International Business Machines Corporation

Curtis A Larson

Michael N Zell

Thomas R Fournier

Wallace E Beuch

David R Wilson

Maynard E Bothun

Gayland E Lightner

A machine operative to sequentially pull jacketed flexible magnetic disk units (which may be termed 'diskettes') into a data transferring position, close a collet on a disk driving spindle for clamping the disk onto the spindle for drivingly rotating the disk from the spindle and move magnetic heads into contact with the disk for a data transferring action. The machine includes a clothespin like picker or gripping device reciprocative so as to move into embracing relationship with the diskette and to then pull the diskette into data transferring position. The diskettes are contained in a magazine which is translatable transversely with respect to the path of travel of the picker device so that the picker device may be operative to grip any one of the series of diskettes, depending on the translated position of the magazine. The picker device is driven from an electrical stepping motor driving a pulley which in turn drives a belt operatively connected with the picker device, and the pulley carries a pair of cams one of which is effective on a swing arm for moving the collet into engagement with the driving spindle and the other of which is effective on a swing arm for causing engagement of the magnetic heads with the disk for a data transferring action.

Loading mechanism for magnetic diskettes

A magazine particularly for jacketed magnetic disks (which may be termed 'diskettes') of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,668,658 and a lid fitting on a forward, sometimes open, end of the magazine. The lid has internal ribs for supporting weak side edges of the diskettes in the magazine particularly when the magazine is turned on its side, and the magazine has aligned internal bottom and top diskette supporting ribs. A swing connection is provided between the lid and the magazine adjacent the top of the magazine including L-shaped slots formed in side panels of the magazine extending from the forward edges thereof horizontally and then upwardly and a pair of pins carried by the lid and fitting in the L-shaped slots. The lid when placed on the magazine thus first moves horizontally but slanting forwardly and downwardly to first move the upper ends of its internal ribs between the diskettes and then upwardly and in swinging movement to close the magazine. The upper edge of the lid is chamfered to allow such swinging placement of the lid on the magazine. A U-shaped spring retainer releasably holds the lid closed.

Magazine-lid combination for jacketed magnetic disks

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Rochester, MN, United States of America

Curtis A Larson