Abstract: Rotation of the actuating shaft (4) of the turntable (6) of a compact disk drive unit likewise permits displacement of the turntable between a lowered inoperative position in which it permits movement of the loading drawer (30) supporting the disk (31), and a raised reading position, and securement of the disk on the turntable, without shock or vibration. For this purpose, the turntable co-operates by means of a screwing action with a hollow part (5) integral with the shaft (4). While the turntable raises the disk and removes it from the drawer, a washer (24) mounted on the shaft (4) pushes back towards the exterior an arm (15) mounted to pivot on the turntable, and which firmly clamps the disk on the platform (9) of the turntable. A clutch member (24) integral with the shaft defines the end of travel of the turntable and permits progressive actuation of rotation of the latter.

Abstract: A roulette-type disc changer includes a tray, a roulette rotatably mounted on the tray, on the upper surface of which a plurality of discs are loaded, and a pickup portion installed below the tray and having a deck on which an optical pickup for emitting a laser beam moves, for reproducing information from the discs, wherein a plurality of throughhole groups are formed in a predetermined pattern along a circumference of the roulette, a light throughhole is formed in the tray at a position corresponding to that of the throughholes of the roulette, the deck of the pickup portion is extended such that the optical pickup can sufficiently move to the position of the light throughhole, and a reflecting device is installed such that the laser beam emitted from the optical pickup can pass through the light throughhole and the throughholes of the roulette and be reflected from the reflection means.

Abstract: A cassette loading apparatus wherein a cassette holder has a long operating stroke and can be positioned readily and accurately at a cassette playing position. The cassette holder is mounted for movement under the guidance of L-shaped guides of a pair of side plates such that it first moves horizontally along horizontal guide portions and then moves vertically downwardly along vertical guide portions of the L-shaped guides to carry a cassette received thereon to a playing position. A pair of sliders each having an inclined guide are disposed for movement under the guidance of the horizontal guide portions of the L-shaped guides.

Abstract: Library apparatus for holding a plurality of disk cartridges wherein the library housing contains a slot for alignment with the entry slot of a disk drive. The cartridges are stacked upon an inner case within the housing and the case is driven vertically to align individual disk cartridges with the slot. A push/pull mechanism within the housing pushes the selected cartridge through the slot into the disk drive and pulls it back into the library when finished. A specially designed cartridge has a handle for interaction with the push/pull mechanism. A pseudo-spindle device is attached to the drive to enable the use of minimal-dimension cartridges in order to increase the number of disks that can be stacked within a given space in the library.

Abstract: A display apparatus connected to a recording medium cassette having a recording medium, a cassette case for accommodating the recording medium, a storage device for storing recording information recorded on the recording medium and information about the cassette itself, and a plurality of terminals for connecting the storage device to external equipment. This display apparatus comprises a loading portion for loading the recording medium cassette, a connector provided on the loading portion to be connected with the plurality of terminals, a reading device for reading the information from the storage device through the connector, and a display device for displaying the information read by the reading device.

Abstract: An inductive pinched-gap thin film head (TFH) device having pole-tips which are in substantial contact along their side-edges, thereby precisely defining a pinched-gap segment. The substantial contact between the pole-tips' side-edges effectively eliminates all flux lines emanating from the edges and corners during the write operation. The write magnetic field is thus precisely confined to across the pinched-gap segment. As a result, the written medium track width is accurately defined by the width of the pinched-gap segment with high degree of magnetization coherency and virtual elimination of the track-edge noise. The improved (medium) signal-to-noise ratio facilitates substantial increase of the track density. Photolithographic definition and etching of the gap-vias to the bottom pole-tip, followed by deposition of the top pole-tip, facilitates precise and consistent control of the width of the pinched-gap segment (and the written track) drawn to .ltoreq.1 .mu.m.

Abstract: A magnetic disk storage system with high linear resolution magnetoresistive (MR) head or heads comprising a dielectric substrate, a first magnetic shield, a first gap insulation layer, an MR stripe element, conductive leads, a second gap insulation layer, and a second magnetic shield. Back-fill layers of insulation material are deposited on the first gap insulation layer adjacent the MR element and/or on the second gap insulation layer in thicknesses substantially sufficient to at least in part replace insulation material removed during the various processing steps to ensure against short circuiting of the MR element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting degradation in data storage system spindle motor performance is disclosed. A read/write transducer is oriented over a centerline location of a test track on the data storage disk. A data pattern is read from the test track centerline location and the amplitude of the on-track readback signal is determined. The transducer is oriented over a test track location off-set from the centerline location, and the data pattern is read. The amplitude of the off-track readback signal is determined. A deviation of a predetermined magnitude between the on-track and off-track readback signal amplitudes preferably results in the production of a warn signal indicative of degraded spindle motor performance. The off-track readback signal amplitude may alternatively be compared to a predetermined on-track readback signal amplitude stored in the data storage system.

Abstract: An optical disc cartridge provided with a mechanism for preventing incorrect insertion of a cartridge. A cut-off portion is provided at a head and side portion at an inserting side of, for example, a 3.5" erasable optical disc cartridge. The cut-off portion is located at an side opposite to a corresponding cut-off portion used in a 3.5" (86 mm) floppy disc cartridge. A stopper is provided in a cartridge insertion portion of the reproducing apparatus to prevent incorrect insertion of the cartridge and is located to correspond to the location of the cartridge cut-off portion. A depression or the like is provided at a front end of the cartridge and at a portion symmetrical about an axis to an edge of the shutter where the shutter opening lever normally strikes.

Abstract: A disk drive unit has a main body including a loading/ejecting mechanism for loading a recording disk set at an initial position to a loading position and for returning the recording disk from the loading position to the initial position, the loading/ejecting mechanism being provided with a plurality of coupling portions each of which is to be coupled to operation mechanism for operating the loading/ejecting mechanism, a driving mechanism for driving the recording disk set at the loading position by the loading/ejecting mechanism, and a head assembly for recording and/or reproducing information to and/or from the recording disk set at the loading position. The disk drive unit also has a mechanical operation unit, coupled to one of the plurality of coupling portions of the loading/ejecting mechanism, for operating the loading/ejecting mechanism so that the recording disk is returned from the loading position to the initial position.

Abstract: A supporting device is provided for supporting disc stockers in a case of a disc changer. Each of the disc stockers stores a plurality of discs. A lock device is mounted on each of side walls of the disc stocker. The lock device comprises a lock lever slidably mounted on the side wall and having a locking hook, and a manually operated release lever. The locking hook is provided to engage with a pin provided on the case so as to lock the disc stocker. The release lever is arranged to release the lock lever from the pin.

Abstract: An optical disc cartridge provided with a mechanism for preventing incorrect insertion of a cartridge. A cut-off portion is provided at a head and side portion at an inserting side of, for example, a 3.5" erasable optical disc cartridge. The cut-off portion is located at an side opposite to a corresponding cut-off portion used in a 3.5" (86 mm) floppy disc cartridge. A stopper is provided in a cartridge insertion portion of the reproducing apparatus to prevent incorrect insertion of the cartridge and is located to correspond to the location of the cartridge cut-off portion. A depression or the like is provided at a front end of the cartridge and at a portion symmetrical about an axis to an edge of the shutter where the shutter opening lever normally strikes.

Abstract: A single-drive input, double gripper media transport element positionable for accessing storage media cartridges in a cartridge media store and an optical disk drive and simultaneously transporting multiple storage media cartridges comprises a housing, at least two sliders mounted within the housing moving along respective parallel slider paths, a cartridge gripper mounted on each of the sliders, a slider lead screw mounted within the housing for positioning the sliders along their respective slider paths, a slider motor for rotating the slider lead screw, and a lead screw nut on the lead screw for simultaneously or alternately engaging the slider lead screw with each of the sliders.

Abstract: In a mounting device for mounting a first electronic device having a first box shape in a space of a second electronic device having a second box shape which is larger than the first box shape. The mounting device includes first and second chassis mounted in the space for the second electronic device, the first and the second chassis having shapes formed by dividing a space portion formed when the first electronic device is arranged in the second box shape by two, whereby it is able to be miniaturized and light weight to improve efficiency of transportation as kit parts.

Abstract: A disc player having a chassis supported in an outer housing through resilient members and having a cartridge housing unit therein which stores a disc cartridge housing a stack of discs. The disc player also has a locking and ejecting mechanism in the chassis for selectively locking and ejecting the disc cartridge. A disc playback unit and a disc withdrawing mechanism are mounted on a movable chassis that is movably mounted in the chassis for movement along the stack of discs.

Abstract: A compact disk case including a bottom shell, a cover shell hinged to the bottom shell, a platter mounted on the inside of the bottom shell to carry a compact disk, a rotary cap mounted on the outside of the cover shell, a driving device (for example, a handle) for turning the rotary cap, a driving wheel mounted on the inside of the cover shell and turned by the rotary cap, a driven wheel revolvably mounted inside the cover shell, a transmission gear meshed between the driving wheel and the driven wheel, and a cleaning element fixedly secured to the driven wheel and turned by the driving device through the rotary cap, the driving wheel, the transmission gear, and the driven wheel to remove dust from the compact disk.

Abstract: A flux generator for a rotary actuator motor with an integrated magnetic latch is disclosed. A magnetically permeable return plate housing forms a first air gap for receiving a coil coupled to the actuator for positioning read/write heads over a disk platter of the disk drive, and forms a second air gap for receiving a latch tab coupled to the actuator.

Abstract: An audio head position adjusting device for use in a video cassette recorder comprises a support plate rotatably mounted on a deck of the recorder, a mounting plate movably supported on the support plate and carrying an audio head thereon, and a unitary resilient member for biasing the mounting plate upwardly. The mounting plate is associated with the support plate by azimuth adjusting screws which are used to adjust a vertical position of the audio head and by a tilt adjusting screw which is used to adjust an inclined position of the audio head. The support plate is provided with a horizontal adjusting mechanism at its outer portion, which is adapted to adjust the audio head in a horizontal direction. The horizontal adjusting mechanism includes toothed lugs provided in the vicinity of a curved slot of a bent flange of the support plate, and an adjusting knob engaged with the toothed lugs of the support plate and rotatably held in a recessed groove of the deck.

Abstract: A media library system has a plurality of independently-operated library arrays disposed in a side-by-side relationship along a first direction. Each of the library arrays has a media drive and a plurality of media storage receptacles arranged in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. A separate media transport apparatus in each of the library arrays has a moveable media holder for moving media along the second direction between the storage receptacles in the library arrays and the media drives, respectively, in the independently-operated library arrays. A media exchanging and input common apparatus has a media carrier disposed for movement adjacent a common end of all of the independently-operated library arrays along the first direction. The media carrier has a media-transfer stop location at each of the library arrays at the common end of each of the library arrays.

Abstract: A deck having a spindle assembly is disposed above a base plate of a disc player. There is placed a tray for carrying a disc above the deck. A cartridge loading member is connected to sides of the deck and the tray. The loading member has one operating piece and two springs. One end of each of the springs is connected to the operating piece. Other end of each of these springs is elastically connected to the deck. A top of the operating piece is hinged on a side of the tray. Either on lower position of the operating piece or on position of side wall of deck corresponding to the operating piece is formed a guide projection. On the other position is formed a guide groove vertically elongated. This projection can be slidably connected within this guide groove. When a user inserts the disc cartridge thereinto, the second spring is pulled in the insertion direction to erect operating piece.