US5069597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatically loading and unloading mechanism for flat removable storage elements
Assignee: PERIPHERAL VISIONS Inc A CORP OF MASSACHUSETTS
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Filing: 1990-01-16
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Granted: 1991-12-03
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Expires: 2010-01-16
Abstract
Abstract An automatic loading and unloading mechanism is provided for a flat removable storage element drive in general and for a floppy disk drive in particular. The mechanism has first and second hoppers or the like for holding elements or disks to be loaded and for holding unloaded elements respectively. A slide assembly is mounted between the two hoppers and is aligned with an element receiving slot in the drive. In response to a predetermined indication from the drive, the slide is moved in a direction perpendicular to and away from the element receiving slot and engages an ejected disk, pulling the disk from the slot as the slide assembly continues to move rearward. When the element is fully unloaded, a member, which normally supports the bottom element in the upper hopper, is cammed down to strike the top of the element being unloaded, causing this element to be moved into the second hopper. This also permits the bottom element in the first hopper to move into alignment with the slide and the element receiving slot. With such bottom element in alignment, the slide is moved in a direction perpendicular to and toward the slot, pushing the element ahead of it into the slot. The member is permitted to return to its raised position as the element starts to be loaded to support the remaining elements in the first hopper and to lift such elements off the elements being loaded.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis J. Doctor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:29
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/08; G11B17/10; B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/06; B65G59/061; B65G59/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An automatic loading and unloading mechanism for a flat removable storage element drive device, said drive device having an element receiving slot and providing a predetermined indication when a storage element is to be unloaded, comprising: means for holding elements to be loaded and for holding unloaded elements; a slide assembly positioned between he elements to be loaded and the unloaded elements and in alignment with said receiving slot; an engaging mechanism mounted to move with said slide assembly; means responsive to said predetermined indication for both moving said slide assembly in a direction generally perpendicular to and away from said slot and or causing said engaging mechanism to engage the element to be unloaded, said element moving with said slide assembly to be unloaded form said slot; first means operative when said element is unloaded from said slot for both moving said element into the means for holding unloaded elements and for moving the bottom element to be loaded into alignment with the slide assembly and the slot; and second means operative when aid bottom element is in said alignment for moving said slide assembly in a direction generally perpendicular and toward said slot and to push said bottom element ahead of said slide assembly into said slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
An automatic loading and unloading mechanism for a flat removable storage element drive device, said drive device having an element receiving slot and providing a predetermined indication when a storage element is to be unloaded, comprising: means for holding elements to be loaded and for holding unloaded elements; a slide assembly positioned between he elements to be loaded and the unloaded elements and in alignment with said receiving slot; an engaging mechanism mounted to move with said slide assembly; means responsive to said predetermined indication for both moving said slide assembly in a direction generally perpendicular to and away from said slot and or causing said engaging mechanism to engage the element to be unloaded, said element moving with said slide assembly to be unloaded form said slot; first means operative when said element is unloaded from said slot for both moving said element into the means for holding unloaded elements and for moving the bottom element to be loaded into alignment with the slide assembly and the slot; and second means operative when aid bottom element is in said alignment for moving said slide assembly in a direction generally perpendicular and toward said slot and to push said bottom element ahead of said slide assembly into said slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for holding includes separate first means for holding elements to be loaded and second means for holding unloaded elements, said first means operative moving unloaded elements into said second holding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second holding means are first and second hoppers respectively, said second hopper being mounted below said first hopper, said first means operative causing said unloaded element to drop into said second hopper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 including means for normally engaging the bottom element held in the first hopper to provide vertical support for such element, said first means operative including means for moving the means for normally engaging out of engagement with said bottom element to permit the bottom element to drop into alignment with the slide means and the slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said engaging mechanism includes finger means movable between first and second positions, said finger means having a first surface which, when said finger means is in its first position, contacts said bottom element to push it toward said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 5 including means for normally biasing said finger means to its first position, and means operative when said slide means approaches a point where it has fully loaded said bottom element for moving the finger means to its second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said finger means is operative when moved from said first to said second positions to kick said bottom element beyond the end of said mechanism and into said slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 6 including gripper means on a second surface of said finger means which is adjacent to an element when said finger means is in its second position and an element is ejected, said predetermined indication responsive means including means for moving said gripper means into engagement with the element to be unloaded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for moving the gripper means is operative when the slide assembly starts to move away from the slot, disabling the means for moving the finger to the second position, the gripper means engaging the element to be unloaded as the finger means starts to return to its first position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for causing the unloaded element to drop includes means striking the element from above to knock it out from between said gripper means; and including a projection formed on the top of each finger means which continues to support said bottom element until the finger means have returned to their first position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 4 including a pivotable member having a shelf projection which normally forms part of said means for providing vertical support; and means operative for interacting with said member to move the member to a lowered position as an element becomes fully unloaded, the shelf projection striking the top of the unloaded element as the member is lowered to cause the element to drop into the second hopper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 11 including means operative when said slide assembly starts to push an element into the slot for raising the member to its normal position wherein said shelf projection supports and raises the elements in the upper hopper off the element being loaded.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined indication is the ejection of an element from said slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the slide assembly includes a motor, said motor being driven in a first direction in response to said predetermined indication and being driven in a second opposite direction in response to said slide assembly reaching the end of its travel in a direction away from said slot; and means responsive to said motor being driven in the first direction for moving the slide assembly away from the slot and responsive to the motor being moved in the first direction for moving the motor toward the slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein the means responsive to the motor includes a worm gear rotated by the motor, the slide assembly being mounted to move toward and away from the slot as the worm gear is rotated in opposition directions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 14 including a start switch, and means responsive to the start switch being operated for driving the motor in said first direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elements are floppy disks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 17 wherein said elements are 3.5 inch floppy disks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-02 | 1995-06-03 | 1995-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-02 | 1999-06-03 | 1999-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-02 | 2003-06-03 | 2003-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |