U.S. patent application number 09/882794 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for mounting apparatus, mounting method, and recording/reproducing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Omori, Kiyoshi.
Application Number | 20010055200 09/882794 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18689342 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010055200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Omori, Kiyoshi |
December 27, 2001 |
Mounting apparatus, mounting method, and recording/reproducing
apparatus
Abstract
For simply mounting an optical disk derive device or the like
within a computer body to locate it accurately, a -shaped adaptor
is mounted detachably on the upper part of the optical disk drive
device or the like, an inner guide pin and vertical guide groove
are mutually located in a longitudinal direction, the optical disk
drive device and the like are horizontally inserted into a mounting
frame, the optical disk drive device and the like are paced on the
place bed, and the adaptor is located in longitudinal and vertical
directions within the mounting frame by a plate spring part crimped
from above to the outer guide pin.
Inventors: |
Omori, Kiyoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jay H. Maioli
Cooper & Dunham LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
18689342 |
Appl. No.: |
09/882794 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/752 ;
G9B/33.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/124
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/752 |
International
Class: |
H05K 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2000 |
JP |
P2000-189752 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment
comprising: an adaptor formed into a substantially -shape by a top
plate part and both left and right plate parts suspended downward
from both left and right end edges of said top plate part and
detachably mounted from above to computer peripheral equipment;
first locating means for locating said adaptor in a longitudinal
direction of computer peripheral equipment by mounting said adaptor
from above to said computer peripheral equipment; a mounting frame
mounted within a computer body, having an insert part of said
computer peripheral equipment an a place bed provided on the bottom
of said insert part, said computer peripheral equipment being
inserted into said insert part in a longitudinal direction integral
with said adaptor and placed horizontally on said place bed; and
second locating means for elastically locating said adaptor
inserted horizontally in a longitudinal direction integral with
said computer peripheral equipment into said insert part of said
mounting frame in a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction
within said mounting frame.
2. The mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment
according to claim 1, wherein said first locating means for
locating said adaptor in a longitudinal direction with respect to
said computer peripheral equipment is constituted by providing a
vertical guide groove having one end opened on one hand, and
providing a guide pin inserted vertically into said guide groove on
the other hand.
3. The mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment
according to claim 1, wherein said second locating means for
elastically locating said adaptor in a longitudinal direction and
in a vertical direction within said mounting frame is constituted
at least by a guide pin and a plate spring part for elastically
biasing said guide pin to locate said computer peripheral equipment
onto said place bed of said mounting frame through said
adaptor.
4. The mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment
according to claim 1 comprising: a plurality of guide pins provided
on one side out of both left and right plate parts of said adaptor
and both left and right plate parts of said mounting frame, and a
plurality of horizontal guide grooves for guiding said plurality of
guide pins.
5. The mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment
according to claim 1, wherein a pair of left and right gripping
parts are provided on front ends of both left and right plate parts
of said adaptor.
6. A mounting method for computer peripheral equipment comprising
the steps of: locating, by mounting an adaptor formed into a
substantially -shape by a top plate part and both left and right
plate parts suspended downward from both left and right end edges
of said top plate part and detachably mounted from above to
computer peripheral equipment, said adaptor in a longitudinal
direction of computer peripheral equipment; and elastically
locating, in amounting frame mounted within a computer body, having
an insert part of said computer peripheral equipment an a place bed
provided on the bottom of said insert part, said computer
peripheral equipment being inserted into said insert part in a
longitudinal direction integral with said adaptor and placed
horizontally on said place bed, said adaptor inserted horizontally
in a longitudinal direction integral with said computer peripheral
equipment into said insert part of said mounting frame in a
longitudinal direction and a vertical direction within said
mounting frame.
7. The mounting method for computer peripheral equipment according
to claim 6, wherein the longitudinal locating for said adaptor and
said computer peripheral equipment is carried out by providing a
vertical guide groove having one end opened on one hand, and
providing a guide pin inserted vertically into the guide groove on
the other hand.
8. The mounting method for computer peripheral equipment according
to claim 6, wherein the elastically locating said adaptor in a
longitudinal direction and in a vertical direction within said
mounting frame is carried out by providing a guide pin at least on
one hand, elastically biasing the guide pin on the other hand, and
by a plate spring part for locating said computer peripheral
equipment onto said place bed of said mounting frame through said
adaptor.
9. The mounting method for computer peripheral equipment according
to claim 6, comprising a plurality guide pins provided on one side
out of both left and right plate parts of said adaptor and both
left and right plate parts of said mounting frame, and a plurality
of horizontal guide grooves for guiding said plurality of guide
pins.
10. A recording/reproducing apparatus including a casing comprising
a front surface provided with a recording medium insert opening, a
top plate part, a bottom plate, and left and right side plate
parts, wherein groove parts extended from said top plate part to
said bottom plate part and having the top part side opened are
provided in pair in said left and right side plate parts,
respectively.
11. The recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 10,
wherein an adaptor formed into a substantially -shape is mounted
detachably from above by a top plate part, and both left and right
plate parts suspended downward from both left and right end edges
of said top plate part, and the guide pins provided on both left
and right plates of said adaptor are inserted into said groove
parts.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention belongs to a technical field of a
mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment for detachably
mounting, within a computer body, an optical disk drive device, a
floppy disk drive device, a card type recording medium
recording/reproducing device, a tape-like recording medium
recording/reproducing device, and other various computer peripheral
equipment.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As shown in FIG. 22, a plurality of openings 2 are formed in
a control panel la of a computer body 1 of a tower type (a
longitudinal type) or the like, and an optical disk drive device 3
and other various computer peripheral equipment 4 are mounted in
the plurality of upper and lower openings 2 horizontally and
detachably.
[0005] A mounting apparatus common to the devices for mounting the
optical disk drive device 3 into the computer body 1 is constituted
as shown in FIG. 23 such that four threaded holes (holes having
female threads subjected to tapping in the inner circumference) 5
are formed in advance on both left and right sides 3b of an outer
cover 3a of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like and at a
predetermined position; that a mounting frame 6 formed of sheet
metal into a rectangular shape is fixedly mounted within the
computer body 1; and that a front panel la formed of synthetic
resin of the computer body 1 is removed, one or more optical disk
drive devices 3 are inserted horizontally in a direction of arrow a
(before and behind) into the mounting frame 6, two stop screws 7
inserted from both left and right plate parts 6a of the mounting
frame 6 are selectively connected to two out of four threaded holes
5 on both left and right sides 3b of the optical disk drive device
3, and the one or more optical disk drive devices 3 are screwed
from both left and right sideways of the one mounting frame 6.
[0006] However, in this mounting apparatus, when the optical disk
drive device 3 and the like are screwed to both left and right
plate parts 6a of the mounting frame 6 by means of two stop screws
8, a pair of left and right side panels 1b made of sheet metal or
the like screwed to the computer body 1 by means of a number of
stop screws 6 also have to be removed every time, and mounting and
dismounting of the front panel la and the side panel 1b and many
screwing works are necessary, greatly deteriorating operativeness.
Development of a new mounting apparatus has been strongly
desired.
[0007] In view of the foregoing, in recent years, an adaptor 11
shown in FIG. 24 has been developed. The adaptor 11 is composed of
three parts, i.e., a base plate 12 subjected to press working by a
thick plate spring, and a pair of thin left and right plate springs
13 mounted in parallel internally of front end portions of both
left and right plate parts 12a folded vertically upward from both
left and right edges of the base plate 12, the pair of left and
right plate springs 13 being caulked to the inside of the front end
portion of the base plate 12 by means of a pair of caulking pins
14. The base plate 12 is formed with four screw insert holes 15 and
is horizontally formed on both left and right end edges with a
plurality of projections 16 spaced apart in a longitudinal
direction, both the left and right plate parts 12a being vertically
formed on the rear end side with a pair of left and right stopper
parts 17. The pair of left and right plate springs 13 are
vertically and integrally formed with a pair of left and right
gripping parts 18 and stopping spring parts 19.
[0008] When the optical disk drive device 3 and the like are
mounted internally of the computer body 1 shown in FIG. 22, first,
four stop screws 20 inserted, from downward, into four screw insert
holes of the base plate 12 of the adaptor 11 are connected to four
threaded holes 21 formed in the bottom 3c of the optical disk drive
device 3 or the like, the base plate 12 of the adaptor 11 is
screwed horizontally to the bottom 3c of the optical disk drive
device 3 or the like, and the pair of left and right gripping parts
18 and the stopping spring parts 19 are arranged vertically at both
side positions of both the left and right sides 3b of the optical
disk drive device 3 or the like.
[0009] The adaptor 11 is inserted integrally with the optical disk
drive device 3 or the like horizontally in a direction of arrow a
into the mounting frame 6 shown in FIG. 22, and the plurality of
left and right projections 16 are placed horizontally making use of
own weight on a pair of leaf and right place beds (not shown)
formed horizontally internally of both the left and right plate
parts 6a of the mounting frame 6. Then, the pair of left and right
stopper parts 17 are placed in contact with a pair of left and
right stopper parts (not shown) formed vertically at deep positions
internally of both the left and right plate parts 6a of the
mounting frame 6, and the pair of left and right stopping spring
parts 19 are mounted so as to be detachable making use of
elasticity on a pair of left and right spring stop parts (not
shown) formed vertically at front positions internally of both the
left and right plate parts 6a of the mounting frame 6.
[0010] If the adaptor 11 shown in FIG. 24 is used, the pair of left
and right side panels 1b need not be detachably mounted every time
but the optical disk drive device 3 or the like can be mounted
integral with the adaptor 11 by one-touch operation merely by
inserting them into the mounting frame 6 horizontally in a
direction of arrow a, unlike the case where the optical disk drive
device shown in FIG. 23 is screwed by means of four stop screws 7
to both the left and right plate parts 6a of the mounting frame 6
shown in FIG. 22. When the optical disk drive device 3 or the is
removed from the mounting frame 6, the front panel 1a of the
computer body 1 is removed and the pair of left and right gripping
parts 18 of the adaptor 11 are merely strongly pulled in a
direction of arrow b in FIG. 22 on the forward side whereby the
disk drive device 3 or the like can be removed integral with the
adaptor 11 in a direction of arrow b, which is convenient.
[0011] However, the mounting apparatus using the adaptor 11 shown
in FIG. 24 is not of the type in which the optical drive device 3
or the like is directly placed on the pair of left and right place
bed parts of the mounting frame 6, but of the type in which the
optical disk drive device 3 or the like is placed making use of own
weight on the pair of left and right place bed parts internally of
the mounting frame 6 by a plurality of projections 16 on both the
left and right sides of the base plate 12 of the adaptor 11.
Therefore, as the base plate 12, a sheet metal which is thick and
strong enough to carry weight of the optical disk drive device 3
has to be used to result in an increase of weight and higher cost.
Further, a longitudinal (directions of arrows a and b) backlash of
the optical disk device 3 inserted into the mounting frame 6 to the
mounting frame 6 can be prevented but the vertical backlash is
prevented relying upon only the sum total of the optical disk drive
device 3 and the adaptor 11, because of which the vertical backlash
cannot be prevented completely.
[0012] Moreover, since the adaptor 11 itself is composed of three
parts, i.e., the base plate 12, and the pair of left and right
plate springs 13, and has the construction in which the pair of
left and right plate springs 13 are caulked to the inside of the
front end sides of the left and right plate parts 12a of the base
plate 12 using a plurality of caulking pins 14, there many numbers
of parts and many assembling steps of the adaptor 11 itself,
resulting in a high unit price of the adaptor 11 itself. In
addition, the work for screwing the base plate 12 of the adaptor 11
to the bottom 3c of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like by
four stop screws 20 is troublesome, posing a problem that
operativeness is deteriorated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment capable of
solving all the problems noted above at one effort.
[0014] For achieving the above-described object, a mounting
apparatus, a mounting method, and a recording/reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention uses an adaptor formed into a
substantially -shaped by a top plate part and both left and right
sides suspended downward from both left and right end edges of the
top plate part. The adaptor is detachably mounted, from the top, on
computer peripheral equipment of an optical disk drive device or
the like whereby the adaptor is located in a longitudinal direction
with respect to the computer peripheral equipment by first locating
means. Then, the computer peripheral equipment is inserted integral
with the adaptor into a mounting frame mounted within the computer
body in a longitudinal direction, and the computer peripheral
equipment is placed horizontally on a bottom place bed of a
mounting frame inserting part. At this time, the adaptor is located
elastically with respect to longitudinal direction and vertical
direction into the mounting frame by second locating means.
[0015] In the mounting apparatus, the mounting method, and the
recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention
constituted as described above, the substantially -shaped adaptor
is merely mounted detachably, from the top, on the computer
peripheral equipment of the optical disk drive device or the like
whereby the adaptor is located with respect to the computer
peripheral equipment in a longitudinal direction by the first
locating means, and so, the adaptor need not be screwed every time
to the computer peripheral equipment. Then, the computer peripheral
equipment is inserted integral with the adaptor into a mounting
frame mounted within the computer body in a longitudinal direction,
and the computer peripheral equipment is placed horizontally on a
bottom place bed of a mounting frame inserting part, and so, the
adaptor need not at all to carry weight of the computer peripheral
equipment. And, the adaptor is located elastically with respect to
longitudinal direction and vertical direction into the mounting
frame by second locating means, and the computer peripheral
equipment is located in a state free from backlash within the
mounting frame.
[0016] The mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment
according to the present invention constituted as described above
is able to succeed in the following effect.
[0017] The substantially -shaped adaptor is merely mounted
detachably, from the top, on the computer peripheral equipment of
the optical disk drive device or the like whereby the adaptor is
located with respect to the computer peripheral equipment in a
longitudinal direction by the first locating means, and so, the
adaptor need not be screwed every time to the computer peripheral
equipment; then, the computer peripheral equipment is inserted
integral with the adaptor into a mounting frame mounted within the
computer body in a longitudinal direction, and the computer
peripheral equipment is placed horizontally on a bottom place bed
of a mounting frame inserting part, and so, the adaptor need not at
all to carry weight of the computer peripheral equipment; further,
the adaptor is located elastically with respect to longitudinal
direction and vertical direction into the mounting frame by second
locating means, and the computer peripheral equipment is located in
a state free from backlash within the mounting frame. For the
reasons mentioned above, the computer peripheral equipment can be
mounted in and removed from the mounting frame extremely simply by
one-touch operation to remarkably enhance operativeness of the
mounting and removal. Moreover, particularly, since the adaptor can
be constituted by a single part, the construction is very simple,
and no load of the .computer peripheral equipment is exerted
whereby the apparatus which is light and inexpensive can be
manufactured by thin sheet metal or synthetic resin molding parts,
thus capable of achieving a considerable cost down due to the lower
unit price of parts along with the fact that no stop screw is
used.
[0018] Further, the first locating means can be constituted simply
by a vertical guide groove and a guide pin, and longitudinal
locating of an adaptor to computer peripheral equipment can be
accomplished simply and accurately.
[0019] Further, the second locating means for locating the computer
peripheral equipment onto the place bed of the mounting frame is
constituted by at least a guide pin, and a plate spring part
crimped at right angles on the place bed of the mounting frame.
Therefore, the second locating means can be constituted simply, and
the computer peripheral equipment can be located on the place bed
simply and accurately.
[0020] Since the adaptor can be guided and inserted into the
mounting frame by a plurality guide pins and a plurality of
horizontal guide grooves, insertion and removing of the adaptor
from the mounting frame are accomplished smoothly.
[0021] Since a pair of left and right gripping parts are provided
on front ends of both left and right plate parts of an adaptor, the
computer peripheral equipment can be pulled out of the mounting
frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing taking-out and
putting-in of computer peripheral equipment and an adaptor with
respect to a mounting frame for explaining an embodiment of a
mounting apparatus for commuter peripheral equipment to which the
present invention is applied;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state that computer
peripheral equipment of a mounting apparatus for computer
peripheral equipment is inserted into and mounted within a mounting
frame integral with an adaptor;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a mounting and
dismounting state of computer peripheral equipment of a mounting
apparatus for computer peripheral equipment and an adaptor;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing computer peripheral equipment
of a mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a side view of the computer peripheral equipment
of FIG. 4;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an adaptor of a mounting apparatus
for computer peripheral equipment;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a front view of an adaptor of FIG. 6;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a side view of an adaptor of FIG. 6;
[0030] FIG. 9 is a plan view and a partly enlarged cutaway view of
a mounting frame of a mounting apparatus for computer peripheral
equipment;
[0031] FIG. 10 is a front view and a partly enlarged front view of
a mounting frame of FIG. 9;
[0032] FIG. 11 is a side view of a mounting frame of FIG. 9;
[0033] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a state that an adaptor is mounted
on an upper part of computer peripheral equipment of a mounting
apparatus for computer peripheral equipment;
[0034] FIG. 13 is a front view of computer peripheral equipment and
an adaptor of FIG. 12;
[0035] FIG. 14 is a side view of computer peripheral equipment and
an adaptor of FIG. 12;
[0036] FIG. 15 is a plan view of a state that computer peripheral
equipment and an adaptor are inserted and mounted in a mounting
frame of a mounting apparatus for computer peripheral
equipment;
[0037] FIG. 16 is a front view of a state that computer peripheral
equipment is inserted and mounted in upper and lower two stages in
a mounting frame of FIG., 15;
[0038] FIG. 17 is a side view of a mounting frame and computer
peripheral equipment of upper and lower two stages of FIG., 15;
[0039] FIG. 18A is a partly cutaway side view showing in an
enlarged scale second locating means of a mounting apparatus for
computer peripheral equipment;
[0040] FIG. 18B is a sectional view taken on arrow A-A in a side
view of FIG. 18A;
[0041] FIG. 19 is a partly cutaway side view showing a first
modified example of first locating means;
[0042] FIG. 20 is a partly cutaway side view showing a second
modified example of first locating means;
[0043] FIG. 21 is a partly cutaway side view showing a third
modified example of first locating means;
[0044] FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a first related
example of a mounting apparatus for computer peripheral equipment
into a computer body;
[0045] FIG. 23 is a perspective view for explaining general
construction for mounting computer peripheral equipment into a
computer body; and
[0046] FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing an adaptor used in a
second related example of a mounting apparatus for computer
peripheral equipment into a computer body.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0047] The preferred embodiments of a mounting apparatus for
computer peripheral equipment to which the present invention is
applied will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1 to
23.
[0048] First, a mounting apparatus 31 according to the present
invention uses an adaptor 32 formed by applying press working to
sheet metal which is thin in sheet thickness, light in weight, and
cheap in unit price of parts, or by synthetic resin molding. On the
other hand, for a mounting frame 41 mounted in advance horizontally
within a computer body 1 used a material subjected to press working
applied to sheet metal which is thick in sheet thickness, and
strong, as explained with reference to FIG. 22. One adaptor 32 is
sued for one optical drive device 3 or the like which is computer
peripheral equipment, but within the mounting frame 41 can be
mounted two or more optical disk drive devices 3 or the like in a
plurality of upper and lower stages.
[0049] The adaptor 32 is formed to be folded into a substantially
-shape by a horizontal top plate part 32a and both left and right
plate parts 32b horizontally folded downward from both left and
right end edges of the top plate part 32a. Both the left and right
plate parts 3b are formed on the front end edges with a pair of
left and right gripping parts 33 at right angles to both left and
right sideways and by being folded symmetrically to left and right.
At the same level position displaced to the upper ends of the
internal opposed surfaces of both the left and right plate parts
32b, guide pins, i.e., each pair front and behind, four inner guide
pins 34 in total are formed at right angles. At the same level
position displaced to the lower ends of the external surfaces of
both the left and right plate parts 32b, guide pins, i.e., each
pair front and behind, four inner guide pins 35 and 36 in total are
formed at right angles. Four inner guide pins 34 and two outer
guide pins 36 in total on the rear end side are formed from short
pins, and two outer guide pins 35 in total on the front end side
are formed from long pins.
[0050] On both left and right sides 3b of an outer cover 3a of the
optical disk device 3 or the like, each pair of front and behind,
four vertical guide grooves 37 in total with upper ends into which
four inner guide pins 34 in total of the adaptor 32 are inserted
upward are formed, and first locating means 38 is constituted by
four vertical guide grooves 37 in total and four inner guide pins
34 in total of the adaptor 32. Alternatively, the first locating
means 38 can be formed by forming four vertical guide grooves 37 in
total on both left and right side plate parts 32b of the adaptor
32, opening the lower ends of the vertical guide groove 37, and
forming four inner guide pins 34 in total on both left and right
sides 34 of the optical disk drive device 3. The first locating
means is provided to locate the optical disk drive device 3 and the
adaptor 32 so that they are not moved relatively in directions of
arrows a and b.
[0051] A mounting frame 41 is subjected to press working into a
substantially -shape by a top plate part 41a, and both left and
right plate parts 41b vertically folded downward from both left and
right end edges. Both the left and right plate parts 41b are formed
internally with two upper and lower stages of insert parts 42 which
are insert spaces for the optical disk drive device 3 or the like
partitioned into two upper and lower stages, and a pair of left and
right place beds 43 horizontally folded internally of both the left
and right plate parts 41b are formed at a position corresponding to
the bottom of each insert part 42. The pair of left and right place
beds 43 on the bottom of the upper stage of the insert part 42 are
formed at intervals in two front and behind locations internally of
both left and right side plate parts 41b. The pair of left and
right place beds 43 on the bottom of the lower stage of the insert
part 42 are formed over the whole width of the lower end edges of
both left and right side plate parts 41b.
[0052] A pair of left and right horizontal guide grooves 44 into
which are horizontally inserted four left and right outer guide
pins 35 and 36 in total of the adaptor 32 are formed in both left
and right plate parts 41b and along a position displaced to the
lower side of two upper and lower stages of the insert part 43.
Front ends 44a of the pair of left and right horizontal guide
grooves 44 are opened t front end edges of both the left and right
plate parts 41b. The opened front end 44a portions of the
horizontal guide grooves 44 of both the left and right plate parts
41b are reinforced with high strength by reinforcing parts 45
applied with project working into a substantially trapezoid outward
from the front ends 41c of both left and right plate parts 41b.
[0053] At a position near the front end of lower horizontal surface
44b of each left and right pair of horizontal guide grooves 44, a
pair of left and right of guide pin engaging parts 46 in the form
of a small circular arc depression for locating a pair of left and
right outer guide pins 35 on the front end side are formed, and at
the upper parts of the guide pin engaging parts 46, a pair of left
and right plate spring parts 47 for elastically biasing the pair of
left and right outer guide pins 35 from the top as described later
are arranged substantially horizontally. The pair of left and right
plate spring parts 47 are subjected to fold working in parallel
with, substantially horizontally, both the left and right plate
parts 41b from the outside to the forward of the lower end edge of
a connection part 48 projected in a lateral direction and in a
lower direction from the upper edge portion of the horizontal guide
groove 44 of both left and right plate parts 41b, and front ends
47a of the pair of plate spring parts 47 are inclined diagonally
forward and upward. Rear ends 44c of the pair of left and right
horizontal guide grooves 44 are formed at closed ends, and the rear
end 44c is formed at a position slightly lowered from a lower
horizontal surface 44b by a difference in level part 44d. The
diameter D1 of the rear end 44c is constituted to be slightly
larger than the diameter D2 of the pair of left and right outer
guide pins 36.
[0054] Second locating means 49 is constituted by a pair of left
and right guide ins 35 of the adaptor 32, a pair of left and right
horizontal guide grooves 44 of the mounting frame 41, a pair of
left and right guide pin engaging parts 46, and a pair of left and
right plate spring parts 47. The second locating means can be also
constituted by forming the pair of left and right guide grooves 44
in both the left and right plate parts 32b of the adaptor 32 in a
state that rear ends thereof are opened, forming the a pair of
outer guide pins 35 internally of both left and right plate parts
41b of the mounting frame 41, and forming the pair of left and
right plate spring parts 47 elastically pressed to the lower sides
of the guide pins 35 on both left and right plate parts 32b of the
adaptor 32. The second locating means is provided to locate the
mounting frame 41 and the adaptor 32 in a horizontal direction and
in a vertical direction with respect to the horizontal guide groove
44.
[0055] In the following, the order for mounting the optical disk
drive device 3 or the like into the mounting frame 41 by the
mounting apparatus 31 constituted as described above will be
explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and 12 to 16.
[0056] First, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 12 to 16, the adaptor 32
is mounted on the optical disk drive device 3 or the like in a
direction of arrow c in FIG. 3 from upward to downward, four outer
guide pins 34 in total of the adaptor 32 constituting the first
locating means 38 are inserted from the top into four vertical
guide grooves 37 of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like,
the top plate part 32a of the adaptor 32 is placed horizontally on
the upper surface 3d of the outer cover 3a of the optical disk
drive device 3 or the like , both left and right plate parts 32b of
the adaptor 32 are inserted in parallel on both sides of both left
and right sides 3b of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like,
and the adaptor 32 is mounted horizontally on the upper part of the
optical disk drive device 3 or the like. Then, the adaptor 32 can
be removed in a direction of arrow d upward of the optical disk
drive device 3 or the like, but the adaptor 32 is located in an
immovable state with respect to arrows a and b which is a
longitudinal direction with respect to the optical disk drive 3 or
the like.
[0057] Accordingly, in a mounting state of the adaptor 32 on the
upper part of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like, the
adaptor 32 need not at all to screw them to the upper part of the
optical disk drive device 3 or the like using a plurality of stop
screws. However, the adaptor 32 may be temporarily stopped at the
optical disk drive device by a single temporary stopping screw so
that the adaptor 32 is not levitated upward (in a direction of
arrow d) of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like during the
inserting operation of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like
into the mounting frame 41 described later. Further, the depth in a
horizontal direction of at least one lower end portion of four
vertical guide grooves 37 in total is partly deepened, and at least
one of four inner guide pins 34 in total is elastically engaged
with the deep portion of the lower end portion of the vertical
guide groove 37 making use of elastic flexibility internally (in a
direction opposite to each other) of both left and right plate
parts 32b of the adaptor 32 whereby enabling to prevent the adaptor
32 from being levitated upward (in a direction of arrow d) of the
optical disk drive device 3 or the like.
[0058] After the adaptor 32 has been horizontally placed on the
upper part of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like in a
manner as described above, the optical disk drive device 3 or the
like integral with the adaptor 32 is inserted horizontally in a
direction of arrow a into the insert part 42 of the mounting frame
41 while the adaptor 32 is left placed horizontally on the upper
part, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and 5 to 18, and both left and
right ends of the bottom 3c of the optical disk drive device 3 or
the like are placed horizontally on the pair of left and right
place beds 43.
[0059] At this time, the adaptor 32 is inserted into the inside of
the insert part 42 in a direction of arrow a, and four outer guide
pines 35, 36 in total are inserted horizontally in a direction of
arrow a into the pair of left and right horizontal guide grooves 4
of both left and right plate parts 41b of the mounting frame 41
with the outer guide pins 36 preceded and with the outer guide pins
35 succeeded.
[0060] Then, as shown in FIGS. 2, 15-17, a pair of left and right
gripping arts 33 of the adaptor 32 are placed in contact with the
front ends 41c of both left and right plate parts 41b of the
mounting frame 41, and immediately before completion of insertion
of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like into the insert part
42 in a direction of arrow a, as shown by the solid lines in FIGS.
18A and 18B, the preceding pair of left and right outer guide pins
6 are dropped in a direction of arrow a1 into the rear end 44c
passing through the difference in level part 44d of the lower
horizontal surface 44b of the pair of left and right horizontal
guide grooves 44, whereas the succeeding pair of left and right
outer guide pins 35 constituting the second locating means enter in
a direction of arrow a below the lower surface 47b of the plate
spring part 47 so that the front end 47a of the plate spring part
47 is pushed upward against the spring force of the plate spring
part 47 by the guiding action of the front end 47a inclined
diagonally forwardly upward of the pair of left and right plate
spring parts 47, and the outer circumferential lower sides of the
pair of left and right outer guide pins 35 are elastically engaged
(fitted) in a direction of arrow a2 in the pair of left and right
guide pin engaging parts 46 which are depressions formed in the
lower horizontal surface 44b of the pair of left and right
horizontal guide grooves 44.
[0061] That is, as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 18A and 18B,
the outer guide pin 35 inserted in a direction of arrow a into the
horizontal guide groove 44 is guided by the front end 47a of the
plate spring part 47 to enter in a direction of arrow a into the
lower part of the front end 47a side of the plate spring part 47,
whereby the front end 47a side of the plate spring part 47 is
flexed about the connecting part 45 side in an upper direction of
arrow e from a position indicated by a chain line to a position
indicated by a solid line against the spring force, and the outer
guide pin 35 is elastically pressed and engaged (fitted) in a
direction of arrow a2 in the guide pin engaging part 46 by the
spring force in a lower direction of arrow f of the plate spring
part 47.
[0062] A series of mounting work of the optical disk drive device 3
or the like into the mounting frame 41 is ended by the above
procedure. The pair of left and right outer guide pins 35 of the
adaptor 32 are engaged (fitted) in the pair of guide pin engaging
parts 46 of the mounting frame 41, longitudinal (in directions of
arrows a and b) of the adaptor 32 with respect to the mounting
frame 41 is carried out, four inner guide pins 34 in total of the
adaptor 32 have been already engaged four vertical guide grooves 37
of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like by the first
locating means 38, and longitudinal (in directions of arrows a and
b) locating of the optical disk drive device 3 or the like with
respect to the adaptor 32 is done, whereby the optical disk drive
device 3 or the like is located with high accuracy and fixed onto
the pair of left and right place beds 43 of the mounting frame
41.
[0063] At this time, since the optical disk drive device 3 or the
like is placed horizontally and located onto the pair of left and
right place beds 43 of the mounting frame 41, no load of the
optical disk drive device 3 is applied to the adaptor 32. Further,
since the direction of arrow a2 which is a downward pressing
direction of the pair of left and right outer guide pins 35 caused
by the pair of left and right plate spring parts 47 acts on the
direction for crimping the adaptor 32 on the upper surface 34 of
the optical disk drive device 3 or the like, the optical disk drive
device 3 or the like can be fixed stably within the mounting frame
41 in a state free from backlash in three directions, i.e.,
longitudinal, lateral and vertical directions.
[0064] Further, needless to say, at the time of mounting the
optical disk drive device 3 or the like into the mounting frame 41,
the pair of left and right side panels 1b of the computer body 1
shown in FIG. 22 need not at all be mounted or dismounted every
time; and in mounting work of the optical disk drive device 3 or
the like into the mounting frame 41, screwing work using a
plurality of stop screw need not at all be done, but the optical
disk drive device 3 or the like can be mounted within the mounting
frame 41 simply by so-called one-touch operation.
[0065] It is noted that when the optical disk drive device 3 or the
like is removed from the mounting frame 41, the procedure reversed
to the aforementioned mounting operation may be carried out. That
is, this can be done by a simple procedure such that the hand is
laid on the pair of left and right gripping parts 33 of the adaptor
32 shown in FIG. 2, the adaptor 32 is pulled out horizontally in a
direction of allow b against the spring force of the pair of left
and right plate spring parts 47 as shown in FIG. 1 from the
mounting frame 41, and afterward, the adaptor 32 is pulled out in a
direction of allow d upward of the optical disk drive device 3 or
the like.
[0066] FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 show a modification of second locating
means. FIG. 19 shows that a guide pin engaging part 46 is
constituted to be a -shaped notch. FIG. 20 shows that a circular
arc guide pin engaging part 46 is vertically inverted to the
extreme end 47a side of the owe surface 37b of the plate spring
part 47 from the lower horizontal surface 44b of the horizontal
guide groove 44, and the outer guide pin 35 is located by the plate
spring part 47 itself. FIG. 21 show that a cam surface 47c inclined
so as to be directed rearward and downward (oblique downward in a
direction of arrow a) is formed on the extreme end 47a side of the
lower surface 47b of the plate spring part 47, and the outer guide
pin 35 is pressed obliquely downward in a direction of allow a by a
component force F2 whereby the outer guide pin 35 is pressed on the
lower horizontal surface 44b of the horizontal guide groove 44 by
the downward component force F2, the adaptor 32 is pressed in a
direction of allow a through the outer guide pin 35 by the
component force F2 in a direction of allow a, and the outer guide
pin 36 on the rear side is pressed and located in a direction of
allow a1 to the rear end 44c of the horizontal guide groove 44.
[0067] While in the foregoing, the preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described, the present invention is not
limited to the above-described embodiments, but various changes can
be made on the basis of the technical idea of the present
invention. For example, the computer peripheral equipment of the
present invention can be applied, other than various electronic
equipment describe in the present specification, to various
electronic equipment that can be used while being mounted on the
computer body.
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