Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-13
2001-01-30
Heinz, A. J. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Disk record
C369S075210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181510
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical disk apparatus comprising an improved structure for taking in a disk cartridge.
An optical disk apparatus has an inlet/outlet port formed in the front portion of a housing, and a tray arranged inside the housing and adapted to hold a disk cartridge placed thereon.
Also arranged inside the housing are a turntable for holding an optical disk, a spindle motor for rotating the turntable, an optical head mechanism for executing information processing with reference to the optical disk.
To take a disk cartridge into the optical disk apparatus, the tray is horizontally pulled out from the housing through the inlet/output port. After the disk cartridge is placed, the tray is drawn into the housing. Inside the housing, the tray is made to descend, with its horizontal posture maintained, in such a manner that the optical disk in the cartridge is mounted on the turntable coupled to the spindle motor. After the optical disk is mounted, it is spun in accordance with the rotation of the turntable. In the spinning state, the optical disk is scanned with a beam radiated from an optical head mechanism.
According to the conventional art, the tray holding the disk cartridge thereon and drawn into the housing is made to descend, with its horizontal posture maintained, in such a manner that the optical disk in the disk cartridge engages with the turntable. With this structure, the optical disk apparatus is required to provide an internal space for vertical movement of the disk cartridge, and is therefore inevitably large in size.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical disk apparatus capable of bringing an optical disk into reliable engagement with driving means, with no need to provide a wide space for the movement of the tray.
To attain this object, the present invention provides an optical disk apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet/outlet port; a holder which is swingable inside the housing, with one end as a center; a tray which is slidably held inside the holder and which is pulled out from the holder through the inlet/output port for placement of a cartridge and is drawn into the holder after placement of the cartridge; driving means, located at a position toward which the holder swings, for spinning the optical disk arranged in the cartridge; and swinging means for swinging the holder to bring the optical disk in the cartridge into engagement with the driving means after the tray is received inside the holder.
The present invention also provides an optical disk apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet/outlet port; a holder which is swingable inside the housing, with one end as a center, the other end of the holder being located close to the inlet/outlet port and serving as a swingable end; a tray which is slidably held inside the holder and which is pulled out from the holder through the inlet/output port for placement of a cartridge and is drawn into the holder after placement of the cartridge; driving means, located at a position toward which the holder swings, for spinning the optical disk arranged in the cartridge; and swinging means for swinging the holder to bring the optical disk in the cartridge into engagement with the driving means after the tray is received inside the holder.
The present invention further provides an optical disk apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet/outlet port; a holder which is swingable inside the housing, with one end as a center, the other end of the holder being located close to the inlet/outlet port and serving as a swingable end; a tray which is slidably held inside the holder and which is pulled out from the holder through the inlet/output port for placement of a cartridge and is drawn into the holder after placement of the cartridge; driving means, located at a position toward which the holder swings, for spinning the optical disk arranged in the cartridge; and swinging means for swinging the holder to bring the optical disk in the cartridge into engagement with the driving means after the tray is received inside the holder, the driving means being inclined at an angle corresponding to an inclination angle of the holder that is in the swung state.
With this structure, the space needed for the movement of the holder is about one half of the corresponding space of the prior art, wherein the holder is vertically moved to engage the optical disk with the driving means, while maintaining the horizontal posture of the holder. Accordingly, the apparatus is small in size as a whole.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5781523 (1998-07-01), Ozawa
Heinz A. J.
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
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