US3890643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible disk drive cartridge loading apparatus
Assignee: Shugart Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1973-07-12
•
Granted: 1975-06-17
•
Expires: 1993-07-12
Abstract
Abstract Flexible disk cartridge loading apparatus including a disk drive chassis, a guide plate having one side pivoted to the chassis and the opposite side attached for a closure for closing a cartridge receiving slot and for rotating the guide plate about its pivoted side and into a drive loading position, an ejector mechanism which is cocked as the cartridge is inserted through the slot, and is released to eject the cartridge through the slot as the closure is later opened, and precision camming surfaces which cooperate with the closing of the guide plate to accurately position the cartridge relative to a drive spindle as the drive plate is rotated into the drive loading position.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren L Dalziel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:58
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/04; G11B17/041; G11B17/043; G11B17/022; G11B17/028; G11B17/035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In a flexible disk drive apparatus including a chassis, a disk drive means affixed to the chassis, record/playback means and means for positioning a flexible disk cartridge relative to the drive and record/playback means, an improved cartridge positioning means, comprising: guide means having a first side pivotally affixed to said chassis and having means for receiving a cartridge inserted on a second side opposite said first side, said guide means being rotatable between a cartridge receiving position and a cartridge loaded position wherein a cartridge disposed in said guide means is moved into engagement with said drive means when said guide means is rotated from said receiving position to said loaded position; ejector means carried by said guide means and movable along said guide means between a released position and a cocked position, said ejector means being engaged by said cartridge and moved thereby into said cocked position as said cartridge is received by said guide means and being released to eject said cartridge from said guide means as said guide means is rotated from said loaded position to said recEiving position; and cartridge registering means affixed to said chassis for engaging an edge of said cartridge as said guide means is rotated into said loaded position, and for moving said cartridge into registration with said drive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a flexible disk drive apparatus including a chassis, a disk drive means affixed to the chassis, record/playback means and means for positioning a flexible disk cartridge relative to the drive and record/playback means, an improved cartridge positioning means, comprising: guide means having a first side pivotally affixed to said chassis and having means for receiving a cartridge inserted on a second side opposite said first side, said guide means being rotatable between a cartridge receiving position and a cartridge loaded position wherein a cartridge disposed in said guide means is moved into engagement with said drive means when said guide means is rotated from said receiving position to said loaded position; ejector means carried by said guide means and movable along said guide means between a released position and a cocked position, said ejector means being engaged by said cartridge and moved thereby into said cocked position as said cartridge is received by said guide means and being released to eject said cartridge from said guide means as said guide means is rotated from said loaded position to said recEiving position; and cartridge registering means affixed to said chassis for engaging an edge of said cartridge as said guide means is rotated into said loaded position, and for moving said cartridge into registration with said drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a generally rectangular guide plate having a surface for engaging one face of said cartridge and means affixed to said guide plate facing said surface for engaging the opposite face of said cartridge to hold said cartridge in sandwiched relationship therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said guide plate has an elongated slot provided therein extending in the direction in which said cartridge is received, and said ejector means includes an elongated block slideably mating with said slot and means for resiliently biasing said ejector block toward said released position, said guide plate further including means for locking said ejector block in said cocked position after it is moved thereinto by said cartridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for locking includes a locking edge formed in said plate near one end of said slot, and said ejector block has a shoulder for mating with said locking edge as said ejector block is moved into said cocked position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said ejector block further includes an ejector foot extending through said slot to engage said one edge of said cartridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a flexible drive apparatus as recited in claim 5 and further comprising keeper means affixed to said chassis and operative to engage said ejector block as said guide plate is moved into said loaded position and to disengage said shoulder from said locking edge, said keeper means being further operative to hold said ejector block in a second cocked position until said guide plate is rotated away from said loaded position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said chassis includes a face plate having a cartridge receiving opening positioned proximate said second side of said guide plate when said guide plate is in said cartridge receiving position, and closure means disposed outside of said face plate and affixed to said second side of said guide plate, said closure means causing said guide means to move into said loaded position when said closure means is moved into position to cover said opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cartridge registering means includes a projection extending from said chassis normal to said guide means when said guide means is in said loaded position, said projection having a camming surface for engaging said cartridge edge and moving said cartridge toward said second side as said guide means is rotated into said loaded position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus comprising: an instrument chassis; disk drive means affixed to said chassis; guide means having a first side pivotally affixed to said chassis and a second side opposite said first side for receiving a flexible disk cartridge, said guide means being rotatable between a cartridge receiving position wherein the cartridge is inserted into said guide means and a cartridge loaded position wherein the cartridge is held in operative engagement with said drive means; cartridge registering means affixed to said chassis for engaging an edge of the cartridge as said guide means is rotated into said loaded position and for moving the cartridge into registration with said drive means; and ejector means carried by said guide means for ejecting said cartridge as said guide means is returned from said loaded position to said receiving position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus comprising: an instrument chassis; disk drive means affixed to said chassis; guide means having a first side pivotally affixed to said chassis and a second side opposite said first side for receiving a flexible disk cartridge, said guide means being rotatable between a cartridge receiving position wherein the cartridge is inserted into said guide means and a cartridge loaded position wherein the cartridge is held in operative engagement with said drive means; cartridge registering means affixed to said chassis for engaging an edge of the cartridge as said guide means is rotated into said loaded position and for moving the cartridge into registration with said drive means; and ejector means carried by said guide means for ejecting said cartridge as said guide means is returned from said loaded position to said receiving position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said ejector means includes a spring loaded ejector block carried by said guide means, said ejeCtor block being engaged by the cartridge and moved relative to said guide means from a released position into a cocked position as the cartridge is received by said guide means, said ejector block being released from said cocked position to eject the cartridge when said guide means is rotated away from said loaded position toward said receiving position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 10 and further comprising latch means for holding said guide means in said loaded position until said latch means is released.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said chassis includes a face plate having an opening through which the cartridge is received, said opening being positioned proximate said second side of said guide means, said apparatus further comprising closure means disposed outside said face plate and coupled to said second side of said guide means, said closure means being operative to close said opening when said guide means is in said loaded position and to open said opening when said guide means is in said receiving position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said guide means includes a generally rectangular guide plate having a surface for engaging one side of the cartridge and means affixed to said guide plate facing said surface for engaging the opposite side of said cartridge to hold said cartridge in sandwiched relationship therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said guide plate has an elongated slot provided therein extending in the direction in which the cartridge is received, and wherein said ejector means includes an ejector block slideably mating with said slot and movable between a released position and a cocked position, said ejector block being engaged by the cartridge and moved into said cocked position as the cartridge is received by said guide means, resilient means biasing said ejector block toward said released position, said guide plate further including means for locking said ejector block in said cocked position after it is moved thereinto by the cartridge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said means for locking includes a locking edge formed in said plate near one end of said slot, and wherein said ejector block includes a locking shoulder for mating with said locking edge as said ejector block is moved into said cocked position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said ejector block further includes an ejector foot extending through said slot to engage the cartridge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
Flexible drive apparatus as recited in claim 16 and further comprising keeper means affixed to said chassis and operative to engage said ejector block as said guide plate is moved into said loaded position and to disengage said shoulder from said locking edge, said keeper means being further operative to hold said ejector block in a second cocked position until said guide plate is rotated away from said loaded position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
Flexible drive apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said keeper means includes a stud extending outwardly from said chassis in a direction generally normal to said guide plate when said guide plate is in said loaded position, and wherein said ejector foot includes a receptacle for receiving said stud.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
86 words
Flexible drive apparatus as recited in claim 9 and further comprising a face plate affixed to said chassis and having a cartridge receiving opening proximate said second side of said guide means when said guide means is in said cartridge receiving position, and closure means disposed outside of said face plate and affixed to said second side of said guide means, said closure means causing said guide means to move into said loaded position when said closure means is moved into position to cover said opening.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
Flexible disk drive apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said registering means includes a projection extending from said chassis in A direction generally normal to said guide means when said guide means is in said loaded position, said projection including a camming surface for engaging an edge of the cartridge and for moving the cartridge in the direction of said drive means as the cartridge is moved into said loaded position by said guide means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3815150A
Cited
US3770908A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |