JP2000040126A - Information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability by locking the insertion/removal mechanism of an optical card while recording and reproducing information. SOLUTION: In the locking mechanism 101 of the insertion/removal mechanism 84, an arm 102 is freely turnably supported with a shaft 103 and energized counterclockwise by an energizing member 104. The arm 102 is provided with a bend part 102a to be moved by the action of a pin 105 provided on an optical head 72 and a locking part 102b to be engaged with the pin 106 provided on a rack 91. When the optical head 82 is returned to a standby position, the pin 105 is abutted on the bend part 102a, the arm 102 is rotated clockwise, the locking part 102b is detached from the pin 106 and the rack 91 is released. After the insertion/removal mechanism 84 loads the optical card C on a mounting base 75, when the optical head 72 leaves the standby position, the pin 105 is separated from the bend part 102a, the arm 102 is rotated counterclockwise by the energizing force of the energizing means 104, the locking part 102b is engaged with the pin 106 and the rack 91 is locked.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises an insertion / removal mechanism for inserting / removing an optical recording medium into / from a mounting table, and information for recording and / or reproducing information on / from the recording medium inserted into the mounting table. The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are a magnetic system and an optical system for recording information on a recording medium, and the recording medium has a tape shape, a disk shape, a card shape and the like. These shapes can be properly used depending on the purpose. In particular, card-shaped recording media are often used for cash cards and the like because of their excellent storage and portability.

[0003] In recent years, the amount of information recorded on a recording medium has increased in response to the information age, and magnetic recording media have become unable to cope with the increase in the amount of information. Magnetic recording media have become a serious social problem because they are easy to forge, and the emergence of highly secure recording media is desired.

In view of such circumstances, an optical card, which is a card-shaped optical recording medium, is capable of recording a large amount of information, is easily mass-produced, is inexpensive, and requires additional writing. In addition to its advantages such as being possible, it also has the advantage that it is difficult to rewrite or falsify recorded information and leave a history, so it is attracting attention as a highly secure recording medium.

Tracks are formed on this type of optical card at intervals of several μm, and the information recording / reproducing apparatus records and reproduces information by forming spots having a diameter of several μm between the tracks of the optical card using a light beam. It is supposed to.
Such an information recording / reproducing apparatus includes a mounting table for mounting an optical card and moving in the track direction, an optical head for moving in a direction perpendicular to the track of the optical card and irradiating the optical card with a light beam, and an optical head. An insertion / removal mechanism for inserting / removing the card from / to the mounting table is provided.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a box 1 of a conventional information recording / reproducing apparatus is provided with an opening 1a through which an optical card C is passed. An optical head 2 for recording and reproducing information by irradiating the light is supported movably in the S direction via guide shafts 3 and 4. A mounting table 5 on which the optical card C can be mounted is supported movably in the T direction below the optical head 2 via guide shafts 6 and 7. Note that the S direction is the direction of the track of the optical card C, and the T direction is a direction orthogonal to the S direction.

The box 1 has an electric drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the optical head 2 to the standby position, the initial position, and the recording / reproducing operation range, and the mounting table 5 to the standby position, the initial position, and the recording / reproducing operation range. And an electric drive mechanism 8 for inserting and removing the optical card C with respect to the mounting table 5. The standby position of the optical head 2 and the mounting table 5 is a position where the optical card C can be inserted into and removed from the mounting table 5, and the initial position is such that when starting the recording and reproducing operation of the information, the laser light is applied to the optical head 2. Is focused on the surface of the medium of the optical card C and drawn into the auto focus servo.

The drive mechanism 8 includes a belt 12 connected to the mounting table 5 via a connector 11, pulleys 13 and 14 for supporting the belt 12, and a drive motor 15 for driving one pulley 14. The mounting table 5 is driven to a predetermined recording / reproducing range.

An upper surface of the mounting table 5 is a mounting surface 5a on which the optical card C is mounted, and a reference surface 5b for setting a side edge position of the optical card C is provided on one side of the mounting surface 5a. A reference surface 5 for stabilizing the front edge position of the optical card is provided at the back of the mounting surface 5a.
c is provided. On both long sides of the mounting table 5, reference plates 16, 17 for stabilizing the upper surface position of the optical card C are provided between the mounting table 5a and the mounting surface 5a so as to receive the optical card C.
An opening 1 is provided at substantially the center of one reference plate 16 in the longitudinal direction.
6a are formed.

A light-shielding plate 18 for detecting the position of the mounting table 5 protrudes from one side surface of the mounting table 5, and the box 1 is shielded from light by the light-shielding plate 18 to detect the position of the mounting table 5. An optical first mounting table sensor 19 and a second mounting table sensor 20 are installed. Outer first mounting table sensor 19
Is the standby position, and the position of the mounting table 5 detected by the inner second mounting table sensor 20 is the initial position.

In the insertion / removal mechanism 9, a pair of support members 31, 32
Are provided between the opening 1a of the box 1 and the mounting table 5 at intervals slightly larger than the length of the short side of the optical card C.
On one support member 31 side, a first card sensor 33 for detecting a front end position of the optical card C and a second card sensor 34 for detecting a rear end position of the optical card C are arranged.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 8, and a first transport roller 35 is rotatably provided below the support members 31, 32. A gear 36 is provided at one end of the first transport roller 35, and a pulley 37 is provided at the other end. The pulley 37 is connected to a pulley 39 of a drive motor 38 via a belt 40. A cleaning roller 41 is supported in the grooves at the upper ends of the support members 31 and 32, and a desired pressure is applied by leaf springs 42 and 43.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Y--Y of FIG. 8, and a second transport roller 44 is supported between the cleaning roller 41 and the mounting table 5 by the support members 31 and 32. A driven roller 45 is supported below the second transport roller 44. These second transport roller 44 and driven roller 4
The interval of 5 is smaller than the thickness of the optical card C. The second transport roller 44 is provided with a gear 46 and a pulley 47, and the gear 46 is meshed with the gear 36 of the first transport roller 35.

Outside the support member 31, two plate-like arms 51 and 52 are horizontally supported via a shaft 53, and a shaft 54 is supported at the tip of these arms 51 and 52. . A cam roller 55 is provided at an inner end of the shaft 54 so as to be located in the opening 16a of the reference plate 16, and a drive pulley 56 is provided at an outer end of the shaft 54. The belt 57 is attached to the pulley 47 of the transport roller 44.
Are connected via

The cam roller 55 includes an arc portion 55a which can be pressed against the optical card C, and a flat portion 55b which does not contact the optical card C.
Are provided. A small roller 58 is provided below the cam roller 55. The arc portion 55a and the small roller 58 of the cam roller 55 convey the optical card C while pressing it, while the flat portion 55b of the cam roller 55 and the small roller 58 are connected to the optical card C. Is not transported.

The drive pulley 56 has an outer flange 56a and an inner flange 56b, and a slit 56c is formed in the outer flange 56a. A roller sensor 59 for detecting the rotation amount and the rotation position of the driving pulley 56, that is, the cam roller 55, is provided with an outer flange 56 of the driving pulley 56.
a. This roller sensor 59
Detects the amount of rotation of the cam roller 55, and detects that the flat portion 55b is below and is in a horizontal state.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus having such a configuration operates as follows under the control of the control means. When the first mounting table sensor 19 detects the standby position of the mounting table 5, when the optical card C is pushed between the first transport roller 35 and the cleaning roller 41 from the opening 1 a of the box 1, The first card sensor 33 detects the optical card C, and
8 starts. Thereby, the rollers 35, 41, 44,
45 rotates to push the optical card C between the cam roller 55 and the small roller 58. Subsequently, the cam roller 55 and the small roller 58 press the leading end of the optical card C against the reference surface 5c of the mounting table 5.

At the same time, the second card sensor 34 detects the rear end of the optical card C, and the roller sensor 59
5 is detected. Then, the cam roller 55 rotates based on a detection signal from the roller sensor 59, and the rotation of the cam roller 55 stops when the roller sensor 59 detects the position of the slit 55c. At this time, the cam roller 5
The flat portion 55b of 5 faces the optical card C substantially in parallel.

When the insertion of the optical card C into the mounting table 5 is completed in this way, the drive motor 15 of the drive mechanism 8 operates, and the mounting table 5 leaves the standby position and moves to the initial position. Then, the laser light is focused on the medium surface of the optical card C from the optical head 2, and thereafter, the operation proceeds to the information recording / reproducing operation.

On the other hand, when ending the information recording / reproducing operation, the mounting table 5 is positioned at the standby position by a signal from the first mounting table sensor 19. And the drive motor 38
Rotates in reverse, and the rollers 35, 41, 44, and 45 rotate in reverse to eject the optical card C from the opening 1a.

[0021]

With the development of digital communication technology and the development of communication networks in recent years, information devices called mobile devices have rapidly become widespread, and they have been actively used not only in offices but also outdoors. It is used. In view of such circumstances, it is desirable that the information recording / reproducing apparatus using the optical card C is also reduced in size and weight to improve the portability in order to maximize the portability of the optical card C. I have.

In order to make the information recording / reproducing apparatus portable, it is important to extend the usable time of the battery in addition to reducing the size and weight of the entire apparatus.
For this reason, a portable information recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a manual insertion / removal mechanism 9 ′ as shown in FIG. 11 instead of the above-described electric insertion / removal mechanism 9 has been proposed. In this manual insertion / removal mechanism 9 ', a gear 61 is provided on the cam roller 55, and a rack 63 is slidably connected to the gear 61 via a pinion 62. A knob 64 is provided on the upper surface of the rack 63, and the knob 64 protrudes outside from an elongated hole 1 b formed in the upper wall of the box 1.

However, since this kind of insertion / removal mechanism 9 'is not automatically controlled, the user slides the knob 64 within a predetermined range while recognizing the transport state of the optical card C, and
It is necessary to insert and remove the optical card C without shifting the phase of the cam roller 55.

Further, since the rack 63 is always slidable, there is a risk that the rack 63 may be inadvertently moved while recording or reproducing information. For example, when the rack 63 is moved while the arc portion 55a of the cam roller 55 is in contact with the optical card C, there is a problem that information recording / reproduction becomes impossible or the device becomes inoperable. is there.

When the flat portion 55b of the cam roller 55 faces the optical card C in parallel, the rack 63 can be moved. Therefore, there is a possibility that the optical card C may be inserted twice. In this case, there is a problem that the ejection of the optical card C becomes impossible.

When the rack 63 is returned after the mounting table 5 has moved to the recording / reproducing operation range, the cam rollers 55
When the optical card C is ejected, the optical card C collides with the cam roller 55 and the mounting table 5 cannot move to the standby position. When the rack 63 is stopped halfway, the rack 63 does not have a stroke capable of completely ejecting the optical card C.
There is a problem that the optical card C cannot be ejected.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus which has improved reliability by locking an optical card insertion / removal mechanism during information recording / reproducing.

[0028]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information recording / reproducing apparatus for irradiating an optical recording medium with a light beam to record / reproduce information.
A mounting table on which the recording medium is mounted and relatively moved with respect to the optical head; and an information recording / reproducing apparatus including an insertion / removal mechanism for inserting and removing the recording medium with respect to the mounting table, wherein the optical head or A lock mechanism for locking the operation of the insertion / removal mechanism when the mounting table is in a recording / reproducing operation range is provided.

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the first embodiment in which the optical card C is inserted, and FIG. 2 is a right side view in a state where the box 71 is omitted. An opening 71a is formed, and an elongated hole 7 is provided in the upper wall of the box body 71 for accommodating a knob described later movably in the front-rear direction.
1b is provided. An optical head 7 for recording and reproducing information by irradiating the optical card C with a light beam is provided inside the box 71.
2 is supported by two parallel guide shafts 73 and 74 supported on the base of the box 71 so as to be reciprocally movable in the direction of the track of the optical card C.

Below the optical head 72, there is provided a mounting table 75 for mounting the optical card C and moving relative to the optical head 72. The mounting table 75 is supported by a base of the box 71. The parallel guide shafts 76 and 77 are supported reciprocally in a direction perpendicular to the track of the optical card C. One guide shaft 76 is supported via a bearing 78, and the other guide shaft 77 is supported via a substantially U-shaped sliding member 79. The mounting table 75 is driven to a predetermined recording / reproducing range by a driving mechanism including a belt, a pulley, a driving motor, and the like (not shown).

A guide member 80 is provided between the opening 71a and the mounting table 75 to ensure that the optical card C is inserted into and removed from the mounting table 75. A light-shielding plate 81 used to detect the position of the mounting table 75 protrudes outward from one side surface of the mounting table 75. Further, an outer first mounting table sensor 82 and an inner second mounting table sensor 83 that are shielded from light by the light shielding plate 81 are installed in the box 71.
The optical card C is placed beside the mounting table 75 on the mounting table 5.
An insertion / removal mechanism 84 is provided for insertion / removal with respect to.

The upper surface of the mounting table 75 is a mounting surface 75a on which the optical card C is mounted, and a reference surface 75b for setting the side edge position of the optical card C is provided on one side of the mounting surface 75a. A reference surface 75c for stabilizing the front edge position of the optical card is provided at the back of the mounting surface 75a. On both long sides of the mounting table 75, reference plates 8 for setting the upper surface position of the optical card C are provided.
5 and 86 are provided in a gap for receiving the optical card C between itself and the mounting surface 75a. A plate spring 87 for urging the optical card C toward the reference plates 85 and 86 is provided on the mounting table 75,
88 are provided.

The position of the mounting table 75 detected by the first mounting table sensor 82 is a standby position where the optical card C can be inserted into or discharged from the mounting table 75. The position of the mounting table 75 detected by the second mounting table sensor 83 is an initial position called a home position. At this initial position, when starting recording and reproducing information, laser light is transmitted from the optical head 72 to the optical card C. Is focused on the surface of the medium, and is drawn into the auto focus servo.

In the insertion / removal mechanism 84, a rack 91 is slidably supported on the lower surface of the upper wall of the box 71 in the direction in which the optical card C is inserted / removed. A knob 92 projecting outward from 71b is provided.
A cam roller 94 is supported at the inner end of a shaft 93 supported by a box 71 via a bearing (not shown) so as to be located in an opening 85 a of one of the reference plates 85. The roller 95 is supported by the mounting table 75.

The cam roller 94 has an arc portion 94a which can be pressed against the optical card C, and a flat portion 94 which does not contact the optical card C.
b is provided, and the arc portion 94a of the cam roller 94 and the small roller 95 convey the optical card C while pressing the same.
The flat portion 94b of the cam roller 94 and the small roller 95 do not carry the optical card C. A gear 96 is provided at an outer end of the shaft 93, and the gear 96 is connected to the rack 91 via a pinion 97. When the optical card C is ejected or before the optical card C is inserted, the knob 92 of the rack 91 is in contact with the rear wall 71c of the elongated hole 71b.

Here, the rack 91 secures a sufficient transport amount of the cam roller 94 so that the front edge thereof can contact the reference surface 75c of the mounting table 75 even if the cam roller 94 slides on the surface of the optical card C. It is designed to be driven at a reduction ratio. After the cam roller 94 has brought the front edge of the optical card C into contact with the reference surface 75c of the mounting table 75, the flat portion 94b of the cam roller 94 faces substantially parallel to the optical card C, and in this state, the mounting table 75 It moves from the standby position to the initial position and the recording / reproducing position.

Further, a lock mechanism 101 for locking the insertion / removal mechanism 84 is provided. In the lock mechanism 101, an arm 102 heading in the front-rear direction is rotatably supported around a shaft 103 supported by a box 71, and the arm 10
2 is urged in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 by an urging member 104 such as a coil spring. The arm 102 has a bent portion 102 a that moves by the action of a pin 105 provided on the optical head 72, and a pin 106 provided on the rack 91.
And a locking portion 102b that locks the rack 91 by engaging with the locking portion 102b.

Before loading the optical card C, the optical head 7
2 and the mounting table 75 are at the standby position, and the locking portion 102 b of the arm 102 is disengaged from the pin 106 of the rack 91.
In this state, the user inserts the optical card C into the opening 71a, and attaches the front end of the optical card C to the cam roller 94 and the small rollers 9a.
Press between 5 When the knob 92 of the insertion / removal mechanism 84 is moved forward, the rack 91 slides forward as shown in FIG. 3, and the pin 106 is placed behind the locking portion 102 b of the arm 102 without contacting the arm 102. To position. At the same time, the cam roller 94 rotates via the pinion 97 and the gear 96, the cam roller 94 and the small roller 95 insert the optical card C into the mounting table 75, and the front edge of the optical card C
Contact. A detector not shown is a cam roller 9.
4 to detect that the flat portion 94b of the No. 4 is in a horizontal position with the downward direction, thereby enabling information recording and reproduction.

Next, the optical head 72 and the mounting table 75 move to the initial positions. At this time, the flat portion 94 of the cam roller 94
Since b is separated from the optical card C, the mounting table 75 moves to the initial position without receiving a load. When the optical head 72 leaves the standby position, the pin 1
05 is separated from the bent portion 102a of the arm 102. As a result, the arm 102 rotates counterclockwise by the urging force of the urging member 104, and the locking portion 102b of the arm 102
Engages with the pins 106 of the rack 91 to lock the rack 91. Then, the flat portion 94b of the cam roller 94 is held in a downward horizontal state.

On the other hand, when ejecting the optical card C, the optical head 72 moves to the standby position. At this time, the optical head 7
The second pin 105 contacts the bent portion 102a of the arm 102, and rotates the arm 102 clockwise. Thereby, the locking portion 102b of the arm 102 is disengaged from the pin 106 of the rack 91, and the rack 91 is released. Then, when the knob 92 is moved backward to slide the rack 91 in the opposite direction, the optical card C projects from the opening 71a.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the optical head 7
2 is in the information recording / reproducing operation, the lock mechanism 10
Since 1 locks the rack 91 of the insertion / removal mechanism 84, it is possible to prevent the user from inadvertently moving the rack 91 of the insertion / removal mechanism 84. Therefore, the optical card C is not moved during information recording / reproduction, and the reliability can be improved. In addition, shifting the phase of the cam roller 55,
While preventing the optical card C from being inserted twice,
The optical card C can be reliably discharged.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the second embodiment with the box body 71 omitted, and shows the lock mechanism 10 of the first embodiment.
Instead of 1, a lock mechanism 111 for locking the pinion 97 of the insertion / removal mechanism 84 is provided. In this lock mechanism 111, an arm 112 is rotatably supported by the box 71 via a support shaft 113, and the arm 112 is urged counterclockwise by an urging member 114. The arm 112 is provided with a bent portion 112a that moves by the action of the projection 115 provided on the mounting table 75, and a tooth portion 112b that meshes with the pinion 97.

When the mounting table 75 moves to the standby position, the projection 115 of the mounting table 75 contacts the bent portion 112a of the arm 112, rotates the arm 112 clockwise, and moves the tooth portion 112b to the pinion 97. Away from Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the mounting table 75 leaves the standby position after the insertion / removal mechanism 84 loads the optical card C onto the mounting table 75, the projection 115 of the mounting table 75 releases the arm 112. As a result, the arm 112 rotates counterclockwise by the urging force of the urging member 114, and the teeth 11 of the arm 112 are rotated.
2b meshes with the pinion 97 and locks the pinion 97. This second embodiment can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the third embodiment in which the box 71 is omitted, and shows the lock mechanism 10 of the first embodiment.
In place of 1, a lock mechanism 121 for locking the rack 91 of the insertion / removal mechanism 84 is provided. In this lock mechanism 121, the self-holding solenoid 122 is
The knob 92 is provided with a projection 123 that engages with the rod 122 a of the solenoid 122. The solenoid 122 is controlled by a signal from the first mounting table sensor 82.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
4 loads the optical card C into the mounting table 75,
Is released from the standby position, the first mounting table sensor 82 generates a signal, the solenoid 122 causes the rod 122a to protrude, and locks the knob 92. When the mounting table 75 returns to the standby position, the solenoid 122 retracts the rod 122 a by the signal from the first mounting table sensor 82 and releases the knob 92. The third embodiment can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0046]

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes the lock mechanism for locking the operation of the insertion / removal mechanism when the optical head or the mounting table is in the recording / reproducing operation range. When the head or the mounting table is in the recording / reproducing operation range, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being moved or to insert another recording medium doubly, thereby improving reliability. Therefore, the reliability can be ensured even when the insertion / removal mechanism is manually operated in order to realize a reduction in the size and weight of the entire apparatus and a prolonged life of the battery.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a right side view in a state where a box is omitted.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the second embodiment with the box omitted.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the third embodiment with the box omitted.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conventional example having a box as a cross section.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 71 box body 72 optical head 75 mounting table 81 light shielding plate 82, 83 mounting table sensor 84 insertion / removal mechanism 91 rack 92 knob 94 cam roller 94a arc part 94b flat part 96 gear 97 pinion 101, 111, 121 locking mechanism 104, 114 biasing Means 122 Actuator C Optical card

Claims (4)

[Claims] An optical head for recording and reproducing information by irradiating an optical recording medium with a light beam, a mounting table for mounting the recording medium and moving relative to the optical head, An information recording / reproducing apparatus having an insertion / removal mechanism for inserting / removing the mounting table, wherein a lock mechanism for locking the operation of the insertion / removal mechanism when the optical head or the mounting table is in a recording / reproducing operation range. An information recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: 2. The lock mechanism locks a part of the insertion / removal mechanism with a biasing force of a biasing means when the optical head or the mounting table is in the recording / reproducing operation range. 2. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the mounting table is not in the recording / reproducing operation range, the locking of a part of the insertion / removal mechanism is released by an operation of the optical head or the mounting table. 3. The lock mechanism comprises a detector for detecting a position of the optical head or the mounting table, and an actuator electrically operated based on a signal from the detector, wherein the actuator is the optical head. Alternatively, the insertion / removal mechanism is locked when the mounting table is in the recording / reproducing operation range, and the lock of the insertion / removal mechanism is released when the optical head or the mounting table is not in the recording / reproduction operation range. 2. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to 1. 4. The insertion / removal mechanism includes a cam-shaped roller having an arc portion and a flat portion, and the lock mechanism locks the insertion / removal mechanism so that the flat portion faces substantially parallel to the recording medium. An information recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.