Spindle clamp assembly for a video recorder-playback machine

Claim 2

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc; a collet receivable about the spindle adjacent said sleeve, said sleeve and said collet being configured with respect to each other such that displacement of said collet toward said sleeve causes substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; a clamp housing receivable over the spindle and including locking means for locking engagement with the spindle for retaining the disc on the spindle; and biasing means carried by said housing for engaging said collet when said housing is received over the spindle for displacing said collet toward said sleeve for radial expansion of said sleeve.

Claim 3

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a tapered annular face presented radially inwardly and generally toward said collet, and wherein said collet includes a face presented generally toward said sleeve for bearing engagement with said sleeve face.

Claim 4

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 2 wherein said collet face comprises a tapered annular face presented radially outwardly and generally toward said sleeve.

Claim 5

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said sleeve comprises a split collet.

Claim 6

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 1 including retainer means for normally biasing said sleeve to a radially non-expanded configuration.

Claim 7

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 5 wherein said sleeve has a radially outwardly presented groove formed therein, said retainer means comprising a resilient ring received in said groove.

Claim 8

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the spindle includes means forming a radially outwardly presented recess, and wherein said locking means comprises: a locking cylinder movably carried in said housing and having a plurality of radial passages formed therein; locking balls received in said passages; and means for moving said cylinder between a first position with said locking balls positioned partially within said recess for locking said housing on the spindle, and a second position with said locking balls in registry with a radially enlarged chamber formed in said housing for allowing displacement of said balls from said recess formed in said spindle and removal of said housing from the spindle.

Claim 9

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 7 further including means for preventing radially inward motion of said locking balls when said housing is removed from the spindle.

Claim 10

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises an annular washer carried for movement with respect to said housing for engagement with said collet when said housing is received over the spindle, and spring means reacting between said housing and said washer for urging said washer into bearing engagement with said collet.

Claim 11

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 9 further including stop means for limiting displacement of said washer with respect to said housing.

Claim 12

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 1 including an annular clamping ring, means for mounting said clamping ring for limited movement with respect to the disc in a plane generally parallel to the disc, and means for urging said clamping ring into annular engagement with the disc about the disc opening when said housing is received over the spindle to apply a substantially uniform clamping force annularly to the disc.

Claim 13

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 11 wherein said housing includes an annular chamber opening toward the disc for receiving said clamping ring, said ring having a height sufficient to project out of said chamber toward the disc, said means for urging said ring into annular engagement with the disc comprising spring means reacting between said housing and said ring.

Claim 14

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 12 wherein said spring means is adapted for applying a substantially uniform clamping force to the disc within the range of limited ring movement.

Claim 15

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 11 wherein the spindle includes an enlarged base with an upstanding annular flange for vertically supporting the disc, and wherein said clamping ring is positioned to apply said clamping force to the disc generally in vertical alignment with the annular flange on the spindle.

Claim 16

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, comprising: radially expansible means receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc; clamping means receivable over the spindle for locking engagement with the spindle and for retaining the disc on the spindle; and means for cooperating between said clamping means and said radially expansible means for substantially uniformly radially expanding said expansible means into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle.

Claim 17

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, comprising: radially expansible means receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc; clamping means receivable over the spindle for locking engagement with the spindle and for retaining the disc on the spindle; and means for cooperating between said clamping means and said radially expansible means for substantially uniformly radially expanding said expansible means into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle.

Claim 18

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 15 wherein said radially expansible means comprises a radially expansible sleeve having a tapered annular face presented radially inwardly and generally toward said clamping means; and wherein said cooperating means comprises a collet having a face presented generally toward said sleeve for bearing engagement with said sleeve face, and spring means reacting between said clamping means and said collet for displacing said collet into bearing engagement with said sleeve for substantially uniformly radially expanding said sleeve when said clamping means is received over the spindle.

Claim 19

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 15 wherein the spindle includes means forming a radially outwardly presented recess, and wherein said clamping means comprises: a housing; a locking cylinder movably carried in said housing and having a plurality of radial passages formed therein; locking balls received in said passages; and means for moving said cylinder between a first position with said locking balls positioned partially within said recess for locking said housing on the spindle, and a second position with said locking balls in registry with a radially enlarged chamber formed in said housing for allowing displacement of said balls from said recess and removal of said housing from the spindle.

Claim 20

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 15 wherein said clamping means further includes a housing, an annular clamping ring, means for mounting said clamping ring for limited movement with respect to the disc in a plane generally parallel to the disc, and means for urging said clamping ring into annular engagement with the disc about the disc opening when said housing is received over the spindle to apply a substantially uniform clamping force annularly to the disc.

Claim 21

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 18 wherein said housing includes an annular chamber opening toward the disc for receiving said clamping ring, said ring having a height sufficient to project out of said chamber toward the disc, said means for urging said ring into annular engagement with the disc comprising spring means reacting between said housing and said ring.

Claim 22

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and radially inwardly presented tapered face; a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a downwardly and radially outwardly presented tapered face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face; locking means receivable over the spindle in locking engagement therewith for retaining the disc on the spindle; and biasing means received about the spindle between said locking means and said collet for engaging said collet when said locking means is received over said spindle for displacing said collet downwardly with its outwardly presented tapered face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle.

Claim 23

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and radially inwardly presented tapered face; a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a downwardly and radially outwardly presented tapered face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face; locking means receivable over the spindle in locking engagement therewith for retaining the disc on the spindle; and biasing means received about the spindle between said locking means and said collet for engaging said collet when said locking means is received over said spindle for displacing said collet downwardly with its outwardly presented tapered face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle.

Claim 24

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 20 including retainer means for normally biasing said sleeve to a radially non-expanded configuration.

Claim 25

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 20 wherein the spindle includes means forming a radially outwardly presented recess, and wherein said locking means comprises: a housing; a locking cylinder movably carried in said housing and having a plurality of radial passages formed therein; locking balls received in said passages; and means for moving said cylinder between a first position with said locking balls positioned partially within said recess for locking said housing on the spindle, and a second position with said locking balls in registry with a radially enlarged chamber formed in said housing for allowing displacement of said balls from said recess and removal of said housing from the spindle.

Claim 26

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 22 further including means for preventing radially inward motion of said locking balls when said housing is removed from the spindle.

Claim 27

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 22 wherein said biasing means comprises an annular washer carried for movement with respect to said housing for engagement with said collet when said housing is received over the spindle, and spring means reacting between said housing and said washer for urging said washer into bearing engagement with said collet.

Claim 28

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc; a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve, said sleeve and said collet being configured with respect to each other such that downward displacement of said collet in bearing engagement with said sleeve causes substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; a clamp housing receivable over the spindle and including locking means for locking engagement with the spindle; biasing means for engaging said collet when said housing is received over the spindle for displacing said collet downwardly for effecting radial expansion of said sleeve; and means for reacting between said housing and the disc for applying a generally vertically directed clamping force to the disc for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.

Claim 29

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc; a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve, said sleeve and said collet being configured with respect to each other such that downward displacement of said collet in bearing engagement with said sleeve causes substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; a clamp housing receivable over the spindle and including locking means for locking engagement with the spindle; biasing means for engaging said collet when said housing is received over the spindle for displacing said collet downwardly for effecting radial expansion of said sleeve; and means for reacting between said housing and the disc for applying a generally vertically directed clamping force to the disc for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.

Claim 30

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 25 wherein said sleeve includes a tapered annular face presented radially inwardly and generally toward said collet, and wherein said collet includes a face presented generally toward said sleeve for bearing engagement with said sleeve face.

Claim 31

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 25 wherein the spindle includes means forming a radially outwardly presented recess, and wherein said locking means comprises: a locking cylinder movably carried in said housing and having a plurality of radial passages formed therein; locking balls received in said passages; and means for moving said cylinder between a first position with said locking balls positioned partially within said recess for locking said housing on the spindle, and a second position with said locking balls in registry with a radially enlarged chamber formed in said housing for allowing displacement of said balls from said recess and removal of said housing from the spindle.

Claim 32

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 25 wherein said biasing means comprises an annular washer carried for movement with respect to said housing for engagement with said collet when said housing is received over the spindle, and spring means reacting between said housing and said washer for urging said washer into bearing engagement with said collet.

Claim 33

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 25 wherein said means for reacting between said housing and the disc comprises an annular clamping ring, means for mounting said clamping ring for limited movement with respect to the disc in a plane generally parallel to the disc, and means for urging said clamping ring into annular engagement with the disc about the disc opening when said housing is received over the spindle to apply a substantially uniform clamping force annularly to the disc.

Claim 34

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and inwardly presented tapered face; a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a generally downwardly presented face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face; a clamp housing receivable over the spindle; locking means carried by said housing for locking engagement with said spindle; first biasing means carried by said housing for reacting between said housing and said collet when said housing is received over said spindle for urging said collet downwardly with its downwardly presented face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; second biasing means for normally biasing said sleeve to a radially non-expanded configuration; an annular clamping ring carried by said housing and projecting downwardly therefrom for annular engagement with the disc about the opening in the disc; and third biasing means reacting between said housing and said clamping ring for causing said clamping ring to apply a vertically directed clamping force to the disc when said housing is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely on the spindle.

Claim 35

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and inwardly presented tapered face; a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a generally downwardly presented face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face; a clamp housing receivable over the spindle; locking means carried by said housing for locking engagement with said spindle; first biasing means carried by said housing for reacting between said housing and said collet when said housing is received over said spindle for urging said collet downwardly with its downwardly presented face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; second biasing means for normally biasing said sleeve to a radially non-expanded configuration; an annular clamping ring carried by said housing and projecting downwardly therefrom for annular engagement with the disc about the opening in the disc; and third biasing means reacting between said housing and said clamping ring for causing said clamping ring to apply a vertically directed clamping force to the disc when said housing is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely on the spindle.

Claim 36

In a video machine having a rotatable drive spindle with a shaft portion for reception through a central opening in a video information disc. and an enlarged base for vertically supporting the disc, a spindle clamp assembly for accurately and securely positioning the disc with respect to the spindle, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc; locking means receivable over the spindle for locking engagement therewith; biasing means reacting between said sleeve and said locking means for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve when said locking means is received over the spindle for displacing said sleeve radially outwardly into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; and clamping means for reacting between said locking means and the disc for applying a clamping force generally vertically to the disc when said locking means is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.

Claim 37

In a video machine having a rotatable drive spindle with a shaft portion for reception through a central opening in a video information disc. and an enlarged base for vertically supporting the disc, a spindle clamp assembly for accurately and securely positioning the disc with respect to the spindle, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc; locking means receivable over the spindle for locking engagement therewith; biasing means reacting between said sleeve and said locking means for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve when said locking means is received over the spindle for displacing said sleeve radially outwardly into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; and clamping means for reacting between said locking means and the disc for applying a clamping force generally vertically to the disc when said locking means is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.

Claim 38

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 31 including a collet receivable about the spindle between said sleeve and said locking means, said sleeve and said collet being configured with respect to each other such that displacement of said collet toward said sleeve causes substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle, said biasing means reacting between said collet and said locking means for displacing said collet toward said sleeve for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve.

Claim 39

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 31 wherein the spindle includes means forming a radially outwardly presented recess, and wherein said locking means comprises: a housing; a locking cylinder movably carried in said housing and having a plurality of radial passages formed therein; locking balls received in said passages; and means for moving said cylinder between a first position with said locking balls positioned partially within said recess for locking said housing on the spindle, and a second position with said locking balls in registry with a radially enlarged chamber formed in said housing for allowing displacement of said balls from said recess and removal of said housing from the spindle.

Claim 40

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 33 further including means for preventing radially inward motion of said locking balls when said housing is removed from the spindle.

Claim 41

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 31 wherein said clamping means comprises an annular clamping ring, means for mounting said clamping ring for limited movement with respect to the disc in a plane generally parallel to the disc, and means for urging said clamping ring into annular engagement with the disc about the disc opening when said locking means is received over the spindle to apply a substantially uniform clamping force annularly to the disc.

Claim 42

The spindle clamp assembly of claim 35 wherein the spindle includes an enlarged base with an upstanding annular flange for vertically supporting the disc, and wherein said clamping ring is positioned to apply said clamping force to the disc generally in vertical alignment with the annular flange on the spindle.

Claim 43

In a video machine having a rotatable drive spindle with a shaft portion for reception through a central opening in a video information disc, and an enlarged base for vertically supporting the disc, a spindle clamp assembly for accurately and securely positioning the disc with respect to the spindle, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and inwardly presented tapered face; a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a generally downwardly presented face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face; a clamp housing receivable over the spindle; locking means carried by said housing for locking engagement with said spindle; first biasing means carried by said housing for reacting between said housing and said collet when said housing is received over said spindle for urging said collet downwardly with its downwardly presented face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; second biasing means for normally biasing said sleeve to a radially non-expanded configuration; an annular clamping ring carried by said housing for limited vertical motion with respect to said housing and projecting downwardly therefrom for annular engagement with the disc about the disc opening whereby the clamping ring accommodates the disc having a thickness within a range prescribed by the allowable vertical motion of said ring; and third biasing means reacting between said housing and said clamping ring for causing said clamping ring to apply a vertically directed clamping force to the disc wherein said force is substantially uniform within the range of allowable vertical ring motion when said housing is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.

Claim 44

In a video machine having a rotatable drive spindle with a shaft portion for reception through a central opening in a video information disc, and an enlarged base for vertically supporting the disc, a spindle clamp assembly for accurately and securely positioning the disc with respect to the spindle, comprising: a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and inwardly presented tapered face; a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a generally downwardly presented face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face; a clamp housing receivable over the spindle; locking means carried by said housing for locking engagement with said spindle; first biasing means carried by said housing for reacting between said housing and said collet when said housing is received over said spindle for urging said collet downwardly with its downwardly presented face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle; second biasing means for normally biasing said sleeve to a radially non-expanded configuration; an annular clamping ring carried by said housing for limited vertical motion with respect to said housing and projecting downwardly therefrom for annular engagement with the disc about the disc opening whereby the clamping ring accommodates the disc having a thickness within a range prescribed by the allowable vertical motion of said ring; and third biasing means reacting between said housing and said clamping ring for causing said clamping ring to apply a vertically directed clamping force to the disc wherein said force is substantially uniform within the range of allowable vertical ring motion when said housing is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.