WO1996037889A1

WO1996037889A1 - Cd-exchanger unit

Info

Publication number: WO1996037889A1
Application number: PCT/DE1996/000886
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelm Menke; Börge HEIDERSBERGER; Horst Niederlein; Rolf Stühler; Manfred Zimmer
Original assignee: Nsm Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 1995-05-26
Filing date: 1996-05-14
Publication date: 1996-11-28
Also published as: JPH11511887A; DE19519343A1; EP0829083A1

Abstract

A CD exchanger unit has at least one exchangeable disk magazine (15) that contains the compact disks in superimposed reception compartments (17), at least one disk drive (16) for reading or writing information on the compact disks, a conveyor capable of moving up and down between the disk magazine (15) and the disk drive (16) to transport a disk holder (12) of the disk magazine (15), a disk loading/unloading drawer (20) associated to a loading/unloading shaft (11) for the disk holder (12), operating means (5) and optionally a computer unit (22) for controlling the operation of the CD exchanger unit. In order to connect the CD exchanger unit to data processing or computer equipment, at least the disk magazine (15), disk drive (16) with associated conveyor (19), disk loading/unloading drawer (20) and operating means (5) are housed in a common, modular tower (1) that can be connected to data processing or computer equipment, the operating means (5) being arranged at the narrow front side (4) of the tower (1).

Description

CD disc changer unit

description

The invention relates to a CD-disk changer unit with at least one interchangeable disk magazine containing the CD disks in superimposed compartments, at least one drive for reading or writing information from or onto CD disks, one between the disk magazine and drive up and down transportable transport device for a disc holder of the disc magazine receiving the CD disc, a plate loading / output drawer to which an input / output slot for the disc holder is assigned, an operating device and optionally one Computer unit for controlling the operating sequence of the CD disc changer unit.

CD-disc changer units as such are already known as separate device units. CD changer units of this type are mostly used in the field of entertainment electronics, the large number of manufacturers of such devices being different Use the designs and dimensions of the housings of these CD disc changer units. The purely structural dimensions of the respective housing are individually designed or, as a rule, can only be connected to or compatible with an associated system, for example a stereo music system.

It is known from the field of data processing or computer systems to use tower housings in which, among other things, floppy disk drives, interface cards, printed circuit board inserts and hard disks are housed, as well as a CD-ROM drive for reading out or writing in information from or onto the CD disks. CD-disk changer units have not been used in such data processing or computer systems.

Also known are disk players, in particular for CD disks, which have at least one interchangeable disk magazine containing CD disks in stacked compartments, the disk magazines being inserted in a drawer-like manner in a housing. For example, EP-B1-0 439 483 discloses a CD disc player with two mutually opposite, interchangeable disc magazines which are equipped with disc holders mounted in horizontal receiving compartments and each holding a CD disc. A transport device which can be moved in the stacking direction of the disc magazines transports a desired CD disc with the associated disc holder between the receiving compartment of the respective record magazine and a playback unit back and forth.

Furthermore, DE-Al-39 31 715 shows a disk player with an exchangeable disk magazine which contains disks stored in superimposed storage compartments. The position of the disk magazine inserted into the housing of the disk player in a drawer-like manner is determined by a locking device in the housing.

These known CD disk players cannot be combined with and compatible with a data processing or computer system.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a CD-disk changer unit which can be combined or integrated in the form of a modular construction with a data processing or computer system and can be used together with it in a compatible manner as a data processing system .

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that at least the disk magazine, the drive, the associated transport device, the disk loading / unloading drawer and the operating device are accommodated in a common tower housing, which has a modular design for connection to data processing or computer systems is formed and which has the operating device on its front narrow side.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, three disk magazines are preferably provided in the housing, which are arranged side by side and / or one above the other, drives being assigned to the disk magazines, the number of which corresponds at least to the number of disk magazines. By providing several disk magazines and drives, the inner volume of the tower housing is optimally utilized and, in addition, an enormously high information storage and playback potential is created, which offers a high degree of flexibility and many functional possibilities of the CD disk changer unit in connection with a Data processing or computer system permitted.

The computer unit for controlling the operating sequence of the CD-disk changer unit is preferably accommodated in the lower part of the tower housing and below the disk magazines, provided that a separate integrated computer unit is provided for the CD-disk changer unit. This computer unit is functionally connected to the operating device on the to housing.

Furthermore, an interface device is provided in the upper part of the tower housing, which is used to connect or network the CD-disk changer unit with data processing or computer systems. This is a data exchange or a mutual control possible between the CD disc changer unit and the corresponding data processing or computer system.

The plate loading / output drawer with the associated input / output slot for the CD disks is expediently arranged behind the front narrow side of the tower housing in order to ensure optimum access to the input / output slot.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a mass storage disk can be provided in the upper or lower part of the tower housing for storage purposes.

In order to replace the disk magazines and drives and to be able to carry out repair and maintenance work on the CD-disk changer unit if necessary, the tower housing has at least one side opening flap, which is preferably hinged to the side edges of the tower housing Double door is formed.

It is particularly important that the dimensions of the module housing designed as a module correspond to that of the data processing or computer system in order to form a structural unit. As a result, a modular system is achieved by means of the CD-disk changer unit and the associated data processing or computer system, so that existing data processing or computer systems are another important component in the form of a CD-disk changer unit can be added. In another embodiment of the invention, the control of the operating sequence of the CD-disk changer unit can be carried out by the computer unit of the data processing or computer system assigned to it. This makes it possible to dispense with a separate computing unit accommodated in the tower housing of the CD-disk changer unit, since its functions are controlled via the central computer module of the data processing or computer system.

The present invention further relates to the use of a CD disk changer unit designed in a tower housing, with the proviso that it can be connected as an add-on module to a data processing or computer system, the interface of the CD disks -Changer unit is connected to a corresponding interface of the data processing or computer system.

Due to the design and use of the CD disc changer unit according to the invention, this can now be used with a data processing system. Thus, the tower housing of the CD-disk changer unit is combined with the tower housing of a data processing or computer system, so that a modular construction is created in which the tower housing of the CD-disk changer unit with this system is combined. The size and dimension of the housing of the CD disc changer unit according to the present invention now corresponds to the size and dimension. measurements of the generally standardized tower housings of data processing or computer systems. The CD disc changer unit and its operating sequence can be fully integrated into the data processing or computer system and accessed. The CD processing unit can be controlled by the associated data processing or computer system. Data can be transferred and exchanged from the CD disk changer unit to the data processing or computer system and vice versa, since the CD disk changer unit according to the invention is connected to the data processing or computer system with the interface device attached to the tower housing .

Of course, it is also possible in the same way to combine a plurality of CD disk changer units provided with a tower housing and to connect them to the data processing or computer system.

As mentioned, the size of the tower housing is suitable for accommodating several disk magazines and drives. In addition, provision can be made for further disk magazines and drives to be accommodated in the tower housing by providing prepositioned holding devices in the housing for accommodating these assemblies. Of course, a complete exchange of plate magazines can also be carried out. In the The plate magazines mounted on the plate magazines are fixed in their position by a corresponding constructive construction of the plate magazines in such a way that even when the CD-disc changer unit is inclined up to 35 °, the plate magazines do not slide out of the plate magazines.

A further advantage is the attachment of the operating device on the front narrow side of the tower housing, as is the case with data processing or computer systems. In the usual way, the operating device consists of a keyboard which can be used to control the operating sequence, such as changing plates, changing magazines, etc.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The idea on which the invention is based is explained in more detail in the following description using an exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

Fig. 1: a front view of a CD disc changer unit according to the invention and Fig. 2: a side view of the CD-disc changer unit according to Fig. 1 with its internal structure.

1 and 2 show the CD-disk changer unit which has a tower housing 1 with a double door 2 hinged to the side edges of the tower housing 1. The double door 2 can be designed to be removable and is necessary to make the tower housing 1 accessible in order to make it easier to replace modules and, moreover, to enable repair and maintenance work. The tower housing 1 rests at its four lower corner points on height-adjustable feet 3, which can be readjusted if necessary to compensate for any unevenness in the floor.

1, an operating device 5 is initially provided on the narrow side 4 of the tower housing 1. This operating device 5 contains, as an essential component, a program keypad 6, which consists of a matrix of buttons which is used to program the operating sequence of the CD-disk changer unit. Furthermore, the operating device 5 contains function displays 7 for displaying the respective operating states. In addition, a display 8 is provided in the operating device 5, which can, for example, visually represent the respective program sequence of the CD-disc changer unit.

The power switch 9 for switching the CD disk on and off is located below the operating device 5. Changer unit and a lock 10 to prevent unauthorized access to the device.

Above the operating device 5 there is an input / output shaft 11 for a disc holder 12, which injects a CD disc. Furthermore, in the upper part 13 of the tower housing 1 there is an interface or an interface plug 14, into which an interface cable, not shown, can be inserted, which in turn can be connected to a data processing or computer system, also not shown, around the CD To connect a plate changer unit to such a data processing or computer system.

The further construction of the CD disc changer unit will now be explained further with reference to FIG. 2. Two interchangeable, interchangeable plate magazines 15 are arranged laterally in the lower region of the tower housing 1. A further interchangeable plate magazine 15 is located above the left plate magazine 15, while a tower of four interchangeable drives 16 is provided above the right plate magazine 15. These drives 16 are used to read or write information from or onto a CD disk. The disc magazines 15, which are constructed identically to one another, each have a multiplicity of receiving compartments 17 arranged one above the other for the storage of a corresponding number of disc holders 12 each receiving a CD disc. Furthermore owns each plate magazine 15 indicated handle elements 18, with which the exchange of Platten¬ magazine 15 is facilitated.

In the space between the disk magazines 15 and the drives 16 there is a transport device 19 which can be moved up and down for the disk holder 12 which holds a CD disk and which detects the respective disk holder 12. Above the two left-hand plate magazines 15 there is a plate loading / output drawer 20 to which the input / output slot 11 for a plate holder 12 provided on the narrow side 4 of the tower housing 1 is assigned. This plate loading / output drawer 20 can also be operated by the transport device 19. All functions of the CD-disk changer unit are controlled via an internal computer unit 22 which is arranged in the lower part 21 of the tower housing 1 and which is connected to the operating device 5 attached to the narrow side 4 of the tower housing 1.

A mass storage device in the form of a hard disk 23 is also provided in the upper part 13 and can be used as an additional data storage device.

The present invention has created a modular CD-changer unit in the form of a tower housing which can be connected to and is compatible with a data processing or computer system, so that this CD-changer unit is completely in Such a system can be integrated, an exchange of data between the CD-disk changer unit and the data processing or computer system being made possible.

Claims

claims

1. CD-disk changer unit with at least one interchangeable disk magazine containing the CD disks in superimposed storage compartments, at least one drive for reading or writing information from or onto CD disks, one Transport device which can be moved up and down between the plate magazine and the drive for a plate holder of the plate magazine receiving the CD plate, a plate loading / output drawer to which an input / output slot for the plate holder is assigned, an operating device and, if appropriate, a computer unit Control of the operating sequence of the CD-disk changer unit, characterized in that at least the disk magazine (15), the drive (16), the associated transport device (19), the disk loading / unloading drawer (20) and the Operating device (5) are housed in a common tower housing (1), which has a modular design for connection to data processing or C Computer systems is formed and which has the control device (5) on its front narrow side (4).

2. CD-disc changer unit according to claim 1, characterized in that in the tower housing (1) preferably three disc magazines (15) are provided, the side- are arranged one above the other and / or one above the other, drives (16) being assigned to the disk magazines (15), the number of which corresponds at least to the number of disk magazines (15).

3. CD disc changer unit according to claims 1 and

2, characterized in that the computer unit

(22) for controlling the operating sequence of the CD-disk changer unit in the lower part (21) of the to¬ housing (1) and below the disk magazines

(15) is housed.

4. CD-disc changer unit according to claims 1 to

3, characterized in that in the upper part (13) of the tower housing (1) an interface device (14) is provided, which for connecting or networking the CD-disk changer unit with data processing or Computer equipment is used.

5. CD-disc changer unit according to claims 1 to

4, characterized in that the plate loading / output drawer (20) with the associated input / output slot (11) behind the front narrow side

(4) the tower housing (1) is arranged.

6. CD-disc changer unit according to claims 1 to

5, characterized in that in the upper or lower part of the tower housing (1) a mass storage disk

(23) is provided.

7. CD-disc changer unit according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tower housing (1) has at least one side opening flap.

8. CD-Disc changing unit according to claim 7, characterized in that _r the lateral opening flap is designed as at the side edges of the tower housing (1) hinged double door (2).

9. CD disc changer unit according to claims 1 to

8, characterized. that the tower housing (1) designed as a module corresponds in its dimensions to that of the data processing or computer system in order to form a structural unit.

10. CD disc changer unit according to claims 1 to

9, characterized in that the control of the operational sequence of the CD-disk changer unit can be carried out by the computer unit of the data processing or computer system assigned to it.

11. Use of a CD disc changer unit formed in a tower housing according to claims 1 to

10, with the proviso that it can be connected as an add-on module to a data processing or computer system, the interface of the CD-disc changer unit having a a corresponding interface of the data processing or computer system is connected.