Dynamic optical information storage or retrieval – Particular cabinet structure for optical media – Tray or drawer loading or ejecting
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-22
2004-08-03
Davis, David (Department: 2652)
Dynamic optical information storage or retrieval
Particular cabinet structure for optical media
Tray or drawer loading or ejecting
Reexamination Certificate
active
06772423
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disk drive unit, more precisely relates to a disk drive unit having a tray capable of holding an optical disk and being retracted into and ejected from a main body.
The disk drive unit reproduces data from and records data on an optical disk, e.g., CD, DVD. Generally, the optical disk is mounted on the tray and loaded in the disk drive unit.
A front view of a conventional disk drive unit is shown in FIG.
8
.
A tray
12
can be ejected forward from a front face of a main body
11
of the disk drive unit
10
. An eject button
13
for ejecting the tray
12
, a play button
14
for reproducing recorded data, a volume controller
15
, etc. are provided in the front face of the main body
11
.
In
FIG. 8
, the tray
12
is retracted in the main body
11
. When the disk is loaded or taken out, a user pushes the eject button
13
provided in the front face of the main body
11
.
The eject button
13
is usually provided under the tray
12
because of parts arrangement and cable arrangement.
A moving mechanism (not shown), which is provided in the disk drive unit
10
and automatically moves the tray
12
, is actuated by pushing the eject button
13
. The moving mechanism includes a motor for moving the tray
12
.
Since the eject button
13
is provided under the tray
12
, the tray
12
which has been ejected obstructs user's action of pushing the eject button
13
. Therefore, it is difficult to push the eject button
13
so as to retract the tray
12
.
To easily retract the tray
12
, the moving mechanism can be actuated by slightly pushing a front face of the ejected tray
12
.
Namely, in the conventional disk drive unit, the user must execute different action so as to eject and retract the tray
12
, so the user, especially an unfamiliar user, is confused.
In a book-size personal computer, an eject button is provided in a front face of a tray, but the eject button is not used for retracting the tray. The tray is manually pushed until the tray is fully retracted in a disk driving unit.
In the conventional book-size personal computer too, the tray is ejected and retracted by user's different action, so the user must be confused.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a disk drive unit, in which an eject button for ejecting and retracting a tray can be easily pushed while the tray is ejected.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk drive unit, in which the tray can be ejected and retracted by same action.
To achieve the objects, the disk drive unit of the present invention comprises:
a main body;
a tray for holding an optical disk, the tray being retracted into and ejected from the main body;
means for moving the tray, the moving means including a motor for retracting the tray into and ejecting the same from the main body; and
an eject button actuating the moving means so as to retract the tray into and eject the same from the main body, the eject button being provided in a front face of the tray.
With this structure, the eject button can be easily pushed while the tray is retracted, and the tray can be ejected and retracted by the same action: pushing the eject button.
The disk drive unit may further comprise means for detecting movement of the tray,
wherein the detecting means detects the movement of the tray and actuates the moving means to eject the tray from the main body when the eject button is pushed while the tray is retracted in the main body, and
the detecting means detects the movement of the tray and actuates the moving means to retract the tray into the main body when the eject button is pushed and the tray is moved toward the main body while the tray is ejected form the main body.
With this structure, by pushing the eject button provided in the front face of the ejected tray, the tray is also pushed into the main body so that the moving means automatically loads the disk even if the eject button does not directly actuate the detecting means. Anyway, the tray can be automatically ejected and retracted by the same action: pushing the eject button.
In the disk drive unit, the detecting means may include:
a lever being attached to the tray, the lever being pushed and projected by the eject button;
a check gear being pushed by the lever projected, the check gear being engaged with a rack extended in the direction of the movement of the tray; and
a sensor for detecting rotation of the check gear.
With this structure, the detecting means actuates the moving means to automatically eject and retract the tray in the both cases of: pushing the eject button; and pushing and moving the tray inward.
Further, in the disk drive unit, the tray may be detachably attached to the main body. With this structure, maintenance and repair can be easily executed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5867338 (1999-02-01), Ohira et al.
patent: 5914929 (1999-06-01), Kato et al.
patent: 6044058 (2000-03-01), Miyazaki et al.
patent: 6111838 (2000-08-01), Akiba
patent: 6272090 (2001-08-01), Maeda
Davis David
Shinano Kenshi Kabushiki Kaisha
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