Disc Ejection Mechanism Using Movable Brake Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical disc drives face challenges in safely ejecting discs due to high rotation speeds, where discs can be thrown off if momentum is not properly managed, requiring inconvenient user intervention to halt and push up the disc during unloading.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a protruding portion and a brake pad is used, where the protruding portion on the bottom casing interacts with a movable brake pad on the tray to halt and push up the disc from both top and bottom, eliminating the need for users to manually push the disc from the spindle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the disc rotation speed is increased to improve read/write speed, then the read/write performance is improved, but the disc may be thrown off the tray during unloading due to excessive momentum
Solution Approach 1:
The brake pad is positioned in advance on the tray to interfere with the disc before the disc is fully unloaded. When the tray moves relative to the bottom casing, the protruding portion pushes the brake pad to contact the disc and halt it before ejection, preventing the high-speed rotating disc from being thrown off due to momentum.
2Reliability
If only the anti-friction plate is used to halt the disc by interfering with its periphery, then the disc braking function is provided, but the user must manually push up the disc from the spindle which is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the disc halting and pushing up actions automatically without requiring user intervention. The protruding portion on the bottom casing automatically pushes the brake pad to contact and halt the disc, and simultaneously pushes the disc up from the tray, making the system self-serving and eliminating the need for users to manually push the disc.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake pad serves dual functions: it halts the rotating disc by friction and simultaneously pushes the disc upward for ejection. By combining the braking function and the pushing-up function into a single component, the system achieves both disc safety and operational convenience.
3Ease of operation
If the brake pad is made movable on the tray, then the disc can be effectively halted and pushed up, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake pad is separated from fixed structures and made as an independent movable component on the tray. This segmentation allows the brake pad to move freely to contact the disc for braking and pushing, achieving automatic ejection with a simple, modular design rather than a complex integrated mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively halts and raises the disc for easy ejection, enhancing safety by interfering with the disc from both sides, preventing it from being thrown off and simplifying the ejection process while using simple components.
Implementation Method 1
the brake pad interferes with the disc so that the disc is halted
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method of ejecting a disc for a disc drive. The disc drive at least includes a bottom casing and a tray. The tray is used for carrying a disc. The disc loading apparatus for a disc drive includes a protruding portion and a brake pad. The protruding portion is disposed on the bottom casing. The brake pad is movably disposed at the tray. When the tray is moved with respect to the bottom casing for enabling the protruding portion to interfere with the brake pad, the protruding portion pushes the brake pad to projects towards the disc for interfering with the disc so that the disc is halted and pushed up.