Abstract: An airflow damper is affixed to a top interior wall of a hard disk assembly, so that a specified gap distance between the airflow damper and an upper disk within the hard disk assembly is realized. The gap distance is determined as a function of velocity of the driven disks. The airflow damper is designed to have a thickness so that the determined gap distance is realized for the given velocity. The airflow damper eliminates secondary airflow within the hard disk assembly, to prevent formation of a large vortex above the upper disk and to thus reduce airborne noise.

Abstract: A disk supporting device has a spacer member which is placed close to the rim of a disk stored within a cartridge, and gently holds the rim of disk while the apparatus is put out of use; and a spacer releasing mechanism which, when the apparatus is put to use, is activated by a lever for opening/closing a shutter placed outside the cartridge, to displace the spacer member away from the disk in a radial direction of disk to separate the former from the latter. Further, the spacer member is so formed as to have a groove in the form of a rectangular indent on a side opposite to the disk for holding the latter. Through this constitution it is possible to obtain a disk supporting device which does not change its position with respect to the cartridge base whether the apparatus is put to use or out of use, and to produce a cartridge on the whole uniformly thin and allowing a good productivity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing Bernoulli stabilization to flexible media in an information storage system, are shown to include a stabilizer having a body on which a first surface is formed of a contour sufficient to provide Bernoulli stabilization to media passing thereover. The stabilizer is positioned so that the first surface is proximate backside of the media. In one embodiment, the first surface has a number of grooves which channel air passing between the first surface and the backside. In those situations where the flexible media includes two flexible disks, each having an active side and a backside and where the disks are oriented so that the backsides face one another, the body further includes a second surface of a contour sufficient to provide Bernoulli stabilization to media passing thereover. In such situations the stabilizer is positioned between the disks.

Abstract: A disk cartridge and drive assembly including a disk cartridge having a case assembly rotatively accommodating therein a disk including a metallic center hub having a center hole therethrough, the case assembly being formed by an upper case without a center opening and a lower case having a center opening therein, the disk cartridge comprising: a projection protruding from an inner surface of the upper case and capable of being freely inserted through the center hole of the center hub, and a disk drive capable of rotating at least a disk accommodated in the case assembly and having a metallic center hub, the disk drive comprising a rotatable portion including a magnet for attracting the center hub which appears in the center opening formed in the case assembly, a drive pin to be inserted into a drive hole formed in the center hub, and a flat portion on which the center hub is mounted, this flat portion having an annular groove formed therein creating an outer flat portion having a flat surface and an inner fl

Abstract: In a disk unit having a rotating mechanism to rotate the disk by pinching the disk at both sides, and a loading mechanism to bring a read-write head into contact with the disk, a method for driving the disk includes the steps in which, at the time of recording and reproduction, the rotating mechanism and the loading mechanism are actuated simultaneously, and when the recording and reproduction are completed, the rotating mechanism is stopped simultaneously with release of the loading mechanism, or after the lapse of a predetermined time from the release.

Abstract: A disc unit in which a disc which is inserted into the data storage disc unit in a wrong direction or upside down is automatically discharged from the disc unit. Such a wrong insertion of the disc is detected in response to an index signal generated every time the disc makes one rotation or by detecting an aperture of a disc cassette in which the disc is accommodated.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible record-bearing medium such as a disc-shaped flexible magnetic sheet, which includes a loading device for placing the medium at a predetermined position for signal recording and/or reproduction, a recording and/or reproducing head arranged to confront the medium when the medium is placed at the predetermined position, a rotation mechanism for rotating the medium relative to the head, a stop member for stopping the rotation of the medium by the rotation mechanism, and a control system responsive to the stop member for causing the loading device to retract the medium from the predetermined position, whereby the medium is prevented from being deformed by the head in a condition in which the medium is not being rotated by the rotation mechanism.

Abstract: A collet device for engagement with a spindle hub for clamping a flexible disk between the collet device and the hub, the collet device having a collet having a plurality of radially extending petal-like portions therearound, a collet shaft on which the collet is mounted, a regulating body on the collet and having stops thereon extending outside the ends of the petal-like portions and engagable by the ends of the petal-like portions for limiting the outward movement of the petal-like portions during an increase in the diameter of the collet, and an enlarging spring on the regulating body have legs thereon engaging the ends of the petal-like portions for urging the ends of the petal-like portions outwardly for increasing the diameter of the collet.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus includes a housing having an entrance slot for the insertion and withdrawal of a record medium, such as a flexible magnetic disk cartridge, to and away from a data transfer position within the housing. A disk clamp mechanism including a rotary, flanged centering cone is mounted within the housing for clamping the loaded record medium onto a motor driven hub for joint rotation therewith. Disposed in the vicinity of the entrance slot is a disk loading handle pivotable between an open position for holding the entrance slot open and a closed position for blocking the entrance slot against the insertion or withdrawal of the record medium. The disk loading handle further functions, while being pivoted through a predetermined angle from the open toward the closed position, to push the record medium fully to the data transfer position.

Abstract: An information storage disc assembly comprises at least one flexible information storage disc having a recording layer on one surface thereof, at least one rigid rotary support plate fixed coaxially to the information storage disc and having a diameter approximately equal to or greater than a diameter of said information storage disc, and one or a plurality of air introducing space or holes provided in a vicinity of centers of the information storage disc and the rotary support plate for introducing air between the other surface of the information storage disc and one surface of the rotary support plate during a high speed rotation of the information storage disc assembly so that an air cushion is generated between the information storage disc and the rotary support plate. The air cushion supports the information storage disc so that the information storage disc will not rotate during the high speed rotation.

Abstract: A disk support device for supporting a disk having a central hub, a central support hole and a rotatable drive shaft, a turntable fixedly mounted on the rotatable drive shaft and having a hole for supporting the disk on one surface thereof with the rotatable drive shaft inserted in the central support hole in the disk, a leaf spring having one end fixed to an opposite surface of the turntable and supporting a positioning pin remotely from the one end thereof, the positioning pin projecting under the resiliency of the leaf spring through the hole in the turntable for engagement in the support hole in the disk, and a stopper fixed to the opposite surface of the turntable in spaced relation thereto, the leaf spring being interposed between the opposite surface of the turntable and the stopper for being subjected to a limited extent of deformation.

Abstract: A disk cartridge assembly includes a rotatable magnetic disk enclosed within a rectangular cartridge. Attached to the top and bottom covers of the cartridge are a plurality of leaf springs which urge the top and bottom sections toward and against one another. Resilient cloth liners are mounted to the inside surfaces of the top and bottom covers. As the leaf springs urge these sections toward one another, the liners engage the disk surface to prevent the disk from moving freely within the cartridge. The leaf springs are flexible in the axial direction but rigid in the radial direction, thus to maintain the top and bottom sections in alignment with one another.

Abstract: A mechanism for lifting and lowering a magnetic head into and out of contact with a magnetic medium such as a magnetic sheet includes at least one guide shaft rotatably supported on a frame and having an eccentric portion. A magnetic head carriage supports a magnetic head thereon and is slidably movable along the guide shaft toward a recording/playback position, the magnetic head carriage having an end held in engagement with the eccentric portion of the guide shaft. A driver mechanism is mounted on the frame for rotating the guide shaft to cause the eccentric portion to displace the magnetic head toward a backing plate with a magnetic medium such as a magnetic sheet interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A disk drive mechanism includes a spindle mounted on a motor-driven shaft and including an annular wall having a support surface, a flexible hub mounted on the motor-driven shaft and composed of a plurality of segments including a radially outward flange, the support surface and the segments coacting to center a floppy disk with respect to the motor-driven shaft, the support surface and the radially outward flange coacting to clamp the floppy disk therebetween, a collet mounted on the motor-driven shaft in fitting relation to the flexible hub and having a radially outward flange having a circumferential surface, and a resilient O-ring interposed between a surface of the flange of the flexible hub and the circumferential surface of the collet.

Abstract: An air shroud is disclosed for reducing vibration of the disk storage medium and controlling contamination in the environment above the disk in an optical disk data recording system. The shroud is placed over the rotating disk and pressurized air is forced into the center of the air space between the shroud and the disk where it moves from the center to the outside edge in a laminar flow. The shroud includes a circular plate with a slot for allowing the laser read/write beam to shine through the shroud and contact the surface of the disk for reading and writing data on the disk. An air duct is mounted around a center hole of the circular plate to distribute the pressurized air into the air space and a flange is mounted on the outer edge of the circular plate to reduce turbulence in the air flowing across the disk.

Abstract: The quality of spot-focus of optical writing and reading light upon the information surface of a flexible optical disc is passively enhanced by (1) rotating the disc with its neutral plane stabilized in space and (2) directing such light through the optical disc support into precise spot-focus on the information surface. With this technique spherical aberration induced by the disc support compensates for thickness variation of the support. Various structural embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A disc drive assembly in which an air bearing supports the drive spindle in a manner centering the drive spindle to provide extremely close track spacing and a transducer assembly characterized by an air bearing therebeneath and a suction serving to draw the transducer assembly closely to the disc surface against the air bearing.

Abstract: Optical disc write/read apparatus and systems of the type having a flexible record disc and turntable which interface in a manner forming a generally enclosed space between record portions of the disc and opposing turntable portions is provided with inner and outer ventilation means which effect a continuous, controlled air flow through said space during write/read operations.

Abstract: For loading a record disc on the turntable of a record-disc player, a loading device is provided which comprises a movable loading support for supporting a holder containing a record disc. The loading support is slidably supported between two fixed, parallel, vertical guide plates by pins on the support sliding in L-shaped guide slots in the guide plates, each slot having a vertical section extending downwardly from a horizontal section. Slidably supported on the outer sides of the guide plates for horizontal movement in vertical planes parallel to the planes of the guide plates are two drive plates having inclined slots in which the pins on the loading support slidably engage. By cooperation between the inclined slots and the pins the drive plates can move the loading support, guided by the L-shaped slots in the guide plates, along a horizontal path and down a vertical path to deposit the record disc supported on the loading support on the turntable.

Abstract: A disc mounting and centering device, for use in a disc file employing removable, flexible rotary discs comprises guides 52 for locating a disc 40 such that a central and circular locating hole 48 in the disc 40 is approximately parallel planar and coaxial with a circular recess 12 of substantially the same diameter as the hole 48, set in the flat top of a rotating cylindrical spindle 10, a frusto conical expandable shell 20 for insertion through the hole 48 into the recess 12 having a largest, unexpanded diameter less than that of the hole 48, a lip 22 at the largest diameter end of the shell 20, of greater diameter than the hole for engaging the disc 40 with the spindle 10 as the shell 20 enters the recess, and a frusto conical expander 30 for insertion into the shell 20 firstly to expand the shell 20 until it is constrained by the recess 12 and secondly, by applying axial force in excess of that required to expand the shell 20 for pressing the lip 22 against the spindle 10, with said excess force to clamp

Abstract: This specification discloses a leaf member pressing device used for a floppy disc or the like as an external memory device used in an information processing apparatus or the like. The damage of the disc which is liable to take place when a leaf member is pressed to a predetermined portion by a pressing member is prevented by a simple construction. In the present invention, the leaf member (11) is guided to a predetermined position by a guide member (18) to accurately fix the leaf member at a predetermined position, and then the leaf member is pressed by a pressing member (17).

Abstract: A centering and clamping device for a flexible foil includes an expanding cone which expands an expanding mandril via at least one resilient element, the force that can be transmitted to the expanding mandril by the resilient element at the location of the transition between the conical and the cylindrical portion of said mandril being greater than the force required for widening the opening in the foil but smaller than the force required for a substantial elastic deformation of the expanding mandril beyond the cylindrical inner bore of the hub, which bore terminates at an end surface. The expanding cone comprises a flange which urges the flange of the expanding mandril onto the foil.

Abstract: A spindle construction for centering a disk hub in which the spindle includes a circumferential slot extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft. The slot defines one or more fingers which compress inwardly when a hub is placed over the spindle. The outer peripheral shape of the finger generally matches the contour of the inside diameter of the disk.

Abstract: A spindle clamp assembly for a video recorder-playback machine is provided for securely clamping a video information disc in a precisely centered position upon a rotatable drive spindle for the machine. The clamp assembly comprises a radially expansible sleeve mounted on the spindle and sized for reception into a central opening of the disc. The expansible sleeve cooperates with a wedge collet biased downwardly by a spring within a clamp housing for uniform radial expansion of the sleeve and centering the disc upon the spindle. The clamp housing further includes means for locking engagement with the spindle to position a clamping ring in spring biased engagement with the disc to clamp the disc securely upon the spindle for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A spindle assembly is provided for rotatably supporting and driving a video information disc in a video recorder-playback machine. The spindle assembly comprises a vertically extending journal having a generally truncated conical shape and supported for rotation in an inverted position within a complementary shaped spindle housing. Pressurized air is supplied through a plurality of slotted flow paths to the support interface between the journal and the spindle housing for supporting the journal for relatively high speed rotation on a cushion of air.

Abstract: Discloses a system for stabilizing thin flexible foil recording discs (such as TV recordings) against axial fluctuation when rotated at high speeds (1500-5000 rpm). May include stationary guide plates formed and disposed to confine the rotating disc in such manner that the rotating disc pumps a uniform, radially moving and stabilizing layer of air outwardly between the rotating disc and each guide plate. May also include windows to optically scan the recording disc, as needed. Discloses alternate kinds of suitable recording discs.

Abstract: Apparatus for playing out information recorded on a side of a wafer-like rotary data-storage element, which element is deformable into a non-planar body of revolution. The apparatus includes a turntable for receiving and rotating such an element, and, according to the particular embodiment, either a positive or a negative pressurizing system for effecting element deformation on the turntable. Also included is a reading head mounted for tracking along a radial path which parallels the recorded side of an element deformed on the turntable.

Abstract: A video disc player assembly is described employing a fixed base member with a pair of fixed rails, and a movable carriage member employing a pair of linear bearing assemblies in engagement with said rails. A stabilization plate is mounted on the movable carriage for movement therewith. A motor and spindle assembly is mounted on the stabilization plate. A portion of the motor and spindle assembly extends through axially aligned apertures in the stabilization plate and carriage and carries a videodisc mounting surface coplanar with the stabilization plate. A centering means is provided to accurately center the disc about the spindle. A releasable clamp rigidly engages the spindle and holds the videodisc against the mounting surface parallel to the stabilization plate. A motor and spindle are mounted on the carriage for rotary driving of the video disc, a centering means is provided to accurately center the disc about the spindle, and a stabilization plate is provided adjacent and parallel to the rotating disc.