GB2160350A - Magnetic disk driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

A magnetic disk driving device includes a rocker lever 48 which replaces a bulky and expensive solenoid heretofore used to prevent upper and lower magnetic heads from moving toward each other when a clamp mechanism has been manipulated without inserting a flexible magnetic disk into the device. While an intermediate lever 54 tends to interlock a head holder 52 carrying one of the magnetic heads to a swing arm 30 of the clamp mechanism, the rocker lever 48 disables the intermediate lever 54 until cammed by the disk which is being inserted into the device. The rocker lever also serves to position the disk inside the device, and to eject the disk out of the device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Magnetic disk driving device BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a magnetic disk driving device for driving a flexible magnetic disk to record and reproduce data into and out of the disk and, more particularly, to such a device which during operation holds a pair of magnetic heads in contact with a disk, one from the above and the other from below.

In a megnetic disk driving device ofthe type described, a flexible magnetic disk is loaded in the device as far as a predetermined position and,then, a clamp member is manipulated to clamp the disk in that position. During the course of the clamping operation a head holder which supports one of a pair of magnetic heads, which are engageable with opposite faces ofthe disk, is moved over a certain distance toward the disk until it abuts against a rotatable member. So far, the rotatable member is kept locked in position bya locking memberwhich in turn is operated by a solenoid.As soon as the solenoid is energized, it releases the locking memberfrom the rotatable member to allow the latter to become freely rotatable with the result that the head holder is displaced over another distance in the same direction to bring its associated head into contact with the disk.

In this position the head, as well as another head on the other side ofthe disk, is operable to record or reproduce data into or out of the disk.

The solenoid mentioned above serves to avoid an occurrence that due to careless manipulation of the clamp memberwithout loading a disk the heads make contactwith each other at their mirror-finished faces to eventually become unseparable. However, the solenoid, just as it solves such a sticking problem, brings about another problem that it requires an extra spaceforinstallation which adds to the overall dimensions of the device. In addition, the use of a solenoid leads to an increase in the production cost of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object ofthe present invention to provide a magnetic disk driving device which, without the need for a memberfor the purpose, surely prevents magnetic heads from making contact with each other when a clamp member is manipulated before loading a magnetic disk.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a magneticdiskdriving devicewhich is economical in construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic disk driving device which promotes efficient use of its limited space.

It is another object ofthe present invention to provide a generally improved magnetic disk driving device.

A magnetic disk driving device for driving a flexible magnetic diskto record and reporduce data into an out ofthe disk of the present invention comprises a head holder holding a magnetic head thereon and movable toward and away from a predetermined disk loading position defined inside the device, a clamping mem berforclampingthe disk when the disk is inserted into the device to settle at the disk loading position, an interlocking memberfor interlocking the head holder to the clamping member such that the head holder is movable toward the disk in the disk loading position in response to a clamping motion of the clamping member, and an interlock inhibiting memberfor inhibiting the interlocking memberfrom interlocking the head holder to the clamping member if the disk is absent in the disk loading position when the clmping member is caused into the clamping motion, the interlock inhibiting member allowing the interlocking member to interlock the head holder to the clamping member when pushed by the disk which is being inserted toward the disk loading position.

In accordance with the present invention, a magne ticdiskdriving device includes rockerleverwhich replaces a bulky and expensive solenoid heretofore used to prevent upper and lower magnetic heads from moving toward each otherwhen a clamp mechanism has been manipulated without inserting a flexible magnetic disk into the device. While an intermediate levertendsto interlock a head holder carrying one of the magnetic heads to a swing arm of the clamp mechanism, the rocker lever disables the intermediate lever until cammed by the disk which is being inserted into the device. The rocker lever also serves to position the disk inside the device, and to eject the disk out of the device.

The above and otherobjects,features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view of a magnetic disk driving device embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a flexible magnetic disk applicabletothedeviceshown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view ofthe device of Fig. 1, particularly a media inserter section, which is representative of a disc loading condition; Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the device of Fig. 1 in a clamping position; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation mainly showing a rocker leverofthe device of Fig. 1 against which the disk inserted into the device is abutting; Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary views each showing the rocker lever cammed by the disc which has reached a predetermined loading position;; Fig. 8 is a view similerto Fig. 4 but showing the device in a clamping position; and Fig. 9 is a view similarto Fig. 6 but showing the rocker lever in a position associated with the clamping position of Fig. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the magnetic disk driving device of the present invention is susceptible of numerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment and The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

requirements of use ubstantial number of the herein shown and described embodiment have been made, tested and used, and all have performed in an eminently satisfactory manner.

Referring to Fig. 1 the drawings, a magnetic disk driving device embodying the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The device 10 is operable with a flexible magnetic disk such as shown in Fig. 2. The disk, generally 12 in Fig. 2, comprises a magnetic disk body 14 and a jacket 16 which receives the disk body 14 therein. The jacket 16 is provided with a circular opening 18 for allowing the disk body 14to be clamped along a central opening 20 thereof, and an elongate slot, or head window, 22 for allowing a magnetic head (not shown) to make contact with the disk 14 body, as well as an index window (no numeral) and various notches adapted for particularfunctions as well known in the art.As shown in Fig. 3, the disk 12 is inserted into a housing 24through a slot 26 provided in a media inserter section of the device 10 until it reaches a predetermined loading position where an edge 1 6a of the jacket 16 abuts against a stop (not shown in Fig. 3). Then, a clamp lever 28 is rotated clockwise to clamp the disk 12 in the loading position.

As shown in Fig. 1,the device 10 includes a swing arm 30 provided with a bifurcated portion 30a in which a clamper32for clamping the disk body 14through the centalopening 18 of the jacket 16 is mounted. The swing arm 30 also includes a generally Y-shaped portion 30b extending out in a direction X1, while a pin 30c extends downwardlyfrom the underside ofonetip of the Y-shaped portion 30b. As indicated by a dash-and-dots line in Fig. 1, a support plate 34 lies above the swing arm 30 and includes downwardly bent legs 34a and 34b which are fastened to a frame, or chassis, 36 below the swing arm 30.Also included in the support plate 34 are downwardlyextending lugs 34c and 34d which respectively are provided with openings 34e and 34f. A shaft 38 is received at opposite ends thereof in the openings 34e and 34f and, between the lugs 34c and 34d, in openings 30d and 30e formed respectivelythrough downwardly extending lugs30fand30g oftheswing arm 30. At opposite end portions outwardly of the lugs 34c and 34d of the support plate 34, the shaft 38 is provided with circumferential recesses 38a and 38b in which snap rings 40 and 41 respectively are received for preventingtheshaft38fromaxiallyslipping outpastthe lugs 34cor34d.

Atorsion spring 42 is wound around the shaft 38 axially inwardly of the lug 30f. One end 42a ofthe torsion spring 42 is received in an aperture 349 formed through the support plate 34,while the other end 42b yieldablybearsagainstthe underside of the swing arm30.Inthisconstruction,theswingarm30 is constantly biased upwardly aboutthe shaft 38 bythe torsion spring 42, whereby the clamper32 rigid on the swing arm 30 is held in a raised position where it will not obstruct the movement ofthe disk 12 towards the loading position inside the device 10.

As best shown in Fig. 4 the clamp lever 28 is fixed to on one end of a shaft44which in turn is roatatbly received in openings 34h and 34i formed respectively through downwardly extending lugs 34j and 34k ofthe support plate 34. A cam 46 is rigidly carried on the other end of the shaft 44 to be rotatable integrally therewith when the clamp lever 28 is rotated as will be described. The cam 46 abuts against an upper surface 30h (Fig. 4) of the swing arm 30 in such a manner as to limitthe upward movement ofthe swing arm 30. The rotary motion of the cam 46 due to manipulation ofthe clamp lever 28 is accommodated by a window 341 which is formed through the support plate 34 in alignment with the cam 46.The swing arm 30 is provided with a slot 30i in alignment with the lug 34j of the support plate 34 so that it may move upwardly aboutthe shaft 38 receiving the lug 34j in the slot 30i.

A rocker lever48, which is one of the main features ofthe present invention, is pivotally mounted on a stub 36a which extends upwardlyfrom the frame 36.

As shown, the rockerlever48includesthreearms48a, 48b and 48c. An abutment 48d extends downwardly from a tip portion of the arm 48a to abut againstthe edge 16a of the disk 12 as will be described, while a projection 48e (Fig. 5) extends upwardly from the tip of the arm 48b to be engageablewith the pin 30c on the swing arm 30 as will also be described. The arm 48c, which is substantially parallel to the arm 48a, defines a recess 48f in cooperation with the arm 48a. The projection 48e is provided with a bore 489 (Fig. 5) which has a sufficiently larger diameterthan the pin 30c.

Atorsion coil spring 50 is wound around the stub 36a belowthe rocker arm 48. One end 50a of the torsion spring 50 bears againstthe abutment48d of the rockerlever48,whilethe other end 50b is retained in an opening 36b of the frame 36. Thus, the rocker lever 48 is constantly biased bythetorsion spring 50 in a clockwise and upward direction to such a position thatthe projection 48e remains in abutment against an uprightwall 36c of the frame 36 slipping into the space below the leg 34a ofthe support plate 34and the abutment 48d, displaced generally in a direction X2 opposite to the direction X1, protrudes into the disc loading position.

A head holder 52 is adapted to hold an upper magnetic head (notshown) which is pairedwith a lower magnetic head (notshown) and allowsthe head to move toward and away from the disk 12 in the loading position. The lower magnetic head is fixed in place. The head holder 52 includes a followerarm 52a extending outfrom its body (no numeral). Before the disk 12 is loaded in the housing 24 of the device 10, the follower arm 52a rests on the upper surface of a generally L-shaped spring-loaded intermediate lever 54, so thatthe head holder 52 is locked in a raised position where its associated head is spaced apart from the disk surface, as will be described later in detail. An arm 55 is fastened at one end to a base portion of the head holder 52 and provided with a spring (notshown) on the underside of the other or free end. The head holder 52, like a leaf spring, is normallywarped upwardly againstthe spring acting thereon from above but, as a portion 30j of the swing arm 30 is lowered, it yields linearly and downwardly to the spring until the head makes contact with the disc surface.

The intermediate lever 54, which is positioned below the follower arm 52a ofthe head holder 52, includes a lug 54a resting on the top of the portion 30j ofthe swing arm 30, and an extension 54b bearing against the underside of the arm 48c ofthe rocker lever 48. A lug 54c extending from the right end (as viewed in Fig. 1) of the intermediate lever 54 is rotatably supported by a pin 56 which is passed through a downwardly bent projection 34m of the support plate 34. Likewise, a lug 54d extending from the left end of the intermediate lever 54 is rotatably supported by a pin 58 which is passed through a downwardly bent projection 36d of the frame 36.Atorsion spring 60 is wound around the pin 58to constantly bias the intermediate lever 54 in such a direction that the lug 54a tendsto move downwardly andthe extension 54b upwardly about an axis which passes through the pins 56 and 58. Before the disk 12 is inserted into the housing 24, the rocker arm 48 remains rotated clockwise about the stub 36a to the previously described position, whereby the extension 54b of the intermediate lever 54 is abutted againstthe arm 48cof the latch 48 from below to be thereby restrained from anyfurtherangularmovement.

In the above construction, the intermediate lever 54 serves as an interlocking memberfor interlocking the head holder 52 to the swing arm 30, whilethe rocker arm 48 serves as an interlock inhibiting member for inhibiting the interlocking operation of the lever 54, as will become apparent from the following description.

In operation, when one has rotated the clamp lever 28 from a position indicated by a solid line in Fig. 3 to a position indicated by a phantom line with the intension of clamping a disk 12 but without loading it by mistake, the cam 46 rotating integrally with the clamp lever28camstheswing arm 30 downwardly aboutthe shaft 38 againstthe action of the spring 42, thereby causing the portion 30j to move downwardlytoward a position where the disk 12 is expected to be clamped.

However, since the arm 48c of the rocker lever 48 is in locking engagement with the extension 54b of the intermediate lever 54 as previously described, the lever 54 is incapable of rotating and, therefore, its lug 54a does notfollowthe downward movement ofthe portion 30j ofthe swing arm 30. The lever 54 in turn prevents the head holder 52 from moving downwardly by holding the follower arm 52a which is resting on the top thereof. As described sofa r, in the event of inadequate manipulation of the lever 28 without loading the disk 12, the rocker arm 48 prevents the upper head on the head holder 52 from being lowered toward the lower head through the intermediate lever 54; the upper head would otherwise be brought into contact with and stick fast to the lower head as previously discussed.

As shown in Fig. 5, as the disk 12 is inserted deeper into the housing 24through the slot 26 in the direction X1,the edge 1 6a of the jacket 16 comes to abut against the abutment 48d of the rocker lever 48. Then, as shown in Fig. 6, the disk 12 advancing in the direction X1 causes the rocker lever 48 to rotate counterclockwise aboutthe stub 36A overcoming the force of the spring 50, until the back of the abutment 48d makes contact with a stop 62 which protrudes from the frame 36. The rocker lever 48 in due course reaches an angular position where its arm 48c becomes clear of the tip of the extension 54b of the intermediate lever 54 with the result that the extension 54b is aligned with the recess 48f of the rocker lever 48.In this condition, the intermediate lever 54 is ready to move in the previously mentioned direction aboutthe pins 56 and 58to allow its lug 54a to follow the movement of the swing arm portion 30j. In the meantime, a resilient force which tends to return the rocker lever 48 in the clockwise direction is stored in the spring 50.

The rocker lever 48 undergoes the above-men- tioned counterclockwise movement with the upper end 48h ofthe projection 48e sliding on the underside of the leg 34a of the support plate 34, the abutment 48d being stopped by the stop 62 afterthe projection 48e is fully released from the leg 34a. When the projection 48e has just moved clear of the leg 34a, its bore 489 has reached a position where it faces the pin 30c on the swing arm 30.

lntheabovecondition,the rocker lever 48 is freed from the restriction which has regulated its position in the vertical direction. Then, urged upwardly bythe spring 50 as indicated by an arrow Y2 in Fig. 7, the lever 48 accommodates the pin 30c in the bore 48g ofthe projection 48e while having the projection 48e aligned with an edge 34n of the leg 34a. As a result, the rocker arm 48 is prevented from moving further upward by the pin 30c or from rotating further clockwise by the edge34n of the leg 34a, against which the projection 48e bears.

After the disk 12 has settled in the loading position as described above, the clamp lever28 is manually rotated clockwise over substantially 90 degrees as indicated in Fig. 3 until it abuts against a shoulder 64 of the housing 24. The clamp lever 28 then causes the cam 46to rotate in the same direction through the shaft 44. The swing arm 30, pressed downwardly by the cam 46 from above as indicated by an arrows1 in Fig. 4, is rotated aboutthe shaft 38 againstthe action of the spring 42, lowering the clamper32 integrally therewith.

Due to the rotation of the swing arm 30, the pin 30c urges the rocker lever 48 in the direction V, againstthe action of the spring 50 down to a position indicated by a broken line in Fig. 7, where the projection 48e assumes a lower level than the leg 34a of the support plate 34. Here, the pin 30c on the swing arm 30 is movable within the bore 489 of the rocker lever48 because of the previously stated relationship in diameter. Hence, as soon as the top 48h ofthe projection 48e sinks beyond the underside of the leg 34a,the rocker lever 48 is moved clockwise by the returning force ofthe spring 50 over a short distance until the inner wall of he bore48g is stopped by the pin 30c as shown in Fig. 9, the top 48h partly slipping into the space below the leg 34a. The rocker lever 48 in such a clockwise motion causes its abutment 48d to urge the disk 12 a short distance in a direction X2, which is opposite to the direction X2, as far as a predetermined clamping position. In this instance, although the rocker lever 48 is returned a short angular distance in the clockwise direction while so urging the disk 12 to the clamping position, its arm 48c still remains clear of the extension 54b of the intermediate lever 54 and, therefore, does not interfere with an angular motion of the rocker lever 54 which istofollow.

The clamper 32 is lowered integrally with the swing arm 30 and, when coupled in the central hole 20 of the disk 14, cooperates with aturntable (not shown) to surely clamp the disk 14 therebetween with its center axis aligned with that of the latter. As the portion 30j of the swing arm 30 is lowered, the intermediate lever 54 now free from the restraint of the rocker lever 48 is rotated aboutthe pins 56 and 58 bythespring 60 such thatthe lug 54a moves downwardly following the movement of the swing arm portion 30j and the extension 54b, upwardly through the recess 48f.As a result the follower arm 52a of the head holder 52 moves downwardly following the movement of the intermediate lever 54 until the head on the head holder 52 makes contact with the disk surface, whereby the disk 14 is held between the pair of heads to be ready to record or reproduce data thereinto orthereoutof.

To ejectthedisk outofthe housing 24, one rotates the clamp lever 28 counterclockwise over 90 degrees away from the shoulder 64, whereby the swing arm 30 is freed from the pressure ofthe cam 46.

Then,theswing arm 30 swings upward aboutthe shaft 38 urged by the spring 42, thereby raising the clamper32 in the direction V2, to unclamp the disk 12.

The swing arm 30 during such an upward motion lifts its pin 30c out ofthe bore 489 of the rocker lever 48 to cancel the restriction on the lever 48 in the rocking direction. Since the projection 48e of the lever 48 has already been abutted against the underside ofthe leg i 34a ofthe support plate 34 over a part of its top 48h and,therefore, unmovable any further in the direction Y2,the lever 48 is rotated further clockwise bythe spring 50 to restore the same position as before the insertion of the disk 12, where the side of the projection 48e bears against the upright wall 36c of the frame 36.

The rocker lever48 during the clockwise motion strikesagainstthethen unclamped disk 1 2 at its abutment48d to push it in the direction X2 and, thereby, eject it outwardly from the slot 26 of the housing 24to a position suitableforeasy access. In the course of the ejection, the swing arm 30 raises the lug 54a ofthe intermediate lever 54 and, thereby, the head holder 52 away from the disk 14 th rough the fol lower arm 52a. As a result, the extension 54b of the lever 54 is locked in position again by the arm 48c of the rocker lever 48 which has restored the original position shown in Fig. 1.

As described above, the rocker lever 48 which is one ofcharacteristicfeatures of the present invention allows the head holder52and,therefore,itsassoci- ated head to move toward the other head only after the disk 12 has been loaded in the housing 24. Stated anotherway,itpreventsthehead holder52from moving toward the other head exceptforthe condition wherein the disk 12 has been inserted into the housing 24 and adequately clamped, thereby eliminating interengagementofthetwo headsdueto manipulation ofthe clamp lever 24 in the absence ofthe disk 12.

Further, the rocker lever 48 fulfills three different functions at the same time: restricting the movement ofthe head ho!der52towardtheother head as mentioned above before the disk 12 is inserted, positioning the disk 12 when it is loaded in the housing 24, and pushing out the disk 12 in the event of ejection.

Such eliminates the need for an exclusive member otherwise required as an implementation to avoid careless manipulation of the clamp lever 28 and, thereby, the need for an extra space in the housing.

In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a data recording and reproducing device using a flexible magnetic diskwhich is costand space-effective due to the use of a multi-function rocker lever, instead of the conventional exclusive solenoid, in avoiding contact of upper and lower solenoids before the insertion of the disk. The space-effective configuration will contribute a great deal to the production ofthis kind of device in a smaller design.

Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the art after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (12)

1. A magnetic disk driving device for driving a flexible magnetic diskto record and reproduce data into and out ofthe disk, comprising: a head holder holding a magnetic head thereon and movable toward and away from a predetermined disk loading position defined inside the device; clamping means for clam ping the diskwhen the disk is inserted into the device to settle at the disk loading position; an interlocking memberfor interlocking said head holderto said clamping means such thatthe head holder is movable toward the disk in the disk loading position in response to a clamping motion of said clamping means; and an interlocking inhibiting memberfor inhibiting said interlocking memberfrom interlocking the head holderto the clamping means if the disk is absent in the disk loading position when the clamping means is caused into the clamping motion, said interlock inhibiting member allowing the interlocking member to interlockthe head holderto the clamping means when pushed by the disk which is being inserted toward the disk loading position.

2. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interlocking member is provided with a tendency to follow the clamping motion of the clamping meanstowardthe disk loading position.

3. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the interlocking membercomprisesa rotatably supported intermediate lever.

4. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the intermediate lever is constantly biased by a torsion spring to have said tendency, the interlock inhibiting member inhibiting said intermediate lever against said torsion spring.

5. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head holder comprises a resilient body which is constantly biased toward the disk loading position.

6. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the head holderfurthercomprisesa follower arm extending from the bodyto rest on the interlocking membertofollowa movement of the interlocking member.

7. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interlock inhibiting member comprises a rocker lever.

8. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rocker lever is constantly biased by a torsion spring in a direction for inhibiting the interlocking member.

9. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rocker lever includes a first arm engageable with an edge of the disk when the disk is inserted toward the disk loading position, and a second arm engageable with the interlocking member.

10. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and second arms defne a recess therebetween which aligns with the interlocking member when the first arm of the rocker lever is pushed by the disk against the torsion spring, allowing the interlocking memberto move through said recess for interlocking the head holder to the clamping means.

11. A magnetic disk driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping means comprises a swing arm which is constantly biased away from the disk loading position.

12. A magnetic disk driving device substantially as herein escribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.