Dynamic information storage or retrieval – With particular cabinet structure – Slotted for edgewise insertion of storage disc
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-15
2002-05-14
Ometz, David L. (Department: 1512)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
With particular cabinet structure
Slotted for edgewise insertion of storage disc
Reexamination Certificate
active
06388975
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanism for loading a disk into a disk loading apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mechanism for loading an optical disk cartridge into an optical disk cartridge loading apparatus in which a cartridge type removable optical-magnetic disk accommodating an optical-magnetic disk in a cartridge is used. This cartridge type removable optical-magnetic disk will be referred to as an optical disk cartridge in this specification, hereinafter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the processing capacity and processing rate of personal computers have been increased, and also the size of the operating system and application software and the amount of data to be processed have increased. In the above circumstances, it is required to reduce the size of storage and further it is required to reduce the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, there is a strong demand to increase the capacity and processing rate of storage.
In order to meet the requirements of reducing the size and manufacturing cost and increasing the capacity and processing rate, the optical disk drive apparatus has come into wide use so that it can be used as storage. As an optical disk to be used in this optical disk drive apparatus, there is provided an optical disk cartridge in which an optical disk is accommodated in a cartridge. As the optical disk drive apparatus, in which the optical disk cartridge is used, has come into common use, there are requirements of toughness of the apparatus structure, stability of the apparatus performance, enhancement in the reliability and reduction in the manufacturing cost.
In this connection, the optical disk cartridge is composed in such a manner that an optical disk is accommodated in a case made of plastic. When the optical disk cartridge is used, it is inserted into the optical disk drive apparatus, and a shutter provided in the case is opened, so that a portion of the optical disk can be exposed. Consequently, when the optical disk cartridge is inserted into the optical disk drive apparatus or ejected from the optical disk drive apparatus, the shutter must be opened and closed. Therefore, problems may be caused when the shutter is opened and closed. Accordingly, there is a requirement for solving the above problems.
Concerning the stability of the optical disk cartridge with respect to a base of the cartridge drive apparatus after the optical disk cartridge has been inserted into the optical disk drive apparatus, the stability of the optical disk cartridge may be deteriorated unless an operator handles the optical disk cartridge appropriately. For the above reasons, when the operator loads the optical disk cartridge into the optical disk drive apparatus, it is necessary for him to handle the optical disk cartridge appropriately so that it can be smoothly inserted into the mechanism of the optical disk drive apparatus. Further, it is desired that the manufacturing cost of this mechanism is low.
Referring to a specific example, this will be explained as follows.
In general, the following mechanisms are provided in a conventional optical disk cartridge loading mechanism used for loading an optical disk cartridge into an optical disk drive apparatus.
(1) A mechanism for opening a shutter of the optical disk cartridge when the optical disk cartridge is inserted into the optical disk drive apparatus
(2) A position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the alignment of the optical disk cartridge when the optical disk cartridge has been set on the base of the optical disk drive apparatus
(3) A mechanism for elevating a spindle motor and connecting it with the optical disk cartridge, which has been set on the base of the optical disk drive apparatus and the shutter of which has been opened, and the mechanism for rotating the optical disk
According to the prior art described in the above item (1) in which there is provided a mechanism for opening a shutter of the optical disk cartridge, a member for opening and closing the shutter of the cartridge is formed into a roller-shape having two flanges attached to a rotary shaft. These two flanges are arranged on both sides of a guide groove formed on a plate (cartridge holder) which is also used as a cartridge guide. Therefore, while the opening and closing member is rotating, it can move along the guide groove. Commonly, two flanges of the opening and closing member and the rotary shaft are made of resin, and a shaft portion of the rotary shaft has a spring holding section for holding a spring which generates power when the opening and closing member returns along the guide groove. The spring holding section of the opening and closing member is circular and rotates in the case of movement. Therefore, the burr generated in the process of molding is removed from the flanges by means of machining. Further, the diameter of the shutter opening and closing member is made small so that it can enter a recess for holding the opening and closing member which appears at an end portion of the cartridge when the shutter of the optical disk cartridge is fully opened.
Since the height of the optical disk drive apparatus is limited, only a small clearance is allowed for the height of the guide frame of the optical disk cartridge with respect to the thickness of the cartridge. In the clearance, the flange portion of the shutter opening and closing member is accommodated. The above mechanism for opening and closing the shutter of the optical disk cartridge is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 7-37312 and 7-73559.
In the prior art of the position adjusting mechanism, described in the above item (2), for adjusting an alignment in the case of setting the optical disk cartridge onto the base, there are provided alignment pins for positioning the cartridge on both sides of the spindle motor mounting base. On a bottom surface of the optical disk cartridge, there are provided long circular holes for positioning the optical disk cartridge, and these long circular holes are used as reference holes. Accordingly, end portions of the alignment pins are formed into a tapered shape so that they can be easily inserted into two reference holes formed on the bottom surface of the cartridge.
In general, both alignment pins are arranged symmetrically with respect to the inserting direction of the optical disk cartridge. When the optical disk cartridge has been set on the base of the optical disk drive apparatus and a turn table of the spindle motor has been connected with a chucking hub of the optical disk, that is, when chucking of the cartridge has been completed, usually, the alignment pins are inserted into the reference holes of the cartridge while the alignment pins slide on the inside surfaces of the reference holes. After the completion of chucking of the cartridge, it is held as it is while a frictional state is maintained. These alignment pins of the optical disk cartridge are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-17121.
According to the moving mechanism of the spindle motor of the prior art described in the above item (3), the slide plate is moved in accordance with the insertion of the optical disk cartridge into the optical disk drive apparatus and, according to the movement of the slide plate, a spindle motor mounting base (spindle motor elevating plate) is elevated by being guided by an oblique groove formed on a load plate moved synchronously with the slide plate. The moving mechanism of the spindle motor is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-17121.
However, the following problems may be encountered in the mechanism of the prior art described in the above items (1) to (3).
1. The flange of the opening and closing member is thin and circular. Therefore, when two opening and closing members are arranged in parallel and moved in the guide grooves of the two opening and closing members in accordance with the insertion of the optical disk cartridge, there is a possibility that both opening a
Hosokawa Yoshiaki
Nasu Hideo
Shinoda Takao
Chen Tianjie
Fujitsu Limited
Greer Burns & Crain Ltd.
Ometz David L.
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