Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-25
2001-06-05
Letscher, George J. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record medium
In container
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243231
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a disk cartridge assembly for data storage, and more particularly, to a disk cartridge with an anti-rattle mechanism.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Data storage disk systems employing removable disk cartridges are generally used to add additional hard drive storage to a computer system or to provide backup storage capacity. The disk cartridges may contain either a single disk or more than one disk each having two recording surfaces. The disks within these disk cartridges are generally optical or magnetic disks of varying sizes and storage capacities.
Removable disk cartridges for storing digital electronic information typically include an outer cartridge or shell containing one or more rotatable storage medium or disk upon which electronic information is stored. The cartridge includes upper and lower cartridge members which are joined together to form a housing for the disk. The disk is mounted on a central hub assembly which holds the disk and allows the disk to rotate within the cartridge housing when data is being read from or written to the recording surfaces. When the disk cartridge is inserted into a disk drive, a spindle motor in the disk drive engages the disk hub in order to rotate the disk within the housing as a read/write head reads or writes data from or to recording surfaces of the disk.
The disk cartridge housing generally includes some form of an opening to provide the read/write head of the drive with access to the recording surfaces of the disk. A shutter or door mechanism is often provided which covers the cartridge opening when the cartridge is not in the disk drive to prevent damage to the recording surfaces of the disks. As the disk cartridge is inserted into the disk drive the door mechanism is opened by a door activator of the disk drive to allow access to the recording surfaces of the disk.
When the disk cartridge is seated inside the disk drive the disk is positioned within the cartridge with some running clearance between the disk and the cartridge side walls as well as between the disk and the cartridge top and bottom walls to prevent the disk from contacting the cartridge walls during rotation. However, this clearance allows the disk to move around within the cartridge when the cartridge is not in the disk drive. This motion of the disk within the cartridge may create undesirable debris and particulates which contaminate the recording surfaces of the disk.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a disk cartridge with an anti-rattle mechanism to minimize motion of the disk within the cartridge when the disk is outside of the disk drive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic, optical, or other disk cartridge for data storage and an anti-rattle mechanism for reduction of particulate contamination created when the disk cartridge is outside of the disk drive and the disk moves around within the cartridge. The anti-rattle mechanism prevents one or more data storage disks from moving within the cartridge when the disk cartridge is not inserted in a disk drive.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a disk cartridge includes a disk cartridge housing, a disk assembly positioned within the disk cartridge housing and including a data storage disk and a hub, an opening in the disk cartridge housing providing access of a read/write head to the data storage disk, and a door movable between a closed position in which the door covers the opening and an opened position. An anti-rattle mechanism in a clamping position prevents motion of the disk assembly within the housing. In a released position, the anti-rattle mechanism allows the disk assembly to rotate freely within the disk cartridge housing. The anti-rattle mechanism includes a first cam member rotatable with respect to the disk cartridge housing, and a second cam member arranged concentrically around the first cam member and movable between the clamping position and the released position in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the first cam member in response to rotation of the first cam member.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a disk cartridge includes a disk cartridge housing including an upper cartridge and a lower cartridge, a disk assembly positioned within the disk cartridge housing and including a data storage disk and a hub, the disk assembly having an axis of rotation, an opening in the disk cartridge housing providing access of a read/write head to the data storage disk, and a door movable between a closed position in which the door covers the opening and an opened position. An anti-rattle mechanism is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the disk assembly between a clamping position in which motion of the disk assembly within the housing is prevented and a released position in which the disk assembly is freely rotatable within the disk cartridge housing. When the anti-rattle mechanism is in the clamping position the disk assembly is clamped against the disk cartridge housing causing outward deformation of the housing.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention, a disk cartridge includes a disk cartridge housing, a disk assembly positioned within the disk cartridge housing and including a data storage disk and a hub, an opening in the disk cartridge housing providing access of a read/write head to the data storage disk, and a door movable between a closed position in which the door covers the opening and an opened position. An anti-rattle mechanism is provided having a clamping position in which motion of the disk assembly within the housing is prevented and a released position in which the disk assembly is freely rotatable within the disk cartridge housing. The anti-rattle mechanism includes a cam member rotatable with respect to the disk cartridge housing and having at least one cam slot, and a cam follower having a pin for engagement with the cam slot, the rotation of the cam member causing the cam follower to move longitudinally from the clamping position to the released position and from the released position to the clamping position as the pin moves in the cam slot.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an anti-rattle mechanism for a disk cartridge addressing the problems of particulate generation which occur in disk cartridges when a disk assembly moves around inside the cartridge contacting the cartridge walls. The anti-rattle mechanism includes an anti-rattle ring which is movable by a cam surface between a clamping position and a released position. When the disk cartridge is outside of a disk drive, the anti-rattle mechanism is in a clamping position to completely or partially captivate the disk assembly within the cartridge. As the disk cartridge is inserted into the disk drive, the anti-rattle mechanism moves to a released configuration where a disk is freely rotatable within the cartridge. The anti-rattle mechanism is moved between the clamping position and the released position by rotation of a movable door.
The present invention provides advantages of reduced particulate contamination of a disk cartridge with a simple anti-rattle mechanism which captures a movable disk assembly against a side of the disk cartridge. The compliance provided by the disk cartridge housing prevents the need for a spring to provide compliance in the anti-rattle mechanism. Further, the arrangement of the anti-rattle mechanism in a concentric manner allows a small overall cartridge thickness.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5535081 (1996-07-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5650899 (1997-07-01), Schick et al.
patent: 5862026 (1999-01-01), Schick et al.
patent: 5974026 (1999-10-01), Guerini
patent: 5991130 (1999-11-01), Schick et al.
patent: 6011773 (2000-01-01), Guerini et al.
patent: 696800 (1996-02-01), None
Morris Frank
Tannert Hans
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Letscher George J.
SyQuest Technology
LandOfFree
Disk cartridge with anti-rattle mechanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Disk cartridge with anti-rattle mechanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Disk cartridge with anti-rattle mechanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2477044