Apparatus for storing and retrieving data storage devices

Claim 2

Apparatus for storing and retrieving a plurality of data storage devices, comprising: a) means for providing an operative position for one of the data storage devices; b) means for storing the plurality of data storage devices and being pivotal in relation to said providing means; c) means for selectively pivoting said storing means to move a selected one of the data storage devices into a retrievable position; and d) means for moving the selected one of the data storage devices between the retrievable position and the operative position.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for storing comprises a box being pivotally mounted on said providing means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said box comprises: a) a tray being pivotally connected to said providing means; and b) a pack for storing the plurality of data storage devices and being insertable into and removable from said tray.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said tray has a guide pin and said pack has a guide to center said pack on said tray upon insertion of said pack in said tray.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said tray has an openable and closeable door for inserting and removing said pack from said tray.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for moving moves the selected one of the data storage devices from the operative position to the retrievable position in response to said door being opened.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for providing and said means for storing are positioned in relation to one another so that in the operative position the selected one of the data storage devices is partially stored in said storing means.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the operative position is a rotational position having a plane or rotation and the retrievable position is a position at which the selected one of the data storage devices is parallel to the plane of rotation.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for storing comprises a pack having a plurality of angled guides for releasably storing the plurality of data storage devices in a bent mode.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for storing-has a pivot point and said angled guides include guide portions having centerlines extending through said pivot point.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for providing comprises a first straight guide and each of said angled guides has a second straight guide portion, said second straight guide portion being parallel to said first straight guide in the retrievable position.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for selectively pivoting randomly rotates said storing means to position any one of the data storage devices in the retrievable position.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for selectively pivoting comprises: a) controllable means for driving said storing means; and b) programmable processor means for controlling said controllable driving means.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said controllable driving means comprises: a) an index cam coupled to said storing means; b) a cam follower coupled to said index cam; and c) stepper motor means for moving said cam follower along said index cam.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving comprises picker means for releasably clamping the selected one of the data storage devices in the retrievable position and for releasably unclamping the selected one of the data storage devices in the operative position.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said picker means for releasably clamping and unclamping comprises: a) a pick head having a pair of openable and closeable jaws for picking the selected one of the data storage devices, and having a cam follower; b) carriage means for carrying said pick head between the retrievable position and the operative position; c) a first pick cam having a pick cam surface for opening and closing said jaws, said cam follower following said pick cam surface near the retrievable position to open said jaws about the selected one of the data storage devices and then to close said jaws and pick the selected one of the data storage devices in the retrievable position, said cam follower bypassing said pick cam surface after picking the selected one of the data storage devices and while moving towards the operative position; d) a second release cam having a release cam surface for opening and closing said jaws, said cam follower following said release cam surface near the operative position to open said jaws and release the selected one of the data storage devices in the operative position and then to close said jaws, said cam follower bypassing said release cam surface to push the selected one of the data storage devices with said jaws closed from the operative position towards the retrievable position; and e) means for driving said carriage means.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said picker means for releasably clamping and unclamping further comprises a stripping device for stripping the selected one of the data storage devices from said jaws in the operative position as said jaws are openened.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said carriage means comprises means for releasably securing the selected one of the data storage devices in the operative position.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said means for storing comprises a pack having a groove and a detent biased into said groove to hold the plurality of data storage devices in said pack and to force the selected one of the data storage devices into the retrievable position in response to said picker means for releasably clamping and unclamping being near the retrievable position.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said means for storing comprises a pack having a cut-out, said picker means for releasably clamping and unclamping being movable into said cut-out to pick and retrieve the selected one of the data storage devices.

Claim 22

A diskette pack for releasably storing a plurality of floppy diskettes, said diskette pack being usable with a disk drive defining a rotatable operative position of a selected one of the floppy diskettes having a plane of rotation, said diskette pack comprising: a housing being adapted for pivotal mounting on said disk drive in relation to the plane of rotation, said housing having a pivot point and a plurality of angled guides for storing the plurality of floppy diskettes, respectively, each of said angled guides having a first substantially straight guide portion and a second substaantilly straight guide portion, said first substantially straight guide portion having a centerline extending through the pivot point of said housing, said housing being movable into a diskette retrievable position at which any one said first substantially straight guide portion is adapted to support a portion of a floppy diskette in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation.

Claim 23

A diskette pack for releasably storing a plurality of floppy diskettes, said diskette pack being usable with a disk drive defining a rotatable operative position of a selected one of the floppy diskettes having a plane of rotation, said diskette pack comprising: a housing being adapted for pivotal mounting on said disk drive in relation to the plane of rotation, said housing having a pivot point and a plurality of angled guides for storing the plurality of floppy diskettes, respectively, each of said angled guides having a first substantially straight guide portion and a second substaantilly straight guide portion, said first substantially straight guide portion having a centerline extending through the pivot point of said housing, said housing being movable into a diskette retrievable position at which any one said first substantially straight guide portion is adapted to support a portion of a floppy diskette in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation.

Claim 24

A diskette pack according to claim 21 wherein said housing has a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, said plurality of angled guides extending between said first end and said second end along said first side and said second side.

Claim 25

A diskette pack according to claim 22 wherein said first substantially straight guide portion extends from said first end towards said second end a predetermined distance less than one- half the distance between said first end and said second end.

Claim 26

A diskette pack according to claim 22 wherein said first side has a groove and a spring-biased detent being biased into said groove to hold the plurality of floppy diskettes in said plurality of bent guides.

Claim 27

A diskette pack according to claim 22 wherein said housing has a top surface and a bottom surface each having a cut-out to facilitate retrieval of the floppy diskette from the retrievable position.

Claim 28

Apparatus for moving a data storage device between a retrievable position at which the data storage device is stored and an operative position at which the data storage device is used, comprising: a) a pick head having a pair of openable and closeable jaws; b) carriage means for carrying said pick head between the retrievable position and the operative position; c) first pick cam means for opening said jaws during movement of said.pick head towards the retrievable position and for then closing said jaws about the data storage device at the retrievable position, said pick head being movable with said jaws closed from the retrievable position towards the operative position; d) second release cam means for opening said jaws during movement of said pick head at the operative position and for then closing said jaws beyond the operative position, said pick head being movable with said jaws closed from beyond the operative position towards the retrievable position; and e) means for driving said carriage means between the operative position and the retrievable position.

Claim 29

Apparatus for moving a data storage device between a retrievable position at which the data storage device is stored and an operative position at which the data storage device is used, comprising: a) a pick head having a pair of openable and closeable jaws; b) carriage means for carrying said pick head between the retrievable position and the operative position; c) first pick cam means for opening said jaws during movement of said.pick head towards the retrievable position and for then closing said jaws about the data storage device at the retrievable position, said pick head being movable with said jaws closed from the retrievable position towards the operative position; d) second release cam means for opening said jaws during movement of said pick head at the operative position and for then closing said jaws beyond the operative position, said pick head being movable with said jaws closed from beyond the operative position towards the retrievable position; and e) means for driving said carriage means between the operative position and the retrievable position.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said first pick cam means comprises: a) a pivotal member; b) a cam member connected at a slant to said pivotal member and having an upper cam surface and an underside; and c) a cam follower, connected to said pick head, for opening and closing said jaws, said cam follower riding along said upper cam surface during movement of said pick head towards the retrievable position and contacting said underside to pivot said pivotal member during movement of said pick head from the retrievable position towards the operative position.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said second release cam means comprises: a) a pivotal member; b) a cam member connected at a slant to said pivotal member and having an upper cam surface and an underside; and c) a cam follower, connected to said pick head, for opening and closing said jaws, said cam follower riding along said upper cam surface during movement of said pick head towards the operative position and contacting said underside to pivot said pivotal member during movement of said pick head from the operative position towards the retrievable position.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said means for driving comprises: a) a drive motor; and b) programmable processor means for controlling said drive motor.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said programmable processor means controls said drive motor to drive said pick head into the retrievable position beyond said first pick cam means to pick the data storage device and to drive said pick head no further than said first pick cam means - to return the data storage device to the retrievable position.

Claim 34

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said carriage means comprises means for controllably securing the data storage device in the operative position.

Claim 35

Apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising means for stripping the data storage device from said jaws as said jaws are opened at the operative position.

Claim 36

A floppy disk mini-drive for storing a plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes and for retrieving the plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes from a retrievable position and for using the plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes at a rotatable operative position defining a plane or rotation, comprising: a) a disk drive base having a straight guide and having a rotatable spindle at the operative position defining the plane of rotation; b) means for selectively moving any one of the plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes into the retrievable position, including i) a support tray pivotally connected to said disk drive base in relation to the plane of rotation; ii) a diskette pack having a plurality of spaced-apart angled guides for removably storing the plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes, respectively, said diskette pack being insertable in and supportable on said support tray, each of said angled guides having a straight guide portion being aligned with said straight guide when at the retrievable position, and iii) means for rotatably driving said support tray; and c) means for moving the one of the plurality of rotational floppy diskettes from said diskette pack at the retrievable position onto said spindle at the rotatable operative position, said aligned straight guide and said straight guide portion supporting the one of the rotatable floppy diskettes for rotation.around said spindle in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation.

Claim 37

A floppy disk mini-drive for storing a plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes and for retrieving the plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes from a retrievable position and for using the plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes at a rotatable operative position defining a plane or rotation, comprising: a) a disk drive base having a straight guide and having a rotatable spindle at the operative position defining the plane of rotation; b) means for selectively moving any one of the plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes into the retrievable position, including i) a support tray pivotally connected to said disk drive base in relation to the plane of rotation; ii) a diskette pack having a plurality of spaced-apart angled guides for removably storing the plurality of rotatable floppy diskettes, respectively, said diskette pack being insertable in and supportable on said support tray, each of said angled guides having a straight guide portion being aligned with said straight guide when at the retrievable position, and iii) means for rotatably driving said support tray; and c) means for moving the one of the plurality of rotational floppy diskettes from said diskette pack at the retrievable position onto said spindle at the rotatable operative position, said aligned straight guide and said straight guide portion supporting the one of the rotatable floppy diskettes for rotation.around said spindle in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation.

Claim 38

A floppy disk mini-drive according to claim 33 wherein said support tray and said diskette pack have an aligned pivot, and each said straight guide portion has a centerline extending through said aligned pivot.

Claim 39

A floppy disk mini-drive according to claim 34 wherein said support tray has a guide pin and said diskette pack has a guide for receiving said guide pin to center said diskette pack in relation to said support tray upon insertion of said diskette pack.

Claim 40

A floppy disk mini-drive according to claim 33 wherein said means for rotatably driving randomly moves any one of the plurality of rotational floppy diskettes into the retrievable position.

Claim 41

A floppy disk mini-drive according to claim 36 wherein said means for rotatably driving comprises: a) an index cam connected to said support tray; b) a cam follower for following said index cam; c) a stepper motor connected to said cam follower; and d) programmable microprocessor means for controlling said stepper motor.

Claim 42

A floppy disk mini-drive according to claim 33 wherein said means for moving comprises: a) a pick head having a pair of openable and closeable jaws for picking the one floppy diskette at the retrievable position; b) carriage means for carrying said pick head between the retrievable position and the rotatable operative position; c) first pick cam means for opening said jaws during movement of said pick head towards the retrievable position and then for closing said jaws at the retrievable position about the one floppy diskette, said pick head being movable with said jaws closed from the retrievable position towards the operative position; d) second release cam means for opening said jaws during movement of said pick head at the rotatable operative position to release the selected one floppy diskette onto said spindle and for then closing said jaws beyond the rotatable operative position, said pick head then being movable with said jaws closed to push the selected one floppy diskette from the rotatable operative position towards said first pick cam means and the retrievable position without said jaws being opened, said diskette pack having means for then drawing the selected one floppy diskette into the retrivable position; and e) means for driving said carriage means between the retrievable position and the rotational operative position.

Claim 43

A floppy disk mini-drive according to claim 38 wherein said means for driving comprises: a) a stepper motor connected to said carriage means; and b) programmable microprocessor means for controlling said stepper motor.

Claim 44

A floppy disk mini-drive according to claim 38 wherein said means for drawing comprises: said diskette pack having a groove and a detent being spring biased into said groove to draw the selected one floppy diskette into, and to hold the plurality of the floppy diskettes in, said diskette pack, the plurality of floppy diskettes having grooves aligned with said groove of said diskette pack.

Claim 45

A position control circuit for use with a rotatable data storage device having a reference datum, the data storage device having a material subject to expansion or contraction and being subject to eccentric rotation, the position control circuit comprising: a) means for sensing the expansion or contraction of said data storage device, including a scale having a material subject to expansion or contraction proportionally to the material of said data storage device, said scale including track locating data; b) first means for reading the reference datum; c) second means for reading said scale; d) means, connected to said first and second reading means, for generating data representing a reference position of the reference datum and for generating data representing the positions of the data tracks relative to the reference datum; and e) means for moving said first reading means relative to the reference datum and said scale relative to said second reading means.

Claim 46

A position control circuit for use with a rotatable data storage device having a reference datum, the data storage device having a material subject to expansion or contraction and being subject to eccentric rotation, the position control circuit comprising: a) means for sensing the expansion or contraction of said data storage device, including a scale having a material subject to expansion or contraction proportionally to the material of said data storage device, said scale including track locating data; b) first means for reading the reference datum; c) second means for reading said scale; d) means, connected to said first and second reading means, for generating data representing a reference position of the reference datum and for generating data representing the positions of the data tracks relative to the reference datum; and e) means for moving said first reading means relative to the reference datum and said scale relative to said second reading means.

Claim 47

A position control circuit according to claim 41 wherein said material of said scale is the same as the material of the data storage device.

Claim 48

A position control circuit according to claim 41 wherein said means for moving comprises a carriage carrying said first reading means and said scale.

Claim 49

A position control circuit according to claim 41 wherein said means for generating comprises: a) means for generating a count representing a determined position of the reference datum; and b) means for varying said count in response to said second reading means reading the track locating data.

Claim 50

A position control circuit according to claim 41 wherein the data storage device has a plurality of circumferential indices and the reference datum includes a circumferential track storing a reference signal, said generating means generating the reference position data for a plurality of positions of the circumferential track corresponding to the plurality of circumferential indices, respectively.

Claim 51

A position control circuit according to claim 41 wherein said means for moving comprises: a) a stepper motor; and b) microprocessor means for controlling said stepper motor.

Claim 52

A position control system for locating spaced apart data tracks, comprising: a) a rotatable disk-like data storage medium having a concentric reference track and a plurality of sector indicia, said medium being of a certain material and said reference track storing a frequency signal of certain amplitude; b) means for sensing the plurality of sector indicia and for generating a plurality of sector indicia signals, respectively; c) a movable carriage carrying a recording head for reading said frequency signal and a sensor, said sensor including a scale having a plurality of spaced-apart data track indicia identifying the track-to-track spacing of the data tracks, said sensor being of the same material as said material of said medium; d) stepper motor means for driving said carriage across said medium; e) means, connected to said recording head, for generating amplitude signals identifying the amplitudes of the frequency signal; f) means for sensing said plurality of data track indicia and for generating a count signal for each said data track indicia being sensed; and g) programmable microprocessor means, responsive to the sector indicia signals, for calculating reference positions of said reference track in response to the amplitude signals and the count signal, said microprocessor means being programmed to energize said stepper motor means to position said recording head relative to the reference positions until a said count signal is generated corresponding to one of the data tracks.

Claim 53

A position control system for locating spaced apart data tracks, comprising: a) a rotatable disk-like data storage medium having a concentric reference track and a plurality of sector indicia, said medium being of a certain material and said reference track storing a frequency signal of certain amplitude; b) means for sensing the plurality of sector indicia and for generating a plurality of sector indicia signals, respectively; c) a movable carriage carrying a recording head for reading said frequency signal and a sensor, said sensor including a scale having a plurality of spaced-apart data track indicia identifying the track-to-track spacing of the data tracks, said sensor being of the same material as said material of said medium; d) stepper motor means for driving said carriage across said medium; e) means, connected to said recording head, for generating amplitude signals identifying the amplitudes of the frequency signal; f) means for sensing said plurality of data track indicia and for generating a count signal for each said data track indicia being sensed; and g) programmable microprocessor means, responsive to the sector indicia signals, for calculating reference positions of said reference track in response to the amplitude signals and the count signal, said microprocessor means being programmed to energize said stepper motor means to position said recording head relative to the reference positions until a said count signal is generated corresponding to one of the data tracks.

Claim 54

A position control system according to claim 47 wherein said frequency signal is a single frequency signal.

Claim 55

A position control system according to claim 47 wherein said material is Mylar.

Claim 56

A position control system according to claim 47 wherein said means for generating amplitude signals comprises: a) means for producing voltage signals proportional to the amplitudes; and b) means for converting the voltage signals to digital data words.

Claim 57

A position control system according to claim 47 wherein said means for sensing and for generating comprises: a) means for generating pulse signals identifying each said data track indicia and directional signals identifying the direction of movement of said scale; and b) an up/down counter for counting the pulse signals and being placed in an up-count or down-count mode in response to the directional signals.

Claim 58

A position control system according to claim 47 wherein said stepper motor means comprises: a) a stepper motor being responsive to a phase modulated signal, said programmable microprocessor means generating the phase modulated signal; and b) means for gating the phase modulated signal to said stepper motor, said programmable microprocessor means controlling said gating means to gate the phase modulated signal for a predetermined duty cycle.

Claim 59

A floppy disk drive for use with a plurality of floppy diskettes having a single concentric reference track and a plurality of concentric spaced-apart data tracks, said floppy diskettes being of a material subject to expansion and contraction, comprising: a) a base having an edge guide; b) a rotatable spindle having a plane of rotationn; c) a storage box being pivotally connected to said base for rotation relative to the plane of rotation, said storage box including a disk pack having a plurality of angled guides for storing the plurality of floppy diskettes; d) first stepper motor means for driving said storage box to rotate any one of said angled guides into a retrievable position for retrieving one of the floppy diskettes; e) picker head means for moving the one of the floppy diskettes between the retrievable position and an operative position at which the one of the floppy diskettes is rotatable on said spindle and is parallel to the plane of rotation, said edge guide and a portion of one of said angled guides corresponding to the one of the floppy diskettes supporting the one of the floppy diskettes in a straight operative position; f) second stepper motor means for driving said picker head means; g) a recording head for reading the reference track; h) position control circuit means for controlling the position of said recroding head relative to the one of the floppy diskettes, including a carriage carrying said recording head, a sensor including a scale having data track indicia identifying the track-to-track spacing of the data tracks, said sensor being carried by said carriage and being of the same material as the one of the floppy diskettes, and third stepper motor means for driving said carriage across the one of the floppy diskettes; and i) programmable microprocessor means for controlling said first stepper motor means, said second stepper motor means and said third stepper motor means, said programmable microprocessor means being coupled to said recording head and to said scale, said microprocessor means being programmed to calculate the position of said reference track and to move and align said recording head relative to the position of said reference track over the data tracks.

Claim 60

A floppy disk drive for use with a plurality of floppy diskettes having a single concentric reference track and a plurality of concentric spaced-apart data tracks, said floppy diskettes being of a material subject to expansion and contraction, comprising: a) a base having an edge guide; b) a rotatable spindle having a plane of rotationn; c) a storage box being pivotally connected to said base for rotation relative to the plane of rotation, said storage box including a disk pack having a plurality of angled guides for storing the plurality of floppy diskettes; d) first stepper motor means for driving said storage box to rotate any one of said angled guides into a retrievable position for retrieving one of the floppy diskettes; e) picker head means for moving the one of the floppy diskettes between the retrievable position and an operative position at which the one of the floppy diskettes is rotatable on said spindle and is parallel to the plane of rotation, said edge guide and a portion of one of said angled guides corresponding to the one of the floppy diskettes supporting the one of the floppy diskettes in a straight operative position; f) second stepper motor means for driving said picker head means; g) a recording head for reading the reference track; h) position control circuit means for controlling the position of said recroding head relative to the one of the floppy diskettes, including a carriage carrying said recording head, a sensor including a scale having data track indicia identifying the track-to-track spacing of the data tracks, said sensor being carried by said carriage and being of the same material as the one of the floppy diskettes, and third stepper motor means for driving said carriage across the one of the floppy diskettes; and i) programmable microprocessor means for controlling said first stepper motor means, said second stepper motor means and said third stepper motor means, said programmable microprocessor means being coupled to said recording head and to said scale, said microprocessor means being programmed to calculate the position of said reference track and to move and align said recording head relative to the position of said reference track over the data tracks.

Claim 61

A disk-type data storage device comprising a data storage medium having single concentric reference track, said reference track storing a single frequency signal.

Claim 62

A disk-type data storage device comprising a data storage medium having single concentric reference track, said reference track storing a single frequency signal.

Claim 63

A disk-type data storage device according to claim 54 wherein said reference track has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and said frequency signal has a predetermined amplitude waveform between said inner diameter and said outer diameter when read by said recording head.

Claim 64

A disk-type data storage device according to claim 54 wherein said data storage medium has a plurality of equiangularly-spaced, sector identifying holes.

Claim 65

A disk-type data storage device according to claim 54 wherein said data storage medium is flexible.

Claim 66

A disk-type data storage device according to claim 54 further comprising a jacket covering said data storage medium, said jacket having a slot therethrough for retrieving said data storage medium.

Claim 67

A disk-type data storage device according to claim 58 wherein said jacket has an edge groove for holding said data storage medium in a predetermined position.

Claim 68

A disk-type data storage device according to claim 54 wherein said data storage medium is made of an expandable and contractible material.

Claim 69

Apparatus for storing and retrieving a data storage device, comprising: a) means for providing an operative position for the data storage device; b) means for storing the data storage device at a retrievable position; c) means for moving the data storage device from the retrievable position to the operative position; and d) pivotal means for clamping the data storage device at the operative position, said moving means including means for pivoting said pivotal means to clamp the data storage device.

Claim 70

Apparatus for storing and retrieving a data storage device, comprising: a) means for providing an operative position for the data storage device; b) means for storing the data storage device at a retrievable position; c) means for moving the data storage device from the retrievable position to the operative position; and d) pivotal means for clamping the data storage device at the operative position, said moving means including means for pivoting said pivotal means to clamp the data storage device.

Claim 71

Apparatus according to claim 61 wherein said means for moving comprises: a) a movable carriage carrying said pivoting means; b) a motor for moving said movable carriage; and c) programmable microprocessor means for controlling said motor to move said movable carriage to clamp and reclamp the data storage device in response to a mis-clamping of the data storage device at the operative positon.

Claim 72

Apparatus according to claim 62 wherein said pivotal means has a pivotal clamp arm and a cam being pivotal with said clamp arm, and said pivoting means comprises a cam follower being movable along said cam.