Spindle clamp assembly for a video recorder-playback machine

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, comprising:

• radially expansible means receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc;
• clamping means receivable over the spindle for locking engagement with the spindle and for retaining the disc on the spindle;
• and
• means for cooperating between said clamping means and said radially expansible means for substantially uniformly radially expanding said expansible means into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle.

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising:

• a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and radially inwardly presented tapered face;
• a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a downwardly and radially outwardly presented tapered face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face;
• locking means receivable over the spindle in locking engagement therewith for retaining the disc on the spindle;
• and
• biasing means received about the spindle between said locking means and said collet for engaging said collet when said locking means is received over said spindle for displacing said collet downwardly with its outwardly presented tapered face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle.

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising:

• a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc;
• a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve, said sleeve and said collet being configured with respect to each other such that downward displacement of said collet in bearing engagement with said sleeve causes substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle;
• a clamp housing receivable over the spindle and including locking means for locking engagement with the spindle;
• biasing means for engaging said collet when said housing is received over the spindle for displacing said collet downwardly for effecting radial expansion of said sleeve;
• and
• means for reacting between said housing and the disc for applying a generally vertically directed clamping force to the disc for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.

A spindle clamp assembly for positioning a disc upon a rotatable drive spindle having a shaft portion for reception through an opening formed in the disc, and a base for vertically supporting the disc, comprising:

• a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and inwardly presented tapered face;
• a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a generally downwardly presented face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face;
• a clamp housing receivable over the spindle;
• locking means carried by said housing for locking engagement with said spindle;
• first biasing means carried by said housing for reacting between said housing and said collet when said housing is received over said spindle for urging said collet downwardly with its downwardly presented face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle;
• second biasing means for normally biasing said sleeve to a radially non-expanded configuration;
• an annular clamping ring carried by said housing and projecting downwardly therefrom for annular engagement with the disc about the opening in the disc;
• and
• third biasing means reacting between said housing and said clamping ring for causing said clamping ring to apply a vertically directed clamping force to the disc when said housing is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely on the spindle.

In a video machine having a rotatable drive spindle with a shaft portion for reception through a central opening in a video information disc. and an enlarged base for vertically supporting the disc, a spindle clamp assembly for accurately and securely positioning the disc with respect to the spindle, comprising:

• a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc;
• locking means receivable over the spindle for locking engagement therewith;
• biasing means reacting between said sleeve and said locking means for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve when said locking means is received over the spindle for displacing said sleeve radially outwardly into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle;
• and
• clamping means for reacting between said locking means and the disc for applying a clamping force generally vertically to the disc when said locking means is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.

In a video machine having a rotatable drive spindle with a shaft portion for reception through a central opening in a video information disc, and an enlarged base for vertically supporting the disc, a spindle clamp assembly for accurately and securely positioning the disc with respect to the spindle, comprising:

• a radially expansible sleeve receivable about the spindle and within the opening formed in the disc, said sleeve having an upwardly and inwardly presented tapered face;
• a collet receivable about the spindle above said sleeve and including a generally downwardly presented face for bearing engagement with said sleeve face;
• a clamp housing receivable over the spindle;
• locking means carried by said housing for locking engagement with said spindle;
• first biasing means carried by said housing for reacting between said housing and said collet when said housing is received over said spindle for urging said collet downwardly with its downwardly presented face in bearing engagement with said sleeve face for causing substantially uniform radial expansion of said sleeve into bearing engagement with the disc for centering the disc with respect to the spindle;
• second biasing means for normally biasing said sleeve to a radially non-expanded configuration;
• an annular clamping ring carried by said housing for limited vertical motion with respect to said housing and projecting downwardly therefrom for annular engagement with the disc about the disc opening whereby the clamping ring accommodates the disc having a thickness within a range prescribed by the allowable vertical motion of said ring;
• and
• third biasing means reacting between said housing and said clamping ring for causing said clamping ring to apply a vertically directed clamping force to the disc wherein said force is substantially uniform within the range of allowable vertical ring motion when said housing is received over the spindle for retaining the disc securely upon the spindle.