Loading device for a record and/or reproduction set

An arrangement for loading record discs of different diameters for selectively recording and playback purposes. A fixed base member is provided with a depression that has a rim corresponding to a record disc of larger diameter. This rim protects the record disc against displacement. The depression has a central region with a recess which holds a raisable and lowerable rest. Three supports are mounted on the rest and are positioned on a circle which has a diameter that corresponds to the diameter of the smaller disc. The three supports secure the smaller record disc against displacement while, at the time, they serve for supporting the larger record disk. The smaller disc and the larger disc are both brought into an operating position on the base member by the raisable and lowerable rest. This base member is, at the same time, free of guide tracks. The raisable and lowerable rest is disc-shaped, and is held by a pivotable arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a loading device for a record and/or reproduction 
set for the loading with records having differing diameter. 
CD-players or video record players are e.g. equipped with loading devices 
for the record-shaped information carrier, the CD-record or the video 
record. 
A CD-record will be centered in a CD-player for reproduction on a 
record-turntable and started to rotate. The centering of the CD-record is 
eased by a loading device, into which the CD-record is being laid. This 
loading device has a circular recess, whose outer diameter is adapted to 
the outer diameter of regular CD-records in such a way, that the CD-record 
on one hand can be pre-centered besides a certain radial play and on the 
other hand is freely rotatable for the reproduction. 
CD-records of smaller size, so called mini-CDs, can be not pre-centered 
without additional measures in the loading device of a CD-player, in such 
way that they are reproducible. In order to be able to reproduce mini-CDs 
even though in a common CD-player having a loading device for normal 
CD-records, the mini-CD is tightly clamped within a ring-shaped disc 
functioning as an adapter, whose outer diameter corresponds with the outer 
diameter of a normal CD-record. This ring-shaped disc is being laid into 
the loading device of the CD-player together with the inserted mini-CD and 
can now be reproduced like a normal CD-record. 
This solution should but not satisfy a CD-fan, because he needs for the 
reproduction of mini-CDs said ring-shaped disc or similar accessories for 
the adaptation to the smaller diameter. 
A further draw-back is that a mini-CD must be clamped by hand before 
reproduction within the ring-shaped disc and must be removed out of the 
same before clamping of next mini-CD is possible. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore it is object of the invention to construct the loading device of 
a record and/or reproduction set such, that an information carrier of 
smaller diameter can be placed into the loading device of the recording 
and/or reproduction set without accessories and additional handling. 
The invention solves this object in that a recess for a descendable rest is 
provided in the middle of the depression, that on the rest are placed at 
least three supports on the circumference of a thought circle, whose 
diameter corresponds with the diameter of the smaller record, whereby the 
supports secure the smaller record against displacement and on which the 
larger record rests, and that a record is brought to its reproduction 
position by descending the rest.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In the following the invention will be described and explained using these 
figures. 
An example of a CD-player according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 
from above. The loading device N has a circular depression V, in whose 
center a square-shaped recess AS is provided for the square-shaped rest L. 
The square-shaped recess AS is open on the rear side, so that a U-shaped 
recess is formed. A U-shaped recess is also provided on the same side in 
the loading device N. These two U-shaped recesses U are provided for the 
record drive and the tracking device of the CD-player. 
On the rest L are arranged four supports S on the circumference of a 
thought circle, whose diameter corresponds with the outer diameter of a 
mini-CD. This arrangement is such that a support S is in each corner of 
the rest L. A mini-CD is being laid between the four supports S, while a 
normal CD rests on the four supports S. The position of the records can be 
in the FIGS. 3 to 5. 
The FIG. 2 shows the example from below. The rest L is connected 
mechanically with the loading device N by means of an arm AR. The arm AR 
is rotatably supported on the fastening points P1, P2, P3 and P4, so that 
the same can be pushed up and down. 
Next to the rest L is a toothed rack ZS having a guiding groove F, in which 
a pin Z of the arm AR is guided. The arm AR is being pushed up or down by 
moving the toothed rack ZS forward or backward, which can be e.g. driven 
by an electromotor EM via a gear wheel ZR. Upward the lifting motion is 
limited by stops A1 and A2 at the legs formed by the U-shape and by a stop 
A3 at the front side. 
The movement of the rest L up and down is shown and explained by the 
side-views in the FIGS. 3 to 6. 
In FIG. 3 the loading position of rest L is visible. For representation are 
shown in the drawing as well a CD-record CD of normal size resting on the 
supports S as well as also a mini-CD M laying between the supports S. In 
the operational mode are laying either only a CD-record of normal size or 
a mini-CD in the loading device N. The stops A1, A2 and A3 of the rest L 
are positioned resting at the loading device N. 
In FIG. 4 the arm AR is moved downward. Because of the friction in the 
fastening points P1 and P2 the rest L does not move relative to the arm 
AR. Therefore the stops A1 and A2 are touching at first a contacting 
surface of the housing of the CD-player. The arm AR can be constructed 
such that stop A3 is touching the arm AR at the same time like stops A1 
and A2. The rest L is indeed not yet positioned resting parallel to the 
loading device N, but a inserted CD-record CD or a mini-CD M can be 
gripped and reproduced already by the record drive. 
The arm AR can for instance be also constructed such that the same does not 
touch the stop A3. When the arm AR is pushed further down, the rest L 
turns in direction of the arrow about the fastening point of the stops A1 
and A2 until finally stop A3 rests also at the contacting surface of the 
housing. The inserted CD-record or mini-CD is now also in the position of 
operation. This position is shown in FIG. 5. 
The end of the movement of the arm AR is also limited by the form of the 
guiding groove F in the toothed rack ZS. The stops A1, A2 and A3 serve 
then only for turning the rest L into the reproduction position. For 
unloading a CD-record from the loading device N the rest L is being lifted 
off the arm AR. Due to the friction in the fastening points P1 and P2 
again the stops A1 and A2, as shown in FIG. 5, are first touching at the 
loading device N. Only at further lifting of the arm AR the rest L is 
turned that much in direction of the arrow about the connecting axis of 
the stops A1 and A2 until the stop A3 also touches at the loading device 
N. 
An essential advantage of the mechanism for descending the rest L can be 
visualized in that the anyhow limited space within a CD-player is 
optimally used. It is not necessary due to the arm AR, which connects the 
rest L with the loading device N mechanically, to reduce the dimensions of 
other components. 
The loading device N can be for instance constructed as a drawer, which can 
be moved in and out. For removing of the loaded record and for loading 
with a new record the drawer is being moved out of the housing G of the 
CD-player and afterwards moved into the housing again for reproduction of 
the loaded record.