Abstract: A light scanning device includes a light source that emits a laser beam, a deflector that deflects the laser beam emitted from the light source, a motor that drives the deflector so as to scan the deflected laser beam, an optical system that converges the deflected laser beam on an object surface, a housing configured such that the motor and the optical system are fixed thereto, the housing including one of a through hole penetrating from an inside thereof to an outside thereof and a thin portion whose wall thickness is thinner than any other portion of the housing, and a heat radiating member including an exposed portion that is exposed outside the housing, the heat radiating member being configured such that heat generated inside the housing is radiated outside the housing from the motor via one of the through hole and the thin portion, and the exposed portion.

Abstract: A light scanning device includes a light source that emits a laser beam, a deflector that deflects the laser beam emitted from the light source, a motor that drives the deflector so as to scan the deflected laser beam, an optical system that converges the deflected laser beam on an object surface, a housing configured such that the motor and the optical system are fixed thereto, the housing including one of a through hole penetrating from an inside thereof to an outside thereof and a thin portion whose wall thickness is thinner than any other portion of the housing, and a heat radiating member including an exposed portion that is exposed outside the housing, the heat radiating member being configured such that heat generated inside the housing is radiated outside the housing from the motor via one of the through hole and the thin portion, and the exposed portion.

Abstract: A scanning optical system deflects a light beam by a reflection surface of a polygon mirror toward an object surface through an image forming optical system so that the light beam scans on the object surface to form an image thereon. A light shielding member is disposed between the polygon mirror and the image forming optical system. The shielding member is an opaque plate disposed perpendicular to the optical axis of the image forming optical system. The light shielding member prevents a ghost light that is reflected by another reflection surface of the polygon mirror located adjacent to the reflection surface deflecting the light beam from entering the image forming optical system and impinging onto the object surface.

Abstract: A scanning optical system deflects a light beam by a reflection surface of a polygon mirror toward an object surface through an image forming optical system so that the light beam scans on the object surface to form an image thereon. A light shielding member is disposed between the polygon mirror and the image forming optical system. The shielding member is an opaque plate disposed perpendicular to the optical axis of the image forming optical system. The light shielding member prevents a ghost light that is reflected by another reflection surface of the polygon mirror located adjacent to the reflection surface deflecting the light beam from entering the image forming optical system and impinging onto the object surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc drive. The optical disc drive is provided with an arm member carrying an objective optical system and a light emitting system. The arm member is rotatable about an axis at one end portion thereof. On the other end portion of the arm member, the objective optical system is mounted. A detecting system is further provided for receiving light reflected by the optical disc via the objective optical system. The detecting system detects data related to an orientation of a beam spot formed by the reflected beam on its light receiving surface. Further provided is a control system which determines a current position of the arm member based on the data related to the orientation of the beam spot.

Abstract: A disk cartridge loading system for a disk drive. The loading system includes a disk cartridge holder, a drawing mechanism, a draw-in sensor, a loading sensor, and a controller. The drawing mechanism engages a partially inserted disk cartridge to fully draw the disk cartridge into the disk drive, so that the disk cartridge is accommodated in a disk cartridge holder. A holder moving mechanism moves the disk cartridge holder to a loading position, so that at least one of a data reading operation and a data writing operation can be performed. A draw-in sensor is provided to detect the partial insertion of the disk cartridge, while a loading sensor detects when the disk cartridge is located at the loading position. A control unit controls the drawing mechanism and the holder moving mechanism, based on a first signal produced by the draw-in sensor and a second signal produced by the loading sensor.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive incorporates: a structure to mount a front panel to a frame using a cartridge loading system, using a set of linearly movable control cam plates, to draw a cartridge into a cartridge holder and then to move the cartridge holder to an operating position; a timing control system for the cartridge loading system, which includes a unitary encoder cam gear including a drive gear portion to move the cam plates to lift and lower the cartridge holder, a cam groove portion to draw a cartridge into the cartridge holder, and timing encoders portions to interrupt photo sensors; a shutter mechanism to fully close a cartridge slot with a shutter, both when the drive holds a cartridge and when empty; a magnetic head vertical positioning system to position a magnetic head base against fixed reference surfaces below and a set of resilient members above; a magnetic head horizontal positioning system to first fix the magnetic head base to rotate horizontally about a point, and then to resiliently ho

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive incorporates: a structure to mount a front panel to a frame using a cartridge loading system, using a set of linearly movable control cam plates, to draw a cartridge into a cartridge holder and then to move the cartridge holder to an operating position; a timing control system for the cartridge loading system, which includes a unitary encoder cam gear including a drive gear portion to move the cam plates to lift and lower the cartridge holder, a cam groove portion to draw a cartridge into the cartridge holder, and timing encoders portions to interrupt photo sensors; a shutter mechanism to fully close a cartridge slot with a shutter, both when the drive holds a cartridge and when empty; a magnetic head vertical positioning system to position a magnetic head base against fixed reference surfaces below and a set of resilient members above; a magnetic head horizontal positioning system to first fix the magnetic head base to rotate horizontally about a point, and then to resiliently ho

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive incorporates: a structure to mount a front panel to a frame using a cartridge loading system, using a set of linearly movable control cam plates, to draw a cartridge into a cartridge holder and then to move the cartridge holder to an operating position; a timing control system for the cartridge loading system, which includes a unitary encoder cam gear including a drive gear portion to move the cam plates to lift and lower the cartridge holder, a cam groove portion to draw a cartridge into the cartridge holder, and timing encoders portions to interrupt photo sensors; a shutter mechanism to fully close a cartridge slot with a shutter, both when the drive holds a cartridge and when empty; a magnetic head vertical positioning system to position a magnetic head base against fixed reference surfaces below and a set of resilient members above; a magnetic head horizontal positioning system to first fix the magnetic head base to rotate horizontally about a point, and then to resiliently ho

Abstract: A magneto-optical disc apparatus, including a holder which holds a magneto-optical disc cartridge and which is movable between a loaded position, in which the holder is close to an optical head, and an unloaded position, in which the holder is apart from the optical head. The magneto-optical disc apparatus further includes a magnetic head which is movable between an initial position, in which the magnetic head is apart form the optical head, and an effective position, in which the magnetic head is close to the magneto-optical disc and can apply a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disc to record and/or play-back data. The magneto-optical disc apparatus features a mechanism for guiding the holder between the loaded position and the unloaded position. The apparatus further features a mechanism for guiding the magnetic head between the effective position and the initial position, and through an intermediate step position between the effective and initial positions.

Abstract: A magnetic head drive mechanism in a photo-electro-magnetic disk drive is so designed that a magnetic head is coupled to the end portion of a swingable arm, and, as a photo-electro-magnetic disk is loaded or unloaded, the arm is swung, to move the magnetic head towards or away from the surface of the photo-electro-magnetic disk. In the magnetic head drive mechanism, pins are provided on both sides of the magnetic head, respectively, and a first engaging groove which is engaged with the pin and a second engaging groove which is engaged with the pin are provided on both sides of the opening of a cartridge head, respectively, whereby, at the unloading time both sides of the magnetic head are locked; that is, the vibration of the magnetic head is prevented during the transportation.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive incorporates: a structure to mount a front panel to a frame using a cartridge loading system, using a set of linearly movable control cam plates, to draw a cartridge into a cartridge holder and then to move the cartridge holder to an operating position; a timing control system for the cartridge loading system, which includes a unitary encoder cam gear including a drive gear portion to move the cam plates to lift and lower the cartridge holder, a cam groove portion to draw a cartridge into the cartridge holder, and timing encoders portions to interrupt photo sensors; a shutter mechanism to fully close a cartridge slot with a shutter, both when the drive holds a cartridge and when empty; a magnetic head vertical positioning system to position a magnetic head base against fixed reference surfaces below and a set of resilient members above; a magnetic head horizontal positioning system to first fix the magnetic head base to rotate horizontally about a point, and then to resiliently ho

Abstract: Method and apparatus for synchronizing movements of a magnetic head and an optical head of a magneto-optical disk drive. A magnetic head carriage moves a magnetic head between a standby position and a head application position. An optical head carriage supports an optical head to read at least identification tracks of a magneto-optical disk. A synchronizing device synchronizes linear positions of the magnetic head carriage and the optical head carriage, such that the magnetic head carriage is proximate an outermost position of the magnetic head carriage and the optical head carriage is proximate an outermost position of the optical head carriage when the synchronizing device synchronizes the linear positions of the magnetic head carriage and the optical head carriage.

Abstract: A shutter opening mechanism in a data recording/reproducing device engages a shutter of a disk cartridge which is being inserted into the data recording/reproducing device to open the shutter as the disk cartridge is inserted. The opening mechanism includes a pin and a roller provided at an end of an arm. The pin is formed as a hollow cylinder that includes a slit along a length of the pin, and the roller is provided with a hole. During assembly, the pin is compressed to narrow the slit for insertion into the hole so that the roller is resiliently secured to the pin. Over time, the pin expands and ensures that the roller remains secured to the pin.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive incorporates: a structure to mount a front panel to a frame using a cartridge loading system, using a set of linearly movable control cam plates, to draw a cartridge into a cartridge holder and then to move the cartridge holder to an operating position; a timing control system for the cartridge loading system, which includes a unitary encoder cam gear including a drive gear portion to move the cam plates to lift and lower the cartridge holder, a cam groove portion to draw a cartridge into the cartridge holder, and timing encoders portions to interrupt photo sensors; a shutter mechanism to fully close a cartridge slot with a shutter, both when the drive holds a cartridge and when empty; a magnetic head vertical positioning system to position a magnet head base against fixed reference surfaces below and a set of resilient members above; a magnetic head horizontal positioning system to first fix the magnetic head base to rotate horizontally about a point, and then to resiliently hold

Abstract: A shutter mechanism for a disk drive includes at least one flat wire spring member inserted within lateral sides of opposing swingable shutters provided to a cartridge insertion opening to connect the shutters. The spring member swing the shutters closed when they are swingedly displaced from a neutral position. Regulating members control the range of the swingable shutters, and positions end portions of the shutters to guide an inserted disk cartridge to a waiting carriage for transporting the disk cartridge within the drive.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk is provided wherein a magnetic field generated by a pair of rod-shaped permanent magnets of linear motor mechanisms for moving an optical head leaks to cover an external magnetic field generating device. The rod-shaped permanent magnets are arranged such that the leakage magnetic field is generally parallel with a data recording surface of a magneto-optical disk. In the external magnetic field generating device, the leakage magnetic field causes a permanent magnet to be oriented such that its permanent magnetization is directed parallel to the data recording surface, which is a neutral state. In a recording or erasing operation, a magnetic field reversing coil is energized to cause the permanent magnet to make a quarter rotation (in opposite directions for the recording and erasing operations) from the neutral state so that pole S or N faces the data recording surface.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus incorporates a beam splitter arrangement that directs stray reflected light away from the incident and exit paths. The beam splitter is arranged such that refracting surfaces are angled away from a 45 degree angle by an amount corresponding to a refracted angle of an incident beam. The entire beam splitter is arranged in the recording/reproducing apparatus such that the refracted beam is refracted by a predetermined angle based on the known refractive index of the beam splitter prisms and the orientation of the beam splitter.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive system, utilizing a magnetic field modulation recording method, has a disk cartridge for housing a magneto-optical disk therein and insertable into a system housing and a magnetic head in the system housing for writing information on the magneto-optical disk held in the disk cartridge. The disk cartridge is guided by cam grooves and cam pins for movement between a first unloading position and a first loading position when inserted in the system housing. The magnetic head is guided by cam grooves and cam pins for movement between a second unloading position remote from the disk cartridge and a second loading position close to the disk cartridge. The magnetic head is normally urged to move from the second loading position toward the second unloading position under the bias of a tension spring. A lock arm is attracted by an electromagnet to lock the magnetic head in the second loading position when the main power supply of the magneto-optical disk drive system is turned on.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive system, utilizing a magnetic field modulation recording method, has a disk cartridge for housing a magneto-optical disk therein and insertable into a system housing and a magnetic head in the system housing for writing information on the magneto-optical disk held in the disk cartridge. The disk cartridge is guided by cam grooves and cam pins for movement between a first unloading position and a first loading position when inserted in the system housing. The magnetic head is guided by cam grooves and cam pins for movement between a second unloading position remote from the disk cartridge and a second loading position close to the disk cartridge. The magnetic head is normally urged to move from the second loading position toward the second unloading position under the bias of a tension spring. A lock arm is attracted by an electromagnet to lock the magnetic head in the second loading position when the main power supply of the magneto-optical disk drive system is turned on.