Patent ID: 6262864
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A computer drive assembly for receiving portable disks containing computer data, the assembly comprising:a housing defining a cavity which is sized so as to receive a portable disk through an opening in the housing such that when the disk is positioned in a first position in the cavity, data stored in the disk can be accessed;an ejection mechanism that engages with the disk, when the disk is in the first position, and urges the disk along a first path toward the opening, wherein the ejection mechanism includes a spring loaded ejection arm that is mounted within the housing so as to be movable such that the spring loaded ejection arm provides an impulse to the disk to urge the disk along the first path; andat least one roller member positioned along the first path so as to contact the disk as the disk is being urged along the first path by the impulse of the spring loaded ejection arm, wherein the at least one roller member engages with the disk in opposition to the motion of the disk provided by the impulse so as to retain the disk in the housing so that only a portion of the disk extends out of the opening in the housing, wherein the at least one roller member is adapted to permit a user to remove the disk from the housing by grasping the portion of the disk that extends out of the opening and pulling the disk from the housing, wherein the at least one roller member is movable between a first rotatable position and a second rotatable position in response to the disk traveling between the opening and the position within the cavity;a biasing mechanism that biases the at least one roller member in the first rotatable position and a capture mechanism that captures the at least one roller member in the second rotatable position after insertion of the disk into the cavity has urged the at least one roller member into the second rotatable position.