Abstract: A spindle structure for an optical disc and an optical disc drive employing the spindle structure are provided. The spindle structure includes a spindle motor having a rotation axis, a spindle that is coupled to the rotation axis, and a sliding cone coupled to the spindle and inserted into a center hole of the optical disc. The sliding cone includes a plurality of hook-shaped guide rods extended toward the spindle, and the spindle includes guide holes, to which the plurality of hook-shaped guide rods are inserted into and coupled.

Abstract: A disc loading mechanism includes a turntable on which a disc is mounted and a chucking pulley that sandwiches the disc together with the turntable. The chucking pulley includes a pulley engaging member on which a plurality of engaging protrusions are formed. The turntable includes a table engaging member on which a plurality of engaging pieces are formed, the plurality of engaging pieces each having an engaging surface that hangs over a chucking pulley-facing surface of one of the plurality of engaging protrusions in a rotation direction of the disc.

Abstract: A data storage medium support member is produced by resin molding. The data storage medium support member includes an accommodating portion, a guide portion, and a gate cut portion. The accommodating portion accommodates a magnetic member around a central axis. The guide portion has a guide surface for guiding an inner edge of a disc, and is arranged radially outward of the accommodating portion. The gate cut portion is formed on a rear surface of the guide portion. The data storage medium support member can be produced by the resin molding while securing space for accommodating the magnetic member and preventing an increase in the axial dimension of the data storage medium support member.

Abstract: An optical disc clamping device is provided. A driving bar is moved away from a center hole to synchronously drive a first linking bar and a second linking bar. A first pivotal rod and a second pivotal rod are respectively driven by the first slider and the second slider to move towards the center hole to drive a carrier which carries a chucking disk disposed thereon to contact a spindle motor. A suppresser is fixed at the rim of the center hole to press on the chucking disk to clamp the disc stably.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording medium drive apparatus configured to drive a recording medium, including a case, a drive source used for loading/ejecting the recording medium into/from the case, a motor unit configured to hold the recording medium and rotate the recording medium held, a pickup unit configured to record a signal on the recording medium rotated by the motor unit or reproduce the recorded signal, a first slider driven by the drive source to slide a first distance in a first direction, a second slider that is cam-engaged with the pickup unit and slides in a second direction to move the pickup unit upward and downward, a moving member that is releasably engaged with the first slider, engaged with the pickup unit, and cam-engaged with the motor unit, and moves the motor unit upward and downward, and a link mechanism configured to link the first slider and the second slider.

Abstract: A disk device 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, 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 pivot shaft of the arm unit.

Abstract: An optical disc clamping device is provided. A driving bar is moved away from a center hole to synchronously drive a first linking bar and a second linking bar. A first pivotal rod and a second pivotal rod are respectively driven by the first slider and the second slider to move towards the center hole to drive a carrier which carries a chucking disk disposed thereon to contact a spindle motor. A suppresser is fixed at the rim of the center hole to press on the chucking disk to clamp the disc stably.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clamping apparatus including a case having a side surface on which a plurality of arm holes are formed; an arm, which moves inside and outside the case through one of the arm holes while being restricted by the case and has an upper part and a lower part that are guided by the case; and an elastic member installed inside the case to elastically support the arm.

Abstract: A transfer mechanism includes: a tray that includes a placement surface section on which a recording medium is placed, and retention means for keeping hold of the recording medium placed on the placement surface section, and is moved and rotated across an insertion/removal position at which the tray is faced toward the outside of a device body with the placement surface section being substantially horizontal and a recording/reproduction position at which the tray is housed in the device body with the placement surface section being substantially vertical; a clamp member that is supported inside of the device body to allow a main surface section thereof to move and rotate across a substantially-horizontal direction and a substantially-vertical direction, and clamps, with a support mechanism, the recording medium moved and rotated to the recording/reproduction position; and a movement mechanism that moves the tray.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lift device of a slot-in disk drive, which includes two straight slots formed on a side of a sliding component, two sliding pins protruding from a side of base adjacent to the sliding component or protruding from a fixing plate of a casing, a cover covering with the sliding component, two guiding pins protruding from an inner surface of the cover corresponding to the two straight slots for inserting into the two straight slots respectively, an one-humped traverse slot with two ends of different heights formed on a lateral side of the cover adjacent to the sliding bolt whereinto the sliding bolt inserts, and two lifting slots separately formed on the other lateral side of the cover whereinto the two sliding pins insert.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus for a disc player which is able to accurately release a clamper from a turntable while improving miniaturization and thinning.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc drive. The optical disc drive may include a clamp unit for chucking an optical disc; at least one lifting projection protruding from the clamp unit; and a moving force transfer unit for transferring a moving force, of moving the clamp unit in an axial direction of the clamp unit, to the clamp unit through the lifting projection, wherein the moving force transfer unit includes a guide for moving the lifting projection in the axial direction by a movement in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a protective part provided at least one of both ends of the guide and protecting the lifting projection. Accordingly, when an optical disc rotates at high speed, noise generation at a joined portion between the guide of the moving force transfer unit and the lifting projection can be suppressed.

Abstract: A data storage disc carrier (1) for carrying discs (10). The carrier includes an axial clamping mechanism which incorporates a three legged resilient clamping member (7) that can flees between release and clamping positions to allow easy loading a gripping of discs (10). The clamping member is articulatingly mounted on a tail (4) that is gripped to provide clamping.

Abstract: A disc clamping mechanism includes a clamp board, a clamp base, a first supporting unit and a second supporting unit. The clamp board rotatably clamps a disc in cooperation with a turntable to be rotated in a housing. The clamp base rotatably supports the clamp board at a position opposite to the turntable, and is movable so as to move away from or come into contact with the turntable. The first supporting unit comes into contact with a first peripheral edge of the clamp board protruding from the clamp base when the clamp board moves away from the disc according to the movement of the clamp base, to exert pushing force in a direction of the turntable side and pushing force in a direction of the clamp base side against the first peripheral edge. The second supporting unit is provided at the clamp base, and securely supports the second peripheral edge of the clamp board situated at a position opposite to the first peripheral edge when the first peripheral edge is pushed by the first supporting unit.

Abstract: An optical disk drive is loaded with a disk set in a chuck position upon entry through an insertion slot by automatic loading. A lifting frame is movable between high and low positions in an opening of a base panel. A disk driving unit is disposed on the lifting frame for chucking and rotating the disk. A leading segment is connected with the lifting frame, and raises a distal end of a periphery of the disk from the insertion slot by forming a slope. The leading segment extends in the insertion direction of the disk, and has an end positioned beside the disk driving unit. The end of the leading segment is kept higher than an upper surface of the lifting frame when the lifting frame is in the low position.

Abstract: To provide a disk clamping device which can reduce a required space for performing disk clamping in the disk device. The disk clamping device comprises: a pick arm 130 which is swung into and swung out of a space created by splitting trays 250 capable of housing a plurality of disks D; a drive unit which is mounted on the pick arm 130 and plays the disk D; a turning table 123 on which the disk D is mounted; a clamp arm 124 provided so as to be able to move up and down in substantially parallel with the disk D; and a clamper 125 which is attached to the clamp arm 124 and holds the disk D with the turning table 123.

Abstract: The invention aims to reduce the size of a disk clamp mechanism to be built into a disk player. The clamp mechanism comprises: a disk clamp portion formed integrally with a turntable; a clamper; and a clamper holder for holding the clamper via a clamper mounting shaft adapted to hold the clamper in rotatable fashion, wherein a flange portion provided at an end of the clamper mounting shaft is placed within a space formed inside the clamper. The clamper comprises a peripheral portion and a chamber portion in which the space is formed, and the disk clamp portion has a recessed groove portion engageable with the chamber portion, the structure being such that, when the disk is clamped, the end portion of the chamber portion is accommodated into the disk clamp portion, thus achieving a size reduction by reducing the height in a direction perpendicular to the disk.

Abstract: The ceiling board of the cabinet of a disc drive apparatus has an abutment projection arranged at a position located vis-à-vis and projecting toward the turntable. The main surface of the abutment projection opposite to the main surface located vis-à-vis the turntable is supported by a top surface supporting section formed on the frame. With this arrangement, when the turntable is raised to the chucking position, the optical disc is pressed by the abutment projection of the ceiling board supported by the protruding section of the top surface supporting section at a part thereof surrounding the center hole of the optical disc so that the engaging projection is engaged with the center hole of the optical disc and the optical disc is held on the turntable in a state where the optical disc is anchored by a plurality of anchoring sections at a part thereof surrounding the center hole of the optical disc.

Abstract: A disk drive comprising a turntable 10 which has a ring-like disk receiving surface 11 on which a disk 40 is placed, a disk holding mechanism 20 which holds the disk 40 on the turntable 10, a disk-retaining abutment member 30 which has projections 34 and 35 provided at an outer periphery of the hole 31 and projecting toward the turntable 10, and a moving mechanism which allows the disk-retaining abutment member 30 and the turntable 10 to relatively approach each other and separate from each other, wherein the projections 34 and 35 are formed by a first deformed portion formed at a position opposed to the disk receiving surface 11 and a second deformed portion formed at a location closer to an inner peripheral side than the disk receiving surface 11, the projection 34 or 35 formed by the second deformed portion most projects toward the turntable 10.

Abstract: A low-profile chucking mechanism holds a disc recording medium on a turntable that has a plurality of first engaging teeth and a plurality of second engaging teeth. When the disc recording medium is to be mounted on a disc supporting surface of the turntable, the first engaging teeth are pushed radially inwardly of the rotational axis of the turntable by the edge of a central circular hole of the disc recording medium. When the first engaging teeth are moved, the second engaging teeth are biased in ganged relation to the first engaging teeth radially outwardly of the rotational axis of the turntable and engage the edge of the central circular hole of the disc recording medium mounted on the disc supporting surface, thereby pressing and holding the disc recording medium against the disc supporting surface.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a clamper guider in a slot-in drive comprises a motor used to drive a transmission sheet to move through a gear train; the transmission sheet drives a control sheet to rotate counterclockwise or clockwise and further to cause a raised piece of the control sheet to prop against or separate from the lower end of a downward bended section of the clamper guider to allow a clamper at the lower section of the clamper guider to be separated from or entered the location that a disc is clamped. Whereby, the whole control mechanism has a more power saving structure and the matching design of the whole transmission structure and the motor used therein is more convenient.

Abstract: A high-precision positioning apparatus includes a fine driving unit for producing horizontal and small movements of a flat recording medium relative to an optical system, the medium being used for optically recording and reproducing information. The fine driving unit includes a frame-shaped unit body, a first driving frame inside the unit body, and a second driving frame inside the first driving frame and secured at a position adjacent to a magnetized portion of the recording medium. The first driving frame is movable relative to the unit body by fine driving devices in the horizontal direction of the recording medium, while the second driving frame is movable relative to the first driving frame by other fine driving devices in the horizontal direction of the recording medium and in the direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the first driving frame, thereby producing horizontal and small movements of the recording medium.

Abstract: A disk device according to the present invention includes a mechanism unit having a rotational drive unit for driving a disk, a clamp mechanism for clamping the disk to the rotational drive unit, and a conveying mechanism for conveying the disk toward the rotational drive unit. The mechanism unit further includes an attitude set-up member, which is directly connected to the clamp mechanism and the conveying mechanism and rotates about an axis parallel to the surface of the disk mounted in the mechanism unit, and a drive mechanism for applying a rotational force to the attitude set-up member. When the attitude set-up member rotates in a predetermined direction, the clamp mechanism is operated to cancel the clamping of the disk, and the conveying mechanism is set to be able to convey the disk by the rotational force of the attitude set-up member.

Abstract: When a disk (1) is placed at a playback position, a clamp arm (15) clamps the disk (1). The clamp arm (15) has an engagement hook (16) for engaging with an engagement groove (12) of a fixed base (11) when the clamp arm (15) pivots on a slide base (13) so as to return to a standby position for waiting for a pivot while the slide base (13) slides.

Abstract: A disc cramp device which holds a disc by sandwiching it by a turn table and a cramper, according to the present invention, includes a cramper arm which is rotated in a direction to move close to the turn table and a direction to move away from it, a plate spring member, a part of which is fixed to the cramper arm, which lifts the cramper during an uncramping time, and which presses an upper center of the cramper in a direction of the turn table during a cramping time. It is constructed so that by providing tongue pieces for pressing the upper center of the cramper at a tip end portion of the cramper arm, the plate spring member presses the cramper while it is held at both sides during the uncramping time, and the plate spring member is pressed by the fixing member to be elastically deformed during the uncramping time.

Abstract: A disc chucking device is provided which holds a disc-shaped recording medium on a disc table and rotates it along with the disc table. It includes a disc table whose rotation-center line is laid generally orthogonally to the vertical direction and onto which a disc-shaped recording medium is set with the main side thereof being parallel to the vertical direction, a centering block formed on the disc table and which is to be fitted in a central hole in the disc-shaped recording medium, a motor to rotate the disc table, a clamper to pinch along with the disc table the disc-shaped recording medium put on the disc table, and a fall-off preventive structure provided on the disc table for engagement with the disc-shaped recording medium at the central hole formed in the latter.

Abstract: A clamp driving device of a compact disk player for an automobile is disclosed. When a disk is loaded and moved to the center of a turntable, a selective arm is rotated by the loaded disk and thus a sensor lever is moved forwardly. A checking piece of the sensor lever is disengaged from a hook piece of an idle arm, and the idle arm is rotated upwardly, thereby raising an idle gear. The idle gear is engaged with a cam gear to rotate the cam gear. A transmission bar transmits the turning force of the cam gear to a locking lever to move the locking lever forwardly. By the forward movement of the locking lever, a supporting pin of the locking lever is separated from a clamp arm, and thus the clamp arm is lowered by a spring. The disk is pressed at its upper surface by the clamp, thereby preventing deviation of the disk. The device can fulfill all clamping operations by mechanical components and without using electrical components.

Abstract: A disc device in which a clamping member for supporting a clamper is pushed against a supporting portion by a holding elastic member. At the side opposite the supporting portion, a clamping elastic member is provided between a drive chassis and the clamping member. The distance from a supporting fulcrum to a portion upon which the elastic force of the clamping elastic member acts is greater than the distance from the supporting fulcrum to a portion upon which a clamping force acts, so that the elastic force of the clamping elastic member for setting the clamping force can be small. Therefore, a large localized force does not act upon the clamping member from the clamping elastic member. In a conventional vehicle-mounted disc device, a spring having a large elastic force is used to exert a clamping force to clamp a disc by a clamper. Therefore, a large localized force acts on a clamping member for supporting the clamper. In addition, a large force is required to lift the clamping member.