1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to structures for mounting and dismounting a device unit such as a magnetic disk drive unit. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device unit housing apparatus, provided with a simple structure, for engageably mounting and dismounting a device unit easily to or from the apparatus main body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there have been various types of securing means available for implementing a device unit such as a magnetic disk drive unit on the apparatus main body and for securing the device unit thereto. For example, as exemplified in FIG. 8, securing means of a device unit 101 have a plurality of unit securing portions 116 provided on an apparatus main body 115, and mated members 103 each corresponding to each of the unit securing portions 116, the mated members 103 being provided on the device unit 101. With this configuration, the securing means allow fastening members such as screws to be used to secure the device unit 101 to the apparatus main body 115 at each of the unit securing portions 116 of the apparatus main body 115.
However, the aforementioned conventional example presented such a drawback that a plurality of fastening members such as screws had to be used at a plurality of positions to secure the device unit 101 to the apparatus main body 115, thus wasting time for the securing work. In addition, there was another drawback that the device unit 101 could not be dismounted without opening a panel 109 and removing a plurality of fastening members such as screws, thus wasting time for the dismounting work.
In other words, mounting or dismounting the device unit 101 to or from the apparatus main body 115, for example, in an assembly line of a factory, would require too much labor and time, leading to reduced efficiency of production and making it difficult to reduce the production cost. Furthermore, for example, if a general user wants to replace the magnetic disk drive unit with another unit of a different capacity, the user would be required to screw and unscrew a plurality of fastening members such as screws, which was time-consuming and laborious.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device unit housing apparatus which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional example, which has a simple configuration for allowing a device unit to be easily engaged with an apparatus main body upon mounting and dismounting the device unit such as a magnetic disk drive unit to or from the apparatus main body, and which can also release the engagement easily.
To achieve the aforementioned object, the device unit housing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an apparatus main body provided with an engaging through-hole formed therein for accommodating a device unit or an engaged subject, and a unit engaging mechanism provided on the device unit. The unit engaging mechanism includes a unit engaging body movable and engageable with the engaging through-hole, and an elastic member capable of pressing always the unit engaging body against the engaging through-hole.
The first aspect of the present invention allows the unit engaging body to engage the engaging through-hole of the apparatus main body, thereby making it possible to engage the device unit with the apparatus main body. Furthermore, the elastic member makes use of the spring force thereof to press the unit engaging body against the engaging through-hole of the apparatus main body. The unit engaging body can thereby be easily engaged with the engaging through-hole of the apparatus main body and the device unit can thereby be kept engaged with the apparatus main body under a constant condition.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the unit engaging mechanism includes a panel pivotable with respect to the device unit in the device unit housing apparatus according to the first aspect. In addition, the panel is provided with an engaging body presser portion capable of pressing the unit engaging body against the elastic member along with a pivotal movement of the panel.
This allows the second aspect of the present invention to function in an equivalent manner to the aforementioned first aspect of the invention as well as to move the unit engaging body by the pivotal movement of the panel.
More specifically, pivotal movement of the panel in one direction (or opening the panel) causes the engaging body presser portion of the panel to push the unit engaging body, thereby allowing the unit engaging body to be withdrawn from the engaging through-hole. This allows the device unit to be easily disengaged from the apparatus main body.
The device unit housing apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention includes an apparatus main body provided with an engaging through-hole formed therein for accommodating a device unit or an engaged subject, and a unit engaging mechanism provided on the device unit. The unit engaging mechanism provided on the device unit is disposed, with the device unit being accommodated in the apparatus main body, adjacent to an opening of the apparatus main body for accommodating the device unit.
Furthermore, the unit engaging mechanism includes a unit engaging body movable and having a unit engaging main body engageable with the engaging through-hole, an elastic member capable of always pressing the unit engaging body against the engaging through-hole, and a panel spaced by a predetermined distance apart from the unit engaging main body and pivotable with respect to the device unit. Still furthermore, the unit engaging main body is provided with a projection oriented toward the panel. The panel is provided with an engaging body presser portion capable of engaging the projection of the unit engaging body along with a pivotal movement of the panel and pressing the unit engaging body against the elastic member. Here, the engaging body presser portion is oriented toward the unit engaging body.
Thus, the third aspect of the present invention allows the unit engaging main body of the unit engaging body to engage the engaging through-hole of the apparatus main body, thereby making it possible to engage the device unit with the apparatus main body. Furthermore, the elastic member makes use of the spring force thereof to press the unit engaging body against the engaging through-hole of the apparatus main body. The unit engaging main body can thereby be easily engaged with the engaging through-hole of the apparatus main body and the device unit can thereby be kept engaged with the apparatus main body under a constant condition. In addition, since the unit engaging mechanism is disposed adjacent to the opening portion of the apparatus main body, the unit engaging mechanism can be easily actuated even after the device unit has been accommodated in the apparatus main body.
Furthermore, it is possible to move the unit engaging body by pivotal movement of the panel. More specifically, pivotal movement of the panel in one direction (or opening the panel) causes the engaging body presser portion of the panel to push the projection of the unit engaging body, thereby allowing the unit engaging main body to be withdrawn from the engaging through-hole. This allows the device unit to be easily disengaged from the apparatus main body.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the aforementioned device unit housing apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the panel is provided with a stopper for engaging the unit engaging body.
This allows the fourth aspect of the invention to function in an equivalent manner to the aforementioned second or third aspect. In addition, the stopper prevents the unit engaging body from being disengaged from the engaging through-hole even when the elastic member provides only a weak force or has deteriorated.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the device unit housing apparatus according to the second, third, or fourth aspect, panel engaging members are provided in a standing manner on both ends of the panel and each of the panel engaging members is provided with an expanded projection. Furthermore, the device unit is provided with engaged members each opposed to each of the panel engaging members, and each of the engaged members is provided with an engaging slot corresponding to each expanded projection of the panel engaging member.
This allows the fifth aspect of the invention to function in an equivalent manner to the aforementioned second, third, or fourth aspect. In addition, the expanded projections of the panel engaging members provided on the panel can be engaged with the engaging slots formed on the device unit, thereby allowing the panel to be engaged with the device unit.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned device unit housing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is provided with at least one fastening member such as a screw at the apparatus main body side. In addition, the device unit is provided with mated members each having a mated portion such as a through-hole or a notch corresponding to each of the fastening members.
This allows the sixth aspect of the invention to function in an equivalent manner to any one of the aforementioned first to fifth aspects. In addition, the device unit can be engaged with the apparatus main body via the mated member of the device unit corresponding to the fastening members such as screws and by the fastening members provided on the apparatus main body.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the aforementioned device unit housing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the engaging through-hole of the apparatus main body is formed in one plate-shaped member and the plate-shaped member is provided on the apparatus main body.
This allows the seventh aspect of the invention to function in an equivalent manner to any one of the aforementioned first to sixth aspects. In addition, it is possible to form the plate-shaped member which has an engaging through-hole formed in a different shape corresponding to various types of unit engaging mechanisms without machining the apparatus main body. This makes it possible to cope readily with various types of unit engaging mechanisms only by replacing the plate-shaped member as appropriate.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the aforementioned device unit housing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the engaging through-hole of the apparatus main body is formed in one plate-shaped member and the plate-shaped member is provided on the apparatus main body. Furthermore, the plate-shaped member is provided with at least one fastening member such as a screw, and the device unit is provided with mated members each having a mated portion such as a through-hole or a notch corresponding to each of the fastening members.
This allows the eighth aspect of the invention to function in an equivalent manner to one of the aforementioned first to fifth aspects. In addition, the device unit can be mated with the apparatus main body via the mated member of the device unit corresponding to the fastening members such as screws and by the fastening members provided on the plate-shaped member of the apparatus main body.
Furthermore, it is possible to form the plate-shaped member which is provided with fastening members such as screws and which has an engaging through-hole formed in a different shape corresponding to various types of device units (the unit engaging mechanism and the mated member) without machining the apparatus main body. This makes it possible to cope readily with various types of device units only by replacing the plate-shaped member as appropriate.
The nature, principle, and utility of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.