US 5,477,518 A · Detachable storage assembly

Abstract

An apparatus for storing data is disclosed, which has a storage medium support frame for supporting storage medium carrying members of similar configuration. The size of the storage medium support frame can be changed (i.e., adjusted) to accommodate an arbitrary number of storage medium carrying members. In one embodiment, the storage medium carrying member may be in the form of a rewritable optical disk or another type of optical storage platter. The storage medium support frame comprises a plurality of disk units which may be coupled to each other, each disk unit having a disk support structure for supporting at least one platter. The disk units are provided with mechanisms for detachably connecting, and thereby stacking, a variable number of disk units together to form the storage medium support frame. As the disk units are stacked, i.e., detachably connected, axles of the respective platters are interconnected with each other to form a common axle located at a common axis of the storage medium support frame. In an alternative embodiment, a multi-platter assembly having a plurality of platters and a common axle may be removably mounted to a storage medium support frame. A spring-biased bearing mechanism is provided for holding the common axle so that the center axis of the common axle coincide with the common axis of rotation of the storage medium support frame.

Claims43

Dependent claims

An apparatus for storing data comprising:

a storage medium support frame for supporting storage medium carrying members of similar configuration, said support frame having at least two outer dimensions and including means for changing the size of at least one of said outer dimensions of said support frame to accommodate an arbitrary number of storage medium carrying members;
and
at least one storage medium carrying member, each of said storage medium carrying members comprising a computer storage disk in the form of a platter, said storage medium support frame comprising a plurality of disk units coupled to each other, each disk unit comprising a disk support structure for supporting at least one platter, wherein said size is changed in accordance with the number of disk units coupled to each other;
each of said disk units comprising means for detachably connecting, and thereby stacking, an arbitrary number of disk units together to form said storage medium support frame;
said disk support structure comprising guide and support means for guiding and providing lateral and vertical support to at least one platter supported by said disk unit;
said apparatus further comprising a spine for providing a common support for said disk units, wherein said guide and support means comprises a horizontally extending bracing member connected at a first end to said spine, and means, rigidly coupled to a second end of said bracing member, for rotatably supporting at least one of said platters.

3 more elements

An apparatus for storing computer data comprising:

a multi-platter assembly having a plurality of platters, said multi-platter assembly having a common axle which comprises at least one detachable connecting mechanism for connecting to another axle or axle section;
a frame, said multi-platter assembly being adapted to be removably mounted on said frame;
said frame comprising a support that extends along a plane that transverses said common axle, said support having a periphery and an opening spaced from said periphery for receiving and supporting said common axle, said support further comprising means for guiding and providing lateral and vertical support for at least one platter supported by said multi-platter assembly, said apparatus further comprising a spine for providing a support for said multi-platter assembly, wherein said guide and support means comprises a horizontally extending bracing member connected at a first end to said spine, and means, rigidly connected to a second end of said bracing member for rotatably supporting at least one of said platters;
and
means for resiliently retaining said common axle in said opening, said support further comprising a slot that extends from said periphery to said opening, wherein said common axle is adapted to be removably mounted within said support by moving said common axle along said slot and into said opening.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detachable storage assembly

Life of this patent

Detachable storage assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43