Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a disk holding device for use in an optical disk reading device that accurately receives and positions an optical disk inserted into the optical disk reading device. The disk holding device comprises a substrate, a holding frame, two holding rods, two guide pins integrally formed on the corresponding holding rods and a sliding plate. Two gear racks are integrally formed with the holding frame, and the two spur gears are integrally formed on top surfaces of the holding rods. Thus, two spur gears of two holding rods respectively mesh the gear racks of the holding frame when the optical disk reading is in use. Further, the sliding plate functions to keep a positioning pin disposed on top surface of the holding rod in place, thereby causing the holding rods to be away from the optical disk when the optical disk reading device is in use. The disk holding device is adapted to receive and position the optical disk of different sizes even though the optical disk reading device is positioned vertically.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an optical disk reading device, and in particular to a disk holding device for use in an optical disk reading device that can receive and position optical disks of different sizes while the optical disk reading device is positioned horizontally or vertically.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Slot-in optical disk drives allow users to conveniently load and unload optical disks. Slot-in optical disk drive can be implemented in various electronic devices, for example notebook computers and car CD players. Thus, the conventional slot-in optical disk drive  91  has the much more easier loading and unloading system for users to operate while the optical disk drive  91  is positioned horizontally, as shown in FIG. 1.  
           [0005]    However, the conventional slot-in optical disk drive 91  has disadvantageous characteristics. For example, referring to FIG. 2, if the conventional slot-in disk drive  91  must be installed vertically in a computer system or due to limited installation space, then an opening  92  of the conventional slot-in disk drive  91  is positioned vertically. However, when the optical disk  9   a  is loaded into the conventional slot-in optical disk drive  91  that is positioned vertically, it is impossible for the conventional slot-in optical disk drive  91  to position and receive the optical disk  9   a  accurately. As a result, if the optical disk  9   a  is not positioned and received accurately, then it results in a reading failure when the conventional slot-in optical disk drive  91  attempts to read the optical disk  9   a.    
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need to develop an optical disk reading device that can receive and position optical disks while the optical disk reading device is positioned horizontally or vertically.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk holding device that can receive and position optical disks of different sizes while the optical disk reading device is positioned horizontally or vertically.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk holding device for use in an optical disk reading device that accurately receives and positions an optical disk inserted into the optical disk reading device.  
           [0009]    The present invention provides an optical disk reading device having a disk holding device adapted to receive and position different types of optical disks. In one embodiment of the present invention, the disk holding device comprises a substrate, a holding frame, two holding rods, two guide pins integrally formed on the corresponding holding rods and a sliding plate. Two gear racks are integrally formed with the holding frame, and the two spur gears are integrally formed on top surfaces of the holding rods. Thus, two spur gears of two holding rods respectively mesh the gear racks of the holding frame when the optical disk reading is in use. Further, the sliding plate functions to keep a positioning pin disposed on top surface of the holding rod in place, thereby causing the holding rods to be away from the optical disk when the optical disk reading device is in use. The disk holding device is adapted to receive and position the optical disk of different sizes even though the optical disk reading device is positioned vertically.  
           [0010]    The present invention may be implemented at low cost. Furthermore, the present invention can accurately receive and position optical disks of different standard sizes. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The present invention can be fully understood from the following detailed description and preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional slot-in optical disk drive when the disk drive is positioned horizontally;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional slot-in optical disk drive when the disk drive is positioned vertically;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an optical disk reading device with a top cover and a bottom cover removed according to the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an optical disk reading device of FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a substrate of the optical disk reading device of FIG. 3;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate how an 8 cm optical disk can be inserted into the optical disk reading device of FIG. 3; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate how a 12 cm optical disk can be inserted into the optical disk reading device of FIG. 3. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0020]    Although the embodiments of the present invention are described below in connection with a slot-in optical disk drive, the present invention can be applied to all optical disk drive, including but not limited to CD-ROM drives, CD-RW drives, DVD-R/RW drives, COMBO drives, car audio drives, external drives, as well as all other optical media recorders and players.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 3-5 illustrate a disk holding device  8  of an optical disk reading device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 best illustrate the interconnections of the various components of the disk holding device  8  with respect to a substrate  1 .  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the disk holding device  8  according to the present invention has a substrate  1 , a holding frame  2 , a left holding rod  3 , a right holding rod  4  and a sliding plate  5 .  
         [0023]    As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the substrate  1  has a central hole  7 , a left guide groove  17  positioned at a left edge  83 , a right guide groove  18  positioned at a right edge  82 , a left rack positioning hole  26 , a right rack positioning hole  27 , a left puncture hole  35  and a right puncture hole  45 . Elements indicated by numeral  26 ,  27 ,  35  and  45  are positioned near a front edge  81  of the substrate  1 . The substrate  1  also has a left positioning hole  55 , a right positioning hole  56  and a cut-out space  58  positioned along the left edge  83 . The left positioning hole  55  is positioned near the left edge  83 , and the right positioning hole  56  are positioned between the central hole  7  and the left positioning hole  55 .  
         [0024]    Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the holding frame  2  is a generally U-shaped component, and has a left opening  21 , a right opening  22 , OLE_LINK 3   a  left holding groove  23 , a right holding groove  24 OLE_LINK 3  and an elongated hole  28 . A left gear rack  211  is integrally formed with the holding frame  2  and positioned within the left opening  21 . Similarly, a left gear rack  221  is integrally formed with the holding frame  2  and positioned within the right opening  22 . Further, a left rack guide pin  11  is fitted in the left rack positioning hole  26  and adapted to extend through the left holding groove  23 . Similarly, a right rack guide pin  12  is fitted in the right rack positioning hole  27  and adapted to travel within and extend through the right holding groove  24 .  
         [0025]    Further referring to FIG. 3, the left holding rod  3  also has a left spur gear  31  positioned on its top surface, and the left spur gear  31  is adapted to travel within the left opening  21  and mesh the left gear rack  211 . The left holding rod  3  also has a left guide pin  33  positioned on its button surface, and the left guide pin  33  is adapted to extend through and travel within the left guide groove  17 . A positioning pin  32  is also defined on the top surface of the left holding rod  3  and positioned near the left guide pin  33 . In addition, a left pivot  13  is fitted in the left puncture hole  35  and operatively couples a left positioning hole  34  that is provided at the center of the left spur gear  31  of the left holding g rod 3 . Thus, the left pivot  13  is pivotally connected to the left holding rod  3 .  
         [0026]    Similarly, the right holding rod  4  has a right spur gear  41  positioned on its top surface, and the right spur gear  41  is adapted to travel within the right opening  22  and mesh the right gear rack  221 . The right holding rod  4  also has a right guide pin  42  positioned on its button surface, and the right guide pin  42  is adapted to extend through and travel within the right guide groove  18 . Further, a right pivot  14  is fitted the right puncture hole  45  and operatively couples a right positioning hole  43  that is provided at the center of the right spur gear  41  of the right holding rod  4 . Thus, the right pivot  14  is pivotally connected to the right holding rod  4 .  
         [0027]    In addition, a hole  25  is defined between the elongated hole  28  and the right holding groove  24 , and a hook  19  is provided near the front edge  81  and adapted to extend through the elongated hole  28  when the insertion and ejection of the optical disk. An elastic member  29  connects the hole  25  of the holding frame  2  to the hook  19  of the substrate  1  and functions to normally bias the hole  25  toward the hook  19  of the substrate  1 .  
         [0028]    As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a sliding plate  5  has a left positioning notch  51 , a right positioning notch  52 , a left guide groove  53 , a right guide groove  54  and a folded sidewall  57 . A right positioning pin  15  is fitted in the right positioning hole  56  and adapted to travel through the right guide groove  54 . Similarly, a left positioning pin  16  is fitted in the left positioning hole  55  and adapted to travel through the left guide groove  53 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the folded sidewall  57  is adapted to travel along the cut-out space  58  of the left edge  83  and includes a gear rack  571  that is used to engage with the transmission gear train (not shown) when the sliding plate  5  is pushed to move toward the front edge  81 . The left positioning notch  51  and a right positioning notch  52  of the sliding plate  5  are respectively used to receive the positioning pin  32  when the optical disks of different sizes (for example, 12 cm disk or 8 cm disk) are inserted.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 4, as described above, the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4  operatively couple with the holding frame 2 , that is, the left and right spur gears  31  and  41  respectively engage with the left gear rack  211  and the right gear rack  221 . The left rack guide pin  11 , the right rack guide pin  12 , the left pivot  13  and the right pivot  14  are respectively secured by a plurality of washers  6 , thereby slidably fixing the holding frame  2  to the substrate  1 . Similarly, after the sliding plate  5  is slidably positioned on the substrate  1 , the right positioning pin  15  and a left positioning pin  16  are respectively secured by a plurality of washers  6 , thereby slidably fixing the sliding plate  5  to the substrate  1 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate how an 8 cm disk  9  can be inserted into the optical disk reading device of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 6, the optical disk  9  (an 8 cm disk or a 12 cm disk) is inserted into the optical disk reading device in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 6. When the 8 cm disk  9  is inserted into the optical disk reading device and pulled by a roller mechanism (not shown), the 8 cm disk  9  will contact OLE_LINK 2 the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42 OLE_LINK 2 . Meanwhile, the 8 cm disk  9  will push the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42  outwardly in the direction of arrow Bof FIG. 6. Therefore, the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4  will respectively move along the left guide groove  17  and the right guide groove  18  for a distance.  
         [0032]    As described above, the left spur gear  31  of the left holding rod  3  and the spur gear  41  of the right holding rod  4  respectively engage with the left gear rack  211  and the right gear rack  221  of the holding frame  2 . When the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4  will be pushed outwardly in the direction of arrow B of FIG. 6, the holding frame  2  will be pulled toward the right edge  82  of the substrate  1  and the elastic member  29  is elongated to overcome the movement of the holding frame  2  toward the right edge  82 . Meanwhile, the left rack guide pin  11  and the right rack guide pin  12  are respectively moved away from the one end of the left holding groove  23  and the right holding groove  24 . Due to the resilient force of the elastic member  29 , the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42  will abut and slide along the periphery of the 8 cm disk  9 . As the 8 cm disk  9  is inserted further, the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4  will be forcibly opened further. Finally, the periphery of the 8 cm disk  9  will trigger a switch mechanism (not shown) and come to stop. In this situation, the left guide pin  33  of the left holding rod  3  and the right guide pin  42  of the right holding rod  4  can keep the 8 cm disk  9  in place even when the optical disk reading device is positioned vertically.  
         [0033]    Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the left positioning pin  16  and the right positioning pin  15  respectively contact the one end of the left guide groove  53  and the right guide groove  54  of the sliding plate  5 . Referring to FIG. 7, the sliding plate  5  will be pushed forwardly (toward the front edge  81 ) for a certain distance and the gear rack  571  positioned in the folded sidewall  57  will engage with a gear transmission (not shown) so that the sliding plate  5  will be pulled forwardly along the cut-out space  58 . Meanwhile, when the sliding plate  5  keeps on moving forwardly, the positioning pin  32  of the left holding rod  3 will be pulled slight outwardly and be moved along the right positioning notch  52  so that the left guide pin  33  of the left holding rod 3 does not contact the periphery of the 8 cm disk  9  when the 8 cm disk begins to spin. Besides, the right holding rod  4  will be pulled outwardly because of interconnections between the holding frame  2  and the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4 .  
         [0034]    During the ejection of 8 cm disk  9 , the sliding plate  5  is pulled rearwardly by the gear transmission (not shown) until the left positioning pin  16  and the right positioning pin  15  respectively contact the original ends of the left guide groove  53  and the right guide groove  54  again, as shown in FIG. 6. Meanwhile, the 8 cm disk  9  is pulled out of the substrate  1  by a roller mechanism (not shown). Therefore, the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42  will abut and slide along the periphery of the 8 cm disk  9 , andthe left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4  will pivot in the reverse direction of arrow B. Finally, the 8 cm disk  9  leaves the optical disk reading device, and the left rack guide pin  11  and the right rack guide pin  12  respectively contact the original ends of the left holding groove  23  and the right holding groove  24 . The holding frame  2  returns to the initial position because of the resilient force of the elastic member  29 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 8-9 illustrate how a 12 cm disk  9  can be inserted into the optical disk reading device of FIG. 3. Like the insertion of the 8 cm disk, the 12 cm disk is inserted into the optical disk reading device in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 8. When the 12 cm disk  9  is pulled by a roller mechanism (not shown) and inserted into the optical disk reading device, the 12 cm disk  9  will contact the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42 . Meanwhile, the 12 cm disk  9  will push the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42  outwardly in the direction of arrow Bof FIG. 8. Therefore, the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4  will respectively move along the left guide groove  17  and the right guide groove  18  for a longer distance because of the larger diameter of 12 cm disk  9 .  
         [0036]    As described above, referring to FIG. 8, the left spur gear  31  of the left holding rod  3  and the right spur gear  41  of the right holding rod  4  respectively engage with the left gear rack  211  and the right gear rack  221  of the holding frame  2 . When the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4  will be pushed outwardly in the direction of arrow B of FIG. 8, the holding frame  2  will be forced toward the right edge  82  of the substrate  1  and the elastic member  29  is elongated to overcome the movement of the holding frame  2  toward the right edge  82 . Meanwhile, the left rack guide pin  11  and the right rack guide pin  12  are respectively moved away from the one end of the left holding groove  23  and the right holding groove  24 . Due to the resilient force of the elastic member  29 , the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42  will abut and slide along the periphery of the 12 cm disk. As the 12 cm disk  9  is inserted further, the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4  will be forcibly opened further. Finally, the periphery of the 12 cm disk  9  will trigger a switch mechanism (not shown) and come to stop. Like the insertion of the 8 cm disk, the left guide pin  33  of the left holding rod  3  and the right guide pin  42  of the right holding rod  4  can keep the 12 cm disk  9  in place even when the optical disk reading device is positioned vertically.  
         [0037]    Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the left positioning pin  16  and the right positioning pin  15  respectively contact the one ends of the left guide groove  53  and the right guide groove  54  of the sliding plate  5 . Referring to FIG. 9, the sliding plate  5  will be pushed forwardly (toward the front edge  81 ) for a certain distance and the gear rack  571  positioned in the folded sidewall  57  will engage with a gear transmission (not shown) so that the sliding plate  5  will be pulled forwardly along the cut-out space  58 . Meanwhile, when the sliding plate  5  keeps on moving forwardly, the positioning pin  32  of the left holding rod  3  will be pulled outwardly and be moved along the left positioning notch  51  because of a larger diameter of 12 cm disk  9 . Thus, the left guide pin  33  of the left holding rod  3  does not contact the periphery of the 12 cm disk  9  when the 12 cm disk begins to spin. Besides, the right holding rod  4  will be pulled outwardly because of interconnections between the holding frame  2  and the left holding rod  3  and the right holding rod  4 .  
         [0038]    During the ejection of 12 cm disk  9 , the sliding plate  5  is pulled rearwardly by the gear transmission (not shown) until the left positioning pin  16  and the right positioning pin  15  respectively contact the original ends of the left guide groove  53  and the right guide groove  54  again, as shown in FIG. 8. Meanwhile, the 12 cm disk  9  is pulled out of the substrate  1  by a roller mechanism (not shown). Therefore, the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42  will abut and slide along the periphery of the 12 cm disk  9 , and the left guide pin  33  and the right guide pin  42  will pivot in the reverse direction of arrow Bof FIG. 8. Finally, the 12 cm disk  9  leaves the optical disk reading device, and the left rack guide pin  11  and the right rack guide pin  12  respectively contact the original ends of the left holding groove  23  and the right holding groove  24 . The holding frame  2  returns to the initial position because of the resilient force of the elastic member  29 .  
         [0039]    In conclusion, the present invention utilizes the left holding rod  3 , the right holding rod  4  and the sliding plate  5  to receive and position both a 12 cm disk and an 8 cm disk in the optical disk drive that is positioned horizontally or vertically.  
         [0040]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as may fall within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims and their equivalents.