U.S. patent application number 09/920004 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-06 for disk carrier.
Invention is credited to Blankenbeckler, David L., Dunford, William W.A., Kumar, Rene D., Medower, Brian S..
Application Number | 20030024887 09/920004 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25443004 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030024887 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dunford, William W.A. ; et
al. |
February 6, 2003 |
Disk carrier
Abstract
A carrier for storing and transporting disks, includes grooves
in the sidewalls of the carrier for aligning disks. A top cover
used with the carrier includes at least one longitudinal, downward
extending support, which contacts the outside diameter of any disks
held in the grooves in the carrier when the top cover is attached
to the carrier. A bottom cover similarly includes at least one
longitudinal, upward extending support that contacts the outside
diameter of any disks held in the grooves in the carrier when the
bottom cover is attached to the carrier. The top cover and the
bottom cover apply minimal pressure to the disks, but
advantageously serve to secure the disks within the carrier.
Inventors: |
Dunford, William W.A.;
(Boulder, CO) ; Kumar, Rene D.; (Lafayette,
CO) ; Blankenbeckler, David L.; (Longmont, CO)
; Medower, Brian S.; (Boulder, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stee Volk
Chairman of the Board - DataPlay, Inc.
2560 55th Street
Boulder
CO
80301-5706
US
|
Family ID: |
25443004 |
Appl. No.: |
09/920004 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/41.18 ;
206/454; G9B/33.014; G9B/33.019 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/0444 20130101;
G11B 33/0472 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/41.18 ;
206/454 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for holding disks, said apparatus comprising: a
carrier having two sidewalls adjoining two endwalls and a top
opening, said carrier having a plurality of grooves for receiving
disks on said two sidewalls; and a top cover having at least one
downwardly extending support extending in a longitudinal direction
on said top cover, said at least one downwardly extending support
contacts the outside diameter of disks positioned in said
grooves.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top cover has two
downwardly extending supports.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said two downwardly extending
supports are beveled.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top cover has two end
portions that fit over said endwalls of said carrier.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said top cover has a
downwardly extending lip that fits over said sidewalls of said
carrier.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier has a bottom
opening, said apparatus further comprising: a bottom cover having
at least one upwardly extending support extending in a longitudinal
direction on said bottom cover, said at least one upwardly
extending support contacts the outside diameter of disks positioned
in said grooves.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said bottom cover has two
upwardly extending supports.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said bottom cover has a raised
portion that fits into said bottom opening.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one downwardly
extending support is flexible.
10. An apparatus for holding disks, said apparatus comprising: a
carrier having two sidewalls adjoining two endwalls a top opening
and a bottom opening, said carrier having a plurality of grooves
for receiving disks on said two sidewalls; and a bottom cover
having at least one upwardly extending support extending in a
longitudinal direction on said bottom cover, said at least one
upwardly extending support contacts the outside diameter of disks
positioned in said grooves.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said bottom cover has two
upwardly extending supports.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said two upwardly extending
supports are beveled.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said bottom cover has a
raised portion that fits into said bottom opening.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a top cover
having at least one downwardly extending support extending in a
longitudinal direction on said top cover, said at least one
downwardly extending support contacts the outside diameter of disks
positioned in said grooves.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said top cover has two
downwardly extending supports.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said top cover has two end
portions that fit over said endwalls of said carrier.
17. An apparatus for holding disks, said apparatus comprising: a
carrier having a plurality of grooves for receiving disks; and a
top cover having a first longitudinal support extending in a
downward direction; a bottom cover having a second longitudinal
support extending in an upward direction; wherein said first
longitudinal support and said second longitudinal support extend
sufficiently to contact the outside diameter of disks positioned in
said grooves in said carrier, wherein disks positioned in said
grooves are supported by said first longitudinal support and said
second longitudinal support.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said top cover has said
first longitudinal support and a third longitudinal support
extending in a downward direction.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said bottom cover has said
second longitudinal support and a fourth longitudinal support
extending in an upward direction.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first longitudinal
support and said second longitudinal support extend longitudinally
over all of said plurality of grooves.
21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first longitudinal
support and said second longitudinal support a re beveled.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a container for storing and
transporting disks and, in particular, to a container that prevents
movement of the media without deflecting or damaging the media.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0004] Disks are typically used as storage media, including
magnetic, optical, and magneto-optical storage. The disks are
typically made of aluminum, glass or plastic and are subjected to
many processing steps. The disks must be transported from place of
manufacturer to processing facilities and must be transported
within such processing facilities. It is important that the disks
are transported in a manner that will minimize damage and
contamination of the disks. Typically disks are transported in
plastic containers adapted for providing a generally sealed
enclosure along with providing secure retention and cushioning for
the disks.
[0005] At present the disks are transported in a hard plastic
container having spaced-apart interior ridges which curve inward
toward the bottom of the container to capture a portion of the edge
of magnetic hard disks on opposite sides to keep the disks
separated from each other. These containers also have open top and
bottom sides, as well as partially open ends to facilitate loading
of a full complement of disks into the container without the disks
coming into contact with each other during that process. Disks are
loaded into the container by pressing the disks between the
interior ridges. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the ridges 10
used in a conventional container and shows a portion of a disk 12
pressed between ridges 10a and 10b. Conventionally, the width of
the groove formed between ridges 10a and 10b is slightly narrower
than the width of the disk. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when a
disk 12 is pressed between ridges, a force, shown as arrows 14,
compresses the width of the disk at the outside diameter of the
disk. Consequently, the disk 10 is secured within the container.
Once the disks are loaded into the container, a bottom cover, and
combined top and end cap cover are snapped in place on the
container. Typically, the top cover includes spaced-apart inwardly
projecting tabs that are positioned to correspond to the internal
ridges of the container, which also fit on opposite sides of the
edge of each disk at the top of the container.
[0006] There are several problems introduced by the conventional
container design, particularly with non-conventional disks, e.g.,
small form factor disks manufactured from a soft material. For
example, securing the disks by the outer edge during transit, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, has the potential for damaging the outer
most tracks on the top and bottom surfaces of the disks. This is
particularly true for a disk manufactured with a soft substrate.
Further, the conventional design of the top cover requires that the
inwardly projecting tabs from the top cover also exert a
compressive force on the width of the disks to assure proper
retention.
[0007] Thus, what is needed is a container that will securely hold
disks for storage and transport without compressing the width of
the disk so as to avoid damage to the disks.
SUMMARY
[0008] A carrier for storing and transporting disks uses a top
cover and a bottom cover to support the disks. The carrier includes
grooves in the sidewalls that provide alignment and spacing for the
disks but that does not compress the disk. Thus, a disk
manufactured from a soft substrate can be stored and transported in
the carrier without being damaged.
[0009] The top cover for the carrier includes at least one
longitudinal, downward extending support that contacts the outside
diameter of any disks held in the grooves in the carrier when the
top cover is attached to the carrier. Two downward extending
supports, each offset from the center of the top cover may be used.
The longitudinal downward extending support applies minimal
pressure to edge of the disks, but advantageously serves to secure
the disks within the carrier.
[0010] The bottom cover for the carrier includes at least one
longitudinal, upward extending support that contacts the outside
diameter of any disks held in the grooves in the carrier when the
bottom cover is attached to the carrier. As with the downward
extending supports, two upward extending supports that are offset
from the center of the bottom cover may be used and provide minimal
pressure to the disks, but advantageously serve to secure the disks
within the carrier.
[0011] With the use of the top and bottom covers with longitudinal
supports, the disks may be securely held and transported with no
compression along the width of the disks and only minimal
compression along the edge of the disks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the ridges in a
conventional container using compressive force to secure a
disk.
[0013] FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are respective isometric, end, and top
views of a carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the area A circled in FIG. 4,
showing a closer view of the grooves.
[0015] FIGS. 6 and 7 are respective isometric and end views of a
top cover that is used with carrier.
[0016] FIGS. 8 and 9 are respective isometric and end views of a
bottom cover that is used with carrier.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the carrier along line
B-B in FIG. 4, with the top cover and bottom cover attached and
holding a disk.
[0018] FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C show cross-sectional views of
alternative embodiments of the carrier with top and bottom
covers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are respective isometric, end, and top
views of a carrier 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. Carrier 100 is used to hold and protect a
plurality of disks, such as magnetic, optical, or magneto-optical
hard disks, as well as wafers for manufacture of semiconductors and
the like. In particular, carrier 100 is useful to hold and protect
disks made with a soft substrate or where minimal compression of
the disk is otherwise desirable.
[0020] For example, a small form factor disk that is manufactured
with polycarbonate substrate is described in detail in U.S. patent
application entitled "Removable Optical Storage Device and System",
by Michael F. Braitberg, et al., filed May 20, 1999, Ser. No.
09/315,398, and U.S. patent application entitled "Miniature Optical
Disk for Data Storage" by Medower et al. filed Apr. 28, 2000, Ser.
No. 09/560,781, which are assigned to the same assignee and are
incorporated herein by reference. The polycarbonate material
deforms easily and thus a disk manufactured from a polycarbonate
substrate will be damaged if stored in a conventional carrier.
Carrier 100, in accordance with the present invention, supports a
disk with no compression. The carrier provides only basic spacing
of disks and contacts only the disk edge. Thus, the carrier may be
used to hold a disk manufactured from a soft substrate, such as
that described in Ser. No. 09/560,781, without damaging the outside
track of the disk.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, carrier 100 includes an open
top 102 and an open bottom 104, sidewalls 106 and a plurality of
grooves 108 in the sidewalls 106. Each groove 108 is configured to
hold a disk by contacting only the edge of the outside diameter of
the disk. Any desired number of grooves 108 may be used, for
example, between 20 and 60, and more specifically 42 and 46. The
carrier 100 also includes endwalls 110, which are adjacent to the
sidewalls 106, a top surface 112 that extends around the sidewalls
106 and the endwalls 110, and a bottom surface 113 on the endwalls
110. Endwalls 110 include holes 110a, which are used to secure a
bottom cover (shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) to carrier 100. The endwalls
110 also include a "U-shaped" recess 114, which aid in loading and
unloading the carrier 100.
[0022] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the area A circled in FIG. 4.
FIG. 5 shows a closer view of grooves 108, which support disks from
the outside diameter of the disks so as to avoid compression of the
disks. Grooves 108 provide basic spacing between disks. which
support the outside diameter of the disks without compression. Each
groove 108 includes a valley 122 with a peak 124 on either side.
The grooves 108, as defined by the valleys 122 and peaks 124, run
from the top surface 112 to the open bottom 104, shown in FIGS. 2,
3 and 4.
[0023] The dimensions of the groove 108 should be adequate to
support a desired disk without compression. For example, assuming a
disk formed using a polycarbonate substrate and having an outside
diameter of 32 mm and a thickness of 0.6 mm, groove 108 may have
the following dimensions. The valley 122 has a width W.sub.122 of
approximately 0.762 mm, the peak 124 has a width W.sub.124 of
approximately 1.30 mm, and sidewall 122a is at an angle .alpha. of
approximately 115.degree. with the valley 122. Because the width
W.sub.122 of the groove is greater than the thickness of the disk,
the disk is not compressed. The grooves 108 are spaced apart by a
distance d.sub.108 of approximately 3.48 mm. Of course, if desired
other dimensions may be used, particularly if any of the dimensions
of the disk are altered.
[0024] FIGS. 6 and 7 are respective isometric and end views of a
top cover 150 that is used with carrier 100. Top cover 150 includes
a top portion 152 and downwardly extending end portions 154, which
include flanges 155. The perimeter of the top portion 152 includes
a downwardly extending lip 156. In addition, top cover 150 includes
two downwardly projecting supports 158, which extend longitudinally
along the top cover 150, e.g., from one end portion 154 to the
other end portion 154. Supports 158 are positioned between the
edges of the top portion 152 and the center of the top portion 152.
Top cover 150 is manufactured from a suitable plastic, such a
polypropylene homopolymer, model no. Pro-Fax 6331, manufactured by
Montell, located in Wilmington Del., or other similar material.
[0025] When top cover 150 is pressed on to carrier 100, the end
portions 154 extend over the endwalls 110 of the carriage. Flanges
155 on end portions 154 latch onto the bottom surface 113 of
endwalls 110 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) to provide a secure
connection between carrier 100 and top cover 150. The downwardly
extending lip 156 of the top cover 150 extends over the perimeter
of the top surface 112 of carrier 100 to make a sealing connection
with the carrier 100.
[0026] When top cover 150 is pressed on to carrier 100, the
longitudinally extending supports 158 press against the outside
diameters of any disks held in the carrier 100. Thus, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, the disks held in
carrier 100 are aligned and spaced by grooves 108, but are held in
placed by the longitudinal supports 158. Advantageously,
longitudinal supports 158 place no compression along the thickness
of the disks and only a minimal compression along edge of the
disks. While FIG. 6 shows supports 158 extending to and contacting
end portions 154, it should be understood that supports 158 need
not contact end portions 154, but should extend at least over all
the grooves 108 so that all the disks held in the container 100
will be in contact with supports 158. Because the supports 158
extend in a longitudinal direction, there is no need to align
supports 158 with disks held in carrier 100. In addition, the
downwardly projecting supports 158 advantageously provide rigidity
to top cover 150.
[0027] The distance that supports 158 extend downward is determined
by several factors including their distance from the center of the
top cover 150, the depth of the carrier 100 and the radius of
curvature of the disks being held in the carrier 100. In one
embodiment, the supports 158 extend downwardly from the top portion
152 by a distance D.sub.158 of approximately 9.149 mm and have a
thickness T.sub.158 of approximately 1.57 mm. In one embodiment,
the supports 158 are beveled, e.g., by 16 degrees, to minimize
contact area with any disks held in carrier 100 and reduce the
amount of force exerted on the disk by allowing easier deflection
of the support 158. The lip 156 of top cover 150 may extend
downward by a distance D.sub.156 of approximately 3.18 mm. Of
course, if desired top cover 150 may have other dimensions.
Further, if desired one longitudinally extending support that
extends downwardly from the center of the top surface 152 may be
used in place of the two supports 158 shown in FIG. 6.
[0028] FIGS. 8 and 9 are respective isometric and end views of a
bottom cover 180 that is used with carrier 100. Bottom cover 180
includes a bottom plate 182 and a raised portion 184 on the bottom
plate 182. Raised portion 184 fits into bottom opening 104 of
carrier 100 to make a sealing connection with the carrier 100.
Bottom cover 180 also includes tabs 186, which include pegs 188.
When bottom cover 180 is pressed onto carrier 100, pegs 188 snap
fit into holes 110a in the endwalls 110 of carrier 100 thereby
securing bottom cover 180 to carrier 100. Bottom cover 180 includes
notches 183 at the ends of bottom plate 182 to accommodate the
bottom of end portions 154 of the top cover 150. Bottom cover 180
may be manufactured from the same material as described in
reference to top cover 150.
[0029] Bottom cover 180 includes upwardly extending supports 190
that extend longitudinally on the raised portion 184. When bottom
cover 180 is connected to carrier 100, supports 190 extend into the
bottom opening 104 of carrier 100 and press against the outside
diameters of any disks held in the carrier 100. Thus, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, the disks held in
carrier 100 are aligned by grooves 108, but are supported by the
upwardly projecting supports 190. In accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention, the upwardly projecting
supports 190 and the downwardly projecting supports 158 are used
together. Thus, the disks are supported between supports 158 on the
top cover 150 and supports 190 on the bottom cover 180. Thus, the
disks basically float between the supports 158 and 190 within the
carrier with minimal compressive force being asserted along the
diameter of the disk and no compressive force being asserted along
the thickness of the disk. In another embodiment, bottom cover 180
may not have supports 190, and thus, disks are supported between
the bottom of the grooves 108 and the supports 158 on the top cover
150.
[0030] As with the downwardly extending supports 158, the distance
that supports 190 extend upward is determined by several factors
including their distance from the center of the bottom cover 180,
the depth of the bottom opening 104 of carrier 100 and the radius
of curvature of the disks being held in the carrier 100. In one
embodiment, the supports 190 extend upward above the raised portion
184 a distance D.sub.190 which is approximately 3.25 mm and the
raised portion 184 extends above the bottom plate 182 by a distance
D.sub.182 by approximately 2.0 mm. In one embodiment, supports 190
are beveled by approximately seventeen degrees to minimize contact
area with the disks in carrier 100. Of course, if desired bottom
cover 180 may have other dimensions. Moreover, the bottom cover 180
may have additional features. For example, a break in the upwardly
extending supports 190 may be used to accommodate a bottom brace,
e.g., between the sidewalls 106 in the bottom opening 104 of
carrier 100, if used. Further, if desired one longitudinally
extending support that extends upwardly from the center of the
raised portion 184 may be used in place of the two supports 190
shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0031] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of carrier 100 at line B-B
in FIG. 4, with top cover 150 and bottom cover 180 attached to the
carrier 100 and a disk 200 held in carrier 100. As shown in FIG.
10, disk 200 is aligned by grooves 108 along a portion of the
outside diameter of disk 200 and is supported between downwardly
projecting supports 158 and upwardly projecting supports 190. Thus,
disk 200 is securely held within carrier 100 by a plurality of
support points and does not rely on contact with groove 108 to
secure the disks. Compression is minimized by the deflecting
longitudinal supports. FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C show cross-sectional
views of alternative embodiments of the carrier with top and bottom
covers, similar to FIG. 10, like designated elements being the
same. As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the top cover 350 may have only
one longitudinal support 358, while the bottom cover 180 has two
longitudinal supports 190. As shown in FIG. 11B, the bottom cover
380 may have only one longitudinal support 390 while the top cover
150 has two longitudinal supports 158. In another embodiment, shown
in FIG. 11C, both the top cover 450 and bottom cover 480 have one
longitudinal support 458 and 490, respectively, which may be offset
from the center of the covers. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11C, the disk
200 is supported between the longitudinal supports 458 and 490 as
well as the sidewall 492 of the groove 108.
[0032] Although the present invention is illustrated in connection
with specific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present
invention is not limited thereto. Various adaptations and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention. The broad principles of this invention may be used with
a carrier for any type of disk, whether the disk is optical,
magnetic-optical or magnetic or a substrate used in semiconductor
manufacturing. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended
claims should not be limited to the foregoing description.
* * * * *