US 6,272,092 B1 · Recording and reproducing apparatus with lock and release mechanism

Abstract

A recording and reproducing apparatus having a holder for holding an inserted cartridge with a recording medium stored therein in which a recording medium is loaded or unloaded at the recording and reproducing position for recording and/or reproducing information as the holder is elevated or lowered, including a driver on which the recording medium rests at the recording and reproducing position and driving the recording medium for recording and/or reproduction and an elevator having an elevating and lowering operation cam formed on its side portion and elevating or lowering the holder when it is slid in parallel to the direction in which the cartridge is inserted. The elevator includes first and second slide members each having cam grooves formed on its side surfaces and the first and second slide members are coupled together with a predetermined clearance such that they can be fine moved relatively, whereby the cartridge with the recording medium stored therein can be loaded and unloaded stably and reliably.

Claims56

Dependent claims

A head drive apparatus including a magnetic head movable in the radial direction of a disk located at the recording position in unison with a carriage with an optical pickup attached thereto, said magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to said disk and a lifter means for elevating and lowering said magnetic head, comprising:

locking means engaged with said lifter means for locking a movement of said magnetic head along the radial direction of said disk;
and
releasing means for releasing said magnetic head locked by said locking means as said disk is loaded at said recording position;
wherein said lifter means is pivotally supported to said carriage by a camshaft having an eccentric cam portion on one end side and a rotational angle of said lifter means is changed by rotating said camshaft.

1 more element

locking means engaged with said lifter means for locking a movement of said magnetic head along the radial direction of said disk;
and
releasing means for releasing said magnetic head locked by said locking means as said disk is loaded at said recording position;
wherein said lifter means comprises an arm member rotatably attached to said carriage and a holding member engaged with said arm member for holding said arm member at upper and lower positions, respectively;
and further
wherein said holding member is pivotally supported to said carriage by a camshaft having an eccentric cam portion formed on one end side and a rotational angle of said arm member is changed by rotating said camshaft, whereby said magnetic head is elevated or lowered relative to said magnetic disk.

3 more elements

A head driving apparatus, comprising:

a magnetic head movable in a radial direction of a disk located at a recording position in unison with a carriage with an optical pickup attached thereto, said magnetic head configured to apply a magnetic field to said disk;
a lifter configured to elevate and lower said magnetic head;
a locking portion engaged with said lifter configured to lock a movement of said magnetic head along the radial direction of said disk;
and
a releasing portion configured to release said magnetic head locked by said locking portion when said disk is loaded at said recording position;
wherein said lifter includes an arm member rotatably attached to said carriage and a holding member engaged with said arm member for holding said arm member at upper and lower positions, respectively;
and further
wherein said holding member is pivotally supported to said carriage by a camshaft having an eccentric cam portion formed on one end side and a rotational angle of said arm member is changed by rotating said camshaft, whereby said magnetic head is elevated or lowered relative to said magnetic disk.

5 more elements

A head driving method including a magnetic head movable in the radial direction of a disk located at the recording position in unison with a carriage with an optical pickup attached thereto, said magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to said disk and a lifter means for elevating and lowering said magnetic head, comprising the steps of:

engaging with said lifter means for locking a movement of said magnetic head along the radial direction of said disk;
and
releasing said magnetic head locked by said locking means as said disk is loaded at said recording position;
wherein said engaging step includes the steps of rotatably attaching an arm member to said carriage and engaging a holding member with said arm member for holding said arm member at upper and lower positions, respectively;
and further
wherein said step of engaging said holding member includes the step of pivotally supporting said holding member to said carriage by a camshaft having an eccentric cam portion formed on one end side and a rotational angle of said arm member is changed by rotating said camshaft, whereby said magnetic head is elevated or lowered relative to said magnetic disk.

3 more elements

A head driving method, comprising the steps of:

providing a magnetic head movable in a radial direction of a disk located at a recording position in unison with a carriage with an optical pickup attached thereto, said magnetic head configured to apply a magnetic field to said disk;
providing a lifter to elevate and lower said magnetic head;
engaging a locking portion with said lifter configured to lock a movement of said magnetic head along the radial direction of said disk;
and
providing a releasing portion to release said magnetic head locked by said locking portion when said disk is loaded at said recording position;
wherein said step of configuring said lifter includes the steps of rotatably attaching an arm member to said carriage and engaging a holding member with said arm member for holding said arm member at upper and lower positions, respectively;
and further
wherein said step of engaging said holding member includes the step of pivotally supporting said holding member to said carriage by a camshaft having an eccentric cam portion formed on one end side and a rotational angle of said arm member is changed by rotating said camshaft, whereby said magnetic head is elevated or lowered relative to said magnetic disk.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Recording and reproducing apparatus with lock and release mechanism

Life of this patent

Recording and reproducing apparatus with lock and release mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims56