Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Slps Electrics Co., Ltd.

Kenji Abe

Tatsumaro Yamashita

Toshihiro Sakurai

Keisuke Nakayama

Isao Asano

Kazuo Kobayashi

Masao Kumagai

Takashi Nakashima

Shoichiro Saito

Atsushi Takahashi

Conventional disc units each involve the problem that a new disc must be inserted into the disc unit after a disc already present in the disc unit is ejected and that therefore it takes time for disc replacement. In the disc unit of the present invention, to solve the above-mentioned problem, a new second disc which has been inserted into the disc unit through an insertion opening is carried from an insertion area to a disc driving section by a conveying means. On the other hand, a first disc already present in the disc unit prior to insertion of the second disc is ejected from an ejection area to the exterior of the disc unit by both first and second ejection members. The time required for disc replacement can be shortened by performing the disc inserting operation by the conveying means and the disc ejecting operation by the first and second ejection members both in a simultaneous manner.

Disc unit with configuration for performing simultaneous inserting and ejecting operations for disc

A transmission gear is comprised of a fitting portion of an upper toothed wheel being fit with a fitting portion of a lower toothed wheel so that both are axially movable. Accordingly, even in the event that a lid plate which has a disk introducing mechanism and a clamping chassis which has a clamping mechanism ascend or descend, certain power can be transmitted to a large gear (first gear) and a rotating cam (second gear) in a sure manner. Thus, the disk introducing mechanism and the disk discharging mechanism can both be driven with a single simple power transmitting mechanism. Also, the disk introducing operation and the disk discharging operation can be performed in a parallel manner, thereby reducing the amount of time required to exchange disks.

Power transmitting mechanism for disk apparatus

Since disks of the same type are loaded in a disk device using a conventional disk changer scheme, the disk device is not versatile as a peripheral device of a computer. ROM disks and RAM disks are mixed and stored in a magazine, and this magazine is loaded in the disk device. In the disk device, a tray is identified in step by a detector arranged on the tray to check whether the tray be a ROM disk or a RAM disk. Thereafter, discrimination information is recorded, together with the contents information, on an IC memory arranged on the magazine in step. Thereafter, when the magazine is loaded again, the discrimination information is read from the IC memory, and an operation corresponding to each disk is performed.

Optical disk discriminating method, including memory storage, for

A plurality of trays (T) are set in a disk package (P) loaded into a disk device, and different types of disks are rested on the trays (T). A first lock mechanism (L1) for locking all of the disks is provided in the package (P) such that this lock mechanism can be manually operated to unlock. A second lock mechanism (L2) locks only the trays on which RAM disks are rested, thereby preventing the RAM disks from being taken out. The disk device comprises unlocking members for releasing the locks established by both locking mechanisms.

Disk package capable of loading a disk package containing multiple disks

A disc package loaded in a disc device houses a plurality of trays, and discs of different types are installed on the respective trays. Each tray is provided with a hook and an identification hole indicative of type information of each disc, and an ejector lever for ejecting each tray is provided with a sensor for sensing the information of the identification hole. When the disc package is loaded, the identification of the disc on each tray is known by causing the ejector lever to face sequentially the hooks of the trays.

Disc package

Different types of multiple disks are accommodated in a disk package (P) which is loaded into a disk device. Identification means (20) is provided on a bottom plate (1f) of the case (1) of the disk package (P). This identification means is made up of a jumper card (21) embedded in the case and four bits of identification holes (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d); therefore it can offer 4.times.2 sorts of information depending on whether each of the identification holes is opened or closed. The disk device detects that information and obtains information about the types of the disks in the package.

Disk package

Unlike conventional disk drives, a disk drive of the invention is capable of loading a plurality of different types of disks at the same time, and has the capability of protecting a disk sensitive to contamination, such as a RAM disk, from contamination. A plurality of trays are placed in a disk package which is loaded into a disk drive. Different types of disks may be placed on the respective trays. In the package, there is provided a first locking mechanism for locking all trays. This first locking mechanism can be unlocked by a manual operation. There is also provided a second locking mechanism which locks only those trays on which RAM disks or the like are placed so that the RAM disks are prevented from being taken out. In the main unit of the disk drive, there is provided an unlocking member for unlocking both the first and second locking mechanisms.

Disk drive capable of loading a disk package containing multiple disks

A plurality of trays are arranged in a disk package disposed in a disk device, and disks of different types are placed on the trays, respectively. A first lock mechanism for locking all the trays is arranged in the package, and a locking operation of this lock mechanism can be released by a manual operation. A second lock mechanism is designed to be able to lock only a tray on which a RAM disk or the like is placed and to prevent the RAM disk or the like from being removed. However, when an projection portion of the tray is deformed, the tray can be removed.

Disk package for storage of multiple disks of different types and

A plurality of trays (T) are set in a disk package loaded into a disk device, and different types of disks are rested on the trays (T). Identification means (30) giving information about the type of a disk is provided on a hook (T7) of each of the trays (7), and detecting means (32) for detecting the information given by the identification means (30) is provided on a drawing lever (18) for drawing out the tray. When the disk package is loaded into the disk device, the types of the disks on the trays (T) can be discriminated by moving and positioning the drawing lever (18) to face the hooks (T7) of the trays (T) successively.

Optical disk device capable of accessing a plural different types of

A magnetic head assembly including a carriage carrying a first magnetic head for recording information on, and reproducing it from, one side of a magnetic recording medium in the form of a disk, and a holding case connected to the carriage rotatably by a leaf spring and carrying a second magnetic head disposed opposite the first magnetic head for recording information on, and reproducing it from, the opposite side of the medium. The first magnetic head is supported on the carriage by a gimbal spring supported on a pivot, while the second magnetic head is secured to the holding case. The pivot is supported by a nonelastic member provided in the carriage. The gimbal spring has an outer portion at which it is attached to the carriage, and an inner portion projecting from its outer portion toward the holding case. The pivot contacts the inner portion of the gimbal spring.

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Miyagi-ken, Japan

Kenji Abe