Edge Loading Patents (Class 720/620)
  • Patent number: 9305588
    Abstract: In a disk device, as a switching slider which is disposed on a drive base moves in a first direction, a roller bracket moves in a second direction and a transport roller moves toward a facing member. Then, a roller bracket serves as a restriction member and the drive base is restricted in a housing. Before the drive base is restricted, a regulation member which is provided on the switching slider abuts a regulation projection of the housing so as to regulate inadvertent upward movement of the drive base. Accordingly, a disk during an unloading operation can be guided to an insertion/ejection port in a reliable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawase
  • Patent number: 9082446
    Abstract: Provided are an optical disc drive and method for driving the optical disc drive. The method includes transporting a disc to a chucking position where a spindle is positioned using a loading roller, blocking power transferred from a loading motor to the loading roller, and chucking the disc on the spindle using power from the loading motor. Accordingly, damages to the disc caused by chucking may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventors: Un-Jin Choi, Joung-sug Ko, Sang-yun Baek, Cheol-woong Ahn
  • Patent number: 8745646
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotation section to engage with a disk in a housing and rotate the disk around an axis of the disk; an information reading/recording section to carry out reading and/or recording from/to the disk; a holding member to hold the rotation section and/or the information reading/recording section; and a moving section to move the holding member in a direction that the holding member moves toward the disk and/or that the holding member moves away from the disk. The moving section includes a first cam member surrounding at least part of the holding member for arcuate movement along the holding member around an axis. The holding member and/or the first cam member has a grooved portion inclined with respect to a direction along the axis of the arcuate movement while the other has a first engaging portion for engaging with the grooved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Isao Okuyama, Aki Yoguchi, Takeshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8683499
    Abstract: A disc loading apparatus is provided. The disc loading apparatus includes a frame base, a spindle motor installed in the frame base, a disc guide wall disposed at one side of the frame base and configured to guide a loading of a disc, a disc loading structure disposed in front of another side of the frame base and disposed parallel to a direction in which the disc enters to load the disc on the spindle motor, a rotational disc centering lever disposed adjacent to the guide wall to center the disc with respect to the spindle motor, and an ejecting lever disposed at a rear side of the frame base and configured to unload the disc loaded on the spindle motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventors: Joung-sug Ko, Sang-yun Baek, Un-jin Choi, Cheol-woong Ahn
  • Patent number: 8572636
    Abstract: A disk loading apparatus (disk apparatus) includes: a pair of front arms that are disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to a virtual straight line extending along a loading direction of a disk and passing a substantially central position of an insertion opening of an apparatus main body and are pivotally supported at one end thereof in the proximity of the opposite ends of the insertion opening such that the other ends thereof are spaced away from each other to load the disk; and a pair of link arms that are disposed substantially symmetrically around the virtual straight line and crossing with each other to synchronize the pivotal motions of the arms. The link arms have a restricting portion for abutting with the disk loaded to the loaded position to restrict the movement of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Isao Okuyama, Aki Yoguchi, Takeshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8483020
    Abstract: A path mechanism and an information processing device having the path mechanism can guide disc media to a predetermined position without the data recording area of the disc being affected. The path mechanism has a stacker tray 101 that forms a guide path 130 through which media M having an annular data recording area can move by sliding. The stacker tray 101 has a pair of guide surfaces 125c and 126c that support an outside circumference part of the media M slidably in the direction of media M travel. The guide surfaces 125c and 126c are formed to a width W that is less than the width A of the non-data-recording area Y rendered on the outside circumference side of the annular data recording area on the data recording surface of the media M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nishioka, Koji Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20130007780
    Abstract: A disc loading apparatus is provided. The disc loading apparatus includes a frame base, a spindle motor installed in the frame base, a disc guide wall disposed at one side of the frame base and configured to guide a loading of a disc, a disc loading structure disposed in front of another side of the frame base and disposed parallel to a direction in which the disc enters to load the disc on the spindle motor, a rotational disc centering lever disposed adjacent to the guide wall to center the disc with respect to the spindle motor, and an ejecting lever disposed at a rear side of the frame base and configured to unload the disc loaded on the spindle motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Joung-sug Ko, Sang-yun Baek, Un-jin Choi, Cheol-woong Ahn
  • Patent number: 8341654
    Abstract: A control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an failure recovery operation to repeat the insertion operation and the ejection operation alternately for a predetermined amount at a first point of time when the below fact is found, if it is found that there is an error in insertion operation or ejection operation of a slot control mechanism. Afterwards, the control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an restoration operation for a predetermined amount after a second point of time when the below fact is found, if it is found that the slot control mechanism has returned to normal, thereby making the slot control mechanism return to the state at the first point of time. Then, the control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute the insertion operation or the ejection operation again. With this arrangement, it is possible to ensure reliable insertion operation or ejection operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
    Inventor: Shinichi Nakata
  • Patent number: 8281328
    Abstract: An optical disc mounting mechanism, comprising, a front sweeper (32) for catching an optical disc from a front slot (12) and bringing said disc into a drive module followed by pushing an optical disc out of the front slot; a rear sweeper (34) for pushing the disc out of a rear slot (16) or catching the disc from the rear slot; one or more front sensors for sensing the insertion of an optical disc; a center sensor for sensing the present of the disc in a drive module; one or more rear sensors for sensing the moving direction of the disc; a drive head for reading or writing the disc; a controlling mechanism for mounting or unmounting an optical disc to said drive head (92). The said disc mounting mechanism has good adaptability and simple structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Digistore Solutions Holding Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Kok Kin Foo, Chieng Hsiung Soo
  • Patent number: 8234665
    Abstract: To provide a “disk device” that does not waste a power during waiting for disk insertion and thus can save power consumption. The disk device includes: a casing equipped with an insertion port to which a disk is inserted; a conveying mechanism for conveying a disk, which is provided inside the insertion port; a switching type detecting switch that is switched to a detection state in accordance with a movement force of a disk inserted from the insertion port in an insertion direction; and an optical detecting member that is switched to a detection state when a disk inserted from the insertion port blocks an optical path, wherein when the detecting switch is switched to a detection state, power supply to the optical detecting member is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazunari Kato
  • Patent number: 8205221
    Abstract: A slot-in type disk apparatus in which a base body and a lid constitute a chassis sheath, a disk-insertion opening is formed in a front surface of the chassis sheath, a traverse base is disposed on a front surface side of the base body, a rear base is disposed on a rear surface side of the base body, a printed board is provided between the rear base and the base body, and a link arm is disposed between the rear base and the printed board, wherein an opening is formed in a portion of the rear base, a folded piece which is folded toward the opening is formed on a portion of the link arm, a space is formed on the side of the printed board by the folded piece, and a part to be mounted on the printed board is disposed such as to correspond to the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kengo Masaoka
  • Publication number: 20120124600
    Abstract: A disk loading apparatus (disk apparatus) includes: a pair of front arms that are disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to a virtual straight line extending along a loading direction of a disk and passing a substantially central position of an insertion opening of an apparatus main body and are pivotally supported at one end thereof in the proximity of the opposite ends of the insertion opening such that the other ends thereof are spaced away from each other to load the disk; and a pair of link arms that are disposed substantially symmetrically around the virtual straight line and crossing with each other to synchronize the pivotal motions of the arms. The link arms have a restricting portion for abutting with the disk loaded to the loaded position to restrict the movement of the disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Isao Okuyama, Aki Yoguchi, Takeshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8176505
    Abstract: A device and method for simultaneously manipulating multiple data storage cartridges or other storage elements in a storage library. The device housing includes an opening for receiving data storage cartridges. A gripping mechanism extends from the opening. The gripping mechanism is adapted to grip a data storage cartridge to be retrieved and to urge the data storage cartridge into the opening. One or more transport mechanisms are attached to one or more inner walls of the housing. The transport mechanisms are adapted such that once a data storage cartridge moves into the opening, the transport mechanisms will urge the data storage cartridge further into the opening until the data storage cartridge is held within the housing. The data storage cartridge can be moved further into the housing such that the gripping mechanism is free to collect additional cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger H. Grow
  • Patent number: 8171505
    Abstract: To provide a disc drive device which does not spend a lot of money on components and requires the less number of components than the conventional technology and has a function to correctly dispose an inserted disc by a slot-in method at a place where the disc can be driven according to the size of the disc. The disc drive device comprises an abutment pad which receives the inserted disc in a different posture depending on the size of the disc, a coupling member which rotationally transfers by a different distance at a different position according to the posture of the abutment pad when it rotationally transfers along with the bring-in operation of the disc, and a spring which applies a predetermined energizing force to the coupling member. Due to the coupled operation of these components, etc., the inserted disc can be correctly disposed at a predetermined place where the disc can be driven according to the size of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanobu Katsuki
  • Patent number: 8156511
    Abstract: A shutter member is provided so as to be capable of moving in association with a roller bracket. The shutter member rotates by a predetermined range in association with the rotation of the roller bracket, and then a projection of the shutter member is pressed in a Y1 direction by a shutter pressing portion provided on the right side slider. Accordingly, the shutter member is rotated clockwise, and an opening and closing panel portion of the shutter member closes an insertion port from the inside thereof. Therefore, the insertion port is closed reliably by the shutter member, so that insertion of another disc from the insertion port into the interior of the apparatus while the disc is rotating is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazunari Kato
  • Patent number: 8146112
    Abstract: An optical disk transport device for an optical disk playing device includes a delivery roll and an optical disk guiding device located at the optical disk insertion inlet, a pair of detection bars provided with detection parts contacting the periphery of the optical disk inserted from the optical disk insertion inlet, and the detection bars being capable of freely rotating around respective rotary pivots. The device further includes a linkage plate for controlling the pair of detection bars to move together, an elastic part making the detection bars rotate according to the direction that makes the detection parts contact the periphery of the optical disk, and an optical disk baffle for stopping the transport of the small diameter optical disk as the center of the small diameter optical disk passes the center of the plummer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Valley Wood Electrical (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung Ta Chen
  • Patent number: 8141109
    Abstract: A disc drive apparatus includes: an outer casing; a disc drive unit that includes a disc table on which a disc-like recording medium is mounted, a spindle motor, an optical pickup, and a pickup base; a slider that includes a main body and a rack gear, is movable in a first direction as an insertion direction and a second direction as an ejection direction, and moves in the second direction during loading and moved in the first direction during ejection; a drive motor functioning as a drive source of the slider; a deceleration gear group that intermeshes with the rack gear; an eject lever that is rotated to press the recording medium during the ejection; and a link member coupled with the eject lever, the slider including a lock plate and a slide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Optiarc Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Negoro, Keiji Jitsukawa, Mitsuru Iba, Shunsuke Nirei, Tomoyasu Takaoka
  • Publication number: 20120036520
    Abstract: A slot-in optical disc drive is provided to comprise a driving element moveably disposed in the optical disc and capable of moving toward a disc loading direction and a disc unloading direction, wherein the driving element has a loading drive groove; a disc loading element pivoted in the optical disc drive, wherein the disc loading element has a loading driven pin for operating with the loading drive groove; a disc unloading element pivoted in the optical disc drive; and an elastic element used for providing an elastic force on the disc unloading element. When the driving element moves toward the disc unloading direction, the loading driven pin relatively moves in the loading drive groove and drives the disc loading element to rotate and push a disc into the optical disc drive. When the driving element moves toward the disc loading direction, the elastic force provided from the elastic element drives the disc unloading element to rotate and push the disc out of the optical disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: PHILIPS & LITE-ON DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Hsiang Wang, Yung-Han Wu
  • Patent number: 8099742
    Abstract: An optical disk loading final position detection device includes an optical disk guiding device, a delivery roll, a pair of detection bars provided with detection parts capable of freely rotating around respective rotary pivots, a support part, the middle of the support part being provided with an assorted part interacting with the detection bar, and a trigger bar. One end of the trigger bar is provided with a contact part for contacting the periphery of an optical disk, and the other end being connected to a control part. When the detection bars are rotating, the support part makes the trigger bar move towards the direction directly facing the central line, so, the trigger bar will not extrude out of the maximum outer diameter of the optical disk along the optical disk transport direction, so as to implement miniaturizing the optical disk playing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Yung Ta Chen
  • Patent number: 8095943
    Abstract: A slot-in optical disk drive includes a holding mechanism, a main body and a sliding module. The holding mechanism includes a disk slotting opening, two sliding rails and two slope rails. The main body and the sliding module are held by the holding mechanism. The main body includes a shelf, a disk reading unit and a main spindle motor. The sliding module includes a sliding base, two clamp sheets and a driving unit, each clamp sheet having a pivot end, a free end opposite to the pivot end and a sliding block. If the sliding block is at the sliding rail, the free end of the clamp sheet and the sliding base are closed up; and if the sliding block is at the slope rail, the free end of the clamp sheet and the sliding base are opened up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Teng
  • Patent number: 8082557
    Abstract: To eject an optical disk forcibly from a disk device by a manual operation, an operation pin is inserted into an emergency hole of a front bezel. Then, the operation pin causes first and second ejection levers to move rearward to push a first transmission gear down to a disengaged position. When the first transmission gear is pushed down to the disengaged position, a loading slider begins to move forward according to a biasing force of a coil spring, feeding the disk outward. After moving a distance forward, the loading slider is stopped against a receiving portion of a first ejection lever, thereby to stop the disk at a half-eject position where the disk slightly protrudes from the bezel. Thereafter, when the operation pin is pulled out, the loading slider moves forward along with the pull-out movement of the operation pin, and the disk is fed out to a full-eject position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8069454
    Abstract: The invention provides an emergency ejection device for a slot-in disk drive, which rotates a worm gear by a motor. A central hole of a rotating component is fixed on a housing. A sliding slot is formed on an end of the rotating component, and a buckling slot is formed on an end of the sliding slot. A first gear of a gear set fixed on the central hole of the rotating component is engaged with the worm gear. A clutching gear fixed on the other end of the rotating component is engaged with the first gear. An end of a locking component inserts inside the sliding slot, and an inclined surface protrudes from the other end of the locking component. A spring provides an elastic force for holding the sliding column inside the buckling slot so as to keep engagement of the clutching gear with a second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Quanta Storage Inc.
    Inventors: Yao-Ting Kuo, Jen-Chen Wu
  • Publication number: 20110283300
    Abstract: There is provided a disk device having a buffer portion capable of relatively moving at least a rack at the beginning of meshing with a drive gear in an opposite direction to a moving direction of a slide cam member moved by conveyance of a disk, when the disk is conveyed to a replayable position by a disk conveyance mechanism and the slide cam member moves so that the drive gear and the rack are meshed with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Takuto YAMAZAKI, Yukio Morioka, Norikatsu Yoshida, Yuji Ariyoshi, Shinichi Maeda, Hitoshi Higaki, Tatsuro Nishi
  • Patent number: 8060896
    Abstract: A method and device for protecting slot-in optical disc drive are provided. A first sensing switch is for detecting the action of an unloading unit, a second sensing switch is for detecting the action of a receiving unit, and a third sensing switch is for detecting the action of a positioning bar. A disc is inserted as the optical disc drive is at the initial state, and the states of the first, second and third sensing switches are detected. The transmission unit is activated to automatically load the disc as all sensing switches are turned on, and whether the state of the third sensing switch changes is checked. When the state of the third sensing switch changes, the extraction of the disc is detected, so the transmission unit is immediately reversed to execute the unloading of the disc, so as to protect the optical disc drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Quanta Storage Inc.
    Inventor: Jen-Chen Wu
  • Patent number: 8056094
    Abstract: An optical disc drive including an outer casing, a supporting base, a main shaft motor and a position-limiting element is provided. The outer casing has an optical disc entry. The supporting base is disposed in the outer casing. The main shaft motor is disposed on the supporting base. The position-limiting element has a first pivot portion, a position-limiting part and a second pivot portion located between the first pivot portion and the position-limiting part. The first pivot portion is connected to the supporting base, and the position-limiting element is able to be swung about the second pivot serving as a fulcrum. When the supporting base is located at an upper position, the position-limiting part is located at a first position, and when the supporting base is located at a lower position, the position-limiting part is located at a second position, wherein the first position is under the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Lite-On Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Hsiang Wang, Chien-Wei Huang, Sheng-Hsiung Chou, Wei-Min Tsao
  • Publication number: 20110247019
    Abstract: A method and system controls an optical disk driver (ODD) of a computer. The method detects whether an eject button connected with an I/O (input/output) chip of the computer has been pressed, and determines if an optical disk exists in the ODD when the eject button has been pressed. Additionally, the method sends a control signal to the ODD, and control the ODD to eject the optical disk when the optical disk exists in the ODD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: GUANG-JIAN WANG, SAN-YI SHU, WEN-WU WU, XIAO-MEI LIU
  • Publication number: 20110214134
    Abstract: A control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an failure recovery operation to repeat the insertion operation and the ejection operation alternately for a predetermined amount at a first point of time when the below fact is found, if it is found that there is an error in insertion operation or ejection operation of a slot control mechanism. Afterwards, the control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an restoration operation for a predetermined amount after a second point of time when the below fact is found, if it is found that the slot control mechanism has returned to normal, thereby making the slot control mechanism return to the state at the first point of time. Then, the control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute the insertion operation or the ejection operation again. With this arrangement, it is possible to ensure reliable insertion operation or ejection operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Shinichi NAKATA
  • Patent number: 8001557
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot-in type disk apparatus in which a moving position of a disk is precisely guided when the disk is inserted or discharged, thereby preventing the disk from coming into contact with an objective lens and further reducing the thickness of the disk apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Miyata, Shinichi Wada
  • Patent number: 7937718
    Abstract: A disc device has a plurality of arms configured to support the outer rim of a disc carryable. Automatic loading is applied such that the disc inserted can be carried in the device, and the disc housed inside the device can be carried out of the device. A pair of shutter pieces are located on the central portion of a slot in a front bezel to be used to insert the disc therethrough and are spaced at a certain interval. The shutter piece rotates about one end thereof to raise/tumble the other end thereof. The tumbled shutter piece changes to the raised state after the disc is housed in the device while the shutter piece changes to the tumbled state before the disc housed inside the device is carried out of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujisawa, Kazuo Yokota
  • Publication number: 20110088049
    Abstract: A slot-in optical disk drive with lifting ejection device is disclosed. A sliding device which has a first guiding slot and a second guiding slot is driven by a transmission unit. A sliding bolt protruded from a traverse is inserted into the first guiding slot, and the traverse connects with the sliding device. A lifting ejection device has a column vertically set in a housing and a sleeve which covers the column. A guiding pin protruded from the sleeve is inserted into the second guiding slot and is driven by the sliding device to disengage an optical disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: QUANTA STORAGE INC.
    Inventors: Ko-Han Huang, Jen-Chen Wu
  • Publication number: 20110061067
    Abstract: A disc drive apparatus includes: an outer casing; a disc drive unit that includes a disc table on which a disc-like recording medium is mounted, a spindle motor, an optical pickup, and a pickup base; a slider that includes a main body and a rack gear, is movable in a first direction as an insertion direction and a second direction as an ejection direction, and moves in the second direction during loading and moved in the first direction during ejection; a drive motor functioning as a drive source of the slider; a deceleration gear group that intermeshes with the rack gear; an eject lever that is rotated to press the recording medium during the ejection; and a link member coupled with the eject lever, the slider including a lock plate and a slide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicants: Sony Corporation, Sony Optiarc Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Negoro, Keiji Jitsukawa, Mitsuru Iba, Shunsuke Nirei, Tomoyasu Takaoka
  • Publication number: 20110035762
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical disc drive including a pickup head for reading data from a disc; a spindle motor for supporting and rotating the disc; a loading/ejecting apparatus for loading or ejecting the disc; and an emergency ejecting apparatus. The emergency ejecting apparatus includes a slider for connecting the loading/ejecting apparatus, a rack, an elastic component for connecting the slider and the rack and a rotator rotated with the movement of the slider. When a user drives the rotator and the elastic component is elastically deformed, the slider is moved in the optical disc drive to drive the loading/ejecting apparatus to eject the disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: LITE-ON IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fu-Jen Yang, Chun-Hung Chen, Ming-Chao Li, Li-Feng Chen
  • Publication number: 20110029993
    Abstract: To eject an optical disk forcibly from a disk device by a manual operation, an operation pin is inserted into an emergency hole of a front bezel. Then, the operation pin causes first and second ejection levers to move rearward to push a first transmission gear down to a disengaged position. When the first transmission gear is pushed down to the disengaged position, a loading slider begins to move forward according to a biasing force of a coil spring, feeding the disk outward. After moving a distance forward, the loading slider is stopped against a receiving portion of a first ejection lever, thereby to stop the disk at a half-eject position where the disk slightly protrudes from the bezel. Thereafter, when the operation pin is pulled out, the loading slider moves forward along with the pull-out movement of the operation pin, and the disk is fed out to a full-eject position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: TEAC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20110010729
    Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a cassette mechanism and a protective structure. The protective structure includes a protective member. The protective member includes a protective portion with a passage that can deform to increase the width of the passage when an optical disk enters the passage, and returning to the original width of the passage when the optical disk has passed through the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhi-Hua LIU
  • Publication number: 20110010730
    Abstract: A disc apparatus includes: a housing; a recording/reproducing unit provided in the housing for recording and/or reproducing information in and/or from a disc-shaped recording medium; an insertion/ejection port provided on the housing through which the disc-shaped recording medium is inserted and ejected, the insertion/ejection port having a width greater than the diameter of the disc-shaped recording medium; a disc transport mechanism provided in the housing to transport the disc-shaped recording medium between the insertion/ejection port and the recording/reproducing unit; and an identification mechanism to identify the disc-shaped recording medium as a first disc-shaped recording medium having a first diameter or a second disc-shaped recording medium having a diameter smaller than the first diameter The identification mechanism includes a pair of levers, a pair of gear members, urging means, a stopper, first detection means, and control means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Harada, Naoki Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20100313211
    Abstract: To provide a disc drive device which does not spend a lot of money on components and requires the less number of components than the conventional technology and has a function to correctly dispose an inserted disc by a slot-in method at a place where the disc can be driven according to the size of the disc. The disc drive device comprises an abutment pad which receives the inserted disc in a different posture depending on the size of the disc, a coupling member which rotationally transfers by a different distance at a different position according to the posture of the abutment pad when it rotationally transfers along with the bring-in operation of the disc, and a spring which applies a predetermined energizing force to the coupling member. Due to the coupled operation of these components, etc., the inserted disc can be correctly disposed at a predetermined place where the disc can be driven according to the size of the disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Masanobu Katsuki
  • Publication number: 20100299684
    Abstract: A disk loading device of a slot-in optical disk drive comprises two loading levers to load and eject a disk, wherein the two loading levers are connected to a pivot pin; and a guide slot having a right recess and a left recess, wherein the pivot pin is moveable along the guide slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: PHILIPS & LITE-ON DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Huang, Ta-Hsiang Wang, Sheng-Hsiung Chou, Chia-Hsing Chao
  • Patent number: 7827569
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recording medium drive system including: a casing provided in a front face thereof with a slot through which to insert and discharge a recording medium having a principal surface and an opposite surface; and a sheet-formed member provided so as to close the slot and having a loop-formed deflected part which, while being deformed, is capable of making contact with at least one of the principal surface and the opposite surface of the recording medium at the times of insertion and discharge of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Mitsumoto
  • Publication number: 20100275223
    Abstract: A slot-in optical disk drive includes a holding mechanism, a main body and a sliding module. The holding mechanism includes a disk slotting opening, two sliding rails and two slope rails. The main body and the sliding module are held by the holding mechanism. The main body includes a shelf, a disk reading unit and a main spindle motor. The sliding module includes a sliding base, two clamp sheets and a driving unit, each clamp sheet having a pivot end, a free end opposite to the pivot end and a sliding block. If the sliding block is at the sliding rail, the free end of the clamp sheet and the sliding base are closed up; and if the sliding block is at the slope rail, the free end of the clamp sheet and the sliding base are opened up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Teng
  • Publication number: 20100269126
    Abstract: An optical disc mounting mechanism, comprising, a front sweeper (32) for catching an optical disc from a front slot (12) and bringing said disc into a drive module followed by pushing an optical disc out of the front slot; a rear sweeper (34) for pushing the disc out of a rear slot (16) or catching the disc from the rear slot; one or more front sensors for sensing the insertion of an optical disc; a center sensor for sensing the present of the disc in a drive module; one or more rear sensors for sensing the moving direction of the disc; a drive head for reading or writing the disc; a controlling mechanism for mounting or unmounting an optical disc to said drive head (92). The said disc mounting mechanism has good adaptability and simple structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Kok Kin Foo, Chieng Hsiung Soo
  • Publication number: 20100251275
    Abstract: A disk device includes: a slider member 4 to be pushed and moved by the movement of a disk detection member 8 detecting the loading of a disk when the disk 5 is loaded in a predetermined position of a device body; a drive gear 62 moved in a thrust direction by the movement of the slider member 4 to be unmeshed from a rotation gear 61 integral with a conveyance roller 6; and a coil spring 65 that normally urges the drive gear 62 in a direction meshing with the rotation gear 61.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Yuichiro Suzui
  • Publication number: 20100251274
    Abstract: An optical disc drive including an outer casing, a supporting base, a main shaft motor and a position-limiting element is provided. The outer casing has an optical disc entry. The supporting base is disposed in the outer casing. The main shaft motor is disposed on the supporting base. The position-limiting element has a first pivot portion, a position-limiting part and a second pivot portion located between the first pivot portion and the position-limiting part. The first pivot portion is connected to the supporting base, and the position-limiting element is able to be swung about the second pivot serving as a fulcrum. When the supporting base is located at an upper position, the position-limiting part is located at a first position, and when the supporting base is located at a lower position, the position-limiting part is located at a second position, wherein the first position is under the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: LITE-ON IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Hsiang Wang, Chien-Wei Huang, Sheng-Hsiung Chou, Wei-Min Tsao
  • Publication number: 20100235850
    Abstract: In order to provide a disk device, in which a disk can be prevented from being damaged and a thickness can be more reduced, a disk device according to the present invention includes, a turntable which is rotationally driven and, for placing a disk thereon, a clamper for rotatably holding the disk between the turntable and the clamper, which has a hook on a side opposite to a side on which the disk is held, a loading mechanism for carrying the disk inserted to between the turntable and the clamper, a clamp arm which includes a clamper holder for rotatably holding the clamper by a claw fitted to the hook with a clearance and an arm unit disposed pivotably on a pivot shaft positioned apart from the clamper holder, the clamp arm moving the clamper between a disk pressing position and a retreat position, and a clamper restricting member including a resilient portion capable of contacting a part of the clamper on the side opposite to the side of the clamper moved to the retreat position and on a side apart from the
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Hideto Soga, Tomio Yamamoto, Tadashi Maeoka, Asayuki Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20100223635
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot-in type disk apparatus in which a moving position of a disk is precisely guided when the disk is inserted or discharged, thereby preventing the disk from coming into contact with an objective lens and further reducing the thickness of the disk apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Miyata, Shinichi Wada
  • Publication number: 20100223636
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot-in type disk apparatus which can be reduced in thickness without deteriorating strength of a lever and a rear base. In a slot-in type disk apparatus, a base body 10 and a lid 20 constitute a chassis sheath, a disk-insertion opening 11 into which a disk is directly inserted is formed in a front surface of the chassis sheath, a traverse base 30 is disposed on the side of a front surface of the base body 10, a rear base 13 is disposed on the side of a rear surface of the base body 10, a printed board 14 is provided between the rear base 13 and the base body 10, and a link arm 105 is disposed between the rear base 13 and the printed board 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Miyata
  • Patent number: 7770190
    Abstract: A disk unit wherein a disk is inserted by a plurality of arms, the arms being able to convey two types of disks different in diameter while supporting an outer periphery edge of each of the disks. A disk is loaded to the interior of the disk unit by automatic loading, and a disk accommodated in the interior of the disk unit is unloaded to the exterior of the disk unit. The disk unit comprises a limit switch, the limit switch being actuated by an arm that is pressed by an outer periphery edge of a large diameter disk or a small diameter disk upon insertion of the disk from a slot of a bezel. The insertion of the large diameter disk or the small diameter disk is determined on the basis of the state of operation of the limit switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujisawa, Satoru Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100162279
    Abstract: The invention provides an emergency ejection device for a slot-in disk drive, which rotates a worm gear by a motor. A central hole of a rotating component is fixed on a housing. A sliding slot is formed on an end of the rotating component, and a buckling slot is formed on an end of the sliding slot. A first gear of a gear set fixed on the central hole of the rotating component is engaged with the worm gear. A clutching gear fixed on the other end of the rotating component is engaged with the first gear. An end of a locking component inserts inside the sliding slot, and an inclined surface protrudes from the other end of the locking component. A spring provides an elastic force for holding the sliding column inside the buckling slot so as to keep engagement of the clutching gear with a second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Yao-Ting Kuo, Jen-Chen Wu
  • Publication number: 20100153979
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic apparatus including a main body portion, a tray main body, a tray auxiliary portion, a first top panel, and a second top panel. The tray main body is capable of being taken into and out of the main body portion and includes a mounted portion, a drive portion, an optical system, and a first store portion. The tray auxiliary portion includes a second store portion that is integrated with the first store portion of the tray main body to form a space capable of storing the optical disc mounted on the mounted portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromasa Masuda
  • Patent number: 7739700
    Abstract: An insertion-proof device for optical disk drive is provided to prevent other discs from being inserted in the operating disk drive. A slider moves back and forth along the optical disk drive to load and unload a disc. A push head is disposed on one end of the slider near an entrance. A protrusion is extended backward from the protection unit and disposed on the moving path of the slider. At least one supporting arm is extended from the protection unit. After a disc is loaded, the push head pushes the protrusion, so that the protection unit rotatably fixed near the entrance is turned upward to cover part of the entrance to prevent other discs from being inserted in the operating disk drive. When unloading a disc, the push head releases the protrusion, so that the protection unit leaves the entrance for the original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Quanta Storage Inc.
    Inventors: Yao-Jia Chiou, Jen-Chen Wu
  • Publication number: 20100138846
    Abstract: A lifting frame has a lifting pin that fits into a lifting cam groove of a follower slider, and swings up and down about a rod near a disk slot. A holding member is swingably attached to front end of the lifting frame. This holding member supports a turntable unit for holding a disk. The holding member has a cam follower pin that fits into a swinging cam groove of a loading slider to raise and lower the holding member. When the lifting frame swings down from a read/write position to a lowered position, the holding member inclines from the lifting frame so as to place the turntable unit substantially parallel to a disk carrying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: TEAC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Fujisawa