IP Library Granted Patent US 7,506,346
Granted Patent B2
US 7,506,346 · App. 10/576,169 · Granted Mar 17, 2009

Disk apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,506,346
App. No.
10/576,169
Granted
Mar 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a highly reliable disk apparatus which is reduced in size, thickness and weight, and which can surely prevent the double insertion of disk-shaped recording media with a simple structure to thereby prevent a contact between each of the disk-shaped recording media. In the disk apparatus of the present invention, a disk guide is rotatably held in the proximity of an opening for inserting and ejecting a disk-shaped recording medium, which is formed in the stationary frame fixed to the casing, and the disk guide leads the disk-shaped recording medium to the inserting and ejecting operations and also closes at least a part of the above opening.

Claims (19)

1. A disk apparatus comprising:

a stationary frame having an opening for inserting and ejecting a disk-shaped recording medium,

a disk guide which is rotatably provided in the proximity of the opening of said stationary frame, and which leads said disk-shaped recording medium to the inserting operation and the ejecting operation, and

a floating unit which is held in a floating state through elastic component in said stationary frame, and which has a function to perform a recording and/or reproducing operation on said disk-shaped recording medium,

wherein said floating unit includes a roller arm for carrying said disk-shaped recording medium to a desired position, and wherein said roller arm moves to thereby permit the disk guide to close at least a part of the opening.

2. A disk apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said floating unit includes a disk-carrying member having the roller arm which rotates itself while pressing said disk-shaped recording medium onto said disk guide, so as to carry said disk-shaped recording medium to a desired position, and wherein, when said disk-carrying member has carried said disk-shaped recording medium to a recording/reproducing position, a part of said disk guide is moved in a direction intersecting the locus of the motion of said disk-shaped recording medium to close at least a part of the opening for inserting and ejecting said disk-shaped recording medium by said disk guide.

3. A disk apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said stationary frame comprises an upper frame and a lower frame, and wherein said disk guide is so held in suspension from the reverse of said upper frame as to be rotatable at a predetermined angle.

4. A disk apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein a substantially arch-like protruded chin guard is provided at a position where the opening for inserting and ejecting said disk-shaped recording medium is formed in said floating unit, and wherein, when said disk-shaped recording medium is placed at the recording/reproducing position, said disk guide contacts said chin guide.

5. A disk apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said disk guide has a part which closes the opening for inserting and ejecting said disk-shaped recording medium and which has a recess therein.

6. A disk apparatus comprising:

a stationary frame having an opening for inserting and ejecting a disk-shaped recording medium,

a disk guide which is rotatably provided in the proximity of the opening of said stationary frame, and which leads said disk-shaped recording medium to the inserting operation and the ejecting operation, and

a floating unit which is held in a floating state through elastic component in said stationary frame, and which has a function to perform a recording and/or reproducing operation on said disk-shaped recording medium,

wherein said floating unit includes a disk-carrying member having a roller arm which rotates itself while pressing said disk-shaped recording medium onto said disk guide, so as to carry said disk-shaped recording medium to a desired position, and wherein, when said disk-carrying member has carried said disk-shaped recording medium to a recording/reproducing position, said roller arm is rotated or moved to thereby permit the disk guide to close at least a part of the opening for inserting and ejecting said disk-shaped recording medium.

7. A disk apparatus comprising:

a stationary frame having an opening for inserting and ejecting a disk-shaped recording medium,

a disk guide which is rotatably provided in the proximity of the opening of said stationary frame, and which leads said disk-shaped recording medium to the inserting operation and the ejecting operation, and

a floating unit which is held in a floating state through elastic component in said stationary frame, and which has a function to perform a recording and/or reproducing operation on said disk-shaped recording medium,

wherein said disk guide is foldable in two stages and is folded while said disk guide is leading said disk-shaped recording medium to the inserting operation and ejecting operation.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 24, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0653 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2007
From: OGASAWARA, SHINYA; KAGE, SHINGO; ARAKI, YUKIHIRO; MIROKU, NOBUYUKI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018870/0117 →