Abstract: A rotary encoder (1) comprising a housing (2), a shaft (3), a code disk (4) which is attached to the shaft (3), and a reading head (5) which is designed to detect the rotation of the code disk (4) are disclosed herein. The code disk (4) is affixed in the axial position thereof on an axial side by way of an abutment (6), and a resilient element (7, 17, 19) is arranged on the other axial side providing a clamping force for pressing the code disk (4) against the abutment (6). A method for assembling a rotary encoder is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A disk drive device is provided with a recording disk, a base member, a bearing unit, and a hub member. In a marking step, unbalance information indicating the displacement of the center of gravity of the hub member with respect to the rotation center of the hub member is acquired, and an information mark containing the unbalance information is applied to at least the hub member or the base member. In an installing and adjustment step, the unbalance information is read form the information mark, and the position for installing the recording disk in an outer cylinder part is determined in accordance with the unbalance information so as to install the recording disk on the hub member.

Abstract: A disc spindle provides removal of particulates generated by internal parts of mechanisms, including the disc clamping mechanism, air bearing rotor, and other moving parts provides a port that is coupled to a vacuum system to remove particulate from the areas in which they are generated. In other aspects of the invention, vacuum evacuation of rotary and other bearings in a mechanical system employed in a clean room environment are prevented from contaminating the environment by removing particulate at the locations in which it is generated by friction, contact, or other means such as being introduced from the pressure channel in an air bearing feed.

Abstract: An improved turntable is described with inherent properties for reducing noise generated by external sources or by the parts of the turntable. The plinth of the turntable is comprised of an elastomeric layer and at least one stiffening layer that adds rigidity to the plinth. The support feet, spindle bearing, and armboard only come into contact with the elastomeric layer, which dampens energy, allowing the turntable produce the audio on the record without excessive noise.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a hosing having three walls connected together whose horizontal cross-section is substantially U-shaped. A first wall supports one end of a shaft, a second wall facing the first wall supports the other end of the shaft and a third wall connects the first and second walls. A lubricant tray is surrounded by the three walls and the shaft. By the shaft being attached to an end side surface of the lubricant tray, the shaft can be integrally formed with the housing. A radius of curvature or an angle formed on a horizontal cross-section of the three walls is larger than a radius of curvature or an angle formed between one of the three walls and the lubricant tray.

Abstract: A typical dynamic bearing design comprises a ring shaped or circular thrust plate mounted at or near the end of a shaft, the shaft defining together with a surrounding sleeve a journal bearing by providing grooves on only one of the two surfaces facing the gap between the shaft and sleeve. On the ring shaped thrust plate supported by the shaft, the traditional upward thrust bearing defined between the lower face of the thrust plate and the facing surface of the sleeve is maintained; but no grooves are on the surface of the thrust plate distant from the shaft and a facing counterplate surface. Further, the journal bearing is defined to have an asymmetry so that a bias force pressure along the surface of the shaft toward the thrust plate is established.

Abstract: In order to prevent oil leakage in a hydrodynamic bearing device comprising an opening section in close proximity to a radial bearing and a lubricating fluid reservoir, a shaft 10, thrust flange 16, sleeve 11, seal plate 21, and stopper plate 20 are provided, a radial dynamic pressure bearing is formed in a radial clearance between the shaft 10 and sleeve 11, and a thrust dynamic pressure bearing is formed in a thrust direction clearance between the sleeve 11 and thrust flange 16. A connecting hole 11d is formed that connects a gap between the sleeve 11 and seal plate 21 and a thrust direction gap between the sleeve 11 and thrust flange 16. The relationship A<B<C is satisfied, where A is a radial clearance, B is a clearance between an outer peripheral surface of the shaft 10 and an inner peripheral surface of the seal plate 21, and C is a clearance between a lower surface of the seal plate 21 and an upper end face of the sleeve 11.

Abstract: A gas dynamic pressure bearing is disclosed in which dynamic pressure generating grooves in a radial bearing pump out gas toward a thrust bearing, and dynamic pressure generating grooves in the thrust bearing pump in gas toward the radial bearings. This structure generates high pressure in the lubrication gas in the connecting portions of the radial bearings and thrust bearings. In order to compensate for the movement of gas by means of this pump-out and pump-in operation, a structure is provided that links the two portions of the radial and thrust bearings where the gas pressure is reduced, or connects these two portions with the space surrounding the bearing.

Abstract: Low-profile spindle motor whose entire shaft length is utilized to configure, along an encompassing sleeve, a radial dynamic-pressure bearing section. One end of the shaft is unitary with the rotor, and a cover member closes the other end. Between the sleeve upper-end face and the rotor undersurface a thrust bearing section is configured. Micro-gaps are formed continuing between the sleeve upper-end face and the rotor undersurface; the sleeve inner-circumferential surface and the shaft outer-circumferential surface; and the cover member inner face and the shaft end face, where an axial support section is established. Oil continuously fills the micro-gaps, configuring a full-fill hydrodynamic bearing structure. Hydrodynamic pressure-generating grooves in the radial bearing section are configured either so that no axial flow, or so that a unidirectional flow that recirculates from one to the other axial end of the radial bearing section through a communicating pathway is induced in the oil.

Abstract: A device for rotating inside of a disk player and/or recorder a disk shaped data carrier which takes into account that the rotating disk may be eccentered from an imposed rotation axis. A side moving apparatus allows the rotating disk and a fixing device to which the disk is removably fixed, to move inside the player and/or recorder in a rotation plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the fixing device. The rotating disk and the fixing device go into a gyroscopic movement inside the player. A plurality of examples to realize the invention are described.

Abstract: A spindle design for a hard disk drive assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a significantly large gap between the rotating, ferromagnetic hub with its permanent magnet rotor and the rotating sleeve of the fluid bearing journal member. The large gap may be filled with a medium, such as air, or a non-permeable material. The large gap is preferably on the order of several hundred microns. Because of the large gap, the magnetic flux leakage from the rotating hub members and sleeve into the stationary shaft at the center of the spindle is negligible. Consequently, iron loss in the shaft caused by magnetic flux leakage into the shaft is reduced to acceptable noise levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device in a deck for playing information discs (2), which preferably have been provided or can be provided with digital information, the information disc (2) being rotated, in the operating condition, about its center by a drive motor (5) and magnetically cooperating material parts (8, 9) being present, which are offset radially with respect to the axis of rotation (3) and in the direction thereof parallel with respect to one another and of which one part (8) is disposed on the base plate (4) which carries the motor (3) and of which the other part (9) is disposed on the disc support (1) which is moved by the motor shaft (6), one of the material parts (8, 9) being a ring-shaped permanent magnet, at least one of the two magnetically cooperating material parts (8, 9) being arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation (3) and both material parts (8, 9) are ring-shaped, the directions of the lines of field not being changed during rotation.

Abstract: A turntable that has a platter that can be vertically positioned so that the VTA between the stylus of the cartridge and the record can be easily adjusted without tweaking or touching the tone arm. The turntable includes a base, a platter, a spindle assembly configured to position the platter above the base, and a spindle adjustment mechanism configured to selectively position the vertical position of the platter with respect to the base. In one embodiment, the spindle adjustment mechanism includes a drive shaft that is configured to engage the spindle assembly and to selectively drive the spindle assembly up or down. As the spindle assembly is moved up and down, the platter moves up and down with respect to the base. In another embodiment, the spindle assembly includes a spindle shaft configured to rotate inside a chamber of the spindle assembly. A bolt which attached to the spindle shaft is configured to move up and down when the spindle shaft is rotated.

Abstract: A shaft which alternately stacks and holds disks and spacers is rotated by a motor having a rotor and stator. To prevent axial run-out during rotation, when the disks and spacers are fitted on the shaft, clean air is injected from an air pad to prevent eccentricity by a fluid film, and an aligning shaft is pressed against a hub on the upper end of the shaft via an air pad to attain alignment.

Abstract: A turntable driving device has a spindle motor 5, a bearing 7, and a wire spring 9. The spindle motor 5 has a rotation shaft 11 which is to be coupled to the turntable 3. The bearing 7 is placed on the lateral side of the rotation shaft 11, and has a pair of inclined faces 7a that are opened in the side of the rotation shaft 11 so as to sandwich the rotation shaft 11, and that are formed to be abuttable against the rotation shaft 11. The wire spring 9 is a member for urging the bearing 7 toward the rotation shaft 11.

Abstract: In a mounting structure of a motor to a mounting base, the motor including a rotor having a rotation shaft for rotating a disc-shaped recording medium and a stator having a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the rotation shaft. The mounting base is provided with a shaft end receiving portion for restricting the downward movement of the rotation shaft. The mounting base is preferably a chassis provided in a disc drive and the motor is a spindle motor provided on the chassis for rotating an optical disc. The shaft end receiving portion includes a concave part integrally formed with the mounting base. According to this structure, there is no need to provide the stator with a structure for supporting one end of the rotation shaft, and this makes it possible to reduce the number of components forming the motor.

Abstract: A spindle motor for a hard disk drive having a stationary component with a first bearing surface, and a rotating component with a second bearing surface located in opposing relationship with the first bearing surface. The first and the second bearing surfaces form a hydrodynamic bearing. A bearing gap is formed between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface, the bearing gap being filled with lubricating fluid. An oil-free recess is provided in the motor for placement of electromagnetic components of the motor. The stationary component is provided with a first set of seal surfaces, and the rotating component is provided with a second set of seal surfaces. The seal surfaces of the first set are located opposite the seal surfaces of the second set and form a labyrinth seal sealing the bearing gap from the oil-free motor recess.

Abstract: A conventional plain bearing, in which dynamic pressure is generated by means of lubricating oil, has been assembled in such a way that the whole bearing device is assembled and then the lubricating oil is poured in the interior. As a result, residual air bubbles are produced to cause lowering of the dynamic pressure. The present invention uses magnetic fluid as lubricating oil, and adopts, for enclosing the fluid, a method in which at the time of assembling a spindle motor, a permanent magnet is used, magnetic fluid of a specified amount is previously held in a bearing unit by the magnetic attraction force, and after the insertion of a shaft, the magnetic fluid is supplied into a narrow space of a bearing part by a capillary attraction.

Abstract: A vacuum apparatus particularly suitable for disk recording systems has a rotatable shaft mounted on a support body by an air bearing, the air bearing being provided within a vacuum chamber. A second rotatable shaft extends through the wall of the vacuum chamber in which it is mounted by a second air bearing. The second shaft has a hollow center which communicates with an output of the air bearing for removal of air exhausting from the air bearing. The air bearing may be provided within a second chamber within the vacuum chamber and may be movable relative to the axis of the second shaft. In a disk recording system, the air bearing may support a turntable.

Abstract: A hydraulic dynamic pressure bearing motor has a rotational shaft mounted to undergo rotation about a rotational axis and having a shaft section and a flange section. A sleeve has a cavity for receiving the rotational shaft. A cover member is disposed over an open end of the sleeve cavity. A hydraulic dynamic pressure bearing includes minute radial and thrust clearances disposed between outer surface portions of the shaft and flange sections of the rotational shaft and inner surface portions of the sleeve and the cover member. A lubricating fluid is disposed in the minute radial and thrust clearances. The minute radial and thrust clearances are dimensioned so that during a non-rotational state of the rotational shaft, the flange section of the rotational shaft contacts preselected inner surface portions of the sleeve and the cover member while the shaft section of the rotational shaft does not contact any portion of the sleeve and an inner peripheral surface of the cover member.

Abstract: A spindle motor of small size, thin type, high reliability, and high performance suited to an information recording and reproducing apparatus is presented. Specifically, a rotary disk is composed by integrally forming a disk board, and a rotary shaft of spindle motor, and a bearing is composed by forming dynamic pressure generating grooves in the rotary shaft of the rotary disk. As a result, small size and thin structure are realized, surface deflection of the disk during rotation of the spindle motor, and its axial center deflection are substantially decreased, and moreover the recording density is enhanced, the number of constituent parts is curtailed, and the cost is saved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for reading from or writing to recording media in disc form which has an unbalance compensation means. The object of the invention is to propose a device of this type which has the smallest possible unbalance even when exchangeable recording media are used. This object is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the unbalance compensation means is a centrifugal force generation means which generates a centrifugal force which is variable during operation. According to another aspect of the present invention, provision is made for the unbalance compensation means to be a positioning means for positioning the recording medium. The field of application of the invention includes, inter alia, devices for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media such as CD, CD-ROM, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM and the like.

Abstract: A device for rotating inside of a disk player and/or recorder a disk shaped data carrier which takes into account that the rotating disk may be eccentered from an imposed rotation axis. Side moving means allow the rotating disk and the fixing means to which the disk is removably fixed, to move inside said player and/or recorder in a rotation plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said fixing means. The rotating disk and the fixing means go into a gyroscopic movement inside the player. A plurality of examples to realize the invention are described.

Abstract: A turntable driving device has a spindle motor 5, a bearing 7, and a wire spring 9. The spindle motor 5 has a rotation shaft 11 which is to be coupled to the turntable 3. The bearing 7 is placed on the lateral side of the rotation shaft 11, and has a pair of inclined faces 7a that are opened in the side of the rotation shaft 11 so as to sandwich the rotation shaft 11, and that are formed to be abuttable against the rotation shaft 11. The wire spring 9 is a member for urging the bearing 7 toward the rotation shaft 11.

Abstract: A recording disk has a surface provided with guide grooves for controlling the position of a recording head, and recording bits formed in the guide grooves for high-density recording. The recording bits have the shape of a tadpole in a plane. The width Ws of the recording bits is greater than the width Wg of the guide grooves. An AFM probe serving as a recording head travels along the guide grooves without running off the guide grooves. When a tip part of the AFM probe coincides with the recording bit, the tip part drops deep into the guide groove, whereby the recording bit is detected.

Abstract: A conventional plain bearing, in which dynamic pressure is generated by means of lubricating oil, has been assembled in such a way that the whole bearing device is assembled and then the lubricating oil is poured in the interior. As a result, residual air bubbles are produced to cause lowering of the dynamic pressure. The present invention uses magnetic fluid as lubricating oil, and adopts, for enclosing the fluid, a method in which at the time of assembling a spindle motor, a permanent magnet is used, magnetic fluid of a specified amount is previously held in a bearing unit by the magnetic attraction force, and after the insertion of a shaft, the magnetic fluid is supplied into a narrow space of a bearing part by a capillary attraction.

Abstract: A bearing (4) is mounted on a base (1) to retain a portion of the shaft (6) ranging from near a lower end portion to near an upper end portion, and a rotor housing (10) is provided with a rotor base (11) disposed at a level lower than that of an optical pickup (13) with a magnet (9) being provided on an inner peripheral surface, and a rotor boss (12) formed separately from the rotor base (11). The rotor boss (12) has a smaller outer radius than the outer radius of the rotor base (11) and is fixed on the rotor base (11) so that a side face is opposite to a side face of the optical pickup (13). Thus, it is possible to prevent run-out of the shaft (6) and to downsize the device with a simple structure. Furthermore, it is possible to use components 1, 2, 5, 9, 11 and the like in common with thin motors used with other types of device and thus manufacturing costs are greatly reduced.

Abstract: A disc rotating apparatus includes a turntable for placing thereon a disc such as CD, DVD. The disc is clamped by the turntable and the disc holding frame. The holding frame is formed, at its main body, with an annular groove. The annular groove is circumferentially partitioned by a plurality of partition walls to thereby provide a plurality of accommodating portions. Each of the accommodating portions accommodates therein one or two or more steel balls. Due to rotation of the turntable or disc, each steel ball is displaced within the accommodating portion, thereby correcting for an unbalanced state wherein a center of gravity of the disc is deviated from an axis of a rotary shaft of turntable.

Abstract: A positive and negative rotation gas dynamic pressure bearing comprises a stationary bearing member, a movable bearing member mounted for rotation relative to the stationary bearing member, dynamic pressure generating grooves having first and second ends and formed in one of confronting surfaces of the stationary bearing member and the movable bearing member, a self-switch valve connected to the movable bearing member for rotation therewith, and conducting holes having first and second ends and formed in the movable bearing member. During rotation of the movable bearing member in a first direction of rotation, a high dynamic pressure is generated at central portions of the dynamic pressure generating grooves, and a valve body of the self-switch valve moves toward a lower space of a valve case of the self-switch valve to close the second ends of the conducting holes.

Abstract: A fluid bearing in which a thrust bearing is mounted at both ends of a rotary shaft to minimize movement and oscillation of the rotary shaft regardless of a thrust load. The fluid bearing apparatus includes a pair of sleeves respectively mounted into one end of a pair of bearing brackets, a rotary shaft inserted into through holes of the respective sleeves, having a second kinetic pressure generating groove on a circumferential side opposite to the inside of the respective through holes, a pair of thrust bearings mounted into the other end of the bearing brackets, and a first kinetic pressure generating groove formed between any one of the thrust bearings and a section of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle driving motor, in particular an external rotor motor, the main components of which are accommodated in the interior of a driving hub (4) or the back iron (5). According to the invention, in order to minimize the number of joints, both ball bearings (11, 12) are arranged directly, yet correctly as far as assembly is concerned, between the fixed shaft (10) and the back iron (5), a collar (15) having a larger diameter serving in particular to this end.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an optical recording and reproducing apparatus includes a deck, a spindle motor installed on the deck, a turn table attached to the shaft of the spindle motor, and a method for correcting the installation angle of the spindle motor in order to correct the tilt angle of the turn table. According to the present invention, the tilt angle of the optical axis can be easily corrected, thereby improving the performance of the apparatus.

Abstract: A disk storage drive is provided with a brushless drive motor having a stator with a winding. An external rotor housing including a permanent magnet coaxially surrounds the stator and is spaced therefrom by a substantially cylindrical air gap. A hub is provided that is concentric to the rotor housing and is connected to the rotor housing for rotation therewith. A bearing above the stator rotatably supports an upper end of the rotor housing on a stationary shaft and a bearing below the stator braces the open end of the rotor housing by a ring element having substantially the same heat expansion characteristics as the rotor housing.

Abstract: A disk storage drive is provided with a brushless drive motor having a stator (34) with a winding. An external rotor housing (32) including a permanent magnet (33) coaxially surrounds the stator and is spaced therefrom by a substantially cylindrical air gap. A hub (31) is provided that is concentric to the rotor housing (32) and is connected to the rotor housing for rotation therewith. A bearing (47) above the stator rotatably supports an upper end of the rotor housing on a stationary shaft (46) and a bearing (37) below the stator braces the open end of the rotor housing by a ring element (35) having substantially the same heat expansion characteristics as the rotor housing (32).

Abstract: The instability of a cage in a precision ball bearing at high speeds may be eliminated by controlling the position of the cage. The control of a position of a cage is accomplished by forming three ball pockets or holes in the cage for the balls of the ball bearing assembly to a dimension that will result in a tight running fit between the ball and the ball pocket. A tight running fit between the ball and the cage is found in three of the ball pockets in a ball bearing assembly while the diameter of the large ball pockets or other remaining ball pockets is enlarged to provide a clearance between the balls and the cage which is at least twice the clearance between the ball and the guide ball pocket having the tight running fit, and preferably three to five times that clearance. When properly lubricated, the tight running fit will insure stabilization and control of the cage so that the cage remains stable at high rotational speeds.

Abstract: A pickup feeding apparatus is comprised of a first rack provided on a pickup supporting member supported so as to become movable along a guide shaft, a second rack provided slidably relative to the first rack, a drive force transmitting gear for transmitting a driving force of a driving source to the first and second racks, a spring member for spring-biasing one of the first and second racks to the other along the guide shaft of the first and second racks in such a direction that gear teeth of a gear of the drive force transmitting means which are meshed with the first and second racks are gripped. A disc player is also disclosed, in which a disc drive motor and a pickup feeding motor are provided on the same chassis and the disc drive motor is located on the chassis at the position above the pickup moving locus fed by the pickup feeding device.

Abstract: An axial compact direct drive for a storage disk comprises a stator, a rotor carrying a hub for receiving storage disks and a bearing arrangement. The bearing arrangement is disposed at a radially external edge of the hub to rotatably support the hub against axial and radial movement. The rotor is electrically driven at locations in the center of the stator or at locations surrounding the stator.

Abstract: A device for eliminating the radial and axial play of a shaft having a circular ferromagnetic plate mounted thereon and which passes through a ferromagnetic stationary fitting. The device also includes a permanent magnet for establishing attractive forces within the device. A ferromagnetic arcuate part has a radius of curvature slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the circular ferromagnetic plate. The arcuate part is arranged in the proximity of the edge of the circular ferromagnetic plate whereby a first magnetic force acts between the arcuate part and the edge of the plate to eliminate the radial play and a second magnetic force acts between the shaft and the plate to eliminate the axial play.

Abstract: A disk drive device is disclosed including a supporting mechanism for supporting a plurality of magnetic disks, a single motor, and a transmitting mechanism. The supporting mechanism comprises a plurality of bearing mechanisms, each of which rotatably supports each of the magnetic disks, respectively. Each bearing mechanisms is formed as a tube, and a rotatable shaft is connected to each disk and rotatably supported in each tubular bearing mechanism. The rotatable shaft is provided with grooves which generate a pumping effect when a fluid is passed therethrough, whereby the rotatable shaft is supported in the tubular bearing mechanism without friction therebetween. The transmitting mechanism comprises an endless belt for transmitting a rotation of the motor to the supporting mechanism.

Abstract: Deck bases of conventional disk memory reproduction devices are fastened at four points by side lock pins protruding from the front and rear of the deck base and the side lock plates located opposite the side lock pins. This invention reduces the parts count and makes the deck base more compact by fixing the deck base at three points using side lock pins and side lock plates placed opposite them.

Abstract: A spindle motor having a shaft member secured to a fitting member, a rotary member which is rotatable relatively to the shaft member, a rotor magnet fitted to the rotary member in such a manner that the rotor magnet confronts the rotor magnet and a stator, wherein a pair of inner annular grooves are formed in the shaft member, a pair of outer annular grooves are formed in the rotary member and a plurality of ball members are accommodated in ball-accommodating space defined by these annular grooves.

Abstract: Apparatus for centering and clamping a disk on a spindle-drive is disclosed. A bistable magnetic clamp normally held in an axially offset position from the plane of the disk is preferentially drawn to a coupler washer on the spindle-drive when the spindle-drive and clamping device are relatively moved toward each other after the disk is inserted into the drive. To accommodate significant initial misalignment of the disk, as might typically occur with a cartridge mounted disk, in a very short throw clamping motion, a multi-frustrum centering member is used. The frustrum surface nearest the disk has a gradual slope assuring meshing of the centering member with the central aperture of the disk over a wide range of initial misalignment. Once the disk is coarsely centered, precision centering is achieved during the final clamping stage by the second frustrum surface which is at steep slope relative to the plane of the disk.

Abstract: A low-noise (low "rumble") segmented bearing for high-fidelity phonograph turntables and the like. In a preferred belt-driven form, the bearing consists of four small, spaced polyurethane pads disposed so that the tension of the belt keeps the shaft in contact with all of them. A fifth pad supports the end of the shaft. The bearing is immersed in lubricant.

Abstract: A disc drive assembly in which an air bearing supports the drive spindle in a manner centering the drive spindle to provide extremely close track spacing and a transducer assembly characterized by an air bearing therebeneath and a suction serving to draw the transducer assembly closely to the disc surface against the air bearing.

Abstract: A play-free precision drive apparatus is disclosed which comprises a rotatable drive element (2, 20) for driving a driven element (8, 21), a biasing element (12, 26) for urging the driven element (8, 21) into engagement with the drive element (2, 20), and two rotatable support elements (11, 22) abutting the drive element (2, 20) along its periphery for holding the drive element (2, 20) against the driven element (8, 21). The support elements (11, 22) are positioned such that the centers of the support elements (11, 22) and the center of the drive element (2, 20) define an angle (A.sub.1, A.sub.21) of less than 180.degree. having its apex at the center of the drive element (2, 20) and such that the centers of the support elements (11, 22) define a line (L.sub.3, L.sub.23) parallel to a tangent to the drive element (2, 20) which passes through a contact point between the drive element (2, 20) and the driven element (8, 21).

Abstract: A reading device drive mechanism for a video disk player including a chassis, a pair of guide rails mounted parallel to one another on the chassis, a slider contacting corresponding sides of the guide rails through bearings, and a retainer for restricting deviation of the bearings supported and engaged with the guide rails with a retainer being slidable in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails. The retainer has windows formed therein through which the bearings are insertable with a lower edge portions of the windows being formed with a resiliency so that the bearings can be detachably mounted in corresponding ones of the windows.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a turntable lifting apparatus of a video disc player comprises: (1) a turntable for supporting a video disc; (2) a chassis attached to said player in parallel with and under said turntable; (3) a bearing attached to said chassis for supporting a shaft of said turntable; (4) a turntable lifter slidably attached to said chassis and parallel to said chassis, which has an inclined slotted plate in its intermediate portion which engages the end portion of said turntable shaft for lifting said turntable.

Abstract: A turntable secured to a bearing member is freely rotatable about a support post. The bearing member has radial slots through which the fingers of a segmented spindle protrude. The spindle is axially slidable on the post. A spring is disposed about the post for urging the spindle upward for engagement with the record center hole as a record is placed on the turntable.

Abstract: A self-lubricating plain bearing for a shaft has a bore in which a bearing sleeve is disposed for rotatably supporting the shaft. Disposed in the bore in a portion thereof which is further inward than the sleeve is a lubricant-impregnated porous member. The clearance between the shaft and the inside surface of the member is larger than the bearing clearance between the shaft and the bearing sleeve and lubricant is drawn by capillary action from the member into the clearance and then into the bearing clearance.

Abstract: An axial compact direct drive for a storage disk comprises a stator, a rotor carrying a hub for receiving storage disks and a bearing arrangement. The bearing arrangement is disposed at a radially external edge of the hub to rotatably support the hub against axial and radial movement. The rotor is electrically driven at locations in the center of the stator or at locations surrounding the stator.