System for loading and positioning a transducer in a data storage disc cartridge

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1 wherein the carrying means includes means for engaging the ramp and means for engaging the rail means.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 1 wherein the carrying means includes means for engaging the rail means and for stabilizing the transducer against pitch and roll motions.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 3 wherein the stabilizing means comprises at least three spaced apart, angularly offset pads.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1 including an elongate slot in the plate aligned with the linear travel of the transducer, wherein the ramp comprises a pair of spaced apart ramps straddling the slot, and wherein the rail means comprises a guide surface on each side of the slot extending from about an end of the ramp past a centermost end of the slot.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1 wherein the cartridge encapsules the disc and the plate, and wherein the capsule defines an opening in alignment with the ramp and the rail means and having a sufficient size to permit entry of the transducer, and including means normally closing the opening, and means for opening the opening to permit entry of the transducer into the cartridge and movement of the transducer therein.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 6 wherein the normally closed means comprises leaf spring means normally biased into a closing position and extending over a portion of a flat surface of the cartridge, and wherein the means for opening the spring means comprises means engaging the spring means and forcing a portion of the spring means covering the opening away from the opening.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 7 wherein a portion of the spring means adjacent the opening is disposed on the exterior of the cartridge and another portion of the spring means is disposed interiorly of the cartridge, wherein the cartridge defines an opening overlying the interior portion, and wherein the means for forcing the spring open comprises ram means mounted to a support structure for the cartridge in alignment with the cartridge aperture, and means for selectively moving the ram means past the aperture against the interior portion to thereby deflect the sprIng means and move the exterior portion away from the opening.

Claim 10

In a disc drive having a support structure, a linearly movable transducer, a data storage disc housed in a cartridge having an access opening permitting entrance of the transducer into the cartridge in a radial direction, and means for rotating the disc, the improvement comprising: means disposed interiorly of the cartridge defining a guide surface for the transducer which is parallel to the plane in which the disc rotates, means defining a ramp interiorly of the cartridge which is angularly inclined with respect to the surface and positioned adjacent the opening, and means mounting the transducer for successively slideably contacting the ramp and the surface as the transducer moves from the opening towards the center of the disc to thereby guide and position the transducer with respect to the disc.

Claim 11

In a disc drive having a support structure, a linearly movable transducer, a data storage disc housed in a cartridge having an access opening permitting entrance of the transducer into the cartridge in a radial direction, and means for rotating the disc, the improvement comprising: means disposed interiorly of the cartridge defining a guide surface for the transducer which is parallel to the plane in which the disc rotates, means defining a ramp interiorly of the cartridge which is angularly inclined with respect to the surface and positioned adjacent the opening, and means mounting the transducer for successively slideably contacting the ramp and the surface as the transducer moves from the opening towards the center of the disc to thereby guide and position the transducer with respect to the disc.

Claim 12

A disc drive according to claim 9 including a plate disposed within the cartridge, and wherein the means defining the surface and the means defining the ramp are integrally constructed with the plate, and wherein the plate further includes an elongate, radially oriented opening parallel to the surface and positioned along the travel path of the transducer for positioning the transducer closely adjacent the rotating storage disc.

Claim 13

A disc drive according to claim 9 including spring means for biasing the mounting means into contact with the ramp and the surface.

Claim 14

A disc drive according to claim 11 wherein the mounting means comprises slide arms positioned for engaging the ramp only and a plurality of sliding pads which are independent of the sliding arms and distributed to engage the surface and stabilize the transducer against pitching, rolling and tilting motions as it moves along the surface.

Claim 15

A disc drive comprising a support structure, means removably mounting a disc cartridge including an aperture communicating the interior of the cartridge with the exterior, a transducer, means for linearly moving the transducer radially towards and away from a center of rotation of a disc in the cartridge through the access opening, a leaf spring having a first portion disposed exteriorly of the cartridge covering the opening and a second portion disposed interiorly of the cartridge, means securing a free end of the second portion to the cartridge, the cartridge defining an aperture overlying the second portion and a void space beneath a part of the second portion aligned with the aperture, contact means mounted to the support, and means for selectively forcing the contact means through the aperture against the part to deflect the part into the void space and thereby move the first portion of the spring and uncover the access opening to permit entrance of the transducer into the cartridge.

Claim 16

A disc drive comprising a support structure, means removably mounting a disc cartridge including an aperture communicating the interior of the cartridge with the exterior, a transducer, means for linearly moving the transducer radially towards and away from a center of rotation of a disc in the cartridge through the access opening, a leaf spring having a first portion disposed exteriorly of the cartridge covering the opening and a second portion disposed interiorly of the cartridge, means securing a free end of the second portion to the cartridge, the cartridge defining an aperture overlying the second portion and a void space beneath a part of the second portion aligned with the aperture, contact means mounted to the support, and means for selectively forcing the contact means through the aperture against the part to deflect the part into the void space and thereby move the first portion of the spring and uncover the access opening to permit entrance of the transducer into the cartridge.

Claim 17

A disc drive according to claim 13 wherein the entrance opening is in a sidewall of the cartridge, wherein the leaf spring extends at least partially across a face of the cartridge, and wherein the leaf spring has a generally L-shaped configuration defining a relatively short leg for covering the access opening.

Claim 18

A disc drive comprising a support structure, means for removably mounting a data storage disc cartridge on the support structure, the cartridge including an access opening at its periphery, means for rotating a data storage disc in the cartridge, a transducer, a linear transducer positioning motor, elongate leaf spring means secured to the motor and having a free end mounting the transducer for linear movement of the transducer past the opening into the cartridge towards and away from the center of rotation of the disc, and means disposed interiorly of the cartridge for guiding and positioning the free spring end over the full extent of its travel within the cartridge to guide the transducer and position it with respect to the rotating disc.

Claim 19

A disc drive comprising a support structure, means for removably mounting a data storage disc cartridge on the support structure, the cartridge including an access opening at its periphery, means for rotating a data storage disc in the cartridge, a transducer, a linear transducer positioning motor, elongate leaf spring means secured to the motor and having a free end mounting the transducer for linear movement of the transducer past the opening into the cartridge towards and away from the center of rotation of the disc, and means disposed interiorly of the cartridge for guiding and positioning the free spring end over the full extent of its travel within the cartridge to guide the transducer and position it with respect to the rotating disc.

Claim 20

A disc drive according to claim 15 including means for physically separating the rotating disc and the transducer for preventing physical contact between them.

Claim 21

A disc drive according to claim 15 wherein the guiding and positioning means is located in the travel path of the free spring end when the spring is in its relaxed position to intercept the free end once it enters the access opening so that the free end of the spring leaf is biased into contact with the guiding and positioning means.

Claim 22

A disc drive according to claim 17 wherein the guiding and positioning means is positioned to contact the free spring end during all possible operative spring end locations within the cartridge.

Claim 23

A disc drive according to claim 15 wherein the travel path of the leaf spring is on one side of the disc, and wherein the leaf spring has a longitudinal shape when relaxed so that a perpendicular distance between the disc side and the free spring end is less than such spacing between the disc side and an end of the spring secured to the linear motor.

Claim 24

A disc drive according to claim 19 wherein the leaf spring is longitudinally curved.

Claim 25

A data storage disc cartridge comprising a housing defining a space for rotating a data storage disc, a rigid center plate overlying the space and including an elongate slot extending from adjacent a periphery of the housing towards a center thereof in a radial direction, the housing including an access opening aligned with the slot and positioned to provide communication to a housing interior on a side of the disc facing away from the space, the side of the plate defining an elongate, flat guidance surface on each side of the slot extending over substantially the full length of the slot, and elongate, relatively short ramps laterally spaced from the surfaces and positioned adjacent the periphery of the plate and the access opening, the ramps sloping from a high point at the plate periphery towards the side of the plate, whereby a transducer can be placed on the surfaces by moving it along the ramps for positioning and registration with respect to a disc rotating in the cartridge space.

Claim 26

A data storage disc cartridge comprising a housing defining a space for rotating a data storage disc, a rigid center plate overlying the space and including an elongate slot extending from adjacent a periphery of the housing towards a center thereof in a radial direction, the housing including an access opening aligned with the slot and positioned to provide communication to a housing interior on a side of the disc facing away from the space, the side of the plate defining an elongate, flat guidance surface on each side of the slot extending over substantially the full length of the slot, and elongate, relatively short ramps laterally spaced from the surfaces and positioned adjacent the periphery of the plate and the access opening, the ramps sloping from a high point at the plate periphery towards the side of the plate, whereby a transducer can be placed on the surfaces by moving it along the ramps for positioning and registration with respect to a disc rotating in the cartridge space.

Claim 27

A cartridge according to claim 21 including normally closed means covering the opening to prevent contamination of and damage to the housing interior.

Claim 28

A cartridge according to claim 22 wherein the plate and the housing define a void on the side of the plate fitted with the surfaces and ramps, the void extending from about a center of the plate in a radial direction to the plate periphery, wherein the normally closed means comprises a leaf spring extending from about the center of the plate to the periphery thereof, a first portion of the leaf spring being disposed on the interior of the housing in the void and a second portion being disposed on the exterior of the housing and closing the opening.

Claim 29

A cartridge according to claim 23 including means securing a free end of the first spring portion to the housing interior, and wherein the housing defines an edge in contact with the spring, positioned where the first and second spring portions meet and oriented perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal extent of the spring, wherein the housing further defines an aperture overlying the first portion so that the first portion can be deflected into the void whereby the second spring portion pivots about the edge and moves and uncovers the opening while release of the first portion automatically returns the spring to its relaxed position in which the opening is covered.