CA1332758C - Apparatus using disc-shaped record bearing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

S P E C I F I C A T I O N
Title of the Invention:
APPARATUS USING DISC-SHAPED RECORD
BEARING MEDIUM

Abstract of the Disclosure:
An apparatus arranged to use a flexible magnetic disc housed in a cassette and having a center core provided with an engaging hole, comprises a disc rotating spindle having a flange and engageable with the hole at the center core of the disc, a cassette holder movable between a first position for receiving the cassette and a second position for positioning the received cassette at a predetermined position relative to the spindle, a pressing member for pressing the engaging portion of the disc against the flange of the spindle, and a control mechanism for operating the pressing member and thereafter disabling the pressing member during the movement of the cassette holder from its first to its second position.

Description

~ 3 ~ g This application is a division of appli- ' cation Serial No. 615,754,'filed May 30, 1990.
This invention relates to an apparatus using a disc-shaped record bearing medium, such as a dlsc player.
In the recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a rotation type record bearing medium . :.
of disc shape, for example, rotation type flexible magnetic disc, rotation of the magnetic disc is ~ ' performed after an engaging hole of the center core in the central portion o:E the magnetic disc has been engaged with a spindle which is driven to rotate by an electric motor. This t~pe of apparatus has a :' problem that when the engagement of the~.center core with the spindle is loose, it becomes impossible to make sure the magnetic disc does normal rotative motion during recording or reproduction', and `
conversely when the a~oresaid engagement is ~ `.
tightened, the magnetic disc becomes di.fficult to load on the spindle~ :
~herefore, a method has been proposed that ~' a magnetizable member is applied to -the center core, while a magnet piece is mounted on the flanged portion of the spindle. However, even in such ~' ;
magnetlc coupling me-thod, it is difficult to assure ' .~
that when -the center core is put on the spindle, it ~ .
kak~s a certain pos.i-tion xela-tive to a re~erence ~ ; .
sur~ace, ~or example, the Elange surface of the spindle. ~herq~ore! it!is di~:Eicult to hold the ma~ne-tic disc in a p.redetqrmined setting surfac~ ~or maintenance o:E
: .

; predetermined aligning state between it an~ a recording and/or reproducing head. Also in a still picture recording and/or reproducing apparatus having the rigorous requirement for accuracy of alignment, the force necessary to load the center coxe on the spindle amounts up to hundreds of grams.
As the magnet piece is of large size, therefore, the size and weight of the apparatus is hindered from being reduced. `
On the other hand, there has been proposed an apparatus provided with a mechanism ~or pressing a portion o~ the magnetic disc against the spindle as in the floppy disc device. Since, in this type of apparatus, that portion o~ the apparatus which drives rotation of the disc operates under the condition that the aforesaid mechanism applies a pressure on the spindle through the disc, its load becomes large, causing the speed of rotation to vary at random. ~:

Summary of the Invention: .
It is, therefore, a main object of the present invention to eliminate the above-described drawbacks of the conventional apparatus and to provide an apparatus ~ `
u3ing a disc-shaped record bearing medium which apparatus is capable o~ always well assurin~ that when to load the disa-shaped record bearing medium, the record bearing medium ls sqt or~ a rotakive drive member ~ccurately and reliably~
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus using a disc-shaped record bearing medium which apparatus operates without having to apply. . ~
a large load on the aforesaid rotative drive member while `~` .
still permitting the aforesaid object to be accomplished, ~`~''~

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reby giving an advantage that the bulk and size of the rotative drive member can be reduced.
Still another objec of the present invention is ;
to provide an apparatus using a disc-shaped record bearing medium in which when the record bearing medium is loaded on a rotative drive member b~ operating a pressing member for pressing a portion of the record bearing medium against a receiving surface of the aforesaid rotative drive member, a reliable and smooth loading operation can be realized b~ a pressing force which is alwa~s almost constant despite there are configuration errors and fitting posi.tion errors of the pressing member, or members constituting an operating mechanism for the pressing member.
Under the first one o~ the above-mentioned objects, accordiny to preferred embodiments embodying the aspect of the present invention, an apparatus arranged to use a disc shaped record bearing medium having an engaging portion, comprises rotating means engageable with the medium at its engasing portion and having a surface for receiving the '.!. j :' engaging portion of the medium; holder means movable betweein a ~irst position ~or receiving the medium and a second position for positioning the received medium at a predetermined p~sition relative to the xotating means;
pressing means for pressing the engaging portion of the medium against the receiving surface of the rotating means; and control means or operating the pressing means when the holder means is moved from its first to its second position.

~"''' ',.

Especially, under the second one of the above-mentioned objects, according to pre~erred embodiments embodying the aspect of the present invention, the control means is arranged to operate the pressing means and thereafter disable the pressing means during the movement of the holder means from its first to its second position.
Under the third one of the above-mentioned objects according to first, second and third embodiments embodying the aspect of the present invention, the control means is arranged to disable the pressing means when the holder means reached a predetermined position nearly before its second'' position. In these embodiments, the pressing means '~' pre~erably has an elasticity in at least a part thereof. On the other hand, according to fourth and fifth embodiments embodying the aspect of the present invention, the control means is arranged to disable the pressing means when the resistant force '~
exerted on the pressing means reached a predetermined value.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention there is provided an apparatus arranged ko handle a disc having an engaging portion, said apparatus comprising:
(A) rotating means for rotating said disc, said rotating means having an engageable p~rtion ~ngageable with said engaging portion o~ the disc and a receiving sur~ace ~or recei~ing thereon the,~engaging portion~of the disc;
(B) loading means for loading the disc at a predetermined position relative to said rotating ;
means;
(C) pressing means for pressing said engaging portion of the disc against said receiving surface of the rotating means; and '' ~ .: ' ,.'''' 7 ~ ~
(D) control means for operating said pressing means to press said engaging portion and to -subsequently release from said portion while said loading means is loading said disc.
In this invention, the term "record bearing medium" refers to a rotatable record bearing medium of disc-shape in the magnstic, optical, or electrostatic capacity type recording and/or reproducing system, and the term "rotating means"
for the record bearing medium refers to a rotative drive member such as a spindle connected to, or ;
driven by, a drive source such as an electric motor. ;
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the explanation by reference to the accompanying drawings.

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ief Description of the Drawings:
In the following, this invention will be des-cribed in connection with preferred embodiments thereof by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prior known magnetic disc cassette.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the main parts of a conventional apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a first embodiment o~ the invention.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a manner in which the apparatus of Fig. 3 operates between a position where the cassette holder is pushed downward and another position where it is lifted upward.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views of the main parts of second and third embodiments of the invention respectivel~.
Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view in enlarged scale of a part of the apparatus of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.
Fi~s. lO and ll illustrate a manner in which the app~ra-tus o Fig~ ~ operates between a position where the c~ss~te holder .is pushed downward and another position where it is lifted upward.

. .: . . . .
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate the main parts of a ifth embodiment of the invention, with Fig. 12 in a sectionaI view in an operative position where a pressing member is pressing the center core of the magnetic disc, ~' 2~
, .
.g. 13 in a sectional view in another operative pbsition where the pressing member is escaped or disabled by a reaction or a resistant force from the center core, and Fig. 14 in a sectional view in another operative :-position where the pressing member has returned to the initial position.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments: ..
The conventional apparatus using the disc-shaped record beariny medium (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2):
Prior to the description of a conventional apparatus using the disc-shaped record bearing medium, a prior known magnetic disc cassette is explained with reference to Fig. 1. In the drawings, 1 is a flexible magnetic disc as an example of a disc-shaped record bearing medium; 2 is a cassette contalning the magnetic disc 1 and has a housing in the box form as illustrated in the drawing; 3 is a center core fixedly attached to a central portion of the magnetic disc 1 and having an engaging hole 3a; 2a and 2h are aper-tures providecl in portions o ~he aassette 2 in correspondence to the center core 3; : .
2c is a window provided in a portion of the cassette 2 so as to allow insertion o~ a magne-kic lle~d to be desc~ibed la-ter; and 4 is.a magne-tizable plate fixedly attached to " i ~ I
the lower surface of the center core 3. The magnetic disc 1 while being contained in the cassette 2 is loaded into a recording and/or reproducing apparatus by, for example, :~
means to be described later, and then recording or re-producing is carried out in a manner known in the art. ;~

'``"'` ~" ~ ' ; `"" ' ' " i 'i i .ii ii iii ; ' ' 'j. ' i ; .~i 2 ~ ~ ~
Fig. 2 illustrates the main parts of the con-ventional apparatus using the disc-shaped record bearing medium in which the loaded cassette 2 is indicated by two-dotted and dashed lines. Members denoted by the same reference characters as those in Fig. 1 have similar con-structions and functions to those of the members of Fig. 1. As to other members, 6 is an internal chassis of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus; 7 is an electric motor for rotation of the disc and is fixedly mounted to the chassis; 8 is a spindle as an example of a rotating means fixedly mounted on an output shaft 7a of the disc rotation motor 7. The aforesaid center core 3 is adapted to be mounted on the spindle 8 at the engaging hole 3a thereof. 10 is a magnetic head as an example of the recording and/or re-producing headi 11 is a head carriage. 9 is a magnet fixedly mounted on the upper surface o~ a flanged portion 8a of the spindle 8. According to the prior art, it is by this magnet 9 and the magnetizable plate 4 of the center core 3 that the center core 3 and the spindle 8 are brought into coupling with each other magneticall~. By this method, however, as has been described above, it is dif~icult to assu~e that ~he magnetic disc 1 is maintained in a pre-detexmined mountinq sur~ace de~ined by the ~langed portion 8a o~ the spindle 8.
. , , j , ~ ~ .
In another prior art example where use is made of a mechanism acting on the upper surface of the center core 3 and pressing it against the spindle 8, as has been mentioned above, the disc rotating motor 7 is caused to operate with this mechanism also as a load. The total load ~ ,7~
f the motor 7 is, therefore, increased, which becomes a cause of uneven speeds of rotation.

A first embodiment of the present invention (Figs. 3 to 5):
In Figs. 3 to 5, the same reference characters have been employed to denote the parts having fundamentally similar constructions and functions to those of the parts in Figs. 1 and 2, and their explanation is omitted. 21 is a cassette holder. The magnetic disc cassette 2 after having inserted into and seated in the holder 21 is loaded onto a rotative drive portion. For this purpose, the holder 21 is movable between a position shown in Fig. 3, or a first position for receiving the cassette 2, and a position downwardly slightly beyond the position of Fig. 4, or a second position where the center core 3 of the magnetic disc 1 contained in the received cassette 2 is mounted on the spindle 8. It is to be noted here that though not shown the holder 21 is provided in its interior with means having a leaf spring and abutments for determining a ri~ht ;
position of the received cassette 2 in the interior of the holder 21. 22 ls a position determining portion for the casse~e ~, and a plurality o~ this portion are provided on th~ chassis 6. These portions ma~ be constructed either as a unit with, or in separation ~rom, the chassis 6. 23 is a pressing arm as an example of pressing means in this invention. The pressing arm 23 is pivotally mounted at a sha~t 24. The shaft 2~ is fixedly mounted on an armed portion 34 of another chassis 25 formed either as a unit with, or in separation from, the chassis 6. 23a is a _ 9 _ -:

L ~ ~t ~t ~
~ ssing portion at the free end of the pressing arm 23.
As illustrated in Fig. 4, when the pressing arm 23 turns in a clockwise direction, this pressing portion 23a pushes the center core 3 with its engaging hole 3a in engagement with the spindle 8. For this purpose, use may be made either of two pressing portions 23a of fork shape arranged to act on respective diametrically opposite points on an annular upper surface of the center core 3 above and below the paper of Fig. 4 respectively, or of a top plate on the upper surface of the center core 3 so that the center core 3 is pushed at the whole upper surface thereof by the pressing portion 23a. 23b is a projected portion extending from the pressing arm 23 upwardly of the paper in Fig. 3 and having abutment portions 23b' and 23b".
26 is a lever rotatable about a shaft 27 planted on the arm 23. 28 is a torsion spring turned around the shaft 27, one end of which is laid on the lever 26 and the okher o which is laid on the abutment portion 23b' of the projected portion 23b of the pressing arm 23. Therefore, the lever 26 is urged by the torsion spring 28 to turn abou~ the shaft 27 in a clockwi5e direction until its tail 26a abuts on the abutment portion 23b" of the projected `~
portion 23b o~ the pressing arm 23. 29 is a lever with i-ts ~ail end portion pivotally mounted on a shaft 30 planted on an armed portion 35 of the chassis 25. The position of the lever 29 is so determined that when it turns .in a clockwise direction, its free end portion 29a abuts on a free end portion 26b of the lever 26. For notel the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 is formed to -- 10 -- ' ~ ' ...- ......

~3~
_n other suitable cam shape. 31 is a pin planted on the lever 29 and engaging in a slotted portion 21b provided in an extension 21a of the cassette holder 21. 32 is a spring urging the pressing arm 23 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction to an initial position. 33 is a limiting portion for limiting the counterclockwise re-turning movement of the pressing arm 23. The limiting portion 33 is provided on the chassis 25.
In the above-described construction, when in the condition of Fig. 3, the magnetic disc cassette 2 is inserted into the cassette holder 21. After the magnetic disc cassette 2 has been seated in a right position within the interior of the holder 21, then the holder 21 is moved downward or in a direction indicated by arrow A
in Fig. 3. In order to do this, the holder 21 may be operatively connected to the chassis or its cover portion by, ~or example, a hinge provided on the back-side of the paper of Fig. 3 so that the holder 21 is moved downward manually or by a mechanism known to those skilled in the art. As the holder 21 moves downward, the pin 31 en-gagln~ in the slot 21b o~ the ex-tension 21a moves in a direction o~ arrow A, thereby the lever 29 is turned in a direc~ion o~ arrow D in Fi~. 4. There~ore, the ~ree end por-tion 29a o~ the lever ~29~ comes to contact with the ! ' ~`.': ' ~ree end portion 2.6b o~ the lever 26 and then pushes the lever 26 in ~ directi.on of arrow E. Since, at this time, the lever 26 is hindered ~rom pivotal movement by its tail portion 26a resting in the abutment 23b" of the projected portion 23b of the pressing arm 23, the pressing ~ 3327~) 23 reacts to turn about the shaft 24 in the clockwise direction, thereby its free end or pressing portion 23a enters the interior of the holder 21 through an apertured portion 21c thereof and pushes the center core 3 at the upper surface thereof along the spindle 8 against a frictional force exerted therebetween. Here, in the position shown in Fig. 4, the holder 21 does not yet reach its downmost possible position. Therefore, between the lower surface of the center core 3 and the upper surface or position determining surface of the flanged portion 8a of the spindle 8 lies a gap Q, as illustrated in Fig. 4. ~pon further down-ward movement of the holder 21, the lever 29 is further turned in the direction of arrow D. Therefore, the pressing arm 23 also urther turns in the clockwise direction, so that its pressing portion 23 further pushes the center core 3 to eliminate the aforesaid gap ~. Thus, the magnetic disc 1 is positioned right at a predetermined location defined by the flanged portion 8a of the spindle 8.
Because the center core 3 is usually made of plastics, the diameter o its engaging hole 3a largely varies ~rom item to item in a sense of fitting on the spindle 8. According to khe above-described construction ~i khe apparatus, a5 the diameter of the engaging hole 3a o~ khe center core 3 is designed to be rather small, the ;
range of variation of the diameter has no longer any eect on the accuracy of positioning control. Therefore, the present invention is suited to the mass production. `
This advantage can be expected in other embodiments of the invention to ~e described later also.

: ~ ~

~332~
~-~ As the cassette holder 21 further moves downward in the direction A, the lever 29 continues to turn in the direction D, finally disengaging its free end portion 29a from the free end portion 26b of the lever 26. And, at this time, a bias force of counterclockwise direction by the spring 32 acts on the pressing arm 23. Therefore, when the engagement of the lever 29 and the lever 26 is released, the pressing arm 23 immediately turns in the counter-clockwise direction, returning to the initial position defined by the limiting portion 33.
By the way, because the pressing arm 23, lever 26, lever 29 and cassette holder 21 may have form tolerances and the pivot shafts 24, 27 and 30 and the pin 31 also may have location tolerances, there will be some possibility that even when the pushing of the center core 3 along the spindle 8 by the pressing portion 23a of the pressing arm 23 has finished, the engagement of the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 and the free end portion 26b of the lever 26 is not released, thereby a so-called "wrenching" is caused to occur therebetween. This will lead to interfere with t~e smoo-th loading operation. On this account, the pressing axm 23 is made ela5tic in a-t least a portion indicated b~
23c in Fig. ~ 50 that when the aforesaid situation is encoun~ered, this portion indic~-ted at 23c is bent as illustrated inlthe drawing, permitting the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 to smoothly run over the free end portion 26b of the lever 26. Thus, it is made possible to assure that the engagement of both the levers is released as it moves in the direction D. rhe use of such elasticity in one ' 13327~;~
"
L,rtion (23c) of the pressing arm 23 has another advantaye that as the center core 3 is pushed, even when the pressing arm 23 is overpowered, the excessive stroke is absorbed by this elastic portion 23c to prevent the center core 3, the flanged portion 8a of the spindle 8 and the pressing ~, arm 23, or the operating mechanism (26~31) therefor from being damaged. This point is valid even in second and third embodiments of the invention to be described later.
By the counterclockwise movement of the pressing arm 23, its pressing portion 23a leaves from the center core 3 so Ihat when the magnetic disc 1 is driven to rotate, its drive source or disc rotating motor 7 is freed from the surplus load. Also the center core 3 and the spindle 8 are tightly coupled with each other by friction. Under such conditions, the magnetic disc 1 rotates while the magnetic head 10 per~orms recording or reproducing`in a manner known in the art.
When to take out the cassette 2 from the holder 21, the holder 21 is lifted in a direction indicated by arrow B
hy the reversed operation to the aforesaid operation oE `'.'`~!
moving downward -to the direction A. This step of operation is illus-trated in Fig. 5. Such upward movement causes the pln 31 also to be moved upward which in turn causes the lever 29 to turn about the shaft 30 in a direction F.
Though the ree end portion 29a of the lever 29 contacts again with the free end portion 26b of the lever 26, it ;~
is in this case that the free end portion 29a of the leve~ 29 comes ~rom the below to abut on the free end portion 26b o~ the lever 26, and therefore that the ~ ; ;
~ :;

. - 14 -~, 1~32`~
' ~ver 26 is turned about the shaft 27 in a direction &
until the engagement of the free end portion 26b of the lever 26 and the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 is released. Then, the lever 26 is returned by the spring 28 to the initial position shown in Fig. 3. Further, when the holder 21 is raised to the predetermined position (aforesaid first position), each member returns to the position of Fig. 3. In this position, the cassette 2 becomes possible to be taken out from the interior of the holder 21.

A second embodiment of the present invention (Fig. 6):
In Fig. 6, though the disc rotating motor and spindle are not shown, these members are similarly constructed `
and arranged to the aforesaid first embodiment. In Fig. 6, 41 is a support member fixedly mounted to a left hand portion of the cassette holder 21 and movable as a unit therewith; 42 is a lever pivotally supported by a shaft 44 on the support member 41; 43 is a spring trained between the support member 41 and the lever 42. The lever 42 is urged by the spring 43 to turn about the shaft 44 planted on the support member 41 in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing. 21d is an extension ~ormed in a portion o~ the holder 21 -to receive a -tail end portion ~2a o~ the lever 42 against the spring 43. 42b is a free end portion oE the lever 42 abutting on a cam portion 23e provided in the tail end portion 23d of the pressing arm 23.
With such construction, when the cassette holder 21 moves downward or in the direction A in the drawing similarly to the aforesaid first embodiment, the lever 42 ~;

-- 15 -- : :

~ ~3~
lso moves downward, while its free end portion 42b pushing the tail end portion 23d of the pressing arm 23 at its camming surface 23e Therefore, the pressing arm 23 turns in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing, while its free end or pressing portion 23a entering past the apertured portion 21c of the holder 21 into the interior of the holder 21 and to push the center core 3 in fitting engagement on the spindle 8. As the holder 21 further moves downward, when the free end portion 42b o the levex 42 overruns the cam portion 23e the pressing arm 23 finishes the pushing and is turned by the spring 32 in the counterclockwise direction to the initial position, thereby its free end pressing portion 23a moves away from the center core 3.
On the other hand, when the holder 21 is raised from its downmost position to the direction B in the drawing, the free end portion 42b of the lever 42 comes from the reversed direction to that described above to abut on the cam portion 23e in the tail end portion 23d of the pressing axm 23. Since the spring 43 is weak, it is at this time that while the pressing arm 23 is leEt stationary, the lever 42 turns in a counterclockwise direction as ;~ ``;;~
view~d in the drawing. Then when the holder 21 rises to ;~
~h~ prqd~t~rmined pogition, the lever 42 returns to the initial position shown in Fig. 6. ~y one series of these operations, similarly to the above-described first embodiment, it is made possible to actuate the pressing arm 23 in response to down~ard movement of the holder 21 to thereby set the ;~
center core 3 on~the spindle 8 and thereafter to remove the ~ 16 -e ~ t, ressing portion 23a of the pressing arm 23 from the de-pression on the center core 3.

A third embodiment of the present invention (Figs. 7 and 8):
In Figs. 7 and 8, 21e is an extension provided on the left hand side portion of the cassette holder 21;
51 is a slide lever; 52 is a spring trained between the extension 21e and a hole 51a of the slide lever 51 so that the slide lever S1 is urged toward the back of the paper.
53 is a pin fixedly mounted on the left hand side portion of the holder 21 to guide sliding movement of the sllde lever 51 in a direction perpendicular to the paper. 54 is a pin planted on the slide lever 51 and extending backward from the paper into a groove 55 provided in the surface of a tail end portion 23f of the pressing arm 23. The groove 55 is, as illùstrated in greater detail in Fig. 8, formed ~o letter "D" shape as viewed from the front o~ the paper with its portions indicated by "m", "n" and "p" having a constant depth, another portion indicated by "q" having gradually shallower depths as the distance from the below to the above increases, and the top end indicated at "r" being ~ollowed b~ a sudden drop, so that as the holder 21 moves ~irst downward and then upward, the pin 5~ is caused ~o circulate in the closed groove 55, always first to a direction K
~ollowed by a direction ~.
With such construction, similarly to the above, when the holder 21 moves downward or in the direction A in the Fig. 7, the pin 54 moves along portion "m" of the ;~
groove 55 in the direction K so that the pressing arm 23 ~`

,'Z i ~ :,Z ~ Z' ~ Z

~3327~8 f urns about the shaft 24 in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings. By the clockwise movement of the pressing arm 23, its free end or pressing portion 23a enters similarly to the above through the apertured portion 21c of the holder 21 into the interior of the holder 21 to push the center core 3 along the spindle 8. ~pon further downward movement of the holder 21 in the direction A, the pin 54 moves along the portion "n" in the direction K, thereby the pressing arm 23 is turned in a counterclockwise direction. Just when the pin 54 arrives at the portion "p", the pressing arm 23 returns to the initial position, so that its free end or pressing portion 23a moves away from the center core 3.
On the other hand, when the holder 21 rises in the direction B ~rom its downmost position, the pin 54 moves along the groove 55 from the portion "p" to the ~
portion "~" in the direction L. Since, in the portion ~; `
indicated by "q", the depth of groove 55 becomes shallower, ;
the slide lever 51 slidingly moves toward the front of the paper against the spxing 52. When the top end o~
the ~roove SS indicated b~ "r" is reached, the slide lever 51 moves toward the back of the paper by the ~pring 52, thuq re~aining the initi~l position. During the movement o~ the pin 5~ in the direction L, the arm 23 remains stationary. By the process through a series of these operations, it is made possible similarly to the aforesaid first and second embodiments to actuate the pressing arm 23 in response to downward movement of the holder 21, thereby the center coxe 3 is pushed onto the spindle 8, and :: ' ~3~7~
'~ereafter to remove the pressing ~ortion 23a of the pressing arm 23 from the center core 3.
Here in the first to the third embodiments des-cribed above, for example, the following variations are possible.
For example in the apparatus of the type in which the cassette holder 21 is automatically moved upward and downward by an electric motor as the drive source, the power of this drive source may be utilized in operating the pressing arm 23 in such a manner that after the center core 3 is set on the spindle by the pressing arm 23, the pressing arm 23 is returned to the initial position. Also though .`
the foregoing embodiments have been described in connection with such an arrangement of the pressing arm 23 that it is at a time during the loading operation of the magnetic disc cassette 2 that the free end or pressing portion 23a of :~
the pressing arm 23 departs from the center core 3, another di~erent arrangement may be employed such that it is after the cassette loading operation has been completed that the pressing portion 23a leaves from the center core 3.
For example, in the second embodiment, the cam portion 23e o~ ~he pr~s5ing arm 23 in Fig. 6 may be otherwise formed ~o such a shape tha-t the cam lift gradually increases as i~ goqs from above to below as viewed in the drawing, and ~hen suddenly decreases Erom its maximum position. In the -third embodiment, the shape of the groove SS may be modiied from the letter "D" to a right triangle facing ; -toward the Fight as viewed in the drawing.

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'~ A fourth embodiment of the present invention (Figs. 9 to 11):
In Figs. 9 to 11, the same reference characters have been employed to denote the parts having fundamentally similar structures and functions to those of the parts shown in Figs. 1 to 8, and their explanation is omitted.
The pressing arm 23 is here modified with its tail end portion having a slot 23g in which engages the shaft 24 on the chassis 25. Besides its capability of pivotal movement about the shaft 24, therefore, the pressing arm 23 can also move linearly along the slot 23g in the longitudinal `
direction thereof. A spring 63 urges the pressing arm 23 to move in a direction of arrow R so ~hat the shaft 24 is normally ~ ;
in contact with the left hand side of the slot 23g (Fig. 9).
The opposite end of the spring 63 is fixedly attached to a chassis 64. 61 is a cam used instead of the lever 26 in Figs. 3 to 5 and fixedly mounted on the pressing arm 23.
The position of the cam 61 relative to the pressing arm 23 can be adjusted by slits cut therein and fastener screws engaging in the respective slits. Though two pairs oE slit and screw are shown, its number is not limitative. Wit~
this cam 61 on the pressinq arm 23 cooperates a lever 29 similar to that shown in Fi~s. 3 to 5 in such a manner that when it turns .in a countexclockwise direction ~ ;
~direc-tion D in Fig. 10), its ree end portion 29a abuts on a camming surace 61a of the cam 61, and when it turns ~`
from the below in a clockwise direction (direction F in Fig. 11), its free end portion 29a abuts on another camming surface 61b of the cam 61~

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-- The other parts than the above are fundamentally similar in construction to those of the first embodiment.
With such construction, after the magnetic disc cassette 2 has been inserted into and seated in the holder 21, when the holder ~1 is moved downward or in the direction A in Fig. 9, as the holder 21 moves downward, the pin 31 engaging in the slotted portion 21b of its extension 21a moves in the direction A thereby the lever 29 is turned in the direction D in Fig. 9. Therefore, the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 abuts on the camming surface 61a of the cam 61. And since the cam 61 is fixed to the pressing arm 23, the pressing arm 23 then turns about the shaft 24 in the clockwise direction.
Thereby its free end or pressing portion 23a advances past the apertured portion 21c of the holder 21 into the interior of the holder 21 to push the center core 3 along the spindle 8. This operative position is illustrated in Fig. 10.
It is to be noted that in the position of Fig. 10, the pushing of the center core 3 is not yet finished. Therefore, a gap ~ is left between the lower surace of the center core 3 and the upper .surface of the flanged portion 8a ~f the spindle 8. Then, upon further downward mov~men~
of the holder 21 in the direction-~, the lever 29 further ~urns in -khe dixection D which also causes the pressin~ arm 23 `~;~
-ko ~urkher turn in the cllockwise direction while further pushing the center core 3, finally bringing the lower surface of the center core 3 into abutting contact with the upper surace o the flanged portion 8a of the spindle 8 with the removal of the aforesaid gap ~.

",.,~:

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: Even when the holder 21 further moves downward from this position, the pressing arm 23 can no longer turn in the clockwise direction, but the lever 29 is allowed to further turn in the direction D. Therefore, the pressing arm 23 is moved to the left along the slot 23g of its tail end portion against the spring 63 by the leftward directional ~;~
force component of the pressure on the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 in reaction to the camming surface 61a of the cam 61. As a result, the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 moves away from the cam 61. Thereby the pressing arm 23 is turned in the counterclockwise direction by the bias force of the spring 32, returning to the initial position defined by the stopper member 33.
By the way, because of the form tolerances of the pressing arm 23, the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 and the cassette holder 21 and the location tolerances of the pivot shafts 24 and 30 and the pin 31, it will often happen that the pressure of the free end or pressing portion 23a ;~
of the pressing arm 23 on the center core 3 becomes excessive, ~ ;
or that even when the setting o~ the center core 3 has ~inished, the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 does no~
yet move away from the camming surface 61a o the cam 61.
I~ æo, a so-called "wrenching" will resul-t therebetween, and a smookh loadin~ ~peration is hindered from being perfoxmed. On this account, in the foregoing first to third embodiments of the invention, such drawback has been eliminated ~i by giving elasticity to a portlon (23c) of the pressing arm 23. In this fourth embodiment, on the other hand, the pressing arm 23 is provided with the longitudinally ::~ ' '' . '' -,:'., i j: j i : i "

7 ~i 8 !ongated slot 23g at the tail end portion thereof, and it is at this slot 23g that the shaft 24 is made to cooperate in engagement therewith, so that when the resistant force (reaction) from the center core 3 to the pressiing arm 23 exceeds a certain limit, the pressing arm 23 is caused to move to the left against the bias force of the direction R
by the spring 63. Therefore, the free end portion 29a of the lever 29 smoothly departs from the camming surface 61a of the cam 61, and the pressing arm 23 immediately turns in the counterclockwise direction to the initial position.
This enables the apparatus -to be loaded with the magnetic disc 1 smoothly and safely. ~ `
When to take out the cassette 2 from the holder 21, the reverse operation to that in which the holder 21 was moved downward in the direction A .is carried out, so that the holder 21 moves upward in the direction B in Fig. 11.
Such upward movement causes the pin 31 to be also moved upward. Therefore the lever 29 is turned about the shaft 30 in the direction F. Its free end portion 29a is brought, at this time, ~rom the below as viewed in the drawing into abutting contact with -the camming surface 61b o~ ~hq cam 61. In this case, too, the pressing arm 23 moves to -the left a~ainst the bias force of the spring 63.
~hexe~ore, the ~ree en~ portion 29a of the lever 29 I I I , ' i !
smo~-~hly cleparts ~rom the camming surface 61b oE the cam 61, returning to the initial position of Fig. 9. In this position, '~
khe cassette 2 can be tal~en out of the holder 21.

- 23 - ;

~ 3 3 ~
~- A fifth embodiment of the present invention (Figs. 12 to 14):
The fifth embodiment employs a toggle or snap spring mechanism responsive to excess of the resistant ~-force (reaction) from the center core to the pressing member -above a certain limit for allowing the pressing member to escape to a different direction from the pressing one.
In Figs. 12 to 14, the pressing member comprises a base portion 71 and a movable portion 72 which is pivotally mounted at a shaft 73 planted on the base portion 71.
72a is a free end or pressing portion of the movable portion 72 having a function of pushing the center core 3 similar to the free end or pressing portion 23a of the pressing arm 23 in Figs. 3 to 11. 74 is a toggle or snap spring of whi.ch one end is fixed to a support portion 75 provided on the base portion 71 and the opposite end of which is fixed ;
to an extension 76 provided on the movable portion 72. 77 is a position limit pin for the movable portion 72 and is planted on the base portion 71. 78 is a pin planted on the base portion 71 and engaging in a slot 21b of the extension 21a of the cassette holder 21. 36 is a limi-t portion fox the movable portion 72 provided in the chassis 2S. Of the other parts, those denoted by the same re~erence character5 as in the ~oregoing drawings have simila~ constructions and ~unctions -to tho9e precedingly illus-txated, and the cassette holder 21, motor 7, spindle 8 and magnetic head 10 though not shown here are similarly constructed and arranged to the above.
With such construction, when the holder 21 is moved downward in the direction A from the position of '.

- 24 - `

~3~27~
ig. 14, the pin 78 planted on the base portion 71 moves downward, thereby the base portion 71 and the movable portion 72 are turned about the shaft 24 in a clockwise direction, while simultaneously the free end pressing portion 72a of the movable portion 72 pushes the center core 3 along the spindle 8. Here, if the resistant force (reaction) from the center core 3 is below a certain limit, the toggle or snap spring 74 is in a first stable position, maintaini.ng the movable portion 72 in a relative position shown in Fig. 12 to the base portion 71. As the base portion 71 and movable poxtion 72 further turn to finish the setting of the center core 3 on the spindle 8, when the resistant force ~rom the center core 3 then exceeds that certain limit, the toggle or sanp spring 74 transits to a second stable position as illustrated in Fig. 13, thereby the movable portion 72 is turned relative to the base portion 71 in the direction H in the drawing, thus escaping to a di~erent direction to the pressing direction. There~ore, the free end or pressing portion 72a leaves the center core 3.
This leads to realize a stable loading operation.
On the other hand, the cassette holder 21 i5 moved ~rom ~he downmo5t po5iti.0n in the direction B ~or ~he purpose o~ ~akin~ out -the cassette 2~ As the pin 78 moves upward, the base portion 71 is caused to turn in a countexclockwise direction. At a point during this counterclockwise movement of the base portion 71, the movable ~
portion 72 abuts on the limiting portion 36. After that, ~;
the movable portion 72 turns relative to the base portion 71 in the reversed direction to the direction H. And, at a time ;
`,, ~' - 25 ~
., ~33~
uring this rotative movement of the movable portion 72, the toggle or snap spring 74 transits to the aforesaid first stable position. Thus, the movable portion 72 returns -to the relative position shown in Figs. 12 and 14 to the base portion 71. Then when the holder 21 reaches , the predetermined position, the initial condition sho~n in Fig. 14 is regained.
For note, instead of the aforesaid toggle or snap spring mechanism, a click mechanism may be used to effect an equivalent result. ,~
It is obvious that any of the first to the fifth embodiments described above is not incompatible with the simultaneous use of coupling means based on the magnetic force in the center core 3 and the flanged portion 8a of the spindle as in the prior art, and the first to the fifth embodiments are applicable to the conventional apparatus described in connection with Figs. l and 2 without any alternation.
As has been described in greater detail above, according to the present inven-tion, by a simple mechanism it is made possible to set the record bearing medium on the xokating drive portion accurately and to assure that ' the record bearing medium is always well aliqned to the rec~rding and/or reproducing head- Part.icularl~ because the center core of,,:the reco,rdlbearing medium is usually made of plastics, for easy fitting on the rotating drive, the tolerance of its inner diameter is large. The use of the above-described mechanism provides the possibility of d'esigning its inner idameter to be rather smaller so that 1~32~g e tolerance on the inner diameter of the centex core has far lesser an influence on the accuracy and reliability of location control as the pressing member works when the record bearing medium is loaded. This feature is suited to the mass production also.
Also since the operation of that mechanism is controlled in such a manner that the aforesaid pressing member is first actuated to bring the record bearing medium into fitting engagement with the rotating drive means and thereafter this pressing member is removed from the record bearing medium, it is during recording or reproduction that the pressing member never adds any load on the rotatlng means, thereby giving an advantage of reducing the size of the rotating means.
Also in particular, as illustrated in the first ~' to the third embodiments, the pressing member is given elasticit~ in a portion thereof,, or as illustrated in the ~ourth and fifth embodiments, the preissing member is so constructed and so arranged that when the resistant force (reaction) from the record bearing medium acting on the p~essing member exceeds a certain limit, the pressing ~, membex escapes to a dif~erent direction -to that pressing ~,' onei, thereby always sa~e and smooth loading opera-tion ' can be xqalized desp.ite there are -the ~orm tolerances and location tol~erances o~l~the pr'essi!ng member or thdse members which constitute the operating mechanism therefor. ;,~

Claims (12)

1. An apparatus arranged to handle a disc having an engaging portion, said apparatus comprising:
(A) rotating means for rotating said disc, said rotating means having an engageable portion engageable with said engaging portion of the disc and a receiving surface for receiving thereon the engaging portion of the disc;
(B) disc loading means movably supported between a first position for receiving and holding said disc and a second position for positioning said disc in a recording and/or reproducing position, said disc loading means loading said disc in said recording and/or reproducing position by moving from said first position to said second position in one direction and ejecting said disc by moving from said second position to said first position in the other direction reverse to said one direction;
(C) pressing means for pressing said engaging portion of the disc against said receiving surface of the rotating means; and (D) control means for controlling said pressing means according to said disc loading means so as to operate said pressing means to press said engaging portion of said disc against said receiving surface of said rotating means and subsequently release a pressing operation of said pressing means according to the moving of said disc loading means in said one direction from said first position to said second position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said disc has a center core which is attached at a central portion of the disc and is provided with an engaging hole.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rotating means has a spindle engageable with said engaging hole of the center core of the disc and said spindle has a flange portion for receiving thereon said center core.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pressing means presses said center core of the disc against said flange portion of the spindle, and said pressing means has at least a pair of pressing portions each having projections, and said pressing respective substantially diametrically opposite portions on an annular surface of the center core.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said loading means has holding member for holding the disc, said holding member being movable between a first position for receiving the disc and a second position for positioning the received disc at a predetermined position relative to said rotating means.

6. A disc loading apparatus using a disc having a center core at the center of the disc, comprising:
(A) a spindle having a mounting portion for receiving thereon said center core, said spindle rotating the disc;

(B) disc holder movably supported between a first position for receiving and holding said disc and a second position for positioning said disc at a recording and/or reproducing position;
(C) disc loading means operating said disc holder for loading said disc at said recording and/or reproducing position by moving said disc holder from said first position to said second position in one direction and ejecting said disc by moving said disc holder from said second position to said first position in the other direction reverse to said one direction;
(D) pressing means, provided on said disc holder, for elastically pressing said disc to said spindle for mounting said disc on said flange portion with a predetermined constant force; and (E) control means connected to said disc holder and said pressing means for controlling said pressing means according to the moving operation of said disc loading means so as to operate said pressing means to press said center core of said disc against said flange portion of said spindle and subsequently release a pressing operation of said presser means according to the moving of said disc loading means in said one direction from said first position to said second position.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means is arranged to cause said pressing means to operate to press the disc onto the spindle immediately before said disc holder reaches said second position and to release the pressing operation of said pressing means in response to said disc reaching said second position.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said disc is a flexible magnetic disc, and which includes a magnetic head for effecting recording/reproducing on said disc.

9. A disc loading apparatus using a disc having a center core at the center of the disc, comprising:
(A) a spindle having a mounting portion for receiving thereon said center core, said spindle rotating the disc;
(B) disc holder movably supported between a first position for receiving and holding said disc and a second position for positioning said disc at a predetermined loaded position;
(C) disc loading means operating said disc holder to load said disc at said loaded position by moving said disc holder from said first position to said second position in one direction and ejecting said disc by moving said disc holder from said second position to said first position in the other direction reverse to said one direction;
(D) pressing means, provided on said disc holder for pressing said disc to said spindle for mounting said disc on said flange portion;
(E) control means connected to said disc holder and said pressing means for controlling said pressing means according to the moving operation of said disc loading means so as to operate said pressing means to press said center core of said disc against said flange portion of said spindle and subsequently release a pressing operation of said presser means according to the moving of said disc loading means in said only one direction from said first position to said second position; and (F) recording and/or reproducing means for recording on and/or reproducing from said disc positioned in said loaded position after said pressing operation of said presser means is released.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said pressing means is made of an elastic member.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control means is arranged to cause said pressing means to operate to press the disc to the spindle immediately before said disc holder reaches said second position and to release the pressing operation of said pressing means in response to said disc holder reaching said second position.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said disc is a flexible magnetic disc, and which includes a magnetic head for effecting recording/reproducing on said disc.