Abstract: A probe sanding fixture includes a base, a probe adapter including a probe guide defining one or more channels defined therein, and a sander tool including a sanding wheel and a gauge pin configured to process one or more probes positioned in the channels. The probe adapter is coupleable to the base such that the channels are extendable generally along a first axis. The sander tool is coupled to the base such that the sander tools is translatable along a second axis and rotatable about the first axis.

Abstract: A method of removing contamination from a magnetic recording head during contact detection, including the steps of setting a heat actuator at a first power level, dwelling at the first power level for a specified length of time, removing contamination from the head during the specified dwell time, oscillating the heat actuator from the first power level to a second level that is lower than the first level while detecting periodic contact between the head and an adjacent disk, calculating the amplitude of the detected periodic contact, and correlating the calculated amplitude to a clearance distance between the head and the disk.

Abstract: Cleaning systems for optics of optical readers to periodically clean one or more surfaces of the optics of matter that may deposit on surface(s) and that might interfere with the performance of the reader. In an example, the cleaning system is used on a chemical indicator apparatus that includes one or more chemical indicators that are read by an optical reader having an optic. During use, the chemical indicator apparatus is moved relative optic during a reading mode. A cleaning element is engaged with the chemical indicator apparatus so as to have a neutral position in which it cannot contact the optic during the reading mode. When it is desired to clean the optic, the chemical indicator apparatus is moved in a manner that causes the cleaning element to move from the neutral position to a deployed position in which it contacts the optic in a manner that cleans the optic as the apparatus continues to be moved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating a catalyst support body, which comprises: providing the catalyst support body as well as slurry located within a pan; introducing an open input end of the catalyst support body into the slurry; and, subsequently, directing an amount of the slurry though the input end and into the inside of the catalyst support body. At least a part of the circumference of the input end is covered with an impermeable sealing element while slurry is directed through the open end. In this way, contact between slurry and a circumferential outer surface of the catalyst support body is prevented and slurry is provided through the open end to an inner surface of the catalyst support body. Further, the invention relates to a loading platform for carrying out the method. The inventive assembly comprises a loading platform adapted for releasably holding a catalyst support body, and a cover mechanism having a sealing holder and a ring shaped sealing element attached to the sealing holder.

Abstract: An information recording and reproduction device comprises an optical pickup that has an objective lens and records information to a tape-form medium or reproduces information from a tape-form medium using laser light; a tape threading component that allows the tape-form medium to be arranged opposite the objective lens; a controller that detects that the tape-form medium is a cleaning tape; a movement mechanism that operates so as to bring the tape-form medium and the objective lens into contact with each other, in response to the detection by the control unit; and a first drive mechanism that plays out the tape-form medium in a state in which the tape-form medium and the objective lens are in contact with each other. The information recording and reproduction device is capable of cleaning the optical pickup even with a tape-form medium.

Abstract: A cleaning disc for a media reading device having a laser lens. The cleaning disc includes a first surface configured to face the laser lens, a brush extending outwardly from the first surface, and a recess in the first surface configured to receive at least a portion of the brush when the brush contacts the laser lens during a cleaning operation. Each brush is defined by a strand of material that includes opposite ends. A first end of the material extends through a first aperture to define a first brush and a second end extends through a second, spaced apart aperture to define a second brush. A middle portion of the strand of material extends along a second surface of the cleaning disc between the first and second apertures, and is covered by a cover.

Abstract: A protective device (1) for protecting an optical head (2) of a disc drive unit against dirt and dust and shock when the disc drive unit is not in use comprises a carrier disc (5) similar to a music CD disc for engaging in the disc receiving area of the disc drive unit. A brush member (6) located on the carrier disc (5) at a position corresponding to the inner data track (10) of a music CD disc is provided for engaging a lens (3) and a peripheral portion (7) of a lens carrier (4) of the head (2) when the head (2) is in the inactive position for protecting the lens (3) and the peripheral portion (7) against dirt and dust. Fibers (15) of the brush member (6) embrace the lens (3) when the head (2) is in the inactive position.

Abstract: A tape drive assembly (20) for the transmission of data relative to a magnetic storage tape (278) includes a tape head (260), a cartridge receiver (268) and a controller (44). The cartridge receiver (268) selectively receives a cartridge (54) having a lapping tape (478) that laps the tape head (260). The controller (44) dynamically adjusts one of (i) a tension of the lapping tape (478) relative to the tape head (260), (ii) an oscillation frequency of the tape head (260) relative to the lapping tape (478), and (iii) a lateral velocity of the lapping tape (478) relative to the tape head (260). The controller (44) can use an algorithm to adjust these conditions. The algorithm can be based on the pliability of the lapping tape (478), a curvature of the tape head (260) and/or the grit of the lapping tape (478).

Abstract: A cleaning device (1) for cleaning a lens of an optical head of an optical disc drive unit comprises a carrier disc (2) similar to a compact disc or a CD-ROM disc for inserting in a disc receiving area of the optical disc drive unit. A brush type element 97) comprising a woven base member 99) with tufted filaments (10) extending from the base member (9) is located in a receiving recess (5) in the carrier disc 92). The filaments (10) are flexible relative to the base member (9), and the tufting of the filaments in the base member (9) permits limited hinging of the filaments (10) relative to the base member (9). The depth of the base member (9) is less than the depth of the receiving recess (5), and the area of the base member 99) relative to the area of the receiving recess (5) is such as not to inhibit the flexibility of the filaments (10) relative to the base member (9).

Abstract: A method of cleaning an optical exit face of refractive element of a near field optical scanning apparatus for scanning an optical disc, the method comprising a contacting step, comprising bringing into mechanical contact the refractive element and a cleaning pad such that the optical exit face of the refractive element is non-parallel to a surface of the cleaning pad, the refractive element contacting the surface pad along a contact edge and a first cleaning step, comprising at least a relative movement of the cleaning pad relative to the refractive element at least along cleaning axis, wherein the cleaning axis is in the plane of the surface of the cleaning pad and substantially perpendicular to the contact edge. The invention also related to a near field optical scanning apparatus enabled to clean a refractive element according to the said method.

Abstract: In an optical disc apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data on an optical disc, a lens holder for holding an objective lens is dynamically moved not only in a direction perpendicular to a data recording face of an optical disc but also in a direction parallel to the data recording face and crossing substantially at right angle with data recording tracks on the data recording face when the optical disc is loaded on the optical disc apparatus so as to remove the sticking of the movement of the objective lens due to adhesion of dust, break or deformation of the components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning disk and a magneto-optical disk drive apparatus being simple in structure, adaptable to cleaning disks having various specifications, low in power consumption, low in electromagnetic noise, and preventing damage to the magnetic head and the optical head; the cleaning disk comprises a magneto-optical disk having an information layer, and a head-cleaning member, provided on the magneto-optical disk, for cleaning the magnetic head of the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus, wherein information regarding a magnetic head cleaning condition for setting the operation condition of the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus during cleaning of the magnetic head has been recorded in advance on the information layer of the magneto-optical disk. The magneto-optical disk drive apparatus reads the information regarding the magnetic head cleaning condition so as to set the operation condition properly.

Abstract: Devices and methods for using surface or acoustic waves in a recording head to prevent particles from settling down on an interfacing surface on the head.

Abstract: By not recording a signal which can be the subject of focussing on a disc, a simple and inexpensive lens cleaner is provided which is able to perform cleaning of an object lens in a simple and reliable manner, without causing the disc to rotate, even in a standard disc device. In order to clean the object lens of the optical disc device, a bristle brush which makes contact with the object lens is provided on the disc, an operating ribbon for operating the disc from the outside of the device is attached to the disc, and no recording face that can be the subject of focussing by the object lens is provided, or alternatively, no signal that can be the subject of focussing by the object lens is recorded, on the face of the disc adjacent to the object lens.

Abstract: A cleaning disc is provided to clean contaminated interior surfaces of a CD player. The cleaning disc is dimensioned to simulate a CD; however, in the first embodiment, the cleaning disc has stop tabs which prevent it from being fully loaded within a CD player. The front edge of the cleaning disc has a progressively narrowing contour, preferably semi-circular in shape, which simulates a CD. The CD player attempts to fully load the cleaning disc but fails as the stop tabs prevent further insertion. The load roller continues to spin thereby increasing the cleaning action of the load roller with the cleaning disc. The cleaning disc can be single or multiple layers, and can be composed of materials which most advantageously clean the load roller, and the other contact surfaces within the CD player including the upper and lower skid plates which also may become contaminated. In a second embodiment, the cleaning disc has the same shape and size as a CD.

Abstract: An optical pickup device is positioned in confronting relationship to an optical disc for reading an information signal from and/or writing an information signal on the optical disc. The optical pickup device includes an optical unit having at least a light source for emitting a light beam and a photodetector for detecting a light beam returned from the optical recording medium, and a converging system for converging the light beam emitted from the light source onto a signal recording surface of the optical recording medium. The optical unit includes a light guide for guiding the light beam toward the converging system and a light-transmissive optical plate covering the light guide.

Abstract: A contamination preventing device of an optical head for near field recording includes a slider being supported by a suspension in a deck and having a collective hole vertically penetrated though which a light source is transmitted; a collective lens being installed at a lower portion of the collective hole of the slider, collecting light generated from the light source and forming a spot at an upper surface of a recording medium; and a lens contaminant removing means removing a foreign substance clung to the collective lens. When the surface of the collective lens mounted at the slider is exposed to contaminant substances while performing interaction with the surface of the recording medium in the near field optical recording or reproducing, the lens surface can be easily cleansed to remove the contaminant of the surface of the lens immediately.

Abstract: A cassette library (1) is provided with a driving apparatus (13), cassette housing shelves (14, 15) and a cassette carrier (16). A library controller (2) simulates as if driving apparatuses (13) having continuous address numbers were apparently used in the host computer (3) even when physically discontinuous address numbers are allocated to the driving apparatus (13), thereby making it possible to set occupancy for a driving apparatus with an arbitrary address number. The library controller (2) has the cassette carrier (16) automatically carry, at a preset timing, a cleaning cassette from the cassette housing shelf (14, 15) to the driving apparatus (13) to clean a recording reproduction head of the driving apparatus (13) using the cleaning cassette which is then carried back to the housing section in the original cassette housing shelf (14, 15) after the cleaning work.

Abstract: An optical disk drive having a cleaning mechanism to clean the optical head by contact with a selected surface or in close proximity of a surface of the storage medium.

Abstract: A method to return an automated data storage and retrieval system from a reset state to the ready state. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein to implement Applicants' method to return the automated data storage and retrieval system to the ready state from a reset state. A method to allocate storage elements disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system while that automated data storage and retrieval system is in a reset state. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes computer readable program code disposed therein to implement Applicants' method to allocate storage elements disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system while that automated data storage and retrieval system is in a reset state. A method to adjust the system recovery period of an automated data storage and retrieval system after that system is placed in a reset state.

Abstract: An optical head device which contains a biaxial actuator having an objective lens opposing a signal recording surface of an optical disk; a slide base on which mounted is the biaxial actuator for movement in a radius direction of the optical disk; and a shutter for opening and closing an emission surface of a laser beam transmitted through the objective lens. The shutter is attached to the slide base so as to be movable, and is provided with a trigger portion operated by a chassis movably supporting the slide base to perform the opening and closing operations.

Abstract: A cleaning disk cartridge for cleaning the objective of an optical system in the transducer assembly of a DVD-RAM drive. The cartridge has a cleaning disk which is semirotatably received in a cartridge housing and which is bristled all over one major surface thereof. The cleaning disk has a clearance hole formed centrally therein for loosely receiving the drive spindle of the DVD-RAM drive. The clearance is such that the cleaning disk is left unchucked in the data transfer position, permitting the disk drive motor to run unloaded. The consequent ovespeeding of the motor enables the system controller to know that the cleaning disk cartridge, not a DVD-RAM cartridge, is loaded. The transducer is subsequently shuttled with the objective in sliding contact with the bristles of the stationary cleaning disk. The cleaning disk may be manually turned relative to the cartridge housing for use of successive different parts of its bristled surface for cleaning. An additional embodiment is disclosed.

Abstract: A contamination preventing device of an optical head for near field recording includes a slider being supported by a suspension in a deck and having a collective hole vertically penetrated though which a light source is transmitted; a collective lens being installed at a lower portion of the collective hole of the slider, collecting light generated from the light source and forming a spot at an upper surface of a recording medium; and a lens contaminant removing means removing a foreign substance clung to the collective lens. When the surface of the collective lens mounted at the slider is exposed to contaminant substances while performing interaction with the surface of the recording medium in the near field optical recording or reproducing, the lens surface can be easily cleansed to remove the contaminant of the surface of the lens immediately.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk drive a cleaning pad is reciprocated in the direction of motion along the tracks of the disk. This motion along the tracks of the disk combined with cross track motion imparted by the actuator provides particularly effective removal from debris on the surfaces of the head. Linear and rotary actuators are used with the head cleaning device. A solenoid, a voice coil motor, a swash plate or a rotary motor having a connecting rod connected to the cleaning pad move the pad in a linear motion.

Abstract: An optical disk drive having a cleaning mechanism to clean the optical head by contact with a selected surface or in close proximity of a surface of the storage medium.

Abstract: An objective lens of an optical head is cleaned with a cartridge accommodating a cleaning disk with a brush thereon. The cleaning disk is rotated in apparatus to clean the surface of objective lens provided on the optical head. Simultaneously with causing the rotation of the cleaning disk by driving a spindle motor, the lens is moved toward and away from the disk by driving a lens actuator. Additionally, simultaneous reciprocation of a carriage carrying the optical head toward alternate inner and outer disk peripheries may be caused. Further, the operation of reciprocating the objective lens toward the inner and outer disk peripheries and the operation of moving the lens toward and away from the cleaning disk with the lens actuator may be performed in combination.

Abstract: An optical disk drive having a cleaning mechanism to clean the optical head by contact with a selected surface or in close proximity of a surface of the storage medium.

Abstract: In a conventional lens cleaner for a disk unit, dust is removed by bringing planted brushing hair bundles or projections into contact with a lens, and thus a large quantity of planted brushing hair bundles or projections may impede insertion and removal of the disc from the disc unit, or may cause flaws on the lens. A lens cleaner for a disc unit in the present device comprises a cleaning disc in the identical configuration with the disc and at least a through hole, wherein dust is removed by applying the air flow generated through the through hole during the rotation of the disc onto the lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning method which utilizes a cleaning disk to clean a compact disk drive. The compact disk drive comprises a compact disk holder for holding a compact disk, a motor for spinning the compact disk holder, an optical module having an optical lens, a lens driver for driving the optical lens up and down to focus the optical lens on the compact disk, and a radial driver for moving the optical module horizontally. The cleaning disk comprises a cleaning means installed on the cleaning surface of the cleaning disk for cleaning the optical lens. The cleaning method comprises: (1) using the radial driver to drive the optical module to a test region on the cleaning surface and using the lens driver to focus the optical lens on the test region; and (2) using the motor to spin the disk and using the radial driver and lens driver to move the optical lens to interact with the cleaning means so as to clean the optical lens.

Abstract: A cleaning device (1) for cleaning a lens (2) of a laser head (3) of a compact disc player comprises a carrier disc (5) which is substantially similar to a standard compact disc. Cleaning brushes (14) and (15) are located on the carrier disc (5) on a face (6) thereof which, in use, faces the laser head (3) for cleaning the lens (2) as the carrier disc (5) rotates in the compact disc receiving location of the compact disc player. A non-reflective band (25) is printed on and extends around the outer periphery (12) of the carrier disc (5) for returning the laser head (3) from the outer periphery (12) of the carrier disc (5) to an inner periphery (11), so that as the laser head (3) cycles between the inner and outer peripheries (11) and (12) across the brushes (14) and (15), the brushes (14) and (15) engage the lens (2) in two different relative directions for cleaning thereof.

Abstract: An optical disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a carrier mechanism, an optical pickup apparatus, a shutter and a moving mechanism. The carrier mechanism carries a disc inside and outside the apparatus. The optical pickup apparatus radiates beams on a disc carried by the carrier mechanism. The optical pickup apparatus is provided with an objective lens. The shutter exposes or closes the upper surface of the objective lens. The shutter is provided to the optical pickup apparatus so that the shutter can be moved between a first position for exposing the upper surface of the objective lens and a second position for closing the upper surface of the objective lens. The moving mechanism moves the shutter between the first position and the second position according to recording and/or reproducing operation.

Abstract: An optical pickup lens cleaning device for a double-sided disk player for recording desired signals on each side of the double-sided disk or reproducing the desired signals therefrom. The cleaning device includes an optical pickup assembly having first and second lateral rack gears, and a semi-circular rack gear connected to the corresponding ends of the first and second rack gears. The first and second rack gears are spaced at a predetermined distance so that the disk can be disposed therebetween and are disposed on a frame together with the semi-circular rack gear in a continuous manner. The optical pickup assembly is movable along the rack gears so as to be moveable from one side of the disk to the opposite side thereof. A lens cleaning mechanism is disposed at a center of an arc of the semi-circular rack for cleaning a lens to be mounted on a base of the optical pickup assembly when the assembly is moved from the one side of the disk to the opposite side.

Abstract: A cleaning disc cartridge capable of concurrently cleaning both a magnetic head of a magneto-optical disc apparatus and an optical lens thereof without causing any error in reading of a signal. A rotating disc is provided on one surface thereof opposite to a magnetic head of the apparatus with a head cleaning member and on the other surface thereof opposite to an objective lens of the apparatus with lens cleaning members. The rotating disc includes a disc body which is provided with an inventory region defined on an inner peripheral side of a lens cleaning member arrangement region, a reproduction-only region defined on an outer peripheral side of the lens cleaning member arrangement region, and an information recording and reproducing region outside the reproduction-only region.

Abstract: A lens-cleaning disc capable of efficiently removing dirt or dust on pickup lenses, equipped with a brush body comprising bristles fastened into the brush base, at a position facing the pickup lens when the disc is used, wherein the surface of the brush base may be constructed as an adhesive surface or the brush body may be placed at an angle with respect to a radial direction of the disc so that its inner end is located further forward than its outer end in the direction of rotation at all times during rotation of the disc.

Abstract: An optical disk library apparatus equipped with a function of automatically cleaning an optical head in a drive unit. This optical disk library apparatus comprises a cartridge entry/eject mechanism for entering an optical disk cartridge into the library apparatus and ejecting the optical disk cartridge from the library apparatus. Also included is a cell unit having a plurality of cells each for holding the optical disk cartridge therein, a drive unit having an optical head to record data on and/or to reproduce the same from the optical disk cartridge, and outputting a head cleaning request signal on the basis of information relative to soil of the optical head, and an accessor for carrying the optical disk cartridge among the cartridge entry/eject mechanism, the cell unit and the drive unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading information by projecting a light beam from an optical head onto an optical disk rotated by a spindle motor. The rotation time of the spindle motor is measured, and upon reaching a predetermined time, a cleaning request signal is sent to an upper order system. The rotation time of the spindle motor is counted by counting pulses generated with the rotation with a first counter stored in the RAM. Upon reaching a predetermined value by the count of the first counter, a second counter stored in a non-volatile memory is updated. Upon reaching a predetermined value by the second counter, a cleaning request is sent to the upper order system for display on a CRT, and a cleaning request flag in a non-volatile memory is set. When the end of cleaning of the apparatus is recognized, the cleaning request flag in the non-volatile memory is cleared.

Abstract: A disk apparatus wherein a cleaning member and a shutter for cleaning and covering an optical head are actuated by the motor used to drive a head positioning member (such as a screw shaft). During a reading operation, a screw shaft is rotated by a motor in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, and a carriage meshed with the screw shaft is driven to move an optical head over a disk. When the reading operation is stopped, the optical head is moved by the screw shaft to a retracted position. After the optical head is fully retracted, the screw shaft is further rotated by the motor and the screw shaft is then moved along its axis relative to the optical head. As the screw shaft moves, it pushes against a drive member, which in turn causes a support member to rotate so that the optical head is cleaned by a cleaning member provided on the support member, and is covered by a shutter, which is also formed on the support member.

Abstract: A lens cleaner capable of being adapted compatibly to all optical type disk players like CD player or CD-Rom drive. The disk of the lens cleaner has an introductory recording area for recording some computer program data on the inner part of a program area. A large gap area and a sound/program recording area are provided continuously to the introductory recording area. The width of the gap area is determined by changing the TOC data in the lead area. Brushing hair bundles are planted on the gap area, in which all detected signals are ignored by the player to complete the cleaning operation.

Abstract: A tool for cleaning a laser lens of an optical disc drive unit. The tool includes a rigid, round member which is constructed and arranged for insertion into the receiving area of an optical disc drive unit. The member has a central aperture that allows clearance for the drive spindle of the optical disc drive unit, permitting the drive spindle to rotate freely after the optical disc drive unit has been activated. A cleaning pad is attached to the bottom surface of the member. Risers extending from the member seat on the sliding tray of a disc drive unit, ensuring that the cleaning pad contacts the lens at its upper most path of travel.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a read/write head of a data storage disk. The cleaning apparatus comprises a mounting base mounted adjacent to the disk. The base includes a rachet mechanism for rotating a cleaning pad. The ratchet mechanism is activated by an actuator arm for positioning the read/write head as the arm moves the read/write head across a cleaning surface of the pad. A loading ramp is used to vertically position the head relative to the cleaning pad, The ratchet mechanism can be used with either a rotary or linear actuator. The cleaning pad can have a brush with bristles, or a foamed backed cloth. The cleaning pad is particularly suited for read/write heads having a grooved air-bearing surface likely to collect dust.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading at least information by projecting a light beam from an optical head onto an optical disk rotated by a spindle motor. The rotation time of the spindle motor is measured, and upon reaching of a predetermined time, a cleaning request signal is sent to an upper order system. The rotation time of the spindle motor is counted by counting pulses generated with the rotation with a first counter stored in the RAM. Upon reaching of a predetermined value by the count of the first counter, a second counter stored in a non-volatile memory is updated. Upon reaching of a predetermined value by the second counter, a cleaning request is sent to the upper order system for display on a CRT, and a cleaning request flag in a non-volatile memory is set. When the end of cleaning of the apparatus is recognized, the cleaning request flag in the non-volatile memory is cleared.

Abstract: An optical head cleaning cartridge is adapted for use in an optical disk unit which includes an optical head located at a predetermined position in a specific operation mode of the optical disk unit and which uses the optical head to record information signals on and/or reproduce information signals from an optical disk which is accommodated within a standard type optical disk cartridge which is in conformance with a predetermined standard when loaded with the standard type optical disk cartridge.

Abstract: An optical head cleaning cartridge is adapted for use in an optical disk unit which includes an optical head located at a predetermined position in a specific operation mode of the optical disk unit and which uses the optical head to record information signals on and/or reproduce information signals from an optical disk which is accommodated within a standard type optical disk cartridge which is in conformance with a predetermined standard when loaded with the standard type optical disk cartridge. The optical head cleaning cartridge includes a case having a size and a shape which are approximately the same as those of the standard type optical disk cartridge, a cleaning element provided at a position of the case to confront the optical head when the optical head cleaning cartridge is loaded into the optical disk unit in the specific operation mode, and a manipulation part coupled to the cleaning element and located at a position of the case to allow manipulation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning components internal to an optical recording system without requiring the optical recording system to be disassembled. The apparatus is comprised of inlets through which pressurized gas is fed. The pressurized gas is directed through channels within the apparatus to various outlets. The pressurized gas is then expelled from these outlets. When the apparatus is inserted in the optical recording system, the outlets are located next to components sensitive to particle contamination. Thus, the expelled gas removes the particle contaminants from the surfaces of the components, thereby enhancing operation of the optical recording system.

Abstract: A cleaning cartridge for use with an optical recording apparatus cleans from outside of the apparatus, an object lens of an optical disc recording apparatus or the like having a separation type optical system and glass covers for covering projection windows through which lasers are projected. A brush (28)for use on an object lens and a brush (26) for cleaning the glass covers (18)can be moved from outside. In order to effect operation of the cleaner, the transfer base (movable portion including the object lens of the head) is adapted to be transferred by the magnet, the inclined face or a transfer means within the apparatus.

Abstract: An optical disc system includes a motorized rack assembly for indexing an optical element in a optical disc system across an optical disc enabling the optical element to read information from the optical disc. A controller controls the motorized rack assembly to index the optical element to a cleaning position exterior of an outer perimeter of the optical disc. A brush is located exterior of the outer perimeter of the optical disc for removing debris from the optical element and the controller controls the motorized rack assembly to bring the optical element in contact with the brush to affect removal of accumulated debris from the optical element.

Abstract: The invention is an optical system cleaner for an optical disk drive in which a cleaning member is attached directly to a shutter or a member corresponding to the shutter to eliminate the need for a mechanism for linking the cleaning member with the shutter. An optical disk drive according to the present invention includes an actuator for projecting an optical beam through an optical system and to a desired position on an optical disk loaded at a reproduction position. The optical disk drive also includes a shutter opening means for opening the shutter of a cassette with a built-in optical disk. The body of the optical system cleaner has a substantially similar shape to said cassette and a moving member attached to the body of said optical system cleaner so as to move freely and driven by said shutter opening means. A cleaning member is attached to said moving member for sweeping out said optical system by merely taking the body of said optical system cleaner in or out of said optical disk drive.

Abstract: An optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a recording and/or scanning device fitted with a lens. A current of air which blows away dust that would otherwise impair the quality of reproduction can be directed over the lens by ribs on the underside of a turntable.

Abstract: A disk storage device, such as a magnetic disk storage device, for reading data from and writing data to a magnetic data storage disk includes a spindle onto a base for rotating the magnetic storage disk and a read/write head for reading data from and writing data to the magnetic storage disk. The read/write head is supported on a carriage which is movably mounted on the base for radially moving with respect to the spindle. A support plate is mounted on the carriage for retractably supporting the read/write head. An actuator mechanism actuates the support plate to move the read/write head between a nonretractable, operative position and a retracted, inoperative position. When the disk is not accessed by the read/write head, the read/write head is held in the retracted, inoperative position. Therefore, when the disk is replaced with another disk, the read/write head is prevented from being damaged or smeared with dust or dirt by contact with the disk.

Abstract: A sealing structure is provided for sealing the optical recording medium and at least a part of an access mechanism against an outside of the apparatus when the disk cartridge is mounted at a predetermined position within the apparatus.