Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a turntable assembly. The turntable assembly includes a turntable for mounting the optical disk thereon, and a chucking member which is contracted toward a center of an optical disk and holds the optical disk. A spring elastically biases the chucking member in a direction away from the center of the optical disk. An elastic support member supports the chucking member in a direction opposite an inserting direction, so that at least part of the elastic support member supporting the chucking member is elastically deformed in the inserting direction of the optical disk. A housing accommodates the chucking member, the spring, and the elastic support member therein. The elastic support member includes a support part which is spaced apart from the turntable to undergo elastic deformation in the inserting direction, and supports the chucking member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0058179, filed Jun. 27, 2006, entitled “Turntable assembly”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to a turntable assembly for mounting an optical disk and, more particularly, to a turntable assembly, allowing easy mounting and removal of an optical disk. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, a spindle motor for rotating an optical recording medium, such as an optical disk or a hard disk, at high speeds, rotatably supports a rotating shaft using an oil film formed between a bearing and the rotating shaft from a lubricant, thus maintaining rotating characteristics having nigh precision. Tnerefore, the spindle motor is widely used as a driving means for a recording medium, including a hard disk drive and an optical disk drive, and other recording media requiring high-speed rotation. 
         [0006]    In such a spindle motor, one important consideration is the prevention of slippage or removal of the optical recording medium while the spindle motor is rotating at high speeds. Further, even when the optical recording medium is mounted/removed, the optical recording medium must not be damaged, and thus an excessively large force must not be required. One example of a turntable assembly for mounting/removing the optical disk, which satisfies the above-mentioned requirements, is schematically shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0007]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a conventional turntable assembly  300  includes a turntable  310 , a chucking member  320 , and a spring  330 . 
         [0008]    The turntable  310  serves to support an optical disk  150 , and includes a support plate  311  and a housing  315 . 
         [0009]    The support plate  311  is the part on which the optical disk  150  is seated. An anti-slip rubber ring  314  is attached to the support plate  311  to prevent the slippage of the optical disk  150  when a spindle motor rotates at high speeds. 
         [0010]    The chucking member  320  and the spring  330  are installed in the housing  315 . The housing  315  is inserted into a central hole  151  of the optical disk  150  seated on the support plate  311 . 
         [0011]    The chucking member  320  is a member for holding the optical disk  150 . One end of the chucking member  320  protrudes outwards, and the other end of the chucking member  320  is inserted into the housing  315 . The chucking member  320  contracts and slides in the housing  315 . 
         [0012]    The spring  330  is an elastic member for elastically biasing the chucking member  320  outwards in a radial direction, and is installed in the housing  315 . 
         [0013]      FIGS. 5A to 5C  are sectional views showing the example in which the optical disk  150  is mounted on the turntable assembly  300  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0014]    Before the optical disk  150  is mounted on the turntable assembly  300 , the chucking member  320  is elastically biased by the spring  330 , so that the chucking member  320  protrudes out of the housing  315  ( FIG. 5A ). 
         [0015]    Next, the optical disk  150  is mounted while pressing the chucking member  320 . At this time, the chucking member  320  is contracted into the housing  315  using the mounting force of the optical disk  150  ( FIG. 5B ). 
         [0016]    Finally, the optical disk  150  engages with the lower contact surface of the chucking member  320 , completing the operation of mounting the optical disk  150  ( FIG. 5C ). 
         [0017]    However, in the conventional turntable assembly  300  constructed as described above, when the optical disk  150  is mounted, the optical disk  150  is almost parallel with the chucking member  320 , so that the mounting force of the optical disk  150  is not efficiently transmitted to the chucking member  320 . Thus, in order to push the chucking member  320  into the housing  315 , excessive force must be applied to the optical disk  150 . Thereby, the portion of the optical disk  150  contacting the chucking member  320  may be damaged. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a turntable assembly, which inclines a chucking member at a predetermined angle when an optical disk is mounted, thus allowing the mounting force of the optical disk to be more efficiently transmitted to the chucking member, therefore allowing the optical disk to be easily mounted or removed without applying excessive force to the optical disk. 
         [0019]    In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a turntable assembly, including a holding member which is contracted in a radial direction of an optical disk and holds the optical disk, and a support member supporting the holding member in a direction opposite an inserting direction, so that at least part of the support member supporting the holding member is elastically deformed in the inserting direction of the optical disk. 
         [0020]    The support member has predetermined displacement in the inserting direction of the optical disk. 
         [0021]    The turntable assembly further includes an elastic member for elastically biasing the holding member in a direction opposite the radial direction. 
         [0022]    The present invention provides a turntable assembly, including a chucking member which is contracted toward a center of an optical disk and holds the optical disk, a spring for elastically biasing the chucking member in a direction away from the center of the optical disk, an elastic support member supporting the chucking member in a direction opposite an inserting direction, so that at least part of the elastic support member supporting the chucking member is elastically deformed in the inserting direction of the optical disk, and a housing accommodating the chucking member, the spring, and the elastic support member therein. 
         [0023]    The turntable assembly further includes a turntable for mounting the optical disk thereon, the housing being installed at a center of the turntable so that the chucking member contacts an inner circumferential surface of the optical disk. 
         [0024]    In this case, the elastic support member includes a mounting part mounted to be secured to the turntable, and a support part spaced apart from the turntable to undergo elastic deformation in the inserting direction, and supporting the chucking member. 
         [0025]    Further, a surface of the support part contacting the chucking member is inclined relative to a lower portion of the chucking member at an angle of 17 degrees. 
         [0026]    The chucking member is inclined in the inserting direction due to the elastic deformation of the support part when the optical disk is inserted. 
         [0027]    Further, a plurality of chucking members and a plurality of springs are installed around a center of the housing at regular intervals. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view showing a spindle motor equipped with a turntable assembly, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged sectional view showing part of the turntable assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 3A to 3D  are schematic views showing the state where an optical disk is coupled to the turntable assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a conventional turntable assembly; and 
           [0033]      FIGS. 5A to 5C  are schematic views showing the state where an optical disk is coupled to the turntable assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    Hereinafter, a turntable assembly  100 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a turntable assembly  100  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is integrated with a spindle motor  200 , and prevents the removal of an optical disk  150  when the spindle motor  200  is rotated at high speeds. 
         [0036]    The spindle motor  200  functions to rotate and drive the optical disk  150  mounted on the spindle motor  200 . The spindle motor  200  includes a base  210 , a bearing holder  200 , a bearing  230 , an armature  240 , a rotating shaft  250 , and a rotor casing  260 . 
         [0037]    The base  210  supports the entire spindle motor  200 , and is securely mounted on a device, such as a hard disk drive, at which the spindle motor  200  is installed. The bearing holder  220  functions to securely support the bearing  230 , and has the shape of a hollow cylinder. One end of the bearing holder  220  is sealed with caulking, so that the bearing holder  200  is secured to the base  210 . The bearing  230  rotatably holds the rotating shaft  250 , and is installed such that the central axis of the bearing  230  is aligned with the central axis of the rotating shaft  250 . The armature  240  forms an electric field when external power is applied to the armature  240 , and includes a core  241  and a coil  242  wound around the core  241 . The coil  242  forms an electric field when electric power is supplied from the exterior, thus rotating the rotor casing  260 . 
         [0038]    The rotating shaft  250  is rotatably inserted into the bearing  230 , and supports the rotor casing  260  upwards. A magnet  261 , which faces the armature  240  and generates rotating force, is secured to the inner wall of the rotor casing  260 . Further, the turntable assembly  100  is provided on the upper portion of the rotor casing  260  to support the optical disk  150 . 
         [0039]    In this case, when external power is applied to the armature  240 , the rotor casing  260  is rotated by force generated between the coil  242  and the magnet  261 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the turntable assembly  100  of the present invention includes a turntable  110 , a chucking member  120 , a spring  130 , and an elastic support member  140 . The turntable assembly  100  is integrated with the spindle motor  200 . 
         [0041]    The turntable  110  functions to support the optical disk  150 . According to this embodiment, the rotor casing  260  of the spindle motor  200  is used as the turntable  110 . The turntable  110  is provided with a support plate  111  and a housing  115 . 
         [0042]    The support plate  111  denotes the upper surface of the rotor casing  260 , and is the part on which the optical disk  150  is seated. A coupling holder  112  is provided on the support plate  111  so that the rotating shaft  250  can be inserted into and coupled to the coupling holder  112 . 
         [0043]    The coupling holder  112  protrudes upwards from the central portion of the support plate  111 . A coupling hole  113  having the same diameter as the rotating shaft  250  is formed in the coupling holder  112 , so that the rotating shaft  250  is secured to the coupling holder  112 . In this case, the rotating shaft  250  may be press-fitted into the coupling hole  113 . Alternatively, the rotating shaft  250  may be secured in the coupling hole  113  using a predetermined adhesive means. 
         [0044]    Further, an anti-slip rubber ring  114  is attached along the outer circumference of the support plate  111 , and prevents the slippage of the optical disk  150  when the spindle motor  200  is rotated at high speeds. 
         [0045]    The housing  115  completely surrounds the coupling holder  112 , and protrudes from the central portion of the support plate  111  to be inserted into a central hole  151  of an optical disk  150 . 
         [0046]    Further, the chucking member  120  and the spring  130  are installed in the housing  115  to secure the optical disk  150  which is seated on the support plate  111 . In this case, the housing  115  is provided with a locking protrusion  116  which is inserted into one end of the spring  130  to lock the spring  130 . A plurality of openings  117  is formed in the housing  115  in such a way as to open to one side of the housing  115 , so that the chucking member  120  slides in the housing  115 . 
         [0047]    The plurality of openings  117  is formed around the center of the housing  115  at regular intervals, thus allowing a plurality of chucking members  120  and springs  130  to be installed in the housing  115 . 
         [0048]    Each chucking member  120  is the member that holds the optical disk  150 . One end of the chucking member  120  protrudes outwards, while the other end of the chucking member  120  is inserted into each opening  117  of the housing  115 , so that the chucking member  120  contracts and slides into the opening  117 . In this case, one end of each chucking member  120  is inserted into one end of the corresponding spring  130 , so that the chucking member  120  is elastically biased by the spring  130 . 
         [0049]    Further, the outward protruding portion of each chucking member  120 , which contacts the optical disk  150 , is inclined such that each of an upper contact surface  121  and a lower contact surface  122  has a predetermined inclination angle. In this case, the inclination angle of the upper contact surface  121  is smaller than that of the lower contact surface  122 , thus allowing easy removal of the optical disk  150 . 
         [0050]    Each spring  130  is the elastic member for elastically biasing the corresponding chucking member  120  towards the outer portion in a radial direction, more particularly, in a direction opposite the central direction B of the optical disk  150 . The spring  130  is installed in the housing  115 , and is locked at one end thereof to the locking protrusion  116  and is locked at the other end thereof to the end of the chucking member  120 . Preferably, the diameter of the spring  130  is slightly smaller than that of the end of the chucking member  120 . 
         [0051]    The elastic support member  140  functions to support each chucking member  120  in a direction opposite the radial direction. The elastic support member  140  supports the lower portion of the chucking member  120  to prevent the chucking member  120 , which is elastically biased by each spring  130 , from being dislodged out of the housing  115 . The elastic support member  140  is mounted on the upper surface of the support plate  111  to contact the lower contact surface  122  of the chucking member  120 . 
         [0052]    Further, the elastic support member  140  preferably has elasticity so that the chucking member  120  is inclined at a predetermined angle when the optical disk  150  is mounted. 
         [0053]    According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic support member  140  includes a mounting part  141  and a support part  142 . The mounting part  141  is mounted on the support plate  111  of the turntable  110 . The support part  142  extends integrally from the mounting part  141 , contacts the lower contact surface  122  of the chucking member  120 , and is bent by the mounting force of the optical disk  150  and thus undergoes elastic deformation. 
         [0054]    In this case, the portion of the support part  142  contacting the lower contact surface  122  is inclined to correspond to the inclination angle of the lower contact surface  122 . According to this embodiment, the support part  142  is preferably inclined at an angle of 17 degrees. 
         [0055]    Further, it is preferable that the lower surface of the support part  142  be spaced apart from the support plate  111  by a predetermined interval, thus allowing the support part  142  to be easily bent by the mounting force. 
         [0056]      FIGS. 3A to 3D  are sectional views showing the example where the optical disk  150  is mounted to the turntable assembly  100  of  FIG. 2 . The process of mounting the optical disk  150  to the turntable assembly  100  will be described with reference to the drawings. 
         [0057]    Before the optical disk  150  is mounted to the turntable assembly  100 , the upper and lower contact surfaces  121  and  122  of each chucking member  120  are protruded out of the housing  115  by the corresponding spring  130 . The lower contact surface  122  is supported by the support part  142  of the elastic support member  140  coupled to the support plate  111  ( FIG. 3A ). 
         [0058]    Next, the optical disk  150  is mounted while the upper contact surface  121  of each chucking member  120  is pushed in an inserting direction A. At this time, the support part  142  of the elastic support member  140  is bent in the inserting direction A by the mounting force of the optical disk  150 , so that each chucking member  120  is inclined, and thus the mounting force of the optical disk  150  can be more smoothly transmitted to the chucking member  120  ( FIG. 3B ). 
         [0059]    Afterwards, due to the mounting force of the optical disk  150 , each chucking member  120  is contracted into the housing  115  near the center B of the optical disk  150 . When the optical disk  150  contacts the outermost end of each chucking member  120 , the chucking member  120  is thrust into the innermost portion of the housing  115  ( FIG. 3C ). 
         [0060]    Finally, the optical disk  150  contacts the lower contact surface  122  of each chucking member  120 , so that the mounting operation of the optical disk  150  is completed. When each spring  130  is contracted into the housing  115  by the mounting force of the optical disk  150 , and the inner circumferential surface of the optical disk  150  passes through the outermost end of each chucking member  120  and engages with the lower contact surface  122 , the chucking member  120  must be pushed in a direction opposite the center, that is, in the direction of C. Thereby, the inner circumferential surface of the optical disk  150  firmly engages with the lower contact surface  122  of each chucking member  120  ( FIG. 3D ). 
         [0061]    The above-mentioned turntable assembly  100  has a construction corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the external appearance of the chucking member  120  contacting the inner circumferential surface of the optical disk  150  and the elastic support member  140  supporting the chucking member  120 , and the construction of the turntable assembly  100 , may be freely changed. 
         [0062]    Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 
         [0063]    As described above, the present invention provides a turntable assembly, in which an elastic support member supporting a chucking member, which is pushed into a housing when an optical disk is mounted or removed, is bent by a mounting force of the optical disk, thus inclining the chucking member, therefore more efficiently transmitting the mounting force of the optical disk to the chucking member, and allowing the optical disk to be more smoothly mounted. 
         [0064]    Further, when the optical disk is mounted/removed, excessive force is not required, and thus the optical disk itself is not damaged.