EP0086395A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disk drive
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1983-02-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A disk drive reads and writes information on a flexible .magnetic disk stored in a rigid disk cartridge (8). The drive contains apparatus for loading and registering the cartridge in the drive without the assistance of a loading tray or cartridge carrier. A disk drive spindle (16), recording head '(18) and cartridge position registration pins (42A) all protrude into the insertion path for the cartridge above support ledges (41). The spindle and pins are shaped and positioned so that the cartridge will not strike the recording head as it is inserted. Spring-biased plates (40) bias the cartridge down against the spindle and the registration pins. When the cartridge is fully inserted, it snaps into a registered position on the ledges (41) over the pins, the spindle and the recording head.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig Richard Hickethier
- 👤 Ronald Eugene Hogan
- 👤 Marvin Edward Prahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:29
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/03; G11B23/033; G11B23/0332; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/022; G11B17/028; G11B17/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
1 A disk drive for reading and writing magnetic signals on a flexible magnetic disk (17) housed inside a rigid cartridge (8), the drive having a rotatable drive spindle (16) mounted on a frame (31) of the drive for rotating the magnetic disk, and having a read/write head (18) for reading and writing signals on the magnetic disk, characterised by fixed guide and registration means (41;68) for registering the cartridge in a plane relative to the spindle and the recording head, the spindle and the head protruding above the registration plane of the guide and registration means into the initial insertion path of the cartridge, the spindle being bevelled (16A) to tilt the cartridge up over the spindle and head as the cartridge moves into the drive, the cartridge having registration recesses (60,62) for mating with registration pins (42A,42B) on the frame when the cartridge is fully inserted in the drive, and the cartridge dropping onto the registration plane of the guide means, when the recesses align with the pins, whereby the cartridge is registered in the proper plane and centred relative to the spindle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
1 A disk drive for reading and writing magnetic signals on a flexible magnetic disk (17) housed inside a rigid cartridge (8), the drive having a rotatable drive spindle (16) mounted on a frame (31) of the drive for rotating the magnetic disk, and having a read/write head (18) for reading and writing signals on the magnetic disk, characterised by fixed guide and registration means (41;68) for registering the cartridge in a plane relative to the spindle and the recording head, the spindle and the head protruding above the registration plane of the guide and registration means into the initial insertion path of the cartridge, the spindle being bevelled (16A) to tilt the cartridge up over the spindle and head as the cartridge moves into the drive, the cartridge having registration recesses (60,62) for mating with registration pins (42A,42B) on the frame when the cartridge is fully inserted in the drive, and the cartridge dropping onto the registration plane of the guide means, when the recesses align with the pins, whereby the cartridge is registered in the proper plane and centred relative to the spindle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
2 A drive according to claim 1, in which the pins protrude above the registration plane of the cartridge beyond the head, cartridge riding on top of the spindle and the pins after the leading edge of the cartridge reaches the pins, so that the cartridge does not contact the recording head as it is inserted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
3 A drive according to claim 1 or 2, including means (34A,40) for biasing the cartridge against the guide means and the top of the spindle as the cartridge is inserted, the cartridge, when the recesses and pins align, snapping into a registered position, defined by the guide means and the pins, relative to the drive spindle with spindle and head access openings of the cartridge aligned with the spindle and head of the drive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
4 A drive according to claim 3, in which one corner (64) of the leading edge of the cartridge is truncated, and a blocking member (66) prevents full insertion of the cartridge into the drive if the inserted cartridge is not oriented so that the truncated corner of the cartridge provides clearance between the cartridge and the blocking member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
5 A drive according to any preceding claim, in which the registration pins (42A,42B) are bevelled to contact the leading edge of the cartridge and lift the cartridge over the top of the pins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
6 A drive according to claim 5, in which the registration pins are conical in shape and the recesses have bevelled walls to match the pins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
7 A drive according to any preceding claim, including a lever (12) having an open and closed position and being movable between the two positions, actuating means (34) for lifting a disk clamp collet (14) away from the spindle when the lever is moved to the open position and for lowering the collet to clamp the disk to the spindle when the lever is moved to the closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
8 A drive according to claim 7, including second actuating means (38,36) for lifting a recording head pressure pad away from the disk when the lever is moved to the open position and for lowering the pressure pad against the disk and opposite the head when the lever is moved to the closed postion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
9 A drive according to claim 8, including third actuating means (12A,33C) for lowering a pressure probe (33A) away from the cartridge when the lever is moved to the open position and for moving the pressure probe against a disk cleaning pad when the lever is moved to the closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
10 A drive according to any preceding claim, in which the drive has a stop wall (31A) to limit insertion of a cartridge (8) and prevent the registration recesses (60,62) going beyond the registration pins (42A,42B).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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