International Business Machines Corporation

William J Schaffer

Michael Henry

Frederick B Froehlich

Walter E Broom, Jr

Roy Hennings

A front-loading optical disk drive is disclosed that registers an optical disk about the spindle precisely relative to the optical head. First, the spindle and the corresponding clamping assembly have means to accurately register the disk onto the spindle. Second, the critical components of the optical disk drive such as the spindle, the clamping assembly, the optical head, and the guides and stops for the optical disk, are all positioned relative to a single point in the disk drive. This eliminates the build up of manufacturing tolerances between the critical components. By precisely registering the optical disk onto the spindle, and precisely positioning all the critical components relative to a single point, the optical disk will be precisely registered to the optical head.

Optical disk drive apparatus with means for accurate disk positioning

A high performance self threading tape transport apparatus is packaged within a stand alone 19 inch wide frame. The tape transport apparatus includes a removable file reel and a machine reel. The removable file reel and the machine reel are arranged diagonally with a gravity assisted tape threading path. A single capstan is positioned adjacent the tape threading path with a pair of vacuum chambers situated one on each side of the capstan. The vacuum columns are offset relative to each other but incline to the tape threading path. A processing station including a magnetic transducer, is displaced relative to the tape threading path and operates to read magnetic data from the tape or to write magnetic data on the tape.

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Loveland, CO, United States of America

William J Schaffer