Loading and unloading system for flexible disc drive apparatus

Claim 2

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible record-bearing medium, comprising: (A) loading means for placing the medium at a predetermined position for signal recording and/or reproduction; (B) a recording and/or reproducing head arranged to confront a recording surface of the medium when the medium is placed at said predetermined position; (C) rotation means for rotating the medium relative to said head; (D) stop means for stopping the rotation of the medium by said rotation means; and (E) control means responsive to said stop means for causing said loading means to retract the medium from said predetermined position, said control means having a first mode and a second mode, said control means ejecting the medium in response to said stop means in said first mode, and, in said second mode, moving the medium to a predetermined stand-by position near said head in response to said stop means and holding the same there, said stand-by position being closer to the head than the ejection position but being separated from the head.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said loading means includes: a holder movable between a first position for receiving the medium and a second position for placing the received medium at said predetermined position; and a holder moving mechanism for moving said holder between said first and said second positions, said control means moving the holder to said first position, by means of said moving mechanism, to eject the medium in the first mode, and, in the second mode, holding the holder, by means of said moving mechanism, at a predetermined position corresponding to said stand-by position between said first position and said second position.

Claim 4

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible record-bearing medium, comprising: (A) loading means for placing the medium at a predetermined position for signal recording and/or reproduction; (B) a recording and/or reproducing head arranged to confront a recording surface of the medium when the medium is placed at said predetermined position; (C) rotation means for rotating the medium relative to said head; (D) stabilizing means for stabilizing the medium near said head; (E) moving means for moving said stabilizing means to an operative position at which the stabilizing means confronts an opposite surface of the medium placed at said predetermined position to stabilizie the medium near said head; (F) stop means for stopping the rotation of the medium by said rotation means; and (G) control means responsive to said stop means for causing said loading means to retract the medium from said predetermined position and for causing said moving means to retract said stabilizing means from said operative position, said control means having a first mode and a second mode and moving said stabilizing means to a first retraction position and a second retraction position in response to said stop means and holding the same there, respectively, in said first and second modes, wherein in said first retraction position, said stabilizing means is held so as not to interfere with ejection of the medium, and in said second retraction position, said stabilizing means is held in a position which prevents deformation of the medium by the stabilizing means after actuation of the stop means.

Claim 5

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible record-bearing medium, comprising: (A) loading means for placing the medium at a predetermined position for signal recording and/or reproduction; (B) a recording and/or reproducing head arranged to confront a recording surface of the medium when the medium is placed at said predetermined position; (C) rotation means for rotating the medium relative to said head; (D) stabilizing means for stabilizing the medium near said head; (E) moving means for moving said stabilizing means to an operative position at which the stabilizing means confronts an opposite surface of the medium placed at said predetermined position to stabilizie the medium near said head; (F) stop means for stopping the rotation of the medium by said rotation means; and (G) control means responsive to said stop means for causing said loading means to retract the medium from said predetermined position and for causing said moving means to retract said stabilizing means from said operative position, said control means having a first mode and a second mode and moving said stabilizing means to a first retraction position and a second retraction position in response to said stop means and holding the same there, respectively, in said first and second modes, wherein in said first retraction position, said stabilizing means is held so as not to interfere with ejection of the medium, and in said second retraction position, said stabilizing means is held in a position which prevents deformation of the medium by the stabilizing means after actuation of the stop means.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said loading means includes: a holder movable between a first position for receiving the medium and a second position for placing the received medium at said predetermined position; and a holder moving mechanism for moving said holder between said first and said second positions, said moving means being arranged to move said stabilizing means between said first retraction position and said operative position in response to the movement of said holder between said first and second positions, and said control means being arranged to cause said holder moving mechanism to move said holder to a predetermined position between said first and second positions and to cause said moving means to move said stabilizing means to said second retraction position, in response to said stop means in said second mode.

Claim 7

A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible magnetic sheet which is provided with a center core and is housed within a cassette having an opening for exposing a portion of a recording surface of the housed magnetic sheet, said apparatus comprising: (A) a cassette holder movable between a first position for receiving the cassette and a second position for placing the received cassette at a predetermined position for signal recording and/or reproduction; (B) a moving mechanism for moving said holder between said first and said second positions, said moving mechanism being able to support the holder at said first position and a third position between said first position and said second position with said magnetic sheet within said cassette being separated from said head when said head is at the third position; (C) a magnetic head for recording signals on and/or reproducing recorded signals from the magnetic sheet, said head being arranged to confront the recording surface of the magnetic sheet through the opening of the cassette when the cassette is placed at said predetermined position; (D) a spindle engageable with the center core of the magnetic sheet when the cassette is placed at said predetermined position; (E) a motor for rotating said spindle; (F) deactivating means for deactivating said motor; and (G) control means responsive to said deactivating means for selectively causing said moving mechanism to hold said cassette holder at said third position between said first and second positions so that the magnetic sheet is retracted from said head, whereby said medium is protected from deformation and a start-up time is minimized, or to move said cassette holder to said first position for ejecting said cassette.

Claim 8

A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible magnetic sheet which is provided with a center core and is housed within a cassette having an opening for exposing a portion of a recording surface of the housed magnetic sheet, said apparatus comprising: (A) a cassette holder movable between a first position for receiving the cassette and a second position for placing the received cassette at a predetermined position for signal recording and/or reproduction; (B) a moving mechanism for moving said holder between said first and said second positions, said moving mechanism being able to support the holder at said first position and a third position between said first position and said second position with said magnetic sheet within said cassette being separated from said head when said head is at the third position; (C) a magnetic head for recording signals on and/or reproducing recorded signals from the magnetic sheet, said head being arranged to confront the recording surface of the magnetic sheet through the opening of the cassette when the cassette is placed at said predetermined position; (D) a spindle engageable with the center core of the magnetic sheet when the cassette is placed at said predetermined position; (E) a motor for rotating said spindle; (F) deactivating means for deactivating said motor; and (G) control means responsive to said deactivating means for selectively causing said moving mechanism to hold said cassette holder at said third position between said first and second positions so that the magnetic sheet is retracted from said head, whereby said medium is protected from deformation and a start-up time is minimized, or to move said cassette holder to said first position for ejecting said cassette.

Claim 9

A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible magnetic sheet which is provided with a center core and is housed within a cassette having a first and a second openings for respectively exposing portions of a recording surface and an opposite surface of the housed magnetic sheet, said apparatus, comprising: (A) a cassette holder movable between a first position for receiving the cassette and a second position for placing the received cassette at a predetermined position for the signal recording and/or reproduction; (B) a magnetic head for recording signals on and/or reproducing recorded signals from the magnetic sheet, said head being arranged to confront the recording surface of the magnetic sheet through the first opening of the cassette when the cassette is placed at said predetermined position; (C) a spindle engageable with the center core of the magnetic sheet when the cassette is placed at said predetermined position; (D) a motor for rotating said spindle; (E) a stabilizing plate for stabilizing the magnetic sheet near said head, said stabilizing plate being movable between a reset position and an operative position at which the plate confronts the opposite surface of the magnetic sheet through the second opening of the cassette placed at said predetermined position to stabilize the magnetic sheet; (F) a moving mechanism for moving and holding said holder between said first and said second positions and for moving and holding said stabilizing plate between said reset and said operative positions; (G) deactivating means for deactivating said motor; and (H) control means responsive to said deactivating means for selectively causing said moving mechanism to hold said holder out a stand-by position between said first and said second positions and for holding said stabilizing plate at stand-by position between said reset and said operative positions.

Claim 10

A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible magnetic sheet which is provided with a center core and is housed within a cassette having a first and a second openings for respectively exposing portions of a recording surface and an opposite surface of the housed magnetic sheet, said apparatus, comprising: (A) a cassette holder movable between a first position for receiving the cassette and a second position for placing the received cassette at a predetermined position for the signal recording and/or reproduction; (B) a magnetic head for recording signals on and/or reproducing recorded signals from the magnetic sheet, said head being arranged to confront the recording surface of the magnetic sheet through the first opening of the cassette when the cassette is placed at said predetermined position; (C) a spindle engageable with the center core of the magnetic sheet when the cassette is placed at said predetermined position; (D) a motor for rotating said spindle; (E) a stabilizing plate for stabilizing the magnetic sheet near said head, said stabilizing plate being movable between a reset position and an operative position at which the plate confronts the opposite surface of the magnetic sheet through the second opening of the cassette placed at said predetermined position to stabilize the magnetic sheet; (F) a moving mechanism for moving and holding said holder between said first and said second positions and for moving and holding said stabilizing plate between said reset and said operative positions; (G) deactivating means for deactivating said motor; and (H) control means responsive to said deactivating means for selectively causing said moving mechanism to hold said holder out a stand-by position between said first and said second positions and for holding said stabilizing plate at stand-by position between said reset and said operative positions.

Claim 11

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible record-bearing medium, comprising: (a) a recording and/or reproducing head arranged to selectively confront a recording surface of the medium; (b) a stabilizing means for stabilizing the medium near said head, said stabilizing means having three positions: a first position at which said medium is stabilized near said head, a second position at which said medium is not stabilized, and which is apart from said medium by a predetermined distance, and a third position at which said medium is not stabilized and which is more apart from said medium than said second position; and (c) control means for holding said stabilizing means selectively at said first position for recording and/or reproducing, at said second position for preventing deformation of said medium, or at said third position for allowing ejection of said medium.

Claim 12

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped flexible record-bearing medium, comprising: (a) a recording and/or reproducing head arranged to selectively confront a recording surface of the medium; (b) a stabilizing means for stabilizing the medium near said head, said stabilizing means having three positions: a first position at which said medium is stabilized near said head, a second position at which said medium is not stabilized, and which is apart from said medium by a predetermined distance, and a third position at which said medium is not stabilized and which is more apart from said medium than said second position; and (c) control means for holding said stabilizing means selectively at said first position for recording and/or reproducing, at said second position for preventing deformation of said medium, or at said third position for allowing ejection of said medium.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising rotating means for rotating said medium in a condition stabilized by said stabilizing means to said first position.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means moves said stabilizing means to said second position as the rotation of said medium stops.