FR2528214A1 - CHARGER DISC UNIT - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A UNIT OF CHARGING DISCS. IT INCLUDES A BODY 11 WHICH INCLUDES A DOOR THAT CAN PIVOT INTO THE OPEN POSITION TO ALLOW THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF A DISC LOADER 10. A RACK 40 CAN BE MOVED VERTICALLY UNDER THE EFFECT OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THE DOOR TO ALLOW THE INTRODUCTION OF A CHARGER 10 WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN AND TO PIVOT THE CHARGER ON A DRIVE PIN 20 WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED . A TROLLEY 38, BEARING HEADS 64, 66 FOR READING / WRITING, IS CONNECTED TO THE DOOR 13. FIELD OF APPLICATION: SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTENDED FOR DOMESTIC USE AND FOR SMALL COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.

Description

The invention relates generally to disk drives

  magnetic, and more particularly

  loader-type disk drives.

  Magnetic disk drives using removable disk chargers find application possibilities more and more extensive, because the storage capacity of the disk is increased and the robustness

  of the chargers disk drive is improving

  memory-based devices are particularly useful with small computer systems designed for

  at home and in small commercial establishments.

  U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 06 / 322,029, filed November 16, 1981 under the title "Cartridge Disc Drive and Cartridge Load Mechanism" discloses an improved removable disk magazine and associated disk drive in which the magazine can be easily put into operation. square

  relative to the pin of the associated disk drive.

  The loader boltier has two opposite side walls.

  each having means for centering

  snap into place with a fixed element complementary to

  and centering incorporated in each side wall

  of the disk unit body The fixed elements of

  and centering each extend along the inner edge of the associated sidewall of the disk unit body and comprise an inlet ramp portion, a spaced reference stop / pivot portion, along the wall, the inlet ramp wall, and an intermediate guiding portion Each of the loader centering means has an edge intended to enter

  contact with the entrance ramp part at the beginning of the in-

  loader in the body of the disk drive

  and to come into contact with the intermediate part of

  when the magazine is advanced into the body of the unit, so that the loader casing engages firmly with the positioning

  The centering means of the loader comprise

  Furthermore, each of them has a pivoting member located at a front edge of the magazine and adapted to articulate with the pivoting portion of the centering element when

  the loader is placed in a longitudinal position

  determined in the body of the disk unit The surface of the lower edge of each of the centering means of the charger comprises first and second locking guides.

  intended to engage individually with the

  intermediate guide portion and the ramp portion of the centering element when the magazine is tilted about the pivoting portion towards the centering element,

  so that the loader can not move longitudinally-

  When positioned in the proper operating position, the ramp portion and the intermediate guide portion have protruding male members.

  in a direction approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis

  tudinal of the side wall of the body of the disk unit, and the first and second engagement guides have recesses of complementary shape, formed in the

edge of the charger.

  In order to facilitate cooperation between the centering elements and the magazine centering means, the body of the disk unit comprises means for biasing the magazine extending along the internal lateral walls of the body so as to tend to carry the surfaces of the charger edges against the corresponding centering elements when the charger is advanced inwardly of the body of the disk unit, the biasing means cooperating with the centering element to guide the means

  articulation in contact with the pivoting means.

  Each loading element of the loader comprises an abutment member extending along the corresponding side wall of the body of the disk unit, forming a predetermined angle with the upper edge. The centering means of the loader are made of a only part with the side walls of the magazine, while the centering elements of the disk unit body

  inserts attached to the internal sidewalls

the body of the unit.

  The magazine unit with chargers described in the aforementioned application NO 06/322 029 comprises a vertically movable door and a vertically movable frame, juxtaposed to the door and movable in cooperation with the movement of the latter A mechanical linkage connects the door to the frame so that a vertical movement of the door to an open position moves the frame vertically in the opposite direction so that the central opening is arranged to receive a disk loader, and

  vertical movement of the door to a closed position

  ture causes a disk to be picked up by the frame and

  from this disc to a gripping position with the spindle

of the disk unit.

  US Patent Application No. 06 / 321,788, filed November 16, 1981 under the title "Head Load Mechanism for Magnetic Disc Drive" describes a mechanism for loading and unloading read heads comprising a rotary cam equipped with a spacer to be placed between the reading head arms, the spacer having two different dimensions so that a rotation of the cam orients the spacer between the arms, according to the two dimensions, for loading and unloading respectively When placing or the removal of a disk charger, means must be provided to separate the magnetic heads that normally

  against the surfaces of the discs for reading and

registration of data.

  The subject of the invention is an improved disk drive unit, and more particularly a unit in which a loader can be manually loaded.

  and can be unloaded manually while the food

  The invention also relates to an improved mechanism for loading and unloading loaders as well as an improved loading and unloading mechanism.

  unloading magnetic read / write heads.

  Another subject of the invention is a mechanism for rotating a loader for loading and unloading on a spindle, in response to the opening and closing of a door of the disk unit. A mechanism for moving the carriage carrying the read / write heads to an unloading position when opening the door of the disk drive The invention also relates to a safety mechanism for preventing the carriage with the read / write heads to move to a loading position if a loader is misaligned in the body of the disk drive Another object of the invention is a spring-loaded mechanism for facilitating the positioning of the magazine. a loader and unloading a

  charger when the door of the disk drive is open.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example and in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, partially broken away, of a disk unit and a

  disc loader corresponding to a form of

  invention, the upper cover being only partially represented;

  Figure 2 is a view from below, with tearing

  partially, the disk drive of Figure 1 which a part of the body is removed: to show the cam and the linkage of the disk unit; Figs. 3A to 3D are elevations, with a body wall removed, illustrating the loading and unloading of a feeder in the disk drive of Fig. 1; Figures 4A and 4B are schematic perspective views of a portion of the head loading and unloading mechanisms respectively shown in unloading and loading positions; and FIG. 5 is a top view of the unit

  of disks in Figure 1 whose hood is removed.

  Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a disk drive having a portion of the top cover removed, which view also shows a disk loader according to one embodiment of the invention. 10 of the rigid disk is removably disposed in an associated disk unit body, the body being indicated generally by the numerical reference 11 and comprising an upper cover 12 (shown in part), a front door 13, a rear wall carrying a linear motor 14 for controlling a carriage indicated generally at 38, carrying read / write heads, and side walls 15 and 16 The body 11 of the disk unit comprises also a lower wall

  or a bottom 17 of which rises a drive element 19.

  The input element 19 is of conventional design and is equipped with an associated control mechanism (not shown> so as to be able to rotate on the axis of a profiled spindle 20 Two fingers 21 and 22 project

  up from the bottom 17 of the body 11 in order to release a

  locking mechanism arranged in a loader set up in the unit, as described in the application

No. 06/322 029 mentioned above.

  Two fixed locating and centering elements indicated generally by the numerals 23 and 23 'and having symmetrical shapes, are mounted along the lower and inner surface of the side walls 15 and 16. The centering element 23 comprises a guide of one-piece positioning, extending approximately longitudinally and having an inlet ramp portion, an intermediate guide portion 26 and a stop portion 27 provided with a pivot portion 28; centering element 23 'are designated by the same reference numerals to which

a bonus sign is added.

  The magazine 10 has two similar side walls 31 and 32, configured to cooperate with the centering elements 23 and 23 'to facilitate the insertion of the magazine 10 into the body 11 of the disk unit and its removal from the body 11. The loader side wall 31 has a lower edge whose surface comprises portions 33a, 33b and 33c separated by engagement and guiding recesses 34 and the engagement recess 34 is sized to slidably receive the intermediate guide 26 of the centering element 23; similarly, the engagement member is dimensioned to slidably receive the inlet ramp portion. Further, the side wall 31 includes a hinge portion 36 formed of a notch, as shown in FIGS. distances between surfaces

  33 a to 33 c of the lower edge, the guides 34 and 35 engage

  and the ramp portion 25, the intermediate guide 26 and the pivot portion 28 are selected so that the portions 33a to 33c of the edge are continuously supported by the upper edge of the members 25 and 26 when the loader is advanced within the body 11 of the disk unit As described in the aforementioned application No. 06/322 029, the charger 10 has a door 37 which opens when the charger is introduced into the body 11 to allow the passage of reading heads /

  writing carried by the carriage 38.

  According to a feature of the invention, a vertically movable frame is mounted on the front surface and is configured to receive a loader. As shown in the partially cut-away bottom view of the loader disk drive unit. 2, the pivoting of the door 13 rotates a shaft 42, which it is integral and on which are mounted first cams 44 These cams 44 cause a contrecam 46 which moves the frame 40 vertically In a preferred embodiment, the cam and cam follower are configured

  so that the frame 40 is not moved before the

  opening of the door to a first position (for example 30) Thus, the door having pivoted in position

  opening, the frame 40 is in the raised position to receive

  see a loader 10 and after it has been total-

  inserted, the door 13 returns by pivoting towards a closed position which causes the frame 40 to descend and

  load the loader 10 on the spindle 20.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, there is provided a mechanism that couples the door 13 and the carriage 38 carrying the read / write heads so that the carriage is moved to an unloading position when opening the door Referring again to FIG. 2 as well as to the elevations of FIGS. 3A to 3D, it can be seen that the mechanism comprises a second cam 48 mounted on a rod 42 which drives a counter cam 50 mounted so that The latter is connected to one end of a pivoting arm 54, the other end of which is engaged with the carriage 38 of the read / write heads, and moves this carriage towards an end of a pivoting arm 54.

  unloading position when opening the door 13.

  The carriage 38 carrying the read / write heads comprises first and second pivoting arms 56 and 58 which are aligned parallel to the support arms 60 and 62

  read / write heads 64 and 66, respectively.

  As can better be seen in FIG. 1, the arms 56 and 58 comprise first elements 68 and 70 which project from it and which are juxtaposed between the support arms 60 and 62. The arms 56 and 58 also comprise second elements 72 and 74 oriented towards each other A linkage 75, comprising a rod 76 which is engaged with the elements 72 and 74 and which separates them when the carriage 38 is in the unloading position, is connected to the pivoting arm 54 La separation of the elements 72 and 74 causes the elements 68 and 70 to come into contact with the support arms 60 and 62 and the separation of the heads

64 and 66 read / write.

  The elevations of FIGS. 3A to 3D illustrate

  the operation of the frame 40 and the mechanism of the carriage.

  In FIG. 3A, the door 13 is represented in position

  complete opening and a magazine 10 is in the process of

  The carriage 38 is in the unloading position in which the rod 76 separates the elements 72 and 74 and, consequently, the heads 64 and 66. FIG. 3B shows the fully inserted magazine in alignment with the centering element 23 The carriage 38 carrying the read / write heads is held in the unloading position because the door 13 remains open. FIG. 3C shows the door 13 in the closed position and the frame 40 moved downwards, so as to load the loader on the drive pin. The articulated linkage 54 moves away from the linkage 75 and

  At present, the heads can be advanced or loaded

  by the engine, - before the carriage and therefore

  75 and 76 out of the engagement position with the elements 72 and 74, which has the effect of bringing the heads on the disk inside the charger 10 The carriage 38 can now move freely under the command of the computer, without interference with the elements

56 and 58.

  Then, when the door 13 is opened again for the removal of the loader 10, the linkage 54 drives the carriage to the unloading position in which the read / write heads are moved away from the disk surface As shown in FIG. when the door is partially open (for example at an angle of 30), the carriage carrying the read / write heads is moved to the unloading position before the magazine 10 is released from the drive pin by a movement Mount 40 Mount Cams 44 and 48

  (Figure 2) are configured, as well as their counter-

  respective cams, so that the carriage is moved to the unloading position before any movement

  of the frame 40 and before the release of the charger.

  According to another characteristic of the

  As a result, a cantilevered flexible member 80 is mounted on the carriage 38 from which it extends toward the loader 10, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D. When the loader 10 is properly aligned within the body, the cantilever element 80 lines up above the magazine as shown in FIG. 3B, however, in the case where the magazine has a misalignment when it is introduced into the body, or else if the heads deploy and open, the cantilevered element 80 bears against the front surface of the magazine and prevents the further insertion of the heads and thus a risk of deterioration of the heads 64 and 66 of reading /writing. FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of pivotably mounted arms 56 and 58, these arms being respectively shown in the unloading position of the heads and in the loading position of the heads. support for retaining the elements 68 and 70 in alignment between the support arms of the read / write heads when the latter are loaded on a disk The support 92 comprises tabs 93 and 94 projecting which cooperate with tabs 95 and 96, respectively, elements 68 and 70 As shown in Figure 4A, when the read / write heads are discharged, the tabs 95 and 96 may be spaced from the tabs 93 and 94 However, as shown in Figure 4 B, when the heads are loaded on a disk, the tab 96 rests on the tab 94 and the tab 95 abuts against the mat 93, thus pocketing the closed arms 68 and 70 to come into contact with the

  support arm of the read / write heads.

  Referring now to the top view of the magazine, shown in FIG.

  Another feature of the invention lies in a mechanism

  spring return mechanism, generally indicated at 44, for facilitating the unloading of a loader when the door is open. The spring return mechanism 84 comprises a spring-loaded pivoting arm 86 and a locking mechanism indicated generally at 88 and intended to keep the swivel arm 86 in position

  withdrawal (shown in phantom) when inserting

  The locking mechanism is disengaged when the magazine is pivotally engaged with a drive pin. The pressure exerted by the pivoting arm 86 tends to bring the magazine in proper alignment with the centering elements 22 and Then, when the door is opened and the magazine is clear of the drive pin, the spring-loaded pivoting arm 86 tends to move the viewer away from the body. When the pivot arm 86 is fully retracted, an arm 90 is solicited by a spring

  upward to hold the arm in the retracted position.

  However, pivoting a loader to a position engaged with the drive spindle

  forces the arm 90, thus releasing the pivoting arm 86.

  Then, when the door 13 is open and the loader is clear of the drive spindle, the swivel arm

  86 tends to move the charger away from the body.

  It has therefore been described an improved disk drive unit in which a loader can be loaded

  manually and from which it can be manually unloaded.

  while the power supply to the disk drive is cut off The disk drive has an improved mechanism for loading and unloading a loader

  and an improved mechanism for loading and unloading

  Magnetic read / write heads, which mechanisms respond to the opening and closing of the door of the disk unit body The door can be opened while the power supply of the disk unit is cut off or that this power supply is maintained but while the door unlocking coil

  is de-energized under the control of a computer.

  important is that the truck is brought into the unloading position before the introduction or removal of a loader. The closing of the door has the effect of

  place the magazine and the disc on the spindle

  which releases the disk from the charger and also releases

  spring loaded mechanism 84 so that the force of a spring is applied to the loader for

  position it properly inside the body.

  In addition, each time a loader is loaded, the carriage remains in the unloading position, even after the body door has been closed. This actuates the positioning switch and a purge cycle is triggered, during which the disc is rotated for a period of time (i.e.

  seconds), without loading the heads, so as to eliminate

undermine the entralment of particles.

  It goes without saying that many changes can be made to the described disk drive and

  shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

  A loader disk unit comprising a body (11) having a front surface and a bottom surface (17), a drive spindle (20) mounted on the bottom surface and adapted to engage with a disk and driving, a carriage (38) carrying head / writing heads (64, 66) and head support arms (60, 62), and a door (13) pivotally mounted in the front surface, the disk unit being characterized in that it comprises a mechanism connecting the door and the carriage carrying the heads so that the carriage is moved to a position   unloading when opening the door.   Disk unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanism comprises a cam (44) which rotates with the door, a counter-frame (46) pivotably mounted, and a linkage (52) connecting the counter-cam to the carriage.   3 disk unit according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a frame <40) vertically movable, mounted in the front surface and connected to the door for charging and discharging a charger (10) in response to the closure and opening the door, the carriage being moved to an unloading position upon opening the door to a first position and the frame being moved vertically to pivotally disengage a disk loader from the drive pin after the door has passed said first position, to prevent the removal of a front disc loader   that the truck has arrived in the unloading position.   4 disk unit according to one of the claims   2 and 3, characterized in that the mechanism further comprises means for discharging the read / write heads of a disk when the carriage is moved to an unloading position, and to load the heads of   read / write to a disk when the door is closed.   Disk drive according to claim 4, characterized in that said means comprise first and second arms (56, 58) rotatably mounted aligned parallel to the support arms of the read / write heads, the arms mounted so that being pivotable comprising first protruding elements (68,70) juxtaposed between the support arms and second elements (72,74) extending from the first elements and oriented towards each other the other, said means further comprising a third member (76) for contacting the second members when the carriage is in an unloading position, this third member now   pushed apart by the arms mounted so as to pivot.   Disk unit according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises means (92) for supporting the first elements when the   cart is not in unloading position.