Loading and unloading mechanism for data storage cartridge and data drive
US8079040B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B17/041
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides loading and unloading mechanisms, and data drives for data storage cartridges. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms for a data storage cartridge may: operate in a manner such that the drive door of the data drive may be fully closed before the disk medium is exposed, e.g., before opening of the associated shutter of the cartridge; be powered by the same drive motor assembly that is used to move or transport the cartridge to the optical head assembly used for writing and/or reading of data from the disk medium of the cartridge; and may fit within a standard configuration for a data drive. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms, as well as the data drives, may provide reliable operation, ease of assembly, and of the parts and components necessary for the reliable operation, and positive data cartridge positioning, as well as minimizing backlash in the drive motor/gear assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.