Locking device
First Claim
1. A locking device comprising:
- first engagement means provided in an apparatus main body; and
second engagement means provided in a container case to be inserted into said apparatus main body through an opening of said apparatus main body in such a manner that said second engagement means is engaged with said first engagement means for locking said container case to said apparatus main body, said second engagement means including;
a movable engagement piece that can be moved toward said first engagement means; and
a movement urging mechanism having one end connected to said movable engagement piece so as to urge said movable engagement piece,wherein said movement urging mechanism includes;
a working member made from a shape-memory alloy whose length between a first end and a second end is changed when subjected to a heat and having said first end connected to said movable engagement piece; and
a fixed member for holding said second end of said working member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a locking device having a simplified and energy saving configuration that assures to prevent an unintentional erroneous removal of a container case in operation mode from an apparatus main body. The locking device comprises: first engagement device which is an engagement hole 10 provided in an electronic apparatus main body 1; and second engagement device provided in a disc container case 2 that is inserted into and removed from the electronic apparatus through an opening 1a of the electronic apparatus main body 1. The second engagement device includes a movable engagement piece 21 constituted to be movable toward the engagement hole 10 and a movement urging mechanism 23 for urging this movable engagement piece 21. This movement urging mechanism 23 consists of a working member 23A made from a shape-memory alloy that change its distance from a first end to a second end when subjected to a heat; and a fixed base 24 for fixing the second end of the working member 23A.
138 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A locking device comprising:
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first engagement means provided in an apparatus main body; and second engagement means provided in a container case to be inserted into said apparatus main body through an opening of said apparatus main body in such a manner that said second engagement means is engaged with said first engagement means for locking said container case to said apparatus main body, said second engagement means including;
a movable engagement piece that can be moved toward said first engagement means; and
a movement urging mechanism having one end connected to said movable engagement piece so as to urge said movable engagement piece,wherein said movement urging mechanism includes; a working member made from a shape-memory alloy whose length between a first end and a second end is changed when subjected to a heat and having said first end connected to said movable engagement piece; and a fixed member for holding said second end of said working member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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4. A locking device comprising:
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second engagement means provided in an apparatus main body; and first engagement means provided in a container case to be inserted into said apparatus main body through an opening of said apparatus main body in such a manner that said first engagement means is engaged with said second engagement means for locking said container case to said apparatus main body, said second engagement means including;
a movable engagement piece that can be moved toward said first engagement means; and
a movement urging mechanism having one end connected to said movable engagement piece so as to urge said movable engagement piece,wherein said movement urging mechanism includes; a working member made from a shape-memory alloy whose length between a first end and a second end is changed when subjected to a heat and having said first end connected to said movable engagement piece; and a fixed member for holding said second end of said working member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 13)
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18. A locking device comprising:
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first engagement means provided in a main body of an electronic apparatus such as a personal computer; and second engagement means provided in a container case to be inserted into said electronic apparatus main body through an opening of said electronic apparatus main body in such a manner that said second engagement means is engaged with said first engagement means for locking said container case to said electronic apparatus main body, said second engagement means including;
a movable engagement piece that can be moved toward said first engagement means; and
a movement urging mechanism having one end connected to said movable engagement piece so as to urge said movable engagement piece,wherein said movement urging mechanism includes; a working member made from a shape-memory alloy whose length between a first and a second end is changed when subjected to a heat and having said first end connected to said movable engagement piece; a fixed member for holding said second end of said working member; and a current controller operated according to an instruction from a main controller provided in said electronic apparatus main body, so as to apply a predetermined heating current to said working member.
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Specification