Abstract: The invention is a cleaning cartridge which includes a housing and a tube for injecting a compressed gas therethrough and into specific areas of an optical disk drive. The tube is removably connectable at one end to a compressed gas supply, and is aimed at the other end to direct gas exiting therefrom at both the objective lens, beam-directing prism or mirror, or other internal optical disk drive components when the cartridge is seated in the drive. Upon insertion of the cleaning cartridge into the optical disk drive in the usual manner for any optical disk cartridge, gas is released from the compressed gas source, through the tube, and into the optical disk drive. The use of such a cleaning cartridge provides for easy, effective cleaning of any internal optical disk drive component without the abrasion and potential inconveniences associated with mechanical brushing, wiping, or other techniques.

Abstract: A disk drive for information storage having at least one disk for recording data and a head actuator which includes a read/write head for reading and writing data to the disk. The disk drive includes an accessory member, such as a filter or spoiler, which is formed with an attaching part. A cabinet is used for housing therein the disk, head actuator, and accessory member. The cabinet is divided into a first cabinet part and a second cabinet part, such that the attaching part of the accessory member is sandwiched or interposed between the first and second cabinet parts and located in position inside the cabinet when the two cabinet parts are joined together. Thus, the accessory member can be attachably positioned to the disk drive inside the cabinet without using screws or other time-consuming and costly assembly techniques.

Abstract: An objective lens cleaning cartridge for an optical disc drive apparatus is comprised of a cartridge body, and a cleaning member freely protruding from and retractable into the cartridge body in unison with a loading operation of the cartridge body into the disc drive apparatus, the cleaning member being slidably in contact with an objective lens of an optical pickup device provided within the disc drive apparatus.

Abstract: A cleaner unit is provided for applying a liquid cleaning solution onto the surface of an information disk, such as a so-called compact laser disk or the like. The cleaner unit comprises a housing with a rotatable spindle adapted to support the information disk in a generally horizontal orientation, in combination with a circulation system having a rotatable pump impeller for spraying a jet of a cleaning solution onto the underside of the disk near the spindle. A drive motor is operated by a control circuit for initially rotating the spindle and impeller in a first direction for spraying the cleaning solution against the spinning disk, with the rotational disk movement causing the cleaning solution to spread radially outwardly as a film over the underside disk surface. The cleaning solution is thrown from the disk periphery and is captured by an outer contoured deflector shroud for recirculation to the pump impeller.

Abstract: A lens cleaner in the form of a disk provided on a compact disk (CD) player using a method for cleaning a pick-up lend of the CD player. Some brushing hair bundles have substantially the same shape as the disk and comprise a plurality of brushing hair bundles planted on a surface of the disk so as to disperse in the circumferential direction and the radial direction. Even though these hair bundles are brought into contact with the pick-up lens, the rotational capacity of the disk is not deteriorated so that the lens surface is not damaged and the lens can be effectively cleaned.

Abstract: In a dust removing system, the level of influence of dust sticking to an objective lens of an optical head is detected from either an amount of light emitted from the optical head and reflected from an optical head or from an access time. Three stages of levels with regard to the degree of influence of the dust are set in accordance with such detection value, and a different message for the removal of dust is indicated on a display unit in response to the level of the influence. When the influence is low, a dust removing mechanism is automatically rendered operative to remove the dust. At the first level at which the influence of dust is low, the optical disk in the optical disk device is discharged and cleaning of the objective lens is performed, and an indication is provided on the display unit representing that cleaning is proceeding.

Abstract: A laser lens cleaner and cleaning method for a compact-disc playing machine having a turntable-like compact-disc support, a laser-reading device with a laser lens facing the reflective playing surface of a compact disc, a motor for rotating the compact-disc support, and a control circuit for receiving instructions from a compact disc or a cleaning disc relative to rotating and stopping the compact-disc support. The cleaning disc is the same size as a compact disc for the playing machine. It has a reflective lower surface with a cleaning brush projecting out downwardly therefrom for contacting the laser lens. The cleaning disc also has digital, electrically coded data providing a portion containing instructions for the control circuit. The instructions instruct the control circuit via the laser lens what to do during rotation of the cleaning disc and to stop the cleaning disc when the laser lens has been cleaned.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for an optical disk enclosed in a disk cartridge comprises a casing for accommodating the cartridge through a cassette insertion aperture formed therein. A disk drive motor for rotating the optical disk, a loading assembly for detachably loading the cartridge on the disk drive motor, and an optical pickup device for recording data on and/or reproducing data from the optical disk are provided in the casing. Deflecting member provided for sealing the periphery of the optical pickup device against the flow of outside air introduced in the casing. A specific air-seal or door structure is provided for preventing introduction of air from the cassette insertion aperture into the casing.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a pick-up lens of a compact disc player using a front loading base in which a flywheel is fixed to the axle of the cleaning brush. The flywheel is placed in rotation by the release of a compressed spring.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning a signal pick up lens in a compact disc (CD) player, which has a size similar to the compact disc for the compact disc player and can be put on a compact disc tray of the CD player and pushed into the CD player to clean the signal pick up lens therein.

Abstract: Cleaning disk of this invention contains a circular shaped body substantially identical to those of a recording optical disk and a detachable cleaner chip having a band-like cloth inserted through the notched grooves, the cleaning disk being formed with a round through hole at the position devated from the center thereof the cleaner chip being snapped in to said round through hole of said body. The cleaning disk is mounted on an optical disk system, the optical head is cleaned by the system actuation.

Abstract: The cleaning device comprises a dummy disc having at least a hole covering an area in which a control signal is to be recorded, a flexible disc member coaxially arranged on the dummy disc and secured thereto at an inner periphery thereof and a cleaning member attached on one surface of the flexible disc facing to the dummy disc and protruding downwardly through the hole of the dummy disc. The cleaning device is set on a turn table integrally attached to a rotary shaft of the disc player and made in light-pressure contact with an optical pick-up raised so that a lens surface of the pick-up is wiped away thereby during its horizontal movement. In a case where the lens collides with the cleaning member, the cleaning member is pushed up by the lens through the hole of the dummy disc due to the flexibility of the flexible disc, so that a mechanical damage of the lens surface is prevented.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus includes a loading section in which a disk cartridge enclosing an information recording medium therein and a cleaning cartridge enclosing a cleaning member are selectively loaded. When the cleaning cartridge is loaded in the apparatus, the cleaning member contacts the objective of an optical head of the apparatus. In response to a detection signal from a sensor for detecting that the cleaning cartridge is loaded in the loading section, a drive mechanism of the apparatus moves the optical head and cleaning member relative to each other while keeping the objective and cleaning member in sliding contact.

Abstract: A method and device for cleaning the surface of an optical high density information recording carrier. The surface of the carrier is contacted with a fluffy material having a compression resiliency under a load of 200 g of at least 40% and the carrier and the fluffy material are moved relative to each other. The device for cleaning the surface of the carrier includes a support having a fluffy material secured thereto.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a pick-up lens of a compact disc player using a front loading base having a similar shape and size to the compact disc record and a cleaner brush fixed in a "lead in" position when it is put in the player body. The cleaning apparatus on the loading base is put in the player body with the cleaner brush being positioned over the pick up lens.

Abstract: A protective cover for electronical equipment such as a magnetic disk read-record unit includes a hinged cover element having sealing surfaces disposed on the edges thereof to prevent pollutants from being drawn into the electronic equipment, and also includes an actuator on the exterior of the cover which extends therethrough and cooperates with a mating element on the housing of the electronic equipment when said cover element is closed, to effect latching of the cover element in place and operation of the electronic equipment when said actuator is operated.

Abstract: A method of cleaning the record head of an image recording system of the transfer type including an electrostatic record head having a multiplicity of electrodes arranged in an array or arrays and a preliminary charging unit operative to uniformly charge a dielectric record medium to a predetermined pre-charge voltage before the record medium is to be passed to the record medium for being activated to produce electrostatic latent images thereon by selective application of control signals to the electrodes in addition to a predetermined recording bias voltage lower than the pre-charge voltage and constantly impressed on all of the electrodes throughout each page print cycle of the system. The method comprises applying a cleaning voltage to the electrodes during a period of time continuous to one of the page print cycles, the cleaning voltage being higher than the pre-charge voltage.

Abstract: An improved lapping apparatus is disclosed of the type having a disc shaped lapping surface that rotates while a part to be lapped is held in engagement therewith. The improvement includes control apparatus for controlling the speed of rotation of the lap with respect to the radial position of the part on the lapping surface so that the surface speed of the lap relative to the part is held at a constant level as the part traverses the lapping surface.

Abstract: An information generating stylus to regenerate an information signal on a stylus base on which an electrode is applied as a variance of electrostatic capacity in conjunction with a running disc recording medium in which the information signal is recorded as a variance in a geometrical shape and a manufacturing method thereof, which comprises forming a prism with a part of the side on which said electrode is provided working as one side therefor on a tip of the conical or pyramidal stylus base with the electrode formed on one side, forming a sliding face with the disc recording medium on a tip of the prism.

Abstract: A keel-tipped stylus for playback of video information from a disc record is formed on a lapping disc having a spiral signal track on the land between a spiral lapping groove. The respective pitches of the signal track and groove are different whereby the signal track and lapping groove cross each other. A playback stylus riding in the groove will detect a signal from the track to monitor the lapping process.

Abstract: The in-arm stylus cleaner includes a cleaner arm mounted for to-and-fro motion in the stylus arm carriage. To clean the stylus, the cleaner arm is retracted, the reproducing stylus is raised back up into the carriage arm, the cleaner arm is freed to allow a wiping element mounted thereon to sweep the stylus tip, and the stylus is then gently lowered onto a turntable-disposed record to resume playback operations.

Abstract: The in-arm stylus cleaner includes a cleaner arm mounted for to-and-fro motion in the stylus arm carriage. A cleaning element, comprising a piece of compliant sheet, has one edge secured to the cleaner arm such that the cleaning element extends away from the cleaner arm substantially at right angles thereto. To clean the stylus, the cleaner arm is retracted, the reproducing stylus is raised back up into the carriage arm, the cleaner arm is freed to allow a wiping element mounted thereon to sweep the stylus tip, and the stylus is then gently lowered onto a turntable-disposed record to resume playback operations.

Abstract: The stylus cleaner includes a stylus wiping pad holder mounted for motion along a path which is angularly disposed with respect to the carriage path. The location of the holder path is such that the stylus arm carriage engages the holder to drive it away from the record, against the force of a spring, as the carriage is driven toward an off-record rest position. The holder, carrying a stylus wiping pad, follows the carriage as it heads toward the record for playback. A stylus lifting/lowering apparatus located in the carriage is momentarily activated to cause engagement between the stylus with the wiping pad at points beyond the periphery of the record to effect stylus cleaning as the carriage is heading away from the off-record rest position.

Abstract: In a record playback system, which includes a carriage within which a stylus arm is mounted, it is desired to clean the stylus tip from time to time. The apparatus according to the present invention lowers and lifts the stylus so as to effect stylus-record engagement and disengagement and in addition the same apparatus cleans the stylus tip during the lowering-lifting cycle.

Abstract: The stylus arm carriage is provided with a slidably-mounted plunger. When the carriage is driven to an off-record home position, a portion of the front wall of the player engages a protruding end of the plunger to drive it in. The other end of the plunger engages a carriage-mounted stylus cleaner mechanism to lock it in place while the carriage is disposed at the home position to prevent the possibility of accidental contact between a pickup stylus and the cleaner mechanism.

Abstract: A stylus cleaner arm is pushed back to a retracted position when a record-bearing caddy is inserted into the player to load an enclosed record therein. The cleaner arm is held in the retracted position by a record retaining spine upon subsequent jacket withdrawal. The cleaner arm follows the caddy as it is withdrawn from the player after record playback. The cleaner arm engages a switch which actuates a stylus lowering device to lower a pickup stylus onto a cleaning pad disposed on the cleaner arm. The cleaning pad wipes the stylus as the cleaner arm swings back. A timing device deenergizes the stylus lowering device after a preselected time interval to lift the stylus away from the cleaning pad.

Abstract: A test disc record suitable for use in testing a capacitive playback stylus, which includes a stylus shoe which contacts a capacitive information disc record during playback and a stylus electrode which is used to recover information recorded in the capacitive information disc record by means of capacitance variations between the capacitive information disc record and the stylus electrode, wherein the test disc record includes in a major surface a continuous spiral groove which comprises an arrangement of a plurality of spiral groove turns wherein the width of a first spiral groove turn or portion thereof and signal information which can be read out by capacitance means contained in a second spiral groove turn or portion thereof which is contiguous with the first spiral groove turn or portion thereof may be used to test the width of the stylus electrode.A method and an apparatus for testing the capacitive playback stylus which employs the test disc record.

Abstract: A keel-tipped stylus for playback of video information from a disc record comprises a tapering body, a constricted terminal region and shoulders joining the tapering body to the constricted terminal region. A method for preparing a deep groove plastic replica disc for use in lapping the constricted terminal region on the tip of the playback stylus is disclosed. The method includes the step of mechanically cutting a deep groove into a metal substrate surface with a diamond cutting stylus. The diamond cutting stylus has a tip having a shape complementary to the shape of the keel groove to be formed into the metal surface. During the mechanical cutting operation, the tip of the stylus is introduced into the metal surface to a depth sufficient to cut the deep groove to the desired depth across the surface of the metal substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for sharpening a diamond cutting stylus for use in recording video signal information in a metal master includes a source of high energy particles such as an ion milling machine. The high energy source provides a beam of high energy particles having a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam that is large compared to a given area on a mounting face of the stylus which is to be bombarded by the beam during the sharpening operation. Further, the apparatus includes a masking block for masking a first portion of the cutting stylus. The masking block is positioned with respect to the high energy source to intercept the particles in the beam directed at the first portion of the cutting stylus. A second portion of the cutting stylus which includes the given area is exposed to the high energy particles such that the second portion of the cutting stylus is removed.

Abstract: Accumulated foreign material on the signal pickup stylus of a video disc player tends to degrade the quality of the recovered information signal. The recovered information signal is detected and the nominal amplitude of the recovered signal is compared against a reference amplitude. The occurrence of a decrease in recovered signal amplitude below the level of the reference causes a comparator to generate a control or trigger pulse. The control pulse activates a pulse generator to produce a predetermined pulse sequence which is applied to a stylus deflection transducer to move the stylus fore and aft radially across the disc and thereby dislodge the foreign material from the pickup stylus.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and apparatus for reconditioning a video disc signal pickup stylus electrode to prevent electrode-disc electrical shorts. An AC or DC potential is repetitively applied during a predetermined period between the stylus electrode and the disc to produce electrical breakdown at the electrode-disc interface and vaporize a portion of the electrode material. In the capacitive type video disc system, the capacitance sensing pickup circuitry is repetitively tuned to couple excessive amounts of rf potential to the stylus electrode.

Abstract: The quality of the low frequency signals recovered by a playback stylus may be improved by removing non-electrode metal deposits. A stream slurry lapper with a slurry of alumina in water can be used.

Abstract: A video disc playback system includes a circuit for detecting degradation in signals recovered from a disc and generates a control pulse responsive to the detected degradation. The degradations are of a predetermined duration and represent a predetermined percentage decrease in amplitude. A peak detecting and following circuit is connected for receiving signals recovered from the disc record. The decay rate of the peak detecting circuit is arranged to be substantially equal to a certain minimum duration of amplitude degradations that should occur before it is desired to generate the control pulse. The output signal from the detector circuit is proportioned by a divider circuit and then integrated to produce a signal which is proportional to the average of the detected signal over a relatively long period of time. The proportioned signal is applied to the reference signal terminal of a comparator circuit and the detected signal is applied to the signal input terminal of the comparator.

Abstract: A stylus cleaner arm is pushed back to a retracted position when a record-bearing caddy is inserted into the player to load an enclosed record therein. The cleaner arm is held in the retracted position by the retained spine upon subsequent jacket withdrawal. The cleaner arm follows the caddy as it is withdrawn from the player until it engages a latch plate, which arrests the cleaner arm at an intermediate position. The stylus lifter gently drops a pickup stylus on the cleaner arm occupying the intermediate position as the caddy is further withdrawn from the player. The latch plate frees the cleaner arm to swing back to a standby position thereof during still further withdrawal of the caddy, thereby passing the cleaner arm underneath the stylus to wipe it clean. The stylus is raised away from the cleaner arm when the caddy is withdrawn from the player.

Abstract: A process of forming a sound needle for the scanning of mechanical sound carriers preferably records after the needle has been secured to a holder having a diameter comparable to the maximum diameter of the needle on the surface thereof opposite the needle tip and using a carrier having an opening therethrough, comprises reducing the diameter of the holder until it is a fraction of its original diameter, inserting the holder into the opening of the carrier and applying a securing material between the surface of the needle adjacent to and radially outwardly of the holder and to the carrier in the same area so as to secure the needle to the carrier, and reducing at least the major portion of the holder after the needle is secured to the carrier so as to leave only substantially a needle secured to the carrier.