Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
11@D7~1~9
RCA 71,337
1 This invention generally relates to a video
disc player. More particularly, this invention relates
to a handling system which permits insertion of a video
disc into the player, and its extraction therefrom, without
direct handling thereof by the user.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,842,194, issued to Jon K.
Clemens, a video disc system is dlsclosed. In an arrange-
ment therein disclosed, an information track consists of
geometric variations in the bottom of a smooth spiral
groove on the surface of a disc record. The disc record
has a deposit of dielectric material overlying a coating
of conductive material. During playback, variations
in the capacitance formed between an electrode incorporated
in a groove-riding stylus and the conductive coating
of the disc record are sensed as it is rotated by a
supporting turntable to reconstruct the recorded information.
In the systems of the Clemens type, in order
to obtain adequate playing time, the successive groove
convolutions are relatively closely spaced on the
surface of the video disc (e.g., 4.5 micrOmeters corres-
ponding to a groove density of 5,555 gpi) and the signal
elements in the groove bottom are relatively small
(e.g., signal element length - 0.3 to 0.8 micrometers and ;
signal element depth of 0.10 to 0.15 micrometers).
The accumulation of dust on such video discs
presents a problem. The problem of dust accumulation is
aggravated when the exposure of a video disc to atmospheric
dust is accompanied by the condition of high temperature
and high humidity. It is therefore advantageous to provide
a cover which completely encloses the video disc in a dust-
- 2 -
~7~ RCA 71,337
1 proof environment during its storage and handling.
The video discs of the type described above
are prone to damage during their manual handling (e.g.,
scratches, fingerprints, etc.). It is therefore desirable
to provide a system which permits insertion and withdrawal
of a video disc into and from a player without its direct
handling by the user.
Systems for inserting and withdrawing a video
disc into and from a player without its direct handling
by the consumer are described in (1) U.S. Patent 4,098,511,
issued July 4, 1978, entitled "VIDEO DISC
HANDLING SYSTEM FOR A VIDEO DISC PLAYER," to
M. A. Leedom, and (2) U.S. Patent 4,124,866,
entitled "VIDEO DISC INSERTION/EXTRACTION SYSTEM
FOR A VIDEO DISC PLAYER," to C. F. Coleman,
issued November 7, 1978.
In the systems illustrated in the Leedom and
Coleman patents, a record extracting mechanism engages
the record periphery to prevent its removal from the player
during cover withdrawal subsequent to an occupied cover
arrival at a fully inserted position in the player.
In accordance with an advantageous arrangement
herein disclosed, engagement of the record extracting member
with the record is not needed to effect the extraction
of the record from its cover. The player, pursuant to
this invention, is suitable for use with a disc record re-
movably subject to occupancy of a protective cover comprising
a jacket and a record retaining member removably located
therein. The player housing has an input slot dimensioned
; - 3 -
C
~78~ RCA 7l,337
1 to permit an insertion of a record cover into the player
and its removal therefrom. The player includes guides
aligned with the input slot for facilitating the cover
insertion and removal. A platform mounted in the housing,
and disposed under the guides, is movable between an elevated
position and a depressed position. Means are mounted in
the player for engaging the record retaining member during
cover arrival at a fully inserted position in the player.
The engaging means are subject to operation in a first
condition and a second condition. The player includes
means, responsive to cover arrival at the fully inserted
position in the player, for alternating the condition of
the engaging means between the first condition and the
second condition. The engaging means, while disposed
in the first condition, permits cover arrival at the fully
inserted position. The engaging means, while disposed
in the second condition, precludes a removal from the
player of a record retaining member during a jacket with-
drawal from the fully inserted position, whereby jacket
withdrawal subsequent to an occupied cover arrival at
the fully inserted position results in retention of the
enclosed record in the player. The record retaining member
is so constructed that the retained record is permitted
to rest on the platform upon a completion of the jacket
withdrawal. The player includes means for depressing the
platform to effect a transfer of the retained record from
the platform to the player turntable.
In the accompanying drawings:
FIGURE l is a perspective view of a protective
~ cover comprising a jacket and a record retaining member
-- 4 --
~ RCA 71,337
1 removably located therein; the protective cover of FIGURE 1
is suitable for use with a video disc system incorporating
the present invention;
FIGURES 2 and 3 are the top views of the record
retaining member and the jacket of FIGURE l;
FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate the top views of a
modified record retaining member and a modified jacket;
FIGURE 4a shows another embodiment of the
record retaining member suitable for use with the modified
jacket of FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 6 shows a record retaining member release
mechanism suitable for use in the protective cover of
FIGU~ES 1-3 and FIGURES 4, 4a and 5;
FIGURE 7 represents the plan view of a video
disc system incorporating the principles of the present
invention;
FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate the side views of the
video disc system of FIGURE 7 including a movable platform
shown, respectively, in a depressed position and an elevated
position;
FIGURES 10 and 11 show a record extracting mechan--
ism disposed, respectively, in a retracted condition and a
deployed condition; the record extracting mechanism of
FIGURES 10-11 is suitable for use with the video disc
- 25 system of FIGURES 7 and 12;
FIGURE 12 shows a side view of a video disc system
incorporating the principles of the present invention; the
video disc system of FIGURE 12 includes a modified plat-
form lifting/lowering mechanism;
FIGURES 13, 14 and 15 respectively illustrate
~1~7~ RCA 71,337
1 the end view, the front view and the plan view of a door
bracket assembly suitable for use with the modified
video disc system of FIGURE 12;
FIGURES 16 and 17 show, respectively, the side
view and the plan view of a platform linkage assembly sub-
ject to cooperation with the door bracket assembly of
FIGURES 13-15 and suitable for use in the modified video
disc system of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 18 illustrates means for guiding a cover
into the modified video disc system of FIGURE 12; also
shown in FIGURE 18 is a cover ejecting mechanism;
FIGURE 19 shows a bottom view of a movable
platform suitable for use with the modified video disc
system of FIGURE 12;
FIGURES 20 and 21, respectively, illustrate the
end view and the plan view of a left-center lifting pad ;~~
assembly mounted on the platform of FIGURE 19 and suitable
for use in the modified video disc system of FIGURE 12;
FIGURES 22 and 22a illustrate, respectively,
the plan view and the end view of a left-front lifting pad
mounted on the platform of FIGURE 19 for use in the
modified video disc system of FIGURE 12;
FIGURES 23 and 23a show, respectively, the plan
view and the end view of a rear lifting pad mounted on the
platform of FIGURE 19 for use in the modified video disc
system of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 24 illustrates a modified record extracting
mechanism suitable for use in the video disc systems
of FIGURES 7 and 12;
FIGURE 25 is a sectional view of the modified
- 6 -
RCA 71,337
1 record extracting mechanism along the line 25-25 in FIGURE
24; and
FIGURE 26 is a sectional view of the modified
record extracting mechanism along the line 26-26 in FIGURE 25.
FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of
a record protective cover 50 suitable for use with a
video disc system described subsequently. As shown
therein, the record cover comprises a sleeve-type jacket
52 and a record retaining tray 54. FIGURES 2 and 3 show,
respectively, the top views of the tray and the jacket
of FIGURE 1. The jacket 52 has an end access opening
56 having dimensions permitting the tray 54, carrying a video
; disc 58, to slide freely therethrough. The protective
cover is the subject of U.S. Patent 4,159,827 of
1S L. A. Torrington, entitled, "VIDEO DISC PACKAGE" and
issued July 3, 1979.
~'
The jacket 52 has a pair of channels 60 and 62
for receiving a pair of ribs 64 and 66 provided in the
`~ 20 tray 54 in order to accurately locate the tray and the
video disc 58 therein. The ribs 64 and 66 have wedge-shaped
end portions 68 and 70 for leading the insertion of the
tray 54 into the jacket 52.
As shown in FIGURE 3, a pair of cleaning pads
72 and 74 made from suitable soft material (e.g., velvet)
are secured to the interior surfaces of the panels 76 and 78
defining the jacket 52 to effect a wiping of a video disc
during its insertion into and removal from the jacket.
Other suitable materials for the wiping pads are (1) lint-
less, non-woven polyester paper made by DuPont and (2)
-- 7 --
C
~7~ RCA 7l,337
1 polyurethane foam made by Scott Paper Co., Foam Division.
The thickness of the tray 54 is about the same
as the thickness of the bead of the video disc 58.
As shown in FIGURE 2, the tray 54 has a generally circular
through opening 80 having a diameter slightly greater
than the diameter of the video disc 58. The tray 54
allows access to both faces of the video disc 58 without
requiring any alteration of the position of the video
disc within the tray or the jacket 52. Both the tray
54 and the video disc 58 are supported within the jacket
52 by the interior surfaces of the panels 76 and 78.
When the tray 54 is fully inserted into the jacket
52, the front portion 82 of the tray extends into the
access opening 56 and closes it to keep dust or other
contaminants from entering into the video disc enclosing
cavity of the jacket.
. The front portion 82 of the tray 54 has a record
extracting member receiving hole 84 which is accessible
:~ in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of
the to-and-fro movement of the tray in the jacket 52.
As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the tray 54 includes
a pair of detents 86 and 88 which are received in the
depressions 90 and 92 provided in the jacket 52 when the
tray is fully inserted into the jacket. The detents
prevent inadvertent slippage of an enclosed video disc
from the jacket.
FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate top views of a
modified tray 94 and a modified jacket 96. As shown in
FIGURE 4, the modified tray 94 consists of a plastic
spine portion 98 and an annular portion lO0 defined by a
- 8 -
~ RCA 71,337
1 wire form. The wire form is insert molded into theplastic spine portion.
An alternate technique to the use of a wire form,
is use of an extruded plastic tube. The ends of a plastic
tube 101 may, for example, be glued to the spine portion
98 in order to define the annular portion as shown in
FIGURE 4a.
The jacket 96 has depressions 102 and 104 for
receiving the detents 106 and 108 provided in the spine
portion 98. A pair of soft wiping pads 110 are secured
to the interior surfaces of the panels constituting the
jacket 96 for cleaning the record during its insertion
and removal. The spine portion 98 has a record extracting
member receiving hole 112. The jacket 96 has recesses 116
and 118 for receiving the end portions 120 and 122 of
the spine portion 94.
~: Shown in FIGURE 6 is an alternati~e technique
for releasably securing a record retaining tray 124 to an
` enclosure 126. The top panel of the enclosure 126 is
removed to expose the underlying details. The record
retaining tray 124 has a detent member 128 which is disposed
for cooperation with a member 130 slidably mounted within
the enclosure for motion between an extended position, as
shown in FIGURE 6, and a depressed position (not shown).
The slidable member 130, while in the extended position,
precludes a removal of the tray 124 from the enclosure 126.
The slidable member 130, while in the depressed position,
causes the detent member 128 to retract permitting tray
removal from the enclosure 126. A spring 132 is provided
3 to bias the slidable member 130 to occupy the extended
_ g _
RCA 71,337
~7l3~
1 position, As explained subsequently, means are provided in
the player to depress the slidable member 130 during
cover arrival at a fully inserted position in the player
to release the tray 124.
FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a video disc player
136 of the variety described in the Clemensly~s~,Patent
No, 3,842,194. The player in FIGURE 7 is shown with
its lid removed. FIGURES 8 and 9 are sectional views
of the video disc player of FIGURE 7 along the center `
line thereof while a dust excluding flap 138 is disposed,
respectively, in a closed position and an open position,
The player has a pollution free chamber 140
into which the record cover 50 is inserted through an input
slot 142. The input slot 142 has dimensions which permit
the record cover to slide therethrough without hindrance.
The dust excluding flap 138 is pivotally mounted to the
player housing 144 for motion between the closed position
denying access to the chamber 140 tFIGURE 8~, and the open
position permitting access to the chamber (FIGURE 9).
The flap 138 serves to keep the chamber 140 from being
contaminated by dust or other foreign ~atter.
The player housing 144 is provided with a pair
of channels 146 and 148 for guiding the insertion ~d
removal of tke record cover into and from the player. The
channels 146 and 148 are disposed at an angle relative to
the player housing 144 such that they are aligned with
the input slot 142 at the front end of the player.
The video disc player further includes a turn-
table 150 for rotatably supporting a video disc during
playback. The turntable 150 has a central spindle 152
-- 10 --
RCA 71,337
7~9
I subject to reception in the centering aperture of the
video disc. A stylus arm carriage carrying a signal
pickup device is not shown for the sake of clarity. The
stylus arm carriage traverses the signal pickup across
a turntable mounted video disc during playback.
A platform 154 is pivotally mounted about a rod
156 for motion between a depressed position (FIGURE 8)
and an elevated position (FIGURE 9). The platform
154 comprises a pair of side rails 158 and 160 joined
by a cross member 162 at the rear end of the player 136.
As shown in FIGURES 7, 10 and 11, a record
extracting mechanism 164, having a pair of latch arms
166 and 168 which are pivoted around pins 170 and 172,
is mounted at the rear end of the player 136 on the cross
member 162. As can be seen from FIGURE 9, the latch arms
166 and 168 are aligned with the center line of the channels
146 and 148 when the platform 154 is occupying the elevated
position. The latch arms 166 and 168 are admitted into the
hole 84 provided in the tray 54 when the record cover 50
is fully inserted into the player 136.
The record extracting mechanism 164 includes a
paddle arm 174 pivoted about a pin 176 mounted on the
cross member 162. The paddle arm 174 is rotated clockwise
through an arc when the record cover is fully inserted
into the player. The clockwise rotation of the paddle
arm 174 causes a ratchet wheel 178, rotatably mounted on the
cross member 162, to advance by one tooth, also in a
clockwise direction, via a retractable pin 180 mounted
on the paddle arm. Such rotation of the ratchet wheel
178 causes a square-shaped cam 182, disposed between the
-- 11 --
~7~9 RCA 71,337
1 latch arms 166 and 168 and secured to the ratchet wheel,
to advance by one step (e.g., 45) in a clockwise
direction. Such advancement of the square-shaped cam 182
causes the latch arms 166 and 168 to alternate between
an extended condition (FIGURE 10) and a retracted condition
(FIGURE 11). A spring 184 interconnects the rear ends
of the latch arms 166 and 168 in order to assure continuous
engagement between the latch arms and the cam 182.
When the record cover is withdrawn from the player
136, a spring 186 causes the paddle arm 174 to return
to its home position shown in FIGURES 7 and 10. The record
extracting mechanism 164 includes a pawl 188 for preventing
a reversal of the motion of the ratchet wheel 178 as the
paddle arm 174 returns to its home position. It can be seen
from FIGURES 7, 10 and 11 that although the pawl 188
prevents a motion of the ratchet wheel 178 in the reverse
(anticlockwise) direction, it allows the forward motion
(clockwise) of the ratchet wheel. The pin 180 is made
retractable in order to allow the paddle arm 174 to return
to its home position without requiring the ratchet wheel
178 to rotate in the reverse direction.
Thus, each time the record cover is fully
inserted into the player 136, the condition of the latch
arms 166 and 168 is alternated between the extended
condition (FIGURE 11) and the retracted condition
(FIGURE 10). The alternating apparatus is the subject
of a U. S. Patent 4,109,919, of C. A. Elliott, et al.
entitled, "PACKAGE ACTUATED RECORD EXTRACTING MECHANISM
FOR A VIDEO DISC PLAYER," and issued
August 29, 1978- The function
- 12 -
C
~ RCA 71,337
of the record extracting mechanism 164 will be explained
in detail subsequently.
The player 136 further includes platform
linkage assembly 190 for causing the motion of the
platform 154 between the depressed position (FIGURE 8)
and the elevated position (FIGURE 9) in response to
motion of the flapper door 138, respectively, between
the access denying position (FIGURE 8) and the access
10 permitting position (FIGURE 9). The platform linkage
assembly 190 includes a pair of levers 192 and 194
secured to the door 138 for rotation therewith. The plat-
.:
form linkage assembly 190 further includes a pair of springs
` 196 and 198 interconnecting the free ends of the levers
192 and 194 and the side rails 158 and 160. A pair of
stop pins 200 and 202 are mounted to the player housing
144 for ensuring that the platform 154 is raised to
a correct height when the flapper door 138 is opened,
as a result of the insertion of the record cover into the
player 136, in the manner shown in FIGURE 9. The springs
196 and 198 allow the flapper door 138 to over-travel when
the record cover is fully inserted into the player so
that the platform 154 rises to the correct height without
the need for precision parts.
A set of spring loaded lifting pads 204-210 are
pivotally mounted to the rails 158 and 160 for a purpose
which will be described subsequently. A set of wire
springs (e.g., 212 and 214) are provided to bias the
lifting pads (e.g., 208 and 210) toward a raised position
3 as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. A set of pins (e.g., 216 and 218)
- 13 -
~ ~ ~!7 ~ ~ RCA 71,337
1 are secured to the rails (e.g., 160) for reception in
apertures (e.g., 220 and 222) provided in the lifting
pads (e.g., 208 and 210) so as to accurately locate the
top surfaces of the lifting pads relative to the platform
154 (FIGURES 8 and 9). A member 224 (FIGURE 7) inter-
connects the rear lifting pads 206 and 208.
- The operation of the system will now be described
in conjunction with FIGURES 7-11. When the record cover,
carrying a video disc, is inserted into the player 136
through the input slot 142, it lifts the flapper door 138,
whereby the platform 154 is caused to rise as shown in
FIGURE 9. The insertion of the record cover into the
player 136 causes the lifting pads 204-210 to retract with the
confines of the platform 154, allowing the record cover
to arrive at a fully inserted position in the player. As
the record cover arrives at the fully inserted position
in the player 136, the latch arms 166 and 168 are admitted
into the hole 84 of the tray 54 (FIGURE 10).
The arrival of the record cover at the fully
inserted position in the player 136 causes the latch arms
166 and 168 to change from the retracted condition (FIGURE
10) to the extended condition (FIGURE 11), thereby locking
the tray 54 to the platform 154. As the enclosure 52 is
withdrawn thereafter (1) the latch arms 166 and 168
retain the tray 54, carrying the video disc 58, in the
player and (2) the wire springs (e.g., 212 and 214)
cause the lifting pads 204-210 to return to the desired
raised position. Thus, the tray 54 and the video disc 58
are retained in the player 136 resting on the lifting
3 pads 204-210 at an appropriate level (i.e., having their
- 14 -
RCA 71,337
7i~
1 center lines aligned with the center lines of the channels
146 and 148) upon a conclusion of enclosure withdrawal.
Additionally, enclosure withdrawal from the
player 136 allows the flapper door 138 to move to the
access denying position shown in FIGURE 8. Such motion
of the flapper door 138 causes the platform 154 to move to
~;-
'~ the depressed position, as shown in FIGURE 8, effecting
a transfer of the video disc 58 from the lifting pads
204-210 to the turntable 150 for playback.
When an empty jacket is inserted into the player
136 through the input slot 142 (FIGURE 9), the flapper
door 138 is opened causing the platform 154 to rise
to the elevated position (FIGURE 9~. As the platform 154
rises, the lifting pads 204-210 lift the tray 54 and the
video disc 58 therewith.
When the platform 154 reaches the elevated
position (FIGURE 9), the lifting pads 204-210 support
the tray 54 and the video disc 58 so that their center lines
are aligned with the center line of the empty jacket 52,
causing the tray and the video disc to return to the
jacket during its insertion. The alignment apparatus is the
subject of a U.S. Patent 4,113,262, of R. DeStephanis
entitled, "RECORD SUPPORT AND ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR A
VIDEO DISC PLAYER," and issued
2S September 12, 1978.
When the jacket
52 is fully inserted into the player 136, it causes the
latch arms 166 and 168 to change from the extended condition
(FIGURE 11) to the retracted condition (FIGURE 10)
releasing the tray 54. When the jacket 52 is removed from
- 15 -
~_,
~ 7 ~9 RCA 71,337
: 1 the player 136, detents 86 and 88 (FIGURE 2) cause
the enclosed tray 54 and the video disc 58 to leave the player.
Thus, it will be seen that the above-described
: system allows a video disc to be inserted into and
removed from the player without its direct handling
by the consumer.
A second embodiment of the video disc player
incorporating the principles of the present invention will
now be explained in conjunction with FIGURES 12-26.
FIGURE 12 illustrates the side view of a modified
video disc player 230. As shown therein, a flapper
door 232 is secured to a bracket assembly 234 pivotally
mounted to the player housing 236 by means of a pin 264.
FIGURES 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the end view,
15 the front view and the top view of the pivoted bracket
assembly 234 which is mounted on the left hand side of
the player 230. A similar bracket assembly is pivotally
mounted on the right hand side of the player 230. The
bracket assembly 234 includes a pair of plate members
20 238 and 240 secured to a door bracket member 242.
As shown in FIGURE 12, a platform linkage
assembly 244 is pivotally mounted to the player housing
236 by means of a support bracket 246.
FIGURES 16 and 17 illustrate the end view and
25 the top view of the platform linkage assembly 244 which
is mounted on the left hand side of the player 230.
A similar linkage assembly is provided on the right hand
side of the player 230. The platform linkage assembly
244 includes levers 248 and 250 which are rotatably
30 secured to each other by a rivet 252. The ends of the
- 16 -
~7~ RCA 71,337
1 levers 248 and 250 are interconnected by a spring 254.
The levers 248 and 250 define an elongated slot 256 in
which a pin 258, secured to the plate members 238 and
' 240 as shown in FIGURES 13-15, is slidably received.
When a record cover 260 is inserted into
the modified player 230 through an input slot 262, the
door bracket 242 is pivoted about the pin 264 causing
the distal end of the lever 248 to rise. The player
230 includes a pair of rails aligned with the input
slot 262 for facilitating cover insertion and,removal.
FIGURE 18 shows a guiding rail 266 which is mounted
on the right hand side of the player 230. A similar
guiding rail is mounted on the left hand side of
the player 230. A record hold down spring 268 is secured
to the rail 266. Also shown in FIGURE 18 is a cover
ejecting mechanism 270. The cover ejecting mechanism
270 ejects the cover after the enclosed tray is released
by the record extracting mechanism and ejects the jacket
after the enclosed tray is gripped by the record extracting
mechansim,
A platform 272, the bottom view of which is shown
in FIGURE 19, is mounted in the modified player 230,
for motion between an elevated position and a depressed
position. The platform 272 has holes 274 and 276 for
receiving pins (e.g., a pin 278 in FIGURE 17) secured
to the linkage assembly levers (for example, the lever
248 in FIGURE 17).
From FIGURE 12, it will be seen that the insertion
of the record cover 260 into the input slot 262 of
the player 230 causes the flapper door 232 to open which,
~7~g RCA 71,337
1 in turn, causes the platform 272 to rise to the elevated
position. In a similar manner, the withdrawal of
the record cover 260 from the player 230 causes the
platform to move to the depressed position, which,
in turn, caUses the flapper door 232 to close.
The configuration of the platform lifting/
lowering mechanism of FIGURE 12 is such that the
motion of the platform from the depressed position to
the elevated position takes place in two stages. In the
first stage, the platform is pivoted about its distal
end, and in the second stage, the platform is pivoted
about its adjacent end, as the linkage assembly pins
(e.g., the pin 278) are raised in response to cover
insertion. In a similar fashion, the lowering of the
platform also occurs in two stages.
An advantage of the platform lifting/lowering
mechanism of FIGURE 12, which causes a teeter-totter
movement of the platform, is that for a given turntable
diameter and for a given height through which the plat-
form must be raised, the fore-and-aft dimension of the
platform is relatively reduced, for example, in comparison
with the platform lifting/lowering arrangement of FIGURES
7-9.
A set of five lifting pads - front-left pad, front-
right pad, left-center p~d, right-center pad and rear
pad - are retractably mounted on the platform, re-
spectively, at positions 280, 282, 284, 286 and 288.
FIGURES 20 and 21, respectively, show the side view and
the plan view of a left-center pad 290. Illustrated in
3 FIGURES 22 and 22a is a front-left pad 292 and a rear pad
- 18 -
RCA 71,337
~'37~
1 294 is shown in FIGURES 23 and 23a.
The lifting pads, while in retracted conditions,
allow cover arrival at a fully inserted position in the
player. The lifting pads, while in deployed conditions,
support a retained record such that, when the platform is
occupying the raised position, the record is aligned with
an empty cover being inserted into the player through
the input slot to facilitate the return of the retained
record into the cover.
The lifting pads are caused to move to the
retracted condition during cover arrival at the fully
inserted position in the player. Biasing means (e.g.,
a wire spring 296 in FIGURE 20) are provided to urge the
lifting pads to return to the deployed condition.
A modified record extracting mechanism 298
will now be explained in light of the FIGURES 24-26. FIGURE
24 is a plan view of the modified record extracting
mechanism 298. Shown in FIGURE 25 is a sectional view
of the record extracting mechanism 298 along the line
25-25 in FIGURE 24. FIGURE 26 illustrates a sectional
view of the record extracting mechanism 298 along the
line 26-26 in FIGURE 25. The modified record extracting
mechanism 298 is mounted on the platform 272 of the video
disc player 230 shown in FIGURE 12. While the use of the
modified record extracting mechanism is explained in
the context of the video disc player 230 of FIGURE 12,
it must be noted that it is also suitable for use in
the video disc player 136 of FIGURES 7-9.
As shown in FIGURE 26, the modified record
extracting mechanism 298 includes a pair of latch arms
-- 19 --
8~3 RCA 71, 337
1 300 and 302 pivoted around the pins 304 and 306. The latch
arms 300 and 302 are aligned with the center line of
the guide rails (e.g., the guide rail 18) when the plat-
form 272 is disposed in the elevated position.
A paddle arm 308 is pivotally mounted to
the platform 272 by a pin 310 (FIGURE 25). The clockwise
rotation of the paddle arm 308 causes an indexing wheel
312, rotatably mounted on the platform 272 by a pin
314, to advance by one tooth, also in a clockwise direction,
via a tang 342 of an actuating arm 316 pivotally secured
to the paddle arm by a pin 318. Such a rotation of
the indexing wheel 312 causes a square-shaped cam 320,
disposed between the latch arms 300 and 302 and secured
to the indexing wheel, to advance by one step (e.g., 45)
in a clockwise direction. Such advancement of the square-
shaped cam 320 caUses the latch arms to alternate between
an extended condition and a retracted condition.
A plate member 322 is fixedly secured to the
platform 272 by a bolt 323. The plate member 322 has
extensions 324 and 326 for restricting the arcuate motion
of the paddle arm 308. A spring 328 is interconnected
between a projection 330 of the actuating arm 316 and a
projection 332 of the fixedly mounted plate member 322
to bias the actuating arm and the paddle arm 308 to return
to their home positions. The record extracting mechanism
298 includes a pawl 334 (FIGURE 24) for preventing a
reversal of the motion of the indexing wheel 312 during
return motion of the paddle arm 308. Wire springs 336
and 338 (FIGURE 26) are provided to bias the latch arms
300 and 302 in continuous engagement with the cam 320.
- 20 -
~ RCA 71,337
~7~
1 The paddle arm 308 has an extension 340 (FIGURE 24)
which engages the front portion of a record cover during
its arrival at a fully inserted position in the player
to cause a clockwise movement of the paddle arm.
The operation of the modified video disc player
described with the help of FIGURES 12-26 is similar to
the operation of the video disc player of FIGURES 7-9.
- 21 -
