Disc-Visible Drive with Pivoting Roller and Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disc-visible type disc drive apparatuses face issues with foreign substances entering through exposed slots, causing optical system malfunctions and requiring users to manually push discs into the loading roller, leading to a cumbersome insertion process.
Innovation Solution
A disc drive apparatus with a main body casing featuring first and second slots, protected by arc-like covers to prevent dust entry, and a loading roller that pivots between blocking and opening positions, driven by a disc detection sensor to automate disc loading and improve user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the disc is exposed outside the main body casing through front and rear slots, then the width in forward-backward direction is reduced, but foreign substances such as dust may enter into the apparatus through the slots
Solution Approach 1:
A protection cover is provided that covers the front and rear portions of the disc exposed outside the main body casing. The protection cover includes a front cover and a rear cover that extend to cover the disc surfaces, preventing foreign substances from entering through the front and rear slots while allowing the disc to be visible and accessible.
2Extent of automation
If the loading roller is positioned to block the front slot at initial state, then the disc can be automatically loaded, but the user has to forcibly push the disc against the loading roller, causing labored insertion sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The loading roller is positioned to block the front slot in advance before disc insertion. When a disc is inserted, the disc automatically pushes the loading roller downward, triggering the sensing unit to detect the disc and initiate the automatic loading sequence, eliminating the need for users to forcibly push the disc.
Solution Approach 2:
A sensing unit is provided that detects when a disc is inserted by sensing the disc's presence or the loading roller's movement. Based on this feedback, the control unit activates the loading mechanism to automatically load the disc, creating a closed-loop system that responds to user action without requiring additional manual input.
3Length of moving object
If the sensing unit is disposed in the rear of the loading roller, then space is saved in the forward-backward direction, but the user must push the disc further, increasing insertion difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing unit is disposed in the rear of the loading roller along the forward-backward direction, utilizing the vertical space created by the loading roller's downward movement. This positioning allows the sensing unit to detect disc insertion through the vertical displacement of the loading roller rather than requiring horizontal space at the slot entrance.
Data Source
AI summary
A disc-visible type disk drive apparatus is disclosed. The disk drive apparatus includes: a main body casing having a first slot provided at a first side surface to load a disc; a protection cover having a first cover provided on the first side surface of the main body casing, wherein the first cover covers a portion of the disc exposed outside the main body casing through the first slot and forms a passage through which the disc passes during loading and unloading; a disc detecting sensor disposed in the first cover which detects the disc; and a disc loading unit disposed in the main body casing and having a loading roller which is driven so as to load the disc if the disc is detected by the disc detecting sensor.