Patents by Inventor Robin J. W. Powell

Robin J. W. Powell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7367038
    Abstract: A disc holder for holding at least one media storage disc during rotation includes a central hub arranged for rotation about a central axis. The hub includes resilient centering arms which are arranged to provide an outwardly directed centering force on an internal bore of a carried disc in order to center the carried disc about the axis of rotation of the hub. The arms are disposed in, and movable in, planes which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hub. The disc holder may be arranged for carrying a stack of axially spaced media storage discs and may include axial gripping structure for holding the stack together. The gripping structure may include a central shaft which is held in position by ball shaped clamps which are spring loaded against inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Westwind Air Bearings Ltd.
    Inventor: Robin J W Powell
  • Patent number: 7134129
    Abstract: A disc holder for holding at least one media storage disc during rotation includes a central hub arranged for rotation about a central axis. The hub includes resilient centering arms which are arranged to provide an outwardly directed centering force on an internal bore of a carried disc in order to center the carried disc about the axis of rotation of the hub. The arms are disposed in, and movable in, planes which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hub. The disc holder may be arranged for carrying a stack of axially spaced media storage discs and may include axial gripping structure for holding the stack together. The gripping structure may include a central shaft which is held in position by ball shaped clamps which are spring loaded against inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Westwind Air Bearings Ltd.
    Inventor: Robin J. W. Powell
  • Patent number: 6958874
    Abstract: A device and method for preparing media discs (2) in which servowriting and verification of the media may be carried out simultaneously. A common monolithic platform (1) is provided which supports air bearing systems which allow movement of a media disc rotary carrier (5), a servowriting headstack (3) and certifier headstack (4). Indirect drive may be provided to the rotary carrier (5) via coupling means (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Westwind Air Bearings Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Gerrard, Robin J. W. Powell, Daniel O Tanner
  • Publication number: 20030156530
    Abstract: A disc holder for holding at least one media storage disc (15) during rotation. The holder comprises a central hub (11) arranged for rotation about a central axis. The hub (11) includes resilient centring arms (18) which are arranged to provide an outwardly directed centring force on an internal bore of a carried disc (15) in order to centre the carried disc about the axis of rotation of the hub. The arms (18) are disposed in, and movable in, planes which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hub. The disc holder may be arranged for carrying a stack of axially spaced media storage discs (15) and may include axial gripping means for holding the stack together. The gripping means comprises a central shaft (17) which is held in position by ball shaped clamps (21) which are spring loaded against inclined surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Robin J W Powell