Eastman-kodak Company

Literal Corporation

James D Harney

Thomas D Jensen

James R Carey

Clark E Harris

Robert G Hills

Philip R Ashe

Ronald A Carin

In an optical or magneto-optical disk drive system adapted to receive a shuttered disk cartridge, interference between the disk clamp and the shutter during cartridge insertion is obviated by securing the clamp onto a sliding mount plate which is normally biased to hold the clamp in a rearward position displaced from its normal operating position in alignment with the disk spindle-drive. A drive cam engaged by the leading edge of the cartridge during insertion is drivingly coupled to the mount plate by a double rack and pinion arrangement to drive the mount plate forward into normal operating position after the cartridge shutter is opened. To assure that the clamp is firmly positioned in alignment with the disk spindle-drive, the pinion is compliantly mounted to allow slight overtravel of the drive cam after the clamp mount is arrested by the precision stop thus exerting a forward bias force to the amount plate which holds the clamp mount firmly in place.

Disk clamp positioning apparatus for information storage disk drive

A disk cassette loading/unloading mechanism for use in a disk recorder or the like of the type having a disk drive mechanism comprises a pivotally mounted holder for holding a disk cassette. The holder is pivotally movable between a loading/unloading position in which a disk cassette is inserted into the holder to its loaded position and unloaded therefrom, and a recording position in which the disk in the disk cassette can be drivingly engaged by the disk drive mechanism. Insertion of a disk cassette into the holder to its loaded position automatically activates a rigid cassette shutter opening device to open the shutter, and causes the holder to move from its loading/unloading position into its recording position. The holder is moved by a cassette ejecting mechanism from its recording position to its loading/unloading position. The ejecting mechanism then ejects the disk cassette at least partially out of the holder.

Disk cassette loading/unloading mechanism with rigid shutter opening

A disk cassette loading/unloading mechanism for use in a disk recorder or the like of the type having a disk drive mechanism comprises a pivotally mounted holder for holding a disk cassette. The holder is pivotally movable between a loading/unloading position in which a disk cassette is inserted into the holder to its loaded position and unloaded therefrom, and a recording position in which the disk in the disk cassette can be drivingly engaged by the disk drive mechanism. Insertion of a disk cassette into the holder toward its loaded position initially cams a flexibly mounted shutter opening abutment member into an operative position, in which it opens the cassette shutter blades during final movement of the cassette to its loaded position.

Disk cassette loading/unloading mechanism with flexible shutter opening

A disk cassette loading/unloading mechanism for use in a disk recorder or the like of the type having a disk drive mechanism comprises a pivotally mounted holder for holding a disk cassette. The holder is pivotally movable between a loading/unloading position in which a disk cassette is inserted into the holder to its loaded position and unloaded therefrom, and a recording position in which the disk in the disk cassette can be drivingly engaged by the disk drive mechanism. Insertion of a disk cassette into the holder to its loaded position automatically causes the holder to move from its loading/unloading position into its recording position. The holder is moved by a cassette ejecting mechanism from its recording position to its loading/unloading position. The ejecting mechanism then ejects the disk cassette at least partially out of the holder.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

James D Harney