US 2002/0176352 A1 · Clamp mechanism and information replay apparatus using same

Abstract

A clamp mechanism comprises a turntable, a plurality of chuck claws, and a driving element. The turntable is rotatably driven by a motor. A disc serving as a recording medium is placed on the turntable. The chuck claws are used to hold, that is, clamp the disc on the turntable. The driving element drives the chuck claws both in both a first direction determined to clamp the disc and a second direction determined to unclamp the disc. The driving element includes a pressing portion so that travel of the chuck claws in the first direction in cases where the chuck claws are driven in the second direction. This offers stable clamping and unclamping operations of the chuck claws to detachably hold the disc on the turntable, independently of which attitude the disc takes.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A clamp mechanism comprising:

a turntable on which a recording medium is placed, the turntable being rotated by a rotation driving device;
a holding device for holding the recording medium on the turntable;
and
a driving device for driving the holding device in both a first direction determined to clamp the recording medium and a second direction determined to unclamp the recording medium, the driving device including a prohibiting device for prohibiting the holding device from moving in the first direction in cases where the holding device is driven in the second direction.

1 more element

A clamp mechanism for detachably clamping an information-recording medium placed on a turntable, comprising:

a movable member movable toward and away from the turntable in clamping and unclamping the information-recording medium;
and
a plurality of holding members each placed in a spacing formed through the turntable and each rotatable in both a clamping direction and an unclamping direction to allow the information-recording medium to be clamped and unclamped, each holding member having a first end to clamp the information-recording medium on the turntable, a second end functioning as an axis around which each holding member is rotatable, and a third end made to contact the movable member,
wherein the movable member has a surface formed to push the third end of each holding member in the clamping direction when the movable member is driven to move toward the turntable;
and a protrusion formed to not only press the third end of each holding member in the unclamping direction but also prohibit the third end of each holding member from moving in the clamping direction when the movable member is driven to move away from the turntable.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Clamp mechanism and information replay apparatus using same

Life of this patent

Clamp mechanism and information replay apparatus using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17