Inter-Leaved Carousel for Information Storage Mediums

This invention relates to the storage and retrieval of Information Storage Mediums, in particular an Inter-Leaved arrangement for such Information Storage Mediums.

A number of mediums for storing digital or electronic data are currently in use. One such means is an optically based digital data disk. Another such means is an electronically based micro floppy disk. Still another such means is an electronically based digital audio tape.

These information storage mediums (ISMs), due to their functionality, share a largely common shape; they tend to be platter-like, with a high ratio of width and depth to height. The optically based digital data disk offers an example. The disk is constructed of rigid plastic material, with a diameter of approximately 4.7 inches and a height of approximately 0.07 inches. This shape is similar to that of a micro floppy, which forms a square approximately 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches, yet has a height of approximately 0.12 inches.

Users wish to be able to quickly access a multiplicity of these storage mediums. To this end, a number of different devices have been invented to facilitate the storage and retrieval of ISMs. In general, these devices may be categorized in two ways, dependent upon the orientation in which the ISMs are maintained. In one type, the ISMs are maintained horizontally, such that the wide face is parallel to the Y axis. Iwamoto (U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,963) is one such device. In a variation on this horizontally arrangement, the ISMs maybe stacked in parallel planes to form a column. Bourgions (U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,618) is an example of one such device. In another type of device, the ISMs are maintained vertically, such that the ISM is maintained on its narrow edge. In general, devices of this type utilize a torroidal arrangement, in which the ISMS are arranged around a central axis, suggestive of the spokes of a wagon wheel. Teranashi (U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,405) is an example of such a device.

In general, both horizontal and vertical types of storage and retrieval devices suffer disadvantages. The vertical, torroidal arrangement allows the storage of a high number of ISMs within a limited space. However, because the ISMs must be maintained on their narrow edge, gravity is a force which these devices must counteract. A complicated mechanism must be utilized to keep the ISMs in a vertical position. Devices utilizing a horizontal arrangement are much simpler; gravity becomes a force to maintain the ISMs in place, instead of a force which must be counteracted. However, this arrangement greatly limits the number of ISM which may be stored in a limited space. Most users, therefore, would benefit from a configuration which allows a simple device to maintain and access a large number of ISMs.

A combination of simplicity and storage is achieved by maintaining the ISMs at an angle, instead of horizontally or vertically. In maintaining an ISM at an angle, an upper edge and a lower edge are created. This allows the inter-leaving of the ISMs; the upper edge of an ISM may be positioned over the lower edge of a subsequent ISM. In this manner, a large number of ISMs may be stored in a limited area. Further, this allows the ISM to be self-repositioning A multiplicity of ISMs may be arranged in a number of different configurations. Suggestive of the torroidal arrangement, the ISMs may be formed into a circle around a central axis. Further, an arc of ISMs may be created, or the ISMs may be arranged in a straight line.

Accordingly, I claim the following objects and advantages of the invention:

(a) to provide a simple device which will store and access a large number of ISMs;

(b) to provide a device which will maintain ISMs in an inter-leaved arrangement;

(c) to provide a device in which the ISMs are self-repositioning.

Readers will find further objects and advantages from a consideration of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of disk-shaped ISMs in a narrow diameter inter-leaved arrangement.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of disk-shaped ISMs in a straight line inter-leaved arrangement.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic of disk-shaped ISMs in a wide diameter inter-leaved arrangement.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic of square ISMs in a wide diameter inter-leaved arrangement.

FIG. 5 shows a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the device.

FIG. 6 shows a top elevational view of an inwardly opening tray cartridge.

FIG. 7 shows a top elevational view of an outwardly opening tray cartridge.

FIG. 8 shows a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a disk tray.

FIG. 9 shows a front elevational view of an additional embodiment of a disk tray.

FIG. 10 shows a top elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the device.

FIG. 11 shows a side elevational view of the disk retrieving and information accessing system.

FIG. 12 shows a top elevational view of the disk retrieving and information accessing system with a tray situated in the mechanism.

FIG. 13 shows a cutaway side elevational view of the tray cartridge and bearing ring.

FIG. 14 shows a front elevational view of the spindle mechanism and information accessing mechanism.

FIG. 15 shows a side elevational view of the spindle mechanism and information accessing mechanism.

FIG. 16 shows a side elevational view of the spindle mechanism and information accessing mechanism, with a disk lifted from the tray.

FIG. 17 shows a side elevational view of the spindle motor interlock.

FIG. 18 shows a top elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the device utilizing a single tray cartridge.

FIG. 19 shows a top elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the device utilizing multiple information accessing mechanisms.

FIG. 20 shows an additional preferred embodiment of an ISM tray.

FIG. 21 shows a side elevational view of an additional preferred embodiment of an ISM tray with an ISM in place.

FIG. 22 shows a side elevational view of an additional embodiment of the device illustrating the ISM retrieving device and the information accessing mechanism.

FIG. 23 shows a side elevational view of the additional preferred embodiment, with the ISM lifted from the tray.

FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of the ISM lifting mechanism.

FIG. 25 shows a top elevational view of an additional embodiment of the device utilizing multiple information accessing mechanisms.

FIG. 26 shows a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of an ISM tray.

FIG. 27 shows a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the ISM tray with an ISM in place.

FIG. 1 through 4 show schematic diagrams of possible arrangements of inter-leaved ISMs. A preferred embodiment of the device utilizing a wide diameter inter-leaved arrangement, for use with CDs and CD-ROMs is illustrated in FIG. 5. Carousel device 1 consists of base 3, which is largely square, Molded onto base 3 is raised circular platform 4. Bisecting raised circular platform 4 is slide groove 6 (best seen in FIG. 10). Positioned on raised circular platform 4 is bearing ring 8. As best seen in FIG. 13, bearing ring 8 is a flat, ring-shaped member of diameter identical to that of circular raised platform 4. Imbedded on underneath of bearing ring 8 are a multiplicity of bearings, bearings 9a and 9b being shown. Inner wall of bearing ring 8 is equipped with gear teeth 11. On bearing ring 8 sit a multiplicity of tray cartridges 13a to 13d, As best seen in FIG. 6, tray cartridge 13 consists of a curved outer wall 14, angled side walls 16a and 16b, top piece 18 and bottom piece 19. Within formed enclosure are a series of upper tray slide grooves 21a-c and lower tray slide grooves 22a-c, the grooves formed at an angle matching that of angled side walls 16a and 16b. Maintained between upper and lower slide grooves are a series of rectangular disk trays 24a-c. As best seen in FIG. 8, disk tray 24 is a rectangular piece of material, with edges generally defined as interior edge 26, exterior edge 27, upper slide 29, and lower slide 30. Upper and lower slides are maintained in disk cartridge upper and lower tray slide grooves, allowing the tray to slide in and out of the body of the tray cartridge. Gripping projection 32 is affixed to interior edge of tray. Projecting from face of tray is disk maintaining enclosure 33. Enclosure consists of interior beveled edge 35, exterior beveled edge 36, and bottom lip 38. Positioned largely in the center of disk maintaining enclosure is spindle cutout 40.

Referring now to FIG. 10, multiplicity of disk cartridges form a circle. Within this circle is disk accessing mechanism 44, which consists of a number of sub-mechanisms: powering mechanism 46, gear drive mechanism 47, tray pulling assembly 72 and spindle mechanism 51 Powering mechanism 46 consists of motor 54, which is mounted on motor stand 55. Motor drives motor gear 57. Positioned close to motor is transfer assemble 59, which consists of solenoid 60, bearing ring transfer gear 61, and master transfer gear 62. Master gear 65 is formed with upper toothed level 66 and lower toothed level 67 (also seen in FIG. 11). Upper toothed level and lower toothed level are oppositely toothed, such that when upper level is toothed, lower level is untoothed, and when lower level is toothed, upper level is untoothed. Upper toothed level 66 connects master gear with spindle transfer gear 69. Spindle transfer gear 69 engages spindle screw gear 70. Lower toothed level 67 of master gear 65 engages tray pulling assembly 72. Tray pulling assembly 72 consists of slide 74. Projecting upward is gripping member base 75 (both best seen in FIG. 11). Gripping member 76 is affixed to gripping member base.

FIG. 14 best illustrates spindle mechanism 51. Mechanism consists of spindle seat 78, spindle body 79, spindle lift screw 80, and guide slots 82a and 82b. Spindle guide slots are positioned on spindle guides 83a and 83b, allowing spindle body to move up and down. As best seen in FIG. 15, projecting from spindle seat 78 is disk catch projection 84. Input/Output (I/O) device consists of I/O base 86, drive motor 87, and reading device 88. Drive motor 87 contains drive motor seat 90 and cooperative disk catch opening 91.

In operation, a disk is selected. Solenoid 60 engages bearing transfer gear 61 with bearing ring 8 and motor gear 57, causing bearing ring and tray cartridges to rotate until desired disk is brought into position. Rotation stops, and solenoid 60 disengages bearing ring transfer gear 61 and engages master transfer gear 62 with motor gear 57 and master gear 65. As master gear turns, lower toothed level 67 engages tray pulling assembly 42, causing mechanism to slide backward. Gripping member 76 catches gripping projection 32 of disk tray, causing tray with disk to slide out of tray cartridge and between spindle mechanism 51 and accessing mechanism 44 (best seen in FIG. 12). With tray is positioned, teething on lower toothed level 67 ends, causing tray pulling mechanism to stop moving. Master gear 65 continues to turn, causing upper toothed level 66 to engage spindle transfer gear 69. Spindle transfer gear 69 causes spindle lift screw 80 to rotate, which causes spindle body 79 to rise. Spindle seat 78 rises through spindle cutout 40 of tray, causing disk catch projection 84 to engage center hole of disk. Spindle mechanism and I/O device are offset relative to the center hole of disk, causing disk to slide upward and backward before coming to rest on spindle seat 78. Spindle continues to lift disk until top of disk comes in contact with drive motor seat 90. Disk catch projection 84 engages cooperative disk catch opening 91, locking disk into place (best seen in FIG. 17). Drive motor 87 then spins disk, allowing information to be accessed. When information is retrieved, motor 54 reverses, causing master gear 65 to reverse. Spindle mechanism drops. Because disk is off-center, disk is deposited high on disk tray and slides down to rest on bottom lip, such that the disk re-positions itself. As master gear 65 continues to turn, upper toothed level 66 disengages and lower toothed level 67 re-engages, causing tray pulling device assembly to push tray back into tray cartridge. When tray is resituated in tray cartridge, solenoid causes master transfer gear to disengage and bearing ring transfer gear to re-engage, allowing the selection of a different disk.

In an alternative embodiment, disk accessing mechanism is mounted on pivot base 93, such that the mechanism pivots to come into position relative to the selected disk (as seen in FIG. 18). In a further alternative embodiment, disk tray is equipped with retracting cutout 41 (FIG. 9). which allows tray to be replaced in tray cartridge while disk is maintained in I/0 device. This tray configuration allows the use of multiple disk accessing mechanisms (as seen in FIG. 19) in combination with exterior opening tray cartridge 15 (FIG. 7).

In an additional preferred embodiment designed for squarish ISMs (seen in FIG. 22), ISM accessing mechanism consists of tray pulling assembly 72, ISM reading assembly 97 and ISM lifting assembly 98. ISM tray 25 (As seen in FIG. 20) consists of interior beveled edge 35, exterior beveled edge 37, bottom lip 38, gripping projection 32, and lift cutouts 42a and 42b.

In operation, tray pulling assembly 72 pulls ISM tray between ISM lifting device 98 and ISM reading assembly 97. When tray is positioned, ISM lifting assembly 98 rises, causing ISM lift members 100a and 100b to pass through lift cutouts 42a and 42b of tray. ISM 94 is lifted and pressed into ISM reading assemble. ISM tray 25 may then be returned to tray cartridge. This configuration allows the use of multiple ISM accessing mechanisms (as seen in FIG. 25). In an alternative embodiment, ISM tray 25 (best seen in FIG. 26 and 27) is designed to slide directly into ISM reading assembly.

Accordingly, the readerwill see that the inter-leaved design provides a device which will allow the storage and accessing of a large number of ISMs, allows for a simple device, and allows a device in which the ISMs are self-repositioning. It should be noted, however, that while the above contains a preferred embodiment of a device, it is the idea of the inter-leaved design which is central to this invention. There are innumerable options in terms of the device which maintains ISMs in this inter-leaved arrangement. For instance, the preferred embodiment utilizes tray cartridges. However, instead of cartridges it is possible to use a spokes wheel on a central axis, or a circular base with tray guides. There are a multiplicity of different devices which can maintain ISMs in the inter-leaved arrangement. Further, while the preferred embodiment discloses a device in which the trays slide out of the cartridge, it is also possible for the tray to pivot out, in, or up or down, to bring the ISM to the input/output device. In the preferred embodiment, the ISM is completely removed from the cartridge, but it is also possible to the ISM to remain partly in the cartridge or carousel, or even not be removed at all, the preferred embodiment utilizes trays to maintain the ISMs, however it is not necessary to utilize trays. Instead, the ISMs may rest on their edges. There are a wide number of variations possible in terms of the inter-leaved arrangement. It should also be noted that a wide variety of materials may be used in construction of the device. The scope of the invention, therefore, should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalent, rather than by the examples given.