The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 1998
Filed:
May. 17, 1995
Tetsuo Kanno, Ebina, JP;
Akihiko Okamoto, Kawasaki, JP;
Richoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention provides a disk drive unit which includes a body case having an opening portion for inserting a disk cartridge and for facilitating removal of the cartridge from the body case. A shutter mechanism having a shutter which is rotatably supported in the body case and is movable between an open position for inserting the cartridge and a closed position for preventing airborne debris from entering the interior of the body case. The shutter is normally in the closed position and is opened when a cartridge is inserted or ejected. A loading device is positioned within the body case and is configured to vertically move the cartridge so as to load the inserted cartridge onto a driving device. The loading device also selectively ejects the cartridge in an ejection movement. A driving device is provided to rotate a disk stored in the cartridge and is preferably fixed to the body case. The shutter mechanism also includes a cam linked with the shutter which is provided to rotate or pivot the shutter upwardly in association with the ejection movement of the cartridge caused by the loading device so as cause the shutter to move to the open position when the cartridge is being ejected.