Flexible magnetic recording disc drive with interlock to protect recording disc cartridge

Claim 1

A disc drive for use with an operator-inserted flexible magnetic recording disc cartridge, comprising means selectively openable and closable for receiving such an inserted cartridge when open and releasably clamping the recording disc contained within said cartridge in a position for recording and playback when said receiving and clamping means is closed, door means selectively movable between a fully closed position covering and a fully open position exposing access to said receiving and clamping means from outside said disc drive, interlock means to prevent closing of said door means and said clamping means if an inserted cartridge is only partially inserted, said interlock means comprising cartridge insertion sensing means for sensing the insertion of a disc cartridge into said receiving and clamping means when said receiving and clamping means is open and for sensing whether said cartridge is fully inserted or not and for providing to the inserting operator a tactile signal when said cartridge is fully inserted, said cartridge insertion sensing means comprising a member which is both mounted for pivotal movement into and out of the path of insertion of said cartridge and which is resiliently urged pivotally into said path of insertion such that insertion of said cartridge into said receiving means forces said cartridge insertion sensing means out of said path of insertion until said cartridge is fully inserted into said receiving means, means cooperating with said cartridge insertion sensing means for preventing both closing of said receiving and clamping means and engagement between said door means and said cartridge if said inserted cartridge is less than fully inserted whereby the receiving and clamping means and door means may be closed over an inserted cartridge only if that cartridge is fully inserted, means resiliently urging an inserted said cartridge outwardly of said fully inserted position and cartridge retaining means for releasably retaining a fully inserted said cartridge in said fully inserted position, said cartridge retaining means comprising means adjacent and operatively connected to said cartridge insertion sensing means such that pivotal movement of said cartridge insertion sensing means out of said insertion path will move said retaining means out of the path of insertion and the path of removal of said cartridge and thus out of latching engagement with said cartridge.