Abstract: In order to achieve a drive system having a simple structure in which a cartridge having therein a wound magnetic tape can be supplied or replaced in small installation space, a carrier unit structure is employed in which a cartridge is horizontally retracted from a magazine capable of horizontally inserting/removing the cartridge and then held therein. Further, a drive unit is located beneath the carrier unit, and the cartridge held in the carrier unit is released so that the cartridge can be dropped and loaded into the drive unit.

Abstract: A drive receives a removable storage cartridge thereinto and retains the received cartridge. The cartridge includes a shell and a storage media disposed within the shell. The drive has a motor for engaging the media within the retained cartridge and applying a motive force to the engaged media, and an ejection mechanism for ejecting the retained cartridge upon actuation. The drive also has a stopper for contacting the cartridge at least during ejection thereof and for co-acting with the ejecting cartridge to stop the ejecting cartridge at a predetermined ejection travel distance. The cartridge has a stop feature that co-acts with the stopper.

Abstract: A disc drive device for driving a disc accommodated in a cartridge comprises: a magnetic head; a magnetic head supporting member for supporting the magnetic head to contact the disc and to be separated from the disc; a lifting plate configured to lift the magnetic head supporting member; and moving means for moving the lifting plate in a direction parallel to a surface of the disc, in which the moving means moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction until the lifting plate abuts the magnetic head supporting member, and further moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction with the lifting plate abutting the magnetic head supporting member so that the lifting plate lifts the magnetic head supporting member up to separate the magnetic head from the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a movable body comprises a rack having flexibility, a pinion for driving the rack and a guide device for guiding the rack. The guide device has a curved portion. The pinion may locate along the curved portion of the guide device. The movable body comprises a disc.

Abstract: A disk apparatus to which a cartridge accommodating a disk for recording or reproducing information thereon is loaded, the cartridge having a shutter capable of opening so as to expose the disk is provided. The disk apparatus includes: a disk transporting section for transporting the cartridge from an unloaded position to a loaded position; and an opener for opening the shutter in a slide direction which is perpendicular to a transportation direction of the cartridge. A leading end face of the cartridge in the transportation direction of the cartridge has a first end face and a second end face, the first end face extending in the transportation direction and the second end face extending in the slide direction. The shutter is opened responsive to a pressurizing force applied in the slide direction to the first end face from the opener.

Abstract: A system secures a cartridge inserted into a data storage device. The system includes a slidable member with a recess positioned therein; a toggle pivotably mounted in the recess, the toggle having a tip to pivot the toggle upon contacting the cartridge; and an interlock unit coupled to the slidable member and adapted to engage the toggle when the toggle pivots.

Abstract: A disk drive 100 capable of receiving a cartridge 20 having a disk 42 with a diameter of about 3.5 inches which can contain at least 105 megabytes of data includes an operating mechanism 112 for initiating and controlling the positioning of an actuator arm 176 upon which is mounted a read/write transducer 178. The position of a spindle motor 224 which is used to spin up the disk 42 contained in the cartridge 20 to an operating speed, the locking of the cartridge 20 in the disk drive 100 in an operating mode and the ejection of the cartridge 20 from the drive 100. The operating mechanism 112 can function to eject the cartridge 20 whether or not the drive 100 is powered up in order to be able to remove the cartridge 20 and transport it to another disk drive 100 or to a secured location in a plane substantially parallel to the disk 42 contained in the cartridge 20.

Abstract: An information recording and reproduction apparatus has an eject slider 9 which is moved by the operation from the outside. An eject plate 2 as a mechanical driving means for constituting a loading mechanism is engaged with an eject lock lever 12, through which a driving force to the eject slider 9 is transmitted to the eject plate 2. During when information is being recorded into a recording medium 4, by that an eject latch magnet 15 is energized, an absorption plate 14 of the eject lock lever 12 is absorbed and the eject lock lever 12 is inclined, and therefore, a driving force which is applied to the eject slider 9 should not be transmitted to the eject lock lever 12, thereby resulting in preventing a driving force from being transmitted to the eject plate 2.

Abstract: A disk drive contains a pair of spring elements which act as eject limiters, engaging catches on a cartridge to prevent the cartridge from being completely ejected from the drive. The cartridge contains a data storage disk which could be damaged if, for example, the cartridge were to fall to the floor. After the cartridge has been retained by the eject limiters, the user may manually withdraw the cartridge from the disk drive.

Abstract: A frame plate (19) is mounted to the inside of a case (4) of a magnetic recording device. (1), and a disk drive motor and a head body (5) are mounted to the frame plate (19). A member (88) for preventing the deformation of the case is provided between the case (4) and the frame plate (19). The member (88) is placed in a cartridge passing area by the action of a spring in the absence of the cartridge (2), but the member (88) is pressed with the front end of the cartridge (2) when the cartridge (2) is moved forward, the member (88) is forced to retreat to the outside of the cartridge passing area.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a housing, a cartridge tray, and a cam plate. The cartridge tray is adapted to hold a cartridge that includes a data storage disk. The housing has a pair of vertical cartridge tray pin slots which hold tray pins that are part of the cartridge tray. The cam plate includes a pair of cam slots formed at an oblique angle to the cartridge tray pin slots. The tray pins extend through the cam slots into the cartridge tray pin slots. Movement of the cam plate back and forth causes the tray pins and cartridge tray to move vertically between a loaded position, where data can be read from or written to the data storage disk, to an unloaded position. The use of two cartridge tray pins allows the cartridge tray to rotate about an axis defined by the tray pins, and this action assists in locating the cartridge precisely in a repeatable position, in contact with a plurality of datums, when it is fully loaded.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus according to the present invention includes a horizontal guide mechanism and a vertical guide mechanism, which are disposed between a frame (10) and a slider (60) for slidably guiding the slider (60). The horizontal guide mechanism includes an engaging piece (69b) disposed in at least one of the frame (10) and the slider (60) and an engaging hole (24a), which is disposed in the other and is engaged with the engaging piece (69b). One of the frame (10) and the slider (60), in which the engaging piece (69b) is formed, is made of a metallic sheet material while the engaging piece (69b) is formed by bending part of the metallic sheet material.

Abstract: An optical storage device adapted to accept a cartridge composed of a cartridge case and an optical recording medium accommodated in the cartridge case. The optical storage device includes a base, a light source mounted on the base, an optical head having an objective lens for focusing light from the light source onto the optical recording medium, and a photodetector mounted on the base for detecting a regenerative signal from reflected light from the optical recording medium. The optical storage device further includes a cartridge holder having a main surface for holding the cartridge inserted in the optical storage device. The main surface of the cartridge holder is integrally formed with first and second spring arms adjacent to each other and extending substantially along a first side of the cartridge holder. The main surface of the cartridge holder is further integrally formed with a third spring arm extending substantially along a second side of the cartridge holder opposite to the first side.

Abstract: A card slot door locking mechanism includes a card slot into which a removable card can be inserted; a card slot door which is rotatable between a closed position and an open position, the card slot-door being biased to rotate in a direction towards the closed position; and a pair of door locking members positioned away from each other in a widthwise direction of the card slot. Each of the pair of door locking members locks the card slot door independent of each other when the pair of door locking members are in a free state. Furthermore, both of the pair of door locking members concurrently unlock the card slot door when the pair of door locking members are concurrently pushed by the removable card when the removable card is properly inserted into the card slot.

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a disk loading device which loads a disk from an insert/eject position to a read/write position, the disk having a first surface and a second surface. A head device records information to and/or reproduces information from the disk at the read/write position, the head device configured as a pair of upper and lower heads which are brought into contact with the first and second surfaces of the disk when the disk is loaded to the read/write position. A shock absorbing member is movably arranged on the disk loading device and has a shock absorbing effect on the upper and lower heads of the head device. The shock absorbing member is maintained at an active position between the upper head and the lower head when the disk is at the insert/eject position. When the disk is loaded to the read/write position, the shock absorbing member is transferred from the active position into an inactive position where the shock absorbing member does not interfere with the head device.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus including a door member having its upper edge abutted against a lower edge of a forward stationary plate. The lower end of the stationary plate and the upper edge of the door member are formed with inclined surfaces that are inclined relative to the direction of insertion and detachment of a recording medium. When the recording medium is inserted, the door member is rotated by having its inclined surface thrust by the forward edge of the recording medium so as to be separated from the forward stationary plate to open the front side of the cartridge holder holding the recording medium to prevent intrusion of dust and dirt into the inside of the apparatus.

Abstract: The problem is to provide a motor that a stator coil can be firmly supported with high rigidity and is less in vibration and noise, a method for manufacturing same and a rotary apparatus. A motor is provided as solving means, which comprises: a base 10 having a cylindrical fit portion 10a; a sleeve 20 having one end firmly fixed in the fit portion 10a; a hub shaft 30 including a hub portion 32 supporting a hard disk, a shaft portion 31 extended from a hub portion 32 center and inserted in the sleeve 20, and an annular portion 33 annularly extended from a peripheral edge of the hub portion 32 in a same direction as the shaft portion 31; a bearing ring 52 coaxially fixed on a tip of the shaft portion 31; an engaging ring 51 fixed at the other end of the sleeve 20 and abutted against the bearing ring 52 thereby regulating axial movement of the shaft portion 31; a rotor magnet 60 fixed on an inner peripheral wall of the annular portion 33; and a stator coil 40 fixed on an outer peripheral wall of the sleeve 20.

Abstract: A positioning system is provided for use in an information recording/reproducing apparatus for positioning a cartridge containing an information recording medium on a chassis mounting information recording and reproducing structure. Such positioning system comprises positioning holes formed on the cartridge containing an information recording medium; and positioning pins formed on the chassis mounting information recording and reading structure. In particular, when a cartridge containing an information recording medium is inserted into the recording/reproducing apparatus, one of the positioning pins is caused to insert into a corresponding positioning hole earlier than the insertion of other pin(s) into other corresponding positioning hole(s).

Abstract: The object is to improve the productivity and serviceability in the assembling work by exalting the assembling performance of a disk drive for the further compacting of the disk drive. The disk drive is provided with a recording and reproducing unit for recording or reproducing information on a minidisk encased in a disk cartridge, a holder for guiding and holding the disk cartridge that is being inserted, a slider capable of transferring the disk cartridge between a mounting and dismounting position and an insertion completed position, drive mechanisms capable of driving the slider and a chassis that serves as a mounting base for these principal components of the disk drive. The disk drive is constructed of two units of a holder unit obtained by mounting the slider on the holder and a chassis unit obtained by mounting the recording and reproducing unit and the drive mechanism on the chassis.

Abstract: This is a loading mechanism by which a disk cartridge can be positively loaded into a disk drive apparatus. The loading mechanism comprises: a mechanism for opening and closing a shutter of the disk cartridge inserted into the disk drive apparatus; an elevating plate on which a spindle motor for rotating the disk and an alignment pin for positioning the cartridge are mounted; and an oblique surface for moving the elevating plate onto the cartridge side in accordance with insertion of the cartridge. In the first embodiment, a front end portion of the first alignment pin inserted into a long reference hole of the cartridge is tapered, and only a front end portion of the second alignment pin inserted into a circular reference hole on the opposite side to the first alignment pin is curved, and further the second alignment pin is offset onto the rear side of the apparatus.

Abstract: A positioning system is provided for use in an information recording/reproducing apparatus for positioning a cartridge containing an information recording medium on a chassis mounting information recording and reproducing means. Such Positioning system comprises a plurality of positioning holes formed on the cartridge containing an information recording medium; and a plurality of positioning pins formed on the chassis mounting information recording and reading means. In particular, when a cartridge containing an information recording medium is inserted into the recording/reproducing apparatus, one of the positioning pins is caused to insert into a corresponding positioning hole earlier than the insertion of other pin(s) into other corresponding positioning hole(s).

Abstract: An apparatus capable of preventing erroneous insertion of a disk cartridge in a direction 90 degrees different from the correct direction while suppressing an increase in the number of components and to smoothly and securely transfer the disk cartridge. There is provided a lock lever capable of locking the cartridge while being pivotally supported by a slider that transfers the cartridge between a mounting and dismounting position and an insertion completed position with respect to a holder. The lock lever pivots while being engaged with the disk cartridge that is being inserted, and a first pivot amount when the cartridge is being inserted with a wide width of insertion in the correct direction is set smaller than a second pivot amount when the disk cartridge is being inserted with a narrow width of insertion in the incorrect direction.

Abstract: An ejection mechanism for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus by means of which a recording medium cartridge is to be improved in tractability and reliability in the recording medium cartridge ejecting operation to lower production cost. The ejection mechanism includes an insertion/ejection opening for insertion/ejection of a disc cartridge with respect to a main body portion of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a lid provided for opening/closing the insertion/ejection opening and a slide operating member for ejecting the disc cartridge from the insertion/ejection opening. The lid is provided with an actuating member for actuating the slide operating member in a lid opening operation relative to the insertion/ejection opening.

Abstract: A flexible disk drive has the configuration of a type-2 card for use in a personal computer or other information processing apparatus. The flexible disk drive includes a cabinet for insertion into a card slot in the information processing apparatus, a mechanism for inserting and ejecting a recording medium cartridge containing a recording medium, a head for accessing the recording medium, a head drive actuator for moving the head, a recording medium drive actuator for driving the recording medium, a positioning device for positioning the recording medium in a predetermined position, and a drive force transfer mechanism for transferring the driving force of the recording medium drive actuator to the recording medium. The components of the flexible disk drive have thin profiles to achieve the form factor of the type-2 card.

Abstract: A holder is pivoted to a chassis upwardly and downwardly movably. A lateral shift restraining piece is positioned on the chassis at a small distance away from an inner side surface of the holder, is opposed to a side plate of the holder in a horizontal posture, and is out of opposed relation with the side plate when the holder is in an upright posture. A pivotal movement restraining piece is elastically deformably provided on the chassis for preventing the holder from opening excessively by the contact of an end thereof with the holder when the holder is pivotally moved upward.

Abstract: A recording medium driving apparatus to be used with a recording medium comprises a unit having a driving section receiving a loaded recording medium recording information in the recording medium and/or reproducing the information recorded in the recording medium, and a holding member holding the recording medium and movable in an inserting direction toward the driving section and in a discharging direction leaving the driving section together with the recording medium; an elastic support member supporting the unit against a fixed section; an intermediate member movably supported by the fixed section and connected to the holding member; and a driving member connected to the intermediate member and causing, by the moving force thereof, the holding member to move in the inserting direction or in the discharging direction via the intermediate member; wherein a transmitting section for transmitting a driving force of the driving member to the intermediate member and a relief section for making the intermediate me

Abstract: A disk drive has a frame for receiving and retaining a disk cartridge which includes a disk therein, such disk being rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the frame and cartridge. An actuator is mounted to the frame and is movable a first lesser amount from a first position to a second position and a second greater amount from the first position to a third position. A retract/eject lever is also mounted to the frame, is rotatable on an axis parallel to the first axis by the actuator, and is biased to a resting position. The actuator upon being moved to the second position rotates the retract/eject lever into a head-retracting position. The actuator upon being moved to the third position rotates the retract/eject lever to the head-retracting position and then to a cartridge-ejecting position. A head assembly is mounted to the frame and is movable toward and away from the retained disk cartridge and the disk therein for reading data from/writing data to such disk.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: A recording medium recording and reproducing apparatus prevents a recording medium from being ejected when information is being recorded on the recording medium. A recording medium conveying mechanism conveys the recording medium from an insertion/eject position to a loading position. The recording medium is inserted or ejected at the insertion/eject position, and is loaded for a recording or reproducing operation at the loading position. A head writes information on the recording medium or reads information recorded on the recording medium. A head moving mechanism moves the head to a recording and reproducing position at which the head performs a recording or reproducing operation. The head is moved in association with conveyance of the recording medium by the recording medium conveying mechanism. The head moving mechanism locks the recording medium conveying mechanism when the recording medium is positioned at the loading position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cartridge accommodating a disk therein which is inserted into a cartridge holder, the cartridge holder being provided with a mis-insertion protection member. The mis-insertion protection member is located within an insertion path along which the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge holder. The cartridge has a substantially rectangular shape. The cartridge has a corner portion at each of four corners of the substantially rectangular shape, the corner portion being shaped so as to abut on the mis-insertion protection member to move the mis-insertion protection member out of the insertion path. The cartridge has at least two mis-insertion protection mechanisms for engaging with the mis-insertion protection member so as to prevent the cartridge from being mis-inserted.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus including a door member having its upper edge abutted against a lower edge of a forward stationary plate. The lower end of the stationary plate and the upper edge of the door member are formed with inclined surfaces that are inclined relative to the direction of insertion and detachment of a recording medium. When the recording medium is inserted, the door member is rotated by having its inclined surface thrust by the forward edge of the recording medium so as to be separated from the forward stationary plate to open the front side of the cartridge holder holding the recording medium to prevent intrusion of dust and dirt into the inside of the apparatus.

Abstract: A door 20 is rotatably attached to a disk cartridge 1. In mounting the disk cartridge 1, an opening and closing pin 224 moving along a groove 223 is engaged with the door 20 and the door 20 is opened. For example, when the opening and closing pin 224 cannot return to a normal standby position by some cause, a front face of the door 20 and a projected streak portion 206 are brought into contact with each other and the disk cartridge 1 cannot be inserted further. Therefore, even when the disk cartridge 1 is inserted in a state where the door 20 is not opened, there is avoided beforehand an accident where the disk cartridge 1 collides with ahead, a lamp or the like to cause the destruction thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording medium driving apparatus comprising an enclosure having an insertion port for insertion and discharge of a recording medium; a holder holding the recording medium inserted through the insertion port; a driving section having a turntable onto which the recording medium held by the holder is mounted and a locating member for positioning the recording medium; a holder transfer mechanism for transferring the holder in a first direction approaching the driving section and in a second direction leaving the driving section; an elastic support member elastically supporting the driving section in the enclosure; and a constraining mechanism constraining transfer of the driving section; and before the holder having the recording medium inserted therein is transferred by the holder transfer mechanism in the first direction, or after beginning moving in the first direction and before a recording medium inserted in an abnormal direction or posture comes into contact with the turnt

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high speed spindle motor comprising a stator assembly including a stator having multiple conductors that create a plurality of magnetic fields when electrical current is conducted by the conductors and a body of a phase change material such as a thermoplastic substantially encapsulating the stator. A rotatable hub having a magnet connected thereto is in operable proximity to the stator. The high speed motor also includes a shaft, a bearing surrounding the shaft and one of the bearing or shaft being fixed to the stator assembly and the other of the bearing or shaft being fixed to the rotatable hub. Hard disc drives using the motor, and methods of developing and constructing the motor and hard disc drives are also disclosed.

Abstract: A disk drive has a frame for receiving and retaining a disk cartridge which includes a disk therein, such disk being rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the frame and cartridge. An actuator is mounted to the frame and is movable a first lesser amount from a first position to a second position and a second greater amount from the first position to a third position. A retract/eject lever is also mounted to the frame, is rotatable on an axis parallel to the first axis by the actuator, and is biased to a resting position. The actuator upon being moved to the second position rotates the retract/eject lever into a head-retracting position. The actuator upon being moved to the third position rotates the retract/eject lever to the head-retracting position and then to a cartridge-ejecting position. A head assembly is mounted to the frame and is movable toward and away from the retained disk cartridge and the disk therein for reading data from/writing data to such disk.

Abstract: A flexible disk drive has the configuration of a type-2 card for use in a personal computer or other information processing apparatus. The flexible disk drive includes a cabinet for insertion into a card slot in the information processing apparatus, a mechanism for inserting and ejecting a recording medium cartridge containing a recording medium, a head for accessing the recording medium, a head drive actuator for moving the head, a recording medium drive actuator for driving the recording medium, a position device for positioning the recording medium in a predetermined position, and a drive force transfer mechanism for transferring the driving force of the recording medium drive actuator to the recording medium. The components of the flexible disk drive have thin profiles to achieve the form factor of the type-2 card.

Abstract: A recording medium driving apparatus includes a holder into which a cartridge having a recording medium is inserted, a head part, and a cartridge contact preventing mechanism preventing an end of the cartridge from contacting the head part when the cartridge is inserted into the recording medium driving apparatus.

Abstract: A disc cartridge includes a shell having one side face and an opening, a shutter mounted to the shell to be slidable along the one side face between a first position where the shutter closes the opening and a second position where the shutter opens the opening, and a misinsertion preventing portion arranged with the one side face of the shell in a portion thereof out of a slide area of the shutter and having a recess for allowing introduction of a misinsertion preventing member of a drive.

Abstract: A disc cartridge includes a shell having one side face and an opening, a shutter mounted to the shell to be slidable along the one side face between a first position where the shutter closes the opening and a second position where the shutter opens the opening, and a misinsertion preventing portion arranged with the one side face of the shell in a portion thereof out of a slide area of the shutter and having a recess for allowing introduction of a misinsertion preventing member of a drive.

Abstract: A disk device for recording and reproducing information on a disk includes a spindle motor for rotating the disk, a head for reading and writing information signals from and on the disk, a feed mechanism for moving the head radially of the disk, a mechanism chassis having the spindle motor, head and feed mechanism thereon and a cartridge loading mechanism. A casing is provided for mounting the mechanism chassis through vibration insulating members. When a cartridge is to be loaded into a predetermined position, the cartridge is moved toward the mechanism chassis while the mechanism chassis is moved toward the cartridge, thereby providing vibration-insulating spaces.

Abstract: The thickness of a disk device is determined by the sum of the thickness of a cartridge, the thickness of a space, formed as a result of movement of the cartridge, the thickness of a mechanism chassis and the thickness of a vibration-insulating space, and therefore it is difficult to achieve the thin design of the disk device. When the cartridge is to be loaded into a predetermined position, the cartridge is moved toward the mechanism chassis while the mechanism chassis is moved toward the cartridge, thereby providing vibration-insulating spaces, and with this construction, there can be provided the disk device of a thin design.

Abstract: A shutter opening apparatus and method for opening a shutter of a cartridge outside an optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus. The shutter opening apparatus includes an opening section mounted on a longitudinal opening of a tray for opening the shutter, a feeding section moved by the opening section for feeding the tray into an inner portion of the optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus, and a driving section for driving the opening section and the feeding section. The opening section includes a worm shaft rotatably mounted across the longitudinal opening, a first bevel gear rotated by the driving section and which is engaged with the worm shaft, and a bracket moved by the worm shaft for opening the shutter. The feeding section is movably installed on the tray and includes a slide bar moved between a first and second positions by the bracket, and a bias spring disposed between the try and the slide bar to bias the slide bar toward the first position.

Abstract: A method of inserting a removable data cartridge into a disk drive utilizes a cartridge having a registration contour adapted for alignment with a registration member of the disk drive. The registration contour slides along the registration member during insertion. The cartridge has an interlocking recess adapted to interface with an ejector pin of the disk drive, and a door biased to a closed position, where the door has a tab engaging the disk drive and holding the housing door open while the cartridge is in the inserted position. The cartridge is ejected by releasing the ejector pin from the interlocking recess and pushing the cartridge with the ejector pin.

Abstract: A door operable in unison with a cartridge holder is provided at the entrance of the apparatus, whereby a movement amount of a cartridge holder (23) is set to be an amount made smaller than a thickness of a disk cartridge (1) and also to be an amount in which the disk cartridge (1) can be prevented from interfering with a spindle motor (3) when the disk cartridge (1) is loaded and unloaded. The thickness of the disk storage apparatus can be reduced, and hence the whole of the disk storage apparatus can be reduced in thickness.

Abstract: A library for storing a cartridge of data-storage media includes a removable module and a chassis having a module receptacle. Cartridge storage slots arc disposed within the chassis, and a media drive is disposed within the removable module. A cartridge transporter is disposed within the chassis and transports the cartridge between one of the cartridge slots and the media drive when the module is inserted within the module receptacle. A library control circuit is disposed within the chassis and controls the cartridge transporter. An interface circuit is disposed within the removable module and electronically interfaces a host computer to the media drive, and, when the removable module is inserted within the module receptacle of the chassis, electronically interfaces the host computer to the library control circuit.

Abstract: A disk recording device has inside a cabinet a mechanical deck comprising an inner holder for horizontally holding therein a cartridge containing a disk, a chassis movable toward and away from the inner holder and provided with a pickup for projecting a beam on the disk, and an outer holder provided over the inner holder and slidable along the direction of insertion of the cartridge. The inner holder is fixed to the cabinet through holes and cutouts formed in the chassis, and the chassis is movable upward and downward relative to the inner holder. A space for accommodating the pickup is. formed between the lower surface of the chassis and the bottom surface of the cabinet when the chassis is in a completely lowered position.

Abstract: A computer drive assembly for receiving portable disks containing computer data. The computer drive assembly has a housing defining a cavity, an ejection mechanism that engages with the disk and at least one roller member. The cavity is sized so as to receive a portable disk through an opening in the housing such that when the disk is positioned in a first position in the cavity, computer data stored in the disk can be accessed. When the disk is in the first position, the ejection mechanism urges the disk along a first path toward the opening so as to eject the disk from the cavity. At least one roller member is positioned along the first path so that the at least one roller member contacts the disk as it is being urged along the first path and retains the disk in the housing so that only a portion of the disk extends out of the opening in the housing.

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 holder into which a recording-medium container is inserted is provided. A sliding member is supported slidably in a recording-medium-container loading direction. The sliding member moves the holder from a recording-medium-container insertion/ejection position to a recording-medium-container loading position as a result of sliding in the recording-medium-container loading direction. A latch member is rotatably supported. The latch member has a to-be-pushed portion which is pushed by the recording-medium container which is being inserted into the holder, and a movement-preventing portion which prevents the sliding member from moving in the recording-medium-container loading direction. A first force-applying member is provided. One end of the first force-applying member is connected with the latch member and the other end of the first force-applying member is connected with sliding member.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a case to be loaded with an optical disk, includes a pair of slide plates slidable in opposite, horizontal directions for moving a pair of positioning members (5A, 5B) rotatably connected to the ends of the slide plates. The positioning members are moved between a withdrawn rest position in which toe faces (6a) of the positioning members (5A, 5B) do not contact the case, and a locating position wherein the toe faces contact an outer circumference of a ridge of the case to precisely locate the case. The positioning members (5A, 5B) are driven between the withdrawn position and the locating position by a cam drive including a cam and a cam follower cooperating with each positioning member. The cam follower moves along the inclined surface of the cam provided at the case locating station.