`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`OPTICAL DISC DEVICE
`
`Technical Field
`
`[0001]
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`The present invention relates to an optical disc device equipped with a
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`mechanism for preventing such a situation that two piled optical discs are
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`inserted into the optical disc device, Le, a mechanism for preventing the
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`10
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`insertion of double optical discs.
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`Background Art
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`[0002]
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`In the prior art,
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`in the optical disc device such as the onboard audio
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`15
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`equipment having an optical disc discriminating device, or
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`the like,
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`the
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`mechanism for preventing the insertion of plural sheets of optical discs is
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`provided not to damage the optical disc device or the optical disc when plural
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`sheets of optical discs are stacked and inserted (see Patent Literature 1, for
`
`example).
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`20
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`More particularly, as shown in FIGS, in an optical disc device 100 set
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`forth in Patent Literature 1, upper guides 103, 104, 105 are provided to the
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`upper center, left, and right portions of an opening portion 102 in a main body
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`101 and also a lower guide 106 having a graduation that is lowered toward the
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`center is provided to the lower portion. Also, an interval between the upper
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`25
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`guides 103, 104, 105 and the lower guide 106 is set smaller than a thickness of
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`
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`
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`two sheets of optical discs 107. Thus, such a situation can be prevented that
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`two piled optical discs 107 are inserted into the optical disc device.
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`Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2001-312850 (Fig.7)
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`Disclosure of the Invention
`
`Problems that the Invention is to Solve
`
`[0003]
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`However, as shown in FIG.8, when two piled optical discs 107 are
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`inserted forcibly into the optical disc device 100, the optical disc 107 is put
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`10
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`between the upper guide 103 and the lower guide 106 so that the optical disc
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`107 cuts into the upper guide 103 and the lower guide 106. Thus, when the
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`optical discs 107 are pulled out, this optical disc device need very large force to
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`pull out
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`the optical discs 107 and the optical disc device may have a
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`disadvantage that the optical disc 107 is damaged or the optical disc device 100
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`15
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`is injured.
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`[0004']
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`The present invention has been made in view of the above problem,
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`and it
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`is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disc device
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`capable of removing an optical disc not to damage the optical disc and the
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`20
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`optical disc device even if two piled optical discs are inserted into the optical
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`disc device.
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`Means for Solving the Problems
`
`[0005]
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`25
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`In order to attain the foregoing object, an optical disc device according
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`
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`
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`to the present invention,
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`includes a fixed guiding portion which guides one
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`surface of an inserted optical disc; and a thickness restricting member which is
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`opposed to the fixed guiding portion to form an optical disc inserting path whose
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`thickness between the fixed guiding portion and the thickness restricting
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`member is smaller than a thickness of two sheets of the optical disc; wherein
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`the thickness restricting member is turned in a direction in which the optical disc
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`is ejected.
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`[0006]
`
`In the optical disc device constructed in this manner, even if two piled
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`10
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`optical discs are pushed forcibly into the optical disc device, the insertion of two
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`piled optical discs can be prevented with the cooperation of the fixed guiding
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`portion and the thickness restricting member. Also, since the thickness
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`restricting member is turned in the ejecting direction when two piled optical
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`discs are pulled out,
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`two piled optical discs can be taken out easily not to
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`15
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`damage the optical disc and the optical disc device.
`
`[0007]
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`Also,
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`in the optical disc device according to the present invention, the
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`thickness restricting member is provided to both end portions which are
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`positioned on an inner side of the optical disc device and correspond to an outer
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`2O
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`peripheral position of the optical disc.
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`[0008]
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`In the optical disc device constructed in this manner, the thickness
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`restricting member is provided to both end portions of the optical disc slot
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`corresponding to the outer peripheral position of the optical disc, just on the
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`25
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`inner side of the optical disc slot. Therefore, the optical disc can be taken out
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`
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`
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`easily without damage of the data recording portion in the optical disc.
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`[0009]
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`Also, the optical disc device according to the present invention further
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`includes a resilient member which energizes the thickness restricting member in
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`an insertion direction of the optical disc; and a stopper which restricts a
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`movement of the thickness restricting member in the insertion direction of the
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`optical disc.
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`[0010]
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`In the optical disc device constructed in this manner, the thickness
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`10
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`restricting member is always energized in the inserting direction of the optical
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`disc to contact the stopper, and is positioned in a two-piled disc detecting
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`position. Therefore, the insertion of two piled optical discs can be prevented
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`without fail, and also the optical disc can be taken out easily because the
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`turning of the thickness restricting member is allowed when the optical, disc is
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`15
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`pulled out.
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`Advantages of the Invention
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`[0011]
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`According to the present invention, even if two piled optical discs are
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`20
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`pushed forcibly into the optical disc device, the insertion of two piled optical
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`discs can be prevented with the cooperation of the fixed guiding portion and the
`
`thickness restricting member. Also, such an advantage can be achieved that,
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`since the thickness restricting member is turned in the ejecting direction when
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`two piled optical discs are pulled out, two piled optical discs can be taken out
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`25
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`easily not to damage the optical disc and the optical disc device.
`
`4
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`
`
`
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`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`[0012]
`
`FIG.1 is a general perspective view of a car audio system in which an
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`optical disc device of an embodiment of the present invention is built;
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`FIG.2 is a plan view showing an optical disc device of the embodiment
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`of the present invention when taken in an ll-ll position in FIG.1;
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`FIG.3 is a front view of the optical disc device of the embodiment of the
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`present invention, from which a front panel is removed;
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`10
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`FIG.4 is a sectional view showing a situation that two piled optical
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`discs are detected by a two piled opticaldiscs detecting mechanism in the
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`embodiment of the present invention when taken in a IV-lV position in FIG.3;
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`FIG.5 is a sectional view showing a situation that two piled optical
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`discs are pulled out from a main body in the embodiment of the present
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`15
`
`invention when taken in a V-V position in FIG.3;
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`FIG.6 is a front view of the two piled optical discs detecting mechanism
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`in the embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG.7(A)
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`is a major sectional view showing another embodiment
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`different from the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.7(B) is a major
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`2O
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`plan view showing another embodiment different from the embodiment of the
`
`present invention;
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`FlG.8 is a sectional view showing an optical disc device in the prior art.
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`Description of Reference Numerals and Signs
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`25
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`[0013]
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`
`
`
`
`10
`
`optical disc device
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`11
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`optical disc slot
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`12
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`optical disc
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`13 main body
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`20
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`tray
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`41
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`fixed guiding portion
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`42
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`optical disc inserting path
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`43 thickness restricting member
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`44
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`spring (resilient member)
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`10
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`45
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`stopper
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`Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
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`[0014]
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`An embodiment according to the present invention will be explained in
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`15
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`detail with reference to the drawings hereinafter.
`
`FlG.1 is a general perspective view of a car audio system in which an
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`optical disc device of an embodiment of the present invention is built, FlG.2 is a
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`plan view showing an optical disc device of the embodiment of the present
`
`invention when taken in a ll-ll position in FlG.1, FIG.3 is a from view of the
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`20
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`optical disc device, from which a front panel is removed, of the embodiment of
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`the present invention, FIG.4 is a sectional view showing a situation that two
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`piled optical discs are detected by a two piled optical discs detecting
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`mechanism in the embodiment of the present invention when taken in a lV—lV
`
`position in FIG.3, FlG.5 is a sectional view showing a situation that two piled
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`25
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`optical discs are pulled out from a main body in the embodiment of the present
`
`
`
`
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`invention when taken in a V-V position in FlG.3, and FIGS is a front view of the
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`two piled optical discs detecting mechanism in the embodiment of the present
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`invenfion.
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`[0015]
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`A radio 2, a cassette tape player 3,. etc. as well as‘the optical disc
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`device 10 as the optical disc device are built in the car audio equipment 1. An
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`optical disc slot 11 for the optical disc device 10, a radio tuning knob 2a, a
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`cassette insertion slot 3a, and the like,
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`in addition to a display portion 4a used
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`commonly in all functions and a power/volume knob 4b are provided at a front
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`10
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`panel 4. Also, a controlling portion 5 for controlling the radio 2, the cassette
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`tape player 3, the optical disc device 10, etc. is provided to the inside of the car
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`audio equipment 1.
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`[0016]
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`As shown in FlG.2, the optical disc device 10 includes a main body 13
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`15
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`capable of housing optical discs 12 as a plurality of optical discs therein, and a
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`plurality of trays 20 for holding individually the optical disc 12 on the inside of
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`this main body 13.
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`[0017]
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`‘
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`As shown in FlG.2, a turn arm 30 is provided at a vicinity (right side in
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`2O
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`FIG.2) of the tray 20 in the main body 13 to swing on a pivot 32, and a turntable
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`31 that turns while holding the optical disc 12 is provided to a top end of the turn
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`arm 30. A pickup 34 having an optical head (not shown) is provided to a
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`suspension chassis 33 of the turn arm 30 in such a way that this pickup 34 can
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`move reciprocally along the direction connecting the pivot 32 and the center of
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`25
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`the turntable 31. The pickup 34 is moved by a lead screw 36 that is rotated by
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`
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`a drive motor 35.
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`Here, carrying rollers 16 being paired vertically are provided on the
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`inside of the main body 13 of the optical disc slot 11. The carrying rollers 16 .
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`carry in the optical disc 12 inserted into the optical disc slot 11, and eject the
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`optical disc 12 whose recording/playing operation is completed from the optical
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`disc slot 11.
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`[0018]
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`As shown in FlG.3 to FlG.6, a two-piled disc insertion preventing
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`mechanism 40 for preventing the two-piled disc insertion of the optical disc 12 is
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`10
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`provided to both end portions that are positioned just on the inner side of the
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`optical disc slot 11, which is provided to the main body 13 of the optical disc
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`device 10, to correspond to the outer peripheral position of the optical disc 12.
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`More particularly, the two-piled disc insertion preventing mechanism
`
`40 has a fixed guiding portion 41 and a thickness restricting member 43. The
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`15
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`fixed guiding portion 41 guides one surface of the optical disc 12 inserted from
`
`the optical disc slot 11 which is provided on the front panel of the main body 13.
`
`The thickness restricting member 43 is opposed to the fixed guiding portion 41
`
`to form an optical disc inserting path 42 between the fixed guiding portion 41
`
`and the thickness restricting member 43. The thickness of the optical disc
`
`2O
`
`inserting path 42 is more than a thickness of one sheet of the optical disc 12 but
`below a thickness of two sheets of the optical disc 12.
`The thickness
`
`restricting member 43 is provided to turn around a pin 46 in the ejecting
`
`direction of the optical disc 12 (in FIG.4, the leftward direction indicated by an
`
`arrow A).
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`25
`
`[0019]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Also, as shown in FlG.3, an inclined surface 41a is provided to the left
`
`and right end portions of the fixed guiding portion 41. An outer end portion 41b
`
`of the inclined surface 41a is provided in vicinity of the outer periphery within the
`
`outer shape of the optical disc 12 and on the outside of a data record area of
`
`the optical disc.
`
`As shown in FIG.4 to FlG.6, the thickness restricting member 43 is
`
`always energized by a spring 44 as a resilient member in the inserting direction
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`of the optical disc (in FlG.4, the leftward direction indicated by an arrow B).
`
`The thickness restricting member 43 is positioned in a two-piled disc detecting
`
`10
`
`position (position shown in FIG.4) when the thickness restricting member 43
`
`comes into contact with a stopper 45. The thickness restricting member 43 is
`
`provided to oppose to the outer end portions 41b of the fixed guiding portion 41
`
`to form a clearance whose thickness is more than a thickness of one sheet of
`
`the optical disc 12 but below a thickness of two sheets of the optical disc 12 as
`
`15
`
`the optical disc inserting path 42.
`
`[0020]
`
`Accordingly,
`
`the case where a sheet of optical disc 12 is inserted
`
`normally from the optical disc slot 11 corresponds to the case where only the
`
`lower optical disc 12 in FIG.4 is inserted. Since a space whose thickness is in
`
`20
`
`excess of a thickness of one sheet of the optical disc 12 is provided between
`
`the thickness restricting member 43 and the fixed guiding portion 41, the optical
`
`disc 12 is pulled in the inside of the optical disc device 10 by the carrying rollers
`
`16.
`
`In contrast,
`
`the case where the two-piled optical discs 12, 12 are
`
`25
`
`inserted corresponds to the case where two sheets of piled optical discs 12, 12
`
`
`
`
`
`in FIG.4 are inserted. Since only a space whose thickness is smaller than a
`
`thickness of two sheets of optical disc 12 is provided between the thickness
`
`restricting member 43 and the fixed guiding portion 41, the thickness restricting
`
`member 43 prevents the insertion of two piled optical disc 12.
`
`Then, when two piled optical discs 12, 12 are pushed forcibly further
`
`from the insertion blocked condition, center portions of the optical discs 12, 12
`
`are bent downward along the inclined surface 41a of the fixed guiding portion
`
`41. Thus, the optical discs 12, 12 cut into the thickness restricting member 43
`
`and the fixed guiding portion 41.
`
`10
`
`[0021]
`
`In a situation that the two-piled optical discs 12, 12 are blocked by the
`
`two-piled disc insertion preventing mechanism 40,
`
`the thickness restricting
`
`member 43 can be turned in the ejecting direction by pulling out at least the
`
`upper optical disc 12 before two sheets of optical discs 12, 12 are pulled out in
`
`15
`
`the ejection direction.
`
`This is because, as shown in FlG.5,
`
`the thickness
`
`restricting member 43 can be turned in the ejecting direction (in the arrow
`
`direction in FIGS) even though the optical discs 12, 12 cut into the thickness
`
`restricting member 43 and the fixed guiding portion 41. As a result, two sheets
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`of optical discs 12, 12 can be released from the constraint imposed by the
`
`20
`
`thickness restricting member 43 and the fixed guiding portion 41 and can be
`
`ejected.
`
`Here, after two sheets of optical discs 12, 12 are ejected, the thickness
`
`restricting member 43 is pushed against the stopper 45 by a spring force of the
`
`spring 44. Thus, the thickness restriCting member 43 is returned again to the
`
`25
`
`two-piled disc detecting position to prevent the insertion of the two piled optical
`
`1O
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`discs.
`
`[0022]
`
`As described above, according to the above optical disc device 10,
`
`even if the optical discs 12, 12 are pushed forcibly into the disc device in a
`
`two-piled manner,
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`the insertion of two piled optical discs 12, 12 can be
`
`prevented with the cooperation of the fixed guiding portion 41 and the thickness
`
`restricting member 43. That is, two piled optical discs 12, 12 are stopped in a
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`pushed position when they are pushed strongly by the thickness restricting
`
`member 43, and thus the further insertion of the optical discs into the disc
`
`device can be prevented.
`
`In addition, the thickness restricting member 43 can
`
`be turned in the ejecting direction in pulling out two piled optical discs 12, 12
`
`from" this situation, and thus two piled optical discs 12, 12 can be taken out
`
`easily not to damage the optical discs 12, 12 and the internal device of the
`
`optical disc device 10.
`
`Also,
`
`the thickness restricting member 43 is provided to both end
`
`portions of the optical disc slot 11, which are positioned on the inner side of the
`
`optical disc slot 11 to correspond to the outer peripheral position of the optical
`
`disc 12,
`
`to prevent the insertion of two piled optical discs 12, 12,
`
`i.e.,
`
`the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`thickness restricting member 43 is provided to the position, which is on the
`
`20
`
`outer peripheral side than the data recording area of the optical disc 12 but the
`
`inner peripheral side than the outer shape of the disc, to prevent the insertion of
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`two piled optical discs 12, 12. Therefore, the optical disc 12 can be taken out
`
`easily in a situation that the data recording area portion of the optical disc is
`
`protected more surely.
`
`25
`
`[0023]
`
`11
`
`
`
`
`
`In this case,
`
`the optical disc device of the present invention is not
`
`limited to the above embodiment, and adequate variations, modifications, and
`
`the like can be applied.
`
`For example,
`
`in the above embodiment,
`
`the thickness restricting
`
`member 43 that can be turned in the thickness direction of the optical disc 12
`
`(the vertical direction in FlG.4) is explained.
`
`In addition, as shown in FlG.7(A)
`
`and FlG.7(B), a thickness restricting member 438 can be implemented such
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`that the thickness restricting member 438 is turned in the outer shape direction
`
`of the optical disc (in FlG.4, outward within the horizontal plane). That is, the
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`10
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`thickness restricting member 438 is turned horizontally around a pin 46B
`
`provided vertically in FlG.7(A), and also is always energized by a spring 448 to
`
`contact a stopper 458. With this arrangement, like the above embodiment, the
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`insertion of two piled optical discs can be prevented, and also two piled optical
`
`discs can be taken out easily by turning the thickness restricting member 438
`
`15
`
`when the optical disc 12 is pulled out.
`
`[0024]
`
`This application is based upon Japanese Patent Application (Patent
`
`Application No.2005-238789) filed on August 19, 2005; the contents of which
`
`are incorporated herein by reference.
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`20
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`[0025]
`
`With the above, various embodiments of the resent
`
`invention are
`
`explained. But the present invention is not limited to the matters set forth in
`
`the above embodiments, and variations and modifications made by those skilled
`
`in the art based on the description of the specification and the well known
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`25
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`technologies are acceptable to the present invention and are contained in a
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`12
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`
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`scope over which a protection is sought.
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`Industrial Applicability
`
`[0026]
`
`5
`
`As described above, the optical disc device according to the present
`
`invention can prevent
`
`the insertion of
`
`two piled optical discs with the
`
`cooperation of the fixed guiding portion and the thickness restricting member
`
`even if two piled optical discs are pushed forcibly into the optical disc device.
`
`Also, the optical disc device according to the present invention possesses such
`
`10
`
`an advantage that, since the thickness restricting member is turned in the
`
`ejecting direction when two piled optical discs are pulled out, two piled optical
`
`discs can be taken out easily not to damage the optical disc and the optical disc
`
`device, and is useful
`
`to the optical disc device having the mechanism for
`
`preventing the insertion of double optical discs into the optical disc device, or
`
`15
`
`the like.
`
`
`
`13
`
`
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