Tray Locking Patents (Class 720/610)
  • Patent number: 9726317
    Abstract: A movable seat and a rail device. The movable seat includes a main body; an air passage, an air sucking passage and an air intake passage formed in the main body; a sucker disposed under bottom face of the main body and an operation/control member mounted on the main body. When the operation/control member is positioned in a locking position, the air passage or the air intake passage keeps in a communication state and make the sucker a sucking force. When the operation/control member is positioned in a releasing position, the air passage or the air intake passage is blocked. By means of easy operation, the movable seat can create sucking force and locate or stop providing sucking force. One or more movable seats can be connected with multiple beams to form the rail device, which can be quickly located or moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: GISON MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kuang-Tai Li
  • Patent number: 9305587
    Abstract: An optical disc device includes an optical pickup and a transfer unit for linearly moving the optical pickup in a radial direction; and a locking module that is mounted on a rear side of the tray for unlocking the tray from the body, the locking module including a locking part having a hook for engaging a locking projection formed on the body and being mounted to be rotatable; a circular gear being mounted to be rotatable in connection with the transfer unit; a first connecting part for rotating by a linear force transmitted through the transfer unit moving outward; and a second connecting part for rotating by a force transmitted sequentially from the first connecting part and the circular gear and to transmit torque to the locking part to cause the hook to be unlocked from the locking projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI-LG DATA STORAGE KOREA, INC.
    Inventor: Taesung Kim
  • Patent number: 8997128
    Abstract: An optical disc drive (ODD) including a tray having a spindle motor, an optical pickup unit, and a transfer motor, may have first and second flat cables. The first flat cable may be connected to the transfer motor, and the second flat cable may have a first terminal part connected to the first flat cable and a second terminal part connected to a circuit board. The circuit board may be arranged at the front of the tray. The second flat cable may include a plurality of signal lines covered by an insulator. One or more exposure parts may be formed in the second flat cable to expose at least one of the plurality of signal lines. An electric actuator of a locking unit may be connected to the one or more of the plurality of signal lines through the one or more exposure parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventors: Jae-sung Kim, Hee-deuk Park, Myung-do Oh
  • Patent number: 8947860
    Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris R. Snider, Vineet Gupta, Joseph K. Huntzinger, Michael G. Coady
  • Patent number: 8904413
    Abstract: A magazine box is provided for removably storing a plurality of disc-storing magazines used in a disc apparatus for feeding a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives. The magazines each include a tray for storing the disc, a case for removably storing the tray, and a first locking mechanism for releasably locking the tray to the case. The magazine box further includes a second locking mechanism for releasably locking the case of each of the plurality of magazines to the magazine box, and the second locking mechanism maintains the locked state at least during the automatic tray-ejection from the case in the disc apparatus is conducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Maeda, Takuto Yamazaki, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8898683
    Abstract: A disc drive unit is configured with a plurality of disc drives as one unit. At least one of a pair of opposed disc drives arranged on an identical horizontal plane is provided with a tray support member for supporting a front end of a tray of the other disc drive when the tray is ejected. The tray support member is capable of protruding from the one disc drive and withdrawing into the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Higaki, Hiroshi Takahashi, Tatsuro Nishi, Norikatsu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8793711
    Abstract: A tray locking device adapted to an optical disc drive for locking and releasing a tray is provided. The optical disc drive has an optical head connected to a lead screw and driven to move by the lead screw. The tray locking device includes a pushing member driven to move by the lead screw, a latching hook for locking and releasing a protruding pin, and a transmission assembly configured between the pushing member and the latching hook. The transmission assembly includes a first rod and a second rod movably configured in the tray. The first rod has a first driving portion, and the second rod has a second driving portion. When the transmission assembly is located at an initial position, the first driving portion is located on a moving path of the pushing member, while the second driving portion is not located on the moving path of the pushing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Hsu, Yung-Han Wu, Sz-Shian He, Ming-Chun Tsao, In-Shuen Lee
  • Patent number: 8752077
    Abstract: An example of an optical disc apparatus includes a top case and a bottom case. The top case includes a tab extending downward from one end of the top case. The tab includes a protrusion protruding inward. The bottom case includes a lower-side folded portion formed by folding inward an upper end of one side surface of the bottom case. The lower-side folded portion includes a cantilever spring. The cantilever spring includes a spring portion extending in a vertical direction and a curved portion formed by folding inward an upper part of the spring portion. The protrusion comes into contact with the curved portion when the top case is being affixed to the bottom case and is in contact with the spring portion under a state where the top case is affixed to the bottom case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiji Hamaie, Koji Matsumoto, Hideyuki Nagamine
  • Publication number: 20130347012
    Abstract: There is provided a magazine box for removably storing a plurality of disc-storing magazines used in a disc apparatus for feeding a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives; wherein the magazines each include a tray for storing the disc, a case for removably storing the tray, and a first locking mechanism for releasably locking the tray to the case; the magazine box further includes a second locking mechanism for releasably locking the case of each of the plurality of magazines to the magazine box, and the second locking mechanism maintains the locked state at least during the automatic tray-ejection from the case in the disc apparatus is conducted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Shinichi MAEDA, Takuto YAMAZAKI, Hiroshi TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8589958
    Abstract: Provided is a disc drive including a tray which receives a disc thereon, slides into and out of a main chassis, and includes a pickup transporting unit which linearly moves a pickup base in a radial direction of the disc. The disc drive also includes a lock release unit which is driven by the pickup transporting unit to release locking of the tray from the main chassis, and includes a lock lever unit which includes a supporting hole for rotating the lock lever unit, and a hook unit to be combined with a locking protrusion arranged at the main chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventor: Hag-Ryeol Kim
  • Patent number: 8589959
    Abstract: Provided is a disc drive including a main chassis, and a tray, which may receive a disc thereon, and is arranged to slide into and out of the main chassis. The tray includes a pickup transporting unit which linearly moves a pickup base in a radial direction of the disc and includes a step motor and a lead screw. The lead screw includes a plurality of sections with different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventor: Hag-Ryeol Kim
  • Publication number: 20130298144
    Abstract: A tray locking device adapted to an optical disc drive for locking and releasing a tray is provided. The optical disc drive has an optical head connected to a lead screw and driven to move by the lead screw. The tray locking device includes a pushing member driven to move by the lead screw, a latching hook for locking and releasing a protruding pin, and a transmission assembly configured between the pushing member and the latching hook. The transmission assembly includes a first rod and a second rod movably configured in the tray. The first rod has a first driving portion, and the second rod has a second driving portion. When the transmission assembly is located at an initial position, the first driving portion is located on a moving path of the pushing member, while the second driving portion is not located on the moving path of the pushing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: LITE-ON IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Hsu, Yung-Han Wu, Sz-Shian He, Ming-Chun Tsao, In-Shuen Lee
  • Publication number: 20130283300
    Abstract: A tray locking device of an optical disc drive adapted to lock and release a tray is provided. The optical disc drive has an optical head engaged with a lead screw and driven to move by the lead screw. The tray locking device includes a pushing member disposed on the optical head, a latching hook for latching and releasing a pin, and a transmission assembly disposed between the pushing member and the latching hook. The transmission assembly includes first and second lever elements. The first lever element pivoted in the tray has a slide slot having a first protrusion portion therein. The second lever element has a second protrusion portion adapted to move within the slide slot. When the tray is to be ejected, the lead screw drives the pushing member to push the second lever element, such that the second protrusion portion is aligned with the first protrusion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: LITE-ON IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Hsu, Yung-Han Wu, Sz-Shian He, Ming-Chun Tsao, In-Shuen Lee
  • Patent number: 8479224
    Abstract: A disk drive that includes (i) a main chassis, (ii) a tray that is configured to have a disk removably mounted thereon and that is installed to slide into/out of the main chassis, and that includes a pickup transporting unit configured to move a pickup base back and forth in a radial direction of the disk, and (iii) a lock releasing unit that is arranged on the tray, that is driven by the pickup transporting unit, and that releases a lock of the tray from the main chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventors: Hag-Ryeol Kim, Hyun-woo Lee, Young-woo Back, Sung-hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8453168
    Abstract: A disk drive including a main chassis; a tray on which a disk is to be removably mounted, the tray being installed to slide into/out of the main chassis, and including a pickup transporting unit that is configured to move a pickup base back and forth in a straight line in a radial direction of the disk. The pickup base includes an optical pickup installed thereon, The disk drive also includes a lock releasing unit that is arranged on the tray, is driven by receiving a driving force of the pickup transporting unit, and releases lock of the tray from the main chassis. The disk drive drives a lock releasing unit by using driving force of a pickup transporting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventors: Hag-ryeol Kim, Hyun-woo Lee, Young-woo Back, Sung-hun Lee
  • Publication number: 20130125151
    Abstract: An optical disk drive including a case, a traverse, a guide rod, an optical pick-up head and at least a locking member is provided. The traverse is disposed in the case and includes at least a cantilever part and at least a locking hole. The cantilever part protrudes from a carrying surface of the traverse and is integrated with the traverse. The guide rod leans against a bearing end of the cantilever part. The optical pick-up head is slidably disposed on the guide rod. The locking member includes a leaning part and a locking part. The locking part is locked into the locking hole and the leaning part presses an upper side of an end of the guide rod for making the bearing end generate a bending displacement toward the carrying surface through the guide rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: LITE-ON IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: In-Shuen Lee, Hui-Chung Leu, Ming-Chun Tsao
  • Patent number: 8424027
    Abstract: An optical disc drive is provided. The optical disc drive includes a housing having a protruding pin, an optical head engaged to a lead screw, a tray slidably disposed in the housing and a tray locking device disposed on the tray. The tray locking device includes a pushing member, wherein the pushing member and the optical head are driven by the lead screw to move, a latching hook used to latch and release the protruding pin, and a transmission assembly disposed between the pushing member and the latching hook. The transmission assembly has a driving portion disposed on a moving path of the pushing member, wherein the pushing member pushes the driving portion so that the transmission assembly is actuated and drives the latching hook to release the protruding pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Lite-On IT Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Hsu, Yung-Han Wu, Sz-Shian He, Ming-Chun Tsao, In-Shuen Lee
  • Patent number: 8424028
    Abstract: A tray locking device of an optical disc drive is adapted to lock and release a tray. The optical disc drive has an optical head engaged to a lead screw and driven to be moved by the lead screw. The tray locking device includes: a pushing member, disposed on the optical head; a first stop portion, disposed on the tray; a latching hook, adapted to latch and release a pin; and a transmission assembly, disposed between the pushing member and the latching hook and having a lever element and a weight block, wherein the lever element is movably disposed on the tray and has a second stop portion, and the first stop portion and the second stop portion can be coupled with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Lite-On It Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Hsu, Yung-Han Wu, Sz-Shian He, Ming-Chun Tsao, In-Shuen Lee
  • Patent number: 8332879
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disk drive that performs a stable lock operation with a small number of components at the time of the insertion of a tray. The optical disk drive has a locking mechanism which engages the inserted tray with the chassis, a reset arm provided in the tray to return the locking mechanism to the initial state, and an engaging boss that is provided in the chassis and is engaged with the reset arm. The tray has a projecting portion for controlling the engagement position between the reset arm and the engaging boss. The projecting portion comes into contact with a back surface of the engaging boss, to control the engaging amount between the reset arm and the engaging boss to be constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Matsumoto, Seiji Hamaie, Yosuke Ishizuka
  • Publication number: 20120260269
    Abstract: Provided is a disc drive including a tray which receives a disc thereon, slides into and out of a main chassis, and includes a pickup transporting unit which linearly moves a pickup base in a radial direction of the disc. The disc drive also includes a lock release unit which is driven by the pickup transporting unit to release locking of the tray from the main chassis, and includes a lock lever unit which includes a supporting hole for rotating the lock lever unit, and a hook unit to be combined with a locking protrusion arranged at the main chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Hag-Ryeol Kim
  • Publication number: 20120260270
    Abstract: Provided is a disc drive including a main chassis, and a tray, which may receive a disc thereon, and is arranged to slide into and out of the main chassis. The tray includes a pickup transporting unit which linearly moves a pickup base in a radial direction of the disc and includes a step motor and a lead screw. The lead screw includes a plurality of sections with different diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Haq-Ryeol Kim
  • Publication number: 20120174133
    Abstract: A disk drive that includes (i) a main chassis, (ii) a tray that is configured to have a disk removably mounted thereon and that is installed to slide into/out of the main chassis, and that includes a pickup transporting unit configured to move a pickup base back and forth in a radial direction of the disk, and (iii) a lock releasing unit that is arranged on the tray, that is driven by the pickup transporting unit, and that releases a lock of the tray from the main chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Hag-Ryeol Kim, Hyun-woo Lee, Young-woo Back, Sung-hun Lee
  • Publication number: 20120174134
    Abstract: A disk drive including a main chassis; a tray on which a disk is to be removably mounted, the tray being installed to slide into/out of the main chassis, and including a pickup transporting unit that is configured to move a pickup base back and forth in a straight line in a radial direction of the disk. The pickup base includes an optical pickup installed thereon, The disk drive also includes a lock releasing unit that is arranged on the tray, is driven by receiving a driving force of the pickup transporting unit, and releases lock of the tray from the main chassis. The disk drive drives a lock releasing unit by using driving force of a pickup transporting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Hag-ryeol Kim, Hyun-woo Lee, Young-woo Back, Sung-hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8185920
    Abstract: An ejecting mechanism capable of preventing an accidental touch is disposed in a housing having a tray and used for ejecting the tray out of the housing. The ejecting mechanism includes a tray ejecting button and a front cover. The front cover is disposed at the housing and located at the ejecting direction of the tray. The front cover has a sliding key including a pressing body and a triggering body connected to one end of the pressing body. When the pressing body drives the triggering body to slide until the triggering body aligns to the tray ejecting button, the pressing body is capable of being forced to drive one end of the triggering body to trigger the tray ejecting button to eject the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Shun-Lung Wang, Chun-Hao Liao, Chao-Ming Chu, Chih-Min Huang, Ta-Wei Liu, Hsuan-Wu Wei
  • Publication number: 20120110604
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for installation on a device body, which includes an actuating element, includes a bezel having a through hole and a first positioning portion spaced apart from the through hole, and a locking element including a front operating portion extending through and movable along the through hole in a left-right direction, at least one guide pin extending in a front-rear direction, and an engaging portion. A press button is mounted slidably on the guide pin, and includes a contact portion adapted to be spaced apart from the actuating element in the left-right direction. The front operating portion is operable to move the press button between non-operative and operative positions, where the contact portion is adapted to be placed out of and in alignment with the actuating element, respectively. The engaging portion engages the first positioning portion when the press button is in the non-operative position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: WISTRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chuan Liu, Che-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 8065692
    Abstract: An exemplary optical disk drive for a notebook computer includes a tray, and a supporting bracket rotatably connected to the tray for supporting the tray when the tray extends from the notebook computer. A notebook computer employing the optical disk drive is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zi-Ming Tang
  • Patent number: 8046782
    Abstract: The tray carry-out method for a disc changer device, comprising, while transporting the tray from a recording/reproducing position to a stand-by position by driving the first motor, starting to drive the second motor for bringing a tray driving gear unit into a tray simultaneously transportable state, and upon completion of the transport of the tray to the stand-by position, with the tray driving gear unit being set to the tray simultaneously transportable state, starting to drive the second motor to carry out the tray from the stand-by position to an exchange position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takuto Yamazaki, Yukio Morioka, Osamu Ataguchi
  • Patent number: 8042124
    Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a body, a tray, a first fastening structure, and a second fastening structure. The body has an opening. The tray is coupled to the body and movable at the opening. The first fastening structure is disposed at the body, and the second fastening structure is disposed at the tray. When the tray is situated in the body, the first fastening structure and second fastening structure are correspondingly fastened to each other to restrict the displacement of the tray along the vertical direction in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Shi-Wei Liu, Chin-Cheng Lin, Ya-Lun Yang, Yen-Hsing Lin
  • Patent number: 8042125
    Abstract: The disc changer device, for transporting a tray to a stand-by position where trays are housed in a stacked state, to a disc exchange position where a disc on the tray is exchanged, as well as to a disc recording/reproducing position where a recording/reproducing operation is carried out on the disc on the selected tray, is provided with a plurality of tray locking units that are prepared in association with the respective trays, and engaged with a corresponding trays so that each of the corresponding trays is prevented from being transported from the stand-by position to the disc exchange position, and an engagement releasing unit for releasing engagement between the selected tray and the tray locking unit related to the selected tray as well as engagement between a tray adjacent to the selected tray on a lower side thereof and the tray locking unit related to the adjacent tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Ataguchi, Yukio Morioka
  • Patent number: 8010974
    Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a chassis, a disk tray and a tray panel unit. The tray panel unit includes a panel main body and a spring body. The spring body has a coil part, a pair of end attachment parts and a middle attachment part. An axial direction of the coil part is aligned with a width direction of the tray panel unit. The pair of end attachment parts extends from both axial ends of the coil part, respectively. The end attachment parts are fixedly coupled to one of the panel main body and a front end part of the disk tray. The middle attachment part is provided to an axial middle portion of the coil part. The middle attachment part is fixedly coupled to the other of the panel main body and the front end part of the disk tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Iwaasa
  • Patent number: 7903423
    Abstract: An optical disk drive (ODD) disposed in the base of a notebook computer is provided. The front end of the tray of the ODD has a panel having a body with a side edge, a guide member and a fastening member. The guide member is connected to the body, and it can move relatively to the body. The guide member has a guide channel having a first end and a second end. The fastening member has a sheet structure and a guide pillar inserted into the guide channel protruding from the sheet structure. When the guide member is moved to allow the guide pillar to move from the second end to the first end along the guide channel, the sheet structure of the fastening member is driven to protrude from the side edge to be fastened to the base of the notebook computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Cheng-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 7873968
    Abstract: A position detecting device of an optical drive utilizes a simple wire to connect a CPU of the optical drive to a latch part and a fixing part, such that the latch part, the CPU and the fixing part, which are original parts of the optical drive, form a detecting circuit. When the latch part clasps or releases a tray, the latch part latches or releases the fixing part to close or open the detecting circuit so that the CPU can correctly judge whether the tray enters for positioning, and thus start or shut down the optical drive. In addition, the members such as a flexible cable, a casing and a mainboard may replace parts of the wire to simplify the detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Quanta Storage Inc.
    Inventor: Shiu-Ming Chu
  • Publication number: 20100293562
    Abstract: An optical disk drive (ODD) disposed in the base of a notebook computer is provided. The front end of the tray of the ODD has a panel having a body with a side edge, a guide member and a fastening member. The guide member is connected to the body, and it can move relatively to the body. The guide member has a guide channel having a first end and a second end. The fastening member has a sheet structure and a guide pillar inserted into the guide channel protruding from the sheet structure. When the guide member is moved to allow the guide pillar to move from the second end to the first end along the guide channel, the sheet structure of the fastening member is driven to protrude from the side edge to be fastened to the base of the notebook computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventor: Cheng-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 7827570
    Abstract: A cartridge tray is supported to be movable relative to a frame and capable of receiving a cartridge inserted thereinto. The cartridge tray comprises a cartridge locking lever for locking the cartridge to the cartridge tray, and a lever guard for enabling the cartridge locking lever to act to lock the cartridge to the cartridge tray when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray. With the provision of the lever guard, the cartridge locking lever is prevented from transitioning to a locking state even if the tray locking lever is unlocked while no cartridge is accommodated in the cartridge tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100262980
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disk drive that performs a stable lock operation with a small number of components at the time of the insertion of a tray. The optical disk drive has a locking mechanism which engages the inserted tray with the chassis, a reset arm provided in the tray to return the locking mechanism to the initial state, and an engaging boss that is provided in the chassis and is engaged with the reset arm. The tray has a projecting portion for controlling the engagement position between the reset arm and the engaging boss. The projecting portion comes into contact with a back surface of the engaging boss, to control the engaging amount between the reset arm and the engaging boss to be constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Koji MATSUMOTO, Seiji Hamaie, Yosuke Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 7793312
    Abstract: An optical disk drive (ODD) disposed in the base of a notebook computer is provided. The front end of the tray of the ODD has a panel having a body with a side edge, a guide member and a fastening member. The guide member is connected to the body, and it can move relatively to the body. The guide member has a guide channel having a first end and a second end. The fastening member has a sheet structure and a guide pillar inserted into the guide channel protruding from the sheet structure. When the guide member is moved to allow the guide pillar to move from the second end to the first end along the guide channel, the sheet structure of the fastening member is driven to protrude from the side edge to be fastened to the base of the notebook computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Cheng-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 7787245
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus 10, such as a computer, includes a first unit 20 having a keyboard 21 and a second unit 30 coupled to the first unit 20 having a display screen 31 through a two-axis coupling section 40 to be opened, closed, and rotated relative to the first unit 20. The computer may be used either as a notebook PC or a tablet PC, and includes an optical disk drive 26 for accessing an optical disk. The present invention protects the optical disk and the optical disk drive against damage when the computer is used in the tablet PC mode. Depending on the status of the second unit 30 relative to the first unit 20, the apparatus enables or disables use of optical disk drive 26, including the drive ejection button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Uday A. Prabhune, Asao Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 7725908
    Abstract: In an optical disk apparatus, an ejection lock mechanism includes three (3) arm portions; i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Nozomu Harada, Shinsuke Takatsuka, Yosuke Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 7620831
    Abstract: An information storage device (2) in an information processing apparatus has a power supply controller (13). The power supply controller (13) operates by being supplied with power from a continuous power supply device (8). When a depressed state of a switch (17 or 18) is changed during stoppage of power supply from a power supply device (7) to the information storage device (2), the power supply device (7) is controlled to supply power to the information storage device (2) or to the information storage device (2) and a control device (3), thereby operating a mechanism (12) for loading/ejecting the removable medium (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yorio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7617506
    Abstract: An optical disc apparatus has the following arrangements. Specifically, the optical disc apparatus includes a lock pin and a lock arm. The lock pin is disposed on a side of an inner surface of a case of the apparatus, being tapered in a protruding direction thereof. The lock arm is disposed on a side of a tray of the apparatus. The lock arm, urged by a resilient member, includes a hook portion to be engaged with an inclined surface of the lock pin. When the tray has moved to a predetermined position within the case, the lock arm is engaged with the lock pin, so that the tray is held in position at the predetermined position. When an impact force equal to, or more than, a predetermined value is applied to the optical disc apparatus, the hook portion of the lock arm is displaced in the protruding direction of the lock pin along the inclined surface of the lock pin, thereby disengaged from the lock pin. Engagement of the tray is thereby released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Nozomu Harada, Hideyuki Onuma, Yoshiaki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7612962
    Abstract: A housing opening and closing apparatus of a DVD camcorder includes a main frame in which a DVD is accommodated, a housing which is opened and closed with respect to the main frame, and a housing ejecting unit operated by a solenoid unit to open and close the housing. The housing ejecting unit may include a pair of connection members disposed on the housing and an ejecting member formed between the pair of connection members on the housing. A link member is rotatable about a first hinge axis, and the link member is adapted to contact the ejecting member. A sliding member is engaged with the first hinge axis and one end of the link member. The sliding member has a first end and a second end, and the sliding member is adapted to slide. A pair of locking members are rotated by sliding of the sliding member, and a solenoid unit is engaged with the first end of the sliding member. A third elastic member is disposed at the second end of the sliding member to oppose the solenoid unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-ki Min, Chang-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 7610590
    Abstract: There are provided a disc tray, a traverse unit, and a main chassis unit. The main chassis unit has a main chassis, which has, as observed when the traverse unit is in a stand-by position, a latch portion that engages with a projection portion of a sub rack and a stopper member that restricts the movement of the cam slider. The stopper member has a rotary shaft in the shape of a circular column, a lever portion which the projection portion makes contact, and a lock portion that makes contact with the cam slider and thereby restricts the sliding movement of the cam slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Nasu, Katsunori Onishi, Takayuki Murakami, Katsuo Ichinohe, Yasuhiro Nishina, Shinya Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki Okazaki, Ryuuji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7596794
    Abstract: A disc drive includes a housing and a disc tray. The housing includes a supporting frame and two opposite sidewalls extending perpendicularly from two opposite sides of the supporting frame. Each sidewall forms at least one limiting mechanism. The disc tray is adapted for being slidably supported on the supporting frame. The disc tray forms a pair of guiding plates at two opposite side thereof. At least one of the guiding plates defines a raised portion, which forms a close clearance fit or an interference fit between the supporting frame and the limiting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bin-Hai Guo
  • Publication number: 20090150912
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer apparatus and its optical disk device with magnetic latching function. The optical disk device includes a main body and a disk tray moveably provided in the main body to be released or returned into the main body. The disk tray has a magnetic member on one side thereof and corresponds to a variable magnetic member in the main body while the disk tray is returned into the main body. The variable magnetic member is controlled to have the same or the opposite magnetism as the magnetic member has, for attracting the magnetic member to forcedly latch the disk tray in the main body, or for not attracting the magnetic member to free the disk tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Cheng-Yuan Yang
  • Publication number: 20090013340
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an optical disc drive includes a case having a guide portion, a disc tray which is located in the case and carries an optical disc thereon, a guide mechanism which includes a rail slidably mounted on the disc tray and slidably supported on the guide portion of the case and supports the disc tray for movement between a loaded position in which the disc tray is situated in the case and a drawn-out position to which the disc tray is drawn from the case, a locking mechanism, and an ejection mechanism configured to discharge the disc tray from the loaded position to the drawn-out position. The ejection mechanism includes a groove portion formed in the rail or the disc tray, and a compression coil spring located in the groove portion and configured to urge the disc tray toward the drawn-out position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Masaomi Izumisawa
  • Patent number: 7467393
    Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus includes a tray disposed within an outer casing and movable along a tray moving direction between retracted and extended positions. A positioning structure includes a locking member fixed on the outer casing, and a support member for immobilizing the locking member with respect to the outer casing in such a manner that the locking member extends upwardly into the outer casing to prevent movement of the tray with respect to the outer casing. A protrusion portion of the outer casing surrounding the locking member and extending in the moving direction defines the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080229340
    Abstract: A transfer mechanism includes: a tray that includes a placement surface section on which a recording medium is placed, and retention means for keeping hold of the recording medium placed on the placement surface section, and is moved and rotated across an insertion/removal position at which the tray is faced toward the outside of a device body with the placement surface section being substantially horizontal and a recording/reproduction position at which the tray is housed in the device body with the placement surface section being substantially vertical; a clamp member that is supported inside of the device body to allow a main surface section thereof to move and rotate across a substantially-horizontal direction and a substantially-vertical direction, and clamps, with a support mechanism, the recording medium moved and rotated to the recording/reproduction position; and a movement mechanism that moves the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20080168481
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a base, a tray and a latching element. The base has a boss. The tray is slidably mounted on the base. The base has a cartridge spring corresponding to the tray. The cartridge spring provides the tray a resilient force. The latching element has an eccentric hole that receives the boss of the base. A spring connects the latching element to the base so that the latching element can secure the tray to the base or release the tray from the base. It enhances the retaining of the tray so that even when the cartridge is impacted by an external force, the tray can still be kept closed. The cartridge of the invention provides advantages such as being highly stable, having fewer components, is easy to assembly, and costs less than prior art models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Ching-Long Lan, Yu-Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 7386867
    Abstract: This invention discloses a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism comprises a tray, a locking element, a solenoid, a linked apparatus, a first arm and a boss. The locking element has a protrusion and is rotably fixed on the tray. The solenoid is fixed on the tray and supplies a magnetic force to an active block. The linked apparatus is connected with the active block of the solenoid and is rotably fixed on the tray to push the locking element. The first arm is rotably fixed on the tray to push the linked apparatus and has a protruding rib to push against the protrusion of the locking element. The boss cooperates with the locking element when the tray is loaded. According to this mechanism, the sounds resulted from the locking element and the first arm are happened at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Lite-On It Corporation
    Inventors: Min-Cheng Yang, Jung-Fu Chen, Cheng-Chung Hsu, Shih-Lin Yeh
  • Patent number: 7367034
    Abstract: To provide a disk drive having a mechanism to limit position of a tray while being transferred by a simple configuration, guiding parts each having a guide rib and a supporting portion are provided on at least one outer wall on the side facing inside the chassis, and a sliding part having a guide groove is provided on a sidewall of the tray corresponding to the guiding part. The guide rib of the guiding part is slidably fitted in the guide groove. A horizontal limiting-rib sliding face is formed on a connecting part connecting outer and inner walls of the chassis. The sliding part includes a position-limiting rib extending upward and downward from the leading edge of the tray sidewall with a guide groove formed between the position-limiting rib and the edge of the sidewall. The position-limiting rib is slidably held between the supporting portion and the limiting-rib sliding face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotoshi Hara