Loading mechanism for loading and unloading an information disc into/from an information-technology apparatus

US6028831A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• U.S. Phillips Corp. · US

Inventors

• Thomas Scholz · Bear, US
• Harald Noordhoek · Wetzlar, DE
• Marc Gielkens · Solms, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 2, 1997
• Grant date: Feb 22, 2000
• Expiry date: May 2, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G11B17/051
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Loading mechanism for loading and unloading an information disc into or from an information-technology apparatus in which first and second guides have respective first and second grooves each provided for engaging the edges of the information disc, and the second guide includes a rotationally drivable transport wheel which rolls the information disc into and out of the apparatus along a loading plane for the purpose of loading and unloading, and the first guide and the second guide are supported so as to be movable, and the first groove and second groove each have respective pressure faces inclined relative to the loading plane, and the first and second grooves each having a circumferential bottom surface and a minimum gap dimension where the respective circumferential bottom surfaces each extend substantially perpendicularly to the loading plane, and the respective minimum gap dimensions are each selected to be smaller than the thickness of the information disc, and wherein, during the loading process, the circumferential rim surface of the information disc is kept out of contact with the respective circumferential bottom surfaces of the guide grooves.