Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Dynamic mechanism subsystem – Having power driven transducer assembly
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-31
2001-02-20
Miller, Brian E. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Dynamic mechanism subsystem
Having power driven transducer assembly
C369S215100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192023
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pick-up feeding device for feeding an optical pick-up relative to an optical disc.
2) Description of the Prior Art
In general, an optical disc is used as a recording medium onto which information can be recorded or from which information can be reproduced, the information being contained on spiral or concentric tracks of the disc. The information recorded on the disc is reproduced by a disc loading device for loading/unloading the optical disc and an optical pick-up which projects laser beams on recording pits of the disc.
A conventional apparatus, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, includes a rotatable turntable
12
which is located on a deck base
10
. Non-magnetized portions of the optical disc make contact with the turntable
12
. The turntable
12
is engaged with a rotary shaft of a spindle motor
14
to be driven thereby. On one side of the spindle motor
14
are installed an optical pick-up
16
for recording and reproducing information on and from the disc, and a pick-up feeding device for feeding the optical pick-up in a radial direction of the optical disc.
The conventional pick-up feeding device includes a motor
20
which is mounted on the rear side of the deck base
10
, a drive gear
22
which is engaged with a rotary shaft of the motor
20
, a driven gear
24
which is rotated by the drive gear
22
and, a lead screw
26
which is rotatably mounted to the driven gear
24
. A guide shaft
28
, arranged parallel to the lead screw
26
, guides a pick-up base
18
of the optical pick-up
16
which is fixed to the lead screw
26
. The guide shaft
28
is mounted in supports
30
molded integrally with the base
10
.
According to the conventional pick-up feeding device, a current is applied to the motor
20
when it is desired to record and reproduce information on and from an optical disc in contact with the upper surface of the turntable
12
. The drive gear
22
, the driven gear
24
, and the lead screw
26
mounted to the driven gear
24
are all rotated, so that the pick-up base
18
is fed in a radial direction of the optical disc and guided by the guide shaft
28
, to record and reproduce information on and from the optical disc.
Both ends of the guide shaft
28
are fixed to respective U-shaped fixing portions which are fixed to the deck base
10
. An unthreaded end portion of the lead screw
26
is connected to the driven gear
24
, and the other end thereof is rotatably mounted in a fixing portion
32
which is molded integrally with the deck base
10
. The lead screw
26
and the guide shaft
28
are disposed in parallel to the feeding direction of the optical pick-up
16
, i.e., the horizontal direction X.
However, in case the fixing portion
32
formed on the deck base
10
is twisted or shrunk during cooling processes of the fixing portion
32
after molding, the lead screw
26
becomes out of parallel to the horizontal X axis and the guide shaft
28
and becomes tilted in a direction (Z-direction). In the conventional pick-up feeding device, there is no separate means for regulating the parallel relationship of the lead screw
26
with the X axis, so the optical pick-up may not be smoothly fed due to the load exerted on the lead screw
26
by the pick-up base, and therefore the pick-up base
18
cannot be accurately halted at a desired position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pick-up feeding device which can conveniently regulate the horizontal orientation of a lead screw, even if a lead screw holder has been shrunk or twisted.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a base, a turntable mounted on the base for rotation about a vertical axis and adapted to support an optical disc, and a first motor mounted on the base for rotating the turntable. A horizontal guide shaft is mounted on the base, and a horizontal lead screw is mounted on the base for rotation about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the guide shaft. A portion of the lead screw has an external screw thread. An optical pick-up is mounted on the guide shaft for sliding movement therealong, and is operably connected to the screw thread of the lead screw to be displaced thereby in a direction oriented radially with respect to the vertical axis in response to rotation of the lead screw. A second motor is mounted on the base and is operably connected to a first end portion of the lead screw for rotating the lead screw. A lead screw regulating member is mounted on the base for supporting a second end portion of the lead screw and is displaceable relative to the base for adjusting a horizontal orientation of the lead screw.
The lead screw regulating member is displaceable by being rotatable about a vertical axis, or by being linearly moveable in a direction generally perpendicular relative to the horizontal axis.
Preferably, the lead screw regulating member includes a holder which carries a recess in which the second end portion is mounted. A hollow bearing is preferably mounted in the holder, with the second end portion of the lead screw mounted in the hollow bearing for rotation therein about the horizontal axis.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4996619 (1991-02-01), Negishi et al.
patent: 5243591 (1993-09-01), Mogamiya
patent: 5761182 (1998-06-01), Jeon
patent: 5764618 (1998-06-01), Kim
patent: 5768248 (1998-06-01), Lee
patent: 61-182962 (1986-11-01), None
patent: 62-36483 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 1-302583 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 2-68724 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 7-26966 (1995-05-01), None
Fields Kenneth W
Miller Brian E.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd
Staas & Halsey , LLP
LandOfFree
Optical pick-up feeding device having a regulating member to... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical pick-up feeding device having a regulating member to..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical pick-up feeding device having a regulating member to... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2599449