Patent ID: 7360225
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: B41J,B65C,G11B

Abstract:
1. A disc holding mechanism within a disc tray unit for positioning and holding a disc in place above a surface compressing an upper face of the disc tray unit, the disk holding mechanism comprising: a plurality of holding pins operative to selectively hold a disc by a central hole of the disc, the plurality of holding pins comprising at least one stationary pin and at least one movable pin; means operative for loading the disc tray unit with a disc, for moving the at least one movable pin in a radially outward direction relative to the central hole of the disc and further into the central hole of the disc above the surface of the disc tray unit to secure said disc in a holding state by spacing apart the at least one movable pin relative to the at least one stationary pin for engagement of said plurality of holding pins against a peripheral surface of said central hole; and means operative for unloading the disc tray unit, for moving the at least one movable pin in a radially inward direction relative to the central hole of the disc and withdrawing the movable pin out of said central hole to release the disc from its holding state.