Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-20
2001-12-04
Ometz, David L. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Disk record
C369S077210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327114
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium driving apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a recording medium driving apparatus provided with a vibration-proof mechanism elastically supporting a driving section which records information on a recording medium and/or reproduces the information recorded on the recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a recording medium driving apparatus such as an MD (mini-disk) player, upon insertion of a recording medium such as an MD from an insertion port formed on a front panel surface, the MD is temporarily housed in a holder provided opposite a back surface of the insertion port. The MD in the holder is transferred to a driving section arranged in the interior of the apparatus by a transfer means separately provided, for recording and/or reproduction of information.
When the aforementioned recording medium driving apparatus is mounted in an automobile, a reproduction error or a recording error such as a sound skip tends to be easily caused by vibrations of the automobile. It is therefore the conventional practice to prevent occurrence of such an error by providing a vibration-proof mechanism in an enclosure. The vibration-proof mechanism comprises a driving section and transfer means elastically supported in the enclosure by an elastic supporting member such as a damper or a coil spring, and absorbs vibration transmitted from the automobile body.
Upon insertion of the recording medium and transfer thereof to the driving section, however, the transfer means and the driving section are locked to the enclosure to accommodate insertion and transfer operations. Upon completion of transfer of the recording medium, locking is released into a state in which the driving section is elastically supported by an elastic supporting member (non-locked state) to accommodate recording of information on the recording medium and/or reproduction thereof.
In the above-mentioned conventional recording medium driving apparatus, however, when a driving source imparting a transfer force to the transfer means is elastically supported in the enclosure together with the transfer means and the driving section, the weight of the entire unit elastically supported becomes larger, and the inertia resulting from external vibration or impact becomes excessively large. It is therefore necessary to set a large vibration-proof space between the unit and the enclosure, which prevents downsizing of the entire apparatus.
When the weight of the unit to be elastically supported is to be reduced by providing a driving source imparting a transfer force to the transfer means on the fixing section on the enclosure side, a problem is posed in that the transfer means and a power transmitting mechanism for transmitting power of the driving source to the transfer means interfere with each other (collision), and as result, the unit to be elastically supported is constrained, thus making it impossible to obtain a sufficient vibration-proof effect.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to solving the conventional problems as described above. It has an object of providing a recording medium driving apparatus which permits both weight reduction of the unit supported by the elastic supporting member, and sufficient protection of the unit from vibration.
The present invention provides a recording medium driving apparatus to be used with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:
a unit, the unit having:
a driving section, the driving section receiving a recording medium, the driving section comprising means for recording information in said recording medium and means for reproducing information recorded in said recording medium, and
a holding member, the holding member holding said recording medium, the holding member movable relative to said driving section in an inserting direction toward said driving section and in a discharging direction away from said driving section;
a fixed section;
an elastic support member, the elastic support member supporting said unit against said fixed section;
an intermediate member, the intermediate member movably supported on said fixed section and connected to said holding member;
a driving member, the driving member connected to said intermediate member, the driving member having a moving force, the driving member causing, by the moving force thereof, said holding member to move in said inserting direction and in said discharging direction via said intermediate member;
a connecting section, the connecting section connecting said driving member and said intermediate member;
a transmitting section, the transmitting section provided on said connecting section, the transmitting section for transmitting said driving force of said driving member to said intermediate member;
a relief section, the relief section provided on said connecting section, the relief section for making said intermediate member movable relative to said driving member after completion of movement of said holding member in said inserting direction,
wherein said holding member is movable relative to said driving section while said holding member holds said recording medium.
The present invention further provides a recording medium driving apparatus to be used with a loaded recording medium, the apparatus comprising:
a unit, the unit having:
a driving section, the driving section receiving a loaded recording medium, the driving section comprising means for recording information in said recording medium and means for reproducing information recorded in said recording medium,
a holder, the holder having means for accepting therein a recording medium, the holder movable in a first axis relative to said driving section in directions approaching and leaving said driving section, and
a holding member, the holding member holding the recording medium inserted into the holder, the holding member movable in a second axis relative to said driving section in an inserting direction toward said driving section and in a discharging direction away from said driving section;
a fixed section;
an elastic support member, the elastic support member supporting said unit against said fixed section;
an intermediate member, the intermediate member movably supported on said fixed section and connected to said holding member;
a driving member, the driving member connected to said intermediate member, the driving member having a moving force, the driving member causing, by the moving force thereof, said holding member to move horizontally in said inserting direction and said discharging direction via said intermediate member;
a connecting section, the connecting section connecting said driving section and said intermediate member;
a transmitting section, the transmitting section provided on said connecting section, the transmitting section for transmitting said driving force of said driving member to said intermediate member
a relief section, the relief section provided on said connecting section, the relief section for making said intermediate member movable relative to said driving member after completion of movement of said holding member in said inserting direction,
wherein said holding member is movable relative to aid driving section while said holding member holds said recording medium.
The driving section receives, as a recording medium, a photomagnetic disk such as an MD (mini-disk); an optical disk such as a CD (compact disk) or a DVD (digital versatile disk); a magnetic disk such as an FD (floppy disk); a memory card; or a cassette tape. The driving section records information on this recording medium or reproduces such information from the recording medium, or both records and reproduces.
The elastic supporting member may comprise a damper member, such as an oil damper, or a spring member, such as a coil spring, or may be a combination of a damper member and a spring member.
The holding member may transfer the recording medium by holding it, or the holding member may engage a prescribed
Kurita Akira
Otsuki Akira
Alpine Electronics Inc.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Ometz David L.
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