Disk driving motor and chucking mechanism for disk drive apparatus

Abstract

A disk drive apparatus includes a spindle for engagement with a central hole of a disk hub of a magnetic disk, a rotary member fixed to the spindle, a chucking magnet provided on the rotary member for attracting the disk hub, and a chucking lever pivotally provided on the rotary member which comes at its one end into engagement with a drive hole formed in the disk hub to rotate the disk. When the chucking lever is not chucking the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about its pivot support point within a given angle, but its movement in the axial direction of the spindle is prevented. The pivot support point section is provided with a disengagement preventive lever which acts in relation to the rotary member to prevent the chucking lever from disengaging from the rotary member.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. In a disk driving motor having a rotatable spindle for insertion through a central hole of a disk hub of a disk which is to be rotated by the disk driving motor, the disk hub having a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk driving motor comprising: 
       a rotary member attached to the spindle for rotation with the spindle; and  
       a chucking mechanism including: a chucking lever, said chucking lever pivotally attached to said rotary member for limited movement parallel to a plane containing a portion of a surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub, but no movement perpendicular to said plane; a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever and extending perpendicular to said plane beyond said portion of the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub; said chucking lever including a first disengagement preventative member;  
       said rotary member including a second disengagement preventive member engaged with said first disengagement preventative member so as to prevent said chucking lever from disengaging from said rotary member.  
     
     
       2. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said one end of said chucking lever is a first end of said chucking lever, said chucking lever also having a second end, and said chucking lever is pivotally attached to said rotary member betwen said first and second ends. 
     
     
       3. The motor of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       means for forcing the disk toward said surface of said rotary member.  
     
     
       4. The motor of  claim 3 , wherein said means for forcing is a chucking magnetic , attached to said surface of said rotary member, for magnetically attracting the disk hub. 
     
     
       5. The motor of  claim 4 , wherein said chucking magnet is annular and includes a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge, and said chucking lever is located radially within the radially inner edge of said chucking magnet. 
     
     
       6. The motor of  claim 4 , wherein a first surface of said chucking magnet is attached to said rotary member, and a second surface of said chucking magnetic , facing opposite from said first surface, has a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
       7. The motor of  claim 6 , wherein said portion of the surface of said rotary member which contacts the disk hub has a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
       8. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said portion of the surface of said rotary member which contacts the disk hub has a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
       9. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said rotary member is a rotor of said motor, and includes a magnetic portion for co-acting with a stator to cause said rotor and spindle to rotate. 
     
     
       10. The motor of  claim 9 , wherein said rotor is an iron plate having a thickness of about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
       11. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said drive pin extends beyond said portion of said surface of said rotary member which contacts the disk hub by no more than 0.7 mm. 
     
     
       12. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein a planar surface of said drive pin extends in a plane which is at an angle of 2°±1.5° to a plane containing said portion of said surface of said rotary member which contacts the disk hub. 
     
     
       13. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said drive pin includes a groove, slidably engaged with a guide portion of said rotary member, for permitting said pin to move parallel to, but not perpendicular to, said plane containing said portion of said surface of said rotary member which contacts the disk hub. 
     
     
       14. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said first disengagement preventive member is a disengagement preventive lever unitary with said chucking lever, and said second disengagement preventative member is a pawl attached to said rotary member and engaged with said disengagement preventing lever. 
     
     
       15. The motor of  claim 14 , wherein said pawl is unitary with said rotary member. 
     
     
       16. The motor of  claim 1 , further comprising a first engagement structure located at said one end of said chucking lever, and a second engagement structure located on said rotary member, said first and second engagement structures engaging each other and permitting said chucking lever to move parallel to said plane while preventing said chucking lever from moving perpendicular to said plane. 
     
     
       17. The motor of  claim 16 , wherein said first engagement structure is located at said drive pin. 
     
     
       18. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said rotary member includes a slot, said chucking lever extends over said slot and protrudes into said slot, so that said slot limits said movement of said chucking lever parallel to said plane by contact of said chucking lever with edges of said slot. 
     
     
       19. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of said spindle includes a groove, and said rotary member is injection molded around said spindle so that portions of said rotary member extend into said groove of said spindle. 
     
     
       20. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said drive pin is spaced from said one end of said chucking lever. 
     
     
       21. The motor of  claim 1 , wherein said chucking lever is pivotally attached to a side of said rotary member opposite from said portion of the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub, said drive pin extending through an aperture in said rotary member beyond said portion of the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub. 
     
     
       22. A disk driving motor assembly for use in a disk drive apparatus, for rotating a disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk driving motor assembly comprising: 
       a spindle for engagement with the central hole of the disk hub;  
       a rotary member fixed to said spindle for rotation of said rotary member with said spindle, said rotary member having a planar surface;  
       a chucking lever pivotally provided on said planar surface of said rotary member, and having a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever for engagement with the drive hole in the disk hub;  
       said rotary member having a slot extending through a portion of said planar surface, said chucking lever extending over and permanently protruding into said slot so that edges of said slot limit movement of said chucking lever in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of said spindle;  
       wherein when said drive pin of said chucking lever is not engaged with the drive hole of the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about a pivot support point within a given angle but is prevented from shifting in said axial direction of said spindle, said chucking lever being provided with a disengagement preventive mechanism engaged with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member.  
     
     
       23. The disk drive motor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said rotary member is a rotor of a spindle motor for rotating the disk, and includes a magnetic portion for co-acting with a stator to cause said rotor and spindle to rotate. 
     
     
       24. The disk driving motor assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a chucking magnet provided on said planar surface of said rotary member for magnetically attracting the disk hub. 
     
     
       25. The disk driving motor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein an outer surface of said spindle includes a groove, and said rotary member is injection molded around said spindle so that portions of said rotary member extend into said groove of said spindle. 
     
     
       26. The disk driving motor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said drive pin is spaced from said one end of said chucking lever. 
     
     
       27. The disk driving motor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said drive pin extends through said slot. 
     
     
       28. A disk drive apparatus for performing signal recording and reproducing on a disk accommodated in a cartridge, said disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk drive apparatus having a disk drive motor assembly including: 
       a spindle for engagement with the central hole of the disk hub;  
       a rotary member fixed to said spindle for rotation of said rotary member with said spindle, said rotary member having a planar surface;  
       a chucking lever pivotally provided on said planar surface of said rotary member, and having a drive pin near one end of said chucking lever for engagement with the drive hole in the disk hub;  
       said rotary member having a slot extending through a portion of said planar surface, said chucking lever extending over and permanently protruding into said slot so that edges of said slot limit movement of said chucking lever in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of said spindle;  
       wherein when said drive pin of said chucking lever is not engaged with the drive hole of the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about a pivot support point within a given angle but is prevented from shifting in said axial direction of said spindle, said chucking lever being provided with a disengagement preventive mechanism engaged with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member.  
     
     
       29. A disk drive apparatus for performing a signal recording said reproducing on a disk accommodated in a cartridge, said disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk drive apparatus having a disk drive motor including: 
       a rotary member attached to the spindle for rotation with the spindle; and  
       a chucking mechanism including: a chucking lever, said chucking lever pivotally attached to said rotary member for limited movement parallel to a plane containing a portion of a surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub, but no movement perpendicular to said plane; a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever and extending perpendicular to said plane beyond said portion of the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub; said chucking lever including a first disengagement preventative member;  
       said rotary member including a second disengagement preventative member engaged with said first disengagement preventative member so as to prevent said chucking lever from disengaging from said rotary member.  
     
     
       30. A disk driving motor assembly for use in a disk drive apparatus, for rotating a disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk driving motor assembly comprising: 
       a spindle for engagement with the central hole of the disk hub;  
       a rotary member fixed to said spindle for rotation of said rotary member with said spindle, said rotary member having a planar surface;  
       a chucking lever pivotally provided on said planar surface of said rotary member, and having a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever for engagement with the drive hole in the disk hub;  
       wherein when said drive pin of said chucking lever is not engaged with the drive hole of the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about a pivot support point within a given angle but is prevented from shifting in an axial direction of said spindle, said chucking lever being provided with a disengagement preventive mechanism engaged with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member, without the need for a separate clamp extending over substantially the entire surface of said chucking lever.  
     
     
       31. The disk drive motor assembly of  claim 30 , wherein said disengagement preventative mechanism includes a disengagement preventative projection on said chucking lever that is engageable with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member in said axial direction of said spindle. 
     
     
       32. The disk drive motor assembly of  claim 30 , wherein said rotary member has a slot extending through a portion of said planar surface, said chucking lever extending over and permanently protruding into said slot so that edges of said slot limit movement of said chucking lever in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said spindle. 
     
     
       33. The disk drive motor assembly of  claim 30 , wherein said chucking lever is pivotally attached to a side of said rotary member opposite from a portion of the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub, said drive pin extending through an aperture in said rotary member beyond said portion of the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub so that contact between edges of said aperture and said drive pin limits movement of said chucking lever in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said spindle. 
     
     
       34. A disk driving motor assembly for use in a disk drive apparatus, for rotating a disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk driving motor assembly comprising: 
       a spindle for engagement with the central hole of the disk hub;  
       a rotary member fixed to said spindle for rotation of said rotary member with said spindle, said rotary member having a planar surface;  
       a chucking lever pivotally provided on said planar surface of said rotary member, and having a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever for engagement with the drive hole in the disk hub, said rotary member extending over substantially the entirety of only one side of said chucking lever;  
       wherein when said drive pin of said chucking lever is not engaged with the drive hole of the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about a pivot support point within a given angle but is prevented from shifting in an axial direction of said spindle, said chucking lever being provided with a disengagement preventative mechanism engaged with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member.  
     
     
       35. The disk drive motor assembly of  claim 34 , wherein said disengagement preventative mechanism includes a disengagement preventative projection on said chucking lever that is engageable with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member in said axial direction of said spindle. 
     
     
       36. The disk drive motor assembly of  claim 34 , wherein said rotary member has a slot extending through a portion of said planar surface, said chucking lever extending over and permanently protruding into said slot so that edges of said slot limit movement of said chucking lever in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said spindle. 
     
     
       37. The disk drive motor assembly of  claim 34 , wherein said chucking lever is pivotally attached to a side of said rotary member opposite from a portion of the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub, said drive pin extending through an aperture in said rotary member beyond said portion of said the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub so that contact between edges of said aperture and said drive pin limits movement of said chucking lever in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said spindle. 
     
     
       38. A disk driving motor assembly for use in a disk drive apparatus, for rotating a disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk driving motor assembly comprising: 
       a spindle for engagement with the central hole of the disk hub;  
       a rotary member fixed to said spindle for rotation of said rotary member with said spindle, said rotary member having a planar surface;  
       a chucking lever pivotally provided on said planar surface of said rotary member, and having a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever for engagement with the drive hole in the disk hub;  
       wherein when said drive pin of said chucking lever is not engaged with the drive hole of the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about a pivot support point within a given angle but is prevented from shifting in an axial direction of said spindle, said chucking lever including a disengagement preventive projection engageable with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member in said axial direction.  
     
     
       39. The disk drive motor assembly of  claim 38 , wherein said rotary member has a slot extending through a portion of said planar surface, said chucking lever extending over and permanently protruding into said slot so that edges of said slot limit movement of said chucking lever in a direction perpendicularly to said axial direction of said spindle. 
     
     
       40. A disk drive apparatus for performing signal recording and reproducing on a disk accommodated in a cartridge, said disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk drive apparatus having a disk drive motor assembly, including: 
       a spindle for engagement with the central hole of the disk hub;  
       a rotary member fixed to said spindle for rotation of said rotary member with said spindle, said rotary member having a planar surface;  
       a chucking lever pivotally provided on said planar surface of said rotary member, and having a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever for engagement with the drive hole in the disk hub;  
       wherein when said drive pin of said chucking lever is not engaged with the drive hole of the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about a pivot support point within a given angle but is prevented from shifting in an axial direction of said spindle, said chucking lever being provided with a disengagement preventive mechanism engaged with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member, without the need for a separate clamp extending over substantially the entire surface of said chucking lever.  
     
     
       41. A disk drive apparatus for performing signal recording and reproducing on a disk accommodated in a cartridge, said disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk drive apparatus having a disk drive motor assembly comprising: 
       a spindle for engagement with the central hole of the disk hub;  
       a rotary member fixed to said spindle for rotation of said rotary member with said spindle, said rotary member having a planar surface;  
       a chucking lever pivotally provided on said planar surface of said rotary member, and having a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever for engagement with the drive hole in the disk hub, said rotary member extending over substantially the entirety of only one side of said chucking lever;  
       wherein when said drive pin of said chucking lever is not engaged with the drive hole of the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about a pivot support point within a given angle but is prevented from shifting in an axial direction of said spindle, said chucking lever being provided with a disengagement preventative mechanism engaged with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member.  
     
     
       42. A disk drive apparatus for performing signal recording and reproducing on a disk accommodated in a cartridge, said disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk drive apparatus having a disk drive motor assembly including: 
       a spindle for engagement with the central hole of the disk hub;  
       a rotary member fixed to said spindle for rotation of said rotary member with said spindle, said rotary member having a planar surface;  
       a chucking lever pivotally provided on said planar surface of said rotary member, and having a drive pin located near one end of said chucking lever for engagement with the drive hole in the disk hub;  
       wherein when said drive pin of said chucking lever is not engaged with the drive hole of the disk, the chucking lever is pivotal about a pivot support point within a given angle but is prevented from shifting in an axial direction of said spindle, said chucking lever including a disengagement preventive projection engageable with said rotary member to prevent said chucking lever from separating from said rotary member in said axial direction.  
     
     
       43. A disk drive apparatus for performing signal recording and reproducing on a disk accommodated in a cartridge, said disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk drive apparatus having a disk drive motor including: 
       
         a rotary member attached to a spindle for rotation with the spindle; and  
       
       
         a chucking mechanism including a drive pin movable with respect to a surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub, said drive pin moving radially in a plane of the rotary member but not moving perpendicular to said plane, said drive pin extending perpendicular to said plane beyond said portion of the surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub, said drive pin including a disengagement preventative member that prevents said drive pin from moving relative to said rotary member in a direction perpendicular to said plane. 
       
     
     
       44. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein a height of the drive pin from an uppermost surface of the rotary member to an uppermost surface of the drive pin is no more than  0 . 7  mm. 
     
     
       45. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising a chucking magnet including a first surface attached to said rotary member and a second surface, facing opposite from said first surface, having a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
       46. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising an annular chucking magnet including a radial inner edge and a radial outer edge, said drive pin being located radially within the radial inner edge of the chucking magnet. 
     
     
       47. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising a chucking magnet provided on the rotary member and positioned relative to the drive pin such that when a portion of the disk hub rests on top of the drive pin, a diametrically opposed portion of the disk hub rests on a portion of the chucking magnet. 
     
     
       48. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the drive pin is made from plastic material. 
     
     
       49. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising a holder positioned adjacent said chucking mechanism, said holder receiving and holding the cartridge between raised and lowered positions. 
     
     
       50. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising an elongate member attached to the rotary member, said drive pin being attached to the elongate member near an end of the elongate member. 
     
     
       51. A disk drive apparatus for performing signal recording and reproducing on a disk accommodated in a cartridge, said disk having a disk hub with a central hole and a drive hole offset from the central hole, said disk drive apparatus having a disk drive motor including: 
       
         a spindle;  
       
       
         a rotary member fixed to the spindle for rotation with the spindle;  
       
       
         a chucking mechanism including a drive pin provided to the rotary member and extending away from a surface of the rotary member that contacts the disk hub, said drive pin having a planar surface that contacts the disk hub during chucking, said drive pin planar surface extending in a plane that is inclined with respect to a plane containing said surface of said rotary member that contacts the disk hub. 
       
     
     
       52. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the drive pin is made from plastic material. 
     
     
       53. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 52 , further comprising a plastic chucking lever attached to said rotary member, said drive pin being attached to said plastic chucking lever. 
     
     
       54. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 51 , further comprising a holder positioned adjacent said chucking mechanism, said holder receiving and holding the cartridge between raised and lowered positions. 
     
     
       55. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein said drive pin is attached to said rotary member for limited movement parallel to, but no movement perpendicular to a plane containing said portion of said surface of said rotary member that contacts said disk hub. 
     
     
       56. The disk drive apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the drive pin moves radially in a plane of the rotary member, but not perpendicular to said surface of said rotary member.