the magneto-optical disc. The cartridge main member 305 has an aperture 
323 for a magnetic head on its upper major surface for exposing a portion 
of the signal recording surface of the disc to outside, as shown in FIG. 
94. The cartridge main member 305 has an aperture 302 for an optical 
pickup on its lower major surface facing the aperture 323 for the magnetic 
head and a chuck aperture 313 at a mid portion of the lower major surface, 
as shown in FIG. 96. The recording/reproducing disc cartridge 320 is 
inserted in the forward direction into the recording/reproducing apparatus 
for loading as indicated by arrow T in FIGS. 94 to 96. 
With the cartridge main member 305 of the recording/reproducing disc 
cartridge 320, the aperture 323 for the magnetic head and the aperture 322 
for the optical head may be opened and closed by a shutter member 306. The 
shutter member 306, integrally formed of a synthetic resin or metal, is 
made up of shutter plate portions parallel to and facing each other and a 
connection portion interconnecting the shutter plate portions. The shutter 
plate portions are associated with and correspond in size to the apertures 
323, 322. The shutter member 306 has the connecting portion slidably 
supported in a supporting groove 307 formed on one side of the cartridge 
main member 305. The shutter member 306 is slid towards rear along a 
lateral side of the cartridge main member 305 for opening the apertures 
323, 322, while being returned to the initial position by being slid from 
the rear side towards the front side for closing the aperture 323, 322 by 
the shutter plate portions. 
The cartridge main member 316, housing the optical disc for constituting 
the read-only disc cartridge 321, is in the form of a thin casing having a 
rectangular-shaped major surface having a side substantially equal to the 
diameter of the optical disc. The cartridge main member 316 is not 
provided with an aperture in its upper major surface, as shown in FIG. 95. 
The cartridge main member 316 has an aperture 322 for an optical pickup in 
its lower major surface, and a chuck aperture 313 at a mid portion in the 
lower major surface, as shown in FIG. 97. The read-only disc cartridge 321 
is introduced in the forward direction into the recording and/or 
reproducing apparatus as shown by arrow T in FIGS. 95 and 97. 
The aperture 322 for the optical pickup in the cartridge main member 316 of 
the read-only optical pickup may be opened and closed by a shutter member 
317. The shutter member 317 is integrally formed of synthetic resin or 
metal and is made up of shutter plate members associated with the aperture 
322 for the optical pickup and a supporting portion provided at one end of 
the shutter plate portions. The shutter member 317 has its supporting 
portion slidably supported in a supporting groove 307 formed on one 
lateral side of the cartridge main member 316. The shutter member 317 is 
slid towards rear along a lateral side of the cartridge main member 316 
for opening the aperture 322, while being returned to the initial position 
by being slid from the rear side towards the front side for closing the 
aperture 322 by the shutter plate portions. 
A shutter closure opening 308 is formed at a mid portion of the connecting 
portion or the supporting portion of the shutter member 306 or 317 for 
extending to the lateral surface. The shutter opening aperture 308 is 
adapted for being engaged by a closure member of the disc changer device 
for closing the shutter members 306 or 317. 
A circular chuck aperture 304 is formed at a mid portion of the 
magneto-optical disc or the optical disc. The circular chuck aperture 304 
is closed from its upper surface by a chuck plate 302. The chuck plate 302 
is formed of a magnetic metal material, such as iron or stainless steel, 
and is formed as a disc of a diameter substantially corresponding to the 
size of the chuck aperture 304. The chuck aperture 304 and the chuck plate 
302 are exposed to the outside of the cartridge main members 305, 316 via 
the chuck aperture 313. 
The lower major surfaces of the cartridge main members 305, 316 are each 
formed with forward and rear positioning holes 309, 310. The forward 
positioning hole 309 is positioned near the edge of the forward major 
surface of the aperture 322 for the optical pickup and is in the form of 
an oblong circle having the long diameter extending in the fore-and-aft 
direction. The rear positioning hole 310 is circular-shaped and positioned 
near the edge of the rear major surface of the aperture 322 for the 
optical pickup. 
A plurality of discrimination openings 324 are formed near the edge of the 
rear side of the lower major surface of each of the cartridge main members 
305, 316. These discrimination openings 324 are used for identifying the 
type of state of the disc housed within the cartridge main member 305 or 
316, for example, for judging whether or not information signals can be 
recorded thereon. The rear side of the cartridge main member 305 of the 
recording/reproducing disc cartridge 320 has a save notch 314 in 
association with the discrimination openings 324. On sliding movement, the 
save notch 314 is intruded into and receded from one of the discrimination 
openings 324 for varying the depth of the opening 324 for changing over 
the discriminating state as to recordability of the information signals. 
The front side of the lower major surface of each disc cartridge 305, 316 
is formed with a mating engagement recess 312. 
With the cartridge main member 305 of the recording/reproducing disc 
cartridge 320, a discrimination recess 311 for discriminating the 
magneto-optical disc is formed in the forward edge of the lower major 
surface of the cartridge main member. With the cartridge main member 316 
of the read-only disc cartridge 321, a discrimination recess 318 for 
discriminating the optical disc is formed in the forward edge of the lower 
major surface of the cartridge main member. The discrimination recess 311 
for the magneto-optical disc and the discrimination recess 318 for the 
optical disc are different in depth from the lower major surface in order 
to permit the disc housed in the cartridge main member to be identified to 
be a magneto-optical disc or an optical disc based on such difference in 
depth. 
(ii) Outline of a disc changer device (FIGS. 54 and 61 to 63) 
As shown in FIGS. 54 and 61 to 63, the disc changer device has disc 
stockers 62, 71 for housing a plurality of cartridge holders 70 in tiers. 
Each cartridge holder 70 is designed to hold a disc cartridge 320 or 321 
introduced therein from the front side, as shown by arrow T in FIG. 54. 
The disc changer device has a mechanical chassis 11 and a lift device for 
vertically moving the chassis between positions facing respective ones of 
the cartridge holders 70. The mechanical chassis 11 has an optical pickup 
65 and a disc table 64 for recording and/or reproducing information 
signals on or from the loaded disc cartridge. The disc changer device also 
has a transporting device as means for transporting the cartridge holder 
70 facing the mechanical chassis as far as the mechanical chassis 11. The 
transporting device 126 is arranged on the mechanical chassis 11. The disc 
stockers 62, 71, lift device and the mechanical chassis 11 are mounted on 
the base chassis 10 as the base and are housed in their entirety in an 
outer casing 74. 
With the present disc changer device, control of the motors, detection 
switches, optical pickup unit and the magnetic head and signal exchange 
with these devices are performed by a control circuit, not shown, that is 
operated responsive to an input device, also not shown. 
(iii) Construction of a lift device (FIGS. 1 to 24) 
As previously discussed, the lift device represents the movement device as 
applied to the present disc changer device. The lift device is adapted for 
moving the mechanical chassis 11 on a straight locus of movement within a 
pre-set range as an object to be moved, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. With the 
present disc changer device, the lift device is adapted for moving the 
mechanical chassis 11 vertically as indicated by arrows C and D in FIG. 2. 
The mechanical chassis 11 is biased into downward movement under the force 
of gravity. The mechanical chassis 11 has a forward pair and a rear pair 
of profiling pins 12, 13, 12, 13. The mechanical chassis 11 is arranged 
between the sidewall sections 1 and 2 set upright for facing and parallel 
to each other on the base chassis 10 of the disc changer device. 
The mechanical chassis 11 is sequentially uplifted by continued rotation of 
the first cam gear 51 in the positive direction. The mechanical chassis 11 
is sequentially lowered by continued rotation of the first cam gear 51 in 
the reverse direction, as discussed above. 
(iv) Construction of a mechanical chassis (FIGS. 82 to 88) 
The mechanical chassis 11, lifted by the lift device, is substantially 
planar, and has a disc drive unit 174 as a recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus at a forward portion thereof, as shown in FIGS. 82 to 88. 
The disc drive unit 174 has a rectangular-shaped chassis, substantially 
equal in size to the disc cartridge 320 or 321, carrying thereon a disc 
table 64 engaged in a chuck aperture 304 of the disc and an optical pickup 
unit 65 for writing or reading information signals on or from the disc. 
The chassis of the disc driving unit 174 has a forward pair and a rear 
pair of supporting pins 193, 193, 194, 194 by which the chassis is 
supported by a left pair and a right pair of support pieces 184, 184 of 
the mechanical chassis 11. Each of the support pieces 184, 184 has a 
forward pair and a rear pair of inclined slits 195, 195, 196, 196 passed 
through by the support pins 193, 193, 194, 194. These inclined slits 195, 
195, 196, 196 are inclined so that the rear portions thereof are higher in 
level than the forward portions thereof. Thus the disc drive unit 174 is 
set to a release position lowered relative to the mechanical chassis 11, 
as shown in FIGS. 82 and 84, by being moved forwardly relative to the 
mechanical chassis 11. On the other hand, the disc drive unit 174 is set 
to a chuck position uplifted relative to the mechanical chassis 11, as 
shown in FIGS. 83 and 85, by being moved rearwardly relative to the 
mechanical chassis 11. 
The disc drive unit 174 is moved towards rear in this manner by a 
transporting device 126 as later explained. The disc drive unit 174 is 
biased into forward movement by a tension coil spring 213 mounted between 
it and the mechanical chassis 11. The disc drive unit 174 is supported on 
the mechanical chassis 11 via plural dumpers 197, 198. 
The optical pickup unit 65 includes an optical block within which are 
enclosed a light source, such as a semiconductor laser, an optical system 
for guiding a light beam from the light source, an objective lens 189 for 
converging and emitting the light beam, and a photodetector for detecting 
the return light beam from the objective lens 189. The disc table 64 is 
substantially in the form of a disc on the upper surface of which there is 
formed a central conically-shaped protrusion engaged in the chuck aperture 
304. The protrusion has enclosed therein a permanent magnet for 
magnetically attracting the chuck plate 302. 
The disc table 64 is set at a mid portion of the chassis of the disc drive 
unit 174, and is adapted for being rotated by a spindle motor mounted on 
the lower surface of the chassis. The optical pickup unit 65 is mounted on 
the lower surface of the chassis of the disc drive unit and directs the 
light beam from the objective lens 189 upwards through a through-hole 67 
formed in the chassis. The optical pickup unit 65 is mounted laterally of 
the disc table 64 and is adapted for being movable along the chassis in a 
direction towards and away from the disc table 64. 
On the chassis of the disc driving unit 174 are set four positioning pins 
66 at the corner regions. When the disc cartridge 320 or 321 is set and 
loaded on the chassis, those of the positioning pins 66 disposed ahead and 
at back of the optical pickup unit 65 are engaged in the forward and rear 
positioning holes 309 and 310 for positioning the disc cartridge 320 or 
321. The recording disc is held in position by the protrusion of the disc 
table 64 engaged in the chuck aperture 304 and by the chuck plate 302 
attracted by the permanent magnet. On the chassis of the disc driving unit 
174 is mounted a detection switch for detecting the depth of the 
discrimination opening 324. 
A magnetic head 192 is mounted on the optical pickup unit 65 via a head arm 
188. The head arm 188 has its proximal end rotatably supported via a 
support shaft 190 relative to the optical pickup unit 65 and carries at 
its distal end the magnetic head 192 via a gimbal spring so that the 
magnetic head is movable towards and away from the objective lens 189. The 
head arm 188 is biased by a spring placed around the support shaft 190 
into rotation for moving the magnetic head 192 upwards away from the 
objective lens 189. The head arm 188 has an abutment piece 212 at its 
proximal portion. By the disc drive unit 174 in the chuck position being 
moved further to its recording position, as shown in FIG. 85, the abutment 
piece 212 is caused to bear against the abutment piece 211 mounted on the 
mechanical chassis 11, as shown in FIG. 86, for rotating the head arm 188 
in a direction of lowering the magnetic head 192. With the present disc 
changer device, the playback mode is executed while the disc drive unit 
174 is at the chuck position, and the recording mode is executed while the 
disc drive unit 174 is at the recording position. During the recording 
mode, the magnetic head 192 is intruded into the cartridge main member 305 
via the aperture 323 for the magnetic head into sliding contact with the 
magneto-optical disc. 
(v) Construction of a cartridge holder (FIGS. 55 to 58 and 69) 
With the present disc changer device, the disc cartridge 320 or 321 is 
introduced into plural cartridge holders 70 supported by the disc stockers 
62, 71 as later explained. 
The cartridge holder 70 has a holding plate 75 for holding the disc 
cartridge 320 or 321, as shown in FIGS. 55 to 58. The holding plate 75 is 
in the from of a substantially rectangular flat plate corresponding in 
shape and size to the disc cartridge 320 or 321, and has its both lateral 
sides bend downwards. The lateral edge portions thus bent down are further 
bent inward towards each other to from a pair of cartridge holding 
portions 98, 97. The disc cartridge 320 or 321 is inserted from the 
forward side into a space between the main plate portion of the holding 
plate 75 and the cartridge holing portions 98, 97 so as to be held by the 
holding plate 75. 
One of the lateral sides of the holding plate 75 bent downwards is formed 
with an inwardly bent mistaken insertion prohibitive lug 102. The mistaken 
insertion prohibitive lug is intruded into a mistaken insertion 
prohibitive groove formed in the disc cartridge 320 or 321 when the disc 
cartridge is inserted in the regular direction. Conversely, when the disc 
cartridge 320 or 321 is about to be inserted in the incorrect direction 
into the holding plate 75, the lug prohibits insertion of the disc 
cartridge 321 or 321. 
On the downwardly bent lateral sides of the holding plate 75 are formed a 
forward pair and a rear pair of supporting pins 98, 100, 99, 101 extending 
outward. The cartridge holder 70 is supported via these supporting pins by 
the disc stockers 62, 71, as later explained. 
On the upper surface of the holding plate 75 is mounted a slider 105 for 
sliding in the fore-and-aft direction. The slider 105 is formed as a 
substantially flat triangular plate and has a forward pair and a rear pair 
of slits 106, 107 in which supporting shafts 103, 104 set upright on the 
upper surface of the holding plate 75 are introduced in order to permit 
the slider to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction. 
The slider 105 has at its rear edge a downwardly bent tongue 108 which 
depends below the major plate portion of the holding plate 75 via a 
cut-out 76 formed in the rear edge portion of the holding plate 75 to a 
position of facing the forward end face of the disc cartridge 320 or 321. 
When the disc cartridge 320 or 321 is inserted into the holding plate 75 
until the tongue 108 is caused to bear against the forward end face of the 
disc cartridge, the disc cartridge has its rear portion protruded towards 
the front side of the holding plate 75. The slider 105 has its lateral 
side bent downwards along one lateral side of the holding plate 75 and 
carries a spring plate member 111 mounted on the bent portion. The spring 
plate portion 111 has its forward end secured to the slider 105 while 
having its rear end as a free end carrying a fitting member 112. The 
fitting member 112 is intruded more inwardly than the bent portion of the 
holding plate 75 and engaged in the mating engagement recess 312 in the 
disc cartridge 320 or 321 held by the holding plate 75. 
The major plate portion of the holding plate 75 has a through-hole 77 in 
registration with the aperture for the magnetic head 323. 
On the lateral side of the holding plate 75 is slidably mounted a side 
plate 125 for sliding in the fore-and-aft direction. The side plate 125 
has a forward pair and a rear pair of slits 113, 116. The side plate 125 
is supported for sliding movement in the fore-and-aft direction by having 
an engagement pin 110 on the slider 105 in the forward side slit 113 and 
by having a support pin 100 formed at a rear portion on one lateral side 
of the slider 105 in the rear side slit 116. 
The slider 105 has its slide range defined by the length of the slits 105, 
106. The side plate 125 has its slide range relative to the slider 105 
defined by the length of the forward side slit 113. That is, the side 
plate 125 may be slid relative to the holding plate 75 within a range 
which is equal to the sum of the slide range of the slider 105 relative to 
the holding plate 75 and the slide range of the side plate 125 relative to 
the slider 106. 
On the slider 105 is mounted a spring retainer 109 extending in the same 
direction as the engagement pin 110. The spring retainer 109 is introduced 
into a through-hole 114 formed in the side plate 125 at back of the 
forward side slit 113. Between the spring retainer 109 and a forward edge 
121 of the through-hole 114 is mounted a tension coil spring 115. That is, 
the slider 105 is biased into forward movement relative to the side plate 
125 as indicated by arrow L in FIG. 55. The side plate 125 is biased into 
rearward movement relative to the holding plate 75 by a tension coil 
spring 124 mounted between the spring retainer 122 provided at a mid 
portion of the side plate 125 and a spring retainer 123 mounted at a rear 
side of the holding plate 75 as indicated by arrow M in FIG. 55. 
The rear side of the side plate 128 is protruded further rearward from the 
rear edge of the holding plate 75. The rear side portion of the side plate 
125 has an engagement opening 117 engaged by movement means as later 
explained. The engagement opening 117 is in continuation from the rear end 
of the rear slit 116. The rear end portion of the side plate 125 has a 
mating retention pin 118. 
On the opposite lateral side of the holding plate 75 is mounted a lock arm 
88. The lock arm 88 has its rear end rotatably supported via a support 
shaft 87 by a rear portion of the opposite lateral side of the holding 
plate 75, while having its forward end as a free end. The lock arm 88 is 
biased into rotation by a tension coil spring 85 in a direction in which 
its forward end is brought into pressure contact with the holding plate 75 
as indicated by arrow J in FIG. 55. The tension coil spring 85 is mounted 
between a spring retainer 88 mounted at its mid portion and a spring 
retainer 84 mounted at a mid portion of the major plate portion of the 
holding plate 75. The lateral side of he lock arm 88 in contact with the 
holding plate 75, that is its inner side, has a shutter opening lug 89 and 
a shutter closing lug 90. These lugs 89, 90 are protruded inward via the 
downwardly directed opposite lateral side portion of the holding plate 75. 
The outer lateral side of the lock arm 88 has a lock recess 92 retained by 
the disc stocker 62 as later explained. The forward side of the lock arm 
88 has a forwardly inclined taper portion 91. 
On the holding plate 75 is mounted a coupling arm 79 having its mid portion 
rotatably supported by a support shaft 78. The coupling arm 79 has its one 
end positioned at the forward side of the side plate 125 and its other end 
facing the taper portion 91 at the forward end of the lock arm 88. One end 
of the coupling arm 79 carries an abutment pin 120 abutted by the forward 
end of the side plate 125. The opposite side of the coupling arm 79 
carries a downwardly directed sliding pin 93 kept in sliding contact with 
the taper portion 91. Arcuate slits 82, 83 centered at the support shaft 
78 are formed at one and the other end of the coupling arm 79. Rotation 
limiting pins 80, 81 set upright on the holding pin 75 are introduced into 
these slits 82, 83 for limiting the range of rotation of the coupling arm 
79. The coupling arm 79 is biased into rotation by a tension coil spring 
94 mounted between the slide contact pin 93 and a spring retainer 95 
mounted at a forward side of the opposite lateral side of the holding 
plate 75 in a direction of forwardly moving the abutment pin 93 as 
indicated by arrow G in FIG. 55. 
When the slider 105 and the side plate 125 are slid forwards as indicated 
by arrow O in FIG. 58, the coupling arm 79 has its abutment pin 120 thrust 
by the forward end of the side plate 125. Thus the coupling arm 79 is 
rotated against the bias of the tension coil spring 94, as indicated by 
arrow P in FIG. 58. The slide contact pin 93 is brought into sliding 
contact with the tapered portion 91 for rotating the lock arm 88 outward 
against the bias of the tension coil spring 85 as indicated by arrow Q in 
FIG. 58. 
The state of the cartridge holder 70 in the absence of an external pressure 
is such that the side plate 125 and the slider 105 are located towards 
rear, while the coupling arm 79 and the lock arm 88 have been rotated 
under the bias of the tension coil springs 94, 85, respectively, as shown 
in FIG. 56. 
(vi) Construction of a disc stocker (FIGS. 60, 64 to 68) 
Each of the disc stockers 62, 71 is formed as a substantially flat plate, 
and is set on the forward side of the base chassis 10, that is on the 
forward side of the mechanical chassis 11, in the form of sidewall 
sections facing each other, as shown in FIG. 60. The distance between 
these disc stockers 62, 71 corresponds to the transverse width of the 
cartridge holder 70. The surfaces of the disc stockers 62, 71 facing each 
other are formed with plural support grooves 165, 165 engaged by the 
support pins 99, 101, 98, 100 of the cartridge holder 70. These support 
grooves 165, 167 face one another at the same height in vertically spaced 
apart positions. These support grooves 165, 167 are formed for extending 
from the forward side towards the rear side of each disc stocker 62, 71. 
The forward ends of the support grooves are closed by the front wall 
sections, while the rear ends thereof are opened towards rear. 
A number of the disc cartridges 70 are supported in tiers for lying across 
the disc stockers 62, 71 by engaging the support pins 99, 101, 98, 100 in 
the support grooves 165, 167. The disc stocker 62 facing the opposite 
lateral side of the cartridge holder 70, that is the side thereof having 
the lock arm 88, has a plurality of grooves 164 overlying the support 
grooves 165 and facing the lock arm 88. Within each of these grooves 164 
is formed a retention piece 166 engaged in the lock recess 92 for 
retaining the cartridge holder 70 when the cartridge holder 70 is at a 
forward position between the disc stockers 62, 71 and the lock arm 88 is 
rotated in a direction away from the cartridge holder 70, as shown in FIG. 
65. 
On the outer side of the disc stocker 71 facing a lateral side of the 
cartridge holder 70 carrying the side plate 125 is mounted a lock plate 72 
by set screws 172, 172. These set screws 172, 172 are passed through screw 
holes formed in the forward side of the lock plate 72 and are screwed into 
tapped holes 171, 171 formed in the forward side portion of the lock plate 
72. The lock plate 72 is formed as a spring plate from an elastic material 
such as a metal plate. The lock plate 72 is formed with plural parallel 
slits extending from its rear edge towards its forward side and is thereby 
divided into plural strip-like portions 168. The lock plate 72 is mounted 
on the disc stocker 71 with the strip-like portions 168 lying on the 
support grooves 167. Each of the strip-like portions 168 has its rear end 
portion bent 30.degree. to 40.degree. outward to form an inclined section 
169. The inclined section 169 of each strip-like portion 168 is protruded 
towards rear of the disc stocker 71. The rear end of each strip-like 
portion 168 has a lock hole 170. Each lock hole 170 is positioned at back 
of the rear end of the disc stocker 71. When the cartridge holder 70 is 
positioned at a forward side portion between the disc stockers 62, 71, and 
the side plate 125 is slid forwards, the side plate 125 is held at the 
forward side position, with the mating retention pin 118 being engaged in 
the lock hole 170, as shown in FIGS. 64 and 65. The mating retention pin 
118 has a reduced-diameter portion at its mid portion and is prohibited 
from descent from the lock hole 170 by the forward edge of the lock hole 
170 engaged in the reduced-diameter portion 119. The mating retention pin 
118, thus engaged in and retained by the lock hole 170, is extracted out 
of the lock hole 170 by moving the side plate 125 further forwards for 
disengaging the reduced-diameter portion 119 from the forward edge of the 
lock hole 170 and subsequently elastically displacing the strip-like 
portion 168 outward away from the side plate 125. Such movement of the 
side plate 125 towards the forward side and displacement of the strip-like 
portion 168 towards outside are executed by the transporting device 126 as 
later explained. 
With the disc stockers 62, 71, the cartridge holder 70 is held at its 
forward position by the side plate 125 being held at the forward position 
when the mating retention pin 118 is inserted into and retained by the 
lock hole 170, as shown in FIG. 65. In addition, the cartridge holder 70 
is held at the forward position by the forward end of the side plate 125 
being caused to bear against the abutment pin 120 to rotate the coupling 
arm 79, with the lock arm 88 being rotated outward for retaining the lock 
recess 92 by the retention piece 166. 
When the disc cartridge 320 or 321 is inserted from the front side into the 
cartridge holder 70 held at the forward position between the disc stockers 
62, 71, as shown in FIG. 66, the engagement member 112 is thrust by the 
forward end of the disc cartridge 320 or 321 for displacing the spring 
plate member 111 towards outside, as shown in FIG. 67. When the disc 
cartridge 320 or 321 has been inserted into the cartridge holder as far as 
a pre-set position at which the forbad end of the disc cartridge 320 or 
321 is caused to bear against the tongue 108 of the slider 105, the 
engagement member 112 is engaged in the mating engagement recess 312 under 
the bias of the spring plate member 112. The disc cartridge 320 or 321 has 
its rear portion protruded at this time towards the front side of the 
outer casing 74. 
The engagement member 112 may be moved outward via a cut-out 183 formed in 
the side plate 125, while being limited as to the distance of movement 
towards outside by a holding piece 182 protruded from the front side of 
the cut-out 183, as shown in FIG. 69. 
The shutter opening protrusion 89 of the lock arm 88 now faces the front 
end of the shutter member 306 or 317, wile facing the lock member 325 via 
the support groove 307. The lock member 325 is mounted within the disc 
cartridge 320 or 321 for holding the shutter member 308 or 317 at the 
shutter closing position. The shutter closing protrusion 90 faces the 
shutter closing aperture 308. If, in this state, the lock arm 88 is 
rotated towards the shutter holder 70, the protrusion 89 of the lock arm 
88 is intruded into the support groove 307 for displacing the lock member 
325 into its lock state. On the other hand, the shutter opening protrusion 
89 is positioned ahead of the forward end of the shutter member 306 or 317 
for intruding the shutter closing protrusion 90 into the shutter closing 
aperture 308 while disengaging the retention piece 166 from the lock 
recess 92. 
(vii) Construction of a transporting device (FIGS. 59, 61, 70 to 81 and 89 
to 92) 
The transporting device 126 has a base portion 126a arranged on the 
mechanical chassis 11 for movement in the fore-and-aft direction, as shown 
in FIGS. 59 and 61. The base 126a is movable in the fore-and-aft direction 
by and along guide shafts 129, 130 arranged on the mechanical chassis 11 
for extending parallel to each other in the fore-and-aft direction. As 
shown in FIG. 89, a thrust bearing 128 passed through by the guide shaft 
130 is mounted on one lateral side of the base 126a, while a grip member 
127 supported by the other guide shaft 129 is mounted on its opposite 
lateral side. The base 126a is supported by the guide shafts 130, 129 via 
the thrust bearing 128 and the grip member 127. 
On the base 126a are rotatably mounted forward and rear side pulleys 133, 
131, first and second transmission gears 132, 134 and a pinned gear 135. 
These forward and rear side pulleys 133, 131, first and second 
transmission gears 132, 134 and a pinned gear 135 are mounted on the base 
126a via rotary support shafts 144, 142, 143, 145 and 146 set upright on 
the base 126a. As shown in FIG. 90, an operating pin 136 is set upright on 
the lower surface of the pinned gear 135. The operating pin 136 is 
extended downwardly of the base 126a via an arcuate slit 210 formed in the 
base 126a. 
On the mechanical chassis 11, an endless timing belt 137 is arranged for 
extending across the forward and rear ends of the mechanical chassis 11 by 
way of the base 126a. Specifically, the timing belt 137 is placed around a 
forward side gear 160 rotatably supported via a rotary support shaft 161 
on the forward end of the mechanical chassis 11 and a rear gear 162 
rotatably supported via a rotary support shaft 163 at the rear end of the 
mechanical chassis 11. The timing belt 137 is placed around the first 
transmission gear 132 via the forward side pulley 133 from the forward 
gear 160 so as to be returned to the rear gear 162 via the rear pulley 
131. 
The rear gear 162 is run in rotation by a movement motor 181 mounted on the 
mechanical chassis 11. That is, the driving shaft of the movement motor 
181 carries a driving pulley 180. An endless driving belt 179 is placed 
around the driving pulley 180 and a first transmission pulley 178 
rotatably mounted at back of the mechanical chassis 11. A second 
transmission pulley 177 is mounted as one and coaxially with the first 
transmission pulley 178. An endless driving belt 176 is placed around the 
second transmission pulley 177 and a third transmission pulley 175 mounted 
coaxially with the rear gear 162. 
On the lower surface of the base 126a are rotatably mounted a holding arm 
141 and a switching arm 140. The switching arm 140 is formed as a 
substantially T-shaped flat plate having an operating arm 150 protruded 
laterally from a strip-shaped main member. The main member has its one end 
rotatably supported by a support shaft 147 on the base portion 128a. The 
lateral side of the distal end of the operating arm 150 is bent to form an 
operating portion 151. The mid portion of the main member of the switching 
arm 140 has a cam slit 148 passed through by the operating pin 136. The 
opposite side of the main member of the switching arm 140 has a holding 
recess 149 adapted for cooperating with a holding arm 141 as later 
explained for holding the side plate 125. 
On the lower surface of the base 126a is mounted a thrust switch 138 with 
its thrust lug 139 facing the operating portion 151 of the switching arm 
140. The thrust switch 138 plays the role of detecting completion of 
forward movement of the base 126a. 
The holding arm 141 is a planar sector-shaped plate having an included 
angle on the order of 30.degree. and having its proximal portion 
corresponding to the rib of the sector (fan) rotatably mounted on the base 
126a via a support shaft 152. The distal portion of the holding arm 141 
has a cam slit 153 adapted to be traversed by the operating pin 136, a 
holding pawl 156 having a lateral hooked lug 155 engaged in the engagement 
opening 117 in the side plate 125, an abutment pawl 154 for outwardly 
displacing the strip-like portions 168 of the lock plate 72 and a 
profiling roll 157 arranged on the periphery of the sector (fan) shape. 
The profiling roll 157 is engaged in a cam groove 158 provided in the 
mechanical chassis 11, as shown in FIGS. 78 to 81. The cam groove 158 is 
linear in contour extending parallel to the guide shafts 130, 129 and only 
has its foremost end arcuately bowed towards the hooked lug 155 to form a 
bend 159. When the base portion 126a is at the forward position, the 
holding arm 141 is rotatable within a rotational range of moving the 
profiling roll 157 within the bend 159, as shown in FIGS. 78 to 90. When 
the base portion 126a is moved towards rear, the holding arm 141 is held 
at the position of having been rotated to the side of receding the hooked 
lug 155, as shown in FIG. 81. 
With the transporting device 126, the pinned gear 135 causes the switching 
arm 140 and the holding arm 141 to be rotated via the operating pin 136. 
In the initial state, the base portion 126a is at the forward position, 
while the switching arm 140 has been rotated in a direction of thrusting 
the thrust switch 138 by the operating portion 151 and the holding arm 141 
has been rotated in a direction of receding the hooked lug 155, as shown 
in FIGS. 70 to 78. In such state, the holding recess 149 of the switching 
arm 140 is located at back of the rear end of the side plate 125 without 
being contacted with the side plate 125, while the abutment pawl 154 and 
the hooked lug 155 are positioned on both sides of the rear end of the 
side plate 125 without being contacted with the side plate 125. The 
abutment pawl 154 is intruded into a space between the rear end of the 
side plate 125 and the inclined section 169 of the strip-shaped portion 
168. Consequently, since the transporting device 128 is not contacted with 
the cartridge holder 70 nor the disc stocker 71, the lifting operation of 
the mechanical chassis by the lift device is not impeded. That is, the 
mechanical chassis 11 is uplifted or lowered by the lift device and one of 
the cartridge holders 70 may be selected which is positioned facing the 
mechanical chassis 11. 
When the movement motor 181 at this time is run in rotation, the timing 
belt 137 is fed in the direction of moving the base portion 126a towards 
rear, that is in a direction of feeding the base portion placed around the 
pulleys 133, 131 towards rear. Since the profiling roll 157 at this time 
is engaged in the bend 159 of the cam groove 158, the base portion 126a is 
prohibited from being moved rearward. Consequently, the timing belt 137 
causes the pinned gear 135 to be rotated via the first and second 
transmission gears 132, 134. By such rotation of the pinned gear 135, the 
switching arm 140 is first rotated to annul the thrusting of the thrust 
switch 138 by the thrusting portion 151, as shown in FIGS. 71 and 79. 
Besides, the switching arm 140 when rotated thrusts the rear end of the 
side plate 125 by the proximal portion of the holding recess 149. The side 
plate 125 is moved slightly forwards to disengage the reduced-diameter 
portion 119 of the mating retention pin 118 from the rear end of the lock 
hole 170. 
When further the movement motor 181 is run in rotation to feed the timing 
belt 137, the holding arm 141 is rotated by the pinned gear 135 in a 
direction of causing the hooked lug 155 to be advanced towards the side 
plate 125, as shown in FIGS. 72 and 80. The hooked lug 155 is then 
intruded into the engagement opening 117 in order to hold the rear end of 
the side plate 125 in cooperation with the holding recess 149. The holding 
arm 141, thus rotated, thrusts the inner lateral surface of the 
strip-shaped portion 168 by the abutment pawl 154 in order to shift the 
strip-like portion 168 outward for extracting the mating retention pin 118 
from the lock hole 170. By such rotation of the holding arm 141, the 
profiling roll 157 reaches the rear end of the bend 159, that is the 
forward end of the linear section of the cam groove 158. Thus the 
transporting device 126 is enabled to be moved rearward. 
When the movement motor 181 is further run in rotation, the base portion 
126a starts to be moved towards rear, as shown in FIG. 73. When the base 
portion 126a starts to be moved rearward in this manner, the profiling 
roll 157 is caused to follow the linear section of the cam groove 158 and 
prohibits rotation of the holding arm 141 to its initial position, that is 
rotation of receding the hooked lug 155. The cartridge holder 70 causes 
only the side plate 125 to be moved towards rear, with the holding plate 
75 remaining stationary. The coupling arm ceases to be rotated by the side 
plate 125 and is rotated to its initial position under the bias of the 
tension coil spring 94. Thus the lock arm 88 is rotated to its initial 
position lying along the opposite lateral side of the holding plate 75, 
under the bias of the tension coil spring 85, so that the lock recess 92 
ceases to be engaged with the retention piece 166. Thus the shutter 
opening protrusion 89 is intruded into the support groove 307, while the 
shutter closing protrusion 90 is intruded into the shutter closing 
aperture 308. The holding plate 75 is biased forwards under the bias of 
the tension coil spring 124 mounted between it and the side plate 125 and 
hence is kept at the forward position within the disc stockers 62, 71. 
When the transporting device 126 is moved further rearward, the slider 105 
is moved rearward with the rearward movement of the side plate 125, as 
shown in FIG. 74. With the rearward movement of the slider 105, the disc 
cartridge 320 or 321 is moved rearward within the holding plate 75 because 
the disc cartridge 320 or 321 is operatively linked to the slider 105 by 
the engagement member 112 being engaged with the mating retention recess 
312. Consequently, the shutter member 306 or 317 is actuated for opening 
movement because it is kept at a position in which the opening protrusion 
89 is caused to bear against its forward end. 
When the side plate 125 reaches the rear position relative to the holding 
plate 75, and the transporting device 126 is further moved rearward, the 
cartridge holder 70 is extracted from the space between the disc stockers 
62 and 71 and starts to be moved towards rear, as shown in FIGS. 75 and 
77. 
The cartridge holder 70 is extracted from the space between the disc 
stockers 62 and 71 and reaches a position overlying the disc driving unit 
174. Since this time, the cartridge holder 70 is caused to bear against 
the disc driving unit 174, and is moved towards rear along with the disc 
driving unit 174. When reaching the first rear position, the transporting 
device 126 detects, by a first detection switch 185 provided on the 
mechanical chassis 11, that the first rear position has been reached, as 
shown in FIGS. 76 and 81. The disc drive unit 174 at this time is at the 
above-mentioned chuck position. The cartridge holder 70 has its supporting 
pins 98, 100, 99, 101 supported by support members 200, 200 arranged on 
both sides of the mechanical chassis 11, as shown in FIG. 84. Each of the 
support members 200, 200 has support grooves 199, 199 similar to the 
support grooves 165, 167 on its opposite lateral sides. These support 
grooves formed in the support members 200, 200 are aligned with rear 
extension of the support grooves 165, 167 supporting the cartridge holder 
70 selected by the lift movement for the mechanical chassis 11. That is, 
the support pins 98, 100, 99, 101, extracted rearward from the disc 
stockers 62, 71, are intruded from the forward side into the support 
grooves 199, 199 of the support members 200, 200. 
By the disc driving unit 174 being moved to the chuck position shown in 
FIG. 85, the cartridge holder 70, transported along with the disc drive 
unit 174, has its disc cartridge 320 or 321 chucked by the disc drive unit 
174. 
When the cartridge holder 70 is further moved rearward, the cartridge 
holder 70 is moved rearward along with the disc drive unit 174. When the 
transporting device 126 reaches a second rear position further rearward 
than the first rear position, this is detected by a second detection 
switch 186 provided on the mechanical chassis 11. The disc drive unit 174 
at this time is at the above-mentioned recording position. 
By the disc driving unit 174 being moved to the above-mentioned recording 
position shown in FIG. 86, the cartridge holder 70, transported along with 
the disc driving unit 174, has its magnetic head 192 slidingly contacted 
with the magneto-optical disc of the recording/reproducing disc cartridge 
320. 
For returning the disc cartridge 320 or 321 chucked by the head drive unit 
174 to the disc stockers 62, 71, the disc driving unit 174 is first 
returned to the release position shown in FIG. 84. The movement motor 181 
is rotated in the reverse direction to the rotational direction during 
extraction of the cartridge holder 70 from the disc stocker 62, 71. The 
transporting device 126, so far at the rearmost position shown in FIG. 78, 
now starts to be moved forwards. The cartridge holder 70 is moved forwards 
along the support grooves 199, 199 of the supporting members 200, 200, and 
is intruded into the space between the disc stockers 62, 71, as shown in 
FIG. 75. When the side plate 125 is at the initial position relative to 
the holding plate 75, the cartridge holder 70 is housed between the disc 
stockers 62 and 71, as shown in FIG. 74. The holding plate 75 is halted to 
a position at which the forward side supporting pins 99, 98 are caused to 
bear against the closed foremost ends of the support grooves 165, 167. 
When the transporting device 128 is moved further forwards, the side plate 
125 is moved further forwards, and the slider 105 is also moved forwards 
in unison therewith, as shown in FIG. 73. The disc cartridge 320 or 321 is 
pushed forwards by the tongue 108 of the slider 105. By the disc cartridge 
320 or 321 being pushed forwards, the shutter member 306 or 317 performs 
its closing movement, because it is halted by the engagement of the 
shutter closing protrusion 90 with the shutter closing aperture 308. The 
abutment pawl 154 is slidingly contacted with the inclined section 169 for 
elastically shifting the strip-shaped portion 168 outward. 
When the movement motor 181 is further run in rotation, the base portion 
126a reaches its foremost position, as shown in FIGS. 72 and 80. The 
cartridge holder 70 shifts only the side plate 125 forwards, with the 
holding plate 75 being at a standstill. Thus the coupling arm 79 is 
rotated by the side plate 125 against he bias of the tension coil spring 
94. The coupling arm 79 causes the lock arm 88 to be rotated against the 
bias of the tension coil spring 85. The lock recess 92 is engaged by the 
retention piece 166. The shutter closure protrusion 89 is receded at this 
time from the support groove 307, while the shutter closure protrusion 90 
is receded from the shutter closing aperture 308. The profiling roll 157 
reaches the rear end of the bowed portion 159, that is the forward end of 
the linear section of the cam groove 158, as shown in FIG. 80. Thus it 
becomes possible for the holding arm 141 to cause the profiling roll 157 
to be rotated so as to follow the contour of the bend 159. 
When the movement motor 181 is further run in rotation for feeing the 
timing belt 137, the pinned gear 135 causes the holding arm 141 to be 
rotated in a direction of shifting the hooked lug 155 away from the side 
plate 125, as shown in FIGS. 71 and 79. The hooked lug 155 is then receded 
from the engagement opening 117 for releasing the holding on the rear 
portion of the side plate 125. The holding arm 141, thus rotated, shifts 
the abutment pawl 154 away from the inner lateral surface of the 
strip-shaped portion 168, which is then reset to its initial position. At 
this time, the mating retention pin 118 is intruded into the lock hole 170 
of the strip-shaped portion 168. 
When the movement motor 181 is further run in rotation, the switching arm 
140 is rotated and thrusts the thrust switch 138 by the operating portion 
151, as shown in FIGS. 70 and 78. By such thrusting of the thrust switch 
138, it is detected that the cartridge holder 70 has been returned to the 
space between the disc stockers 62 and 71. On the other hand, the 
switching arm 140 thus rotated releases the thrusting of the rear end of 
the side plate 125 by the proximal portion of the holding recess 149. The 
side plate 125 is moved slightly towards rear for engaging the 
reduced-diameter portion 119 of the mating retention pin 118 with the rear 
edge of the lock hole 170. 
The transporting device 126, which has returned the cartridge holder 70 to 
the space between the disc stockers 62, 71, is now enabled to be lifted 
and lowered by the lift device. 
(viii) Operation of a disc changer device 
With the above-described disc changer device, the disc cartridge 320 or 321 
may be previously introduced into each of the cartridge holders 70 
supported between the disc stockers 62 and 71. At this time, the disc 
cartridge 320 or 321 only has its mating retention recess 312 engaged by 
the engagement member 112, while the shutter member 306 or 317 is not 
subjected to the opening movement. Thus there is no risk of dust and dirt 
being intruded into the space within the cartridge main member 305 or 318. 
On the other hand, since each disc cartridge 320 or 321 has its rear 
portion protruded towards the forward side of the outer casing 74, it can 
be visually identified which type of the disc cartridge 320 or 321 has 
been accommodated in the disc stockers 62, 71. 
By acting on the input operating device, the mechanical chassis 11 can be 
uplifted or lowered by the lift device for selecting one of the disc 
cartridges 320 or 321 held by the cartridge holders 70. The cartridge 
holder 70 thus selected is transported by the transporting device 126 as 
far as the disc driving unit 174. Since the selected disc cartridge 320 or 
321 is seen to be entrained into the outer casing 74, it can be clearly 
seen that the disc cartridge has now been selected. 
The disc cartridge 320 or 321, held by the cartridge holder 70 transported 
on the disc drive unit 174, is chucked by the disc drive unit 174 which is 
at the chucked position. The playback mode is now ready to be executed. By 
the disc driving unit 174 being set to the recording mode, the magnetic 
head 192 is brought into sliding contact with the magnet-optical disc for 
executing the recording mode. 
With the present disc changer device, the disc cartridges 320 or 321 other 
than the disc cartridge loaded on the disc driving unit 174 can be 
inserted into or taken out of the cartridge holders 70 by way of 
performing a disc cartridge exchange operation. 
After the end of the recording mode or the reproducing mode, the cartridge 
holders 70 and the disc cartridges 320 or 321 are returned by the 
transporting device 126 to the space between the disc stockers 62 and 71. 
(iX) Another construction of a cartridge holder (FIG. 93) 
The disc changer device according to the present invention is not limited 
to the above-described arrangement in which the operation of selecting the 
cartridge holder 70 is performed by acting on the input operating device. 
Thus the disc changer device may also be so arranged that the disc 
cartridge 320 or 321 is selected by thrusting the rear end of the disc 
cartridge 320 or 321 inserted into the cartridge holder 70. 
Specifically, a thrust detection arm 203 is mounted on each of the holder 
plates 75. The thrust detection arm 203 has its rear end rotatably 
supported via a support shaft 204 relative to the rear portion of the 
lateral side of the holding plate 75, and has an actuated arm 106 extended 
towards rear of the holding plate 75 and an actuating arm 107 protruded at 
the lateral side of the holding plate 75. An actuating pin 205 is provided 
on the slider 105 at a position at back of the actuated arm 206. The 
thrust detection arm 203 is rotationally biased in a direction of 
thrusting the actuated arm 206 against the actuating pin 205 by a tension 
coil spring 209 mounted between a spring retainer 208 provided at a rear 
portion of the holding plate 75 and a spring retention hole 210 formed in 
the actuated arm 206. The disc stocker 62 is provided with plural thrust 
detection switches 201 each having a thrust lug 202 facing the distal end 
of the actuating arm 207 of each thrust detection arm 203. 
When the cartridge holder 70 is held between the disc stockers 62, 71, the 
slider 105 is positioned forwardly, while the actuating pin 205 holds the 
actuated arm 206 at the forward position, as shown in FIG. 93. The thrust 
detection arm 203 is held at a position in which the actuating arm 207 has 
been rotated in a direction of protruding the actuating arm 207 towards 
the opposite lateral side, with the actuating arm 207 thrusting the thrust 
detection switch 201. 
When the disc cartridge 320, 321 held by the holding plate 75 by the tongue 
108 abutted against its front surface thrust rearward, the slider 105 is 
thrust towards rear via the tongue 108 and is moved slightly towards rear, 
as indicated by arrow R in FIG. 93. At this time, the side plate 125 is 
prohibited from making a rearward movement by the strip-like portion 168, 
while the holding pate 75 is prohibited from being moved rearward by the 
retention piece 166 being engaged in the lock recess 92. Thus the slider 
105 is moved towards rear under tensioning the tension coil spring 115 and 
under producing movement of the engagement pin 110 within the forward side 
slit 113. Since the actuating pin 205 is moved towards rear by the 
rearward movement of the slider 105, the thrust detection arm 203 is 
rotated, under the bias of the tension coil spring 209, in a direction of 
receding the actuating arm 207 towards the holding plate 75 as indicated 
by arrow S in FIG. 93. Such rotation of the thrust detection arm 203 
releases thrusting on the thrust detection switch 201, so that it can be 
detected that the disc cartridge 320 or 321 has now been thrust. 
The control circuit causes the mechanical chassis 11 to be uplifted or 
lowered to a position of the cartridge holder 70 associated with the 
thrust detection switch 201 released from the thrust operation in order to 
select the disc cartridge 320 or 321 held by the cartridge holder 70. The 
selected disc cartridge 320 or 321 is transported by the transporting 
device 126 along with the cartridge holder 70 to the disc driving unit 174 
so as to be chucked by the disc drive unit 174.