Abstract: A device for inscribing and/or reading a magneto-optical disc (7), including a frame (1) carrying a turntable (5) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (11), a slide (17) carrying an optical unit (19) a rectilinear guide (15) for the slide arranged on the frame, and a slide-drive unit (25). A sub-frame (3) is secured to the frame so as to be movable, and a further slide (57) to which, viewed along the axis of rotation, a magnetic unit (59) is secured at a location opposite to and spaced from the optical unit. The sub-frame carries a further rectilinear guide (55) for the further slide, which further rectilinear guide extends parallel to the rectilinear guide for the first-mentioned slide at least during operation.

Abstract: A rotary mixer is disclosed with automatic distribution of the drive torque at each end, wherein the power transmission at each end of the rotor is provided by at least one chain driving a pinion coaxial with the rotor, a torque limiter being interposed between the latter and said pinion and each of the two torque limiters being set to the same torque limit value such that the sum of the two values is slightly greater than the nominal drive torque of the rotor.

Abstract: A remote controlled compact disc loader including a housing of predetermined dimensions for supporting a compact disc player, incorporating a carousel (11) for storing a plurality of compact discs (7) in circular arrangement, circuitry for locating predetermined compact discs stored in the carousel, an extraction device (15) for removing successive predetermined compact discs, a mechanism for opening the disc carrying tray (19) of the compact disc player, an arcuate arm (5) for grasping the predetermined compact discs and lifting individual discs to a position immediately over the opened disc carrying tray and releasing the disc into the tray (19), and a device for closing the disc carrying tray. Electronic circuitry is included for recording the play duration of each compact disc, and for effecting sequential automatic retrieval and loading of a user selected sequence of compact discs into the compact disc player. Gripper elements (103a, 103b) extend from a gripper (9) which grabs the CD (7).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering information prerecorded in a vertically magnetized magneto-optic recording element wherein a laser is operated in a state of polarization instability (i.e., its TE and TM losses are equal). The linearly polarized (TE and TM) output of the laser is converted to circularly polarized (left-handed and right-handed) polarized radiation, and the latter is used to scan irradiate the recording element. Upon being reflected by the recording element, the circularly polarized radiation is reconverted to linear polarization and fed back to the laser cavity. Depending on which polarization mode (TE or TM) experiences the lesser loss as a result of the MCD effect, the laser operates in either its TE or TM mode. Means are provided for detecting the instantaneous polarization mode of the laser which, in turn, is indicative of the orientation (up/down) of the magnetic domains scanned by the laser radiation.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk according to the present invention has a substrate (12), a recording layer (13) formed on the substrate and an outer layer (14) formed on the recording layer, above which a floating head is hovered. The outer layer is constituted of a protective layer, an antisticking layer for head, having a texture formed on its surface and other layers. The magneto-optical disk is designed such that, when rotated at a constant angular velocity, the thickness of the outer layer (14) is substantially inversely proportional to a radial position r on the magneto-optical disk raised to the 1/2nd power. In the formation of the outer layer, a screen whose meshes become gradually finer from the innermost portion toward the circumferential portion of the magneto-optical disk is employed based on the screen printing technique.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a hand held bar code reader has a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch or less. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is reflected onto the image photosensor by a reflecting mirror positioned relative to the image photosensor by virtue of their common association with a printed circuit board.

Abstract: In a magneto-optical eraser, information recorded on a magnetic layer of a magneto-optical recording medium is erased or initialized by applying light over the magneto-optical recording medium from a light source (13,43) in a reflector to heat the magneto-optical recording medium and also by supplying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical recording medium along its axis of easy magnetization. In one form, a plurality of light sources (13) may be disposed in the surface of a single reflector (12). Alternatively, the magneto-optical recording medium may be double-faced, and a light source and reflector may be disposed on each side of the double-face recording medium. A pre-heater (52) may increase the temperature within a glass housing (50,51) to a temperature less than the softening point of the medium substrate.

Abstract: A floppy disk has a magnetic disk (1) accommodated in a casing provided with a head insertion opening. When cleaning the floppy disk, air in the casing is sucked through the head insertion opening while the magnetic disk is rotated and ionized air is blown toward the disk surface through the head insertion opening. An ionizing needle (13) ionizes the air before it hits the disc (1). Suction nozzles (12a and 12b) suck air away from the disc.

Abstract: An improved compact disk cleaner is provided which includes a base (12), a support table (14) rotatably mounted within the base for supporting a compact disk (16) thereon, an electric motor (18) having a shaft for rotating the support table and the compact disk within the base, a cover (22) hinged to the base and a mechanism carried on the underside of the cover for removing dust from the top surface of the compact disk, when the cover is closed over the base. The dust remover may include: a brush (30) and a fan (32 ) along with a removeable pan (34) including a filter (44 ); or a cleaning belt (62) with tracked rollers (56).

Abstract: There is provided a circulating line branched from a solution or suspension tank and returning again to this tank through a pump (15) used to control the flow velocity at a constant level. A fluid temperature is measured by a sensor (16) in said tank or said circulating line (14) while a temperature of a heating sensor (17) employing so-called electrically heating method and placed in said circulating line is measured. Concentration of a given subject in solution or suspension is determined based on a temperature of the heating sensor or a difference between a temperature of the heating sensor and a temperature of the fluid.

Abstract: A disk cartridge which accommodates a disk-like recording medium therein and has head insertion openings, and a shutter which is made of sheet metal, formed substantially into letter U in section, and slidably secured to an outside of the cartridge to open and close the head insertion openings with a pair of covers provided in the shutter, at least one outer surface of the two covers is at least partly covered with a coating (13) to prevent the shutter from being flawed. The coating (13) includes an anti-static material.

Abstract: An optical disc (2) equipped with a hub (5) having a centering hole into which a spindle shaft of a disc driving mechanism is inserted, wherein a centering hole portion of the hub is provided with a centering hole reinforcing material (6) excellent in abrasion resistance and smoothness or a member (14) having a central hole is formed of a resin excellent in abrasion resistance and smoothness. Reinforcing ring (6) includes a metal layer plated on the peripheral portion of the centering hole, and the metal layer is impregnated with fluoric resin.

Abstract: A holding device for holding a record (CD) in a magneto-optical recording/playback device includes a first wheel (R1) pressing against one side of the record. A first pivotable arm (AR1) supports a second wheel (R2), motion of the first arm moves the second wheel against the other side of the record and also centers the record in the holding device. A second pivotable arm (AR2) supports a magnet (M). A lever includes a third pivotable arm (AR3) mounted on an axis (A3) supported by the first pivotable arm and is in contact with the second arm. A fourth pivotable (AR4) arm pivots in a direction opposite from that of the third pivotable arm. A stop (AS) is in the proximity of the fourth pivotable arm. Accordingly, motion of the first arm (AR1) away from the record causes the third arm (AR3) to force the second arm (AR2) away from the record and also causes the fourth arm (AR4) to hit the stop (AS) and cause the third arm to move the second arm further and the magnetic head (M) away from the record.

Abstract: A voice-controlled device of this invention includes a receiving/discriminating mechanism for receiving a DTMF signal externally input through a telephone line and discriminating the DTMF signal, a level detecting mechanism for detecting a signal level of the DTMF signal input to the receiving/discriminating mechanism, a speech recognizer for recognizing the content of a voice signal externally input through the telephone line, an input level adjustor for adjusting a signal level of the voice signal input to the speech recognizer on the basis of the signal level detection result by the level detecting mechanism, and a function executor for executing a function according to the content of the voice signal recognized by the speech recognizer.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding paper having spaced apart first and second walls having first and second through slots (72, 74), respectively; a spool sub-system adapted to receive the paper and around which the paper is wound, the spool subsystem including the following components: a spool to receive the paper and being located between the first and second walls, a drive rod (44) adapted to be placed in the first and second through slots and to which the spool is secured, and a rod gear assembly (52) secured to the drive rod and providing mechanical communication between the spool sub-system and motor; first and second pins (60, 62) removably secured to the first and second walls, respectively, and acting to hold the drive rod in place in the first and second through slots; and a motor (58) associated with the spool sub-system and being capable of rotating the spool sub-system to thereby cause the paper to be wound around the spool.

Abstract: The invention is a method and device providing very high density information storage on an organomellic DCNQI charge transfer data storage medium. The medium is switched from one state to another through the application of an electric field to the medium by the probe tip of a scanning tunneling microscope resulting in an observable change in the electron density of the surface of the medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal matrix suitable for use in the manufacture of optical discs, in which a master plate is used which comprises a recording double layer of a synthetic resin in which each layer comprises a laser light-absorbing dye, the master plate is exposed to modulated laser light in which the laser light in both layers of the recording layer is absorbed and in which as a result of the exposure information bits are formed in the form of bumps having variable longitudinal dimensions and the same width dimensions and the master plate on the side of the recording layer comprises a metal layer which is separated from the master plate, as well as a master plate which is suitable for use in the method described hereinbefore.

Abstract: An optical storage disk includes a glass substrate (1) into which guide tracks (3) for servo-controlling the focussed light beams are directly stamped in by hot stamp process. After stamping, the glass substrate is thermally quenched in the stamping device to increase its breaking resistance through thermal curing. In order to achieve uniform guide tracks over the entire surface of an optical storage disk, flexible stamp stencils (35) in a flexible holder (34) are used whose curvature can be changed by applying hydro-static pressure. Suitable stamp stencils include monocristalline silicon disks with surface hardening, or of metal disks, structured photolithographic processes. The stamp lands are made with bevelled edges to facilitate the separating of stamp and glass substrate after cooling.

Abstract: A multi-play compact disk player having a magazine holding a plurality of discrete programmed compact disks. The magazine remains stationary and a housing in the player is rotated with an arm movable to pick up a preselected one of the disks and move the same to a playing area for playing the same. The player can receive thereon a plurality of stacked magazines, each magazine holding a plurality of compact disks. A vacuum pad (99) picks up the disks to selectively transport them to and from the player which is located within a central housing (41).

Abstract: A device for securing written information to tubular goods which have a cavity at one end. The apparatus has of a closure, whereby an end cavity of a tubular good is closed. An elongate container is secured to the closure, such that the container extends into the end cavity when the closure is placed on the end of the tubular good.