Variable diameter disc pack with cooperating head

Claim 2

A memory system comprising: a plurality of flexible discs adapted to magnetically record electronic signals, said discs being mounted on a common shaft, each of said discs being of a different diameter than the others, and said discs being arranged in order of increasing diameter; and read means including a movable read head defining a distal end, said head being movable radially of said plurality of discs until said distal end aligns vertically with the periphery of a disc selected to be read, said head means thence being movable vertically until said head is aligned with the plane of said selected disc, said head then being movable radially inward of said selected disc to select a track thereon.

Claim 3

A memory system comprising: a plurality of flexible discs adapted to magnetically record electronic signals, said discs being mounted on a common shaft, each of said discs being of a different diameter than the others, and said discs being arranged in order of increasing diameter; and read means including a movable read head defining a distal end, said head being movable radially of said plurality of discs until said distal end aligns vertically with the periphery of a disc selected to be read, said head means thence being movable vertically until said head is aligned with the plane of said selected disc, said head then being movable radially inward of said selected disc to select a track thereon.

Claim 4

A memory system comprising: a plurality of flexible discs adapted to magnetically record electronic signals, said discs being mounted on a common shaft, each of said discs being of a different diameter than the others, and said discs being arranged in order of increasing diameter; and read means including a movable read head defining a distal end, said head being movable radially of said plurality of discs until said distal end aligns vertically with the periphery of a disc selected to be read, said head means thence being movable vertically until said head is aligned with the plane of said selected disc, said head then being movable radially inward of said selected disc to select a track thereon.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said read head has a thin, knife-like shape, converging to a point at the distal end thereof and defining a longitudinal slit extending from said converging point for receiving a selected disc.

Claim 6

The system of claim 2 wherein each disc of larger diameter relative to an adjacent disc of smaller diameter provides a peripheral lip extension beyond the outer circumference of said smaller disc, and wherein said head is divided into two sections by said longitudinal slit, the distal end of one of said sections terminating short of the other while conforming to the convergence thereof to thereby define a contact surface adapted to engage the peripheral lip extension of a disc during the vertical selection motion of said head.

Claim 7

In a memory system adapted for archival storage of large quantities of digital data, the combination comprising a plurality of groups of flexible recording discs, each group comprising a plurality of discs having varying outer circumferences and being arranged in order of increasing circumference from bottom to top, whereby each disc defines a peripheral lip extension relative to a lower disc, said lip extension being adapted to engage a corresponding contact surface on a vertically movable read head, whereby a desired disc may be isolated from adjacent discs.

Claim 8

In a memory system adapted for archival storage of large quantities of digital data, the combination comprising a plurality of groups of flexible recording discs, each group comprising a plurality of discs having varying outer circumferences and being arranged in order of increasing circumference from bottom to top, whereby each disc defines a peripheral lip extension relative to a lower disc, said lip extension being adapted to engage a corresponding contact surface on a vertically movable read head, whereby a desired disc may be isolated from adjacent discs.

Claim 9

The system of claim 4 further comprising a narrow read head including a longitudinal slit arcuate in transverse section for receiving an associated disc and for forcing adjacent discs away from said selected disc when said head is moved radially thereof.

Claim 10

In a memory system for archival storage of large quantities of digital electronic data; the combination comprising a plurality of vertically-stacked packs of flexible discs adapted for the magnetic storage of signals, said discs being mounted on a common axis for rotation therewith; each stack being arranged into a plurality of groups of discs, adjacent stacks being separated by plates extending transverse of the shaft; each individual group of discs comprising a plurality of discs of different diameters and arranged in order of increasing diameter; and a movable head having a generally converging distal end and defining an elongated slit with an arcuate cross-sectional shape, said head being movable vertically to register with a selected group of discs, thence being movable radially inward of said discs until its distal end aligns with an overhanging peripheral lip of the disc selected to be read; said head thence being movable vertically to engage the selected disc and thence being movable radially inward to receive the selected disc within said elongated slit; said head further including magnetic pick-off means for reading the digital information stored magnetically on the selected disc.

Claim 11

In a memory system for archival storage of large quantities of digital electronic data; the combination comprising a plurality of vertically-stacked packs of flexible discs adapted for the magnetic storage of signals, said discs being mounted on a common axis for rotation therewith; each stack being arranged into a plurality of groups of discs, adjacent stacks being separated by plates extending transverse of the shaft; each individual group of discs comprising a plurality of discs of different diameters and arranged in order of increasing diameter; and a movable head having a generally converging distal end and defining an elongated slit with an arcuate cross-sectional shape, said head being movable vertically to register with a selected group of discs, thence being movable radially inward of said discs until its distal end aligns with an overhanging peripheral lip of the disc selected to be read; said head thence being movable vertically to engage the selected disc and thence being movable radially inward to receive the selected disc within said elongated slit; said head further including magnetic pick-off means for reading the digital information stored magnetically on the selected disc.