Abstract: Provided is a disk conveying device including a conveying mechanism configured to convey a disk recording medium inside and outside a disk cartridge including a plurality of holding grooves into which both end portions of the disk recording medium positioned at opposite sides with a center hole interposed therebetween are inserted, the plurality of holding grooves being formed in a line in a thickness direction of the disk recording medium, and a discharge lever configured to press an outer circumferential surface of the disk recording medium to the disk cartridge side when the disk recording medium is conveyed by the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides loading and unloading mechanisms, and data drives for data storage cartridges. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms for a data storage cartridge may: operate in a manner such that the drive door of the data drive may be fully closed before the disk medium is exposed, e.g., before opening of the associated shutter of the cartridge; be powered by the same drive motor assembly that is used to move or transport the cartridge to the optical head assembly used for writing and/or reading of data from the disk medium of the cartridge; and may fit within a standard configuration for a data drive. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms, as well as the data drives, may provide reliable operation, ease of assembly, and of the parts and components necessary for the reliable operation, and positive data cartridge positioning, as well as minimizing backlash in the drive motor/gear assembly.

Abstract: There is provided a disc changer for a disc drive unit, including: a disc accommodation section capable of accommodating plural discs: a disc pushing mechanism that pushes a disc from a specific rack of the disc accommodation section to a disc discharge position within the disc drive unit; and a disc discharge mechanism that securely sends the disc at the disc discharge position, to a disc insertion/discharge opening of the disc drive unit. The disc exchanger further includes a disc guiding device that has: an upper and a lower guiding members, which are provided in an area within the disc drive unit adjacent to the disc insertion/discharge opening, and guide the disc pushed by the pushing mechanism, to the disc insertion/discharge opening; and a drive mechanism of the guiding members, that opens the lower guiding member from the upper guiding member, when the pushing mechanism pushes the disc.

Abstract: In the loading of a disc in a slot-in type of disc apparatus, time lag occurs at the time of shift from an operation that manually inserts the disc to an operation that automatically swallows the disc. In order to solve this problem, a switch for detecting the position of a disc at the beginning of insertion thereof and a switch for detecting a position where the loading of the disc has been completed are provided respectively. The modification of control is made so that the disc support arm is driven with a weak electric power from the beginning of the insertion of the disc, and an error caused by time-out is further detected. If the error has been detected, the disc is ejected.

Abstract: A cartridge device has a recording and reproducing unit for recording an information signal on and/or reproducing an information signal from a recording medium of a recording medium cartridge, the case having a positioning hole. A chassis of the device has a base and a projection projecting from the base toward a holder for being inserted in the positioning hole. An ejection slider is slidably supported on the chassis for sliding movement selectively in a first sliding direction to move the holder from the first to second position and a second sliding direction, which is opposite to the first sliding direction, to move the holder from the second to first position. The projection has a recess defined therein. The ejection slider has a portion insertable into the recess when the election slider is moved in the first sliding direction.

Abstract: A disc cartridge can be loaded stably in the disc recorder/player, whether it is provided with a shutter member or not. The present invention provides a disc recording and/or playback apparatus including a cartridge holder in which there is to be held a first disc cartridge including a body and a shutter member, or a second disc cartridge including a body, a shutter member supporting mechanism to support, by pressing, the shutter member of the first disc cartridge to limit the movement of the shutter member, a pressing mechanism to press the second disc cartridge, and a pressing controlling mechanism which is moved due to displacement of the shutter member supporting mechanism by the first disc cartridge to displace the pressing mechanism for removing the pressure applied to the first disc cartridge and has the pressing mechanism press the second disc cartridge inserted in the cartridge holder.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base, a disk, and a head stack assembly rotatably coupled to the base adjacent the disk surface of the disk. The disk drive includes an airflow channeling enclosure. The enclosure includes an airflow inlet disposed downstream of the head stack assembly and configured to receive the disk rotation induced airflow therethrough. The enclosure further includes an airflow channel extending along the disk surface from the airflow inlet. The enclosure further includes an outer wall extending along the disk surface from the airflow inlet and defining the airflow channel radially interior to the outer wall. The enclosure further includes an airflow outlet disposed upstream of the head stack assembly extending from the outer wall and the channel opposite the airflow inlet for modifying the disk rotation induced airflow passing from the channel.

Abstract: A cartridge storage device includes a housing having a front and a back. A plurality of cells are mounted in the housing, each cell adapted for receiving a media cartridge. A drive mechanism drives the cells towards a front opening in the front of the housing for allowing insertion and retrieval of the cartridges from the cells by the picker. Optionally, the back of the housing can have a rear opening for allowing in situ user-insertion and retrieval of the cartridges from the cells as well as viewing of the cartridges.

Abstract: A recording medium apparatus capable of loading a plurality of types of recording media is disclosed. The recording medium apparatus is operable for loading a recording medium having a terminal at a front edge side thereof with respect to an insertion direction and a common dimension part configured to have a predefined dimension at a side opposite to the insertion direction. The recording medium apparatus mechanically and electrically loads and unloads the recording medium based on the common dimension part regardless of different insertion directional lengths of the various recording media.

Abstract: When a recording medium is inserted into an insertion part, a locking part of a pull-in member locks a concave part of the recording medium because a pressed part is pressed to move a moving member. Simultaneously, a first switching member is switched, and a cam member rotates to move a power transmission means into the inside of an apparatus (Y1-direction). Thereby, since the moving member having the pull-in member mounted thereon also moves, the recording medium can be carried into the inside of the apparatus. If the recording medium is abnormally orientated, the locking part can lock the concave part. Therefore, the recording medium can be prevented from being carried into the inside of the apparatus.

Abstract: A disk device having a disk loading mechanism including an elastic body retracting space which is formed by cutting away a corner portion of a support portion of a first selector lever that is positioned forward of an elastic body and is closer to a chassis, the elastic member retracting space is not so spacious as to receive a whole of the elastic body but is spacious enough for the elastic body to be displaced while being twisted to the elastic body retracting space when the elastic body is sunk under a protruding portion of the chassis.

Abstract: A driving device includes a holder (16) movably carried by a chassis (5) and adapted for transporting a disc cartridge the holder holds between an insertion/ejection position and a loading position, and an ejection lever (39) for ejecting the disc cartridge from the holder (16). The driving device also includes a slider (31) movable in a direction of inserting the disc cartridge into the holder (16) and in a direction of ejecting the disc cartridge from the holder. The slider causes the holder (16) to be moved to the loading position when the slider is moved in the disc cartridge inserting direction, while causing the holder (16) to be moved to the insertion/ejection position when the slider is moved in the disc cartridge ejecting direction.