Compact computer memory media handling apparatus

• US 5,768,239 A
• Filed: 03/15/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sellers, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAO, ALLEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/616,662
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 369/75.1-75.2, 369/77.1-77.2, 369/81, 360/99.02, 360/99.06, 360/99.12
• US Class Current: 720/653
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/06 combined with other apparatus having a different main function
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/124 of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis

Abstract

A compact disc drive is mounted within a computer chassis with the rotatable spindle portion of the drive positioned inwardly adjacent an external wall of the chassis a distance substantially less than the radius of a compact disc operatively supportable on the spindle for driven rotation thereby. When a compact disc is placed on the spindle a substantial portion of the disc projects outwardly beyond the chassis during operation of the drive. In this manner, the interior chassis space required for the drive is substantially reduced. To shield the outwardly projecting disc portion during use of the drive a housing structure is carried by the chassis for movement relative thereto between a retracted position in which the housing structure is telescoped with the drive within the chassis interior when the drive is not in use, and an extended position in which the housing structure extends outwardly from the chassis and receives the outwardly projecting disc portion when the drive is operating. A floppy disc drive embodiment of the invention is also illustrated.

Claims

1. Computer apparatus comprising:

an outer housing having an interior space and an exterior wall portion including an exterior wall member, said wall portion having opening means therein for inwardly receiving a portion of a rotatable, generally cylindrical data storage member having a radius transverse to a rotational axis thereof;

a drive structure disposed in said interior space and including a rotationally drivable spindle member operative to support the data storage member with its rotational axis generally parallel to said exterior wall member, upon insertion thereof inwardly through said opening means, and rotate the data storage member about its rotational axis, said spindle member being inwardly spaced apart from said exterior wall member by a distance substantially less than the radius of the data storage member, wherein a substantial portion of the spindle member-supported data storage member projects outwardly beyond said exterior wall member to thereby materially reduce the interior outer housing space required by said drive structure; and

housing means, carried by said outer housing, for receiving and shielding the outwardly projecting data storage member portion during operation of said drive structure, said housing means being retractable into said outer housing interior space when the data storage member is removed from said drive structure.

2. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said drive structure is a compact disc drive.

3. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said housing means, when retracted into said outer housing interior space, are telescoped with said drive structure.

4. Computer apparatus comprising:

an outer housing having an interior space and an exterior wall portion including an exterior wall member, said wall portion having opening means therein for inwardly receiving a radial portion of a generally disc-shaped data storage member having a radius;

a drive structure disposed in said interior space and including a rotationally drivable spindle member operative to support the data storage device, upon insertion thereof inwardly through said opening means, and rotate the storage member about an axis generally parallel to said exterior wall member, and a movable data transfer head structure positioned to operatively interact with the rotating data storage member,

said spindle member being inwardly spaced apart from said exterior wall member by a distance substantially less than said data storage member radius, wherein a substantial portion of the spindle member-supported data storage member projects outwardly beyond said exterior wall member to thereby materially reduce the interior outer housing space required by said drive structure; and

a housing structure supported on said outer housing for movement relative thereto between a retracted position in which said housing structure extends through said exterior wall member into said outer housing interior space in a telescoped relationship with said drive structure, and an extended position in which said housing structure extends outwardly beyond said exterior wall member, said housing structure in said extended position being operative to receive and shield the outwardly projecting portion of the spindle member-supported data storage member during operation of said drive structure.

5. Computer apparatus comprising:

an outer housing having an interior space and an exterior wall portion including an exterior wall member, said wall portion having opening means therein for inwardly receiving a portion of a rotatable, generally cylindrical data storage member having a radius transverse to a rotational axis thereof;

a drive structure disposed in said interior space and including a rotationally drivable spindle member operative to support the data storage member with its rotational axis generally parallel to said exterior wall member, upon insertion thereof inwardly through said opening means, and rotate the data storage member about its rotational axis, said spindle member being inwardly spaced apart from said exterior wall member by a distance substantially less than the radius of the data storage member, wherein a substantial portion of the spindle member-supported data storage member projects outwardly beyond said exterior wall member to thereby materially reduce the interior outer housing space required by said drive structure; and

housing means, carried by said outer housing, for receiving and shielding the outwardly projecting data storage member portion during operation of said drive structure, said housing means being retractable into said outer housing interior space when the data storage member is removed from said drive structure, said housing means, when retracted into said outer housing interior space, being telescoped with said drive structure,

said exterior wall portion including an external wall section extending transversely to said exterior wall member and outwardly overlying said spindle member,

said opening means including a first opening extending through said external wall section,

said housing means including a housing structure retractable into said outer housing and extendable outwardly therefrom, in a direction transverse to said exterior wall member, said housing structure having a second opening therein which, with said housing structure extended outwardly from said outer housing, forms with said first opening a combined opening adapted to receive the data storage member for operative placement on said spindle member.

6. The computer apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

cover means, carried by said outer housing and said housing structure, for selectively covering and uncovering said first and second openings.

7. The computer apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cover means include:

a first cover plate member secured to said outer housing for pivotal movement relative thereto between first and second positions in which said first cover plate member respectively covers and uncovers said first opening, and

a second cover plate member secured to said housing structure for pivotal movement relative thereto between first and second positions in which said second cover plate member respectively covers and uncovers said second opening.

8. The computer apparatus of claim 7 wherein, with said housing structure in its retracted position, and said first and second cover plate members in said first positions thereof, said first cover plate member overlies said second cover plate member in a facing, generally parallel relationship therewith.