Data storage device with an arrangement for receiving a transportable, card-shaped or disk-shaped data storage unit so that the data storage unit is inaccessible in an operating position

• US 5,187,646 A
• Filed: 01/28/1992
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH
• Inventors: Koch, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/827,474
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 361/340, 361/344, 361/380, 361/391, 361/393, 361/394, 361/395, 361/399, 361/412, 361/413, 361/428, 361/398, 361/408, 200/50 A, 235/441, 235/486, 439/67, 439/77, 439/131, 312/12, 174/254
• US Class Current: 361/679.33
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/08 Feeding or discharging cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0047 for reading/sensing record carriers having edge contacts

Abstract

An apparatus for receiving a transportable card-shaped or disk-shaped data storage, which apparatus is arranged at the front wall of a device and the data storage can be brought into an operating position by it, the data storage being in the operating position in a parallel position relative to the front face of the respective device and is sunk in the front wall so as to be inaccessible. In particular, the apparatus includes a cover, which is supported at the front wall of the device so as to act like a rocker, a holding and contacting arrangement for a data storage being constructed at the inside of the device, as well as a printed circuit board which is fastened in the device so as to be stationary and is connected with the cover via a flexible conduction band exercising a springing effect.

Claims

1. A data storage device with an arrangement receiving a transportable, card-shaped or disk-shaped data storage unit by means of which the data storage unit is brought into an operating position in which it is inaccessible, the device comprising:

a front wall having an opening 41;

a rocker member arranged as a cover 2 in the opening 41 and rotatably supported along a bearing axis at the front wall so as to be openable and closeable in a rocking manner;

holding means 22, 23, 64 holding the data storage unit, said holding means being arranged at an inner face of the cover 2 so that the data storage unit 45 is substantially parallel to the front wall when the cover 2 is in a closed position; and

gripping means 5 provided at an outer face of the cover 2 so as to facilitate rotation of the cover 2, the bearing axis running through the rocker member so as to divide the rocker member into two sides, the holding means for the data storage unit 45 being provided on one side of the rocker member relative to the bearing axis of the rocker member, whereas another side of the rocker member relative to the bearing axis is constructed at least partially as the gripping means 5.

2. A data storing device according to claim 1, and further comprising bearing journals 12, 13 provided on opposite front edges of the cover 2, and bearings 39, 40 provided at an inside portion of the front wall so as to engage the bearing journals.

3. A data storing device according to claim 1, and further comprising resilient locking means 28, 29 provided on the cover 2 for keeping the cover 2 closed in the operating position.

4. A data storage device according to claim 1, and further comprising contact means 64 fastened to the cover 2 which contacts the data storage unit 45, and a printed circuit board 53 securely connected to the front wall, the contact means 64 and the printed circuit board 53 being connected by means of a flexible conduction band 62 which also acts as a spring to bias said cover to an open position.

5. A data storage device according to claim 1, and further comprising and electromechanical lock 19, 20, 21, provided on the cover 2, said lock being controllable by a key 6 which is accessible on the outer face of the cover.

6. A data storage device according to claim 5, and further comprising means 8 for providing a release indication in response to operation of the key 6.

7. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the rocker member is shaped so that in the closed position the one side 3 of the rocker member provided with the holding means for the data storage unit 45 is substantially flush with a front surface of the front wall, and the other side of the rocker member, having the gripping means 5, projects at least partially out of a plane of the front surface of the front wall.