North American Philips Corporation

Laser Magnetic Storage International Company

Discovision Associates

Xanar, Inc.

Wilhelm Taylor

Daniel J Woodruff

Michael D Faucett

Douglas E Hoover

Marvin B Davis

Leonardus J Grassens

Hollis O'Neal Hall

Kent Thomas Murphy

Hendrikus W Peeters

Russell A Meyer

Charles DePuy

Gary Anderson

David L Papiernik

Christopher A Knorr

James K Louie

Herbert E Heaton

Christopher J Monsen

Robert G Russell

Zdenek A Hollen

A method and apparatus for manufacturing information storage devices is described herein. Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In particular, the invention includes, but is not limited to, a bearing insertion device, a lens insertion device, a coarse coil gluing tool, a spring gluing tool, a device for gluing pole pieces, a pentaprism insertion and inspection tool, a constants and transfers test, an optics module alignment device, wedge, microprism and beamsplitter insertion devices, a read channel alignment test, a mass balance attachment invention, a position sensor alignment tool, an invention for the attachment of focus and radial coils, a quality control test for test an optical storage device prior to insertion of the objective lens, and a servo system test. The invention described herein is designed to manufacture information storage devices with increased quality and efficiency.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing information storage devices

a mass loader (10) stores a plurality of cartridges (14) for loading a selected one of the cartridges (14) into an optical disk reader (12). The loader (10) comprises a magazine carrier (18) and a cartridge loading apparatus (28). The cartridges (14) are stored in a vertical and parallel orientation within slots in a magazine (16) which is then inserted into the magazine carrier (18). The magazine carrier (18) depends from a follower nut (52) which travels along a lead screw (50) in a direction transverse to the parallel orientation of the cartridges (14). As the leadscrew (50) turns, the follower nut (52) travels therealong to move the magazine (16) into the correct position to load the selected one of the cartridges (14) into the reader (12). After the magazine is properly positioned, another lead screw (30) is driven to propel another follower nut (32) therealong. The follower nut (32) has a loading pin ( 40) protruding therefrom which engages the selected one of the cartridges (14) for loading. The leadscrew (30) is then driven to propel the cartridge (14) via the pin (40) on the follower nut (32) into the reader (12).

Magazine loader having an ejector arm

A mass loader stores a plurality of cartridges for loading a selected one of the cartridges into an optical disk reader. The loader comprises a magazine carrier and a cartridge loading apparatus. The cartridges are stored in a vertical and parallel orientation within slots in a magazine which is then inserted into the magazine carrier. The magazine carrier depends from a follower nut which travels along a lead screw in a direction transverse to the parallel orientation of the cartridges. As the leadscrew turns, the follower nut travels therealong to move the magazine into the correct position to load the selected one of the cartridges into the reader. After the magazine is properly positioned, another lead screw is driven to propel another follower nut therealong. The follower nut has a loading pin protruding therefrom which engages the selected one of the cartridges for loading. The leadscrew is then driven to propel the cartridge via the pin on the follower nut into the reader.

Cassette for storing, moving and loading optical storage disk cartridges

A disk cartridge having a housing in which a disk is rotatably mounted via a hub assembly. The housing includes two cover plates, each of which has a door aperture that is selectively covered by a door that is controlled by a dedicated door control assembly. When the cartridge is inserted into a disk drive, each door is opened by its respective door opening assembly such that both sides of the disk are accessible for magnetic or optical read/write operations. In the preferred embodiment, the hub assembly includes two hub halves, at least one of which includes a plurality of resilient fingers for leveling a surface of the disk when the cartridge is contained within the disk drive. At least one of the hub halves also includes a channel having a plurality of pockets formed therein such that when a spindle base having a torque transferring element is positioned adjacent to the pockets, one of the pockets is able to substantially immediately receive the torque transferring element.

Disk cartridge including door opening mechanism and improved hub assembly

An optical storage disk reading apparatus (10) allows the simultaneous reading of both sides of an optical storage disk (44). An upper base plate (12) and a lower base plate (14) pivot about hinges (22-28) through the action of lead screws (30-32). The lead screws (30-32) are turned by separate stepper motors (38-39) which drive follower nuts (34-36) therealong. The follower nuts (34-36) are interconnected to the baseplates (12-14) by yokes (40-42). As the lead screws (30-32) drive the follower nuts (34-36), the yokes (40-42) pivotally move the base plates (12-14) about the hinges (22-28). A cartridge (46) containing the storage disk (44) is loaded into the apparatus (10) along receiving channels (48-50). The channels (48-50) hold the cartridge (46) from movement while the disk (44) is free to move therein with the lower base plate (14) through an interconnecting drive spindle (20). The disk (44) is thus positioned parallel to and a fixed distance from the lower base plate (14) equal to the focal distance of an optical reader (54) thereon. The upper base plate (12) is positioned parallel to the lower base plate (14) and a variable distance from the disk (44). An optical reader (52) on the upper base plate (12) provides data to the stepper motor (38) associated therewith to move the upper plate (12) to the proper focal distance from the optical reader (52). When the upper plate (12) moves, the lower plate (14) also moves to keep a parallel relationship therebetween.

Method and apparatus for simultaneously reading both sides of an optical

A beam deflecting assembly in a laser device for precision manual control of the point of impact of a laser beam on a selected target site. The assembly includes a pivotable joy-stick universally coupled to an angled manipulator arm which in turn is pivotably connected to a mirror mount in which a beam deflecting mirror is mounted. The mount is rotatable about a vertical axis and includes a yoke for pivoting the mirror about a horizontal axis. Deflection of the joy-stick in the horizontal direction results in rotation of the mount and, independently, deflection in the vertical axis results in pivoting the mirror mount about the horizontal axis. The components of the assembly are dimensioned such that a movement in the free end of the joy-stick is reflected in a corresponding displacement in angle and distance in the point of impact of the delivered laser beam on a selected target plane to give the operator of the laser device a sense of direct control of the beam.

Beam directing micromanipulator for laser device

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Wilhelm Taylor