Actuator tip calibration for robotic optical storage system

• US 10,692,526 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2019
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Daniel F., Altknecht, David Jame
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E
• Application Number:
  US16/693,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20200135234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 214 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/04 Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit guiding during transducing operation G11B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/05 specially adapted for discs not contained within cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/225 wherein the disks are transferred from a fixed magazine to a fixed playing unit using a moving carriage

Abstract

A calibration system includes a moveable arm configured for movement within an optical disc storage system. A disc kicker device includes a stop portion, an actuator and an actuator tip that contacts an optical disc. The disc kicker device is connected to the moveable arm. The calibration system: determines an operation state based on a stop position for the actuator tip in response to an applied torque to the disc kicker device, and performs alignment of the actuator tip with the optical disc.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a moveable arm configured for movement within an optical disc storage system;

a disc gripper device coupled to the moveable arm;

a disc kicker device including a stop portion, an actuator and an actuator tip that contacts an optical disc, the disc kicker device is coupled to the moveable arm;

a calibration system configured to;

determine an operation state based on a stop position for the actuator tip in response to an applied torque to the disc kicker device, and perform alignment of the actuator tip with the optical disc.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the calibration system includes a position sensor that measures position of the actuator tip relative to the position sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stop portion comprises a fiducial edge.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operation state comprises a go state or a no-go state.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operation state is determined from a measured position of the disc kicker device at an end of travel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operation state is determined by a relative timing of an onset of stall current in a motor of the disc kicker device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stop portion provides for the actuator tip to pass the stop portion upon being aligned and prevents the actuator tip from passing by the stop portion upon being misaligned.

8. A calibration system comprising:

a moveable arm configured for movement within an optical disc storage system; and

a disc kicker device including a stop portion, an actuator and an actuator tip that contacts an optical disc, the disc kicker device is coupled to the moveable arm,

wherein the calibration system determines an operation state based on a stop position for the actuator tip in response to an applied torque to the disc kicker device, and performs alignment of the actuator tip with the optical disc.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a position sensor that measures position of the actuator tip relative to the position sensor.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the stop portion comprises a fiducial edge.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operation state comprises a go state or a no-go state.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operation state is determined from a measured position of the disc kicker device at an end of travel.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operation state is determined by a relative timing of an onset of stall current in a motor of the disc kicker device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the stop portion provides for the actuator tip to pass the stop portion upon being aligned and prevents the actuator tip from passing by the stop portion upon being misaligned.