Disc recorder with integral cartridge tape module

Claim 2

An integrated dual data storage device having both rigid disc recording media (20) and a cartridge tape media (32), said integrated storage device comprising: a main support frame (12); a rotary disc drive means (108, 112) supported on said frame; a disc drive hub (118) carrying a rigid disc recording media (20) and coupled to said disc drive for rotation thereby; a read/write head assembly (24) including a support arm (26); a head positioner means (28) supported on said frame (12) and connected to said support arm for moving said head assembly from one selected position to another; said main frame having support structure (100, 44) located and dimensioned to accurately position said disc media and said read/write head; a cover .(14) sealed to said frame and enclosing said disc media; and a cartridge tape recorder having a cartridge-mounting frame (220) supported upon said main frame, said cartridge recorder including a read/write head (232), a rotary tape drive member (280) and a drive means (240-285) operatively connected to said rotary tape drive member for rotatably driving said.member; said main frame (12), cover (14), disc assembly (118, 108, 112) and head assembly (24), and said cartridge recorder (32) together defining a compact, integrated self-supporting unit; said main support frame (12) having means for mounting the integrated unit upon external support means.

Claim 3

An integrated dual data storage device as claimed in Claim 1 which includes: an impeller (134) on said drive hub (118) for moving air along an undersurface of said disc media, said hub defining a plurality of apertures (140, 142) through which air may pass to a top surface of said disc media; a filter plenum (190) on said main frame, said main frame defining a filter inlet aperture (52) opening into said plenum from an area outside the periphery of said disc media, said main frame further defining a filter outlet (56) communicating with said plenum at an area which is swept by said disc media; a high-efficiency filter (92) within said plenum in a flow path between said inlet and outlet apertures; and cross-ambient filter means (160-176) communicating an area adjacent said impeller with atmosphere for . balancing pressure within said enclosure with atmospheric pressure.

Claim 4

An integrated dual data storage device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the drive means for said rotary tape drive member comprises: an arm (250) having a free end (272); means (258) connected to said arm for pivoting said arm to said cartridge frame; means (278) for rotatably supporting said rotary drive member on said arm free end (272); a drive motor (240) supported on said cartridge frame; and belt and pulley means (246, 282, 264, 270; 284, 280) on said drive motor, said arm, and said rotary tape drive member for operatively connecting said drive member to said drive motor.

Claim 5

A disc recorder, comprising: a main support frame (12) having a transverse portion defining a bottom surface and a top surface, said support frame defining a disc spindle support (100) and spaced filter inlet (52) and filter outlet (56) apertures opening through said top and bottom surfaces; a disc hub (118); a spindle (102) and drive means (108, 112) carried on said support frame for rotating said disc hub; a cover (14) sealed to said frame, said cover having an inner surface facing said top surface and in conjunction therewith defining an enclosure (29) within which said disc hub rotates; a filter plenum (90) connecting said apertures; a filter (92) disposed within said plenum; impeller vanes (134) on said disc hub positioned to sweep adjacent said filter outlet aperture, said disc hub having at least one through-passage (140, 142) disposed so that said impeller will force air from the outer periphery of said disc hub generally radially inwardly and through said through-passage to the top of the disc hub, said air flowing in a generally spiral-shaped pattern outwardly from the centre of the hub and to said filter inlet aperture; a plurality of superimposed ribs (58, 60, 62; 72, 74, 76) extending generally radially outwardly with respect to the centre portion of the disc hub, said ribs being located on said top surface and said cover inner surface, said ribs extending above and below said disc hub to concentrate and layer said flow of air close to the surface of a rigid disc media (20) carried on and rotating with said hub.

Claim 6

A disc recorder, comprising: a main support frame (12) having a transverse portion defining a bottom surface and a top surface, said support frame defining a disc spindle support (100) and spaced filter inlet (52) and filter outlet (56) apertures opening through said top and bottom surfaces; a disc hub (118); a spindle (102) and drive means (108, 112) carried on said support frame for rotating said disc hub; a cover (14) sealed to said frame, said cover having an inner surface facing said top surface and in conjunction therewith defining an enclosure (29) within which said disc hub rotates; a filter plenum (90) connecting said apertures; a filter (92) disposed within said plenum; impeller vanes (134) on said disc hub positioned to sweep adjacent said filter outlet aperture, said disc hub having at least one through-passage (140, 142) disposed so that said impeller will force air from the outer periphery of said disc hub generally radially inwardly and through said through-passage to the top of the disc hub, said air flowing in a generally spiral-shaped pattern outwardly from the centre of the hub and to said filter inlet aperture; a plurality of superimposed ribs (58, 60, 62; 72, 74, 76) extending generally radially outwardly with respect to the centre portion of the disc hub, said ribs being located on said top surface and said cover inner surface, said ribs extending above and below said disc hub to concentrate and layer said flow of air close to the surface of a rigid disc media (20) carried on and rotating with said hub.

Claim 7

A disc recorder as claimed in Claim 4 which includes: a filter cartridge (162) supported on said frame bottom surface and containing a filter medium, said filter cartridge including an inlet (164) open to atmosphere; and an outlet tube (168) connected to said cartridge,' said tube penetrating (170) said support frame transverse portion, extending along said top surface and terminating (176) adjacent said impeller whereby atmospheric pressure may be directed to a low-pressure area at said disc to raise such pressure and balance the pressure within said enclosure with atmospheric pressure.

Claim 8

A disc recorder as claimed in Claim 5 in which one (60) of said ribs defines a groove (174) and said outlet tube is disposed at least partially within said groove.

Claim 9

A disc recorder as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which said ribs have a generally truncated V shape in cross section and extend radially inwardly towards the centre of the disc hub from points outside the periphery of the disc medium.

Claim 10

A disc recorder as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 7 in which said disc hub includes a plurality of through-passages (140, 142), each passage positioned adjacent an inward terminal portion of said impeller vanes.

Claim 11

A disc recorder as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 8 which includes: a self-contained tape cartridge recorder (18) secured to said support frame, said cartridge recorder including: a drive motor (240); a tape drive capstan (228); and means (240-285)_ for rotatably supporting said capstan and operatively connecting said capstan to said drive motor.

Claim 12

A hard disc recorder including a main support frame (12) defining a generally transverse'support plane having an upper surface, a cover (14) sealed to said frame to define an enclosure (29), disc drive means including a disc hub (118) supporting a disc media (20) and mounted to said frame for rotating said hard disc media within said enclosure, disc read/ write heads (24) and head-positioner arm means (26) within said enclosure for moving said heads across said disc, characterised by: a main filter plenum (90) supported by said frame, said frame defining spaced inlet (52) and outlet (66) apertures opening through said support plane and into said plenum; filter material (92) within said plenum and between said inlet and outlet apertures; an impeller on an underside of said disc hub, said impeller including a plurality of vanes (134) configured to move air inwardly towards the centre of said disc hub, said hub defining a plurality of openings (140, 142) extending therethrough for transferring air from beneath the disc to the top of the disc; and cross-ambient filter means (160-176) communicating said enclosure with atmosphere for balancing the pressure within said enclosure with atmospheric pressure.

Claim 13

A hard disc recorder including a main support frame (12) defining a generally transverse'support plane having an upper surface, a cover (14) sealed to said frame to define an enclosure (29), disc drive means including a disc hub (118) supporting a disc media (20) and mounted to said frame for rotating said hard disc media within said enclosure, disc read/ write heads (24) and head-positioner arm means (26) within said enclosure for moving said heads across said disc, characterised by: a main filter plenum (90) supported by said frame, said frame defining spaced inlet (52) and outlet (66) apertures opening through said support plane and into said plenum; filter material (92) within said plenum and between said inlet and outlet apertures; an impeller on an underside of said disc hub, said impeller including a plurality of vanes (134) configured to move air inwardly towards the centre of said disc hub, said hub defining a plurality of openings (140, 142) extending therethrough for transferring air from beneath the disc to the top of the disc; and cross-ambient filter means (160-176) communicating said enclosure with atmosphere for balancing the pressure within said enclosure with atmospheric pressure.

Claim 14

A hard disc recorder as claimed in Claim 10 which includes: a plurality of ribs (58, 60, 62; 72, 74, 76) within said enclosure and facing each side of said hard disc media for keeping air which is moving across said disc media close to the surface of said disc.

Claim 15

A hard disc recorder as claimed in Claim 11 in which said frame and said cover each/define a generally circular rib (64, 80), each circular rib having a cutout portion (66, 84), said circular ribs being superimposed with. respect to one another and disposed on opposed sides of said disc media.

Claim 16

A tape drive for a cartridge recorder, comprising: a frame (220); a drive motor (240) having an output (244) mounted on said frame; an elongated arm (250); shaft means (262) for rotatably mounting one end (254) of said arm to said frame; capstan means (228) including a capstan shaft (276) rotatably mounted on another end (272) of said arm for engaging a tape and driving same; spring means (285) on said frame for biasing said arm towards a front face of said frame; and belt and pulley means (246, 282, 264, 270, 284, 280) for operatively connecting said drive motor output to said capstan shaft.

Claim 17

A tape drive for a cartridge recorder, comprising: a frame (220); a drive motor (240) having an output (244) mounted on said frame; an elongated arm (250); shaft means (262) for rotatably mounting one end (254) of said arm to said frame; capstan means (228) including a capstan shaft (276) rotatably mounted on another end (272) of said arm for engaging a tape and driving same; spring means (285) on said frame for biasing said arm towards a front face of said frame; and belt and pulley means (246, 282, 264, 270, 284, 280) for operatively connecting said drive motor output to said capstan shaft.

Claim 18

A tape drive as claimed in Claim 13 in which the belt and pulley means comprises: a drive pulley (246) on said motor output; an input pulley (264) on said shaft means (262); an output pulley (270) on said shaft means; a capstan pulley (280) on said capstan shaft; a first endless belt (282) encircling said drive pulley and said input pulley; and a second endless belt (284) encircling said output pulley and said capstan pulley.