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US4608681A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cartridge loading apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1984-11-23
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Granted: 1986-08-26
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Expires: 2004-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A cartridge loading apparatus comprises a loading/ejecting and opening/closing mechanism disposed in a housing. The mechanism receives a cartridge which encloses an optical recording disk therein and includes first and second cases from a port formed on the housing in a closed state wherein the first and second cases are in contact with each other, opens the cartridge by separating the first and second cases from each other to expose an area of the disk during the receiving operation, ejects at least part of the cartridge outside of the housing through the port, and closes the cartridge by bringing the first and second cases into contact with each other during the ejecting operation. The central portion of the disk after the opening thereof by the mechanism is clamped between a turntable and clamper, and the exposed area of the disk between the first and second cases is recorded/reproduced by an optical head using a laser beam.
Inventors
- 👤 Masao Shiosaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:03
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/04; G11B17/041; G11B17/043; G11B17/0434; G11B17/022; G11B17/028; G11B17/03; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/03; G11B23/0301; G11B23/0308; G11B23/0313; G11B23/0316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
An apparatus for loading a cartridge which cartridge encloses an information recording disk therein, includes first and second cases each adapted for opposed sliding movement selectively between open and closed positions of said cartridge along a plane substantially coinciding with that of said disk, and is adapted to be in a closed state to completely enclose and seal the disk when the first and second cases are by said sliding movement brought into contact with each other and in an opened state to expose an area of the disk between the first and second cases when the first and second cases are by said sliding movement separated from each other, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a port at one side of said housing for receiving and discharging the cartridge therethrough; cartridge handling means, disposed in said housing, for receiving the cartridge from said port in the closed state, for opening the cartridge by separating by said sliding movement the first and second cases from each other to expose the area of said information recording disk, for closing the cartridge by bringing by said sliding movement the first and second cases into contact with each other, and for ejecting at least part of said closed cartridge outside of said housing through said port; and disk holding means, disposed in said housing, for holding the disk after the opening of said cartridge by said cartridge handling means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
236 words
An apparatus for loading a cartridge which cartridge encloses an information recording disk therein, includes first and second cases each adapted for opposed sliding movement selectively between open and closed positions of said cartridge along a plane substantially coinciding with that of said disk, and is adapted to be in a closed state to completely enclose and seal the disk when the first and second cases are by said sliding movement brought into contact with each other and in an opened state to expose an area of the disk between the first and second cases when the first and second cases are by said sliding movement separated from each other, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a port at one side of said housing for receiving and discharging the cartridge therethrough; cartridge handling means, disposed in said housing, for receiving the cartridge from said port in the closed state, for opening the cartridge by separating by said sliding movement the first and second cases from each other to expose the area of said information recording disk, for closing the cartridge by bringing by said sliding movement the first and second cases into contact with each other, and for ejecting at least part of said closed cartridge outside of said housing through said port; and disk holding means, disposed in said housing, for holding the disk after the opening of said cartridge by said cartridge handling means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge handling means comprises conveying means for conveying said cartridge along a conveying path in said housing, said conveying path having first and second terminal portions, said first and second cases being separated at said second terminal portion of said conveying path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising displacing means connected to said cartridge handling means for moving said cartridge handling means between an upper position wherein said first terminal portion of said conveying path opposes said port and a lower position wherein the disk is held by said disk holding means at said second terminal portion of said conveying path, the disk when located at said first terminal portion of said conveying path being disengaged from said disk holding means when said cartridge handling means is located in said upper position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for checking that the cartridge is held in said housing and the disk is held by said disk holding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said checking means includes an observation window formed in said housing to oppose said first terminal portion of said conveying path when said cartridge handling means is located in said lower position for allowing visual checking of part of the cartridge located in said conveying path of said cartridge handling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said disk comprises an optical recording disk, said disk holding means comprises a rotatable turntable, said optical recording disk in the cartridge being placed on said turntable for rotation therewith when said disk handling means is in said lower position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising supporting means, disposed in said housing, for supporting the cartridge in said cartridge handling means when said disk handling means is located in said lower position, and maintaining said optical recording disk out of contact with inner surfaces of said cartridge while said optical recording disk is placed on said turntable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said supporting means comprises a plurality of rods extending vertically in said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cartridge handling means includes; a plurality of groups of feed rollers aligned along said conveying path and engaging said first and second cases when the cartridge is held in said housing; detecting means for detecting that the cartridge is inserted in said housing; and driving means arranged to drive said plurality of groups of feed rollers to convey the cartridge in the closed state until said detecting means detects that the cartridge has been inserted into said housing, and a subset of said plurality of groups of feed rollers driven to slide one of said first and second cases to open the cartridge by separating said first and second cases from each other when said detecting means detects that the cartridge has been inserted into said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said driving means includes; a drive source; and clutch means for transmitting a driving force from said drive source to all of said plurality of groups of feed rollers before said detecting means detects that the cartridge is inserted in said housing, and for transmitting said driving force to said subset of said plurality of groups of feed rollers after said detecting means detects that the cartridge has been inserted into said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising shutter means arranged to be vertically movable upon movement of said cartridge handling means between said upper and lower positions, said shutter means opening said port when said cartridge handling means is located in said upper position, and closing said port when said cartridge handling means is located in said lower position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said shutter means includes; a shutter movable to cover said port, and means for biasing said shutter into contact with said cartridge handling means, whereby said shutter is vertically moved upon movement of said cartridge handling means between said upper and lower positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said shutter means further includes second detecting means for detecting disengagement of said shutter from said cartridge handling means before said shutter closes said port, and said displacing means moves said cartridge handling means to said upper position when said second detecting means detects said disengagement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising press means for urging said optical recording disk against said turntable after said optical recording disk has been placed on said turntable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said press means includes a clamper arranged to be vertically movable upon movement of cartridge handling means between said upper and lower positions, said clamper being located above said conveying path when said cartridge handling means is located in said upper position and being brought into contact with a central portion of an upper surface of said optical recording disk to urge said optical recording disk against said turntable when said cartridge handling means is located in said lower position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an information processing means which comprises an optical head for recording and reproducing information with respect to said optical recording disk by using a laser beam, said optical head being arranged to radially traverse the exposed area of said optical recording disk between the first and second cases when the cartridge is in the opened state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cartridge handling means comprises a shaft in said housing and a base member pivotally disposed on said shaft at a side of said housing opposite to a side having said port.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said displacing means includes; a reversible and rotatable drive source, and means for transmitting a rotational force from said drive source of said base member to pivot said base member about said shaft between said upper and lower positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said transmitting means includes; an internal gear fixed at an end of said base member which is located at said side of said housing having said port, said internal gear being concentric with said shaft, and a drive gear meshing with said internal gear and being driven by said drive source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said transmitting means includes; a pair of pulleys vertically spaced apart in said housing, one of said pulleys being driven by said driven source, and a belt looped around said pair of pulleys and being fixed to a part of said base member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-25 | 1990-02-24 | 1990-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-25 | 1994-02-24 | 1994-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-25 | 1998-02-24 | 1998-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |