US3800325A — Disc drive for memory disc cartridge

Claim 1

Independent Claim 314 words

A memory disc drive for use with a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with front and rear portions and upper and lower surfaces and a pair of locating recesses on either side of the front portion, a disc hub that can rotate within the cartridge, and a memory disc fixed to the hub comprising: a rigid stationary machine frame with a pair of locating projections for receiving the locating recesses of the cartridge; a spindle rotatably mounted on said machine frame and having a spindle hub for engaging the disc hub of the memory disc; a cartridge receiver having a rear end portion, an open front end, and a lower portion formed to receive said cartridge by inserting the cartridge through the open front end of the receiver; means pivotally mounting the rear end portion of the receiver on said machine frame for pivoting the receiver between a raised position wherein the cartridge can be received and a lowered position wherein the disc hub of the cartridge rests on the spindle hub and the walls at said locating recesses of said cartridge housing rest on the locating projections on said machine frame; said machine frame having a precision support surface formed thereon and located to support the rear portion of the lower surface of the cartridge when the receiver is in the lowered position, the most rearward part of said receiver which contacts the lower surface of the cartridge housing lying in front of said precision support surface, and the machine frame having a recess that receives said rearward receiver part below the level of said precision machined surface so that said rearward receiver part lies spaced beneath the lower cartridge surface when the receiver is in its lowered position, whereby the receiver falls away from the cartridge to permit the precision machined surface to support it at an accurately determined height.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 314 words

A memory disc drive for use with a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with front and rear portions and upper and lower surfaces and a pair of locating recesses on either side of the front portion, a disc hub that can rotate within the cartridge, and a memory disc fixed to the hub comprising: a rigid stationary machine frame with a pair of locating projections for receiving the locating recesses of the cartridge; a spindle rotatably mounted on said machine frame and having a spindle hub for engaging the disc hub of the memory disc; a cartridge receiver having a rear end portion, an open front end, and a lower portion formed to receive said cartridge by inserting the cartridge through the open front end of the receiver; means pivotally mounting the rear end portion of the receiver on said machine frame for pivoting the receiver between a raised position wherein the cartridge can be received and a lowered position wherein the disc hub of the cartridge rests on the spindle hub and the walls at said locating recesses of said cartridge housing rest on the locating projections on said machine frame; said machine frame having a precision support surface formed thereon and located to support the rear portion of the lower surface of the cartridge when the receiver is in the lowered position, the most rearward part of said receiver which contacts the lower surface of the cartridge housing lying in front of said precision support surface, and the machine frame having a recess that receives said rearward receiver part below the level of said precision machined surface so that said rearward receiver part lies spaced beneath the lower cartridge surface when the receiver is in its lowered position, whereby the receiver falls away from the cartridge to permit the precision machined surface to support it at an accurately determined height.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 120 words

The drive described in claim 1 wherein: said machine frame has a spindle aperture with walls surrounding said spindle hub and has a second precision surface surrounding most of said spindle aperture for lying substantially against said disc cartridge; and including means for blowing filtered air upwardly between said spindle hub and said second precision surface; and wherein said machine frame defines a depression between the rear of said second precision surface and the front end of said first precision surface; and said cartridge receiver includes a framework with a narrow elongated laterally extending member which is received in said depression between said precision surfaces, said member lying below said precision surfaces when the receiver is in said lowered position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 139 words

The drive described in claim 1 wherein: said disc cartridge has walls defining an air opening in its lower surface and has an air door biased towards a closed position on the cartridge housing, and said machine frame has a second precision surface with a hole in it which lies substantially against the walls of the cartridge housing surrounding the air opening so there is substantially no gap there-between; and including a second cover mounted on said machine frame beneath said second precision surface for closing the hole therein; means for upwardly biasing said second cover; an opening member mounted on said second door and extending upwardly therefrom through said hole in said second precision surface, to push apart both covers so they both open; and means for blowing filtered air through the hole in said second precision surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 180 words

A memory disc drive for use with a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with front and rear ends and upper and lower surfaces, and a memory dIsc that can rotate within the housing, comprising: a rigid machine frame having at least three raised precision surfaces and having a plurality of depressions between said raised surfaces; a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame for engaging the memory disc of a disc cartridge; means for rotating said spindle; and a cartridge receiver pivotally mounted on said frame for movement between raised and lowered positions thereon, said receiver including a lower framework of elongated members which support the lower surface of the cartridge housing when the disc cartridge is placed on the receiver while the receiver is in the raised position, and having means for biasing the cartridge downwardly against the lower framework, said lower framework fitting in the recesses between said raised precision surfaces and lying below them when the receiver is in the lowered position, so that the cartridge housing is pressed down and rests on the precision surfaces.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 180 words

A memory disc drive for use with a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with front and rear ends and upper and lower surfaces, and a memory dIsc that can rotate within the housing, comprising: a rigid machine frame having at least three raised precision surfaces and having a plurality of depressions between said raised surfaces; a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame for engaging the memory disc of a disc cartridge; means for rotating said spindle; and a cartridge receiver pivotally mounted on said frame for movement between raised and lowered positions thereon, said receiver including a lower framework of elongated members which support the lower surface of the cartridge housing when the disc cartridge is placed on the receiver while the receiver is in the raised position, and having means for biasing the cartridge downwardly against the lower framework, said lower framework fitting in the recesses between said raised precision surfaces and lying below them when the receiver is in the lowered position, so that the cartridge housing is pressed down and rests on the precision surfaces.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 64 words

The disc drive described in claim 4 wherein: said precision surfaces include a rear precision surface which is located to engage the rear end of the cartridge housing; and said receiver has a rearward portion pivotally mounted on said frame, and the most rearward portion of said lower framework which can support the cartridge housing is spaced in front of said rear precision surface.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 199 words

A memory disc drive system comprising: a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with a central aperture in its lower surface and means defining an opening near its periphery, a disc hub, and a memory disc fixed to the hub, the hub and disc rotatable within the housing with their center aligned with said housing aperture; a machine frame having a rigid upper plate with a spindle hub aperture therein and having a substantially enclosed chamber beneath said upper plate, said cartridge lying on said machine frame; a spindle rotatably mounted on said machine frame and having a spindle hub in said machine frame aperture which engages the disc hub of the disc cartridge; means for rapidly rotating said spindle; said upper plate of the machine frame having a precision sealing surface which immediately surrounds most of said spindle hub aperture and which substantially engages the surface of the cartridge housing which surrounds the central aperture therein; and an air blower which includes a filter for blowing only filtered air, said blower having an outlet coupled to said chamber of said machine frame, whereby air the leaks into the cartridge housing through the central aperture therein is filtered.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 199 words

A memory disc drive system comprising: a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with a central aperture in its lower surface and means defining an opening near its periphery, a disc hub, and a memory disc fixed to the hub, the hub and disc rotatable within the housing with their center aligned with said housing aperture; a machine frame having a rigid upper plate with a spindle hub aperture therein and having a substantially enclosed chamber beneath said upper plate, said cartridge lying on said machine frame; a spindle rotatably mounted on said machine frame and having a spindle hub in said machine frame aperture which engages the disc hub of the disc cartridge; means for rapidly rotating said spindle; said upper plate of the machine frame having a precision sealing surface which immediately surrounds most of said spindle hub aperture and which substantially engages the surface of the cartridge housing which surrounds the central aperture therein; and an air blower which includes a filter for blowing only filtered air, said blower having an outlet coupled to said chamber of said machine frame, whereby air the leaks into the cartridge housing through the central aperture therein is filtered.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 244 words

A memory disc drive for use with a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with a central aperture in its lower surface, an air hole in its lower surface spaced from said central aperture, an air door biased toward a closed position on said air hole, and a memory disc assembly rotatable within the housing with its center over the housing aperture, comprising: a machine frame having a substantially enclosed chamber and an upper plate at the top of the chamber, said upper plate having a spindle aperture therein and an air outlet aperture therein; a cover biased toward a closed position on said air outlet aperture; a spindle having portions within said enclosed chamber and in said spindle aperture of the upper plate; means for rotatably supporting said spindle on said frame; means for rotating said spindle; an auxiliary memory disc mounted on said spindle within said enclosed chamber; means responsive to the reception of a disc cartridge on said machine frame for opening said air door of the cartridge and moving said cover to an open position on said air outlet aperture; and an air blower which includes a filter for blowing only filtered air, said blower having an outlet coupled to said chamber of said machine frame, whereby the memory disc in the chamber is protected against dust when not in use and both it and the disc in the carTridge are bathed in filtered air with a single blower.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 244 words

A memory disc drive for use with a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with a central aperture in its lower surface, an air hole in its lower surface spaced from said central aperture, an air door biased toward a closed position on said air hole, and a memory disc assembly rotatable within the housing with its center over the housing aperture, comprising: a machine frame having a substantially enclosed chamber and an upper plate at the top of the chamber, said upper plate having a spindle aperture therein and an air outlet aperture therein; a cover biased toward a closed position on said air outlet aperture; a spindle having portions within said enclosed chamber and in said spindle aperture of the upper plate; means for rotatably supporting said spindle on said frame; means for rotating said spindle; an auxiliary memory disc mounted on said spindle within said enclosed chamber; means responsive to the reception of a disc cartridge on said machine frame for opening said air door of the cartridge and moving said cover to an open position on said air outlet aperture; and an air blower which includes a filter for blowing only filtered air, said blower having an outlet coupled to said chamber of said machine frame, whereby the memory disc in the chamber is protected against dust when not in use and both it and the disc in the carTridge are bathed in filtered air with a single blower.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 91 words

The memory disc drive described in claim 7 wherein: said means for rotatably supporting the spindle on the frame lies under said auxiliary memory disc, and there is a clearance between said spindle and the walls forming the spindle aperture in said upper plate; and said upper plate of the machine frame has a precision sealing surface surrounding most of said spindle aperture for substantially engaging the surface of the cartridge housing which surrounds the central aperture therein, whereby to flow filtered air into the cartridge through the central aperture therein.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 85 words

The memory disc drive described in claim 7 wherein: said upper plate of the machine frame includes a raised precision surface surrounding said air outlet; and including a cartridge receiver moveable between raised and lowered positions over said upper plate, and having a cartridge supporting portion that moves below the level of said raised precision surface when the receiver is in its lowered position, so that the walls of the cartridge housing immediately surrounding said air hole therein can lie substantially against said support surface.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 78 words

The memory disc drive described in claim 7 wherein: said frame defines an elongated passageway which is sealed around most of its periphery and which extends from the periphery of said chamber; and including slider bearing means mounted in said passageway; and a memory head assembly including a head support extending through said passageway and slideably mounted on said slider bearing means, whereby to minimize the loss of filtered air and to keep the slider bearing means clean.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 163 words

A memory disc drive for use with a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with a central aperture in its lower surface, a flat lower surface region with an air hole therein spaced from said aperture, and a memory disc assembly rotatable within the housing with its center over the housing aperture comprising: a machine frame having a spindle aperture and an air outlet, said frame having a raised flat precision surface surrounding said air outlet; means for blowing filtered air up through said air outlet; a cartridge receiver mounted on said frame for movement between raised and lowered positions on said upper plate, said receiver having a cartridge supporting portion that moves below the level of said raised flat precision surface when the receiver is in its lowered position, so that said flat region of the cartridge which surrounds the air hole therein can lie against said precision surface, whereby to minimize the entrance of unfiltered air through said air hole.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 163 words

A memory disc drive for use with a disc cartridge that includes a cartridge housing with a central aperture in its lower surface, a flat lower surface region with an air hole therein spaced from said aperture, and a memory disc assembly rotatable within the housing with its center over the housing aperture comprising: a machine frame having a spindle aperture and an air outlet, said frame having a raised flat precision surface surrounding said air outlet; means for blowing filtered air up through said air outlet; a cartridge receiver mounted on said frame for movement between raised and lowered positions on said upper plate, said receiver having a cartridge supporting portion that moves below the level of said raised flat precision surface when the receiver is in its lowered position, so that said flat region of the cartridge which surrounds the air hole therein can lie against said precision surface, whereby to minimize the entrance of unfiltered air through said air hole.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-03-25	1977-09-24	1978-03-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-03-25	1981-09-24	1982-03-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-03-25	1985-09-24	1986-03-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Disc drive for memory disc cartridge

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