WO1999016065A1

WO1999016065A1 - Mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players driven by a single motor

Info

Publication number: WO1999016065A1
Application number: PCT/KR1998/000283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hag-Ryeol Kim
Original assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-09-20
Filing date: 1998-09-17
Publication date: 1999-04-01

Abstract

Mechanism for moving a tray and driving unit of disk players achieves a tray feeding operation and driving unit lifting operation by a single motor. The mechanism has a driving motor installed on a chassis, a pinion drum rotated by the driving motor and having a tray pinion and a drive pinion formed integrally each other, rack gears formed at the rear face of the tray and for engaging with the tray pinion during the movement of the tray, and a rack rod engaged with the drive pinion when the driving unit moves upwardly and downwardly. The pinion drum has multi-pinions formed integrally with one another for moving the tray and the driving unit.

Description

MECHANISM FOR MOVING A TRAY AND A DRIVING UNIT OF DISK PLAYERS DRIVEN BY A SINGLE MOTOR

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players, more particularly to a mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of multi- compact disk players driven by a single motor, by which the tray is ejected from and is loaded into a chassis and the driving unit is lifted.

BACKGROUND ART In general, a conventional multi-compact disk player selects one of the disks loaded therein, and reproduces data from the selected compact disk (hereinafter, referred to as a CD) by an optical pick up device.

A multi-CD player consists of a number of members as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A tray 120 is movably installed on a chassis 100. A roulette 140 for placing a number of CD is mounted on an upper face of the tray 120. The roulette 140 can be rotated at a predetermined angle to select a predetermined CD depending on an external output . A chucking plate 160 for chucking the center of the selected CD in a play mode is installed at an upper side of the roulette 140. A driving unit 180 is mounted at a lower side of the chucking plate 160 in the chassis 100. The driving unit 180 has an optical pick up device (not shown in figures) for reproducing data from the CD. To reproduce data from the selected CD, the driving unit 180 is lifted toward the chucking plate 160. The selected CD is chucked between the driving unit 190 and the chucking plate 160 and is rotated by a motor. The optical pick up device reproduces data from the selected CD.

Under the roulette 140, there is a tray feeding part for ejecting the tray 120 from the chassis 100 and for loading the tray 120 to the chassis 100, a driving unit lifting part for ascending and descending the driving unit 180, and a roulette driving part for rotating the roulette 140. The tray feeding part consists of a rack 210, a feeding motor 230, a reduction gear 250, a feeding gear 270, and a toggle switch 290. The rack 210 has a predetermined length and is installed at a side of the bottom face of the tray 120. The feeding motor 230 provides a driving power for moving the tray 120. The reduction gear 250 propagates the driving power of the feeding motor 230 to the feeding gear 270. The feeding gear 270 is engaged with the rack 210, and feeds the tray 120 depending on the rotation of the feeding motor 230. The toggle switch 290 is switched by a pushing portion 275 formed on the feeding gear 270 according to a position of the tray 120. The feeding motor 230 is controlled according to the state of the toggle switch 290.

The driving unit lifting part has a lifting motor 310 for providing the power to ascend and descend the driving unit 180, a driving gear 330 engaged with the lifting motor 310, a cylindrical cam 350 engaged with the driving gear 330, and a second toggle switch 370 installed at a side of the cylindrical cam 350. A number of threads are formed on the peripheral of the cylindrical cam 350, and are engaged with protrusions (not shown in figures) protruded from one side of the driving unit 180. The toggle switch 370 detects a lifting position of the driving unit 180 according to the rotation of the cylindrical cam 350, and controls the lifting motor 310. The other side of the driving unit 180 is connected to the chassis 100 by a hinge portion.

The roulette driving part had a roulette motor 147 for providing a power to rotate the roulette 140 and engaged with a roulette gear 145 formed at the bottom face of the roulette 140.

A conventional multi-compact disk player as described above operates as follows.

First, in an ejection mode, unshown control part rotates the feeding motor 230 in the counter-clock direction according to an ejecting signal from the exterior. The driving power of the feeding motor 230 propagates to the reduction gear 250 by a belt. The feeding gear 270 rotates in the counter-clock direction by the reduction gear 250, and is engaged to the rack 210. Thus, the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100. That is, the roulette 140 is also ejected from the chassis 100. When the feeding gear 270 is rotated in a 360-degree arc, the pushing portion 275 turns on the toggle switch 290. The turn on signal of the toggle switch 290 is provided to the control part. The control part instructs the feeding motor 230 to stop. The user places a number of CDs on the roulette 140 installed at the tray 120.

Next, a loading mode is executed. The loading mode is to load the roulette 140 placing on a number of CDs and the tray 120 into the inner space of the chassis 100. The loading mode starts by providing a loading signal from the outside to the control part or by lightly pushing the tray 120 into the inner space of the chassis 100. The pushing portion 275 switches the toggle switch 290 to turn off. The control part drives the feeding motor 230 to rotate in the clockwise direction depending on the turning off signal of the toggle switch 290. According to the clockwise rotation the feeding motor 230, the feeding gear 270 is rotated in the clockwise direction and starts to engage with the rack 210. Therefore, the tray 120 moves in the horizontal direction and is loaded toward the inner space of the chassis 100.

After the completion of the loading mode, the tray 120 places upper the driving unit 180, and the roulette 140 places under the chucking plate 160. When a CD selecting signal is provided to the control part, the control part drives the roulette motor 147. The roulette motor 147 rotates the roulette gear 145. The roulette 140 is rotated by the roulette gear 145, and then the predetermined CD is selected. The selected CD is placed between the driving unit 180 and the chucking plate 160.

When a play mode signal is provided to the control part, the control part drives the lifting motor 310 to rotate. The driving power of the lifting motor 310 propagates into the cylindrical cam 350 via the driving gear 330. When the cylindrical cam 350 rotates, the driving unit 180 engaged with the cylindrical cam 350 ascends about a hinge shaft. According to the ascent of the driving unit 180, the selected CD is chucked between chucking plate 160 and the driving unit

180. The chucked CD is rotated by an unshown motor, and the optical pick up device reproduces data from the selected CD.

However, a conventional multi-compact disk player has a feeding motor for providing the feeding power of the tray and a lifting motor for providing the lifting power of the driving unit in separate. That is, as a number of motors are rotated, a CD receiving portion is joggled, and thus multi- compact disk player has low reliability of reproducing true- sound. Also, the conventional multi-compact disk player is complicated because a number of gears are engaged between the feeding motor and the tray or between the lifting motor and the driving unit. Therefore, a numerous construction members and the assembling procedures are required, increasing the manufacturing cost.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION First object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit in which the tray and the driving unit are moved by a single motor.

Second object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit to remove the complex vibration caused by the use of a number of motors.

Third object of this invention is to provide a simplified mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit to achieve a low manufacturing cost. To obtain the above objects, a mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises: a driving motor installed at a chassis and for providing a feeding power to the tray to eject or load and for providing a lifting power to the driving unit to ascend or descend; a pinion drum having a power transmission part for propagating the power from the driving motor, a driving pinion formed at an upper side of the driving transmission part and having teeth with a length corresponding to a lifting angle y proportional to an ascending distance for lifting the driving unit, and a tray pinion formed at an upper side of the driving pinion and having teeth with a length corresponding to a feeding angle β proportional to a loading distance of the tray; a tray feeding part engaged with the tray pinion and for ejecting or loading the tray from the chassis according to the rotation of the pinion drum; and a driving unit lifting part having one side engaged with the driving pinion and the other side movably contacted to the driving unit and for lifting the driving unit when the pinion drum is rotated.

The driving-teeth formed at a lifting angle y and the tray gear teeth formed at a feeding angle β lie in piles as equal to a lifting angle y . The tray feeding part has a first and second rack gears formed with a predetermined length at the rear face of the tray for engaging with the tray pinion, a switching protrusion protruding from the rear face of the second rack gear, and a switch for detecting the tray to arrive at the open position in the ejecting mode.

The driving unit lifting part has a rack rod engaged with the drive pinion, a lifting plate having lifting-guide grooves for providing the lifting path of the driving unit by engaging with protrusions protruding from the driving unit and for fixing the rack rod thereon, and a switch mounted at a predetermined position, in the moving direction of the lifting plate, on the chassis for detecting the driving unit to arrive at the chucking position. The driving power transmission part is a pulley connected with the driving motor by a belt.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drive pinion has a driving unit locking portion successively formed with the last tooth of the drive teeth and having a radius same as a radius of an addendum circle of the drive teeth at a straight angle and a releasing portion successively formed with the driving unit locking portion and having a radius same as a radius of a deddendum circle of the drive teeth. In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack rod returns to an initial position by a return-spring. The return-spring has one end fixed at the chassis and the other end fixed at the rack rod.

A mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises: a driving motor installed at a chassis and for providing a feeding power to a tray to eject or to load and for providing a lifting power to a driving unit to ascend or to descend; a pinion drum having a power transmission pinion for engaging with the driving motor by reduction-gears, a driving pinion formed at an upper face of the power transmission pinion and having teeth with a length corresponding to a lifting angle proportional to an ascending distance for lifting the driving unit, and a tray pinion formed at an upper face of the driving pinion and having teeth, with a length corresponding to a feeding angle proportional to a loading distance of the tray, separately formed and spaced apart from the drive teeth by a predetermined angle θ; a tray feeding part having a first and second feeding pinions mounted at both sides of the pinion drum for engaging with the tray pinion and rack gears mounted at a rear face of the tray for respectively engaging with the feeding pinions; and a driving unit lifting part having a rack rod engaged with the driving pinion, a lifting plate having lifting-guide grooves for providing lifting paths of the driving unit by engaging with protrusions protruding from the driving unit and for fixing the rack rod thereon, and a switch mounted at a predetermined position, in the moving direction of the lifting plate, on the chassis and for detecting the driving unit to arrive at the chucking position and for providing the control signal to the driving motor.

A mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises: a driving motor installed at a chassis and for providing a feeding power to the tray to eject or load and for providing a lifting power to the driving unit to ascend or descend; a pinion drum having a driving pinion having teeth with a length corresponding to a lifting angle proportional to an ascending distance for lifting a driving unit, a power transmission pinion formed at an upper face of the driving pinion and connected to the driving motor by reduction-gears, a reversing pinion formed at an upper face of the power transmission pinion and having teeth with a length corresponding to a loading angle proportional to a loading distance of the tray, and a tray pinion formed at an upper face of the reversing pinion and having teeth with a length corresponding to an ejecting angle proportional to an ejecting distance of the tray; a tray feeding part engaged between the tray pinion and a rack formed at a rear face of the tray and for ejecting or loading the tray from the chassis according to the rotation of the pinion drum; and a driving unit lifting part engaged with the driving pinion of the pinion drum and for lifting the driving unit according to the rotation of the pinion drum.

The tray feeding part has a tray gear engaging between the tray pinion and the rack and for ejecting the tray from the chassis and for loading the tray into the chassis, and a reversing gear engaging between the reversing pinion and the tray gear after the tray gear disengages with the tray pinion and for loading the tray into the chassis and for ejecting the tray from the chassis.

The driving unit lifting part has lift-guiding plates respectively connected to both sides of the driving unit and for providing the lift path to the driving unit, a unit-lever pivotally mounted at the chassis and having both ends respectively connected with the lift-guiding plates and a guiding post protruding from an upper face of the unit-lever, and a driving-gear having a guiding groove for providing the moving path of the guiding post and teeth engaged with the driving pinion. With the above-mentioned mechanism thereof, a single motor drives the tray to eject from and to load into the chassis and the driving unit to ascend and to descend. Therefore, the mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to the present invention prevents the disk player from complex vibrating caused by use of two motors and achieves a low manufacturing cost.

As a result, the mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to the present invention improves the stability and reliability of operating conditions of disk players by the removal of a number of gearing connections .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a general multi- compact disk player;

Fig. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a conventional multi-compact disk player;

Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematical view of a pinion drum and a driving motor according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5A is a rear view showing the pinion drum and a rack rod according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5B is a plan view showing a lifting plate of the mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a pinion drum and a tray feeding gear according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a plan view schematically showing a mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a plan view schematically showing relation between tray feeding gears and a pinion drum and relation between driving unit lifting gears and the pinion drum according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view showing the pinion drum according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a driving unit lifting mechanism according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, this invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same member of an invention appearing in more than one view of the drawing must always be designated by the same reference character, and the same reference character must never be used to designate different members.

A multi-compact disk player according to the present invention comprises a tray 120 movably installed at a chassis 100. A roulette 140 for placing a number of CDs is mounted on an upper face of the tray 120 and can be rotated at a predetermined angle. A chucking plate 160 for chucking a selected CD in a play mode is installed at an upper side of the roulette 140. A driving unit 180 is mounted at a lower side of the chucking plate 160 in the chassis 100 for ascending and descending, and reproduces data from a selected CD.

A mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is to feed the tray 120 into the chassis 100 and to lift the driving unit 180, and to chuck the selected CD. The mechanism for moving the tray and the driving unit has a driving motor 410 installed at the chassis 100. The driving motor 410 generates a driving power according to an external input signal or a mode selecting signal. The driving motor 410 rotates a pinion drum 400 by its driving power. The pinion drum 400 has a power transmission part, a driving pinion 430, and a tray pinion 440. The driving pinion 430 is formed on an upper face of the power transmission part and has teeth formed at a lifting angle y proportional to a lifting distance of the driving unit 180. The tray pinion 440 is formed at an upper face of the driving pinion 430 and has teeth with a length corresponding to a feeding angle β proportional to a loading distance of the tray 120. The driving-teeth formed at the lifting angle y and the tray gear teeth formed at a feeding angle β lie in piles as equal to the lifting angle y .

The driving power transmission part is a pulley 420 connected with the driving motor 410 by a belt 423.

The driving power transmission part is a power transmission pinion for engaging with the driving motor by reduction-gears.

The pinion drum 400 is engaged with a tray feeding part 450 for ejecting the tray 120 from the chassis 100 and for loading the tray 120 into the chassis 100. The tray feeding part 450 has a first and second rack gears 453, 455, a switching protrusion 457, and an open-detecting switch 459. The rack gears 453, 455 are formed with a predetermined length at a rear face of the tray 120 for engaging with the tray pinion 440. The switching protrusion 457 protrudes from a rear face of the second rack gear 455 at a loading position of the tray 120. The open-detecting switch 459 is installed on the chassis 100 closed by an inlet of the chassis 100, in the same direction of the switching protrusion 457. In an ejecting mode, the switching protrusion 457 turns on the open-detecting switch 459 when the tray 120 is arrived to an open position.

The driving unit lifting part 460 has a rack rod 461, a lifting plate 463, and a chucking-detecting switch 469. The rack rod 461 is mounted at the lifting plate 463, and is engaged with the drive pinion 430. The lifting plate 463 has lifting-guide grooves 465 for engaging with a number of protrusions 185 protruding from a front face of the driving unit 180. Each of the lifting-guide grooves 465 is formed in letter "S". The chucking-detecting switch 469 is installed at a predetermined position on the chassis 100 in moving direction of the lifting plate 463, and is turned on when the driving unit 180 is arrived at a chucking position.

The drive pinion 470 according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a driving unit locking portion 436 and a releasing portion 438 as shown in FIG. 5A. The driving unit locking portion 436 is successively formed with the last tooth of the drive teeth in a rotating direction (indicated by an arrow) of the pinion drum 400 and has a radius the same as a radius of an addendum circle of the drive teeth at a straight angle. The releasing portion 438 is successively formed with the driving unit locking portion 436 and has a radius the same as a radius of a deddendum circle of the drive teeth.

In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack rod 461 returns to an initial position by a return-spring 466. The return-spring 466 has one end fixed at the chassis 100 and the other end fixed at the rack rod 461.

In the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pinion drum 500 has a power transmission pinion 525, a driving pinion 530, and a tray pinion 540. The power transmission pinion 525 is engaged with the driving motor 410 by reduction-gears 424, 427. The driving pinion 530 is formed at an upper face of the power transmission pinion 525 and has teeth with a length corresponding to a lifting angle proportional to an ascending distance for lifting the driving unit 180. The tray pinion 540 is formed at an upper face of the driving pinion 530 and has teeth, with a length corresponding to a feeding angle proportional to a loading distance of the tray 120, separately formed and spaced apart from the drive teeth by a predetermined angle θ. In the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tray feeding part has first and second feeding pinions 550, 560, first and second rack gears 453, 455, and a tray-open switch 459. The first and second feeding pinions 550, 560 are mounted at both sides of the pinion drum 500 for engaging with the tray pinion 540. The rack gears 453, 455 are mounted at a rear face of the tray 120 for respectively engaging with the feeding pinions 550, 560.

In the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the driving unit lifting part 460 is installed at a predetermined position closed by the second rack gear 455. The driving unit lifting part 460 has a rack rod 461, a lifting plate 463, and a chucking-detecting switch 469. The rack rod 461 is engaged with the driving pinion 530. The lifting plate 463 has lifting-guide grooves 465 engaged with a number of protrusions protruding from a front face of the driving unit 180 and for providing lifting paths of the driving unit 180. The chucking-detecting switch 469 is mounted at a predetermined position, in the moving direction of the lifting plate 463, on the chassis 100 and provides a control signal to the driving motor 410 when the driving unit 180 arrives at a chucking position.

In the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pinion drum 600 has a driving pinion 610, a power transmission pinion 630, a reversing pinion 650, and a tray pinion 670. The driving pinion 610 has teeth with a length corresponding to a lifting angle y proportional to an ascending distance for lifting a driving unit 180. The power transmission pinion 630 is formed at an upper face of the driving pinion 610 and connected to the driving motor 410 by reduction-gears. The reversing pinion 650 is formed at an upper face of the power transmission pinion 630 and has teeth with a length corresponding to a loading angle δ proportional to a loading distance of the tray 120. The tray pinion 670 is formed at an upper face of the reversing pinion 650 and has teeth with a length corresponding to an ejecting angle β proportional to an ejecting distance of the tray 120. The teeth of the reversing pinion 650 is formed apart from the teeth of the tray pinion 670 at a predetermined angle α.

In the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tray feeding part has a tray gear 700 and a reversing gear 750. The tray gear 700 is engaged between the tray pinion 670 and a rack 730 formed at a rear face of the tray 120. The reversing gear 750 is engaged between the reversing pinion 650 and the tray gear 700.

In the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, the driving unit lifting part has lift-guiding plates 810, 830, a unit-lever 850, and a driving-gear 800. Each of the lift-guiding plates 810, 830 respectively has lifting grooves the same as the lifting-guiding grooves 465 of the lifting plate 463 shown in FIG. 5B. The right lift- guiding plate 810 has first lifting grooves 813 respectively connecting with first protrusions 181 protruding from a right face of the driving unit 180 and a first rod 811 protruding from one side of the right lift-guiding plate 810 for connecting the unit-lever 850. The left lift-guiding plate 830 has second lifting grooves 833 respectively connecting with second protrusions 182 protruding from a left face of the driving unit 180 and a second rod 831 protruding from one side of the left lift-guiding plate 830 for connecting the unit-lever 850. The unit-lever 850 is pivotally mounted at the chassis 100 about a pivoting shaft 852. The unit-lever 850 has both pivot arms. Each of the pivot arms respectively has connecting hole 856. The connecting holes 856 respectively connected with the first rod 811 and the second rod 831. The lift-guiding plates 810, 830 move in opposite direction each other according to the pivot of the unit-lever 850, and thus the driving unit 180 leans to one side. The driving gear 800 has a guide hole 870 for providing a moving path of a guiding post 854 protruding from one side of the unit-lever 850 and teeth engaged with the driving pinion 610. The guide hole 870 is formed at the rear face of the driving gear 800 in spiral shape.

Hereinafter, the operation of the mechanism according to embodiments of the present invention will be described.

First, the operation mechanism of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In a tray-open mode for placing a number of CD on the roulette 140, the driving motor 410 rotates the pinion drum 400 in the counterclockwise direction. The left rack gear 453 engaged with the tray pinion 440 of the pinion drum 400 is rotated to eject the tray 120 from the chassis 100. At this time, the switching protrusion 457 formed on the right rack gear 455 switches on the tray-open switch 459. When the tray- open switch 459 is turned off, the rotation of driving motor 410 and the pinion drum 400 stop, and the tray pinion 440 disengages from the rack gear 453 to place the tray 120 in the ejecting position.

After the completion of the ejecting mode, the user places a number of CDs on the roulette 140 installed at the tray 120, and lightly pushes the tray 120 into the inner space of the chassis 100. The switching protrusion 457 switches the tray-open switch 459 to execute the tray loading mode. When the tray-open switch turns off, the electric power is provided to the drive motor 410, and then the pinion drum 400 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. The tray pinion 440 of the pinion drum 400 is engaged with the right rack gear 455, and the tray 120 is loaded into the inner space of the chassis 100. Therefore, the CD placed on the roulette 140 installed in the tray 120 is placed over the driving unit 180.

For selecting a CD, the user rotates the roulette 140, to place the selected CD on the driving unit 180. An unshown control part drives the driving motor 410 for rotating the pinion drum 400 in the counterclockwise direction. The drive pinion 430 is engaged with the rack rod 461, and then the lifting plate 463 moves in the left direction. When the lifting plate 463 moves in the left direction, the protrusions 185 of the driving unit 180 move upwardly along the lift-guiding grooves 465. When the driving unit 180 reaches the chucking position and the selected CD is chucked, a left end of the lifting plate 463 turns on the chucking switch 469, and the control part stops the operation of the driving motor 410 and the pinion drum 400. Therefore, the lifting plate 463 is completely ascended.

After the completion of the chucking mode, the driving unit 180 rotates the selected CD, and the play mode for reproducing data from the selected CD by an unshown optical pick up device.

When the user wants to change a CD placed on the roulette 140 during the play mode, the control part drives the driving motor 410 to rotate the pinion drum 400 in counterclockwise direction. According to the rotation of the pinion drum 400, the tray pinion 440 is engaged with the left rack gear 453, and then the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100. When the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100 to the predetermined position, the switching protrusion 457 formed on the right rack gear 455 switches the tray-open switch 459. The control part stops to operate the driving motor 410. After, the pinion drum 400 stop to rotate. That is, the tray 120 is prevented from over-ejecting from the chassis 100. The user then changes CD on the roulette 140 installed at the ejected tray 120, and lightly pushes the tray 120 into the inner space of the tray 120, the tray 120 is loaded into the chassis 100 as described above. Therefore, completing the CD changing mode .

Otherwise, for changing the played CD with the new CD, the control part drives the driving motor 410 to rotate in clockwise direction in order to engage the driving pinion 430 of the pinion drum 400 with the rack rod 461. That is, the lifting plate 463 moves in the right direction, and the lifting plate 463 switches the chucking switch 469. As a result the optical pick up device of the driving unit 180 does not reproduce data from the selected CD. After, according to the movement of the lifting plate 463, the driving unit 180 is descended, and the selected CD is dechucked and placed on the roulette 140. The control part rotates the roulette 140 to place the selected CD on the driving unit 180. Following, the control part drives the driving motor 410 for rotating the pinion drum 400 in the counterclockwise direction. The drive pinion 430 engages with the rack rod 461, and the lifting plate 463 is moved in the left direction. The driving unit 180 ascends to chuck the selected CD, and the left end of the lifting plate 463 switches the chucking switch 469 to stop the drive motor 410 from rotating, thus completion of the CD chucking mode. After, the optical pick up device of the driving unit 180 reproduces data from the selected CD to execute the play mode .

When the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100 after the completion of the play mode, the drive motor 410 drive the pinion drum 400 to rotate in the clockwise direction. The drive pinion 430 of the pinion drum 400 is engaged with the rack rod 461, and the lifting plate 463 moves in right direction. When the chucking switch 469 is switched, the driving unit 180 descends, and then the selected CD is placed on the roulette 140. When the pinion drum 400 continuously rotates in the clockwise direction, the tray pinion 440 of the pinion drum 400 is engaged with the right rack gear 455, and the tray 120 ejects from the chassis 100. The operating mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention operates is similar to the operating mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, for chucking the selected CD in chucking mode or for changing the selected CD to new CD in play mode, the right last tooth of the rack rod 461 contacts the driving unit locking portion 436 for resisting the restriction force of the return-spring 466. That is, the driving unit locking portion 436 prevents the return-spring 466 from returning to an initial position. When the selected CD is dechucked, the pinion drum 400 is rotated in the direction of an arrow as shown in FIG. 5A. The right end tooth of the rack rod 461 makes contact with the releasing portion 438 to return the rack rod 461 to an initial position by the restriction force of the return- spring 466.

The operating mechanism for moving the tray and the driving unit according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The ejecting mode is executed when the pinion drum 500 sets on the initial position. The control part drives the reduction gear 424 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction by the driving motor. The reduction gear 427 engaged with the reduction gear 424 is rotated in the clockwise direction, and thus the pinion drum 500 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. The teeth of the tray pinion 540 are engaged with the second feeding pinion 560, and the tray 120 start to be ejected from the chassis 100. When the tray 120 is positioned at the ejecting position, the tray opening switch 459 is turned on, and the driving motor 410 stops.

After a number of CDs place on the roulette 140 installed at the tray 120, the user lightly pushes the front face of the tray 120 into the inner space of the chassis 100. The tray-open switch 459 turns off by the switching protrusion 457, and thus the driving motor 410 rotates the pinion drum 500 in the clockwise direction. The teeth of the tray pinion 540 are engaged with the first feeding pinion 550, and the first feeding pinion 550 is engaged with the first rack gear 453. That is, the tray 120 is loaded into the inner space of the chassis 100. The roulette 140 is rotated by the CD selecting signal, and then the selected CD is placed over the driving unit 180. When the pinion drum 500 is rotated in the clockwise direction by the driving motor 410, teeth of the drive pinion 530 are engaged with the rack rod 461, and the lifting plate 463 is moved in right lateral direction. According to the movement of the lifting plate 463, the protrusions 185 respectively move along with the lift-guiding grooves 465. That is, the driving unit 180 is ascended and chucks the selected CD. When the driving unit reaches to the chucking position, the right end of the rack rod 461 switches on the chucking switch 469. The driving motor 410 stops to operate by the turn-on signal of the chucking switch 469.

In the play mode, the driving unit 180 rotates the selected CD, and the optical pick up device reproduces data from the selected CD.

When the user wants to change a CD placed on the roulette 140 during the play mode, the unshown control part drives the driving motor 410 to rotate the pinion drum 500 in the clockwise direction. The tray pinion 540 is engaged with the second feeding pinion 560, and then the second feeding pinion 560 is engaged with the second rack gear 455. Thus, the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100. When the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100 to the predetermined eject- position, the switching protrusion 457 switches the tray-open switch 459. The control part stop to operate the driving motor 410, and then the reduction gears 424, 427, and the pinion drum 500 stop to rotate. Thus, the pinion drum 500 stops to rotate, and the tray 120 is prevented from being further ejected from the chassis 100. The user changes CD on the roulette 140 installed at the ejected tray 120. When. the user lightly pushes the tray 120 into the inner space of the tray 120, the switching protrusion 457 switches the tray-open switch 459. The driving motor 410 is rotated by the switching signal of the tray-open switch 459 in the direction opposite to the rotating direction in the ejecting mode of the tray 120, and the pinion drum 500 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. The driving unit 180 ascends by the rotation of the second feeding pinion 560 engaged with the left rack gear 453. The tray 120 is loaded into the inner space of the chassis 100.

For changing the played CD with the new CD, the control part drives the driving motor 410 to rotate the pinion drum 500 engaged with the reduction gears 424, 427 in counterclockwise direction. The driving pinion 530 is engaged with the rack rod 461, and the lifting plate 463 moves in the left direction. Thus, the chucking switch 469 turns off to complete the play mode. The driving unit 180 is descended, and then the selected CD is dechucked and placed on the roulette 140. The control part rotates the roulette 140, and the selected CD is placed over the driving unit 180. After, the control part drives the driving motor 410 to rotate the pinion drum 500 in the clockwise direction. The lifting plate 463 is moved in the right direction, and the driving unit 180 ascends to chuck the selected CD. At this time, the right end of the rack rod 461 turns on the chucking switch 469 to stop the drive motor 410 from rotating. Thus, the pinion drum 500 stops to rotate, and the optical pick up device of the driving unit 180 reproduces data from the selected CD.

When the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100 after the completion of the play mode, the drive motor 410 drives the pinion drum 500 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. The drive pinion 530 of the pinion drum 500 is engaged with the rack rod 461, and the lifting plate 463 is moved in left direction. The driving unit 180 descends, and the selected CD is dechucked and is placed on the roulette 140. When the pinion drum 500 continuously rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the tray pinion 540 of the pinion drum 500 is engaged with the second feeding pinion 560, and the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100. When the tray 120 reaches the predetermined ejecting position, the switching protrusion 457 switches the tray-open switch 459. The driving motor 410 stops to operate, and then the reduction gears 424, 427 successively operating with the driving motor 410 and the pinion drum 500 stop to rotate. That is, the tray 120 is prevented from over-ejecting.

The mechanism for moving the tray and the driving unit according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The tray 120 must be ejected from the chassis 100 for placing the CD on the roulette 140. The unshown control part provides the ejecting signal to activate the driving motor 410. The pinion drum 600 is rotated by the driving motor 410 in the same direction of the driveing motor 410.

Before the pinion drum 600 starts to rotate in the ejecting mode, a dependent gear 482 of the reduction gear portion is only engaged with the power transmission pinion 630 of the pinion drum 600, and the tray feeding portion and the driving unit lifting portion are disengaged with the pinion drum 600. When the pinion drum 600 is rotated, the tray pinion 670 is engaged with the tay gear 700, and the tray gear 670 is rotated. The tray gear 700 is engaged with the rack 730 installed on one side of the rear face of the tray 120, and the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100. At this time, the dependent gear 482 and the tray gear 700 are only engaged with and are successively operated with the pinion drum 600. When the tray 120 reaches to the ejecting position, a protrusion (unshown in figures) protruding from one side of the tray 120 turns on an ejecting switch (unshown in figures) . The driving motor 410 stops to rotate by the turn-on signal of the ejecting switch provided to the control part. At the same time, the tray pinion 670 is disengaged with the tray gear 700. That is, when the driving motor 410 stops to rotate, the reduction gear portion and the pinion drum 600 stop to rotate, and then the ejecting mode is completed.

After a number of CDs are placed on the roulette 140 installed at the tray 120, when the user lightly pushes the tray 120 into the chassis 100, the ejecting switch turns off and the control part activates the driving motor 410. The driving motor 410 is rotated in the direction same as the rotating direction in the ejecting mode. The driving force of the driving motor 410 is transmitted to the dependent gear 482 via the reduction gear part. The dependent gear 482 is engaged with the power transmission pinion 630 of the pinion drum 600 for rotating the pinion drum 600. When the driving motor 410 start to operate, the tray pinion 670 is disengaged with the tray gear 700, and the reversing pinion 650 is engaged with the reversing gear 750. Because the reversing gear 750 is engaged with the tray gear 700, when the reversing gear 750 starts to rotate, the tray gear 700 is rotated in the opposite direction to the rotating direction in the ejecting mode. Thus, the tray gear 700 is engaged with the rack 730, and then the tray 120 is loaded. When the tray 120 is completely loaded, the protrusion (unshown in figures) protruding from a side of the tray 120 turns on the ejecting switch. The control part stop to drive the driving motor 410 by the turn-on signal of the ejecting switch. At the same time, the reversing pinion 650 is disengaged with the reversing gear 750 to complete the loading mode. At the completion of the loading mode, the control part is stored with initial informations corresponding to the ejecting mode and the loading mode. However, prior to executing the play mode, the ejecting mode and the loading mode as described above need to be re-established in the control part.

After the ejecting mode and the loading mode are re- established prior to initiating the play mode, the control part drives the driving motor 410 according to the ejecting signal and the loading signal, in the direction opposite to the initial rotating direction of the ejecting and loading mode. When the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100 by the opposite rotation of the driving motor 410, the reversing pinion 650 is engaged with the reversing gear 750. The reversing gear 750 is engaged with the tray gear 700, and then the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100 according to the successive operation of the tray gear 700. The user places a number of changing CD on the roulette 140. After, for loading the tray 120 the control part drives the driving motor 410 to continuously rotate in the same direction. The pinion drum 600 is rotated by the driving motor 410. The tray pinion 670 of the pinion drum 600 is engaged with the tray gear 700. The tray gear 700 is engaged with the rack 730, and then the tray 120 is loaded. As described above, the ejecting mode and the loading mode are coupled each other. Whenever the ejecting mode and the loading mode are re-established, the control part has information about the rotating direction of the driving motor 410 to guide the rotating direction of the driving motor 410 accordingly.

When the play mode is established, the ejecting switch turns off. The control part provides the play-mode signal to the drive motor 410 to rotate. The driving motor 410 rotates in the initial direction of the driving motor 410. The reduction gear part is successively rotated with the driving motor 410, and then the dependent gear 482 is engaged with the power transmission pinion 650. Thus, the pinion drum 600 is rotated in the direction same as the direction of the pinion drum 600 in the ejecting mode. At the same time, the tray pinion 670 is disengaged with the tray gear 700, and the reversing pinion 650 is also disengaged with the reversing gear 750. The drive pinion 610 starts to be engaged with the drive gear 800. According to the rotation of the drive gear 800, a guiding post 854 moves along with a guiding groove 870, and then a unit-lever 850 pivots about a pivot shaft 852. Each of first and second rods 811, 813 respectively protruding from ends of first and second lift-guiding plates 810, 830 is respectively connected to connecting holes 856 formed at both ends of the unit-lever 850. The first and second lift-guiding plates 810, 830 start to slide in both lateral direction of the driving unit 180 according to the pivot of the unit lever 850, and then the protrusions 181, 182 respectively protruding from the both side faces of the driving unit 180 start to slide upwardly along with the lift- guiding grooves 813, 833 respectively formed on the first and second lift-guiding grooves 813, 833. The lift-guiding grooves 813 are formed as letter "S", and the lift-guiding grooves 833 are formed as letter "Z". The first lift-guiding plate 810 and the second lift-guiding plate 830 are slid in opposite direction each other. Therefore, according to the pivot of the unit lever 850, the ascent of the driving unit 180 is slant toward the second lift-guiding plate 830, and chucks the selected CD.

When the driving unit 180 ascends more for being reached the selected CD to the chucking plate 160, an unshown chucking switch turns on by an unshown protrusion formed on the lifting shaft of the driving unit 180, and thus the control part stop the driving motor 410 to operate. The pinion drum 600 and the drive gear 800 stop to rotate, and then the CD chucking mode is complete. After, the unshown optical pick up device installed at the driving unit 180 reproduces data from the selected CD. At this time, because the teeth of the drive pinion 610 are at the lifting angle for disengaging from the drive gear 800 when the driving unit 180 reaches to the chucking position, the power transmission pinion 630 of the pinion drum 600 is only engaged with the dependent gear 482 during the play mode. The drive pinion 610, the reversing pinion 650, and the tray pinion 670 of the pinion drum 600 are not engaged with any members. The pinion drum 600 rotates once. That is, the pinion drum 600 returns to the initial position.

When the user wants to change the selected CD into new CD during the play mode, the unshown control part establishes the ejecting mode. The chucking switch turns off, and the driving motor 410 starts to rotate again. At this time, because the pinion drum 600 is at the initial position, the driving motor 410 is rotated in the direction same as the initial ejecting mode. The dependent gear 482 successively operated by the driving motor 410 rotates the pinion drum 600. Therefore, the tray 120 is ejected from the chassis 100 as described above.

As the drive pinion 610 of the pinion drum 600 is disengaged with the drive gear 800 when the ejecting mode is established during the play mode, data is continuously reproduced from the selected CD in spite of ejecting the tray. That is, the ejecting mode and the loading mode are executed during the play mode as the same manner of the initial ejecting and loading mode, and a CD placed on the roulette 140 is changeable during the reproduction of data. When the user stop to operate in play mode, the control part drives the driving motor 410 to operate in the opposite direction. According to the reversed rotation of the driving motor 410, the rotating direction of the dependent gear 482 is reversed, and the rotation direction of the pinion drum 600 is also reversed. The drive pinion 610 starts to be engaged with the drive gear 800 by the reversing rotation of the pinion drum 600. At this time, the guiding post 854 moves along with the guiding groove 870, and the unit lever 850 pivots in reverse direction of the play mode. The lift- guiding plates 810, 830 are slid along both sides of the driving unit 180 in reverse direction of the play mode by the pivot of the unit lever 850. The connecting protrusions 181, 182 are respectively descended along the lift-guiding grooves 813, 833, and then the driving unit 180 moves downwardly. When the driving unit 180 reaches to a lower position, the chucking switch turns off. The control part stops the driving motor 410 to operate, and thus the pinion drum 600 and the drive gear 800 also stop to rotate, and the descent of the driving unit is established to complete the play mode.

During this time, because the teeth of the drive pinion 610 is disengaged with the drive gear 800 when the driving unit 180 moves upwardly to the chucking position, the power transmission pinion 630 of the pinion drum 600 is only engaged with the dependent gear 482 of the reduction gear part. The drive pinion 610, the reversing pinion 650, and the tray pinion 670 of the pinion drum 600 are not engaged with any members. The pinion drum 600 rotates twice. That is, the pinion drum 600 returns to the initial position after the ejecting mode, the loading mode, and at the completion of the play mode .

Under this condition, when the ejecting mode and the loading mode are re-established, the rotating direction of the driving motor 410 is different from the rotating direction thereof in the initial play mode. That is, the rotating direction of the driving motor 410 is same as the rotating direction thereof in the second ejecting and loading mode .

During the ejecting mode and the loading mode executed after the first play mode is complete, the driving motor 410 reverses. The pinion drum 600 is returned to the initial position thereof after the ejecting and loading mode is completed. Because the tray-open switch turns on at each mode, the driving motor 410 reverses.

As described above, the driving motor 410 and the pinion drum 600 are initialized after each mode is complete. The mechanism for moving the tray and the driving unit achieves the change of the unselected CD placed on the roulette by ejecting the tray 120, while the data is being simultaneously reproduced from the selected CD.

With the above-mentioned mechanism for moving the tray and the driving unit thereof, a single motor drives the tray to eject from and to load into the chassis and the driving unit to ascend and to descend. Therefore, the mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to the present invention prevents a disk player from complex vibrating caused by use of two motors and achieves low manufacturing cost.

Further, the mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit by a single motor according to the embodiments of the present invention has a rack gear formed at the rear face of the tray. The rack gear is engaged with the tray pinion of the pinion drum rotated by the driving motor. The pinion drum has a drive pinion formed at rear face of the tray pinion and for engaging with the driving unit. The drive pinion is engaged with the rack rod to ascend and descend the driving unit. That is, the pinion drum is rotated by a single motor, and then the tray pinion is engaged with the rack gear. Thus, the tray is ejected from the chassis or is loaded from the chassis. The drive pinion is engaged with the rack rod, and the driving unit ascends or descends. Therefore, the CD is chucked or dechucked.

As a result, CD chucking mechanism is simple in structure, reducing the number of constituent member and assembling steps, to achive a low manufacturing cost.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor comprising: a driving motor installed at a chassis and for providing a feeding power to the tray to eject or load and for providing a lifting power to the driving unit to ascend or descend; a pinion drum for being rotated by the driving motor and having a power transmission part for propagating the power from the driving motor, a driving pinion formed at an upper side of the driving transmission part and having teeth with a length corresponding to a lifting angle y proportional to an ascending distance for lifting the driving unit, and a tray pinion formed at an upper side of the driving pinion and having teeth with a length corresponding to a feeding angle ╬▓ proportional to a loading distance of the tray; a tray feeding part engaged with the tray pinion and for ejecting or loading the tray from the chassis according to the rotation of the pinion drum; and a driving unit lifting part having one side engaged with the driving pinion and the other side movably contacted to the driving unit and for lifting the driving unit when the pinion drum is rotated.

2. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving-teeth formed at a lifting angle y and the tray gear teeth formed at a feeding angle ╬▓ lie in piles as equal to a lifting angle y .

3. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tray feeding part comprises: a first and second rack gears formed with a predetermined length at a rear face of the tray for engaging with the tray pinion; a switching protrusion protruding from the rear face of the second rack gear; and a switch for detecting the tray to arrive at an open position in the ejecting mode.

4. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving unit lifting part comprises: a rack rod engaged with the drive pinion; a lifting plate having lifting-guide grooves for providing a lifting path of the driving unit by engaging with protrusions protruding from the driving unit; and a switch mounted at a predetermined position, in the moving direction of the lifting plate, on the chassis and for detecting the driving unit to arrive at a chucking position.

5. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving power transmission part is a pulley connected with the driving motor by a belt.

6. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving power transmission part is a power transmission pinion engaged with the driving motor via reduction gear part .

7. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive pinion comprises: a driving unit locking portion successively formed with a last tooth of a drive teeth and having a radius same as a radius of an addendum circle of the drive teeth at a straight angle; and a releasing portion successively formed with the driving unit locking portion and having a radius same as a radius of a deddendum circle of the drive teeth.

8. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rack rod returns to an initial position by a return- spring having one end fixed at the chassis and the other end fixed at the rack rod.

9. A mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor comprising: a driving motor installed at a chassis and for providing a feeding power to a tray to eject or to load and for providing a lifting power to a driving unit to ascend or to descend; a pinion drum having a power transmission pinion for engaging with the driving motor by reduction-gears, a driving pinion formed at an upper face of the power transmission pinion and having teeth with a length corresponding to a lifting angle proportional to an ascending distance for lifting the driving unit, and a tray pinion formed at an upper face of the driving pinion and having teeth, with a length corresponding to a feeding angle proportional to a loading distance of the tray, separately formed and spaced apart from a drive teeth by a predetermined angle ╬╕; a tray feeding part having a first and second feeding pinions mounted at both sides of the pinion drum for engaging with the tray pinion and rack gears mounted at a rear face of the tray for respectively engaging with the feeding pinions; and a driving unit lifting part having a rack rod engaged with the driving pinion, a lifting plate having lifting-guide grooves for providing lifting paths of the driving unit by engaging with protrusions protruding from the driving unit and for fixing the rack rod thereon, and a switch mounted at a predetermined position, in a moving direction of the lifting plate, on the chassis and for detecting the driving unit to arrive at a chucking position and for providing the control signal to the driving motor.

10. A mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor comprising: a driving motor installed at a chassis and for providing a feeding power to the tray to eject or load and for providing a lifting power to the driving unit to ascend or descend; a pinion drum having a driving pinion having teeth with a length corresponding to a lifting angle proportional to an ascending distance for lifting a driving unit, a power transmission pinion formed at an upper face of the driving pinion and connected to the driving motor by reduction-gears, a reversing pinion formed at an upper face of the power transmission pinion and having teeth with a length corresponding to a loading angle proportional to a loading distance of the tray, and a tray pinion formed at an upper face of the reversing pinion and having teeth with a length corresponding to an ejecting angle proportional to an ejecting distance of the tray; a tray feeding part engaged between the tray pinion^ and a rack formed at a rear face of the tray and for ejecting or loading the tray from the chassis according to the rotation of the pinion drum; and a driving unit lifting part engaged with the driving pinion of the pinion drum and for lifting the driving unit according to the rotation of the pinion drum.

11. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tray feeding part comprises: a tray gear engaging between the tray pinion and the rack and for ejecting the tray from the chassis and for loading the tray into the chassis; and a reversing gear engaging between the reversing pinion and the tray gear after the tray gear disengages with the tray pinion and for loading the tray into the chassis and for ejecting the tray from the chassis.

12. The mechanism for moving a tray and a driving unit of disk players by a single motor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the driving unit lifting part comprises: lift-guiding plates respectively connected to both sides of the driving unit and for providing a lift path to the driving unit; an unit-lever pivotally mounted at the chassis and having both ends respectively connected with the lift-guiding plates and a guiding post protruding from an upper face of the unit- lever; and a driving-gear having a guiding groove for providing a moving path of the guiding post and teeth engaged with the driving pinion.