Disc storage cassettes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017236544-A1
Application number	US-201715456433-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Feb 17, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette.

First claim

1 . A disc cassette comprising:
a curved portion configured to hold a plurality of discs; a platform portion abutting the curved portion; and a movable bale configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette.

2 . The disc cassette of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the platform portion and the curved portion comprising: a plurality of rib pairs configured to separate adjacent discs from touching one another, and to form a disc slot between each rib pair; and disc slots of the platform portion of the disc cassette are configured to provide a guide for disc removal from the disc cassette.

3 . The disc cassette of claim 2 , wherein arms of the moveable bale are recessed into sides of the disc cassette.

4 . The disc cassette of claim 1 , wherein the movable bale is rotatable to provide disc access for removal from the disc cassette and placement to the disc cassette, and to prevent disc movement from a shock event.

5 . The disc cassette of claim 4 , wherein the movable bale includes a semi-circular opening configured: to receive a locking rod through the semi-circular opening and to prevent rotation of the moveable bale.

6 . The disc cassette of claim 4 , wherein the movable bale includes a circular opening configured: to receive a locking rod through the circular opening and to prevents rotation of the moveable bale.

7 . The disc cassette of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first pair of rail mount connectors coupled to the platform portion; and a second pair of rail mount connectors coupled to the curved portion.

8 . The disc cassette of claim 2 , further comprising a set of index features with positions that are associated to positions of the plurality of disc slots.

9 . A disc cassette comprising:
a curved portion including a first lip portion, the curved portion configured to hold a plurality of discs; a platform portion abutting the curved portion, wherein a second lip portion is formed between the curved portion and the platform portion; and a movable bale configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette.

10 . The disc cassette of claim 9 , wherein the first lip is positioned at a greater height on the disc cassette than the second lip of the platform portion.

11 . The disc cassette of claim 9 , wherein the curved portion comprising a plurality of rib pairs configured to separate adjacent discs from touching one another, and to form a disc slot between each rib pair.

12 . The disc cassette of claim 11 , wherein arms of the moveable bale are recessed into sides of the disc cassette such that other moveable bales disposed on adjacent other disc cassettes are free to operate without interfering with one another.

13 . The disc cassette of claim 9 , wherein the movable bale is rotatable to provide disc access for removal from the disc cassette and placement to the disc cassette, and to prevent disc movement from a shock event.

14 . The disc cassette of claim 9 , wherein the movable bale includes a semi-circular opening configured: to receive a locking rod through the semi-circular opening and to prevent rotation of the moveable bale.

15 . The disc cassette of claim 9 , wherein the movable bale includes a circular opening configured: to receive a locking rod through the semi circular opening and to prevents rotation of the moveable bale.

16 . The disc cassette of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first pair of rail mount connectors coupled to the platform portion; and a second pair of rail mount connectors coupled to the curved portion; wherein the second pair of rail mount connectors comprises flat coupling surfaces and rows of flexible wedges on a bottom side of the disc cassette, the rows of flexible wedges are configured so that a coupling surface is configured to press against a top surface of a mounting rail by pressure of the flexible wedge surfaces against mating surfaces in dovetail slots of the mounting rail.

17 . A disc cassette comprising:
a curved portion configured to hold a plurality of discs; a platform portion abutting the curved portion; and a rotatable bale configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette.

18 . The disc cassette of claim 17 , wherein:
each of the platform portion and the curved portion comprising: a plurality of rib pairs configured to separate adjacent discs from touching one another, and to form a disc slot between each rib pair; and disc slots of the platform portion of the disc cassette are configured to provide a guide for disc removal from the disc cassette.

19 . The disc cassette of claim 17 , wherein the rotatable bale includes a semi-circular opening configured: to receive a locking rod through the semi-circular opening and to lock rotation of the rotatable bale.

20 . The disc cassette of claim 17 , wherein the rotatable bale includes a circular opening configured: to receive a locking rod through the circular opening and to lock rotation of the rotatable bale.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Altknecht David J
• Bethune Donald S
• Dyer William M
• Erpelding A David
• Hetzler Steven R
• Lawson Drew B
• Smith Daniel F

Classifications

• G11B23/0323

  for disc-packs · CPC title

• G11B17/28

  the magazine having a cylindrical shape with horizontal axis · CPC title

• G11B17/225

  wherein the disks are transferred from a fixed magazine to a fixed playing unit using a moving carriage · CPC title

• G11B23/0325

  comprising latching or movable handling devices (G11B17/038 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G11B17/038 Primary

  Centering or locking of a plurality of discs in a single cartridge · CPC title