Patent Publication Number: US-2003235132-A1

Title: Disk loading apparatus for an optical disk player

Description:
[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application No. 2002-35121, filed on Jun. 22, 2002, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to a disk loading apparatus for a disk player, and more particularly, to a disk loading apparatus for a disk player of a motor vehicle that does not have a disk tray.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] As is well known to those skilled in the art, a disk player is an apparatus for recording information on disks such as a Compact Disk (CD), a CD-ROM, a Digital Video Disk (DVD), and a DVD-ROM, and for playing the recorded information. A disk player typically comprises an apparatus for loading a disk in the position where the information can be recorded or played. A disk inserted into a disk player is loaded on a turntable by a loading apparatus and then clamped by a chucking unit so the disk can be rotated. While the disk is turning, the optical pickup moves in the radial direction of the disk to record information on the disk or play the recorded information.  
       [0006] A motor vehicle disk player, in particular, employs a disk loading apparatus capable of directly loading a disk without a tray due to its limitations in available space. In addition, the motor vehicle disk player uses a loading apparatus for distinctively loading two different sized disks, for example, 80 mm and 120 mm disks.  
       [0007] Examples of such loading apparatuses are disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2002-32282 entitled “Disk loading apparatus for optical disk player” filed by the present applicant, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein. In the disk loading apparatus disclosed in that application, a disk is loaded on the chucking position by a convey roller. The loaded disk pushes disk guide levers to move a cam guider, and then a rack gear of the cam guider meshes with a driving gear. Accordingly, the cam guider moves in a direction opposite to the disk loading direction, and the chucking unit connected to the cam guider is guided by a cam slit formed on the cam guider and clamps the disk positioned on the turntable. Therefore, the disk can rotate on the turntable while being clamped by the damper of the chucking unit.  
       [0008] It is noted that the chucking unit in the above structure is hinged on the left and right sides of the disk loading direction and is moved up and down by the cam guider. However, such a configuration in which the chucking unit is hinged on both the left and right sides of the disk loading direction limits the usable space in the apparatus. That is, since all driving devices for driving a driving motor, a convey roller and a cam guider are disposed at the right side of the disk loading direction, the space for disposing the chucking unit is increased in order to avoid interference between such driving devices and the chucking unit. As a result, the size of the disk player needs to be increased.  
       [0009] In addition, because the chucking unit is connected to be guided by the cam guider, a separate supporting structure should be attached for maintaining the strength of the chucking unit. However, this supporting structure increases the cost and complexity of the overall structure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] An object of the present invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below.  
       [0011] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to solve the foregoing problems by providing a disk loading apparatus of a disk player with a simple and improved structure.  
       [0012] The foregoing and other objects and advantages are substantially realized by providing a disk loading apparatus for a disk player comprising a housing having a turntable disposed inside, a main chassis disposed on top of the housing and onto which a convey roller for conveying a disk is supported, and a slider disposed on a side of the main chassis to move in the loading and unloading directions of the disk. The disk loading apparatus further comprises a sub-chassis disposed on the main chassis to reciprocate in cross direction of the loading and unloading direction in association with the slider, and a chucking unit disposed on the main chassis to pivot up and down in relation to movement of the sub-chassis for clamping the disk moved onto a chucking position.  
       [0013] The chucking unit comprises a hinge shaft disposed on the main chassis parallel or substantially parallel to the loading and unloading directions, a pivoting plate with an end hinged on the hinge shaft for pivoting up and down in relation to movement of the sub-chassis, and a damper pivotably disposed at the other end of the pivoting plate for clamping the disk located on the chucking position and rotating together with the turntable.  
       [0014] In addition, a cam slit is formed to step in a sub-chassis movement direction at an end of the sub-chassis, and a cam protrusion is disposed on an edge of the pivoting plate, which is inserted into the cam slit to be guided along the cam slit. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015] The above objects and the features of the present invention will be more apparent by describing an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0016]FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a disk loading apparatus of a disk player according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 2 is a side view of the disk loading apparatus of a disk player shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0018]FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the disk loading apparatus of a disk player shown in FIG. 1; and  
     [0019] FIGS.  4  though  7  are schematic views for illustrating the operation of a disk loading apparatus of a disk player according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0020] A disk loading apparatus of a disk player according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the disk loading apparatus of the disk player according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing  10  with a turntable  11  disposed inside, a main chassis  20  disposed on the top of the housing  10 , and a slider  30  movably disposed at a side of the housing  10  in the loading (A2) and unloading (A1) directions of a disk  1 . The disk loading apparatus further comprises a sub-chassis  40  reciprocally disposed on the main chassis  20 , and a chucking unit  50  for clamping the disk  1  inserted into the housing  10  and seating the disk  1  on the turntable  11 .  
     [0022] Inside the housing  10 , the turntable  11  onto which the inserted disk  1  is placed is rotatably supported by a spindle motor (not shown). Also provided in the housing  10  are a driving motor  12  for providing power to a convey roller  21 , which will be described later, and to the slider  30 , and a power transmission mechanism  60  for transmitting the power of the driving motor  12  to the convey roller  21  and the slider  30 . The power transmission mechanism  60  comprises a plurality of connecting gears  61 ,  62 ,  63  arranged between the driving motor  12  and a driven gear  21   a  of the convey roller  21 , and other connecting gears  64 ,  65  for driving the slider  30  by engaging with the connecting gear  62 . The driving gear  66  is coaxially connected to the connecting gear  65  and is selectively connected to a rack gear  31  provided in the slider  30 .  
     [0023] The slider  30  is disposed on the outer side of the housing  10  to be reciprocated in the A1 and A2 directions. The slider  30  is elastically biased in the A2 direction by a spring  32 . The rack gear  31  formed in the slider  30  is selectively connected with the driving gear  66 . Accordingly, when the disk  1  is not loaded, the rack gear  31  and the driving gear  66  are separated as shown in FIG. 2. On the contrary, when the disk  1  is loaded, the rack gear  31  and the driving gear  66  become engaged. That is, first and second pivoting plates  71 ,  72  pivot by the disk  1  being loaded, and the pushing lever  73  that moves along with the second pivoting plate  72  pushes the slider  30  by a determined distance in the A1 direction, thereby engaging the rack gear  31  with the driving gear  66 .  
     [0024] In addition, the slider  30  further comprises a cam protrusion  33  for causing the movement of the sub-chassis  40  by its own movement. The cam protrusion  33  extends through the main chassis  20  into the first cam slit  41  formed on the sub-chassis  40 .  
     [0025] The sub-chassis  40  is reciprocally disposed on the top of the main chassis  20  in a direction transverse of A1 and A2, that is, in the direction of B1 and B2. The sub-chassis  40  has the first cam slit  41  for receiving the cam protrusion  33 . When the cam protrusion  33  moves in the A1 or A2 direction, the sub-chassis  40  moves in the B1 or B2 direction due to the cooperation between the cam slit  41  and the cam protrusion  33 .  
     [0026] Referring to FIG. 3, at one side of the sub-chassis  40  is formed a second cam slit  43  stepped in the sub-chassis  40  moving directions. The second cam slit  43  receives a cam protrusion  54  of a chucking unit  50  which will now be described.  
     [0027] As mentioned above, the chucking unit  50  operates to clamp the disk  1  that has been inserted into the housing  10  and placed on the turntable  11 , that is, is in the chucking position. The chucking unit  50  is disposed on the main chassis  20  to pivot up and down in cooperation with the sub-chassis  40 . The chucking unit  50  comprises a hinge shaft  51  disposed on the main chassis parallel or substantially parallel to the A1 and A2 directions, a pivoting plate  52  with one end hinged on the hinge shaft for moving up and down in engagement with the sub-chassis  40 , and a clamper  53  rotatably disposed at the other end of the pivoting plate  52 . When the pivoting plate  52  is lowered, the clamper  53  clamps the disk  1  placed on the chucking position, thereby seating the disk  1  on the turntable  11 . The clamper  53  rotates together with the disk  1  and the turntable  11 .  
     [0028] On an edge of the pivoting plate  52  is provided the cam protrusion  54  inserted into the second cam slit  43 . The cam protrusion  54  causes the pivoting plate  52  to move up and down as the cam protrusion  54  is guided by the second cam slit  43  when the sub-chassis  40  moves in the B1 and B2 directions.  
     [0029] The chucking unit  50  according to an embodiment of the present invention can use minimal space as the chucking unit  50  moves in the cross disk  1  convey direction. That is, the chucking unit  50  is positioned in such a manner to avoid interference with the power transmission mechanism  60  as shown in FIG. 2 and with the convey roller  21 . Also, the distance in which the chucking unit  50  moves in an up and down direction can be less than in the conventional arrangement.  
     [0030] In addition, since the chucking unit  50  is disposed to move up and down in engagement with the sub-chassis, there is no need for a supporting structure for supporting the chucking unit  50  and therefore, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.  
     [0031] An example of the operation of the disk loading apparatus for a disk player according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above described structure will now be described.  
     [0032] In the state shown in FIG. 1, the disk  1  is inserted into the housing  10 . As shown in FIG. 2, the rack gear  31  and the driving gear  66  of the slider  30  are separated. In addition, the chucking unit  50  is lifted up as shown in FIG. 3. At this state, the disk  1  is further moved to the chucking position by the convey roller  11 .  
     [0033] The disk  1  moved to the chucking position pushes and pivots the first and second pivoting plates  71 ,  72  as shown in FIG. 4. The second pivoting plate  72  then causes the pushing lever  73  to pivot and the pushing lever  73  moves the slider  30  along the A1 direction. Accordingly, the rack gear  31  and the driving gear  66  are engaged as shown in FIG. 5.  
     [0034] From that point, the slider  30  moves along the A1 direction as driven by the power of the driving motor  12 . As the slider  30  moves along the A1 direction, the cam protrusion  33  also moves along the A1 direction. Therefore, the sub-chassis  40  is guided along the B1 direction by the movement of the cam protrusion  33  along the first cam slit  41 , thereby reaching the state shown in FIG. 6. In other words, when the cam protrusion  33  is located at the lower end of the first cam slit  41 , the sub-chassis  40  is at the end of the B1 direction.  
     [0035] Meanwhile, while the sub-chassis  40  moves in the B1 direction, the second cam slit  43  guides the cam protrusion  54 , thereby pivoting the chucking unit  50  downwards. When the sub-chassis  40  is completely moved in the B1 direction, the cam protrusion  54  is at the left end of the second cam slit  43  as shown in FIG. 7. The chucking unit  50  is lowered, and the clamper  53  clamps the disk  1  on the turntable  11 . At this state, the disk  1  becomes rotatable together with the clamper  53  and the turntable  11 .  
     [0036] When the disk  1  is unloaded, the sub-chassis  40  moves in the B2 direction in cooperation with the slider  30  and, in engagement with the sub-chassis  40 , the chucking unit pivots upward back to its original position.  
     [0037] According to the disk loading apparatus of a disk player according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the chucking unit  30  is easy to configure and uses less space since the chucking unit is disposed to pivot up and down in relation to the disk loading direction. Therefore, the size and, in particular, the height of the product can be effectively reduced.  
     [0038] Moreover, because the chucking unit  30  is disposed to move in relation to the movement of the sub-chassis, no separate supporting structure is necessary, thereby reducing the cost of the apparatus.  
     [0039] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.