Abstract: The present invention provides loading and unloading mechanisms, and data drives for data storage cartridges. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms for a data storage cartridge may: operate in a manner such that the drive door of the data drive may be fully closed before the disk medium is exposed, e.g., before opening of the associated shutter of the cartridge; be powered by the same drive motor assembly that is used to move or transport the cartridge to the optical head assembly used for writing and/or reading of data from the disk medium of the cartridge; and may fit within a standard configuration for a data drive. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms, as well as the data drives, may provide reliable operation, ease of assembly, and of the parts and components necessary for the reliable operation, and positive data cartridge positioning, as well as minimizing backlash in the drive motor/gear assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides loading and unloading mechanisms for data storage cartridges, drive door mechanisms for data drives, and data drives comprising such loading and unloading and/or drive door mechanisms. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms, drive door mechanisms and/or data drives, of the present invention can operate in a manner such that the drive door of the data drive is fully closed before the disk medium is exposed, e.g., before opening of the associated shutter of the cartridge. An embodiment of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanism of the present invention can be powered by the same drive motor assembly that is used to move or transport the cartridge to the optical head assembly used for writing and/or reading of data from the disk medium of the cartridge. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms and drive door mechanisms of the present invention can fit within a standard configuration for a data drive.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an optical disk driving apparatus for selectively driving a plurality of optical disks, comprising: a housing; and an optical disk driving unit accommodated in the housing, the optical disk driving unit including: a turntable for selectively retaining the optical disks; a supporting member for rotatably supporting the turntable; a base plate pivotably retained by the housing; a plurality of vibration isolators for isolating the supporting member from outside vibrations by intervening between the supporting member and the base plate; a supporting member fixing mechanism for fixing the supporting member on the base plate by preventing the vibration isolators from isolating the supporting member from outside vibrations; a base plate driving mechanism for driving the base plate to pivotably move with respect to the housing; and a cam gear for transmitting a rotation torque to each of the supporting member fixing mechanism and the base plate driving mechanism.

Abstract: Each pivot shaft of a drive chassis has hooks to allow the drive chassis to be held by a main chassis. Preferably, each bearing portion of the main chassis corresponding to each of the pivot shafts has an engagement groove, while the main chassis has stoppers for preventing positional slippage of the pivot shafts. Thus, in case a force is applied to the drive chassis in a direction perpendicular to an optical disc insertion direction, the hooks of the each shaft of the drive chassis are stopped by an inner wall of the engagement groove and the stopper, respectively, of the main chassis. Thereby, the drive chassis is prevented from falling off the main chassis.

Abstract: An inventive recording medium loader includes a connector provided on a chassis for engagement with a front edge of a generally rectangular planar recording medium, and a tray provided on the chassis for transporting the recording medium toward and away from the connector. An engagement piece having a claw to be brought into and out of engagement with a notch formed in the recording medium is provided on the tray, and a cam is provided in an engagement piece movement path on the chassis. Before the forward edge of the recording medium is engaged with the connector, the claw is brought into engagement with the notch of the recording medium by the cam to lock the recording medium on the tray. In this state, the recording medium is brought into engagement with the connector.

Abstract: A cam structure is equipped with a first cam that displaces a first follower section in a radial direction, a second follower section that rotates with the first cam and has at least three support pins, and a second cam that displaces the second follower section in an axial direction. The first cam is formed from divided segments defining at least three arcuate surfaces with different radiuses and sloped connection surfaces that connect the arcuate surfaces and are provided in ranges that give appropriate pressure angles with respect to the first follower section, and the second cam is provided with cam sections, each of the cam sections being divided in the radial direction in the number corresponding to the number of the support pins. The divided cam sections of the second cam are disposed at positions arranged in a circumferential direction in a manner that displacements in the axial direction of the second follower section are timed with displacements in the radial direction of the first follower section.