Dust protection assembly for magneto-optic drive apparatus
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorLeslie G. Christie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for protecting the read/write lens of a magneto-optic drive apparatus using a tongue that covers the read/write lens during the opening and closing of the shutter on a cartridge as it is inserted into and as it is removed from the magneto-optic drive apparatus and during the period that the read/write lens is in a parked position. Apparatus also protects the turning lens and splitting lens and other optical components during insertion and removal of a cartridge and also when these components are in a parked position. The flow of cooling air is also controlled to prevent introduction of dust to the read/write lens and other optical components.
Claims20
A magneto-optic drive apparatus comprising:
- drive means for rotating a disk contained in a cartridge;
- an optical assembly mounted on support means for movement in linear directions between an operating position and a parked position and including a read/write lens for focusing laser light for reading or writing information from or to said disk;
- said operating position being located between said drive means and said parked position;
- protection means for protecting said read/write lens when in said parked position;
- and
- mounting means for mounting said protection means for movement relative to said optical assembly.
A magneto-optic drive apparatus comprising:
- a housing having top wall, bottom wall, and sidewall portions;
- frame means mounted at a fixed location in said housing and spaced from said top and bottom wall portions;
- drive means mounted on said frame means for rotating a disk contained in a cartridge;
- said frame means having an opening formed therein;
- an optical assembly mounted on support means in said opening for movement in linear directions between an operating position and a parked position and comprising a read/write lens mounted in said optical assembly for focusing laser light for reading or writing information from or to said disk;
- baffle means secured to said frame means and facing said bottom wall portion;
- said baffle means located to close substantially the bottom portion of said opening;
- and
- openings in said sidewall portions for passing cooling air between said baffle means and said bottom wall portion.
A method for protecting a read/write lens of a magneto-optic drive apparatus having frame means;
- drive means mounted on said frame means for rotating a cartridge having a disk contained therein;
- an optical assembly including said read/write lens mounted on support means in an opening in said frame means for movement between a parked position and an operating position and protection means mounted for movement between a first location whereat at least a portion of said protection means covers the read/write lens and a second location whereat said protection means permits operation of the read/write lens and the disk for reading or writing from or to the disk comprising:
- locating said read/write lens in said parked position and said protection means in said first location;
- inserting said cartridge having a shutter which moves between closed and opened positions into said magneto-optic drive apparatus;
- moving said shutter from said closed position to said opened position as said cartridge is inserted into said magneto-optic drive apparatus;
- moving said protection means from said first location to said second location after said shutter has been opened;
- moving said read/write lens from said parked position to said operating position;
- performing said reading or writing operation;
- moving said read/write lens from said operating position to said parked position;
- moving said protection means from said second location to said first location;
- removing said cartridge from said magneto-optic drive apparatus;
- and
- moving said shutter from said opened position to said closed position as said cartridge is removed from said magneto-optic drive apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.