EP1031155A1

EP1031155A1 - A rotary inner shell for a disk cartridge

Info

Publication number: EP1031155A1
Application number: EP98957708A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jay A. Muse; Brian Schick; Shane Nowell
Original assignee: Iomega Corp
Current assignee: Iomega Corp
Priority date: 1997-11-12
Filing date: 1998-11-06
Publication date: 2000-08-30
Also published as: WO1999024985A1

Abstract

A disk cartridge having a rotary inner shell to permit access to the media. The cartridge comprises a driving access opening in a bottom surface thereof to allow a drive mechanism to rotate a medium disposed within the shell. The inner shell comprises a projection into the driving access opening to aid in the rotational alignment of the inner shell. The cartridge has a wedge shaped disk access opening that rotates over a predefined angular portion of the cartridge to expose the medium disposed therein.

Description

A ROTARY INNER SHELL FOR A DISK CARTRIDGE

This is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Patent Application No. 08/968,356 entitled "Shutter Shell Encapsulating Disk Media" filed on November 12, 1997.

Background of the Invention This invention relates to a cartridge based data storage system in which a flexible magnetic disk is disposed within a cartridge shell. More particularly, the invention relates to a shutter shell for a disk cartridge.

Flexible media disk cartridges with rotary shutters have been suggested for a decade or more. For example, a cartridge having a rotary shutter is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. Re, 32,876 (Wakabayashi et al.). The Wakabayashi patent discloses a disk cassette that contains a flexible magnetic disk for storing information. The disk cassette comprises a flexible disk attached to a hub. The disk and hub assembly are sandwiched between an upper cover and a lower cover. Disk access openings are formed into the top and bottom covers for access by disk drive read/write heads. The Wakabayashi shutter rotates on the interior of the cartridge and comprises a metal sheet that slides over and thereby selectively covers the disk access openings. Such a shutter design may be operable for a flexible disk cartridge in which the media access opening is relatively small, and represents an alternative shutter design to the more common sliding shutter found in 1.44 megabyte floppy disks. For certain disk access openings, a different rotary shutter mechanism from the Wakabayashi shutter may be desirable. More recently, a rotary shutter covering a disk access opening that is large relative to the cartridge size has been disclosed. For example, in USP 5,636,095 (McGrath et al.) describes a rotary shutter that covers a significant percentage of the medium within the cartridge. The McGrath cartridge comprises a hard disk medium that is rotatably disposed within an outer shell. The shutter rotates within the outer shell to selectively expose and cover the medium. Unlike the Wakabayashi cartridge, which has a flexible medium and a relatively small access opening, McGrath employs a hard disk medium, which is less susceptible to aerodynamic forces, and a much larger disk access opening as a percentage of the cartridge size. There is a need for an improved disk cartridge having a rotary shutter shell particularly for use with a flexible storage media.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a data storage device that comprises a disk drive and removable cartridge. The cartridge for use with the drive comprises an outer shell having a spindle access opening, a substantially circular medium rotatably disposed within the outer shell, and a hub connected to the magnetic medium proximate the center of the medium. The cartridge also comprises an inner shell having a spindle access opening and a head access opening. The inner shell is rotatably coupled to the outer shell between first and second positions, and the spindle access openings of the inner and outer shells are substantially aligned. The inner shell is selectively rotatable to the first position so that the head access openings of the inner and outer shells substantially align and the second position so that the head access openings are substantially misaligned. The circular medium is rotatably disposed within the inner shell.

The inner shell preferably comprises upper and lower inner shell halves having raised outer edges. The two shell halves are brought together so that their edges overlap to form a single inner shell. The inner shell is substantially disc shape and has a hollow interior wherein the disk media is rotatably disposed. The disk access opening in the outer shell and the inner shell are substantially wedge shaped and comprise an angle of less than about 90 degrees, preferably about 80 degrees. The disk access opening exposes surface area of the medium in a range of about 15 to 25 percent of the medium surface area, preferably about 22 percent. The shutter rotates over an arc of less than about 90 degrees and preferably about 80 degrees.

Because the shutter shell is rotatably disposed within the outer shell, it rotates about a center point of the outer shell. A post projects downward from the interior of the top shell and provides a gap between the post an the top shell wherein the top shutter shell is rotatably captured. The bottom shutter shell has an annular projection that projects into the spindle access opening of the outer shell to provide further rotational stability to the shutter shell.

Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment that is presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagram of the interchangeable mini-cartridge of the present invention, including a plurality of devices each having a mini disk drive, and including a caddy to adapt the mini-cartridge to a full-size drive of a host computer;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a disk drive according to the present invention; Figure 3 is an top isometric view of a cartridge for use with the drive of

Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a bottom isometric view of a cartridge for use with the drive of

Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the cartridge of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the cartridge of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the cartridge of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a partially exploded view of the cartridge of Figure 2 showing an internal shutter shell subsystem;

Figure 9 is a partially exploded view of the cartridge of Figure 2 showing a shutter latching mechanism; Figure 9 A is a detailed view of an embodiment of the latch of Figure 7;

Figure 9B is a detailed view of another embodiment of the latch of Figure 7;

Figure 10 shows a cross-section of the cartridge of Figure 3 taken along the line A-A.

Figure 11A-11C show the lever for unlatching the shutter of the cartridge of the present invention; and

Figure 12A-12F illustrate the operation of shutter shell 16 in conjunction with the drive of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

The present invention provides a data storage cartridge for use with a removable media type of disk drive. Throughout the description, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described in connection with a particular sized and shaped disk cartridge. However, many aspects of the disk cartridge shape are presented for exemplary purposes only. Accordingly, the mechanism should not be limited to the particular cartridge embodiment shown as the invention contemplates the application to other cartridge and drive types and configurations.

FIGURE 1 shows a plurality of devices 100 which generate signals representing different functions performed by different classes of the devices. For example, the global positioning system 100a can generate signals representing navigational position. Electronic book 100b, digital camera 100c, personal digital assistant (PDA/ Palmtop) lOOd, portable game lOOe, cellular phone lOOf, and laptop computer lOOg each generate signals representing the function performed by that particular device. Each of these devices has a miniature disk drive 50 for writing the signals and reading the signals from a magnetic recording medium so that diverse functions performed by different classes are recorded on the devices, i.e. a drive 50a for global positioning system 100a, a drive 50b for electronic book 100b, a drive 50c for digital camera 100c, a drive 50d for PDA/palmtop lOOd, a drive 50e for portable game lOOe, a drive 50f for cellular phone lOOf, and a drive 50g for laptop computer lOOg. A mini-cartridge 10 has a magnetic recording medium on which the signals from the devices are recorded. Mini-cartridge 10 is compatible with the mini drives 50. Standard file formats maintain compatibility between devices 100. In the preferred embodiment, drives 50 are sized to fit within a PCMCIA form factor, preferably PCMCIA type II or type HI, more preferably type π. These form factors is commonly used in portable personal computers. For example, PCMCIA type II form factor is commonly used for a modem connection of a notebook computer. PCMCIA type II form factor is quite small so that miniature drive 50 readily fits into all of the portable, hand-held devices shown in FIGURE 1. The miniature drive 50 is insertable into and removable from the device just as the PCMCIA modem is insertable into and removable from the PCMCIA slot of a notebook computer. Alternatively, the drive 50 could be hard wired, i.e., built-in, to the device. In both cases, the device generates a digital function signal which is connected to the magnetic heads of the drive so that the digital function signal can be written on the magnetic medium of miniature cartridge 10. As an example, a digital function signal representing a picture taken in a digital camera 100c is recorded on a cartridge 10. This digital function signal can then be read by other classes of devices when the cartridge 10 is inserted into the respective other device.

Figure 2 is a top view of a disk drive 50 with its top cover removed for clarity. Drive 50 accepts a removable disk cartridge 10 (shown in phantom) for reading and storing digital information. Drive 50 comprises a chassis 57, an actuator 56, including an opposing pair of load beams 44 having a read/write head 54 disposed at the end of each load beam, a load ramp 47, a spindle motor 53 and a spindle 40. A disk cartridge 10 can be inserted into the front of the drive in the direction indicated by the arrow. During insertion, cartridge 10 slides linearly along the top surface of chassis 57 and spindle motor 53 for engagement with the read/write heads 54.

Figures 3-6 show the exterior features of disk cartridge 10 in further detail. As shown, disk cartridge 10 has a somewhat angular main body 10b, an arcuate front portion 10a, and an arcuate rear portion 10c. Cartridge 10 comprises an outer shell 18 and inner shutter shell 16. The shutter shell 16 rotates within outer shell 18 to selectively expose media 14 by way of a large wedged-shaped disk access opening 418, disposed in the front portion of disk cartridge 10. Disk cartridge 10 also comprises a flexible magnetic disk 14 (shown in phantom in Figure 3) and a disk media hub 12 that is attached to media 14 both of which are rotatably disposed within cartridge 10. A driving access hole 218b provides an opening in cartridge 10 for drive spindle 40 (see Figure 2) to engage hub 12 and drive flexible disk 14 over opposing read write heads 54 (also shown in Figure 2). Hub 12 is sized smaller than driving hole 218b and projects downwardly from cartridge 10. Disk cartridge 10 also comprises a projection 17, coupled to shutter shell 16, that travels along projection track 35 of cartridge 10 by which shutter shell 16 is opened. A latch mechanism 37 that is accessible through latch window 48 keeps shutter 16 locked in a closed position when the cartridge is not in use. As best shown in Figure 3, wedge-shaped disk access opening 418 is formed in a front portion of cartridge 10 (proximately defined by the points A, B, C), proximate one corner thereof. The opening 418 extends over an arc α between the vectors A-B and B-C. The arc α is preferably less than about 90 degrees and is most preferably about 80 degrees. Accordingly, shutter shell 16 rotates within outer shell 18 starting from proximately point A to proximately point C over an approximately 80 degree arc.

Notably, the point A, defines portion of the wedge-shaped opening just past bisecting line 5. Because the shutter rotates over an approximate 80 degree arc, about 15 to 25 percent, preferably about 22 percent, of the edge of media 14 is exposed when the shutter is open. At the same time, approximately 15 to 25 percent of the magnetic disk 14 surface area is exposed. The exposure afforded by the large wedge-shaped opening 418 provides read/write heads 54 with greater access to the media 14 surface and enables the use of a rotary actuator design.

Referring also to Figure 7, an exploded view of cartridge 10 is provided to more clearly show cartridge 10 interior components. Cartridge 10 comprises top and bottom cartridge shell halves 18a and 18b, respectively, a rotary shutter shell having upper and lower halves 16a and 16b, respectively, upper and lower shutter shell liners 15a and 15b, respectively, a shutter pivot post 20, a shutter spring mechanism 22, and a shell stabilizer 24. Projection 17 is coupled to bottom shutter shell half 16b.

Liners 15a and 15b are attached to shutter shell halves 16a and 16b. Liner 15a is attached to inside surface 216a of shutter shell half 16a; whereas liner 15b is attached to inside surface 216b of shutter shell half 16b. Disk media 14 rotates within the shutter shell and not directly within the cartridge shell. Accordingly, unlike other known cartridges wherein the liners are typically attached to the inside of the cartridge shell, liners 15a, 15b are attached to the inside surface of shutter shells 16a, 16b. Liners 15a and 15b are preferably attached via an adhesive, more preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive. Liners 15a and 15b are cut to the shape of the surface to which they will be attached (i.e., 216a, 216b) from a sheet of liner material. The liner material is preferably 100% polyester, more preferably Veratec 141-620 available from Data Resources Group in Walpole MA. The liner material has a thickness preferably in the range of about 3.35 mils to about 3.8 mils, more preferably about 3.35 mils. Stabilizer 24 is a substantially U-shaped spacer positioned in the rear portion of cartridge 10 and between upper and lower cartridge shell halves 18a and 18b. Rear cartridge shell tabs 318a and 318b extend rearwardly from upper and lower shell halves 18a and 18b and wrap around stabilizer 24. Therefore, when cartridge 10 is assembled, a portion of stabilizer 24 extends into and between the shell halves 18a and 18b and portions of stabilizer 24 protrude from joined upper and lower shell halves 18a and 18b. The protruding portions of stabilizer 24 form portions of the outer contours of cartridge 10. In particular, stabilizer 24 forms cartridge rear corners 24a and 24b and forms rear portion 24c.

Stabilizer 24 is formed of a lightweight rigid material such as plastic. More preferably, stabilizer 24 is formed of high impact polystyrene. It is formed from any one of the well-known plastic forming processes, such as injection molding. Stabilizer 24 provides dimensional stability and rigidity to cartridge 10, thereby minimizing cartridge deformation during mishandling, twisting, and so on.

Shutter spring mechanism 22 comprises a guide wire 23 and a round helical compression spring 21 that is slid over guide wire 23. Shutter spring mechanism 22 is fixed to stabilizer 24 at the ends of guide wire 23. The ends seat in channels 124a and 124b that are formed into the ends of U-shaped stabilizer 24.

Flexible magnetic disk 14 is formed of a thin polymer film, such as MYLAR, and has a thin magnetic layer uniformly dispersed on the top and bottom surfaces thereof. The magnetic layer makes the flexible disk 14 susceptible to magnetic flux and enables the storage of digital data when the disk surface is brought into magnetic communication with a magnetic transducer of the type commonly found in disk drives. Disk 14 is generally circular with a circular hole proximate the center of disk 14. Disk 14 has a radius r in a range of about 20 to 25 mm, and preferably about 23 to 25 mm. Disk 114 has concentric tracks 114 that provide the formatting of disk 14 to store digital information.

Media hub 12 is essentially donut shaped and comprises a ferrous material such as steel, preferably stainless steel. Hub 12 comprises a bore or hole 12a proximate the center, peripheral outer edge 12b and inner ring surface 12c. Inner ring 12c has an outer angled edge and a substantially flat bottom surface. Outer peripheral edge 12b is also angled. Media hub 12 is firmly secured to disk 14 such that the center of hub 12 is aligned proximate the center of disk 14. Media hub 12 is preferably attached to disk 14 via a well-known adhesive process. The disk and hub assembly are rotatably disposed between upper and lower cartridge shutter shell halves 16a, 16b. Hub 12 is disposed in spindle access hole 316b of spindle access opening 316c of lower shutter shell 16b and spindle access hole 218b of lower cartridge shell 18b. As described in further detail below, the protrusion of hub 12 from shutter shell 16 and an cartridge shell 18 enhances coupling to a rotational power source, such as that provided by a drive spindle, when cartridge 10 is within drive 50 and acts a restraint on lateral movement of disk 14 when the cartridge is removed drive 50. As shown by Figures 7, 8 and 9, shutter halves 16a and 16b fit together such that edge 116a of upper shell half 16a fits within edge 116b of lower shell half 16b to form shutter shell 16, which houses media 14 and shutter liners 15a and 15b (not shown in Figure 6) which are attached to the inner surfaces of shutter shells 16a and 16b respectively. The complete shutter assembly 16 is pivotally attached to top shell 18a and pivotally disposed in bottom shell 18b. Hub 12 is attached to media 14 and protrudes through drive access hole 316b in bottom shutter shell 16b. Accordingly, when cartridge 10 is inserted and operating in drive 50, media 14 rotates within shutter shell 16. Pivot post 20 attaches shutter assembly 28 to upper shell half 18a by attaching the top portion 20 to pivot hole 218b via shutter pivot hole 316. Pivot post 20 is fixedly attached to top shell cartridge 18a while leaving an offset space between and around post portion 20a and shutter pivot hole 316a. When the shutter assembly is complete, media 14 is exposed at media access opening 416. However, media 14 within cartridge 10 is only accessible from outside of cartridge 10 when shutter access opening 416 aligns with cartridge shell access opening 418. In such an alignment, shutter shell 16 moves to a first position so that the openings 416, 418 completely overlap thereby "opening" cartridge 10. When the cartridge shell access opening 416 and cartridge shell access opening 418 are misaligned, shutter shell 16 moves to a second position such that the openings 416, 418 do not over lap thereby "closing" cartridge 10, shielding media 14 from ambient contaminants.

As best appreciated from Figure 8 unlike other disk cartridges which do not rotate within the shutter but which rotate within cartridge shell 18. Pivot post 20 attaches shutter assembly 28 to upper shell half 18a by attaching the top portion 20 to pivot hole 218b via shutter pivot hole 316. Pivot post 20 is fixedly attached to top shell cartridge 18a while leaving an offset space between and around post portion 20a and shutter pivot hole 316a. The use of an internal shutter shell provides several advantages over other internal shutter designs. Among the advantages are improved cartridge 10 rigidity, improved disk 14 aerodynamics, and improved shutter control. The improved rigidity results from cartridge 10 having two layers of shell material (shutter 16 and shell 18) to guard against mishandling. The improved disk 14 aerodynamics result from the fact that space within which disk 14 rotates is completely controlled and free of disturbances caused by other internal mechanical features. For example, in other internal shutter designs, the retracted shutter only covers a portion of the spinning disk thereby increasing the likelihood of air flow disturbances. The final example of the benefits of shutter 16 of the present invention is improved shutter opening control. Shutters typically have a biasing mechanism to close the shutter. In the present shutter design, a spring 21 provides such a bias. Here, spring 21 can be located in the rear of the cartridge 10 and still control the operation of shutter 16.

When shutter assembly 28 is complete, media 14 is exposed at media access opening 416. However, and as described more fully below, media 14 within cartridge 10 is only accessible from outside of cartridge 10 when shutter access opening 416 aligns with cartridge shell access opening 418. In such an alignment, shutter shell 16 moves to a first position so that the openings 416, 418 completely overlap thereby "opening" cartridge 10. When the cartridge shell access opening 416 and cartridge shell access opening 418 are misaligned, shutter shell 16 moves to a second position such that the openings 416, 418 do not over lap thereby "closing" cartridge 10, shielding media 14 from ambient contaminants.

Significantly, cartridge 10 employs a projection 17 to accommodate the opening of shutter 16 during insertion of cartridge 10 into drive 50. In essence, the projection operates by impinging upon the cartridge insertion opening of drive 50 as cartridge 10 is inserted into drive 50. Because projection 17 extends beyond the general thickness of cartridge 10, projection 17 cannot fit through the narrow drive opening.

Accordingly, as a cartridge 10 is forced into drive 50, projection 17 impinges on the frame of drive 50 and thereby drags shutter 16 to an open position.

As noted above, projection 17 is coupled to shutter shell 16. Projection 17 could be formed integrally into shutter 16 but is preferably attached to shutter shell 16 as a separate part such as by welding. Preferably projection 17 forms a substantially round cross-section and is formed of a material to provide wear resistance such as metal. Projection 17 extends downwardly from shutter shell 16 so as to extend through cartridge shell 18 and projection track 35, which is cut into shell 18. When cartridge 10 is in the closed position, compression spring 21 biases shutter 16 toward the closed position and moves projection 17 to the forward most position in projection track 35, as shown for example in Figure 3. To open cartridge 10, a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to shutter shell 16 (from the bottom cartridge perspective of Figure 3) against the bias of spring 21, thereby compressing spring 21. Accordingly, projection 17 travels to the rearmost portion of projection track 35, thereby opening shutter 16. Figure 10 is a cross section of disk cartridge 10 taken along line A-A of

Figure 4 showing a detailed arrangement of the interior components of disk cartridge 10. Figure 10 also illustrates an attachment of post 20 to top shell 18a as an alternative to the embodiment of Figure 7. In the embodiment of Figure 10, top outer shell 18a has a raised rim 42 that extends into the interior of disk cartridge 10. Post 20 is attached to the distal end of raised rim portion 42, leaving a space 49 into which the top shutter shell 16b is rotatably disposed. Space 49 also can be created by forming post 20 with a smaller diameter portion 20a and attaching the portion 20a directly to the interior of top outer cartridge 18a, as shown in Figure 7.

As noted above, bottom shutter shell portion 16b is rotatably disposed in bottom outer shell 18b. Rotational alignment of shutter shell 16 is further provided by raised portion 45. To that end, annular raised portion 45 projects into spindle access opening 218. An annular depression 518 (as view from the exterior of the cartridge) is formed in bottom shell 18 around spindle access opening 218.

Alternative embodiments of raised portion 45 could be employed. For example, although raised portion 45 is shown projecting straight into spindle access hole 218, the end of raised portion 45 could wrap around the bottom shell 18b, as indicated by phantom portion 45a. Additionally, raised portion 45 is not necessarily continuous, but could also be formed as a plurality of fingers projecting into opening 218b. Moreover, portion 45 could be formed integrally, as shown, or attached to shutter shell 16 as a separate component. Another alternative is have the raised portion project upward from bottom outer shell 18b and into the bottom shutter shell 16b, rather than the other way around. However, in each embodiment, the raised portion 45 provides rotational alignment of shutter shell 16.

Referring to Figures 9, 9 A, and 9B, the latch operation of shutter 16 is illustrated. As described more fully below, two embodiments are contemplated for shutter latch 37. In the embodiment of Figure 9A, shutter latch 37 extends outwardly from the cartridge and operates by engaging a frame or stationary portion of drive 50.

Alternatively, in the embodiment of Figure 9B, shutter latch 37 is recessed into cartridge

10 and unlatches by engaging a lever or the like in drive 50.

Figure 9 shows an exploded view of cartridge 10 that exposes shutter latch 37. Figures 9A and 9B show detailed views of the portion of cartridge 10 including shutter latch 37. As shown, shutter latch 37 comprises a main lever body 37f Coupled to the body are actuating point 37a, pivot 37c, spring 37d, and tab 37e. Shutter bottom 16b has a cut-out 37b that accommodates tab 37e. When shutter 16 is in the closed position, tab 37e engages shutter cut-out 37b and thereby latches shutter 16 to prevent rotation. On the other hand, when actuating point 37a is depressed, such as by inserting cartridge 10 into drive 50, lever 37f is forced to pivot about pivot 37c. Accordingly, the pivot movement of latch 37 causes tab 37e to move out of cut-out 37b thereby releasing shutter 16 from latch 37. Spring 37d causes lever 37f to pivot back when the pressure is removed from actuating point 37a. Accordingly, when cut-out 37b is aligned with tab 37e, spring 37d biases tab 37e into cut-out 37b. Referring in particular to Figure 9A, shutter latch 37 is sized such that a portion 37a extends beyond the width of shell 18 so that it extends outwardly from the edge of cartridge 10. Hence, when a cartridge 10 is inserted into drive 50, latch 37 impinges upon the drive frame and is compressed thereby. That is, in order for cartridge 10 to fit through the opening an into drive 50, latch 37 is necessarily pinched an latch 37 is released thereby.

Figures 11A and 1 IB show the mechanism in drive 50 adapted to engage and release shutter latch 37, preferably when the latch is recessed according to the embodiment of Figure 9B. Figure 11 A is a top plan view of chassis 57 of drive 50 (components are not shown for clarity). Releasing lever 60 is shown proximate a front corner of chassis 57. Figure 1 IB is a bottom isometric view of the corner of chassis 60 wherein releasing lever 60 is disposed. Releasing lever 60 comprises a spring portion 60b, which is fixed to chassis 57 at block 60c, and an engagement portion 60a at the distal end of spring 60b. Figure 11C shows the engagement portion 60a in further detail. Engagement portion 60a comprises a release finger 160 that projects from upstanding portion 360. Release finger 160 comprises rounded corners.

Releasing lever 60 operates as a cartridge 10 is inserted into drive 50. As a cartridge 10 is inserted into drive 50, release finger 160 engages shutter latch 37 thereby permitting shutter 16 to rotate within disk cartridge 10. As cartridge 10 is urged further into drive 50, engagement portion 60a is urged outwardly (as indicated in phantom in Figure 1 lB)as release finger 160 rides out of latch 37 and along the edge of cartridge 10. Simultaneously, spring portion 60b flexes to accommodate outward movement of engagement portion 60a. Additionally, the rounded corners of release finger 160 enable ease of transition of finger 160 into and out of engagement with latch 37. When cartridge 10 is removed from drive 50, spring portion 60b returns to its initial rest condition and in position to again engage a cartridge 10 as it is inserted into drive 50.

As an alternative to the use of lever 60 to release latch 37, latch 37 protrudes from cartridge 10 and is released by passive engagement with the frame of drive 50. Referring to Figure 12A-12F, the operation of the alternative latch embodiment is further illustrated. In general, as cartridge 10 is inserted into drive 50, latch actuating point 37a impinges on the side rails 51 of drive 50. The impingement causes the tab of latch 37 release from shutter 16 thereby freeing the shutter to rotate. Somewhat simultaneously, projection 17 impinges on the opening of drive 50 proximate the stepped portion 50b. As cartridge 10 is urged further into drive 50, projection 17 moves along projection track 35 with respect to the cartridge and along the face of step 50b with respect to drive 50. Accordingly, shutter 16 is opened for drive access to media 14 of cartridge 10.

Referring to Figures 12A and 12B, a top and bottom plan view of cartridge 10 and drive 50 are shown with cartridge 10 partially inserted into drive 50. The top shell 18a has been removed to further illustrate the operation of latch 37. Furthermore, in Figures 12A and 12B, cartridge 10 is inserted into drive 50 just to the point that actuating point 37a is proximate the front of drive 50. As the cartridge is inserted further into drive 50, actuating point 37a engages side rail 51 of drive 50, thereby unlatching shutter shell 16 and allowing it to rotate freely. The front frame 50a of drive 50 has a stepped portion 50b so that projection 17 has not yet engaged the front frame 50a.

Referring next to Figures 12C and 12D, top and bottom plan views further illustrate the operation of shutter 16 in a more fully inserted position. In these Figures, projection 17 has engaged the front frame 50a proximate the stepped portion 50b. As cartridge 10 is urged further into drive 50. Frame front 50a urges projection 17 to rotate shutter 16 toward the open position. Consequently, projection 17 slides across the stepped portion 50b as cartridge 10 further enters drive 50. Finally, as illustrated in top and bottom plan views of Figures 12E and 12F, as cartridge 10 is urged fully into drive 50, projection 17 has moved rearwardly in projection track 35 and across the stepped portion 50b of front frame 50a. Consequently, shutter 16 is rotated to the fully open position and is ready for the loading of the read/write heads. The operation of shutter 16 during cartridge ejection is essentially the reverse sequence from that described above in connection with Figures 12A-12F. However, the ejection of cartridge 10 from drive 11 is aided by spring 31 of cartridge 10. In particular, as cartridge 10 ejects from drive 50, the force of spring 31 rotates shutter 16 in the clockwise direction. The force of spring 31 causes projection 17 to impinge upon the front frame 50a. This force also causes cartridge 10 to move outwardly from drive 10. Of course, this force to move the cartridge outwardly diminishes as the moves outwardly from drive 50. When the cartridge moves proximately out of drive 50, shutter 16 should is rotated to the closed position. At this moment, latch 37 latches shutter 16 to the closed position as actuating point 37a clears drive rails 51.

The above description of preferred embodiments is not intended to impliedly limit the scope of protection of the following claims. Thus, for example, except where they are expressly so limited, the following claims are not limited to applications involving cartridges for disk drive systems.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A disk cartridge for use in a removable media disk drive, said cartridge comprising: a data storage medium; an outer shell enclosing said data storage medium and having a driving access opening and a head access opening; an inner shell rotatably disposed within said outer shell, said inner shell rotating between an open position wherein said data storage medium is accessible by way of said head access opening and a closed position wherein said data storage medium is inaccessible by way of said head access opening; a projection attached to said inner shell and projecting into said driving access opening.

2. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 1, wherein said projection portion comprises an annular projection.

3. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 1, wherein said projection portion further comprises a bent end portion.

4. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 1 wherein said projection portion comprises a plurality of fingers.

5. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 4 wherein said fingers are arranged annularly within said head access opening.

6. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 wherein said projection comprises a raised portion of said inner shell.

7. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 wherein said projection is formed integrally with said inner shell.

8. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer shell comprises a depression around said drive access opening.

9. A memory storage device, comprising: a data storage medium; an outer shell having top and bottom planar surfaces, said data storage medium being rotatably disposed within said outer shell, said outer shell further comprising an opening defined in at least one of said top and bottom planar surfaces; a rotatable member disposed within said outer shell for rotation between first and second positions; and a projection attached to said rotatable member and projecting into said at least one opening.

10. The memory storage device as recited in claim 9 wherein said rotatable member comprises an inner shell.

11. The memory storage device as recited in claim 9 wherein said projection comprises an annular ridge.

12. The memory storage device as recited in claim 9 wherein said annular ridge is formed integrally with said rotatable member.

13. The memory storage device as recited in claim 9 wherein said projection comprises at least two fingers.

14. The memory storage device as recited in claim 13 wherein said fingers are arranged annularly around said opening.

15. The memory storage cartridge as recited in claim 9 further comprising an annular depression arranged around said opening.

16. The memory storage device as recited in claim 9 wherein said opening is substantially circular.

17. The memory storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said projection is formed integrally with said rotatable member.

18. The memory storage device as recited in claim 9 wherein said projection comprises an outwardly extending portion proximate the distal end of said projection.

19. A disk cartridge comprising: a flexible data storage medium; an outer shell having a medium access opening wherein said medium access opening comprises a wedge shaped disk access opening; a rotary shutter shell disposed within said outer shell, said rotary shutter shell moving between a first position wherein said medium access opening is covered by said rotary shutter shell and a second position wherein said medium is exposed in said medium access opening.

20. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 19 wherein said wedge shaped is formed in said outer shell proximate a front edge of said outer shell; and wherein said shell has an angle in the range of about 60 and 90 degrees.

21. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 19 wherein said rotary shutter shell comprises a driving access hole disposed in one side of said rotary shutter shell and a raised portion around at least a portion of said driving access hole and adapted to engage said outer shell.

22. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 19 wherein said shutter shell forms an arcuate front edge of said cartridge when said shutter shell is in said first position.

23. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 22 where said arcuate front edge of said cartridge forms an edge from about a midpoint of the front of said cartridge.

24. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 19 wherein the disk cartridge is less than about 2 inches in wide.

25. A disk cartridge, comprising: an outer shell having an access opening; a disk shaped flexible medium rotatably disposed within said outer shell; a shutter disposed on said cartridge for selectively opening and closing over said access opening; said access opening exposing a portion of an edge of said disk shaped flexible medium when said shutter is open, said portion of said edge having a range of about 15 to 20 percent of the circumference of said disk shaped medium.

26. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 25 wherein said portion of said edge comprises about 22 percent of the circumference of said medium.

27. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 25 wherein said access opening comprises a wedge shape.

28. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 27 wherein said wedge shape comprises an angle ╬▒ less than about 90 degrees.

29. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 28 wherein the angle ╬▒ is about 80 degrees.

30. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 25 wherein the flexible magnetic medium has a radius r that is in a range of about 20 to 25 mm.

31. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 30 wherein the radius r is in a range of a bout 23 to 25 mm.

32. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 25 wherein the disk cartridge is less than about 2 inches wide.

33. A disk cartridge, comprising: an outer shell having a driving hole and an access opening; a disk shaped flexible medium rotatably disposed within said outer shell; a shutter disposed on said cartridge for selectively opening and closing over said access opening; said access opening exposing a portion of an edge of said disk shaped flexible medium when said shutter is open, said shutter having an driving hole in rotational alignment with the driving hole of said outer shell; and an alignment means coupled to one of said outer shell and said shutter for maintaining said shutter driving hole in rotational alignment with said driving hole of said outer shell.

34. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 33 wherein said alignment means comprises an annular projection.

35. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 34 wherein said alignment means comprises a plurality of projections.

36. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 34 wherein said alignment means is integrally formed in said on of said one of said outer shell and said shutter.

37. The disk cartridge as recited in claim 34 wherein said medium is rotationally disposed within said shutter.