Ejection structure

Details Ejection structure Ejection structure

2002-08-22

2004-11-09

Cao, Allen (Department: 2652)

Dynamic optical information storage or retrieval

Particular cabinet structure for optical media

C369S075210

Reexamination Certificate

active

06817020

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ejection structure, and in particular to an ejection structure for a thin optical disk drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional thin optical disk drive, an ejection structure is used to eject a tray. The ejection structure can secure and release the tray as needed when the optical disk drive is working. The conventional thin optical disk drive uses either a solenoid or a complicated mechanism having a D.C. motor as the main body of the ejection structure, thus causing complexity of assembly and increasing the manufacturing cost.
FIG. 1
is a schematic view showing the inner configuration of a conventional thin optical disk drive (U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,116). The tray
41
can be secured in and released from the chassis
56
. The ejection structure of the conventional thin optical disk drive is composed of a locking arm
239
and a solenoid
45
, as shown in FIG.
2
. The solenoid
45
is the power source of the ejection structure. The positioning and emergent ejection of the tray
41
can be accomplished by utilizing the reciprocal relationship between the locking arm
239
and a positioning pin (not shown) on the casing.
FIG. 3
is a schematic view showing the tray positioned in the chassis of the conventional thin optical disk drive. The geometric shape of the locking arm
239
is complicated. Thus, it is not easy to manufacture the locking arm
239
. Additionally, the locking arm
239
has a large volume, thus causing inconvenience in assembling the conventional thin optical disk drive.
Consequently, an object of the invention is to provide a simplified ejection structure for a thin optical disk drive. The thin optical disk drive can achieve the functions of ejection, emergent ejection and tray positioning using a motor and some simple elements. Specifically, the manufacturing cost of the ejection structure of the invention is reduced and the assembly of the ejection structure of the invention is simplified.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an ejection structure for an optical disk drive having a tray. The ejection structure is disposed on the back side of the tray to eject the tray. The ejection structure comprises a base; a motor disposed on the base; a worm gear connected to the motor; a limit switch disposed on the base; a main gear disposed on the base and engaged with the worm gear, the main gear having a first protruding pin; a first pushing arm disposed on the main gear and having a first through groove and a through hole; a second protruding pin disposed on the base and fitting in the through hole of the first pushing arm; a twisting spring fitting on the second protruding pin and disposed between the first pushing arm and the base providing resilient force to the first pushing arm; a third protruding pin disposed on the base; a second pushing arm disposed on the first pushing arm and having a second through groove and an engaging pin, wherein the first protruding pin and the third protruding pin fit in the second through groove, and the engaging pin fits in the first through groove of the first pushing arm.
When the motor drives the worm gear, the worm gear drives the main gear to rotate, so that the first pushing arm and the second pushing arm rotate and move relatively to eject the tray.
When the first pushing arm is pushed from the outside of the tray, the first pushing arm drives the second pushing arm to move linearly to eject the tray.
A detailed description will be given by the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6577577 (2003-06-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 2001/0026520 (2001-10-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 2003/0002421 (2003-01-01), Ming-Hui et al.
patent: 2003/0072243 (2003-04-01), Yeh et al.

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