Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-31
2002-10-29
Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record medium
In container
Reexamination Certificate
active
06473266
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to rotating data storage media, and more particularly to magnetic recording diskettes.
BACKGROUND
Floppy magnetic recording diskettes represent a popular storage medium in many computer systems. The recording disc within the diskette is a flexible sheet of polyester resin or the like having a magnetic layer on each side, upon which information is recorded by a magnetic read/write head. The disc includes a hub fixed within a central aperture of the flexible disc. Although floppy discs have been and continue to be manufactured in many sizes, one of the most enduring and popular sizes is the disc sized for a diskette cartridge that is approximately 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) wide. Generally, the disc is accommodated in a generally rigid casing to form a diskette cartridge comprising a cover shell and a back shell, which may be referred to together as a housing. Typically, a movable shutter is included in the diskette, and positioned to cover a media access opening. The shutter is ordinarily biased to the closed position to protect the disc from exposure to the elements. The shutter can be opened to allow access to the disc by a read/write head. The disc rotates within a media compartment inside the cartridge. In particular, a spindle motor within the drive engages the hub to rotate the disc.
The cartridge generally includes two fabric liners, one on each inner surface of the cartridge shells. The liners are kept in contact with the recording surface of the disc to remove debris on the recording surface while the disc rotates. The liner adjacent the back shell is kept pressed against the entire width of the recording surface by a lifter that is secured to the inner surface of the back shell. The lifter supports the fabric liner upward. Typically, a raised structure is provided on the inner surface of the cover shell above but slightly offset from the location of the lifter on the back shell. The lifter and the raised structure help to press the fabric liners into contact with the disc, thereby facilitating cleaning of the disc when the disc is rotated within the cartridge.
SUMMARY
Many liners are about the size of the disc, with a radial width approximately equal to the width of the flexible surface of the disc. Liners of this kind cover the majority of the media compartment. Consequently, most liners cover most of the media recording area of the disc. The invention provides a new liner configuration that provides a reduction in the material needed for a liner, resulting in less expense and less waste.
In one embodiment, the invention presents an article of manufacture, including a magnetic recording disc with a flexible surface, a housing defining a media compartment and a fabric liner secured to an interior surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the area of the fabric liner may be less than fifty percent of the area of the flexible surface of the magnetic recording disc. The liner may be in an arcuate shape. One liner may cover a lifter mounted to the interior surface of the housing, and another may cover a raised structure also mounted to another interior surface of the housing. In particular, first and second liners may be mounted to interior surfaces of back and cover shells that together form the housing. A protrusion in the media compartment, such as a bump, rib or ridge, forces the disc away from the surface of the media compartment, preventing the disc from abrading the surface and thus maintaining the durability of the media.
In another embodiment, the invention presents an article of manufacture including a housing defining a media compartment to accommodate a magnetic recording disc, and a fabric liner secured to the media compartment of the shell. The area of the fabric liner may be less than fifty percent of the area of the media compartment.
In a further embodiment, the invention presents a fabric liner for cleaning the surface of a magnetic recording disc. The liner's outer edge is concavely curved with approximately the same curvature as the circumference of the magnetic recording disc, and the area of the fabric liner may be less than fifty percent of the area of the flexible surface of the magnetic recording disc. The liner's inner edge is convexly curved with approximately the same curvature as the outer edge.
In another aspect, the invention presents an efficient method for making fabric liners from a strip of material. The method entails cutting the outer edge of the liner from the strip, the outer edge being concavely curved with approximately the same curvature as the circumference of a magnetic recording disc. The method further involves cutting the inner edge of the liner from the strip, the inner edge being convexly curved with approximately the same curvature as the outer edge.
In another embodiment, the invention presents an article of manufacture including a shell defining a media compartment to accommodate a magnetic recording disc. The shell includes a protrusion in the media compartment. The protrusion prevents the disc from abrading the surface of the media compartment.
In an additional embodiment, the invention presents a method whereby the magnetic recording disc is kept from contacting the inner surface of the media compartment. The method entails providing a cartridge that includes a media compartment and including a protrusion extending inward from the inner surface of the media compartment. When the protrusion comes in contact with the magnetic recording disc, the protrusion keeps the magnetic recording disc from contacting the inner surface of the media compartment.
Other advantages, features and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and claims.
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Gibbs Jeffrey T.
Turchin Ronald H.
Imation Corp.
Levinson Eric D.
Tupper Robert S.
LandOfFree
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