Appeal No. 1998-1655 Page 2
Application No. 08/367,766
protect it from dust. A deformed cartridge, however, may
impede rotation of the disk.
The appellants' optical disk drive exerts a force against
a loaded disk cartridge to reshape the cartridge so that any
deformation thereof that would otherwise impede rotation of
the associated disc is remedied. More specifically, a
cartridge-encased disk is loaded into a holder of the drive
for recording or reproduction. Upon loading, the holder sets
the disk onto the spindle by lowering the cartridge. Support
members then press the cartridge against the upper inner wall
of the holder.
Claim 1, which is representative for our purposes,
follows:
1. An apparatus for a disc type medium,
comprising:
a cartridge holder for supporting a disc
type medium;
support means including a reference surface
for contacting a first main surface of said
cartridge;
biasing means for urging the cartridge
holder to contact a second main surface of said
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