Locking method and apparatus for multi-disk cartridge

Abstract

A method and apparatus for ensuring the proper position and orientation of a multi-disk cartridge, and for selectively locking the cartridge while it is inserted in a disk drive to prevent withdrawal of the cartridge while the disk drive is conveying one of the cartridge's disks. The disk drive of the invention includes a guide to slidably receive a multi-disk cartridge. When the cartridge is inserted in the guide, presence of the cartridge in the drive is detected by a position sensor. Having detected the presence of the cartridge, an orientation sensor determines whether the cartridge has been oriented properly. This prevents upside-down insertion of the cartridge, for example. With the cartridge fully inserted into the guide in a proper orientation, a locking mechanism serves to lock the cartridge in place at selected times. The cartridge may be locked in place, for example, at all times when the cartridge is inserted into the guide, or merely during sensitive operations of the disk drive.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.