Dysan Corporation

Kenneth S Goodale

Richard N James

Apparatus and a method for positioning a flexible magnetic recording medium, such as a floppy disk, in such a way as to permit magnetic means on opposed sides of the medium to orient the particles in the magnetic coatings on the medium immediately after the coatings have been applied to the medium and as the medium is rotated. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes stabilizing devices which are located at circumferentially spaced locations about the outer periphery of the medium when the medium is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. Each device comprises a pair of substantially J-shaped, wire-like members secured at first ends to a shaft and presenting second ends which are spaced apart to define a gap between which the outer peripheral margin of the medium passes. The J-shaped members can be tubular or solid. If tubular, they can receive a fluid under pressure from a source coupled with the shaft and direct the fluid onto the opposite sides of the medium as the medium rotates. If solid, the outer ends of the J-shaped members of the devices effectively keep the medium centered in the gaps without assistance from a pressurized fluid. In a second embodiment, a pair of bowl-shaped members are hingedly mounted together and moved into face-to-face relationship with each other but are spaced apart to present an outer peripheral, continuous gap which receives the outer peripheral margin of the medium when the medium is rotatably mounted on one of the bowl-shaped members. Air is directed into the interiors of the bowl-shaped members and then outwardly therefrom through the gap on opposite sides of the medium to provide a Venturi effect to keep the outer peripheral margin of the medium centered in the gap and stabilized against deviation out of the plane of rotation of the medium.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Kenneth S Goodale