Dynamic information storage or retrieval – With particular cabinet structure – Slotted for edgewise insertion of storage disc
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-20
2001-01-23
Miller, Brian E. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
With particular cabinet structure
Slotted for edgewise insertion of storage disc
C360S099060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178149
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage medium storage and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information with using a storage medium.
2. Background of the Invention
In the past, an electronic equipment employing an optical disk as a memory medium, what is shown in
FIG. 1
has been generally known. The electronic equipment shown in
FIG. 1
, is a disk reproducing apparatus for inserting a disk cartridge housing therein an optical disk used for recording and/or reproduction of information into a holder in the equipment. The disk reproducing apparatus has a casing
1
having a storage medium insertion portion provided through its front surface and a front panel
2
attached to the storage medium insertion portion of the casing
1
. The storage medium insertion portion of the casing
1
is closed by the front panel
2
.
The front panel
2
has a storage medium insertion portion
3
having a long rectangular opening portion extended laterally and formed therethrough, and through the storage medium insertion portion
3
, a optical disk
4
as a storage disk is inserted and ejected. The storage medium insertion portion
3
provided in the front panel
2
can be opened and closed by a lid body
5
provided on its inner side. At an inside of the lid body
5
is provided a storage medium holder for holding the optical disk
4
and for loading the optical disk
4
onto a turntable of a disk rotation mechanism.
The holder of the disk reproducing apparatus is generally held horizontally relative to a chassis through a slide member. The holder is arranged to be movable in an upward and downward direction relative to the chassis by a set of vertical and parallel movement mechanisms provided on both the left and the right sides of the holder while being kept in its horizontal posture.
The above disk reproducing apparatus employs an arrangement in which the vertical and parallel movement mechanisms are provided on both left and right sides of the holder, and the holder is supported from both sides by the similar parallel movement mechanisms to move the holder with being kept in its horizontal posture. Since the parallel movement mechanisms are respectively provided on both sides of the holder, this increases a width dimension in a left and right direction, and a need for a mechanism that interlockingly activates both of the parallel movement mechanisms comparatively complicates the arrangement of the disk reproducing apparatus.
A lock release position of the holder lock member for locking the holder is nearly at the same position where the storage medium is loaded onto the turntable of the disk rotating mechanism. As a result, when the storage medium is inserted into the disk reproducing apparatus, the storage medium must be deeply pushed into an innermost part of the storage medium holder, which gives a user unsatisfactory operability when the storage medium is inserted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to simplify a movement mechanism by using a rotary storage medium holder and to improve operability obtained when a storage medium is inserted.
According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a storage medium loading mechanism includes a holder which is rotatably supported by a chassis and into which a storage medium is inserted, an operation member disposed on one side of the holder and movably supported by the chassis, a holder locking member rotatably provided on the chassis and biased by a first springy member, and an engagement portion provided on the operation member and biased by a second springy member in a predetermined direction to thereby be engaged with the holder locking member. When the holder locking member is brought in contact with the storage medium to be inserted into the holder and thereby rotated against a spring force of the first springy member, a relief surface provided on one of the holder locking member and the engagement portion is brought in contact with the other thereof and release of engagement of the holder locking member and the engagement portion is started.
According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a storage medium storage and/or reproducing apparatus includes a holder which is rotatably supported by a chassis and into which a storage medium is inserted, an operation member disposed on one side of the holder and movably supported by the chassis, a holder locking member rotatably provided on the chassis and biased by a first springy member, a storage and/or reproducing means for storing and/or reproducing the storage medium held by the holder, and an engagement portion provided on the operation member and biased by a second springy member in a predetermined direction to thereby be engaged with the holder locking member. When the holder locking member is brought in contact with the storage medium to be inserted into the holder and thereby rotated against a spring force of the first springy member, a relief surface provided on one of the holder locking member and the engagement portion is brought in contact with the other thereof and release of engagement of the holder locking member and the engagement portion is started.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5355357 (1994-10-01), Yamamori et al.
patent: 5450377 (1995-09-01), Eom
patent: 5452280 (1995-09-01), Yamamori et al.
patent: 5504730 (1996-04-01), Kanada
patent: 5642344 (1997-06-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 5659530 (1997-08-01), Kurita
patent: 0547944 A2 (1993-06-01), None
patent: 0640970 A2 (1995-03-01), None
Kurita Kazuhito
Nakamura Tadami
Fields Kenneth W.
Limbach & Limbach L.L.P.
Miller Brian E.
Sony Corporation
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