Device for multiple disc load and unload with a plurality of telescopic sections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9953677-B1
Application number	US-201715400683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

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 data disc transfer apparatus for mass transfer of a plurality of data discs to trays of a plurality of stacked devices, comprising:
a pin support structure configured to extend through center holes of the plurality of data discs; and
a plurality of pins mounted at positions along a length of the pin support structure, the plurality of pins configured to move between extended positions where the plurality of pins support the data discs spaced from each other for transfer to the trays, and retracted positions where the plurality of pins are withdrawn from supporting the data discs to enable mass transfer of the data discs from the pins to the plurality of trays;
wherein the pin support structure comprises a plurality telescopic sections configured to move between retracted positions where the telescopic are collapsed over each other, and extended positions where the telescopic sections are extended relative to each other.

2. A data disc transfer apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein one or more pins of the plurality of pins are mounted to each of the plurality of telescopic sections.

3. A data disc transfer apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the telescopic sections are cylindrical in shape.

4. A data disc transfer apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein a pitch of the plurality of pins in the plurality of telescopic sections in the extended position matches a spacing between the stacked trays.

5. A data disc transfer apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein a pitch of the plurality of pins in the plurality of telescopic sections in the retracted position matches a spacing between the data discs stacked on top of each other.

6. A data disk transfer apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sheath around the pin support structure, the sheath configured to move the plurality of pins between the extended positions and retracted positions.

7. A data disk transfer apparatus of claim 6 , the sheath comprising one or more slots, the sheath rotatable with respect to the pin support structure, rotation of the sheath to a first position enabling the pins to extend through the one or more slots to the extended positions, and rotation of the sheath to a second position trapping the pins in the retracted position within the sheath.

8. A data disk transfer apparatus of claim 6 , the sheath comprising one or more slots, the sheath rotatable with respect to the pin support structure, rotation of the sheath to a first position enabling the pins to extend through the one or more slots to the extended positions, and rotation of the sheath to a second position trapping the pins in the retracted position within the sheath.

9. A data disk transfer apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more slots extend straight along an axis of the sheath for simultaneous movement of the pins to the retracted positions upon rotation of the sheath to the second position and a simultaneous mass transfer of the discs to the trays.

10. A data disc transfer apparatus for mass transfer of a plurality of data discs to trays of a plurality of stacked devices, comprising:
a pin support structure configured to extend through center holes of the plurality of data discs;
a cylindrical sheath provided around the pin support structure, the sheath comprising one or more slots along a length of the cylindrical sheath; and
a plurality of pins mounted at positions along a length of the pin support structure, the plurality of pins configured to move between extended positions, extending through the one or more slots of the sheath, where the plurality of pins support the data discs, and retracted positions, restrained within the sheath, where the plurality of pins are withdrawn from supporting the data discs to enable mass transfer of the data discs from the pins to the plurality of trays;
wherein the pin support structure comprises a plurality of 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 data disc transfer apparatus of claim 10 , the sheath rotatable between a first position where the pins extend through the one or more slots of the sheath, and a second position where the pins are restrained within the sheath.

12. A data disc transfer apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein one or more pins of the plurality of pins are mounted to each of the plurality of telescopic sections.

13. A data disc transfer apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is configured to store the data discs on the sheath with the plurality of telescopic sections in the retracted positions with respect to each other, and the pins in the retracted positions.

14. A data disc transfer apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer the data discs from the sheath with the plurality of telescopic sections in the extended positions with respect to each other, and the pins in the extended positions.

15. A data disc transfer apparatus for mass transfer of a plurality of data discs to trays of a plurality of stacked devices, comprising:
a plurality of telescopic sections capable of telescoping between extended positions and retracted positions with respect to each other;
a plurality of pins, one or more pins of the plurality of pins mounted to each of the plurality of telescopic section, the pins configured to move between extended positions extending radially out from the telescopic sections, and retracted positions restrained radially closer to the telescopic sections;
wherein the apparatus is configured to support the plurality of data discs in a stored position on the apparatus with the telescopic sections in their retracted positions and the plurality of pins in their retracted positions; and
wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer the plurality of data discs to the trays of the stacked devices with the telescopic sections in their extended positions and the plurality of pins in their extended positions;
wherein the plurality of pins are configured to extend through center holes of the plurality of data discs.

16. The data disc transfer apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a cylindrical sheath provided around the telescopic section, the sheath comprising one or more slots along a length of the cylindrical sheath, the sheath configured to move the plurality of pins between the extended positions and retracted positions.

17. A data disk transfer apparatus of claim 16 , the sheath comprising one or more slots, the sheath rotatable with respect to the telescopic sections, rotation of the sheath to a first position enabling the pins to extend through the one or more slots to the extended positions, and rotation of the sheath to a second position trapping the pins in the retracted position within the sheath.

Assignees

• Futurewei Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Zhu Jiafeng
• Zhu Xiaogang
• Mortazavi Masood

Classifications

• G11B17/056

  with sliding loading means · CPC title

• B25J15/0052

  multiple gripper units or multiple end effectors · CPC title

• B25J15/12

  with flexible finger members · CPC title

• G11B17/10

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

• G11B17/16 Primary

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