Device for multiple disc load and unload

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018226098-A1
Application number	US-201815944532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 3, 2018
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	Aug 9, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a storage and transfer apparatus for mass transfer of a plurality of data discs to trays of a plurality stacked disc drives. The storage and transfer apparatus may store a plurality of discs with the disc hold pins retracted and the telescopic sections collapsed over each other. In such a configuration, the stored discs may lie in contact with each other. The storage and transfer apparatus may transfer the plurality of discs to the trays of the plurality of stacked disc drives with the discs holding pins extended and the telescopic sections extended relative to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of mass transfer of a plurality of data discs from an apparatus to trays of a plurality of stacked devices, the method comprising:
supporting the data discs on the apparatus with a first spacing relative to each other, the first spacing matching a spacing between the trays of the plurality of stacked devices; moving the apparatus supporting the data discs with the first spacing in a first direction toward the trays until the data discs are positioned over the trays; moving the apparatus in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction until the data discs are supported on the trays; retracting supports for supporting the data discs into the apparatus; and moving the apparatus with the supports retracted in a third direction, opposite the second direction, to separate the apparatus from the data discs supported on the trays.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a mass transfer of the data discs from the trays of the stacked devices to the apparatus by the steps of:
positioning the supports at the first spacing with respect to each other; moving the apparatus in the second direction, with an axis of the apparatus aligned through center holes of the data discs, until the supports are axially aligned beneath the data discs supported on the trays; extending the supports from within the apparatus to engage the data discs and transfer support of the data discs from the trays to the apparatus; moving the apparatus in the third direction, opposite the second direction, with the data discs supported on the apparatus; and moving the apparatus in the first direction, orthogonal to the second direction, away from the trays.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of changing the spacing of the data discs while supported on the apparatus from the first spacing to a second spacing matching a spacing of the data discs stacked on top of each other.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of retracting the supports when the data discs are spaced at the second spacing relative to each other to store the data discs on the apparatus.

5 . A method of mass transfer of a plurality of data discs between an apparatus and trays of a plurality of stacked devices, the method comprising:
supporting the data discs on pins of a pin support structure of the apparatus with a first spacing relative to each other; changing a spacing of the data discs relative to each other from the first spacing to a second spacing; moving the pin support structure supporting the data discs with the second spacing toward the trays until the data discs are positioned over the trays; transferring the data discs from the support structure to the trays.

6 . The method of claim 5 , said step of supporting the data discs with a first spacing comprising the step of supporting the data discs as the data discs rest against each other.

7 . The method of claim 5 , said step of supporting the data discs with a second spacing comprising the step of supporting the data discs with a spacing equal to a spacing between the trays in the plurality of stacked devices.

8 . The method of claim 5 , said step of transferring the data discs from the support structure to the trays comprising the steps of:
lowering the data discs onto the trays, and retracting pins supporting the data discs so that the data discs are supported on the trays.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing the pin support structure from within a central aperture of the data discs supported on the trays.

10 . The method of claim 5 , said step of supporting the data discs on pins of a pin support structure of the apparatus comprising the step of supporting the data discs on pins mounted in telescopic sections of the pin support structure, the telescopic sections configured to move between retracted positions where the telescopic sections are collapsed over each other, and extended positions where the telescopic sections are extended relative to each other.

11 . The method of claim 10 , said step of supporting the data discs on the pins with the first spacing relative to each other comprising supporting the data discs on the pins with the telescopic sections collapsed over each other.

12 . The method of claim 10 , said step of supporting the data discs on the pins with the second spacing relative to each other comprising supporting the data discs on the pins with the telescopic sections extended relative to each other.

13 . A method of mass transfer of a plurality of data discs between an apparatus and trays of a plurality of stacked devices, the method comprising:
moving a pin support of the apparatus into axial alignment with central openings of the plurality of data discs supported on the trays of the plurality of stacked devices; extending the pin support through the central openings of the plurality of data discs supported on the trays of the plurality of stacked devices; extending a plurality of pins radially outward from the pin support beneath the data discs supported on the trays of the plurality of stacked devices; raising the pin support until the data discs are lifted off of the trays of the plurality of stacked devices by the plurality of pins; moving the pin support away from the plurality of trays with the data discs supported on the plurality of pins.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of changing a spacing of the data discs supported on the plurality of pins from the first spacing to a second spacing after moving the plurality of data discs away from the plurality of stacked devices.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said step of changing the spacing of the data discs to the second spacing comprises the step of changing a spacing of the data discs to a spacing at which the data discs are stored.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said step of changing the spacing of the data discs to the second spacing comprises the step of changing a spacing of the data discs to a spacing at which the data discs rest against each other.

Assignees

• Futurewei Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Zhu Jiafeng
• Zhu Xiaogang
• Mortazavi Masood

Classifications

• G11B17/225 Primary

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

• G11B17/16 Primary

  by mechanism in stationary centre post, e.g. with stepped post, using fingers on post · CPC title

• G11B17/056

  with sliding loading means · CPC title

• B25J18/025

  telescopic · CPC title

• G11B17/10

  with horizontal transfer to the turntable from a stack arranged with a vertical axis · CPC title