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US4618951A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Disc clamp device

Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1985-04-17
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Granted: 1986-10-21
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Expires: 2005-04-17
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Abstract

Abstract A disc clamp device comprises a turntable formed at its center with a concave portion, an elevatable frame with a shaft, and a clamp member mounted on the shaft. The clamp member has in an integral form an arm supported by the shaft, pressing faces formed at the tip of the arm in opposition to the turntable, and guide portions extending from the inside of the pressing faces in the direction of fitting in the concave portion of the turntable.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masao Okita
  • 👤 Satoshi Sakai

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 05:56
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/022; G11B17/028; G11B17/0284

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 347 words
In a disc clamp device of the type comprising a turntable having an axial center of rotation for supporting a disc medium to be clamped thereon and driven in a horizontal plane of rotation, said turntable having an annular vertical wall forming a concave portion concentric with its axial center and having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a center hole formed in the disc, and a frame provided elevatably above said turntable and movable downwardly to a clamping position in opposition thereto, a shaft mounted on said frame and aligned with said axial center of said turntable when said frame is moved to said clamping position, and a clamp member mounted on said shaft so as to be positioned in said concave portion of said turntable and to clamp the disc to said turntable in said clamping position, the improvement wherein said clamp member is formed as an integral member and includes a central hub mounted on said shaft, an arm connected to said central hub at one end thereof and extending downwardly and connected to a pressing face at the other end thereof, said pressing face of said clamp member having a horizontal clamping surface opposed to said turntable for clamping the disc thereon and a vertical engagement surface connected radially inwardly to said clamping surface for engagement with said vertical wall of said turntable, and a guide portion connected to said engagement surface of said pressing face and extending in a downwardly inclined direction toward said axial center and terminating in a free end located at a radial position inwardly of said radius of said concave portion, whereby as said frame is moved to said clamping position, said guide portion enters the center hole of the disc and said concave portion of said turntable so as to center the disc on said turntable and guides said engagement surface into engagement with said vertical wall of said concave portion of said turntable, and then said clamping surface of said pressing face is pressed downwardly on the disc to clamp it to said turntable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 347 words
In a disc clamp device of the type comprising a turntable having an axial center of rotation for supporting a disc medium to be clamped thereon and driven in a horizontal plane of rotation, said turntable having an annular vertical wall forming a concave portion concentric with its axial center and having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a center hole formed in the disc, and a frame provided elevatably above said turntable and movable downwardly to a clamping position in opposition thereto, a shaft mounted on said frame and aligned with said axial center of said turntable when said frame is moved to said clamping position, and a clamp member mounted on said shaft so as to be positioned in said concave portion of said turntable and to clamp the disc to said turntable in said clamping position, the improvement wherein said clamp member is formed as an integral member and includes a central hub mounted on said shaft, an arm connected to said central hub at one end thereof and extending downwardly and connected to a pressing face at the other end thereof, said pressing face of said clamp member having a horizontal clamping surface opposed to said turntable for clamping the disc thereon and a vertical engagement surface connected radially inwardly to said clamping surface for engagement with said vertical wall of said turntable, and a guide portion connected to said engagement surface of said pressing face and extending in a downwardly inclined direction toward said axial center and terminating in a free end located at a radial position inwardly of said radius of said concave portion, whereby as said frame is moved to said clamping position, said guide portion enters the center hole of the disc and said concave portion of said turntable so as to center the disc on said turntable and guides said engagement surface into engagement with said vertical wall of said concave portion of said turntable, and then said clamping surface of said pressing face is pressed downwardly on the disc to clamp it to said turntable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
A disc clamp device according to claim 1, wherein said engagement surface is provided at a radial position outwardly of said radius of said concave portion, and said clamp member is made flexible such that said engagement portion is deformable radially inwardly into engagement with said vertical wall of said turntable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 64 words
A disc clamp device according to claim 1, wherein said other end of said arm is curved vertically downward and is connected to said pressing face at a radial position outwardly of said radius of said concave portion, so as to exert only a vertical clamping force by said pressing face on the disc when said clamp member is moved to said clamping position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A disc clamp device according to claim 1, wherein said clamp member comprises a plurality of corresponding arms, pressing faces, and guide portions spaced circumferentially around said central hub.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A disc clamp device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide portions are coated on their peripheral surfaces with fluorine resin.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3768815A Cited
US4125883A Cited
US4408318A Cited
US4323870A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-10-20 1990-04-21 1990-10-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-10-20 1994-04-21 1994-10-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-10-20 1998-04-21 1998-10-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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