Latch mechanism for memory disc cartridge

Claim 2

A disc drive for use with a replaceable disc pack assembly that includes at least one memory disc and a cover of a predetermined height at the periphery of its top comprising: a disc drive frame including a pack-receiving region for receiving a disc pack assembly with the top of the cover thereof extending largely horizontal; means for driving the memory disc of the disc assembly; means for sensing the proper mounting of the disc pack assembly at said pack-receiving region including a hold-down arm and means for moving said arm substantially horizontally between a first position spaced from the cover of the disc pack assembly and a second position over the cover, said moving means maintaining the arm at a height lower than the top of the cover periphery when the arm is in said first position and said arm moveable upwardly so it can be raised by the cover to a position over the cover when the arm moves to the second position; and means responsive to raising of said arm for controlling said driving means to prevent rotation of the memory disc of the assembly if the arm is not raised.

Claim 3

The disc drive described in claim 1 wherein: said arm moving means includes an arm mover pivotally mounted about a primarily vertical axis on said frame, said arm being mounted to pivot with said arm mover about said primarily vertical axis and also to pivot about a primarily horizontal axis, and said arm moving means includes a spring urging said arm towards a predetermined level wherein said arm will engage a properly installed cover neat its top.

Claim 4

The disc drive described in claim 1 including: a solenoid mounted on said frame and operable between a first condition wherein it prevents pivoting of said arm from said second position to said first position and a second condition wherein it permits said pivoting; and time delay means responsive to operation of said driving means for operating said solenoid at a time delayed by a predetermined period after said driving means begins to decelerate, said time period being of the order of magnitude as the period between the beginning of deceleration of said driving means and the time at which said driving means coasts to a complete stop.

Claim 5

The disc drive described in claim 1 including: a second raiseable hold-down arm mounted at a location on a side of the cover position opposite the first named arm; second means for moving the second arm between positions respectively spaced from and lying over the cover; and a flexible cable extending about the cover position and connecting said first named and second moving means, for operating them to move the arms simultaneously between positions over and away from the cover.

Claim 6

A disc drive for use with a replaceable disc pack assembly that includes at least one memory disc and a cover of predetermined height at the periphery of its top, comprising: a disc drive frame including a pack assembly receiving region for receiving a disc pack assembly with the top of the cover thereof extending at a predetermined height on the frame; means selectively energizable for driving the memory disc of the disc assembly; a pair of arm-moving members pivotally mounted on the frame about substantially vertical axes at opposite sides of the pack assembly receiving region; a pair of arms each coupled to one of said arm-moving members to be pivoted about a substantially vertical axis by it, and each arm pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis so that the arms can move over and away from the position of the pack assembly cover and the arms can lift onto the top of a cover; spring means coupled to said arms to urge then downwardly; a switch mounted on said frame and positioned to be operated by a first of said arms only if said first arm is raised; means coupled to said arm-moving members to pivot them; and means coupled to said switch to permit energization of said driving means only if said switch is activated.

Claim 7

A disc drive for use with a replaceable disc pack assembly that includes at least one memory disc and a cover of predetermined height at the periphery of its top, comprising: a disc drive frame including a pack assembly receiving region for receiving a disc pack assembly with the top of the cover thereof extending at a predetermined height on the frame; means selectively energizable for driving the memory disc of the disc assembly; a pair of arm-moving members pivotally mounted on the frame about substantially vertical axes at opposite sides of the pack assembly receiving region; a pair of arms each coupled to one of said arm-moving members to be pivoted about a substantially vertical axis by it, and each arm pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis so that the arms can move over and away from the position of the pack assembly cover and the arms can lift onto the top of a cover; spring means coupled to said arms to urge then downwardly; a switch mounted on said frame and positioned to be operated by a first of said arms only if said first arm is raised; means coupled to said arm-moving members to pivot them; and means coupled to said switch to permit energization of said driving means only if said switch is activated.

Claim 8

The disc drive described in claim 5 including: a solenoid-engageable member fixed to one of said arm-moving members; a solenoid with armature means moveable into and out of the path of said solenoid-engageable member, to respectively permit or prevent pivoting of the arm-moving member; and means for maintaining said armature means in the path of said solenoid-engageable member at least until said driving means stops.

Claim 9

The disc drive described in claim 5 including: a cover mountable at a predetermined location on said frame and having a top surface which is beveled at its periphery, the lowermost portion of the beveled surface being at a height below the outer end of said arm and the top of said beveled surface being at a height above the outer end of said arm when the arm is in its lowest position.