Disk clamping device

Claim 2

A disk clamping device, comprising: a turntable adapted to rotate a disk loaded thereon, and a spindle secured to said turntable for rotation therewith, said turntable being secured to said spindle at a predetermined height; clamping means adapted to depress said disk against said turntable, said clamping means including a plate member; a magnet and positioning means for positioning said magnet relative to said spindle, said magnet and said plate member forming a magnetic circuit in which magnetic flux is extended to clamp said disk to said turntable; conical centering means for causing a center of said disk to coincide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said clamping means, whereby, said disk is clamped at a second predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable; and a movable ring having a substantially planar upper surface for supporting said disk, said movable ring being movably supported on said turntable for parallel movement relative to said spindle, said movable ring being operable to maintain said disk horizontal as said clamping means depresses said disk into engagement with said turntable, first and second means for upwardly biasing said centering means and said movable ring, respectively, relative to said turntable.

Claim 3

The clamping device of claim 1 wherein said centering means has a conical outer wall and a portion in sliding contact with said spindle, said centering means being slidable in a direction parallel to said spindle.

Claim 4

The clamping device of claim 2 wherein said positioning means comprises a yoke.

Claim 5

The clamping device of claim 3 wherein said yoke is fixed to said spindle.

Claim 6

The clamping device of claim 2 wherein said movable ring is slidable in parallel with said spindle and said centering means and is in contact with said centering means.

Claim 7

A disk clamping device comprising: a turntable fixedly secured to a spindle at a predetermined height; a movable ring having a substantially planar upper surface for supporting said disk, said movable ring being movably supported on said turntable for parallel movement relative to said spindle, and first means for biasing said ring upwardly relative to said turntable; a member having a conical outer wall, said member being slidable in parallel with an axis of said spindle in contact with said spindle, and second means for upwardly biasing said member relative to said turntable; and a clamper adapted to depress a disk toward said turntable; a center of said disk coinciding with a center of rotation of said spindle when said disk, together with said movable ring and said conical member, are moved downwardly while in contact with said conical member and maintained horizontal by said movable ring; said disk being clamped at a predetermined height when it is brought into contact with said turntable.

Claim 8

A disk clamping device comprising: a turntable fixedly secured to a spindle at a predetermined height; a movable ring having a substantially planar upper surface for supporting said disk, said movable ring being movably supported on said turntable for parallel movement relative to said spindle, and first means for biasing said ring upwardly relative to said turntable; a member having a conical outer wall, said member being slidable in parallel with an axis of said spindle in contact with said spindle, and second means for upwardly biasing said member relative to said turntable; and a clamper adapted to depress a disk toward said turntable; a center of said disk coinciding with a center of rotation of said spindle when said disk, together with said movable ring and said conical member, are moved downwardly while in contact with said conical member and maintained horizontal by said movable ring; said disk being clamped at a predetermined height when it is brought into contact with said turntable.

Claim 9

The clamping device of claim 6 further comprising a magnet and magnet positioning means.

Claim 10

The clamping device of claim 7 wherein said magnet positioning means comprises a yoke member, said yoke member forming a magnetic circuit together with the magnet.

Claim 11

The clamping device of claim 7 wherein said clamper further comprises a plate mounted thereon, wherein said magnet, said magnet positioning means and said plate form said magnetic circuit.

Claim 12

A disk clamping device comprising: a turntable adapted to rotate a disk loaded thereon, and a spindle secured to said turntable for rotation therewith; clamping means adapted to depress said disk against said turntable, said clamping means including a magnet and a yoke; a plate member fixed to said spindle, wherein said magnet, said yoke and said plate member form a magnetic circuit in which magnetic flux is extended to clamp said disk to said turntable; said turntable being secured to said spindle at a predetermined height; conical centering means for causing a center of said disk to coincide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said clamping means, whereby, said disk is clamped at a predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable; and a movable ring having a substantially planar upper surface for supporting said disk, said ring being movably supported on said turntable for parallel movement relative to said spindle, said movable ring being operable to maintain said disk horizontal as said clamping means depresses said disk into engagement with said turntable, first and second means for upwardly biasing said centering means and said ring, respectively, relative to said turntable.

Claim 13

A disk clamping device comprising: a turntable adapted to rotate a disk loaded thereon, and a spindle secured to said turntable for rotation therewith; clamping means adapted to depress said disk against said turntable, said clamping means including a magnet and a yoke; a plate member fixed to said spindle, wherein said magnet, said yoke and said plate member form a magnetic circuit in which magnetic flux is extended to clamp said disk to said turntable; said turntable being secured to said spindle at a predetermined height; conical centering means for causing a center of said disk to coincide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said clamping means, whereby, said disk is clamped at a predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable; and a movable ring having a substantially planar upper surface for supporting said disk, said ring being movably supported on said turntable for parallel movement relative to said spindle, said movable ring being operable to maintain said disk horizontal as said clamping means depresses said disk into engagement with said turntable, first and second means for upwardly biasing said centering means and said ring, respectively, relative to said turntable.

Claim 14

A disk clamping device for use in a disk player, comprising: a rotatable drive spindle; a rotatable turntable adapted to support a disk and being fixed to said drive spindle for rotation therewith, said turntable having a positioning surface which is perpendicular to its axis of rotation; disk loading means separable from said disk for moving said disk downwardly with selective and slidable engagement and applying pressure to said disk to ensure contact between said disk and the turntable, said disk loading means including a magnetic circuit formed by a magnet which serves as an energy source, a yoke which cooperates with the magnet and which defines a magnetic gap, and a magnetic plate, said magnetic circuit being changeable between open and closed states wherein said magnetic plate is separated from said magnet and said yoke and whereat said magnetic plate is in contact with at least one of said yoke and said magnet, respectively, and wherein one of the yoke and the magnetic plate is fixed to said drive spindle; and conical centering means in contact with the circumference of a circular aperture in said disk for causing the center of said aperture to conicide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said disk loading means, whereby said disk is clamped at a predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable.

Claim 15

A disk clamping device for use in a disk player, comprising: a rotatable drive spindle; a rotatable turntable adapted to support a disk and being fixed to said drive spindle for rotation therewith, said turntable having a positioning surface which is perpendicular to its axis of rotation; disk loading means separable from said disk for moving said disk downwardly with selective and slidable engagement and applying pressure to said disk to ensure contact between said disk and the turntable, said disk loading means including a magnetic circuit formed by a magnet which serves as an energy source, a yoke which cooperates with the magnet and which defines a magnetic gap, and a magnetic plate, said magnetic circuit being changeable between open and closed states wherein said magnetic plate is separated from said magnet and said yoke and whereat said magnetic plate is in contact with at least one of said yoke and said magnet, respectively, and wherein one of the yoke and the magnetic plate is fixed to said drive spindle; and conical centering means in contact with the circumference of a circular aperture in said disk for causing the center of said aperture to conicide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said disk loading means, whereby said disk is clamped at a predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable.

Claim 16

The disk clamping device of claim 11 wherein said disk loading means also includes a clamper which is selectively engageable with said disk so as to move said disk axially of said turntable until said disk engages said turntable, whereby said disk is positioned on the positioning surface of said turntable.

Claim 17

The disk clamping device of claim 12, wherein the magnet and the yoke are secured to said clamper and are arranged to engage the magnetic plate when said disk engages said turntable.

Claim 18

A disk clamping device for use in a disk player, comprising: a rotatable drive spindle; a rotatable turntable adapted to support a disk and being fixed to said drive spindle for rotation therewith, said turntable having a positioning surface which is perpendicular to its axis of rotation; a support member which is movable relative to said turntable in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the turntable and which is arranged to support said disk initially in axially spaced relation to said turntable; disk loading means for moving said disk downwardly and for applying pressure to said disk to ensure contact between said disk and the turntable, said disk loading means including a magnetic circuit formed by a magnet which serves as an energy source, a yoke which cooperates with the magnet and which defines a magnetic gap, and a magnetic plate enabling the magnetic circuit to be changed between open and closed states, and wherein one of the yoke and the magnetic plate is fixed to said drive spindle; and conical centering means for causing a center of said disk to coincide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said disk loading means, whereby said disk is clamped at a predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable.

Claim 19

A disk clamping device for use in a disk player, comprising: a rotatable drive spindle; a rotatable turntable adapted to support a disk and being fixed to said drive spindle for rotation therewith, said turntable having a positioning surface which is perpendicular to its axis of rotation; a support member which is movable relative to said turntable in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the turntable and which is arranged to support said disk initially in axially spaced relation to said turntable; disk loading means for moving said disk downwardly and for applying pressure to said disk to ensure contact between said disk and the turntable, said disk loading means including a magnetic circuit formed by a magnet which serves as an energy source, a yoke which cooperates with the magnet and which defines a magnetic gap, and a magnetic plate enabling the magnetic circuit to be changed between open and closed states, and wherein one of the yoke and the magnetic plate is fixed to said drive spindle; and conical centering means for causing a center of said disk to coincide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said disk loading means, whereby said disk is clamped at a predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable.

Claim 20

The disk clamping device of claim 14, wherein the magnet is supported by the yoke, and the yoke is axially fixed with respect to said turntable.

Claim 21

The disk clamping device of claim 14 wherein said disk loading means also includes a clamper which is engageable with said disk so as to move said disk axially of said turntable until said disk engages said turntable, whereby said disk is positioned on the positioning surface of said turntable.

Claim 22

The disk clamping device of claim 15 wherein said disk loading means also includes a clamper which is engageable with said disk so as to move said disk axially of said turntable until said disk engages said turntable, whereby said disk is positioned on the positioning surface of said turntable.

Claim 23

The disk clamping device of claim 16, wherein the magnetic plate is secured to said clamper and is arranged to engage the magnet when said disk engages said turntable.

Claim 24

The disk clamping device of claim 17, wherein the magnetic plate is secured to said clamper and is arranged to engage the magnet when said disk engages said turntable.

Claim 25

The disk clamping device of claim 16, wherein the magnet and the yoke are secured to said clamper and are arranged to engage the magnetic plate when said disk engages said turntable.

Claim 26

The disk clamping device of claim 17, wherein the magnet and the yoke are secured to said clamper and are arranged to engage the magnetic plate when said disk engages said turntable.

Claim 27

A disk clamping device for use in a disk player, comprising: a rotatable drive spindle; a rotatable turntable adapted to support a disk and being fixed to said drive spindle for rotation therewith, said turntable having a positioning surface which is perpendicular to its axis of rotation; disk loading means for moving said disk downwardly and for applying pressure to said disk to ensure contact between said disk and the turntable, said disk loading means including a clamper engageable with said disk so as to move said disk axially of said turntable until said disk engages said turntable, whereby said disk is positioned on the positioning surface of the turntable, and said disk loading means further including a magnetic circuit formed by a magnet which serves as an energy source, a yoke which cooperates with the magnet and which defines a magnetic gap, and a magnetic plate secured to said clamper and arranged to engage the magnet when said disk engages said turntable for enabling the magnetic circuit to be changed between open and closed states, and wherein one of the yoke and the magnetic plate is fixed to said drive spindle; and conical centering means for causing a center of said disk to coincide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said disk loading means, whereby said disk is clamped at a predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable.

Claim 28

A disk clamping device for use in a disk player, comprising: a rotatable drive spindle; a rotatable turntable adapted to support a disk and being fixed to said drive spindle for rotation therewith, said turntable having a positioning surface which is perpendicular to its axis of rotation; disk loading means for moving said disk downwardly and for applying pressure to said disk to ensure contact between said disk and the turntable, said disk loading means including a clamper engageable with said disk so as to move said disk axially of said turntable until said disk engages said turntable, whereby said disk is positioned on the positioning surface of the turntable, and said disk loading means further including a magnetic circuit formed by a magnet which serves as an energy source, a yoke which cooperates with the magnet and which defines a magnetic gap, and a magnetic plate secured to said clamper and arranged to engage the magnet when said disk engages said turntable for enabling the magnetic circuit to be changed between open and closed states, and wherein one of the yoke and the magnetic plate is fixed to said drive spindle; and conical centering means for causing a center of said disk to coincide with an axis of rotation of said spindle when said disk is moved downwardly by said disk loading means, whereby said disk is clamped at a predetermined height when said disk is brought into contact with said turntable.