AU595206B2 - Apparatus for providing access to a disk - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE 595206 Class: int. Class: Application Number: 69 7O/6.

Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct foi printing.

Priority: Related Art: 4- Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: 9 44 4 4 I #4 9, 4 4 #4 41 4 4 14 4 94 44 91 449 4~ 4 hh 4qaiS AOWS kAr qVCj 984-00-34-+eh-Avenue-Sau-th, Coelordo Wf^ Maoeo e -55440,

U.S.A.

MARVIN BENJAMIN DAVIS DAVIES COLLISON, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Complete specification for the invention entitled: "APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO A DISK" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- Page 1A follows i e -1A- APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO A DISK This invention relates to apparatus for providing access to disks, e.g. optical disks enclosed in cartridges adapted for insertion into and removal from optical disk drives. The cartridge reduces disk contamination and damage during storage and handling, and further facilitates convenient yet accurate loading and removal of the disk into and out of the drive.

Typically an optical disk drive includes means for directing a laser beam onto the surface of an optical disk for writing and reading information. Thus it is necessary to provide an S 10 access window in a cartridge housing the disk through which window the laser beam can reach the disk. The access window should be closed whenever the cartridge is removed from the drive, and to achieve this end, the prior art disclosed spring biased panels.

When the cartridge is inserted into the disk drive, a probe enters the cartridge through a probe opening, contacts the panel, and moves it against the spring force to open the window. When the cartridge is removed, the panel responds to the spring force t, to close the window. This arrangement is shown in U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,412,260 showing a probe entering a cartridge 20 through a cavity to open a panet. U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,185,314 discloses a slidable shutter similarly responding to a pin. U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,358,£01 shows doors moved by pivotally mounted levers, pivoted when their ends contact a ridge provided in the disk drive.

Whilst these prior art arrangements function satisfactorily under most conditions, they require an opening in the cartridge which permits entry of dust and other foreign matter that may damage the disk. Further, these arrangements are structured such that the spring which biases the panel to closure also urges the cartridge away from the disx drive. This biasing, whilO it can be overcome by separate cartridge retaining means, car interfere with accurate cartridge positioning.

-2 1 The present invention seeks to provide apparatus for 2 providing access to a disk with a simple and reliable means 3 for automatically opening a cartridge access window as the cartridge is loaded. It further seeks to provide apparatus where the window is maintained open whilst the cart,idge is 6 loaded in a disk drive, without thereby creating a residual 7 spring force tending to eject the cartridge. Moreover, the 8 present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for opening 9 a cartridge aciess window without utilising a drive -wounted probe and a cartridge opening necessary to accommodate such 11 probe.

12 According to one aspect of the present invention there 13 is provided a disk cartridge including a casing, a disk 14 inside the casing, an access window in said casing; at least one panel mounted to said casing for movement between an 1G open position in which the window is uncovered by the at 17 least one panel to allow access to said disk through said 18 window, and a closed position in which the window is closed 19 by the at least one panel substantially to prevent such access, each panel including a detent accessible from 21 outside of said cartridge; a disk drive housing including 22 support means for receiving and guiding said cartridge 23 during insertion into the housing; and a panel actuator link *24 associated with the or each panel, the or each said link 25 being m'ounted to said support means for movement between 26 first and second linking points, the arrantem-it being such 27 that the or each said link, when at its f irst linking point, 28 is positioned? releasably to engage an associated detent as 29 the cartridge is inserted and, responsive to further insertion after said link and detent engage, to travel from 4 ~~31 its first linking point towards its second linking point and 32 thereby move the respective panel from, the closed position 33 to the open position.

34 The apparatus may include biasing means for urging the or each panel towards the closed position. The biasing 36 mear, s may comprise a wire spring mounted to the cartridge 37 and contactIng the or a respective panel.

38 89122.gcpdat.010, 58709 .c,2 -Al -_I1Di~ ll -DI L--LYII~IX.

3 1 The apparatus preferably includes a door and a wing 2 attached thereto and carrying said detent, an elongate 3 opening being provided in said casing through which the or 4 one of the links engages said detent.

Said cartridge may be inserted into the housing 6 linearly in a longitudinal direction, the or each said panel 7 moving between its open and closed positions, with respect 8 to the cartridge, in a generally transverse direction. Said 9 elongate opening preferably extends in said transverse direction, an elongate groove being provided adjacent said 11 elongate opening and extending therefrom to one edge of said 12 cartridge in the longitudinal direction, said groove 13 confining and guiding the or ne of the links to engagement 14 with said detent as the cartridge is inserted into the housing.

i 16 The apparatus may include an elongate channel in said j 17 casing for confining the or each wing to sliding movement 18 with respect to said cartridge.

i 19 The apparatus may further include means for retaining the or each wing in the respective channel.

21 Preferably the or each link is pivotally mounted to S22 said support means and includes, at a location remote from 23 the location of pivotal mounting, a column for rele'sably 24 engaging said detent.

The or each link may be mounted on the opposite side of j 26 the support means from said cartridge, said column extending i 27 towards said cartridge through an arcuate slot formed in 28 said support means.

29 The apparatus may include a torsion spring for urging X 30 the or each link towards its first linking point.

31 According to a further aspect of the present invention 32 there is provided an optical disk cartridge including a 33 casing, an optical disk inside the casing, and an access 34 window in said casing; two opposed panels mounted to said casing for movement between an open position in which the 36 window is uncovered by the two panels to allow access to 37 said disk through said window, and a closed position in S38 89122,g9pdttO0, 58709.c,3

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I7 m- I 4which the window is covered by the two panels wherein the panels contact one another and prevent such access, each panel including a detent accessible from outside of said cartridge; an optical disk drive housing including support means for receiving and guiding said cartridge as the cartridge is loaded into the housing; and two panel actuator links, one associated with each panel, each said link being mounted to said support means for movement between first and second linking points, the arrangement being such that said links, when at their first linking points, are each positioned releasably to engage an associated one of said detents as the cartridge is inserted and responsive to further insertion after the links and detents engage, to travel from their first linking points toward their second linking points and thereby move said panels from the closed position to the open position.

Said housing may include a rotatable spindle, and said disk includes a hub adapted drivingly to engage said spindle, said links being mounted to said support means such that said hub is substantially aligned for engagement with said spindle when said links are at their second linking points.

One preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention provides direct laser access to the disk surface when the cartridge is loaded into the disk drive, yet protects the disk from dust or other foreign matter, and protects the operator in the event of a broken disk when the cartridge is removed from the disk drive. Because each wing carries a detent accessible from outside the cartridge, there is no need to provide a probe access cavity in the cartridge casing, eliminating the possibility of dust and other foreign matter entering such cavity. Further, with the panel travelling in the generally transverse direction, each panel actuator link can be positioned such that the panel closing spring forces act in the transverse direction when the disk is loaded. This virtually eliminates longitudinal forces tending to eject the cartridge from the E t

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891220,gcpdat. 010, 56709,c, 4 4a 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 drive.

The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a bottom view of an optical disk cartridge of apparatus according to the present invention for providing access to an optical disk; Figure 2 is a top view of a bottom section of the disk cartridge of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; 891220, gCPdat -O10, 58709. C, W7 Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a top view showing a panel of the cartridge of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view of the panel of Figure Figure 7 is a top view of apparatus according to the present invention for providing access to a disk; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7; and iS Figures 9 to 11 are schematic views illustrating operation of panel opening apparatus of the apparatus of Figure 7 as the cartridge is inserted.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 an optical disk cartridge 16 including a top section 18 and a bottom i 15 section 20. The cartridge has a front edge 22 which is the leading edge as the cartridge is inserted into an optical disk drive.

SThe cartridge further includes first, second and third side edges 24,26,28.

Enclosed in the cartridge 16 is an optical disk 30 which has a hub 32 adapted for driving engagement with a rotatable spindle i housed in the optical disk drive. By rotating the disk 30 with the spindle, and further by directing a laser beam to a selected radial location on the disk surface, optical information on the disk sturface may be selectively written and read.

L 25 The laser beam, generated in the optical disk drive, reaches i the disk surface through an access window 33 in tize bottom section i When the cartridge 16 is not loaded into the optical disk drive, first and second panels 34,36 keep the access window closed. As i the cartridge 16 is loaded into the optical disk drive, panel actuator links move relative to the cartridge in first and second tracks 38,40 in the bottom section, engage the panels, and open them during the remainder of insertion.

Figure 2 shows part of the inside of the bottom section 2d, revealing the panels and their cooperating structure in greater detail. The first panel 34 includes an elongate first door 42 orientated in a longitudinal direction. A first wing 44 extends generally transversely, but slightly inclined from the normal with respect to the door 42. Mo~unted to the wing 44 (see Figure is a U-shaped first detent 46. First forward and rearward notches 48,50 are formed in opposite sides of the wing. Finally, the panel 34 includes a first bracket 52 extended outwardly from the door 42.

The second panel 36 is substantially identical to the first panel 34, and includes a second door 56 from which extends a second wing 58 in a generally transverse direction. .The second wing 58 includes a second detent 60, and has second forward and rearward notches 62,64 formed in its' opposite sides. A second bracket 66 extends outwardly from the door 56.

IMounted in a collar 68 of the bottom section 20 is a wire spring 70. A first spring section 72 of the spring 70 extends to the door 42 and is held between 'x:wing 44 and the bracket U 52. Similarly, a second spring section 74 of the spring 70 extends to the second door 56 and is mai.,rt ned between the bracket 66 Iand the wing 58. Spring sections continually bias their associa\ted panels toward the closed pov. tion.

For guiding reciprocal motion of ie first panel 34, a first c'annel 76 (Figure 4) is formed in the bottom section 20 1)Ptween a first channel wall 78 and a f irst channel rib 80. A portion of ii the first ing 44 is broken away to reveal the bottom of the channel, in which is formed the first inclined slot 82. A first groove (Figure 3) is 'Formed in the bottom section and extends in the I longitudinal dircction. The inclined slot 82 and the groove 84 125 combine to form the first track 38.

Opposed first forward and first rearward retainers 86,88 are provided at the first channel rib 80 and the wall 78, respectively.

They cooperate to form an opening slightly wider than the thickness of the first wing 44, thus to restrict the wing to sliding movement within the f irst channel 76.i Suf ficient outward travel of the wing 44 aligns the notches 48,50 with the retainers 86,88, to ease assembly and permit removal of the panel 34 if desired. Also serving to confine movement of the panel 34 isa first door guide rib The second panel 54 similarly is confined to reciprocal sliding movement by a second channel 92 having a second channel wall 94 and a second channel rib 96. A second inclined slot 98 (Figure 1) -7and a second groove 100 combine to form the escond track 40. Opposed second forward and rearward retainers 102,104 maintain the second wina 58 in the second channel. The movement of the second panel 54 also is guided by a second door guide rib 106.

Doors 42,56 ar-i opened by sliding them in substantially opposite directions against tl,. force of the spring 70. Broken lines at 56a 4 show the position of the inner edge of the second door 56 when the door is opened. The second spring section 74 is represented in broken lines at 74a to show its elastic deformation in response to the opening of the door. Further broken lines at 58a illustrate the open position for the outer edge of the second wing 58.

Figures 5 and 6 show the first panel 34 removed from the I cartridge 16. The first detent 46 includes a U-shaped detent wall 108 extending upwardly from the wing 44, and a detent top 110. The detent 46 is open in the forwardi direction and at the bottom, and is adapted releasably to engage a panel actuator link mounted in the optical disk drive, as is later explained. The zecond panel 54 is substantially identical to the first panel.

Figcure 6 also shows a spring retaining cavity 112 between the first bracket 52 and the wing 44 where the outward end of the first spring section 72 is ret.~ined. An upper ledje 114 of the first door 42 and a corresponding lower e,-ge of the second door 56 (not shown) permit the doors to dovotail when closed.

j igure 7 shows in top plan view an optical disk drive 116 into which the cartridge 16 may be inserted for operation. The I optical disk drive 116 has a housing including first second and third side walls 118,120,122. The bousing also includes a support means or platform 124 which receives the cartridge and guides it as it is loaded into the housing. Altei~oatively, the support means can be two cartridge guides on opposite sides of the optical disk drive 116. Not shown is a top wall, parallel and spaced from the platform 124. The cartridge 16 is loaded into the optical disk drive 116 through an openihg normally closed by a drive door 126. The drive door is mounted to the housing through a first arm 128 pivoted to the first side wall 118 and a second arm 132 pivoted to the second side wall 120.

The optical disk drive 116 includes a rotatable spindle 136 which engages the hub 32 through -an aperture 138 in the platform -When the cartridge is loaded the optical disk drive. The drive further includes a laser source 134 which diirects a laser beam through the aperture 138, th'eough the access window 33 and onto 4 the surface of the disk 3G.

The optical disk drive 116 has a door opening mechanism for allowing laser beam passage through the access window 33. A first arcuate track or slot 140 is formed in the platform 124 between the spindle 136 and the third side wall 122. Also between the spindle and the side wall 122 is a first panel actuator link 142, mounted pivotally with, respect to the platform 124 at a fir.-, pivot 144. A first column 146, mounted to the end of the link 122 remote from the pivot 144, travels in the slot 140 between first and second linking points as the link pivots. The link 142 is continually biased clockwise as viewed in Figure 7, i.e. away from its second linking point and towards its first linking point. The biasing is achieved by a torsion spring 147 (Figure having orwe end bearing against the link 142 and its other end bearing against 4 20 a tab 148 projected from the platform 124.

Opposite the first slot 140 is a second arcuate track or slot 150. A second panel actuator link 152 is attached to the platform 124at seondpiot 54 or ivtal mo~inntwith respect to the platform. A second column 156, extending upwardly through the slot 150 above the platform, is moved between first andsecond linking points as the link 152 pivots. The first linking point for the link 152 Is shown in broken lines at 152, with the second linking point at 152a. The first and second linking points of the link 142 are opposed to, but have substantially identical longitudinal locations as, those of the link 152. The link 152, like the, link 142, is biased towards its first linking point by a torsion spring. When the support means includes the opposed cartridge guides, one of.the links 142,152 is mounted to a respective guide.

Figures 9 to 11 schematically illustrate the operation of the apparatus. Whilst only the first column 146 and portions of the -9first panel 34 are shown, it should be recognised that columns 146,156, and panels 42,54, move in concert as the cartridge 16 is loaded into the optical disk drive 116.

The cartridge 16 is inserted linearly, in the longitudinal direction. Figure 9 depicts the column 146 with the link 142 at its first linking point. The column is substantially aligned with the first groove 84 as the cartridge 16 is inserted in the direction of the arrow. The second groove 100 and the second column 156 are similarly aligned. A widened forward portion of the groove 84 ensures that the first column 146 will be captured in the groove as the cartridge is inserted.

Continued loading of the cartridge 16 eventually moves the first detent 46 into releasable engagement with the first column 146 as shown in Figure 10. Simultaneously, the second colum, 156 and the second detent 60 become engaged. The cartridge is not yet fully loaded, and from the Figures it is seen that any further insertion of the cartridge 16 in the direction of the Sarrow requires movement of the first detent 46 and the first column 146.

Travel from the position shown in Figure 10 to that shown Ii in Figure 11 involves a combination of movements: first, the detent 46 acts upon the first column 146 causing the link 142 to pivot, thus causing the first column to trace an arcuate path in the slot 140; also, the first column 146, as it travels, forces the detent 46 downwards and to the left as viewed in Figure 11. With respect to the cartridge 16, the detent 46 moves in the direction of the inclined arrow in Figure 11. In similar fashion, the second column 156 is moved by the second detent 60, and in turn moves the second detent. Whilst the first column 146 in Figure 11 abuts the lower end of the first slot 140 at its second linking point, such point need be only proximate the lower end.

When the cartridge is loaded, the hub 32 preferably is substantially aligned for engagement with the spindle 13o. Following cartridge insertion, the platform 124 then is lowered to lower the cartridge 16, bringing the hub 32 into engagement with the spindle.

i 4 This arrangement enhances the hub/spindle alignment, in that it minimises the residual forces tending to eject the cartridge 16 immediately after loading. The panel-closing force of the first spring section 72 acts in a direction oppoFste to that of the inclined arrow shown in Figure 11. The orientation of the slot 140 is such that the force of the first spring section 72 actually tends to maintain the firstcolumn 146 at its second linking point, countering the tendency for the cartridge 16 to eject. Whilst the force of the torsion spring 147 on the link 142, and the force of the opposed torsion spring on the link 152 tend to eject the cartridge, these forces are readily overcome by the wire spring 70 and the weight of the cartridge 16.

During removal of the cartridge 16 from the optical disk drive 116, the arrangement ensures that the panels 34,36 are returned to the closed position, as can be understood by considering Figures 9 to 11 in reverse sequence.

With the first column 146 at its second linking point, the drive door 126 is opened, activating a cartridge eject mechanism not described herein. The eject mechanism overcomes the retaining force from the wire spring 70, allowing the first column 146 to move towards its first linking point as the link 142 pivots in response to the force of the torsion spring 147. Such !olumn movement permits the first detent 46 to move inward; in the direction opposite to the inclined arrow in Figure 11 with respect to the cartridge 16. When the first Column 146 repches the first linking point, the cartridge 16 remainc partially inserted in the optical disk drive 116, yet the first panel 34 is closed. The second panel 36 also is closed, having been moved by the link 152 in the same manner. The cartridge 16 is then withdrawn from the optical disk drive.

The apparatuc just described ensures that the pan, are oppen before the complete loading of the cartridge, to avot! i~itweewr with optics of the optical disk drive, and possible damge t, lenses. The apparatus also enUres that the panels ar whenever the cartridge is removed from the ol.tical dc This prevents injury tc the optical disk from dust at m I~ i i- i i -11matter, and protects the operator in the event of a broken optical disk. The U-shaped detents and their associated columns avoid the need for an opening in the disk cartridge for a drive mounted probe, reducing the chance of entry of contaminants into the cartridge when removed from the optical disk drive. Finall-', the use of drive umounted springs for biasing the links, and a separate, cartridge mounted spring for urging the panels tu the closed position, permit a geometry which directs the panel closing spring force in a direction substantially normal to the direction of disk insertion.

Consequently, the same spring force that tene3 to close the panels can be used, when the cartridge is fully loaded, to keep the cartridge loaded and the panels open.

Claims (8)

1. 2. A disk cartridge as claited in biasing means for urging the or each closed position. claim panel 1 including towards the
2. 3. A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 2 in which said biasing means comprises a wire spring mounted to the cartridge and contactinc the or a respective panel.
3. 4. A disk cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim in which the or each panel includes a door and a wing attached thereto and carrying said dateit, an elongate opening being provided in said casivxj through which the or one of the links engages said detent. 89122Q, gpdat,010,58709.c, 12 13 1 2 b. A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 4 in which said 3 cartridge is inserted into the housing linearly in a 4 longitudinal direction, the or each said panel moving between its open and closed positions, with respect to th 6 cartridge, in a generally transverse direction. 7 8 6. A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 5 in which said 9 elongate opening extends in said transverse direction, an elongate groove being provided adjacent said elongate 11 opening and extending therefrom to one edge of said 12 cartridge in the longitudinal direction, said groove 13 confining and guiding the or one of the links to engagement 14 with said detent as the cartridge is inserted into the housing. 16 17 7. A disk cartridge as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 18 including an elongate channel in said casing for confining 19 the or each wing to sliding movement with respect to said cartridge. 21 22 8. A disk cartridge as claimned in claim 7 including means 23 for retaining the or each wing in the respective channel. 24
4. 9. A disk cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim in 26 which the or each link is pivotally mounted to said support 27 means and includes, at a location remote from the location 28 of pivotal mounting, a column for releasably engaging said 29 detent. 31 10. A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 9 in which the or 32 each link is mounted on the opposite side of the support 33 means from said cartridge, said column extending towards 34 said cartridge through an arcuate slot formed in said support means. 36 37 A91220.gcpdatOJA1 58709.c,13 I IA f'i. II 11 Ii ii I I 14 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37
5. 11. A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 9 or 10 including a torsion spring for urging the or each link towards its first linking point.
6. 12. An optical disk cartridge including a casing, an optical disk inside the casing, and an access window in said casing; two opposed panels mounted to said casing for movement between an open position in which the window is uncovered by the two panels to allow access to said disk through said window, and a closed position in which the window is covered by the two panels wherein the panals contact one another and prevent such access, each panel including a detent accessible from outside of said cartridge; an optical disk drive housing including support means for receiving and guiding said cartridge as the cartridge is loaded into the housing; and two panel actuator links, one associated with each panel, each said link being mounted to said support means for movement betwsen first and second linking points, the arrangement being such that said links, when at their first linking points, are each positioned releasably to engage an associated one of said detents as the cartridge is inserted and, responsive to further insertion after the links and detents engage, to travel from their first linking points toward their second linking points and thereby move said panels from the closed position to the open position.
7. 13. An optical disk cartridge as claimed in claim 12 in which said housing includes a rotatable spindl-, and said disk includes a hub adapted drivingly to engage said spindle, said links being mounted to said support means such that said hub is substantially aligned for engagement with said spindle when said links are at their second linking points. 1 7:
8. 891220.9cp~at.01O,58709.c, 14 15 2 14. An optical disk cartridge for providing access to a 3 disk substantially as herein described with reference to and 4 as shown in the accompanying drawings. 6 7 8 9 DATED this 20th day of December, 1989 11 LASER MAGNETIC STORAGE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY 12 By its Patent Attorneys 13 DAVIES COLLISON 14 16 17 18 i 19 I 21 22 22 24 J 26 27 28 29 31 32 34 36 37 38 891220,gcpdat,010,58709,c,15