US20010043544A1 - Cartridge loading apparatus and methods of manufacturing and operating same - Google Patents
Cartridge loading apparatus and methods of manufacturing and operating same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010043544A1 US20010043544A1 US09/256,336 US25633699A US2001043544A1 US 20010043544 A1 US20010043544 A1 US 20010043544A1 US 25633699 A US25633699 A US 25633699A US 2001043544 A1 US2001043544 A1 US 2001043544A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- slider
- cartridge
- disk
- tiller
- receiver
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/02—Details
- G11B17/04—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
- G11B17/041—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit specially adapted for discs contained within cartridges
- G11B17/043—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means
- G11B17/0438—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means with mechanism for subsequent vertical movement of the disc and opening mechanism of the cartridge shutter
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B11/00—Recording on or reproducing from the same record carrier wherein for these two operations the methods are covered by different main groups of groups G11B3/00 - G11B7/00 or by different subgroups of group G11B9/00; Record carriers therefor
- G11B11/10—Recording on or reproducing from the same record carrier wherein for these two operations the methods are covered by different main groups of groups G11B3/00 - G11B7/00 or by different subgroups of group G11B9/00; Record carriers therefor using recording by magnetic means or other means for magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier, e.g. light induced spin magnetisation; Demagnetisation by thermal or stress means in the presence or not of an orienting magnetic field
- G11B11/105—Recording on or reproducing from the same record carrier wherein for these two operations the methods are covered by different main groups of groups G11B3/00 - G11B7/00 or by different subgroups of group G11B9/00; Record carriers therefor using recording by magnetic means or other means for magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier, e.g. light induced spin magnetisation; Demagnetisation by thermal or stress means in the presence or not of an orienting magnetic field using a beam of light or a magnetic field for recording by change of magnetisation and a beam of light for reproducing, i.e. magneto-optical, e.g. light-induced thermomagnetic recording, spin magnetisation recording, Kerr or Faraday effect reproducing
- G11B11/10532—Heads
- G11B11/10541—Heads for reproducing
- G11B11/10543—Heads for reproducing using optical beam of radiation
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B11/00—Recording on or reproducing from the same record carrier wherein for these two operations the methods are covered by different main groups of groups G11B3/00 - G11B7/00 or by different subgroups of group G11B9/00; Record carriers therefor
- G11B11/10—Recording on or reproducing from the same record carrier wherein for these two operations the methods are covered by different main groups of groups G11B3/00 - G11B7/00 or by different subgroups of group G11B9/00; Record carriers therefor using recording by magnetic means or other means for magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier, e.g. light induced spin magnetisation; Demagnetisation by thermal or stress means in the presence or not of an orienting magnetic field
- G11B11/105—Recording on or reproducing from the same record carrier wherein for these two operations the methods are covered by different main groups of groups G11B3/00 - G11B7/00 or by different subgroups of group G11B9/00; Record carriers therefor using recording by magnetic means or other means for magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier, e.g. light induced spin magnetisation; Demagnetisation by thermal or stress means in the presence or not of an orienting magnetic field using a beam of light or a magnetic field for recording by change of magnetisation and a beam of light for reproducing, i.e. magneto-optical, e.g. light-induced thermomagnetic recording, spin magnetisation recording, Kerr or Faraday effect reproducing
- G11B11/1055—Disposition or mounting of transducers relative to record carriers
- G11B11/10556—Disposition or mounting of transducers relative to record carriers with provision for moving or switching or masking the transducers in or out of their operative position
- G11B11/10558—Disposition or mounting of transducers relative to record carriers with provision for moving or switching or masking the transducers in or out of their operative position in view of the loading or unloading of the carrier
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/02—Details
- G11B17/022—Positioning or locking of single discs
- G11B17/028—Positioning or locking of single discs of discs rotating during transducing operation
- G11B17/0288—Positioning or locking of single discs of discs rotating during transducing operation by means for moving the turntable or the clamper towards the disk
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/02—Details
- G11B17/04—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
- G11B17/0401—Details
- G11B17/0405—Closing mechanism, e.g. door
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/02—Details
- G11B17/04—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
- G11B17/041—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit specially adapted for discs contained within cartridges
- G11B17/043—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means
- G11B17/0434—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means with mechanism for subsequent vertical movement of the disc
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/02—Details
- G11B17/04—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
- G11B17/041—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit specially adapted for discs contained within cartridges
- G11B17/043—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means
- G11B17/0436—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means with opening mechanism of the cartridge shutter
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B7/00—Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation by modifying optical properties or the physical structure, reproducing using an optical beam at lower power by sensing optical properties; Record carriers therefor
- G11B7/08—Disposition or mounting of heads or light sources relatively to record carriers
- G11B7/085—Disposition or mounting of heads or light sources relatively to record carriers with provision for moving the light beam into, or out of, its operative position or across tracks, otherwise than during the transducing operation, e.g. for adjustment or preliminary positioning or track change or selection
- G11B7/0857—Arrangements for mechanically moving the whole head
- G11B7/08582—Sled-type positioners
Definitions
- This invention relates in general to data storage systems of the type that include a housing having an opening for receipt of a removable disk cartridge in which an information recording medium is mounted for protection. More particularly, but without restriction to the particular embodiments hereinafter described in accordance with the best mode of practice, this invention relates to a cartridge loading apparatus for respectively loading and unloading a removable disk cartridge on and off a magnetically clamped spindle interface for rotation relative to read-write head while in a loaded position.
- optical data storage systems are becoming an increasingly popular means for meeting this expanding demand. These optical data systems provide large volumes of relatively low-cost storage that may be quickly accessed.
- coded video signals, audio signals, or other information signals are recorded on a disk in the form of information tracks on one or both planar surfaces of the disk.
- At the heart of an optical storage system is at least one laser or other light source.
- the laser In a first operating mode, the laser generates a high-intensity laser beam that is focused on a small spot on an information track of a rotating storage disk.
- This high-intensity laser beam raises the temperature of the recording surface of the material above its Curie Point—the point at which the material loses its magnetization and accepts the magnetization of the magnetic field in which the disk is placed.
- information may be recorded on the disk in the form of “pits” or “marks” on the recording medium.
- the laser enters a second operating mode.
- the laser generates a low-intensity laser beam that is again focused on the tracks of the rotating disk.
- This lower intensity laser beam does not heat the disk above its Curie Point.
- the laser beam is, however, reflected from the disk surface in a manner indicative of the previously recorded information due to the presence of the previously formed pits or marks, and the previously recorded information may thereby be reproduced. Since the laser may be tightly focused, an information processing system of this type has advantages of high recording density and accurate reproduction of the recorded information.
- the components of a typical optical system include a housing with an insertion port through which the user inserts the recording media into the drive.
- This housing accommodates, among other items, the mechanical and electrical subsystems for loading, reading from, writing to, and unloading an optical disk.
- the operation of these mechanical and electrical subsystems is typically within the exclusive control of the data processing system to which the drive is connected.
- a turntable for rotating a disk thereon is typically mounted on the system baseplate.
- the turntable may include a spindle having a magnet upon which a disk hub is mounted for use. The magnet attracts the disk hub, thereby holding the disk in a desired position for rotation.
- optical data storage systems for storing digital information.
- standard optical disk systems may use 51 ⁇ 4 inch disks, and these optical disks may or may not be mounted in a protective case or cartridge. If the optical disk is not fixedly mounted in a protective cartridge, an operator manually removes the disk from the protective case. The operator would then manually load the disk onto a loading mechanism, using care to prevent damage to the recording surface.
- a disk may be mounted within an enclosure or a cartridge that is itself inserted into the insertion port of the drive and is then conveyed to a predetermined position.
- These disk cartridges are well known in the computer arts.
- the disk cartridge includes a cartridge housing containing a disk upon which data may be recorded.
- the disk cartridge typically includes at least one door or shutter that is normally closed.
- the cartridge shutter may have one or more locking tabs associated with it.
- the corresponding disk drive includes a mechanism for opening the door or shutter on the cartridge as the cartridge is pushed into the system. Such a mechanism may include a door link that makes contact with a locking tab, thereby unlocking the shutter.
- the shutter is opened to partially expose the information recording medium contained therein. This permits a disk hub to be loaded onto a spindle of a motor or other drive mechanism, and permits entry of a read-write head and a bias magnetic into the protective cartridge.
- the disk when rotated by the drive mechanism, permits the read-write head to access all portions of the disk media.
- a loading device for performing this loading and unloading of the disk is generally constructed so that during disk loading (i.e., when the disk is moved from an ejected position into the player and onto the spindle), the disk is moved horizontally, parallel to the baseplate and turntable, towards the turntable. When the disk has been positioned above the turntable, the disk is lowered vertically, perpendicular to the face of the turntable, onto the spindle. Once on the turntable, a spindle magnet attracts the disk hub fixed to the center of the media, thereby clamping the disk in a rotatable condition for read-write operations.
- the electric ejection motor In conventional electric ejection systems, wherein the disk cartridge unloading apparatus vertically lifts the disk cartridge to break the magnetic force between the spindle magnet and the disk hub, the electric ejection motor must generate a large load to effect removal of the disk cartridge. Consequently, when an operator opts to use the electric ejection system, a large motor having a large torque is required to generate sufficient vertical lifting force. Space must be reserved in the system housing to accommodate this large motor, thereby increasing the overall size of the housing for the cartridge-loading apparatus. In addition, the large motor consumes a considerable amount of power.
- Another object of this invention is to mitigate the above-described problems and disadvantages by optimizing mechanical interaction of the component elements of an optical recording medium mounting apparatus.
- Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the load required from a disk ejection mechanism during disk loading and unloading.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to load and unload a disk cartridge in a disk drive while minimizing displacement between an upper position and a loaded position.
- Still another object of this invention is to improve methods for operating a cartridge loading apparatus utilized in conjunction with a disk drive system.
- Still yet a further object of this invention is to reduce the friction between moving component parts of a cartridge loading and unloading assembly and apparatus as utilized in a disk drive.
- An additional object of the present invention is to employ a direct gear train for transmitting force among the component elements of a cartridge loading apparatus to thereby more effectively transfer and reduce the force needed to activate the moving component elements.
- Yet a further object of the present invention is to improve the cartridge receiver of a cartridge loading apparatus as employed in a disk drive.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to improve methods of manufacturing a cartridge loading apparatus employed in conjunction with a disk drive system.
- Still a further object of the present invention is to improve a cartridge loading apparatus with a tilting bias coil assembly for use in a disk drive.
- Yet still another object of this invention is to improve the parking arm of a cartridge loading apparatus as employed in a disk drive.
- Still another object of this invention is to improve the sliders of a cartridge loading apparatus as utilized in a disk drive.
- Yet a further object of the present invention is to improve the tiller of a cartridge loading apparatus as employed in a disk drive.
- Still yet another object of this invention is to improve methods for assembling the elements of a cartridge loading apparatus for use in a disk drive system.
- a cartridge unloading apparatus for a disk drive having a cartridge loading end, a remote end, and a base plate.
- the apparatus is employed for tiltably unloading the disk from a spindle magnet with a peeling action.
- the apparatus includes a first slider having a forward end adjacent the cartridge loading end of the disk drive and a remote end adjacent the remote end of the disk drive.
- the first slider has only one S-shaped slot formed therein.
- a second slider having a forward end adjacent the cartridge loading end of the disk drive and a remote end adjacent the remote end of the disk drive is also provided.
- the second slider similarly has only one S-shaped slot formed therein.
- a tiller having a first end and a second end.
- the first end of the tiller is swingably linked with the forward end of the first slider
- the second end of the tiller is swingably linked with the forward end of the second slider.
- a cartridge receiver for receiving a respective cartridge containing a disk with a central hub.
- the cartridge receiver is moveable between an upper position and a lower position when the sliders are driven by the tiller.
- first lifting pin and a second lifting pin associated with the cartridge receiver.
- the first lifting pin slidably fits into one of the S-shaped slots, and the second lifting pin slidably fits into the other S-shaped slot.
- the lifting pins are non-coplanar with a plane that is parallel to the ends of the disk drive and perpendicular to a base plate, and that passes through substantially the center of the spindle magnet.
- the cartridge loading apparatus includes a stop cooperatively interacting with the sliders to prevent the sliders from further movement when the disk is fully loaded.
- the cartridge loading apparatus of either of the above embodiments further includes a first slider channel in which the first slider is slidably mounted and a second slider channel in which the second slider is slidably mounted.
- the base plate includes one pair of substantially vertical slots in which the lifting pins are accommodated in a raising and lowering motion of the receiver.
- a label end of the cartridge remains visible when the cartridge is loaded in the drive while contained and protected within the cartridge loading end of the disk drive for reading and/or writing. In this manner, an operator may write on the label, or attach other printed labels, to indicate what information is being stored thereon while the disk drive is operating.
- a disk drive system having a spindle magnet, and a spindle motor adapted to operate in conjunction with any of the above embodiments of the cartridge loading apparatus according to this invention.
- rotation of the tiller in the first direction tiltably unloads the disk from the spindle magnet
- rotation of the tiller in the second direction tiltably loads the disk onto the spindle magnet with a raising and lowering motion.
- a method of loading a disk onto and, alternatively, unloading a disk from a magnetically clamped spindle interface of a disk drive system having a front side and a rear side includes steps of providing a cartridge receiver having a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin each respectively mounted on first and second sides of the cartridge receiver, and positioning a first slider and a second slider relative to the cartridge receiver.
- the first slider is slidably mounted in a first slider channel and the second slider is slidably mounted in a second slider channel.
- the method continues with the steps of providing one S-shaped slot in the first slider, providing one S-shaped slot in the second slider, and swingably attaching a tiller to the sliders so that the sliders move in opposite directions from each other and within their respective slider channels under the influence of the tiller.
- the tiller axis is fixed relative to the disk drive system.
- the method then concludes with the steps of linking a cartridge receiver to the first slider and to the second slider by their respective S-shaped slots and permitting the sliders to move relative to each other and relative to the cartridge receiver, thereby causing the lifting pins to follow the slots in the sliders to alternatively raise and lower the cartridge receiver.
- the permitting step includes inserting a disk cartridge into the cartridge receiver until a remote end of the disk cartridge releases a receiver latch thereby preventing the sliders from moving.
- the unloading of the disk from the magnetically clamped spindle interface of the disk drive system may advantageously include causing the tiller to rotate to activate the sliders to drive the lifting pins along the slots to thereby tiltably raise the cartridge receiver.
- the tiller is manually activated to rotate thereby tiltably raising the cartridge receiver and unloading the disk.
- the tiller is caused to rotate by an electric motor to thereby tiltably raise the cartridge receiver and unload the disk.
- an optical disc system adapted to be operated according to any of the above methods.
- a method of manufacturing a cartridge loading and unloading mechanism operatively associated with a disc drive having a housing with a cartridge loading end and a remote end includes the steps of placing in the housing a first slider having one first S-shaped slot formed therein so that a forward end of the first slider is adjacent the cartridge loading end of the housing and a remote end of the first slider is adjacent the remote end of the housing, placing in the housing a second slider having one second S-shaped slot formed therein so that a forward end of the second slider is adjacent the cartridge loading end of the housing and a remote end of the second slider is adjacent the remote end of the housing, and swingably connecting a first end of a tiller to the first slider and swingably connecting a second end of the tiller to the second slider so that rotation of the tiller in a first direction about a tiller axis drives the first slider toward the cartridge loading end of the housing while driving the second slider toward the remote end of the housing, and rotation of the tiller in a second direction about the
- This manufacturing method further includes slidably connecting to the sliders a cartridge receiver having a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin associated therewith so that the first lifting pin fits slidably into the first S-shaped slot, and the second lifting pin fits slidably into the second S-shaped slot.
- a cartridge loading and unloading apparatus for removable disk cartridges including a pair of sliders and a tiller.
- the tiller has two ends, one of which is swingably connected to the forward end of the first slider, and the other of which is swingably connected to the forward end of the second slider.
- Rotation of the tiller in a first direction about a tiller axis drives the first slider toward the cartridge loading end of the drive unit while driving the second slider toward the remote end of the drive unit
- rotation of the tiller in a second direction about the tiller axis drives the first slider toward the remote end of the drive unit while driving the second slider toward the cartridge loading end of the drive unit.
- S-shaped slots in the sliders act on lift pins associated with the cartridge receiver to raise or lower the cartridge receiver.
- the apparatus includes a cartridge receiver having first and second lifting points which are located on opposite sides of the cartridge receiver and positioned to cause the cartridge receiver to tilt about a first axis when a force is applied to the lifting points to thereby move a first end of said cartridge receiver from a first position to a second position.
- This embodiment further includes a stop for impeding movement of the first end of the cartridge receiver when it has moved to the second position. The stop also provides a pivot point for movement of a second end of the cartridge receiver from a first position to a second position.
- the first and second lifting points in this embodiment may be provided by a first and second lifting pin on said cartridge receiver.
- first slider having only one S-shaped slot formed therein
- second slider having only one S-shaped formed therein.
- first lifting pin is slidably contained within the S-shaped slot of the first slider
- second lifting pin is slidably contained within the S-shaped slot of the second slider.
- This embodiment may also further include a tiller arm having a first end connected to a first end of the first slider and a second end connected to a first end of the second slider.
- FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a disk drive according to the present invention with a disk cartridge about to be inserted therein;
- FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the disk drive of FIG. 1, showing the major subassemblies of the disk drive as operated and assembled according to the present invention
- FIGS. 3 A- 3 B are isometric views of the baseplate of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the drive of FIG. 1 with some features removed to better show the tiller, the tiller-driving gears, the motor that drives these gears, and the operative relationship between these features in accordance with this invention;
- FIGS. 5 A- 5 F are elevational and isometric views of a tiller according to the present invention.
- FIGS. 6 A- 6 C include elevational and isometric views of a left slider as utilized in accordance with this invention.
- FIGS. 7 A- 7 E show elevational and isometric views of a right slider as utilized according to the present invention.
- FIGS. 8 A- 8 C present elevational and isometric views of a parking arm according to the present invention.
- FIG. 9A is an isometric bottom view of the disk drive of FIG. 1, illustrating in particular the fine actuator assembly carriage which supports the optics used to focus the laser beam on the data track of an optical disk as operated in conjunction with this invention;
- FIG. 9B is an elevational view of the fine actuator assembly carriage parking arm in two positions according to the present invention, one drawn in phantom showing its action of parking the carriage at the back of the drive while the drive is at rest;
- FIGS. 10 A- 10 B are isometric views of a cartridge receiver according to the present invention.
- FIG. 11A is an elevational view of the disk drive of FIG. 1, seen during insertion of a disk cartridge, with some features removed to better show the trip lug on the right door link, the latch, and the operative relationship between these features according to the present invention;
- FIG. 11B is an elevational view of the drive FIG. 1, showing the disk cartridge at a further stage of insertion, wherein the cartridge shutter is partially opened by the left door link to reveal the surface of the optical data storage disk;
- FIGS. 12 A- 12 B are isometric views of a latch that holds the cartridge receiver in the up position in accordance with the teachings of this invention
- FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a bias coil assembly clamp according to the present invention.
- FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a bias coil assembly according to the present invention.
- FIG. 15 is an exploded isometric view of the major components forming the bias coil assembly in accordance with this invention.
- FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a pivot bar or rail that rotatably supports the bias coil assembly shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;
- FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the bias coil assembly flexure to which the bias coil assembly is mounted and which is in turn mounted to the pivot bar depicted in FIG. 16;
- FIG. 18 is an elevational view of the right side of the cartridge receiver and the cartridge just before initiation of an cartridge-eject cycle, depicting the disk mounted in operating position on the spindle;
- FIG. 19 is an elevational view of the right side of the cartridge receiver and the cartridge during the cartridge-eject cycle, showing the cartridge being tipped and the disk being peeled off the spindle according to the present invention.
- FIG. 20 is an elevational view of the right side of the cartridge receiver and the cartridge during the cartridge-eject cycle, illustrating the cartridge loading system in the up position and the disk starting to be ejected from the disk drive.
- FIG. 1 depicts a replaceable disk cartridge 13 positioned for insertion into the disk drive 10 incorporating the cartridge loading and unloading apparatus of the present invention.
- the disk drive 10 includes a bottom housing 16 and a face plate 19 .
- the face plate 19 includes a disk receiving port 22 , a drive activity indicator light 25 , and an ejection button 28 .
- the disk cartridge 13 which is of a conventional type, includes the following primary components. Its outer housing includes an upper planar surface 31 and a lower planar surface 32 (shown in, for example, FIG. 20). The disk cartridge also has a forward-facing label end 34 . In the preferred embodiment, the forward-facing label end 34 of the disk cartridge 13 remains visible to a user while the disk cartridge 13 is inserted in the disk drive 10 . Side walls, for example side wall 37 , extend between the upper planar surface 31 and the lower planar surface 32 , and the cartridge further includes a rear wall 38 (shown in, for example, FIG. 19) extending between the upper planar surface 31 and the lower planar surface 32 parallel to the forward-facing label end 34 . Near the label end 34 of the side walls 37 are channels 40 to accommodate cartridge locating pins 43 (FIGS. 3 A- 3 B) located on the base plate 46 .
- the disk cartridge 13 also includes a cartridge door or shutter 49 .
- the shutter 49 is spring-loaded in a closed position (FIGS. 1, 2, and 11 A). When the shutter 49 is open, it rests in a recessed portion 52 of the upper planar surface 31 . Since the disk drive 10 of the preferred embodiment reads two-sided disk cartridges 13 , a similar shutter and recessed portion exists on the lower planar surface 32 , but these features are not shown in the figures.
- the shutter typically has a shutter latch 55 (not shown) on the rear wall 38 of the disk cartridge 13 .
- a disk 14 (FIGS. 18 - 20 ) having a metallic disk hub 15 .
- the disk 14 may be formed as a rigid substrate having a magnetic material coating thereon. Embedded in the magnetic material coating are tracks in the form of concentric or spiraling rings. The magnetic coating may be on either one or both surfaces of the rigid substrate, and the coating enables data to be magnetically recorded on the disk 14 by magnetic transducers, typically referred to as heads.
- the metallic disk hub 15 At the center of the rigid substrate is the metallic disk hub 15 .
- the primary component groups within the disk drive 10 of the present invention include the following.
- a spindle motor 61 is shown mounted on the base plate 46 .
- the spindle motor 61 includes a spindle magnet 63 which attracts the metallic disk hub 15 of the disk 14 when the disk cartridge 13 is installed in the disk drive 10 .
- the ejection mechanism of the present invention is shown generally at 67 .
- the ejection mechanism 67 includes a left slider 70 , a right slider 73 , and a tiller 76 .
- the ejection mechanism 76 is described more fully below.
- a parking arm 79 is also depicted in FIG.
- the cartridge receiver is shown generally at 82 . Also shown in FIG. 2 are the left door link 85 , the right door link 88 , and the receiver door 91 , each of which is pivotally attached to the cartridge receiver 82 .
- the drive face plate 19 is depicted in front of the cartridge receiver 82 .
- a rotatable, magnetic bias coil assembly 94 is depicted attached to a bias coil arm 97 , with bias coil clamps 100 depicted above the bias coil arm. Further details about each of these primary component assemblies will next be provided.
- the bottom housing 16 includes side walls 103 and a back wall 106 .
- On the inside base of the bottom housing 16 are four mounting stations 109 to which the base plate 46 is secured.
- the bottom housing 16 would also encase the control electronics, which are not depicted in the figures.
- the base plate 46 is mounted on the four mounting stations 109 (FIG. 2) of the bottom housing 16 .
- the base plate 46 has many components either molded into, embedded into, attached to, or associated with it.
- Base plate 46 is the “glue” that brings the many components of this invention together and permits them to interact.
- the left and right outer side walls 115 , 121 each includes a vertical slot 130 , 133 , respectively.
- the left vertical slot 130 accommodates the left lift pin 136 (FIG. 10A) on the cartridge receiver 82 when the cartridge receiver 82 is in place around the base plate 46 .
- the right vertical slot 133 similarly accommodates the right lift pin 139 (FIG. 10B) of the cartridge receiver 82 .
- the two cartridge locating pins 43 are positioned near the forward ends of the left and right outer side walls 115 , 121 , respectively. These locating pins 43 are adapted to engage the cartridge channels 40 (FIG. 1). When the pins 43 are located in the channels 40 , the pins 43 hold the disk cartridge 13 and prevent it from moving both laterally (i.e., side-to-side) and longitudinally (i.e., forward and backward).
- the spindle motor mount 142 is molded into the bottom of the base plate 46 .
- the spindle motor 61 (FIG. 2) may be held on the spindle motor mount 142 by, for example, spring clips (not shown) attached to the intermediate rib 145 .
- the base plate 46 has various axes and mounting pins associated therewith.
- a tiller pivot axis 148 is mounted on the base plate 46 adjacent to the spindle motor mount 142 .
- a tiller-spring pin 151 is fixed to the bottom of the base plate 46 near the forward wall 112 (FIG. 3A).
- the other pins attached to the bottom of the base plate 46 near the forward wall 112 act as pivot shafts for the gears in the ejection gear train.
- the base plate 46 also includes a left slider channel 154 and a right slider channel 157 .
- the slider channels 154 , 157 extend along the sides of the base plate 46 .
- the left slider channel 154 is formed between the left outer side wall 115 and the left inner side wall 118 .
- the left slider 70 is sandwiched between the left inner side wall 118 and the left outer side wall 115 , and rides in the left slider channel 154 (see, e.g., FIGS. 4, 9B and 11 A-B).
- the right slider channel 157 is formed between the right outer side wall 121 and the right inner side wall 124 .
- the right slider 73 When in position, the right slider 73 is sandwiched between the right inner side wall 124 and the right outer side wall 121 , and rides in the right slider channel 157 .
- the left and right sliders 70 , 73 respectively, may be held in their respective channels 154 , 157 by, for example, “ears” on the spring clips (not shown) that hold the spindle motor 61 in position on the spindle motor mount 142 .
- a socket 160 is formed in the base plate 46 where the rear of the right inner side wall 124 merges with the rear of the right outer side wall 121 .
- This socket 160 accommodates the pivot pin 163 (FIGS. 12B and 12A) of the receiver latch 166 .
- the receiver latch 166 has a vertical surface 169 (FIG. 12B) upon which a latch-release trip lug 172 (FIGS. 2 and 11A-B), which is fixed to the right door link 88 , impacts to release the receiver latch 166 .
- the base plate 46 has a port 175 in the rear vertical wall 127 .
- the laser diode (not shown), which would be located behind the rear vertical wall between the left corner pillar 178 and the right corner pillar 181 , shines through the port 175 and into the fine actuator assembly carriage 184 (FIGS. 4 , 9 A-B, and 11 A-B), which contains the optics that focus the laser beam on an information track on the disk 14 .
- the carriage 184 is discussed in greater detail below.
- the base plate 46 also has a hole 187 molded therein (FIG. 3A) to accommodate the pivot shaft 190 of the parking arm 79 .
- This hole 187 is molded as an integral part of the left inner side wall 118 .
- FIG. 4 shows the parking arm 79 in place with its pivot shaft 190 in the hole 187 .
- the parking arm 79 includes a pressing end 193 .
- the parking arm 79 has a jaw 196 formed on the end remote from the pressing end 193 .
- the jaw 196 has a long side 199 and a short side 202 .
- the jaw 196 straddles the lug 205 (FIG. 6C) on the left slider 70 .
- the parking arm 79 in position, with its jaw 196 straddling the lug 205 of the left slider 70 may be seen to best advantage in FIGS. 4, 9B and 11 A-B.
- the position of the parking arm 79 is thereby dictated by the location of the left slider 70 in the left slider channel 154 .
- FIG. 9A shows the carriage 184 which supports the fine actuator assembly and related optics used to focus the laser beam on an information track of the optical disk surface.
- the fine actuator assembly carriage 184 in particular is of the type employed in the OMA optical drive sold by MOST, Inc., of Colorado Springs, Colo., USA.
- carriage 184 contains a 45° mirror (not shown) which redirects a laser beam generated in optics module 189 up through a fine actuator motor-driven focusing lens (not shown) onto the surface of the optical disk.
- the support rails 208 upon which carriage 184 rides are partially revealed.
- parking arm 79 parks fine actuator assembly carriage 184 .
- the carriage 184 focuses the laser beam coming from the optics module through the port 175 in the rear vertical wall 127 of the base plate 46 . Specifically, the carriage positions the laser beam over the center of a data track containing data to be read.
- the carriage 184 rides on support rails 208 .
- a conventional magnetic arrangement drives the carriage 184 along the rails 208 .
- the parking arm 79 which is powered by the left slider 70 , holds the carriage 184 toward the rear of the drive. This condition is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 11A-B, and is seen again in FIG. 9B where the parking arm 79 shown in solid lines.
- the parking arm 79 is rotated by the lug 205 pressing against the short side 202 of the jaw 196 until the pressing end 193 of the parking arm 79 holds the carriage 184 toward the back of the disk drive 10 .
- the left slider 70 When the cartridge receiver 82 is in its down position, the left slider 70 has been driven toward the rear of the disk drive 10 by the tiller 76 . Under this scenario, the lug 205 , which was driven rearward with the left slider 70 , has rotated the parking arm 79 toward the front of the disk drive 10 , as shown in phantom in FIG. 9B. With the left slider 70 and parking arm 79 in these positions, the carriage 184 is not influenced by the pressing end 193 of the parking arm 79 and may move freely above the disk 14 in the disk drive 10 .
- the ejection mechanism 67 which may be seen to best advantage in FIGS. 2 and 4, includes the following key features.
- An ejection motor 209 powers the ejection mechanism.
- the ejection motor 209 powers a gear train that powers the output cam which, in turn, forces the tiller to rotate in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4), thereby ejecting a disk cartridge 13 from the disk drive 10 .
- the motor 209 drives the worm gear 211 .
- the worm gear 211 is fixed to the central shaft of the ejection motor 209 . This worm gear 211 drives a first large gear 214 about a first axis 217 .
- This rotation of the first large gear 214 rotates a first small gear 220 , which is fixed to the bottom of the first large gear 214 for rotation therewith about the first gear axis 217 .
- the first small gear 220 drives a second large gear 223 about a second gear axis 226 .
- a second small gear 229 is fixed to the top of the second large gear for rotation therewith about the second gear axis 226 .
- the second small gear 229 drives a third large gear 232 about a third gear axis 235 .
- the third large gear 232 drives the cam 238 that forces the tiller 76 to rotate about the tiller axis 148 .
- the tiller 76 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 A- 5 F and FIG. 4.
- the tiller 76 is pivotally attached to the base plate 46 by the tiller axis 148 .
- a tiller-spring hook 240 is molded on the slender portion of the tiller 76 .
- a tiller spring 241 (FIG. 4 ) is attached between the tiller-spring hook 240 and the tiller-spring pin 151 (FIG. 3A).
- the tiller-spring 241 biases the tiller 76 in a second direction (clockwise in FIG. 4) about the tiller axis 148 . This is the cartridge-loading direction, which drives the right slider 73 forward and the left slider 70 rearward, to seat the disk cartridge 13 on the spindle motor 61 .
- the tiller further includes a tiller skirt or webbed portion 244 that rides on top of the tiller gear train and thereby helps to contain the ejection gears in position on their respective gear axes.
- the end of the tiller near the tiller skirt 244 includes a U-shaped jaw 247
- the tiller end remote from the skirt 244 includes a similar U-shaped jaw 250 .
- the U-shaped jaw 247 fits rotatably around the cylindrical connection post of the left slider 70 (FIG. 6C).
- the U-shaped jaw 250 of the tiller 76 fits rotatably around the cylindrical connection post 256 (FIG. 7E) of the right slider 73 .
- the tiller 76 is thereby pivotally connected to the forward ends of the left and right sliders 70 , 73 , respectively.
- the left and right sliders 70 , 73 are held in their respective slider channels 154 , 157 by the spring clips (not shown) which also hold the spindle motor 61 in position, the tiller 76 is held on the tiller axis 148 by the interaction between the U-shaped jaws 247 , 250 and the cylindrical connecting posts 153 , 156 .
- the left slider 70 rides in the left slider channel 154
- the right slider 73 rides in the right slider channel 157 under the influence of the tiller 76 . Further details concerning the sliders 70 , 73 is provided next.
- the left slider 70 includes the cylindrical connecting post 253 on its forward end.
- the parking arm lug 205 exists on a fist recessed portion 259 .
- the parking arm 79 slides along the first recessed portion 259 of the left slider 70 under the influence of the lug 205 .
- An S-shaped slot 262 is formed into the left slider 70 .
- the S-shaped slot 162 opens toward the left outer side wall 115 , adjacent to and behind the left vertical slot 130 .
- the left lift pin 136 FIG.
- the left lift pin 136 projects through the left vertical slot 130 and rides in the S-shaped slot 262 in the left slider 70 .
- the cartridge receiver 82 When the cartridge receiver 82 is thus positioned about the base plate 46 , with the left lift pin 136 riding in the vertical slot 130 and the S-shaped slot 262 , the cartridge receiver 82 is restricted from traveling forward or backward and may only travel up and down vertically.
- the vertical slot 130 restricts the forward-to-backward movement of the cartridge receiver 82
- the S-shaped slot 262 in the left slider 70 defines the vertical height of the cartridge receiver.
- the cartridge receiver 82 may be in its highest position, its lowest position, or at some position between its highest and lowest positions.
- a second recessed portion 265 is present on the top of the left slider 70 , FIG. 6C.
- a horizontal pin (not shown) may be attached to the base plate 46 so as to slip along the second recessed portion 265 . This horizontal pin (not shown) would limit the most forward and most rearward positions of the left slider because the pin would impact the edges of the second recessed portion 265 upon reaching one of the extreme positions of the left slider.
- the rear-most end of the left slider 70 includes a notch 268 , which may be seen to good advantage in both FIG. 6B and FIG. 2.
- the notch 268 is located on a displaced portion 272 of the left slider 70 .
- the notch 268 receives the lever arm 275 of the bias coil arm 97 , FIGS. 2 and 16. This lever arm 275 rotates the bias coil arm 97 depending upon the position of the left slider 70 , and in particular, the position of the notch 268 .
- the displaced portion 272 of the left slider 70 rides in a recess 278 (FIG. 3B) in the left outer side wall 115 of the base plate 46 .
- FIGS. 7 A- 7 E the features of the right slider 73 will be presented.
- the tiller 76 is connected to the right slider 73 via the cylindrical connection post 256 .
- the right slider 73 has an S-shaped slot 281 formed therein.
- This S-shaped slot 281 is a flipped version of the S-shaped slot 262 in the left slider 70 .
- FIG. 2 it is apparent that, when the sliders 70 , 73 are connected to the tiller 76 , the S-shaped slots 262 , 281 are flipped mirror images of each other. This arrangement is necessary since the sliders 70 , 73 move in opposite directions under the influence of the tiller 76 .
- the S-shaped slot 281 in the right slider 73 also opens toward the right outer side wall when the right slider 73 is in its operating position in the right slider channel 157 .
- the right lift pin 139 (FIG. 10B) rides in the right vertical slot 133 (FIG. 3B). Since the right lift pin 139 is longer than the right outer side wall 121 is thick, the right lift pin 139 projects through the right outer side wall 121 at the right vertical slot 133 and rides in the S-shaped slot 281 in the right slider 73 .
- the right vertical slot 133 restricts the right lifting pin 139 from traveling parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate 46 (i.e., parallel to a line passing perpendicularly through the forward wall 112 and the rear vertical wall 127 ).
- the vertical height of the cartridge receiver 82 is defined by the location of the right lift pin 139 in the S-shaped slot 281 .
- the S-shaped slot 281 in the right slider 73 travels behind the right vertical slot 133 at the same rate that the S-shaped slot 262 in the left slider 70 passes behind the left vertical slot 130 , but in an opposite direction.
- the flipped mirror image design of the S-shaped slots 262 , 281 ensures that the left and right lift pins 136 , 139 , respectively, are held at substantially the same vertical height above the bottom of the base plate 46 at any particular time.
- the right slider includes the following additional features.
- a recessed portion 284 is present on the top surface of the right slider 73 .
- a pin (not shown) may be mounted horizontally across the right slider channel 157 so as to slide along the recessed surface 284 .
- the horizontal pin sliding along the recessed surface 284 would limit the maximum forward and rearward travel of the right slider 73 since the horizontal pin would hit the edges of the recess 284 at the extremes of travel of the right slider 73 .
- the right slider 73 also includes a notched region 287 to accommodate a paw 290 (FIGS. 12A and 12B) of the receiver latch 166 .
- a raised portion 293 is present on the rear end of the right slider 73 .
- the cartridge receiver 82 is preferably a one-piece, injection molded piece of plastic to which the left door link 85 (FIG. 2) and right door link 88 are added.
- the cartridge receiver 82 rides on the outside of the left and right outer side walls 115 , 121 of the base plate 46 .
- the cartridge receiver 82 travels vertically up and down as the lift pins 136 , 139 move up and down as they follow their respective S-shaped slots 262 , 281 .
- the cartridge receiver 82 also pitches slightly up and down about an imaginary lateral axis passing through the left and right lift pins 136 , 139 . It is this slight pitching motion in conjunction with the up and down motion that generates the beneficial peeling action achieved by the instant invention.
- the cartridge receiver 82 may be snapped or lifted off of the remainder of the mechanism if the cover of the disk drive 10 is removed.
- the cartridge receiver 82 has a left cartridge receiving channel 305 and a right cartridge receiving channel 308 formed therein.
- a stop bumper 311 is positioned in the rear of the right cartridge-receiving channel 308 to prevent improper insertion of a disk cartridge 13 .
- the disk cartridge 13 has a pair of slots 314 molded into the side walls 37 . If the disk cartridge 13 is inserted correctly, with its rear wall 38 entering the disk receiving port 22 first, one of the slots 314 in the disk cartridge 13 will accommodate the stop bumper 311 and permit the cartridge 13 to be fully inserted into the drive 10 .
- the stop bumper 311 will impact the label end 34 of the disk cartridge 13 , thereby preventing full insertion of the disk cartridge 13 into the disk drive 10 .
- the rear wall 317 of the cartridge receiver 82 has a notched region 320 formed therein. This notched region permits the latch-release trip lug 172 (FIGS. 11 A-B) fixed to the right door link 88 to affect the vertical surface 169 (FIG. 12B) of the receiver latch 166 . Since the left and right door links 85 , 88 , respectively, are rotated toward the rear of the disk drive 10 as the disk cartridge 13 is inserted in the cartridge receiver 82 , as the disk cartridge 13 approaches full insertion, the trip lug 172 trips the receiver latch 166 by pressing against the vertical surface 169 to rotate the receiver latch 166 .
- This rotation of the receiver latch 166 frees the paw 290 from its latched position around the raised portion 293 of the right slider 73 .
- the cartridge receiver 182 can be lowered, placing the disk cartridge 13 in operating position on the spindle motor 61 .
- the left and right door links 85 , 88 are attached to the rear corners of the cartridge receiver 82 , near the rear wall 317 .
- the left door link 85 is rotatably mounted to the cartridge receiver 82 at a first pivot point 323
- the right door link 88 is rotatably mounted to the cartridge receiver 82 at a second pivot point 326 .
- the door links 85 , 88 are biased by a spring (not shown) toward the face plate 19 of the disk drive 10 .
- one or the other of the door links 85 , 88 unlatches the cartridge shutter lock and opens the cartridge shutter 49 as the disk cartridge 13 is inserted into the drive 10 .
- Whether the left door link 85 or the right door link 88 opens the cartridge shutter 49 is determined by which side of the disk cartridge 13 is facing up when the cartridge 13 is inserted into the drive 10 . If the disk cartridge 13 is inserted with the first side up, the right door link 88 operates the shutter latch and opens the shutter 49 . If the disk cartridge 13 is inserted with its other side up, the left door link 85 operates the shutter latch and opens the shutter 49 .
- door links 85 , 88 rest against door link stops 329 , which are integrally formed as part of the cartridge receiver 82 . These door link stops 329 ensure that the free ends 332 of the door links 85 , 88 are properly positioned to release the shutter latch and open the shutter 49 as the disk cartridge 13 is inserted into the drive 10 .
- FIG. 11B shows the disk cartridge 13 inserted into drive 10 to a depth such that free end 332 of door link 85 has begun to open shutter 49 , revealing the surface of optical disk 14 .
- the bias coil assembly 94 is used during writing and erasing operations of the disk drive 10 .
- the bias coil assembly 94 includes a steel bar 335 wrapped in a coil of wire 338 .
- the bias coil assembly 94 When the bias coil assembly 94 is positioned over a disk 14 , as shown to best advantage in FIG. 18, it extends radially across the disk 14 and is thus capable of generating a strong magnetic field over a radial strip of the disk 14 , extending from near the spindle 62 (FIGS. 18 - 20 ) to the edge of the disk 14 .
- the coil 338 and bar 335 are covered by a bias coil housing top 341 , which is mounted to a bias coil housing bottom 344 .
- the bias coil assembly 94 is mounted to the bias coil flexure 347 (FIG. 17), which is, in turn, mounted on the bias coil arm 97 (FIG. 16).
- the bias coil arm 97 straddles the width of the base plate 46 and is rotatably held by a pair of bias coil clamps 100 (FIG. 13) to the corner pillars 178 , 181 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) of the base plate 46 .
- the bias coil clamps 100 thus act as bearing blocks under which the bias coil arm 97 can rotate.
- the bias coil clamps 100 include a stop ledge 350 , which terminates the upward travel of the cartridge receiver 82 during an ejection operation, as discussed more fully below with reference to FIGS. 18 - 20 .
- the bias coil arm 97 includes a lever arm 275 in operative association with the notch 268 , FIG. 6B, on the rearward end of the left slider 70 to lift and lower the bias coil assembly 94 . Since the lever arm 275 engages the notch 268 in the left slider 70 , the left slider 70 controls when the bias coil assembly 94 is rotated onto or off of the disk cartridge 13 .
- the bias coil assembly 94 may tilt or rotate about a point 353 near its center, and it is spring-loaded downward, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. In this manner, the bias coil assembly 94 can remain parallel to the disk cartridge 13 when in the down condition (i.e., the position depicted in FIG. 18, wherein the disk cartridge 13 is fully loaded), and when in the up condition (i.e., the position depicted in FIG. 20, wherein the disk cartridge 13 is unloaded).
- the ability of the bias coil assembly 94 to remain parallel to the disk cartridge 13 when in the up condition provides the clearance needed for the drive 10 to be able to complete a disk-ejection operation, as discussed below.
- the bias coil assembly 94 rests on the disk cartridge 13 in three places.
- FIG. 18 depicts a disk cartridge 13 with the disk hub 15 fully loaded onto the spindle 62 of the spindle motor 61 .
- the bias coil assembly 94 is loaded into the disk cartridge 13 through the open shutter 49 .
- the left slider 70 has been slid to its most rearward position by the tiller 76 .
- the lever arm 275 of the bias coil arm 97 has been rotated toward the rear of the disk drive 10 . It is this rotation of the lever arm 275 which has installed the bias coil assembly 94 into the disk cartridge 13 .
- the ejection motor 209 rotates the tiller 76 in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4). This rotation of the tiller pulls the left slider 70 toward the front of the drive 10 , as depicted in FIG. 19. As the left slider 70 slides forward, the notch 268 rotates the lever arm 275 forward, thereby lifting the bias coil assembly 94 out of the disk cartridge 13 . As may also be seen from FIG.
- the lift pins 136 , 139 which are fixed to the cartridge receiver 82 , are being forced up the S-shaped slots 262 , 281 by the motion of the tiller 76 . Since the lift pins 136 , 139 are positioned on the cartridge receiver at a point where a lateral axis passing through both lift pins 136 , 139 would not also pass through the spindle 62 , a “peeling” action for removal of the disk hub 15 from the spindle magnet 64 is achieved as the cartridge receiver 82 is raised. In other words, as depicted in FIG. 19, the disk 14 is not lifted vertically from the spindle 62 during the ejection cycle.
- the rear portion of the disk cartridge 13 is lifted before the forward end of the disk cartridge 13 as the lift pins 136 , 139 follow their respective S-shaped slots 262 , 281 .
- the peeling action lowers the peak force required to remove the disk hub 15 from the magnetic clamp 64 of the spindle motor 61 .
- FIG. 20 depicts the configuration of the disk drive 13 after the slight upward pitching of the cartridge receiver 82 is complete and the cartridge receiver 82 has impacted the stops adjacent to the disk receiving port 22 .
- the left slider 70 has reached its furthest forward position and has pulled the lever arm 275 to its furthest forward position, thereby rotating the bias coil assembly 94 out of the disk cartridge 13 .
- the bias coil assembly is thus parked parallel to the above the disk cartridge 13 , substantially against the inside of the top surface of the disk drive 10 or substantially against a printed circuit board located against the inside of the top surface of the disk drive 10 .
- the bias coil assembly 94 travels vertically about 9 mm from its loaded position in the disk cartridge 13 to its just-described raised position.
- the right slider 73 (FIGS. 7 A- 7 E) is latched in its rear-most position by the receiver latch 166 (FIGS. 12A and 12B), as fully described above.
- the cartridge receiver 82 is in the up position depicted in FIG. 20, the cartridge receiver 82 is positioned parallel to the base plate 46 , ready for the cartridge 13 to be ejected.
- the spring force of the door links 85 , 88 which are biased toward the forward end of the disk drive 10 as described above, and the spring force of the cartridge shutter 49 , which is biased toward a closed position, cause the disk cartridge 13 to be ejected from the disk drive 10 , as depicted in FIG. 20.
- the disk loading process is essentially the reverse of the above described ejection process. Therefore, a detailed description of the disk insertion process will not be provided.
- the required ejection force is effectively reduced by the manner in which the disk 14 is moved from the loaded position to the unloaded position.
- the design conserves overall drive height.
- the above-described design accomplishes the peeling of the disk hub 15 from the spindle magnet 64 with a mechanism that uses available space at the sides of the drive 10 , rather than requiring parts that straddle the width of the base plate 46 to tie the motion of both sides of a cartridge receiver 82 together and using additional height to do so.
- Another advantageous feature of the design is the non-critical nature of most of the dimensions required.
- the bias coil actuating mechanism that loads the bias coil assembly into the cartridge 13 is simple and has almost no wear points. The entire design is easy to assemble and for the most part can be executed using simple and easy to fabricate parts.
- the instant invention may be used for media systems which do not require the bias coil assembly 94 (i.e., phase change or write once systems), by eliminating the parts used to operate the bias coil arm 97 .
- the storage media is a 51 ⁇ 4 inch magneto-optic disk cartridge, the invention is applicable to all types of media and all sizes of drives.
Landscapes
- Feeding And Guiding Record Carriers (AREA)
Abstract
A cartridge unloading apparatus for a disk drive having a cartridge loading end, a remote end, and a base plate. The apparatus is employed for tiltably unloading the disk from a spindle magnet with a peeling action. The apparatus includes first and second sliders positioned relative the ends of the disk drive. The sliders each have only one S-shaped slot formed therein. Each slider has a slot to receive one of the two lifting pins provided on a cartridge receiver. The movement of the sliders drives the lifting pins along the slots, thereby raising or lowering the cartridge receiver depending upon the direction of rotation of the tiller. The sliding motion of the lifting pins engaged in the S-shaped slots thus unloads a disk from or, alternatively, loads the disk onto the drive spindle. As the lifting pins travel along their respective slots, the lifting and lowering of the disk is accomplished in such a manner that the disk hub is peeled from the spindle magnet rather than being lifted vertically off the spindle. This reduces the peak force required to break the magnetic clamp force between the spindle magnet and the disk hub. The apparatus may include a bias coil assembly rotatably mounted on an arm so that the bias coil assembly may be loaded into or extracted from the disk cartridge and placed out of the travel path of the disk cartridge. Methods for manufacturing and operating the apparatus in conjunction with a disk drive are also provided.
Description
- This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/885,129, filed Jun. 30, 1997, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/482,052, filed Jun. 7,1995, now abandoned, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/296,794, filed Aug. 25, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,331.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates in general to data storage systems of the type that include a housing having an opening for receipt of a removable disk cartridge in which an information recording medium is mounted for protection. More particularly, but without restriction to the particular embodiments hereinafter described in accordance with the best mode of practice, this invention relates to a cartridge loading apparatus for respectively loading and unloading a removable disk cartridge on and off a magnetically clamped spindle interface for rotation relative to read-write head while in a loaded position.
- 2. Discussion of the Related Art
- The demand for mass data storage continues to increase with expanding use of data processing systems and personal computers. Optical data storage systems are becoming an increasingly popular means for meeting this expanding demand. These optical data systems provide large volumes of relatively low-cost storage that may be quickly accessed.
- In optical disk systems, coded video signals, audio signals, or other information signals are recorded on a disk in the form of information tracks on one or both planar surfaces of the disk. At the heart of an optical storage system is at least one laser or other light source. In a first operating mode, the laser generates a high-intensity laser beam that is focused on a small spot on an information track of a rotating storage disk. This high-intensity laser beam raises the temperature of the recording surface of the material above its Curie Point—the point at which the material loses its magnetization and accepts the magnetization of the magnetic field in which the disk is placed. Thus, by controlling or biasing this surrounding magnetic field, and allowing the disk to cool below its Curie Point in a controlled magnetic environment, information may be recorded on the disk in the form of “pits” or “marks” on the recording medium.
- Subsequently, when the operator desires to reproduce or read the previously recorded information, the laser enters a second operating mode. In this mode, the laser generates a low-intensity laser beam that is again focused on the tracks of the rotating disk. This lower intensity laser beam does not heat the disk above its Curie Point. The laser beam is, however, reflected from the disk surface in a manner indicative of the previously recorded information due to the presence of the previously formed pits or marks, and the previously recorded information may thereby be reproduced. Since the laser may be tightly focused, an information processing system of this type has advantages of high recording density and accurate reproduction of the recorded information.
- The components of a typical optical system include a housing with an insertion port through which the user inserts the recording media into the drive. This housing accommodates, among other items, the mechanical and electrical subsystems for loading, reading from, writing to, and unloading an optical disk. The operation of these mechanical and electrical subsystems is typically within the exclusive control of the data processing system to which the drive is connected.
- Within the housing of a conventional system that uses disk cartridges, a turntable for rotating a disk thereon is typically mounted on the system baseplate. The turntable may include a spindle having a magnet upon which a disk hub is mounted for use. The magnet attracts the disk hub, thereby holding the disk in a desired position for rotation.
- In optical disk systems, as discussed above, it is necessary to magnetically bias the disk during a writing operation by applying a desired magnetic field to at least the portion of the disk being heated by the laser during the writing (recording or erasing) operation. Thus, it is necessary to mount a magnetic field biasing device where it may be conveniently placed in close proximity to the disk surface when the disk is held in position by the magnet associated with the spindle.
- A variety of media or disk types is used in optical data storage systems for storing digital information. For example, standard optical disk systems may use 5¼ inch disks, and these optical disks may or may not be mounted in a protective case or cartridge. If the optical disk is not fixedly mounted in a protective cartridge, an operator manually removes the disk from the protective case. The operator would then manually load the disk onto a loading mechanism, using care to prevent damage to the recording surface.
- Alternatively, for purposes of convenience and protection, a disk may be mounted within an enclosure or a cartridge that is itself inserted into the insertion port of the drive and is then conveyed to a predetermined position. These disk cartridges are well known in the computer arts. The disk cartridge includes a cartridge housing containing a disk upon which data may be recorded.
- To protect the disk when the cartridge is external from the drive, the disk cartridge typically includes at least one door or shutter that is normally closed. The cartridge shutter may have one or more locking tabs associated with it. The corresponding disk drive includes a mechanism for opening the door or shutter on the cartridge as the cartridge is pushed into the system. Such a mechanism may include a door link that makes contact with a locking tab, thereby unlocking the shutter. As the cartridge is inserted further into the drive, the shutter is opened to partially expose the information recording medium contained therein. This permits a disk hub to be loaded onto a spindle of a motor or other drive mechanism, and permits entry of a read-write head and a bias magnetic into the protective cartridge. The disk, when rotated by the drive mechanism, permits the read-write head to access all portions of the disk media.
- To conserve space in optical storage systems, it is desirable to minimize the size required by the apparatus that loads a disk onto and unloads the disk from a spindle. Conventional loading and unloading devices vary depending upon the type of disk being used. A conventional disk loading and unloading system that uses disk cartridges is typically capable of automatically transporting a disk cartridge from a receiving port onto the spindle. When the disk is no longer required, a conventional disk loading and unloading system automatically unloads the disk from the spindle. A loading device for performing this loading and unloading of the disk is generally constructed so that during disk loading (i.e., when the disk is moved from an ejected position into the player and onto the spindle), the disk is moved horizontally, parallel to the baseplate and turntable, towards the turntable. When the disk has been positioned above the turntable, the disk is lowered vertically, perpendicular to the face of the turntable, onto the spindle. Once on the turntable, a spindle magnet attracts the disk hub fixed to the center of the media, thereby clamping the disk in a rotatable condition for read-write operations.
- When an operator is finished using the disk, the operator initiates an eject operation. The most common solution for ejecting a cartridge and disk from a spindle is the technique used in most Japanese drives. In this type of disk unloading apparatus, a cartridge “box” has four pins at its sides, and the pins ride in tracks in an adjacent sheet metal guide. During disk ejection, the cartridge box lifts the disk straight up and off the spindle. The apparatus then moves the disk horizontally, parallel to the baseplate and turntable, towards the disk receiving port in the front of the player. When the disk is thus lifted from the spindle during the unloading operation, it is necessary to generate sufficient upward force on the cartridge to overcome the magnetic clamping force holding the disk hub on the spindle magnet. The peak upward force required to overcome the magnetic clamping force may be produced by the manual operation of an ejection lever or by the activation of an electric ejection system.
- In conventional electric ejection systems, wherein the disk cartridge unloading apparatus vertically lifts the disk cartridge to break the magnetic force between the spindle magnet and the disk hub, the electric ejection motor must generate a large load to effect removal of the disk cartridge. Consequently, when an operator opts to use the electric ejection system, a large motor having a large torque is required to generate sufficient vertical lifting force. Space must be reserved in the system housing to accommodate this large motor, thereby increasing the overall size of the housing for the cartridge-loading apparatus. In addition, the large motor consumes a considerable amount of power.
- It is thus desirable to reduce the complexity of the disk player, while reducing the overall size of the player to facilitate the drive's convenient use in computer applications. In order to be able to receive a 5¼ inch disk cartridge and yet be small enough to be conveniently used in conjunction with a personal computer, optical disk drives must use compact and carefully located mechanical and electrical subsystems.
- With this in mind, it is desirable to reduce the size of the required ejection motor. One way to effect this result is to reduce the amount of force required to break the magnetic clamping force holding the disk hub on the spindle magnet. By reducing this required force, it is possible to use a smaller ejection motor in the player. Hence, a disk loading apparatus design wherein the disk is not vertically lifted off of the spindle magnet, but is, rather, “peeled” from the magnet would be advantageous.
- A conventional method that attempts to achieve this peeling action has the turntable and spindle swing down away from the disk. This method is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,511 granted to Marvin Davis. It would nevertheless be of benefit to design a drive wherein the disk is peeled from the spindle magnet.
- It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to improve disk drives.
- Another object of this invention is to mitigate the above-described problems and disadvantages by optimizing mechanical interaction of the component elements of an optical recording medium mounting apparatus.
- Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the load required from a disk ejection mechanism during disk loading and unloading.
- It is a further object of the present invention to utilize a minimum force for loading a data storage disk onto a drive spindle and for unloading a data storage disk from a drive spindle.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to load and unload a disk cartridge in a disk drive while minimizing displacement between an upper position and a loaded position.
- And still another object of this invention is to improve methods for operating a cartridge loading apparatus utilized in conjunction with a disk drive system.
- Still yet a further object of this invention is to reduce the friction between moving component parts of a cartridge loading and unloading assembly and apparatus as utilized in a disk drive.
- An additional object of the present invention is to employ a direct gear train for transmitting force among the component elements of a cartridge loading apparatus to thereby more effectively transfer and reduce the force needed to activate the moving component elements.
- Yet a further object of the present invention is to improve the cartridge receiver of a cartridge loading apparatus as employed in a disk drive.
- It is yet another object of the present invention to improve the baseplate and cartridge receiver latch of a cartridge loading apparatus as implemented in a disk drive.
- Yet still a further object of this invention to optimize the mechanical interaction among the tiller, cam, ejection motor, cartridge receiver, baseplate, sliders, cartridge receiver latch, parking arm, and gear train in the cartridge loading apparatus of a disk drive so that frictional resistance is reduced and movement minimized.
- And yet another object of the present invention is to improve methods of manufacturing a cartridge loading apparatus employed in conjunction with a disk drive system.
- Still a further object of the present invention is to improve a cartridge loading apparatus with a tilting bias coil assembly for use in a disk drive.
- Yet still another object of this invention is to improve the parking arm of a cartridge loading apparatus as employed in a disk drive.
- It is still yet a further object of the present invention to optimize the mechanical interaction among the tiller, cam, ejection motor, cartridge receiver, baseplate, sliders, cartridge receiver latch, bias coil assembly, parking arm, and gear train in the cartridge loading apparatus of a disk drive so that frictional resistance is reduced and movement minimized.
- Still another object of this invention is to improve the sliders of a cartridge loading apparatus as utilized in a disk drive.
- Yet a further object of the present invention is to improve the tiller of a cartridge loading apparatus as employed in a disk drive.
- And still yet another object of this invention is to improve methods for assembling the elements of a cartridge loading apparatus for use in a disk drive system.
- These and other objects are attained in accordance with the present invention wherein there is provided a cartridge unloading apparatus for a disk drive having a cartridge loading end, a remote end, and a base plate. The apparatus is employed for tiltably unloading the disk from a spindle magnet with a peeling action. The apparatus includes a first slider having a forward end adjacent the cartridge loading end of the disk drive and a remote end adjacent the remote end of the disk drive. The first slider has only one S-shaped slot formed therein. A second slider having a forward end adjacent the cartridge loading end of the disk drive and a remote end adjacent the remote end of the disk drive is also provided. The second slider similarly has only one S-shaped slot formed therein.
- According to one aspect of this invention, there is further provided a tiller having a first end and a second end. The first end of the tiller is swingably linked with the forward end of the first slider, and the second end of the tiller is swingably linked with the forward end of the second slider. In this manner, a first rotation of the tiller in a first direction about a tiller axis drives the first slider toward the cartridge loading end of the disk drive while driving the second slider toward the remote end of the disk drive, and a second rotation of the tiller in a second direction about the tiller axis drives the first slider toward the remote end of the disk drive while driving the second slider toward the cartridge loading end of the disk drive.
- There is also provided a cartridge receiver for receiving a respective cartridge containing a disk with a central hub. The cartridge receiver is moveable between an upper position and a lower position when the sliders are driven by the tiller.
- According to another aspect of this invention, there is further provided a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin associated with the cartridge receiver. The first lifting pin slidably fits into one of the S-shaped slots, and the second lifting pin slidably fits into the other S-shaped slot. The lifting pins are non-coplanar with a plane that is parallel to the ends of the disk drive and perpendicular to a base plate, and that passes through substantially the center of the spindle magnet.
- In one embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge loading apparatus includes a stop cooperatively interacting with the sliders to prevent the sliders from further movement when the disk is fully loaded.
- In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the cartridge loading apparatus of either of the above embodiments further includes a first slider channel in which the first slider is slidably mounted and a second slider channel in which the second slider is slidably mounted. In this embodiment, the base plate includes one pair of substantially vertical slots in which the lifting pins are accommodated in a raising and lowering motion of the receiver.
- According to another preferred aspect of this invention, a label end of the cartridge remains visible when the cartridge is loaded in the drive while contained and protected within the cartridge loading end of the disk drive for reading and/or writing. In this manner, an operator may write on the label, or attach other printed labels, to indicate what information is being stored thereon while the disk drive is operating.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this invention, there is also provided a disk drive system having a spindle magnet, and a spindle motor adapted to operate in conjunction with any of the above embodiments of the cartridge loading apparatus according to this invention. In this system, rotation of the tiller in the first direction tiltably unloads the disk from the spindle magnet, and rotation of the tiller in the second direction tiltably loads the disk onto the spindle magnet with a raising and lowering motion.
- According to still yet another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of loading a disk onto and, alternatively, unloading a disk from a magnetically clamped spindle interface of a disk drive system having a front side and a rear side. This method includes steps of providing a cartridge receiver having a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin each respectively mounted on first and second sides of the cartridge receiver, and positioning a first slider and a second slider relative to the cartridge receiver. The first slider is slidably mounted in a first slider channel and the second slider is slidably mounted in a second slider channel. The method continues with the steps of providing one S-shaped slot in the first slider, providing one S-shaped slot in the second slider, and swingably attaching a tiller to the sliders so that the sliders move in opposite directions from each other and within their respective slider channels under the influence of the tiller. By rotatably attaching the tiller to the disk drive system at a tiller axis, the tiller axis is fixed relative to the disk drive system. The method then concludes with the steps of linking a cartridge receiver to the first slider and to the second slider by their respective S-shaped slots and permitting the sliders to move relative to each other and relative to the cartridge receiver, thereby causing the lifting pins to follow the slots in the sliders to alternatively raise and lower the cartridge receiver.
- In one preferred embodiment of the method according to this invention, there is provided the further steps of minimizing the movement of the cartridge receiver along a first direction from the front side to the rear side of the disk drive system and, while performing the minimizing step, permitting the cartridge receiver to move substantially perpendicular to the first direction and to pitch about the lifting pins so that the cartridge receiver is tiltably raised and lowered when the movement of the sliders causes the lifting pins to follow the slots in the sliders to alternatively raise and lower the cartridge receiver.
- In another preferred embodiment of this method, the permitting step includes inserting a disk cartridge into the cartridge receiver until a remote end of the disk cartridge releases a receiver latch thereby preventing the sliders from moving. The unloading of the disk from the magnetically clamped spindle interface of the disk drive system may advantageously include causing the tiller to rotate to activate the sliders to drive the lifting pins along the slots to thereby tiltably raise the cartridge receiver. In another embodiment of the present method, the tiller is manually activated to rotate thereby tiltably raising the cartridge receiver and unloading the disk. Alternatively, the tiller is caused to rotate by an electric motor to thereby tiltably raise the cartridge receiver and unload the disk.
- According to yet still another aspect of this invention, there is provided an optical disc system adapted to be operated according to any of the above methods.
- There is also provided a method of manufacturing a cartridge loading and unloading mechanism operatively associated with a disc drive having a housing with a cartridge loading end and a remote end. This manufacturing method includes the steps of placing in the housing a first slider having one first S-shaped slot formed therein so that a forward end of the first slider is adjacent the cartridge loading end of the housing and a remote end of the first slider is adjacent the remote end of the housing, placing in the housing a second slider having one second S-shaped slot formed therein so that a forward end of the second slider is adjacent the cartridge loading end of the housing and a remote end of the second slider is adjacent the remote end of the housing, and swingably connecting a first end of a tiller to the first slider and swingably connecting a second end of the tiller to the second slider so that rotation of the tiller in a first direction about a tiller axis drives the first slider toward the cartridge loading end of the housing while driving the second slider toward the remote end of the housing, and rotation of the tiller in a second direction about the tiller axis drives the first slider toward the remote end of the housing while driving the second slider toward the cartridge loading end of the housing. This manufacturing method further includes slidably connecting to the sliders a cartridge receiver having a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin associated therewith so that the first lifting pin fits slidably into the first S-shaped slot, and the second lifting pin fits slidably into the second S-shaped slot.
- In order to achieve other objects of the present invention, there is alternatively provided a cartridge loading and unloading apparatus for removable disk cartridges, including a pair of sliders and a tiller. The tiller has two ends, one of which is swingably connected to the forward end of the first slider, and the other of which is swingably connected to the forward end of the second slider. Rotation of the tiller in a first direction about a tiller axis drives the first slider toward the cartridge loading end of the drive unit while driving the second slider toward the remote end of the drive unit, and rotation of the tiller in a second direction about the tiller axis drives the first slider toward the remote end of the drive unit while driving the second slider toward the cartridge loading end of the drive unit. As the first and second sliders move in opposite directions under the influence of the tiller, S-shaped slots in the sliders act on lift pins associated with the cartridge receiver to raise or lower the cartridge receiver.
- To achieve still additional objects of the present invention, there is further provided in the alternative an apparatus for unloading a disk cartridge from a magnetic hub. In this embodiment, the apparatus includes a cartridge receiver having first and second lifting points which are located on opposite sides of the cartridge receiver and positioned to cause the cartridge receiver to tilt about a first axis when a force is applied to the lifting points to thereby move a first end of said cartridge receiver from a first position to a second position. This embodiment further includes a stop for impeding movement of the first end of the cartridge receiver when it has moved to the second position. The stop also provides a pivot point for movement of a second end of the cartridge receiver from a first position to a second position. The first and second lifting points in this embodiment may be provided by a first and second lifting pin on said cartridge receiver.
- According to one aspect of this embodiment, there may be further provided a first slider having only one S-shaped slot formed therein, and a second slider having only one S-shaped formed therein. In this configuration, the first lifting pin is slidably contained within the S-shaped slot of the first slider and the second lifting pin is slidably contained within the S-shaped slot of the second slider. This embodiment may also further include a tiller arm having a first end connected to a first end of the first slider and a second end connected to a first end of the second slider.
- Further objects of the present invention together with additional features contributing thereto and advantages accruing therefrom will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which are shown in the accompanying drawing with like reference numerals indicating like components throughout, wherein:
- FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a disk drive according to the present invention with a disk cartridge about to be inserted therein;
- FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the disk drive of FIG. 1, showing the major subassemblies of the disk drive as operated and assembled according to the present invention;
- FIGS.3A-3B are isometric views of the baseplate of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the drive of FIG. 1 with some features removed to better show the tiller, the tiller-driving gears, the motor that drives these gears, and the operative relationship between these features in accordance with this invention;
- FIGS.5A-5F are elevational and isometric views of a tiller according to the present invention;
- FIGS.6A-6C include elevational and isometric views of a left slider as utilized in accordance with this invention;
- FIGS.7A-7E show elevational and isometric views of a right slider as utilized according to the present invention;
- FIGS.8A-8C present elevational and isometric views of a parking arm according to the present invention;
- FIG. 9A is an isometric bottom view of the disk drive of FIG. 1, illustrating in particular the fine actuator assembly carriage which supports the optics used to focus the laser beam on the data track of an optical disk as operated in conjunction with this invention;
- FIG. 9B is an elevational view of the fine actuator assembly carriage parking arm in two positions according to the present invention, one drawn in phantom showing its action of parking the carriage at the back of the drive while the drive is at rest;
- FIGS.10A-10B are isometric views of a cartridge receiver according to the present invention;
- FIGS. 11A is an elevational view of the disk drive of FIG. 1, seen during insertion of a disk cartridge, with some features removed to better show the trip lug on the right door link, the latch, and the operative relationship between these features according to the present invention;
- FIG. 11B is an elevational view of the drive FIG. 1, showing the disk cartridge at a further stage of insertion, wherein the cartridge shutter is partially opened by the left door link to reveal the surface of the optical data storage disk;
- FIGS.12A-12B are isometric views of a latch that holds the cartridge receiver in the up position in accordance with the teachings of this invention;
- FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a bias coil assembly clamp according to the present invention;
- FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a bias coil assembly according to the present invention;
- FIG. 15 is an exploded isometric view of the major components forming the bias coil assembly in accordance with this invention;
- FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a pivot bar or rail that rotatably supports the bias coil assembly shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;
- FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the bias coil assembly flexure to which the bias coil assembly is mounted and which is in turn mounted to the pivot bar depicted in FIG. 16;
- FIG. 18 is an elevational view of the right side of the cartridge receiver and the cartridge just before initiation of an cartridge-eject cycle, depicting the disk mounted in operating position on the spindle;
- FIG. 19 is an elevational view of the right side of the cartridge receiver and the cartridge during the cartridge-eject cycle, showing the cartridge being tipped and the disk being peeled off the spindle according to the present invention; and
- FIG. 20 is an elevational view of the right side of the cartridge receiver and the cartridge during the cartridge-eject cycle, illustrating the cartridge loading system in the up position and the disk starting to be ejected from the disk drive.
- A further understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a magnetic disk storage system, generally designated10. FIG. 1 depicts a
replaceable disk cartridge 13 positioned for insertion into thedisk drive 10 incorporating the cartridge loading and unloading apparatus of the present invention. Thedisk drive 10 includes abottom housing 16 and aface plate 19. Theface plate 19 includes adisk receiving port 22, a driveactivity indicator light 25, and anejection button 28. - Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the
disk cartridge 13, which is of a conventional type, includes the following primary components. Its outer housing includes an upperplanar surface 31 and a lower planar surface 32 (shown in, for example, FIG. 20). The disk cartridge also has a forward-facinglabel end 34. In the preferred embodiment, the forward-facinglabel end 34 of thedisk cartridge 13 remains visible to a user while thedisk cartridge 13 is inserted in thedisk drive 10. Side walls, forexample side wall 37, extend between the upperplanar surface 31 and the lowerplanar surface 32, and the cartridge further includes a rear wall 38 (shown in, for example, FIG. 19) extending between the upperplanar surface 31 and the lowerplanar surface 32 parallel to the forward-facinglabel end 34. Near thelabel end 34 of theside walls 37 arechannels 40 to accommodate cartridge locating pins 43 (FIGS. 3A-3B) located on thebase plate 46. - The
disk cartridge 13 also includes a cartridge door orshutter 49. Theshutter 49 is spring-loaded in a closed position (FIGS. 1, 2, and 11A). When theshutter 49 is open, it rests in a recessedportion 52 of the upperplanar surface 31. Since thedisk drive 10 of the preferred embodiment reads two-sided disk cartridges 13, a similar shutter and recessed portion exists on the lowerplanar surface 32, but these features are not shown in the figures. The shutter typically has a shutter latch 55 (not shown) on therear wall 38 of thedisk cartridge 13. - Protected within the
disk cartridge 13 is a disk 14 (FIGS. 18-20) having ametallic disk hub 15. As is known in the relevant arts, thedisk 14 may be formed as a rigid substrate having a magnetic material coating thereon. Embedded in the magnetic material coating are tracks in the form of concentric or spiraling rings. The magnetic coating may be on either one or both surfaces of the rigid substrate, and the coating enables data to be magnetically recorded on thedisk 14 by magnetic transducers, typically referred to as heads. At the center of the rigid substrate is themetallic disk hub 15. - Referring now to FIG. 2, the primary component groups within the
disk drive 10 of the present invention include the following. There is thebottom housing 16 in which thebase plate 46 rests. In FIG. 2, aspindle motor 61 is shown mounted on thebase plate 46. Thespindle motor 61 includes aspindle magnet 63 which attracts themetallic disk hub 15 of thedisk 14 when thedisk cartridge 13 is installed in thedisk drive 10. The ejection mechanism of the present invention is shown generally at 67. Theejection mechanism 67 includes aleft slider 70, aright slider 73, and atiller 76. Theejection mechanism 76 is described more fully below. Aparking arm 79 is also depicted in FIG. 2 in its position above theleft slider 70. The cartridge receiver is shown generally at 82. Also shown in FIG. 2 are theleft door link 85, theright door link 88, and thereceiver door 91, each of which is pivotally attached to thecartridge receiver 82. Thedrive face plate 19 is depicted in front of thecartridge receiver 82. Finally, a rotatable, magneticbias coil assembly 94 is depicted attached to abias coil arm 97, with bias coil clamps 100 depicted above the bias coil arm. Further details about each of these primary component assemblies will next be provided. - Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, the
bottom housing 16 includesside walls 103 and aback wall 106. On the inside base of thebottom housing 16 are four mountingstations 109 to which thebase plate 46 is secured. Thebottom housing 16 would also encase the control electronics, which are not depicted in the figures. - Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, further details of the construction of the
base plate 46 will now be provided. Thebase plate 46 is mounted on the four mounting stations 109 (FIG. 2) of thebottom housing 16. Thebase plate 46 has many components either molded into, embedded into, attached to, or associated with it.Base plate 46 is the “glue” that brings the many components of this invention together and permits them to interact. Around the periphery of thebase plate 46 there is aforward wall 112, a leftouter side wall 115, a leftinner side wall 118, a right outer side all 121, a rightinner side wall 124, and a rearvertical wall 127. The left and rightouter side walls vertical slot vertical slot 130 accommodates the left lift pin 136 (FIG. 10A) on thecartridge receiver 82 when thecartridge receiver 82 is in place around thebase plate 46. The rightvertical slot 133 similarly accommodates the right lift pin 139 (FIG. 10B) of thecartridge receiver 82. - The two cartridge locating pins43 are positioned near the forward ends of the left and right
outer side walls pins 43 are located in thechannels 40, thepins 43 hold thedisk cartridge 13 and prevent it from moving both laterally (i.e., side-to-side) and longitudinally (i.e., forward and backward). - The
spindle motor mount 142 is molded into the bottom of thebase plate 46. The spindle motor 61 (FIG. 2) may be held on thespindle motor mount 142 by, for example, spring clips (not shown) attached to theintermediate rib 145. - The
base plate 46 has various axes and mounting pins associated therewith. For example, atiller pivot axis 148 is mounted on thebase plate 46 adjacent to thespindle motor mount 142. A tiller-spring pin 151 is fixed to the bottom of thebase plate 46 near the forward wall 112 (FIG. 3A). The other pins attached to the bottom of thebase plate 46 near theforward wall 112 act as pivot shafts for the gears in the ejection gear train. - The
base plate 46 also includes aleft slider channel 154 and aright slider channel 157. Theslider channels base plate 46. Theleft slider channel 154 is formed between the leftouter side wall 115 and the leftinner side wall 118. When in position, theleft slider 70 is sandwiched between the leftinner side wall 118 and the leftouter side wall 115, and rides in the left slider channel 154 (see, e.g., FIGS. 4, 9B and 11A-B). Similarly, theright slider channel 157 is formed between the rightouter side wall 121 and the rightinner side wall 124. When in position, theright slider 73 is sandwiched between the rightinner side wall 124 and the rightouter side wall 121, and rides in theright slider channel 157. The left andright sliders respective channels spindle motor 61 in position on thespindle motor mount 142. - At the end of the
right slider channel 157, adjacent to the rearvertical wall 127, asocket 160 is formed in thebase plate 46 where the rear of the rightinner side wall 124 merges with the rear of the rightouter side wall 121. Thissocket 160 accommodates the pivot pin 163 (FIGS. 12B and 12A) of thereceiver latch 166. Thereceiver latch 166 has a vertical surface 169 (FIG. 12B) upon which a latch-release trip lug 172 (FIGS. 2 and 11A-B), which is fixed to theright door link 88, impacts to release thereceiver latch 166. - The
base plate 46 has aport 175 in the rearvertical wall 127. The laser diode (not shown), which would be located behind the rear vertical wall between theleft corner pillar 178 and theright corner pillar 181, shines through theport 175 and into the fine actuator assembly carriage 184 (FIGS. 4, 9A-B, and 11A-B), which contains the optics that focus the laser beam on an information track on thedisk 14. Thecarriage 184 is discussed in greater detail below. - The
base plate 46 also has ahole 187 molded therein (FIG. 3A) to accommodate thepivot shaft 190 of theparking arm 79. Thishole 187 is molded as an integral part of the leftinner side wall 118. FIG. 4, for example, shows theparking arm 79 in place with itspivot shaft 190 in thehole 187. - Referring now to FIGS. 8A through 8C, further features of the parking arm will be described. In addition to the
pivot shaft 190, theparking arm 79 includes apressing end 193. Theparking arm 79 has ajaw 196 formed on the end remote from thepressing end 193. Thejaw 196 has along side 199 and ashort side 202. When theparking arm 79 is in position, thejaw 196 straddles the lug 205 (FIG. 6C) on theleft slider 70. Theparking arm 79 in position, with itsjaw 196 straddling thelug 205 of theleft slider 70, may be seen to best advantage in FIGS. 4, 9B and 11 A-B. The position of theparking arm 79 is thereby dictated by the location of theleft slider 70 in theleft slider channel 154. - FIG. 9A shows the
carriage 184 which supports the fine actuator assembly and related optics used to focus the laser beam on an information track of the optical disk surface. The fineactuator assembly carriage 184 in particular is of the type employed in the OMA optical drive sold by MOST, Inc., of Colorado Springs, Colo., USA. As understood by those of ordinary skill in the art,carriage 184 contains a 45° mirror (not shown) which redirects a laser beam generated inoptics module 189 up through a fine actuator motor-driven focusing lens (not shown) onto the surface of the optical disk. In the perspective view of FIG. 9A, the support rails 208 upon whichcarriage 184 rides are partially revealed. - As seen to best advantage in FIG. 9B,
parking arm 79 parks fineactuator assembly carriage 184. Thecarriage 184 focuses the laser beam coming from the optics module through theport 175 in the rearvertical wall 127 of thebase plate 46. Specifically, the carriage positions the laser beam over the center of a data track containing data to be read. Thecarriage 184 rides on support rails 208. A conventional magnetic arrangement drives thecarriage 184 along therails 208. - When the
cartridge receiver 82 is in the up condition, theparking arm 79, which is powered by theleft slider 70, holds thecarriage 184 toward the rear of the drive. This condition is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 11A-B, and is seen again in FIG. 9B where theparking arm 79 shown in solid lines. When theleft slider 70 is driven forward by thetiller 76 during ejection of thedisk cartridge 13, theparking arm 79 is rotated by thelug 205 pressing against theshort side 202 of thejaw 196 until thepressing end 193 of theparking arm 79 holds thecarriage 184 toward the back of thedisk drive 10. When thecartridge receiver 82 is in its down position, theleft slider 70 has been driven toward the rear of thedisk drive 10 by thetiller 76. Under this scenario, thelug 205, which was driven rearward with theleft slider 70, has rotated theparking arm 79 toward the front of thedisk drive 10, as shown in phantom in FIG. 9B. With theleft slider 70 andparking arm 79 in these positions, thecarriage 184 is not influenced by thepressing end 193 of theparking arm 79 and may move freely above thedisk 14 in thedisk drive 10. - The
ejection mechanism 67, which may be seen to best advantage in FIGS. 2 and 4, includes the following key features. Anejection motor 209 powers the ejection mechanism. In particular, theejection motor 209 powers a gear train that powers the output cam which, in turn, forces the tiller to rotate in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4), thereby ejecting adisk cartridge 13 from thedisk drive 10. When user initiates the ejection process, themotor 209 drives the worm gear 211. The worm gear 211 is fixed to the central shaft of theejection motor 209. This worm gear 211 drives a firstlarge gear 214 about afirst axis 217. This rotation of the firstlarge gear 214 rotates a first small gear 220, which is fixed to the bottom of the firstlarge gear 214 for rotation therewith about thefirst gear axis 217. The first small gear 220 drives a secondlarge gear 223 about asecond gear axis 226. A secondsmall gear 229 is fixed to the top of the second large gear for rotation therewith about thesecond gear axis 226. The secondsmall gear 229, in turn, drives a thirdlarge gear 232 about athird gear axis 235. The thirdlarge gear 232 drives thecam 238 that forces thetiller 76 to rotate about thetiller axis 148. - The
tiller 76 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5A-5F and FIG. 4. Thetiller 76 is pivotally attached to thebase plate 46 by thetiller axis 148. A tiller-spring hook 240 is molded on the slender portion of thetiller 76. A tiller spring 241 (FIG. 4 ) is attached between the tiller-spring hook 240 and the tiller-spring pin 151 (FIG. 3A). The tiller-spring 241 biases thetiller 76 in a second direction (clockwise in FIG. 4) about thetiller axis 148. This is the cartridge-loading direction, which drives theright slider 73 forward and theleft slider 70 rearward, to seat thedisk cartridge 13 on thespindle motor 61. - The tiller further includes a tiller skirt or
webbed portion 244 that rides on top of the tiller gear train and thereby helps to contain the ejection gears in position on their respective gear axes. The end of the tiller near thetiller skirt 244 includes aU-shaped jaw 247, and the tiller end remote from theskirt 244 includes a similarU-shaped jaw 250. TheU-shaped jaw 247 fits rotatably around the cylindrical connection post of the left slider 70 (FIG. 6C). Similarly, theU-shaped jaw 250 of thetiller 76 fits rotatably around the cylindrical connection post 256 (FIG. 7E) of theright slider 73. Thetiller 76 is thereby pivotally connected to the forward ends of the left andright sliders right sliders respective slider channels spindle motor 61 in position, thetiller 76 is held on thetiller axis 148 by the interaction between theU-shaped jaws - When the
tiller 76 rotates in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4), theleft slider 70 is driven forward in theleft slider channel 154, while theright slider 73 is simultaneously driven rearward in theright slider channel 157. Thus, rotation of thetiller 76 in the first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) raises thecartridge receiver 82 so that adisk cartridge 13 may be ejected from or loaded into thedisk drive 10. On the other hand, when thetiller 76 rotates in a second direction (clockwise in FIG. 4), theleft slider 70 is driven rearward in theleft slider channel 154, while theright slider 73 is simultaneously driven forward in theright slider channel 157. Rotation of thetiller 76 in this direction lowers thecartridge receiver 82, placing the disk on the spindle motor. The raising and lowering of thecartridge receiver 82 by the rotation of thetiller 76 is discussed further below. - As discussed above, the
left slider 70 rides in theleft slider channel 154, and theright slider 73 rides in theright slider channel 157 under the influence of thetiller 76. Further details concerning thesliders - Referring now to FIGS.6A-6C, the features of the
left slider 70 are as follows. The left slider includes the cylindrical connectingpost 253 on its forward end. Theparking arm lug 205 exists on a fist recessedportion 259. Theparking arm 79 slides along the first recessedportion 259 of theleft slider 70 under the influence of thelug 205. An S-shapedslot 262 is formed into theleft slider 70. When theleft slider 70 is in position in theleft slider channel 154, the S-shaped slot 162 opens toward the leftouter side wall 115, adjacent to and behind the leftvertical slot 130. When thecartridge receiver 82 is in position around thebase plate 46, the left lift pin 136 (FIG. 10A) of thecartridge receiver 82 rides in the leftvertical slot 130 of thebase plate 46. The left lift pin is longer than the leftouter side wall 115 is thick. Therefore, theleft lift pin 136 projects through the leftvertical slot 130 and rides in the S-shapedslot 262 in theleft slider 70. - When the
cartridge receiver 82 is thus positioned about thebase plate 46, with theleft lift pin 136 riding in thevertical slot 130 and the S-shapedslot 262, thecartridge receiver 82 is restricted from traveling forward or backward and may only travel up and down vertically. Thevertical slot 130 restricts the forward-to-backward movement of thecartridge receiver 82, while the S-shapedslot 262 in theleft slider 70 defines the vertical height of the cartridge receiver. In other words, depending upon which portion of the S-shapedslot 262 is behind thevertical slot 133 at any particular moment, thecartridge receiver 82 may be in its highest position, its lowest position, or at some position between its highest and lowest positions. - A second recessed
portion 265 is present on the top of theleft slider 70, FIG. 6C. A horizontal pin (not shown) may be attached to thebase plate 46 so as to slip along the second recessedportion 265. This horizontal pin (not shown) would limit the most forward and most rearward positions of the left slider because the pin would impact the edges of the second recessedportion 265 upon reaching one of the extreme positions of the left slider. - The rear-most end of the
left slider 70 includes anotch 268, which may be seen to good advantage in both FIG. 6B and FIG. 2. Thenotch 268 is located on a displacedportion 272 of theleft slider 70. Thenotch 268 receives thelever arm 275 of thebias coil arm 97, FIGS. 2 and 16. Thislever arm 275 rotates thebias coil arm 97 depending upon the position of theleft slider 70, and in particular, the position of thenotch 268. The displacedportion 272 of theleft slider 70 rides in a recess 278 (FIG. 3B) in the leftouter side wall 115 of thebase plate 46. - Referring now to FIGS.7A-7E, the features of the
right slider 73 will be presented. As stated above, thetiller 76 is connected to theright slider 73 via thecylindrical connection post 256. Theright slider 73 has an S-shapedslot 281 formed therein. This S-shapedslot 281 is a flipped version of the S-shapedslot 262 in theleft slider 70. This may be seen to best advantage in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, it is apparent that, when thesliders tiller 76, the S-shapedslots sliders tiller 76. The S-shapedslot 281 in theright slider 73 also opens toward the right outer side wall when theright slider 73 is in its operating position in theright slider channel 157. - Similar to what was described above with reference to the
left slider 70, when thecartridge receiver 82 is in position around thebase plate 46, the right lift pin 139 (FIG. 10B) rides in the right vertical slot 133 (FIG. 3B). Since theright lift pin 139 is longer than the rightouter side wall 121 is thick, theright lift pin 139 projects through the rightouter side wall 121 at the rightvertical slot 133 and rides in the S-shapedslot 281 in theright slider 73. The rightvertical slot 133 restricts theright lifting pin 139 from traveling parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate 46 (i.e., parallel to a line passing perpendicularly through theforward wall 112 and the rear vertical wall 127). Since theright lift pin 139 rides in the S-shapedslot 281, the vertical height of thecartridge receiver 82 is defined by the location of theright lift pin 139 in the S-shapedslot 281. The S-shapedslot 281 in theright slider 73 travels behind the rightvertical slot 133 at the same rate that the S-shapedslot 262 in theleft slider 70 passes behind the leftvertical slot 130, but in an opposite direction. The flipped mirror image design of the S-shapedslots base plate 46 at any particular time. - Still referring primarily to FIGS.7A-7E, the right slider includes the following additional features. A recessed
portion 284 is present on the top surface of theright slider 73. A pin (not shown) may be mounted horizontally across theright slider channel 157 so as to slide along the recessedsurface 284. The horizontal pin sliding along the recessedsurface 284 would limit the maximum forward and rearward travel of theright slider 73 since the horizontal pin would hit the edges of therecess 284 at the extremes of travel of theright slider 73. Theright slider 73 also includes a notchedregion 287 to accommodate a paw 290 (FIGS. 12A and 12B) of thereceiver latch 166. A raisedportion 293 is present on the rear end of theright slider 73. - When the
tiller 76 rotates in the first direction (counterclockwise in, for example, FIG. 9B), driving theright slider 73 rearward in theright slider channel 157, a latching action takes place between thepaw 290 of thereceiver latch 166 and the raisedportion 293 of theright slider 73. In particular, a first slipping surface 296 (FIG. 12A), which is located on thepaw 290, slides past a second slipping surface 299 (FIGS. 7C and 7E), which is on the raisedportion 293 of theright slider 73. When thesurfaces paw 290, which is spring-loaded in the direction indicated by thearrow 302 in FIG. 12A, enters the notchedregion 287 of theright slider 73, which holds theright slider 73 in the rearward position and, consequently, holds thecartridge receiver 82 in its uppermost position. When the cartridge receiver is in this position, anydisk cartridge 13 in thedrive 10 would be ejected or, alternatively, adisk cartridge 13 could be loaded into thedisk drive 10. - The S-shaped
slots right sliders slots - Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the cartridge receiver and the components attached to it will be described. The
cartridge receiver 82 is preferably a one-piece, injection molded piece of plastic to which the left door link 85 (FIG. 2) andright door link 88 are added. When thedisk drive 10 is fully assembled, thecartridge receiver 82 rides on the outside of the left and rightouter side walls base plate 46. Thecartridge receiver 82 travels vertically up and down as the lift pins 136, 139 move up and down as they follow their respective S-shapedslots cartridge receiver 82 also pitches slightly up and down about an imaginary lateral axis passing through the left and right lift pins 136, 139. It is this slight pitching motion in conjunction with the up and down motion that generates the beneficial peeling action achieved by the instant invention. Thecartridge receiver 82 may be snapped or lifted off of the remainder of the mechanism if the cover of thedisk drive 10 is removed. - The
cartridge receiver 82 has a leftcartridge receiving channel 305 and a rightcartridge receiving channel 308 formed therein. Astop bumper 311 is positioned in the rear of the right cartridge-receivingchannel 308 to prevent improper insertion of adisk cartridge 13. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, thedisk cartridge 13 has a pair ofslots 314 molded into theside walls 37. If thedisk cartridge 13 is inserted correctly, with itsrear wall 38 entering thedisk receiving port 22 first, one of theslots 314 in thedisk cartridge 13 will accommodate thestop bumper 311 and permit thecartridge 13 to be fully inserted into thedrive 10. If, on the other hand, the user inserts thedisk cartridge 13 with the forward-facinglabel end 34 entering thedisk receiving port 22 first, thestop bumper 311 will impact thelabel end 34 of thedisk cartridge 13, thereby preventing full insertion of thedisk cartridge 13 into thedisk drive 10. - The
rear wall 317 of thecartridge receiver 82 has a notchedregion 320 formed therein. This notched region permits the latch-release trip lug 172 (FIGS. 11A-B) fixed to theright door link 88 to affect the vertical surface 169 (FIG. 12B) of thereceiver latch 166. Since the left and right door links 85, 88, respectively, are rotated toward the rear of thedisk drive 10 as thedisk cartridge 13 is inserted in thecartridge receiver 82, as thedisk cartridge 13 approaches full insertion, the trip lug 172 trips thereceiver latch 166 by pressing against thevertical surface 169 to rotate thereceiver latch 166. This rotation of thereceiver latch 166 frees thepaw 290 from its latched position around the raisedportion 293 of theright slider 73. When thereceiver latch 166 is tripped in this manner, the cartridge receiver 182 can be lowered, placing thedisk cartridge 13 in operating position on thespindle motor 61. - Referring to FIGS.2, 10A-B and 11A-B, the attachment of the
left door link 85 and theright door link 88 to thereceiver cartridge 82 will now be described. The left and right door links 85, 88 are attached to the rear corners of thecartridge receiver 82, near therear wall 317. Specifically, theleft door link 85 is rotatably mounted to thecartridge receiver 82 at afirst pivot point 323, and theright door link 88 is rotatably mounted to thecartridge receiver 82 at asecond pivot point 326. The door links 85, 88 are biased by a spring (not shown) toward theface plate 19 of thedisk drive 10. - In operation, one or the other of the door links85, 88 unlatches the cartridge shutter lock and opens the
cartridge shutter 49 as thedisk cartridge 13 is inserted into thedrive 10. Whether theleft door link 85 or theright door link 88 opens thecartridge shutter 49 is determined by which side of thedisk cartridge 13 is facing up when thecartridge 13 is inserted into thedrive 10. If thedisk cartridge 13 is inserted with the first side up, theright door link 88 operates the shutter latch and opens theshutter 49. If thedisk cartridge 13 is inserted with its other side up, theleft door link 85 operates the shutter latch and opens theshutter 49. When nodisk cartridge 13 is in thedrive 10, the door links 85, 88 rest against door link stops 329, which are integrally formed as part of thecartridge receiver 82. These door link stops 329 ensure that the free ends 332 of the door links 85, 88 are properly positioned to release the shutter latch and open theshutter 49 as thedisk cartridge 13 is inserted into thedrive 10. - FIG. 11B shows the
disk cartridge 13 inserted intodrive 10 to a depth such thatfree end 332 ofdoor link 85 has begun to openshutter 49, revealing the surface ofoptical disk 14. - Referring now to FIGS.14-17, the rotatable, magnetic
bias coil assembly 94 will be more fully described. Thebias coil assembly 94 is used during writing and erasing operations of thedisk drive 10. Thebias coil assembly 94 includes asteel bar 335 wrapped in a coil ofwire 338. When thebias coil assembly 94 is positioned over adisk 14, as shown to best advantage in FIG. 18, it extends radially across thedisk 14 and is thus capable of generating a strong magnetic field over a radial strip of thedisk 14, extending from near the spindle 62 (FIGS. 18-20) to the edge of thedisk 14. When thedisk 14 is rotated under thebias coil assembly 94 by thespindle motor 61, it is possible to generate a magnetic field over the entire surface of thedisk 14, thus enabling the user to write information to all portions of thedisk 14 from its innermost to its outermost tracks. Thecoil 338 and bar 335 are covered by a biascoil housing top 341, which is mounted to a biascoil housing bottom 344. - The
bias coil assembly 94 is mounted to the bias coil flexure 347 (FIG. 17), which is, in turn, mounted on the bias coil arm 97 (FIG. 16). Thebias coil arm 97 straddles the width of thebase plate 46 and is rotatably held by a pair of bias coil clamps 100 (FIG. 13) to thecorner pillars 178,181 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) of thebase plate 46. The bias coil clamps 100 thus act as bearing blocks under which thebias coil arm 97 can rotate. The bias coil clamps 100 include astop ledge 350, which terminates the upward travel of thecartridge receiver 82 during an ejection operation, as discussed more fully below with reference to FIGS. 18-20. As previously discussed, thebias coil arm 97 includes alever arm 275 in operative association with thenotch 268, FIG. 6B, on the rearward end of theleft slider 70 to lift and lower thebias coil assembly 94. Since thelever arm 275 engages thenotch 268 in theleft slider 70, theleft slider 70 controls when thebias coil assembly 94 is rotated onto or off of thedisk cartridge 13. - The
bias coil assembly 94 may tilt or rotate about apoint 353 near its center, and it is spring-loaded downward, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. In this manner, thebias coil assembly 94 can remain parallel to thedisk cartridge 13 when in the down condition (i.e., the position depicted in FIG. 18, wherein thedisk cartridge 13 is fully loaded), and when in the up condition (i.e., the position depicted in FIG. 20, wherein thedisk cartridge 13 is unloaded). The ability of thebias coil assembly 94 to remain parallel to thedisk cartridge 13 when in the up condition provides the clearance needed for thedrive 10 to be able to complete a disk-ejection operation, as discussed below. When in the down condition and loaded in thedisk cartridge 13, thebias coil assembly 94 rests on thedisk cartridge 13 in three places. - Referring now to FIGS.18-20, the ejection of a
disk cartridge 13 from thedisk drive 10 will be described. FIG. 18 depicts adisk cartridge 13 with thedisk hub 15 fully loaded onto thespindle 62 of thespindle motor 61. In this configuration, thebias coil assembly 94 is loaded into thedisk cartridge 13 through theopen shutter 49. When thedisk cartridge 13 is fully loaded in this manner, theleft slider 70 has been slid to its most rearward position by thetiller 76. Thelever arm 275 of thebias coil arm 97 has been rotated toward the rear of thedisk drive 10. It is this rotation of thelever arm 275 which has installed thebias coil assembly 94 into thedisk cartridge 13. Since the lift pins 136, 139 of thecartridge receiver 82 are restrained to only vertical movement by thevertical slots 130, 133 (FIGS. 3A and 3B), when theleft slider 70 has been driven toward the rear of thedisk drive 10 by thetiller 76, as depicted in FIG. 18, thecartridge receiver 82, via its lift pins 133,136, has been driven to the lowest point in the S-shapedslots - Referring now to FIG. 19, an intermediate stage of the ejection cycle will now be described. After a user initiates the ejection of the
disk drive 10, the ejection motor 209 (FIG. 4) rotates thetiller 76 in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4). This rotation of the tiller pulls theleft slider 70 toward the front of thedrive 10, as depicted in FIG. 19. As theleft slider 70 slides forward, thenotch 268 rotates thelever arm 275 forward, thereby lifting thebias coil assembly 94 out of thedisk cartridge 13. As may also be seen from FIG. 19, the lift pins 136,139, which are fixed to thecartridge receiver 82, are being forced up the S-shapedslots tiller 76. Since the lift pins 136, 139 are positioned on the cartridge receiver at a point where a lateral axis passing through both lift pins 136,139 would not also pass through thespindle 62, a “peeling” action for removal of thedisk hub 15 from thespindle magnet 64 is achieved as thecartridge receiver 82 is raised. In other words, as depicted in FIG. 19, thedisk 14 is not lifted vertically from thespindle 62 during the ejection cycle. Rather, due to the location of the lift pins 136, 139 on thecartridge receiver 82, the rear portion of thedisk cartridge 13 is lifted before the forward end of thedisk cartridge 13 as the lift pins 136, 139 follow their respective S-shapedslots disk hub 15 from themagnetic clamp 64 of thespindle motor 61. - Referring still to FIG. 19, it is apparent that after the
cartridge receiver 82 has been lifted a predetermined amount by the motion of thesliders rear wall 317 of thecartridge receiver 82 impacts the lower surface of thestop ledge 350 on the bias coil clamps 100. This contact between the bottom surface of thestop ledge 350 and the top surface of thelip 356, in conjunction with the continued rotation of thetiller 76 and the resulting longitudinal motion of thesliders cartridge receiver 82 to pitch slightly upward in FIG. 19, substantially about the point of contact between thestop ledge 350 and thelip 356, as the lift pins 136, 139 continue to pick up the receiver. This slight pitching motion of thecartridge receiver 82 effects the “peeling” action referred to above. - FIG. 20 depicts the configuration of the
disk drive 13 after the slight upward pitching of thecartridge receiver 82 is complete and thecartridge receiver 82 has impacted the stops adjacent to thedisk receiving port 22. At this point, theleft slider 70 has reached its furthest forward position and has pulled thelever arm 275 to its furthest forward position, thereby rotating thebias coil assembly 94 out of thedisk cartridge 13. The bias coil assembly is thus parked parallel to the above thedisk cartridge 13, substantially against the inside of the top surface of thedisk drive 10 or substantially against a printed circuit board located against the inside of the top surface of thedisk drive 10. Thebias coil assembly 94 travels vertically about 9 mm from its loaded position in thedisk cartridge 13 to its just-described raised position. - As the
cartridge receiver 82 is raised to its highest position (about 5 mm above its lowest position), the right slider 73 (FIGS. 7A-7E) is latched in its rear-most position by the receiver latch 166 (FIGS. 12A and 12B), as fully described above. When thecartridge receiver 82 is in the up position depicted in FIG. 20, thecartridge receiver 82 is positioned parallel to thebase plate 46, ready for thecartridge 13 to be ejected. The spring force of the door links 85, 88, which are biased toward the forward end of thedisk drive 10 as described above, and the spring force of thecartridge shutter 49, which is biased toward a closed position, cause thedisk cartridge 13 to be ejected from thedisk drive 10, as depicted in FIG. 20. - The disk loading process is essentially the reverse of the above described ejection process. Therefore, a detailed description of the disk insertion process will not be provided.
- In the present invention, where the
disk hub 15 is peeled from thespindle magnet 64, the required ejection force is effectively reduced by the manner in which thedisk 14 is moved from the loaded position to the unloaded position. Through the use of the “peeling” motion of the instant invention, a smaller force is required to remove thedisk hub 15 than is required in conventional, vertical-lifting systems. In addition, the design conserves overall drive height. The above-described design accomplishes the peeling of thedisk hub 15 from thespindle magnet 64 with a mechanism that uses available space at the sides of thedrive 10, rather than requiring parts that straddle the width of thebase plate 46 to tie the motion of both sides of acartridge receiver 82 together and using additional height to do so. Another advantageous feature of the design is the non-critical nature of most of the dimensions required. - Further, the bias coil actuating mechanism that loads the bias coil assembly into the
cartridge 13 is simple and has almost no wear points. The entire design is easy to assemble and for the most part can be executed using simple and easy to fabricate parts. - While what has been described above is a preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the instant invention may be used for media systems which do not require the bias coil assembly94 (i.e., phase change or write once systems), by eliminating the parts used to operate the
bias coil arm 97. In addition, although in the preferred embodiment the storage media is a 5¼ inch magneto-optic disk cartridge, the invention is applicable to all types of media and all sizes of drives. - It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing figures, shall be interpreted as being illustrative only and not limiting. Furthermore, since this invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. Rather, in view of the present disclosure which describes the current best mode for practicing the invention, many modifications and variations would present themselves to those of skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, modifications, and variations coming within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be considered within their scope.
Claims (45)
1. A cartridge unloading apparatus for a disk drive having a cartridge loading end, a remote end, and a base plate, the apparatus for tiltably unloading the disk from a spindle magnet with a peeling action, the apparatus comprising in combination:
a first slider having a forward end adjacent the cartridge loading end of the disk drive and a remote end adjacent the remote end of the disk drive, said first slider further having only one S-shaped slot formed therein;
a second slider having a forward end adjacent the cartridge loading end of the disk drive and a remote end adjacent the remote end of the disk drive, said second slider further having only one S-shaped slot formed therein;
a tiller having a first end and a second end, said first end of said tiller being swingably linked with said forward end of said first slider, and said second end of said tiller being swingably linked with said forward end of said second slider, so that a first rotation of said tiller in a first direction about a tiller axis drives said first slider toward the cartridge loading end of the disk drive while driving said second slider toward the remote end of the disk drive, and a second rotation of said tiller in a second direction about said tiller axis drives said first slider toward the remote end of the disk drive while driving said second slider toward the cartridge loading end of the disk drive;
a cartridge receiver for receiving a respective cartridge containing a disk with a central hub, said cartridge receiver being moveable between an upper position and a lower position when said sliders are driven by said tiller; and
a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin associated with said cartridge receiver, said first lifting pin slidably fitting into one of said S-shaped slots, and said second lifting pin slidably fitting into the other S-shaped slot, said lifting pins being non-coplanar with a plane that is parallel to the ends of the disk drive and perpendicular to a base plate, and that passes through substantially the center of the spindle magnet.
2. The cartridge loading apparatus according to further including a stop cooperative with said sliders, said stop for preventing said sliders from further movement when the disk is fully loaded.
claim 1
3. The cartridge loading apparatus according to either or further including a first slider channel in which said first slider is slidably mounted and a second slider channel in which said second slider is slidably mounted.
claim 1
2
4. The cartridge loading apparatus according to either or wherein said base plate includes one pair of substantially vertical slots in which said lifting pins are accommodated in a raising and lowering motion of the receiver.
claim 1
2
5. The cartridge loading apparatus according to wherein said base plate includes one pair of substantially vertical slots in which said lifting pins are accommodated in a raising and lowering motion of the receiver.
claim 3
6. The cartridge loading apparatus according to either or wherein a label end of the cartridge remains visible when the cartridge is loaded in the drive while contained and protected within the cartridge loading end of the disk drive.
claim 1
2
7. The cartridge loading apparatus according to wherein a label end of the cartridge remains visible when the cartridge is loaded in the drive while contained and protected within the cartridge loading end of the disk drive.
claim 3
8. The cartridge loading apparatus according to wherein a label end of the cartridge remains visible when the cartridge is loaded in the drive while contained and protected within the cartridge loading end of the disk drive.
claim 4
9. A disk drive system having a spindle magnet, a spindle motor, and including the apparatus recited in wherein rotation of said tiller in the first direction tiltably unloads the disk from the spindle magnet, and rotation of said tiller in the second direction tiltably loads the disk onto the spindle magnet with a raising and lowering motion.
claim 1
10. The disk drive system according to including the apparatus recited in .
claim 9
claim 2
11. The disk drive system according to including the apparatus recited in and further including a first slider channel in which said first slider is slidably mounted and a second slider channel in which said second slider is slidably mounted.
claim 9
claim 2
12. The disk drive system according to wherein said base plate includes one pair of substantially vertical slots in which said lifting pins are accommodated in a raising and lowering motion of the receiver.
claim 9
13. The disk drive system according to including the apparatus recited in wherein said base plate includes one pair of substantially vertical slots in which said lifting pins are accommodated in a raising and lowering motion of the receiver.
claim 9
claim 2
14. A method of loading a disk onto and, alternatively, unloading a disk from a magnetically clamped spindle interface of a disk drive system having a front side and a rear side, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a cartridge receiver having a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin each respectively mounted on first and second sides of the cartridge receiver;
positioning a first slider and a second slider relative to the cartridge receiver, the first slider slidably mounted in a first slider channel and the second slider slidably mounted in a second slider channel;
forming one S-shaped slot in said first slider;
forming one S-shaped slot in said second slider;
swingably attaching a tiller to the sliders so that the sliders move in opposite directions from each other and within their respective slider channels under the influence of the tiller;
rotatably attaching the tiller to the disk drive system at a tiller axis, the tiller axis being fixed relative to the disk drive system;
linking a cartridge receiver to the first slider and to the second slider by their respective S-shaped slots; and
permitting the sliders to move relative to each other and relative to the cartridge receiver, thereby causing the lifting pins to follow the slots in the sliders to alternatively raise and lower the cartridge receiver.
15. The method according to further including the steps of:
claim 14
minimizing the movement of the cartridge receiver along a first direction from the front side to the rear side of the disk drive system, and while performing said minimizing step; and
permitting the cartridge receiver to move substantially perpendicular to said first direction and to pitch about the lifting pins so that the cartridge receiver is tiltably raised and lowered when the movement of the sliders causes the lifting pins to follow the slots in the sliders to alternatively raise and lower the cartridge receiver.
16. The method according to wherein said permitting step includes inserting a disk cartridge into the cartridge receiver until a remote end of the disk cartridge releases a receiver latch thereby preventing the sliders from moving.
claim 14
17. The method according to wherein said unloading of the disk from the magnetically clamped spindle interface of the disk drive system includes causing the tiller to rotate to activate the sliders to drive the lifting pins along the slots to thereby tiltably raise the cartridge receiver.
claim 14
18. The method according to wherein said tiller is manually activated to rotate thereby tiltably raising the cartridge receiver and unloading the disk.
claim 17
19. The method according to wherein said tiller is caused to rotate by an electric motor to thereby tiltably raise the cartridge receiver and unload the disk.
claim 17
20. A method of manufacturing a cartridge loading and unloading mechanism operatively associated with a disc drive having a housing with a cartridge loading end and a remote end, said method comprising the steps of:
placing in the housing a first slider having one first S-shaped slot formed therein so that a forward end of the first slider is adjacent the cartridge loading end of the housing and a remote end of the first slider is adjacent the remote end of the housing;
placing in the housing a second slider having one second S-shaped slot formed therein so that a forward end of the second slider is adjacent the cartridge loading end of the housing and a remote end of the second slider is adjacent the remote end of the housing;
swingably connecting a first end of a tiller to the first slider and swingably connecting a second end of the tiller to the second slider so that rotation of the tiller in a first direction about a tiller axis drives the first slider toward the cartridge loading end of the housing while driving the second slider toward the remote end of the housing, and rotation of the tiller in a second direction about the tiller axis drives the first slider toward the remote end of the housing while driving the second slider toward the cartridge loading end of the housing; and
slidably connecting to said sliders a cartridge receiver having a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin associated therewith so that said first lifting pin fits slidably into said first S-shaped slot, and said second lifting pin fits slidably into said second S-shaped slot.
21. An optical disc system operated according to the method recited in any one of claims 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20.
22. A cartridge loading and unloading apparatus in a disc drive, said apparatus comprising:
a first slider having a first end and a second end, said first slider having a slot formed therein;
a second slider having a first end and a second end, said second slider having a slot formed therein;
a tiller having a first end and a second end, said first end of said tiller being swingably linked to said first end of said first slider, and said second end of said tiller being swingably linked to said first end of said second slider; and
a cartridge receiver having a first lifting pin and a second lifting pin, said first lifting pin slidably fitting into one of said slots, and said second lifting pin slidably fitting into the other slot so that said cartridge receiver tiltably moves between a first position and a second position when said sliders are driven by said tiller.
23. The cartridge loading and unloading apparatus according to wherein said first and second slots are S-shaped.
claim 22
24. The cartridge loading and unloading apparatus according to further including a gear train linked to said tiller, said gear train transmitting a force to said tiller.
claim 23
25. The cartridge loading and unloading apparatus according to further including a motor linked to said gear train for generating said force provided to said tiller.
claim 24
26. The cartridge loading and unloading apparatus according to further including a cam operatively associated with said tiller and said gear train for rotating said tiller about a tiller axis.
claim 25
27. The cartridge loading and unloading apparatus according to further including a parking arm for positioning a carriage.
claim 23
28. The cartridge loading and unloading apparatus according to wherein said parking arm is operatively associated with one of said first and second sliders so that movement of said associated slider operates said parking arm.
claim 27
29. A method of manufacturing a cartridge loading and unloading mechanism, said method comprising the steps of:
forming a first slider having only one S-shaped slot;
forming a second slider having only one S-shaped slot;
placing said first slider in a housing so that a first end of said first slider is adjacent a first end of said housing and a second end of said first slider is adjacent a second end of said housing;
placing said second slider in said housing so that a first end of said second slider is adjacent the first end of said housing and the second end of said second slider is adjacent the second end of said housing;
swingably connecting a first end of a tiller to said first slider, and swingably connecting a second end of said tiller to said second slider, so that rotation of said tiller in a first rotational direction about a tiller axis drives said first slider in a first direction while driving said second slider in a second direction, and a second rotation of said tiller in a second rotational direction about said tiller axis drives said first slider in said second direction while driving said second slider in said first direction; and
linking a cartridge receiver to said first slider and to said second slider by their respective S-shaped slots, said cartridge receiver being tiltably movable between an upper position and a lower position when said sliders are driven by said tiller.
30. The method according to further including the step of linking a gear train to said tiller.
claim 29
31. The method according to further including the step of linking a motor to said gear train for transmitting a force to said tiller.
claim 30
32. The method according to further including the step of providing a cam between said gear train and said tiller.
claim 31
33. A method of unloading a disk cartridge from a magnetic hub in a data storage system, said method comprising the steps of:
applying a force at a first and second lifting point of a cartridge receiver thereby lifting a first end of said cartridge receiver from a first position to a second position, said force being directed perpendicular to the planar surface of a magnetic hub onto which a disk cartridge contained within said cartridge receiver is mounted and said first and second lifting points being positioned to cause said cartridge receiver to tilt about a first axis when said force is applied to said lifting points; and
stopping movement of said first end of said cartridge receiver at said second position causing said cartridge receiver to then tilt about a second axis thereby lifting a second end of said cartridge receiver from a first position to a second position.
34. The method according to wherein said first and second lifting points are provided by lifting pins on said cartridge receiver.
claim 33
35. The method according to further including the step of moving a first and a second slider linked to said lifting pins to provide the force to said lifting pins.
claim 34
36. The method according to wherein said lifting pins are slidably contained with S-shaped slots in said sliders.
claim 35
37. The method according to further including the step of rotating a tiller arm which is linked to a first end of said first slider and a first end of said second slider, to move said first and second sliders.
claim 36
38. The method according to wherein said disk cartridge is a magneto-optical disk.
claim 33
39. The method according to wherein said disk cartridge is a magneto-optical disk.
claim 33
40. An optical disk system having a cartridge loading and unloading mechanism manufactured according to the method recited in any one of claims 29, 30, 31, or 32.
41. An optical disk system operated according to the method recited in any one of claims 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, or 39.
42. An apparatus for unloading a disk cartridge from a magnetic hub, said apparatus comprising:
a cartridge receiver having a first and second lifting points, said first and second lifting points located on opposite sides of said cartridge receiver and positioned to cause said cartridge receiver to tilt about a first axis when a force is applied to said first and second lifting points to thereby move a first end of said cartridge receiver from a first position to a second position; and
a stop for impeding movement of said first end of said cartridge receiver when it has moved to said second position, said stop also providing a pivot point for movement of a second end of said cartridge receiver from a first position to a second position.
43. The apparatus according to wherein said first and second lifting points are provided by a first and second lifting pin on said cartridge receiver.
claim 42
44. The apparatus according to further including a first slider having only one S-shaped slot formed therein, and a second slider having only one S-shaped formed therein, said first lifting pin being slidably contained within said S-shaped slot of said first slider and said second lifting pin being slidably contained within said S-shaped slot of said second slider.
claim 43
45. The apparatus according to further including a tiller arm having a first end connected to a first end of said first slider and said tiller having a second end connected to a first end of said second slider.
claim 44
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/256,336 US6411584B2 (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1999-02-19 | Cartridge loading apparatus and methods of manufacturing and operating same |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/296,794 US5724331A (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1994-08-25 | Disk drive system having improved cartridge-loading apparatus including direct drive gear train and methods for making and operating same |
US48205295A | 1995-06-07 | 1995-06-07 | |
US08/885,129 US6009061A (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1997-06-30 | Cartridge-loading apparatus with improved base plate and cartridge receiver latch |
US09/256,336 US6411584B2 (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1999-02-19 | Cartridge loading apparatus and methods of manufacturing and operating same |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/885,129 Division US6009061A (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1997-06-30 | Cartridge-loading apparatus with improved base plate and cartridge receiver latch |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010043544A1 true US20010043544A1 (en) | 2001-11-22 |
US6411584B2 US6411584B2 (en) | 2002-06-25 |
Family
ID=26969823
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/885,129 Expired - Lifetime US6009061A (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1997-06-30 | Cartridge-loading apparatus with improved base plate and cartridge receiver latch |
US09/256,336 Expired - Fee Related US6411584B2 (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1999-02-19 | Cartridge loading apparatus and methods of manufacturing and operating same |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/885,129 Expired - Lifetime US6009061A (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1997-06-30 | Cartridge-loading apparatus with improved base plate and cartridge receiver latch |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US6009061A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1542225A2 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-06-15 | ORION ELECTRIC CO., Ltd. | Disk device having reinforcing structure |
Families Citing this family (62)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR19990077373A (en) * | 1996-11-20 | 1999-10-25 | 이데이 노부유끼 | Recording and / or reproducing apparatus for electronic devices and recording media |
US7209787B2 (en) | 1998-08-05 | 2007-04-24 | Bioneuronics Corporation | Apparatus and method for closed-loop intracranial stimulation for optimal control of neurological disease |
US9415222B2 (en) * | 1998-08-05 | 2016-08-16 | Cyberonics, Inc. | Monitoring an epilepsy disease state with a supervisory module |
US7853329B2 (en) * | 1998-08-05 | 2010-12-14 | Neurovista Corporation | Monitoring efficacy of neural modulation therapy |
TW444191B (en) * | 1999-04-03 | 2001-07-01 | Ind Tech Res Inst | Open device for cartridge shutter |
JP3614038B2 (en) * | 1999-06-04 | 2005-01-26 | ティアック株式会社 | Recording medium mounting device |
JP4657476B2 (en) * | 2000-09-26 | 2011-03-23 | クラリオン株式会社 | Disc player loading mechanism |
US20030043727A1 (en) * | 2001-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | Freeman Robert D. | Eccentric CAM for limiting actuator tracking |
US9560804B1 (en) | 2010-12-15 | 2017-02-07 | Marion Calmer | Stalk roll with flutes defining a recess |
US7853963B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2010-12-14 | Tohei Industrial Co., Ltd. | Disk storage medium processing apparatus |
US8725243B2 (en) | 2005-12-28 | 2014-05-13 | Cyberonics, Inc. | Methods and systems for recommending an appropriate pharmacological treatment to a patient for managing epilepsy and other neurological disorders |
US20080027347A1 (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2008-01-31 | Neuro Vista Corporation, A Delaware Corporation | Minimally Invasive Monitoring Methods |
US8295934B2 (en) | 2006-11-14 | 2012-10-23 | Neurovista Corporation | Systems and methods of reducing artifact in neurological stimulation systems |
JP2008165889A (en) * | 2006-12-27 | 2008-07-17 | Toshiba Corp | Optical disk drive |
WO2008092133A2 (en) * | 2007-01-25 | 2008-07-31 | Neurovista Corporation | Methods and systems for measuring a subject's susceptibility to a seizure |
EP2126785A2 (en) * | 2007-01-25 | 2009-12-02 | NeuroVista Corporation | Systems and methods for identifying a contra-ictal condition in a subject |
US8036736B2 (en) * | 2007-03-21 | 2011-10-11 | Neuro Vista Corporation | Implantable systems and methods for identifying a contra-ictal condition in a subject |
US9788744B2 (en) * | 2007-07-27 | 2017-10-17 | Cyberonics, Inc. | Systems for monitoring brain activity and patient advisory device |
US7996174B2 (en) | 2007-12-18 | 2011-08-09 | Teradyne, Inc. | Disk drive testing |
US8549912B2 (en) | 2007-12-18 | 2013-10-08 | Teradyne, Inc. | Disk drive transport, clamping and testing |
US20090171168A1 (en) | 2007-12-28 | 2009-07-02 | Leyde Kent W | Systems and Method for Recording Clinical Manifestations of a Seizure |
US8238099B2 (en) | 2008-04-17 | 2012-08-07 | Teradyne, Inc. | Enclosed operating area for disk drive testing systems |
US8117480B2 (en) * | 2008-04-17 | 2012-02-14 | Teradyne, Inc. | Dependent temperature control within disk drive testing systems |
US8041449B2 (en) * | 2008-04-17 | 2011-10-18 | Teradyne, Inc. | Bulk feeding disk drives to disk drive testing systems |
US8102173B2 (en) | 2008-04-17 | 2012-01-24 | Teradyne, Inc. | Thermal control system for test slot of test rack for disk drive testing system with thermoelectric device and a cooling conduit |
US8305751B2 (en) | 2008-04-17 | 2012-11-06 | Teradyne, Inc. | Vibration isolation within disk drive testing systems |
US8095234B2 (en) | 2008-04-17 | 2012-01-10 | Teradyne, Inc. | Transferring disk drives within disk drive testing systems |
US20090262455A1 (en) * | 2008-04-17 | 2009-10-22 | Teradyne, Inc. | Temperature Control Within Disk Drive Testing Systems |
US7848106B2 (en) | 2008-04-17 | 2010-12-07 | Teradyne, Inc. | Temperature control within disk drive testing systems |
US7945424B2 (en) | 2008-04-17 | 2011-05-17 | Teradyne, Inc. | Disk drive emulator and method of use thereof |
US8160739B2 (en) | 2008-04-17 | 2012-04-17 | Teradyne, Inc. | Transferring storage devices within storage device testing systems |
CN102112887B (en) | 2008-06-03 | 2015-06-10 | 泰拉丁公司 | Processing storage devices |
US7995349B2 (en) | 2009-07-15 | 2011-08-09 | Teradyne, Inc. | Storage device temperature sensing |
US8628239B2 (en) | 2009-07-15 | 2014-01-14 | Teradyne, Inc. | Storage device temperature sensing |
US8466699B2 (en) | 2009-07-15 | 2013-06-18 | Teradyne, Inc. | Heating storage devices in a testing system |
US7920380B2 (en) | 2009-07-15 | 2011-04-05 | Teradyne, Inc. | Test slot cooling system for a storage device testing system |
US8116079B2 (en) | 2009-07-15 | 2012-02-14 | Teradyne, Inc. | Storage device testing system cooling |
US8547123B2 (en) | 2009-07-15 | 2013-10-01 | Teradyne, Inc. | Storage device testing system with a conductive heating assembly |
US8687356B2 (en) | 2010-02-02 | 2014-04-01 | Teradyne, Inc. | Storage device testing system cooling |
US9779780B2 (en) | 2010-06-17 | 2017-10-03 | Teradyne, Inc. | Damping vibrations within storage device testing systems |
US8687349B2 (en) | 2010-07-21 | 2014-04-01 | Teradyne, Inc. | Bulk transfer of storage devices using manual loading |
US9001456B2 (en) | 2010-08-31 | 2015-04-07 | Teradyne, Inc. | Engaging test slots |
US10785911B2 (en) | 2011-12-15 | 2020-09-29 | Marion Calmer | Stalk roll with hybrid flute having a sharp edge and two blunt edges |
US11071252B2 (en) | 2011-12-15 | 2021-07-27 | Marion Calmer | Stalk roll with multiple flutes of different lengths |
AR093698A1 (en) | 2012-11-30 | 2015-06-17 | Calmer Marion | ANGOSTA ROW HEAD |
US9459312B2 (en) | 2013-04-10 | 2016-10-04 | Teradyne, Inc. | Electronic assembly test system |
TWM546032U (en) * | 2016-12-02 | 2017-07-21 | Elitegroup Computer Systems Co Ltd | Slot assembly and workpiece |
US10948534B2 (en) | 2017-08-28 | 2021-03-16 | Teradyne, Inc. | Automated test system employing robotics |
US10845410B2 (en) | 2017-08-28 | 2020-11-24 | Teradyne, Inc. | Automated test system having orthogonal robots |
US10725091B2 (en) | 2017-08-28 | 2020-07-28 | Teradyne, Inc. | Automated test system having multiple stages |
US11226390B2 (en) | 2017-08-28 | 2022-01-18 | Teradyne, Inc. | Calibration process for an automated test system |
US10983145B2 (en) | 2018-04-24 | 2021-04-20 | Teradyne, Inc. | System for testing devices inside of carriers |
US11105847B1 (en) * | 2018-06-18 | 2021-08-31 | Seagate Technology Llc | Data storage component test socket opener |
US10775408B2 (en) | 2018-08-20 | 2020-09-15 | Teradyne, Inc. | System for testing devices inside of carriers |
USD1023700S1 (en) | 2019-02-12 | 2024-04-23 | Calmer Holding Company, Llc | Stalk roll |
CN111230492B (en) * | 2020-03-20 | 2024-07-23 | 广东沃德精密科技股份有限公司 | Bluetooth headset charging box assembly jig |
US11867749B2 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2024-01-09 | Teradyne, Inc. | Vision system for an automated test system |
US11899042B2 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2024-02-13 | Teradyne, Inc. | Automated test system |
US11953519B2 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2024-04-09 | Teradyne, Inc. | Modular automated test system |
US11754596B2 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2023-09-12 | Teradyne, Inc. | Test site configuration in an automated test system |
US11754622B2 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2023-09-12 | Teradyne, Inc. | Thermal control system for an automated test system |
US12007411B2 (en) | 2021-06-22 | 2024-06-11 | Teradyne, Inc. | Test socket having an automated lid |
Family Cites Families (69)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4340955A (en) * | 1978-03-27 | 1982-07-20 | Discovision Associates | Video disc player |
US4274119A (en) * | 1978-12-26 | 1981-06-16 | Discovision Associates | Recording disk cover and player apparatus for removing cover |
US4252327A (en) * | 1979-02-16 | 1981-02-24 | Mca Discovision, Inc. | Video disc player |
US4367545A (en) * | 1979-02-16 | 1983-01-04 | Discovision Associates | Video disc player |
US4467467A (en) * | 1980-10-20 | 1984-08-21 | Discovision Associates | Video recorder-playback machine |
US4488279A (en) * | 1980-10-20 | 1984-12-11 | Discovision Associates | Video recorder-playback machine |
JPS57164872U (en) * | 1981-04-14 | 1982-10-18 | ||
US4419703A (en) * | 1981-11-16 | 1983-12-06 | Dma Systems Corporation | Disc cartridge loading mechanism |
EP0111010B1 (en) * | 1982-06-04 | 1989-08-16 | Sony Corporation | Optical disc reproducer |
US4603363A (en) * | 1983-03-01 | 1986-07-29 | Storage Technology Partners Ii | Stop mechanism using an elastomeric element |
FR2546310B1 (en) * | 1983-05-20 | 1986-04-25 | Thomson Csf | ADJUSTABLE FRAME FOR PIVOTING MIRROR AND OPTICAL RECORDING-READING HEAD USING SUCH A FRAME |
US4545045A (en) * | 1983-05-31 | 1985-10-01 | Storage Technology Partners Ii | Recording disk load and unload apparatus |
US4737947A (en) * | 1983-06-14 | 1988-04-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Recording medium having optomagnetic recording layer and optical recording layer with guide tracks of specific reflectance |
DE3324861C2 (en) * | 1983-07-09 | 1986-02-13 | Deutsche Thomson-Brandt Gmbh, 7730 Villingen-Schwenningen | Reading device for the optical scanning of information recorded on a moving plate-shaped carrier |
US4719615A (en) * | 1983-08-22 | 1988-01-12 | Optical Data, Inc. | Erasable optical data storage medium |
JPS60143442A (en) * | 1983-12-28 | 1985-07-29 | Olympus Optical Co Ltd | Tracking system |
US4720825A (en) * | 1984-02-06 | 1988-01-19 | Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Optical data reproducing devices having improved trick play capability |
US4677607A (en) * | 1984-04-11 | 1987-06-30 | Alpine Electronics Inc. | Disc loading mechanism for disc player |
JPS6129421A (en) * | 1984-06-15 | 1986-02-10 | Olympus Optical Co Ltd | Detection of defect of optical recording medium |
JPS6132265A (en) * | 1984-07-23 | 1986-02-14 | Hitachi Ltd | Recording control circuit of optical information recording and reproducing device |
KR900006313B1 (en) * | 1984-07-23 | 1990-08-28 | 마쯔시다덴기산교 가부시기가이샤 | Disk holder and its player |
JPS6139940A (en) * | 1984-07-31 | 1986-02-26 | Pioneer Electronic Corp | Optical information disc reproducing device |
JPH0634287B2 (en) * | 1984-08-07 | 1994-05-02 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Continuous drive for disk-shaped recording medium |
JPS6180654A (en) * | 1984-09-28 | 1986-04-24 | Toshiba Corp | Disk record reproducing device |
DE3546796C2 (en) * | 1984-10-01 | 1993-09-23 | Mitsubishi Denki K.K., Tokio/Tokyo, Jp | |
JPS6185664A (en) * | 1984-10-03 | 1986-05-01 | Nippon Gakki Seizo Kk | Loading device for disk reproducer |
US4718053A (en) * | 1984-11-09 | 1988-01-05 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Optical information apparatus and method of recording and erasing information |
DE3542343A1 (en) * | 1984-12-03 | 1986-06-05 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokio/Tokyo | INFORMATION RECORDING REGENERATION DEVICE |
US4722080A (en) * | 1984-12-06 | 1988-01-26 | Dieckmann Ralf E | Transducer arm assembly for disk play-back machines |
US4720824A (en) * | 1984-12-28 | 1988-01-19 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Information reading apparatus with a light beam scanning technique |
JPH0664821B2 (en) * | 1984-12-30 | 1994-08-22 | オリンパス光学工業株式会社 | Recording medium loading device |
JPS61199268A (en) * | 1985-02-28 | 1986-09-03 | Toshiba Corp | Information processor |
US4720826A (en) * | 1985-03-20 | 1988-01-19 | Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. | Ventilation arrangement for use in an optical recording disc |
EP0205074B1 (en) * | 1985-06-14 | 1991-05-08 | Yamaha Corporation | Loading system for a disc cartridge case housing a disc in a playback device |
JPS627661U (en) * | 1985-06-26 | 1987-01-17 | ||
US4719613A (en) * | 1985-08-27 | 1988-01-12 | Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc. | Optical recording medium having a reflective recording layer including a resinous binder and a naphthalocyanine dye |
US4722077A (en) * | 1985-08-30 | 1988-01-26 | Dictaphone Corporation | Transcription control over plural interconnected modules |
JPS6260164A (en) * | 1985-09-11 | 1987-03-16 | Toshiba Corp | Disk loading device |
US4791511A (en) * | 1985-09-19 | 1988-12-13 | Laser Magnetic Storage International Company | Disk cartridge with slide door engageable in either of two orientations |
US4745500A (en) * | 1985-09-19 | 1988-05-17 | Laser Magnetic Storage International Company | Disk drive for cartridge disks |
JPH079732B2 (en) * | 1985-10-05 | 1995-02-01 | ソニー株式会社 | Disk drive |
US4726009A (en) * | 1985-12-13 | 1988-02-16 | Issac Alejandro G | Leveling device and method for record playing turntables |
US4719610A (en) * | 1986-04-02 | 1988-01-12 | Optotech, Inc. | Objective lens velocity control system for use in an optical data storage system |
JPS62256285A (en) * | 1986-04-30 | 1987-11-07 | Hitachi Ltd | Floppy disk |
US4718054A (en) * | 1986-05-28 | 1988-01-05 | Laser Magnetic Storage International Company | Servo error write blanking circuit for an optical recording disk |
JPH077556B2 (en) * | 1986-06-13 | 1995-01-30 | 株式会社東芝 | Information processing equipment |
JPH07118136B2 (en) * | 1986-06-13 | 1995-12-18 | 株式会社東芝 | Information processing equipment |
US4736356A (en) * | 1986-07-14 | 1988-04-05 | Optotech, Inc. | Optical disk drive |
JPS6381648A (en) * | 1986-09-25 | 1988-04-12 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Loading method |
JPS6390057A (en) * | 1986-10-02 | 1988-04-20 | Pioneer Electronic Corp | Loading mechanism for disk player |
US4773058A (en) * | 1986-10-27 | 1988-09-20 | Eastman Kodak Company | Disk handling system and apparatus |
US5297117A (en) * | 1987-05-19 | 1994-03-22 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information recording and reproducing apparatus for automatically loading and unloading and manually unloading a recording medium |
JPH01119952A (en) * | 1987-10-31 | 1989-05-12 | Nakamichi Corp | Automatic shutter opening/closing mechanism for disk cartridge in recording and reproducing device |
US5123004A (en) * | 1988-07-17 | 1992-06-16 | 501 Nakamichi Corporation | Recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a vertically movable disk chassis and arranged to prevent external forces from disrupting proper operations |
US5146069A (en) * | 1988-09-19 | 1992-09-08 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Device for loading and unloading a memory cartridge using a sliding member |
JPH0661123B2 (en) * | 1988-10-28 | 1994-08-10 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Optical magnetic recording / reproducing device |
JP2736905B2 (en) * | 1988-11-14 | 1998-04-08 | 旭光学工業株式会社 | Loading device |
JP3038754B2 (en) * | 1990-01-20 | 2000-05-08 | ソニー株式会社 | Magneto-optical disk recording device |
US5195079A (en) * | 1990-08-20 | 1993-03-16 | Teac Corporation | Disk driver in which the disk holder is located below a slider |
JPH04105284A (en) | 1990-08-24 | 1992-04-07 | Sony Corp | Optical recording and/or reproducing device |
JP2917488B2 (en) * | 1990-10-22 | 1999-07-12 | ソニー株式会社 | Optical disk recording and / or reproducing apparatus |
JP2641984B2 (en) * | 1990-11-29 | 1997-08-20 | 群馬日本電気株式会社 | Magneto-optical disk drive |
JP2842952B2 (en) * | 1991-05-24 | 1999-01-06 | パイオニア株式会社 | Recording medium transport device |
JP2979789B2 (en) * | 1991-10-09 | 1999-11-15 | ソニー株式会社 | Disc cartridge ejection mechanism |
DE69332603T2 (en) * | 1992-10-19 | 2003-10-16 | Clarion Co., Ltd. | Recording and playback device |
US5500838A (en) | 1992-12-10 | 1996-03-19 | Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood | Photomagnetic disc record/reproduction apparatus including improved magnetic head lifting mechanism |
KR0136828B1 (en) * | 1993-01-13 | 1998-05-15 | 모리시타 요이찌 | Information recording/reproducing device |
JPH06223471A (en) * | 1993-01-29 | 1994-08-12 | Sony Corp | Disk recording and/or reproducing device |
US5724331A (en) * | 1994-08-25 | 1998-03-03 | Discovision Associates | Disk drive system having improved cartridge-loading apparatus including direct drive gear train and methods for making and operating same |
-
1997
- 1997-06-30 US US08/885,129 patent/US6009061A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1999
- 1999-02-19 US US09/256,336 patent/US6411584B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1542225A2 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-06-15 | ORION ELECTRIC CO., Ltd. | Disk device having reinforcing structure |
US20050132386A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-06-16 | Orion Electric Co., Ltd. | Disk device having reinforcing structure |
EP1542225A3 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-10-19 | ORION ELECTRIC CO., Ltd. | Disk device having reinforcing structure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US6009061A (en) | 1999-12-28 |
US6411584B2 (en) | 2002-06-25 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6411584B2 (en) | Cartridge loading apparatus and methods of manufacturing and operating same | |
US6201659B1 (en) | Cartridge-loading apparatus with tilting bias coil assembly | |
WO1996024931A1 (en) | Recording/reproduction apparatus | |
JPS61292261A (en) | Cartridge handler | |
JPH0638065U (en) | Head drive | |
US5610890A (en) | Cartridge inserting/extracting apparatus for a magnetooptical disk player | |
JP2000276873A (en) | Optical storage device and cartridge loading mechanism | |
US6804174B1 (en) | Magneto-optical disk recording and/or reproducing device | |
US6353516B2 (en) | Disk apparatus having magnetic head lifting device | |
AU6449799A (en) | Cartridge loading apparatus | |
US7162726B2 (en) | Disk apparatus | |
WO2004042726A1 (en) | Recorder/reproducer | |
US6522621B1 (en) | Disc cassette | |
US6556373B1 (en) | Disk apparatus, method of accessing head thereof to disk-like recording medium, and method of retracting the same | |
EP0944071B1 (en) | Positioning system for use in an information recording /reproducing apparatus | |
JP2559717Y2 (en) | Disk unit | |
JP2996698B2 (en) | Disk unit | |
KR100189882B1 (en) | Magnetic head lifting device of magneto-optical disk player | |
JP3049742B2 (en) | Disk unit | |
JP2761682B2 (en) | Disk unit | |
JPS61296561A (en) | Disc driving device | |
JPH06349138A (en) | Magneto-optical disk device and optical disk device | |
JPH0619154U (en) | Disk device | |
JPH065049A (en) | Optical disk recording/reproducing device | |
JPH04313869A (en) | Carriage mechanism for floppy disk device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20140625 |