WO1999066468A1

WO1999066468A1 - Automatically closing drive for removable media

Info

Publication number: WO1999066468A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/013006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Harold Tomoson
Original assignee: Gateway
Priority date: 1998-06-19
Filing date: 1999-06-11
Publication date: 1999-12-23
Also published as: AU4677899A

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a drive (100) for removable media having a media transport tray (102) which is automatically closed when a user inserts a removable medium (104) therein. One or more sensors (120) detect the insertion of a removable medium in the media transport tray and cause a drive mechanism (122) to automatically move the tray from the opened position to the closed position. The sensors may also detect when the removable medium is improperly seated within the media transport tray wherein the tray may be prevented from closing.

Description

AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING DRIVE FOR REMOVABLE MEDIA

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatus utilizing removable media, and more specifically a drive having an extendable media transport tray for receiving a removable medium such as an optical disc or the like.

Background of the Invention

Removable media such as optical discs (e.g., compact discs (CD), digital versatile discs (DVD), Laserdiscs, etc.), magnetic storage media, or the like provide high density, digital or analog storage of information and data in computer, video and audio applications. In many of these applications, transfer of information to or from a removable medium is accomplished by means of a drive having a media transport tray which may be extended to allow insertion and removal of the medium by a user. A drive mechanism typically moves the media transport tray between an extended or open position, wherein the storage medium is exposed to the outside of the drive so that it may be removed and replaced, and a closed position, wherein information may be read from or written to the medium. To insert a removable medium into a typical drive, a user must depress a pushbutton located on the face of the drive housing. This pushbutton, when depressed, provides a signal to a control circuit within the drive which causes the drive mechanism to move the media transport tray to an opened position. The user, after inserting or removing a removable medium, may then close the media transport tray by either depressing the pushbutton a second time, or, alternatively, by pressing inward on the tray.

At times, however, a user may fail to properly seat the removable medium within the media transport tray. When the tray closes, the removable medium may then become jammed in the drive. This jamming may damage the drive or the removable medium making the medium unusable. Similarly, a user may place a removable medium in the media transport tray and forget to close the tray so that the drive will be unable to read the medium. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved drive having a media transport tray which will automatically close when a removable medium is inserted and properly seated within the tray. The drive may also prevent a user from closing the tray when the removable medium is improperly seated therein.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is directed to a novel drive for removable media such as optical discs (e.g., CD (Compact Disc), CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only-Memory),

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc.), magnetic storage media, or the like. The drive includes a media transport tray into which a user may removably insert a removable medium. The media transport tray is movable between an extended or opened position wherein the removable medium is exposed to the outside of the drive so that it may be removed and replaced, and a closed position wherein an information transfer system may transfer information to or from the removable medium. One or more sensors detect the presence of the removable medium inserted in the media transport tray whereupon a drive mechanism automatically moves the media transport tray from the opened position to the closed position. These sensors may also be capable of detecting when the removable medium is improperly seated within the media transport tray. The drive mechanism may then be prevented from closing the media transport tray until the removable medium is properly seated therein.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings The numerous objects and advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a computer system having an automatically closing drive for removable media in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.2 is a schematic diagram depicting the primary components of the exemplary drive shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view depicting a drive mechanism adapted to move the media transport tray of the drive between an opened position and a closed position;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are partial cross-sectional side elevational views of the media transport tray wherein micro-switches are utilized to detect the presence of a removable medium within the tray;

FIGS. 5A through 5C are partial cross-sectional side elevational views of the media transport tray wherein optical sensors are utilized to detect the presence of a removable medium within the tray; FIG.6 is a block diagram depicting a typical hardware environment of a computer system such as the computer system shown in FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view illustrating an alternative embodiment of a drive in accordance with the present invention wherein the drive includes a media transport tray adapted to accept more than one removable medium.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention provides a drive for removable media such as optical discs including CD (Compact Disc), CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only-Memory), DVD

(Digital Versatile Disc), etc., magnetic storage media, or the like. The drive includes a media transport tray into which a user may removably insert an a removable medium such as an optical disc or the like. The media transport tray is movable between an extended or opened position wherein the medium is exposed to the outside of the drive so that it may be removed and replaced, and a closed position wherein an information transfer system may transfer information to or from the removable medium. One or more sensors may detect the presence of the removable medium inserted in the media transport tray whereupon a drive mechanism automatically moves the media transport tray from the opened position to the closed position. These sensors may also be capable of detecting when the removable medium is improperly seated within the media transport tray. The drive mechanism may then be prevented from closing the tray until the storage medium is properly seated therein. Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a drive for removable media in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The drive 100 may be, for example, an optical disc drive such as a CD-ROM drive utilized in a computer system 200. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the drive 100 may be adapted for use with removable media of any format including optical discs having formats such as, for example, Compact Disc (CD), Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Readable/Writeable Compact Discs (CD-R, CD-RW), or Digital Versatile Disc (DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM). The drive 100 includes a media transport tray such as disc transport tray 102 for receiving a removable medium such as optical disc 104. The disc transport tray 102 may, for example, comprise a flattened, rectangular frame 106 having a shallow, generally circular recess 108 sized to removably accept a standard 12 cm optical disc 104 such as a Compact Disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or the like. The disc transport tray 102 is movable between a fully closed position wherein the drive 100 may transfer (i.e., read and/or write) data to or from the disc 104, and a fully opened position wherein the user may insert and remove the disc 104 from the disc transport tray 102. Preferably, when in the opened position, the disc transport tray 102 carrying the optical disc 104 is moved completely clear of the disc drive housing 124 so that the disc 104 may be easily removed and replaced, if desired. An opening 110 may be provided in the recess 108.

When the disc transport tray 102 is retracted, this opening allows a drive mechanism (not shown) to engage and spin the optical disc 104 so that information may be transferred between the disc 104 and the drive 100. The drive mechanism (see FIG. 3) may also move the disc transport tray 102 between the fully closed position and the fully opened position.

A user of the computer system 200 may extend the disc transport tray 102 by depressing a pushbutton type manual tray control switch 112. This manual tray control switch 112 may be placed anywhere on the drive 100 or computer 200 where the pushbutton is accessible both with the disc transport tray 102 holding a disc 104 within the disc drive 100, or with the disc transport tray 102 fully extended for insertion or removal of a disc 104. Alternatively, the user may select an icon on the display screen of the computer 200. The computer 200 may then command the drive 100 to open the disc transport tray 102.

One or more sensors 120 may be positioned within the recess 108 of the disc transport tray 102. These sensors 120 may comprise, for example, micro-switches, optical sensors, electrical field sensors, or the like adapted to detect the presence of an optical disc 104 inserted in the disc transport tray 102. The exact positioning of the sensors 120 may depend on the type of sensor used. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensors 120 may be positioned within the recess 108 beneath the playing surface of the disc 104. This positioning is preferable for embodiments of the invention employing optical sensors because the disc surface, which is typically reflective, may be utilized to reflect light emitted by the sensor. Alternatively, for embodiments utilizing micro- switches as sensors, for example, the sensors may be placed near the outer edge of the disc, so that they do not contact, and possibly scratch, the information storage surface of the optical disc. Turning now to FIG.2, a block diagram depicting the primary components of the drive is shown. A tray control circuit 126 may control movement of the disc transport tray 102 via the tray drive mechanism 122 in response to signals received from input sources such as the manual tray control switch 112, the one or more sensors 120, a timer 128, the computer 200, or the drive mechanism 122 itself. To initiate movement of the disc transport tray 102 from any partially closed or fully closed position to the fully opened position, a user may depress the manual tray control switch 112 located on the front face of the drive housing 124. This switch 112 provides a signal to the tray control circuit 126 which in response commands the drive mechanism 122 to move the disc transport tray 102 to the fully extended position. The user may then insert or remove an optical disc 104, if desired.

As described supra, the disc transport tray 102 preferably comprises one or more sensors 120 capable of detecting when a disc 104 is inserted and properly seated therein. These sensors 120 may, upon detecting the insertion of a disc 104, provide a signal to the tray control circuit 126 whereupon the tray control circuit 126 may command the drive mechanism 122 to move the disc transport tray 102 to the fully closed position. The tray control circuit 126 may comprise a time delay which preferably delays closing disc transport tray 102 to allow the user sufficient time remove his hand from the area of the disc drive 100 after inserting the optical disc in the tray 102. Preferably, each of the one or more sensors 120 must detect the presence of an optical disc in the disc transport tray 102 before the tray control circuit 126 will command the drive mechanism 122 to close the disc transport tray 102. In this manner, the disc transport tray 102 may be prevented from closing when the optical disc 104 is improperly seated therein such that the disc 104 fails to activate one or more of the sensors 120.

A timer 128 may be coupled to the tray control circuit 126 to close the disc transport tray 102 after it has been extended for a predetermined period of time. Preferably, the timer 128 may be initiated by the tray control circuit 126 when the disc transport tray 102 is initially moved to the open position. When the disc transport tray 102 has been extended for a predetermined period of time, the timer 128 may provide a signal to the tray control circuit 126 which may in turn command the drive mechanism 122 to retract the disc transport tray 102. However, if during the predetermined period of time the sensors 120 detect the insertion of a disc 104 in the disc transport tray 102

(i.e., the user inserts a disc in an empty tray, or removes and replaces a disc initially contained in the tray with a second disc), the timer 128 is preferably reset by the tray control circuit 126 so that it may be initiated when the disc transport tray 102 is again moved from the closed position to the open position. As with prior art disc drives, the user may also manually retract the disc transport tray 102 by depressing the manual tray control switch 112, or by pushing inward on the disc transport tray 102. Alternatively, the user may select an icon on the display screen of the computer 200. The computer 200 may then provide a signal to the tray control circuit 126 commanding the circuit 126 to close the disc transport tray 102. An optical system 130 may transfer data between the disc 104 and the computer

200. The optical system 130 preferably comprises a laser and a photo-electrical cell adapted to read information from and/or write information to the disc. The optical system 130 may be moved across the disc 104, for example, from the inside of the disc 104 to the outside of the disc 104, by a drive system so that information may be written to or read from any position and at any layer on the disc 104. Preferably, as the optical system 130 approaches the outside of the disc 104, the speed of rotation of the disc 104 is increased so that a track may be read at a given rate regardless of the radial distance from the center of the disc 104.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary drive mechanism is shown. The drive mechanism 122 comprises a drive shaft 1136 and clutch 144 which may direct rotational motion from a motor 142 to both a disc drive spindle 138, used to spin the disc 104, and a gear train 140 used to power the movement of the disc transport tray 102. The disc transport tray 102 may be mounted to slide within tracks 132, moving through a slot 134 in the drive housing 124. Preferably, the gear train 136 moves the disc transport tray 102 in either direction (i.e., from the fully closed position to the fully opened position, or from the fully opened position to the fully closed position). Limit switches (not shown) may be closed by the motion of the disc transport tray 102 to provide an indication of when the tray 102 has reached either end of its desired motion thereby indicating when operation of the motor 142 to power the gear train 140 should be terminated.

The rotational motion of the spindle 138 is preferably derived from the rotation of the drive shaft 136, which is in turn rotationally driven by the motor 142. To facilitate transfer of data to and from a disc 104, the motor 142 may drive the drive shaft 136 in the a clockwise direction, for example, whereas to effect the movement of the disc transport tray 102, the motor 142 may drive the drive shaft 136 in the counterclockwise direction thereby engaging the clutch 144 which in turn drives the gear train 140. The final gear 146 in the gear train 140 preferably engages a rack 148 extending along a lower surface of the disc transport tray 102.

To transfer data to and from the disc 104, the disc is rotationally driven by the spindle 138 in a clockwise direction, as information stored on the disc is either written to or read from the disc via the optical system 130. As the spindle 138 is rotated, the optical system 130 is preferably moved across the disc by an optics drive system 152.

In this manner, the optical system 130 may transfer information to or from any position and at any layer on the optical disc 104. Preferably, as the optical system 150 approaches the outer edge of the disc 104, the speed of rotation of the disc 104 is increased so that a given track may be read at a constant rate regardless of its radial distance from the center of the disc. Turning now to FIGS. 4A through 4C, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the sensors comprise micro-switches 154 & 156 embedded in the recess 108 of the disc transport tray 102. Preferably, the micro-switches 154 & 156 are positioned near the edge of the recess 108 so that they do not contact and possibly scratch the information storage surface of the optical disc 104. Alternatively, however, the micro-switches 154 & 156 may be placed beneath the storage surface of the optical disc and coated with soft material such as cloth or felt, for example, to prevent scratching.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the micro-switches 154 & 156 are normally open (not depressed) when the disc transport tray 102 is empty (i.e., an optical disc 104 is not received in the recess 108 of the disc transport tray 102). When a user inserts an optical disc 104 in the recess 108 of the disc transport tray 102, such that the disc 104 properly seated therein, as shown in FIG. 4B, each micro-switch 154 & 156 is preferably depressed or closed by the weight of the disc 104.

When an optical disc 104 is placed in the recess 108 of the disc transport tray 104 such that it is not properly seated, as shown in FIG. 4C, one or more of the micro- switches 154 may be depressed while one or more others 156 are not. In this manner, the micro-switch sensors 154 & 156 may detect that the optical disc 104 is not properly seated, whereupon the tray control circuit does not close the disc transport tray 102. Further, in this situation, the tray control circuit 126 may prevent the disc transport tray 102 from being closed in response to other input sources such as, for example, the timer

128 or the manual tray control switch 112 (see FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIGS. 5 A through 5C, the sensors may alternatively comprise one or more optical sensors 158 & 160 which may likewise be embedded in the recess 108 of the disc transport tray 102. In an exemplary embodiment, each optical sensor 158 & 160 may comprise a light source 162 & 166 such as a light emitting diode, laser diode, or the like, and a light receptor 164 & 168 such as, for example, a photoelectric device capable of generating an electrical current in response to received light. Preferably, the optical sensors 158 & 160 are positioned in the recess 108 beneath the disc 104 so that the information storage surface of the disc 104, which is preferably reflective, may be utilized to reflect light emitted from the light sources 162 & 166 to the light receptors 164 & 168.

In an exemplary embodiment, each light source 162 & 166 and light receptor 164 & 168 may be positioned at an angle to each other so that light emitted from the light source 162 & 166 may be reflected by the optical disc 104 to the light receptor 164 & 168 only when the disc 104 is properly seated within the recess 108 of the disc transport tray 102. Further, each light source 162 & 166 is preferably capable of producing light of a specific wavelength which may include the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared ranges. Likewise, the light receptors 164 & 168 may be adapted be sensitive only by light of the specific wavelength emitted by the light sources 162 & 166. In this manner, the optical sensors 158 & 160 may be made less prone to false activation by ambient light. As shown in FIG. 5 A, when the disc transport tray 102 is empty, light emitted from the each of the light sources 162 & 166 is not reflected to their respective light receptors 164 & 166. As a result, the disc transport tray 102 is allowed to remain in the opened position until an optical disc 104 is inserted therein, or, alternatively, until the timer causes the tray control circuit to close the tray 102. When an optical disc 104 is placed in the recess 108 of the disc transport tray 102 and properly seated, as shown in

FIG. 5B, light, which is emitted from the light source 162 & 166 of each optical sensor 158 and 160, is reflected from the surface of the disc 104 and detected by the respective light receptor 164 & 168. Each light receptor 164 & 168 may then provide a signal to the tray control circuit which in turn causes the drive mechanism to move the disc transport tray to the closed position.

When an optical disc 104 is placed in the recess of the disc transport tray 102 such that the disc is not properly seated, as shown in FIG. 5C, light emitted from the light source 162 of one or more of the optical sensors 158 may be reflected from the surface of the disc 104 such that it is received by its respective light receptor 164. However, light emitted by the light source 166 of one or more other optical sensors 160 is not reflected to its respective light receptor 168 due the position of the disc with respect to that optical sensor 160. Because signals are not received from all of the optical sensors 158 & 160, the tray control circuit 126 prevents the disc transport tray 102 from closing until all sensors 158 & 160 detect the insertion of the disc (i.e., the disc is properly seated). Further, since the sensors 158 & 160 indicate that a disc is present but not properly seated, the tray control circuit 126 will preferably the disc transport tray from being closed in response to input sources such as, for example, the timer 128 or the manual tray control switch 112 (see FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIG. 6, a block diagram of a typical computer system which may employ the present invention is illustrated. The computer system 200 is controlled by a central processing system 202. The central processing system 202 includes a central processing unit such as a microprocessor or microcontroller for executing programs, performing data manipulations and controlling the tasks of the computer system 200. Communication with the central processing system 202 is implemented through a system bus 210 for transferring information among the components of the computer system 200. The bus 210 may include a data channel for facilitating information transfer between storage and other peripheral components of the hardware system. The bus 210 further provides the set of signals required for communication with the central processing system 202 including a data bus, address bus, and control bus. The bus 210 may comprise any state of the art bus architecture according to promulgated standards, for example industry standard architecture (ISA), extended industry standard architecture (EISA), Micro

Channel Architecture (MCA), peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus, standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) including IEEE 488 general-purpose interface bus (GPIB), IEEE 696/S-100, and so on. Other components of the computer system 200 include main memory 204, auxiliary memory 206, and an auxiliary processing system 208 as required. The main memory 204 provides storage of instructions and data for programs executing on the central processing system 202. The main memory 204 is typically semiconductor based memory such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and or static random access memory (SRAM). The auxiliary memory 206 provides storage of instructions and data that are loaded into the main memory 204 before execution. The auxiliary memory 206 may include semiconductor based memory such as read-only memory (ROM), programmable read- only memory (PROM) erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory (block oriented memory similar to EEPROM). The auxiliary memory 206 may also include a variety of non- semiconductor based memories, including but not limited to magnetic tape, drum, floppy disk, hard disk, optical, laser disc, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM), digital versatile disc random-access memory (DVD-RAM), etc. Other varieties of memory devices are contemplated as well. The computer system 200 may optionally include an auxiliary processing system 208 which may be a digital signal processor (a special-purpose microprocessor having an architecture suitable for fast execution of signal processing algorithms), a back-end processor (a slave processor subordinate to the main processing system), an additional microprocessor or controller for dual or multiple processor systems, or a coprocessor.

The computer system 200 further includes a display system 212 for connecting to a display device 214, and an input/output (I/O) system 216 for connecting to one or more I/O devices 218, 220 up to Nnumber of I/O devices 222. The display system 212 may comprise a video display adapter having all of the components for driving the display device, including video random access memory (VRAM), buffer, and graphics engine as desired. The display device 214 may comprise a cathode ray-tube (CRT) type display such as a monitor or television, or may comprise alternative type of display technologies such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, or a gas or plasma display. The input/output system 216 may comprise one or more controllers or adapters for providing interface functions between the one or more I/O devices 218-222. For example, the input/output system 216 may comprise a serial port, parallel port, infrared port, network adapter, printer adapter, radio-frequency (RF) communications adapter, universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) port, etc., for interfacing between corresponding I/O devices such as a mouse, joystick, trackball, trackpad, trackstick, infrared transducers, printer, modem, RF modem, bar code reader, charge-coupled device (CCD) reader, scanner, compact disc (CD), compact disc readonly memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD), video capture device, touch screen, stylus, electroacoustic transducer, microphone, speaker, etc. The input/output system 216 and I/O devices 218-222 may provide or receive analog or digital signals for communication between the hardware system 200 of the present invention and external devices, networks, or information sources. The input/output system 216 and I/O devices 218-222 preferably implement industry promulgated architecture standards, including Ethernet IEEE 802 standards (e.g., IEEE 802.3 for broadband and baseband networks, IEEE 802.3z for Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.4 for token passing bus networks, IEEE

802.5 for token ring networks, IEEE 802.6 for metropolitan area networks, and so on), Fibre Channel, digital subscriber line (DSL), asymmetric digital subscriber line (ASDL), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), integrated digital services network (ISDN), personal communications services (PCS), transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), serial line Internet protocol/point to point protocol (SLIP/PPP), and so on. It should be appreciated that modification or reconfiguration of the computer system 200 of FIG. 6 by one having ordinary skill in the art would not depart from the scope or the spirit of the present invention.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7, wherein the disc transport tray 170 comprises a carousel 174 having multiple recesses 172 for accepting one or more optical discs 104. When the disc transport tray is retracted, this carousel 174 may rotate to place each disc 104 inserted therein in a position to transfer data to an electronic device 300. One or more sensors 176 may be positioned in each of the carousel's recesses 172 so that when optical discs are inserted and properly seated therein the disc transport tray 170 may be automatically moved from the open position to the closed position. Preferably, the disc transport tray 170 is opened and closed in the same manner as disc transport tray 102 of the single disc optical disc drive embodiment described herein in connection with FIGS 1 through 6. However, in the multiple disc optical disc drive embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the disc transport tray is preferably closed automatically only when optical discs are inserted in all recesses 172 of the carousel 174 or when a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

It is believed that automatically closing drive for removable media the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

Claims

What is claimed is:

L A drive for receiving removable media comprising: a media transport tray for receiving a removable medium removably inserted therein, said media transport tray movable between an opened position wherein said removable medium may be removed from said media transport tray and a closed position wherein said drive may communicate data with said removable medium; and a sensor for detecting the insertion of said removable medium in said media transport tray.

2. The drive of claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism for automatically moving said media transport tray from said opened position to said closed position when said sensor detects said removable medium inserted in said media transport tray.

3. The drive of claim 1, wherein said sensor detects if said removable medium is seated in said media transport tray.

4. The drive of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a normally open switch wherein said normally open switch is closed when said removable medium is placed in said media transport tray.

5 The drive of claim 4, wherein said switch is a micro-switch.

6. The drive of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.

7. The drive of claim 6, wherein said optical sensor comprises a light source and a light receptor, said light receptor for generating a signal upon receiving light emitted from said light source and reflected by said removable medium when said removable medium is properly seated in said media transport tray.

8. The drive of claim 7, wherein said light source is a laser diode.

9. The drive of claim 7, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

10. The drive of claim 1 , further comprising a timer for causing said tray drive mechanism to move said media transport tray to the closed position after a predetermined time has elapsed.

11. Apparatus for receiving an optical disc in a disc drive, said apparatus comprising: a disc transport tray for accepting a disc removably inserted therein, said disc transport tray movable between a closed position wherein said disc drive apparatus may transfer data to and from said disc and an opened position wherein said disc may be removed from said disc transport tray; a tray drive mechanism for moving said disc transport tray between said opened position and said closed position; a sensor for detecting the insertion of said disc wherein said disc is properly seated in said disc transport tray; and a tray control circuit for controlling said drive mechanism, said tray control circuit for causing said drive mechanism to move said disc transport tray to the closed position when said sensor detects said disc properly seated therein.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said sensor comprises a normally open switch wherein said normally open switch is closed when said disc is placed in said disc transport tray.

13 The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said switch is a micro-switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said optical sensor comprises a light source and a light receptor, said light receptor for generating a signal upon receiving light emitted from said light source and reflected by said disc when said disc is properly seated in said disc transport tray.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said light source is a laser diode.

17. The apparatus of 15, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said light receptor is a photoelectric device.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a timer for causing said tray drive mechanism to move said disc transport tray to the closed position after a predetermined time has elapsed.

20. A computer system comprising: a central processing system; memory interconnected with said central processing system; a display system; an input/output system; and a drive for removable media, said drive further comprising: a media transport tray for receiving a removable medium removably inserted therein, said media transport tray movable between an opened position wherein said removable medium may be removed from said media transport tray and a closed position wherein said drive may communicate data with said removable medium; and a sensor for detecting the insertion of said removable medium in said media transport tray.

21. The computer system of to claim 20, further comprising a drive mechanism for automatically moving said media transport tray from said opened position to said fully closed position when said sensor detects said removable medium inserted in said media transport tray.

22. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said sensor detects if said removable medium is seated in said media transport tray.

23. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said sensor comprises a normally open switch wherein said normally open switch is closed when said removable medium is placed in said media transport tray.

24 The computer system of claim 23, wherein said switch is a micro-switch.

25. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein said optical sensor comprises a light source and a light receptor, said light receptor for generating a signal upon receiving light emitted from said light source and reflected by said removable medium when said removable medium is properly seated in said media transport tray.

27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein said light source is a laser diode.

28. The computer system of claim 26, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

29. The computer system of claim 20, further comprising a timer for causing said tray drive mechanism to move said media transport tray to the closed position after a predetermined time has elapsed.

30. A method for closing a drive for removable media, the method comprising: receiving a command to close a media transport tray of the drive; sensing whether a removable medium is properly inserted within the media transport tray; and closing the media transport tray if the removable medium is properly inserted therein.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising transferring information between the removable medium and the drive.