Patent ID: 6426873
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A data transfer apparatus characterized by comprising:drive means (18) for driving a replaceable data storage medium (41); support means (4a, 4b and 17) supporting said drive means (18); cover means (11 and 11a) for enclosing said drive means (18) and the data storage medium (41) mounted to said drive means; positioning means (14, 17b, 17c and 15b) for selectively positioning said support means (4a, 4b and 17) in a first position, where said drive means (18) is at least partly exposed from said cover means (11 and 11a) so as to permit the data storage medium (41) to be mounted to and dismounted from said drive means, and a second position where said drive means (18) is covered by said cover means (18 and 18a); a position sensor (13) for sensing whether said support means (4a, 4b and 17) is in said second position or not; drive command generator means (36 and 36a) for generating a command for driving said drive means; control means (31, 31a or 31b) connected to said drive means (18) and said position sensor (13) and said drive command generator means (36 and 36a) for setting said drive means (18) in operation when said position sensor (13) provides a signal indicating that said support means (4a, 4b and 17) is in said second position and, at the same time, when said drive command generator means (36 and 36a) generates the drive command for said drive means, and for setting said drive means (18) out of operation when said position sensor (13) provides a signal indicating that said support means (4a, 4b and 17) is not in said second position; and safety circuit means (40, 40a or 40b) connected to said control means (31, 31a or 31b) and said drive means (18) and said position sensor (13) for providing to said drive means (18) a signal for stopping said drive means regardless of outputs from said control means (31, 31a or 31b) when said position sensor (13) provides a signal indicating that said support means (4a, 4b and 17) is not in said second position.