Richard D Wilkinson

US Patent:

45021368, Feb 26, 1985

Filed:

Apr 4, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/481963

Inventors:

David W. Rickert - Boulder CO
Richard A. Wilkinson - Boulder CO
William C. Hunt - Lafayette CO

Assignee:

Storage Technology Partners II - Louisville CO

International Classification:

G11B 906
G11B 1920

US Classification:

369271

Abstract:

The centering and clamping device consisting: a disk elevator, a disk support, a disk centering assembly, a disk clamping assembly, and a disk rotating assembly. In operation the disk is raised out of the disk insert tray cartridge by the disk elevating means and raised upward to engage a taper on the spindle of the device spin motor, moving upward until the cooperation between the taper on the neck spindle and the tapering on the disk centering collar cause the disk to move laterally until precisely centered on the spindle. Thereafter, the continued upward movement on the disk on the elevator lifting assembly causes a magnet located on the disk support means to come into magnetic contact with a steel plate on the spindle platform, thereby securely clamping the disk to the spindle for rotation. Thereafter, the elevator moved downward and clamping the disk from disk support means, thereby allowing the free rotation of the spindle disk and disk support assembly relative to a stationary elevating means. For removal, the above described procedure is reversed with the elevator moving slightly upward clamping into the disk support assembly, thereby the entire assembly moving downward removing the disk from the spindle the column moving further downward until the disk rests securely in a cartridge for removal from the device.

US Patent:

45424268, Sep 17, 1985

Filed:

May 31, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/499667

Inventors:

Richard A. Wilkinson - Boulder CO
William C. Hunt - Lafayette CO
David W. Rickert - Boulder CO

Assignee:

Storage Technology Partners II - Louisville CO

International Classification:

G11B 5012
G11B 5016
G11B 2302
G01D 1524

US Classification:

360 97

Abstract:

A flexible hub for a disk is described. The disk includes a relatively large center hole into which a flexible planar member is mounted or clamped. The size of the flexible member is slightly larger than the hole, thereby requiring that the flexible member be slightly bowed or flexed in order for it to fit within the hole. The flexible member is preferably attached to the disk at three respective equi-angularly spaced locations around the periphery of the hole. In the center of the flexible member is a collar adapted to receive a protruding spindle neck from a spindle mechanism upon which the disk is mounted. The end of the spindle neck and the inside wall of the collar are tapered at the same angle. Insertion of the spindle neck into the collar thereby forces alignment or centering of the center of the collar with the longitudinal axis of the spindle neck.

US Patent:

44981651, Feb 5, 1985

Filed:

Oct 3, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/538403

Inventors:

Richard A. Wilkinson - Boulder CO

Assignee:

Storage Technology Partners II - Louisville CO

International Classification:

G11B 1700
G11B 1704

US Classification:

369270

Abstract:

A magnetic or optical disk load/unload device for automatically centering and clamping a disk to the spindle of an information storage device. The apparatus is comprised of a toggle arm, a toggle arm rotating device, a support base, a support hub having a centering stem and a concentric annular steel ring disposed on its mating surface, a member for clamping the hub to the support base, a spindle having a centering hole on its mating surface and a concentric magnetic material ring on its mating surface, and a spindle rotating motor. In operation, the toggle arm is rotated from a first bent position causing the support base hub and disk located thereon to advance toward the spindle, the hub slidably retained on the base by a of clamping member activated by a cam assembly. Upon full extension of the toggle arm, the hub and disk are centered on the spindle, clamped to same by the magnetic and steel rings. The toggle arm continues on to a second bent position, causing the support base to retreat from the support hub, the clamping member having been released.