Light valve disk assembly and method of assembling the same

A light valve disk assembly comprising:

• a rotatable disk having at least one writing surface with a layer of light modulating fluid coated on said writing surface;
• a light output window spaced in close proximity and parallel to the other surface of said disk;
• a cover plate assembly having a cover plate portion spaced in close proximity and substantially parallel to said writing surface of said disk to define a predetermined volume of fluid adjacent said writing surface of said disk when said disk and cover plate portion are partially submerged in light modulating fluid;
• drive means for rotating said disk, said drive means being mounted on said cover plate assembly;
• bearing means for said disk, said bearing means being mounted on said cover plate assembly;
• and
• mounting means for mounting said cover plate assembly on said light output window, said mounting means comprising a rim projecting from said cover plate portion, said rim including shoulder means defining a ledge engaging the peripheral edge portion of the side of said window facing said disk.

A light valve disk assembly comprising:

• a rotatable disk having at least one writing surface with a layer of light modulating fluid coated on said writing surface, a portion of said disk being submerged in light modulating fluid;
• a light output window spaced in close proximity and parallel to the other surface of said disk;
• a cover plate assembly having a cover plate portion spaced from and substantially parallel to said writing surface of said disk, said disk being mounted for rotation on said cover plate portion;
• mounting means for mounting said cover plate assembly on said light output window, said mounting means including first shoulder means defining a ledge engaging the peripheral edge portion of the side of said window facing said disk;
• and
• spacer means for maintaining a space having a predetermined capillary distance between said disk and said window to cause said light modulating fluid to fill said space, said spacer means being received upon second shoulder means provided in said mounting means.

A method of assembling a light valve disk assembly containing a rotatable disk having at least one writing surface for supporting a layer of light modulating fluid on said writing surface, said disk having a peripheral ring gear, a light output window spaced in close proximity and substantially parallel to the other surface of said disk, a cover plate assembly having a cover plate portion spaced in close proximity and substantially parallel to said writing surface of said disk to define a predetermined volume of fluid adjacent said writing surface of said disk when said disk and cover plate portion are partially submerged in light modulating fluid, drive means for rotating said disk mounted on said cover plate assembly, bearing means for said disk mounted on one surface of said cover plate portion, a mounting rim projecting from said one surface of said cover plate portion for mounting said cover plate assembly on said light output window, said rim including shoulder means defining a ledge engaging the peripheral edge portion of the side of said window facing said disk, spring clips for maintaining said cover plate assembly in engagement with said window, and spacer means for maintaining a predetermined space between said disk and said window, said method comprising:

• assembling said cover plate assembly;
• placing said cover plate assembly horizontally with said mounting rim and bearing means extending upwardly from said cover plate portion;
• placing said disk on said bearing means with said disk substantially parallel to said cover plate portion and with said rim surrounding said disk;
• engaging said peripheral ring gear of said disk with said drive means;
• placing said window on said rim shoulder means with one surface of said window facing and spaced from the other surface of said disk;
• and
• applying said spring clips to apply clamping pressure on the other surface of said cover plate portion and the other surface of said window to maintain said cover plate assembly engaged with said window, said rim, cover plate portion, and window substantially protecting said disk from contamination.

A light valve disk assembly comprising:

• a rotatable disk having at least one writing surface and adapted to support a layer of light modulating fluid on said writing surface;
• means mounting said disk for rotation on a cover plate assembly facing said one surface of said disk;
• means for mounting said cover plate assembly on a light output window facing the other surface of said disk comprising a mounting shoulder lying in a plane spaced in close proximity to said other surface of said disk;
• and
• means clamping said light output window against said mounting shoulder.