JP2000322857A - Disc cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a compact disc cartridge allowing the increase of capacity per cartridge. SOLUTION: The cartridge has a cartridge case 2 and a plurality of retainers 5 drawably provided at the cartridge case 2 respectively for supporting a disc 3. The retainer 5 has opening/closing supports 5a, 5b which support both sides of the disc 3 in its radial direction and are capable of opening operation apart from the disc 3 at the time of being drawn from the cartridge 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a disk cartridge for storing a disk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a non-contact recording / reproducing method using an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk has attracted attention as a video recording / reproducing device from a magnetic recording / reproducing method using a tape. The disk recording / reproducing method is superior to the tape method in terms of durability, downsizing, and random access speed.

[0003]

On the other hand, the disk recording / reproducing system, on the other hand, requires only an extremely small surface area of the recording medium as compared with the tape system, so that the recording capacity is relatively small, and it is difficult to achieve both the recording time and the image quality. . For this reason, the recording density of the disk has been increased to counter this, but there is a physical limit to increasing the recording density to the tape level. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact disk cartridge that can increase the capacity per sheet.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a disk cartridge according to the present invention comprises a cartridge case and a plurality of retainers, each of which is provided so as to be able to be drawn out of the cartridge case and supports a disk, respectively. The retainer is characterized in that the retainer has an opening and closing support portion that supports the disk from both outer sides in the radial direction of the disk and that can be opened in a direction away from the disk when pulled out from the cartridge case.

[0005] As described above, since a plurality of discs are housed in such a manner that the discs can be pulled out, a compact disc cartridge is provided in which the capacity per disc is doubled or more by exchanging these discs continuously. In addition, since the retainer has an opening and closing support portion for supporting the disk from both outer sides in the radial direction of the disk, by suppressing the outer edge of the opening and closing support portion avoiding the recording signal surface of the disk, the retainer has a recording portion. Scratches can be prevented. In addition, since each retainer holds the disk, the plurality of disks do not interfere with each other and are not damaged, and it is possible to prevent a problem such as shaking of the disk and rubbing against the inner surface of the cartridge case to generate shavings. further,
When the retainer is pulled out of the cartridge case, the opening / closing support portion can be opened in a direction away from the disk, so that the opening / closing support portion pulls out the disk via the retainer, thereby moving the disk to the drive mechanism side. Handover and can be separated from the disc. Therefore, it does not interfere with the disk when the disk is rotated by the drive mechanism.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as a cartridge) will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention relates to a magazine-type cartridge in which a plurality of disks are stored in a cartridge and the capacity of each disk is doubled or more by exchanging disks continuously in a disk recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a case where two disks are inserted into a cartridge. The cartridge 1 has a cartridge case 2 having an upper shell 2 a and a lower shell 2 b, a disk 3, a disk 4, and a cartridge case 2 which are provided so as to be able to be pulled out, respectively. , And a plurality of retainers 5, 5 for supporting the first and second retainers 5, 5, and 5.
(Open / close support portion) 5c are rotatably attached to the retainer F5a by pins 5d and 5d, respectively.

Here, the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c of the retainer 5 support the corresponding disk from both outer sides in the radial direction, and can be opened in a direction away from the corresponding disk when the cartridge is pulled out from the cartridge case 2. Further, when inserted into the cartridge case 2, the closing operation can be performed in a direction approaching the corresponding disk.

The details will be described below. The disk 3 and the disk 4 are held by the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c of the retainer 5 with both outer edges of both sides in the radial direction and substantially perpendicular to the drawing direction from the cartridge case 2 sandwiched therebetween. The upper shell 2a and the lower shell 2b are housed in a cartridge case 2 in which the upper shell 2a and the lower shell 2b are bonded to each other by bonding or the like. Retainer L5 for holding disk
b, the retainer R5c has an arc shape corresponding to the outer peripheral radius of the disk, and its cross section has a shape in which a U-shaped concave portion in which adjacent surface portions are opened at a slight obtuse angle is formed on the disk side. As a result, by pressing the outer edge avoiding the recording signal surface of the disc at this portion, it is possible to prevent the recording portion from being damaged and to prevent the disc from dropping when being pulled out. Since the disks are supported and fixed in the cartridge case 2 by the retainer 5, they do not interfere with each other. The same retainer L5b and retainer R5c can be used even if the number of built-in disks increases.

In FIG. 2, the fin-like projections 6 attached to the distal ends of the retainers L5b and R5c are guides for returning the retainer 5 together with the disk 3 into the cartridge case 2 in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus. When the retainer 5 is in the cartridge case 2, the lock claw 7 enters the hole 8 of the cartridge case 2 by using the elasticity of the resin and fixes the retainer 5, so that the lock claw 7 can be prevented from falling off. By installing the lock claws 7 on both the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c, the retainer 5 cannot be pulled out unless the locks on both sides of the cartridge 1 are simultaneously released right and left.
It is possible to prevent a risk that the disc is accidentally ejected. The notch 9 of the retainer F5a is used when pulling out the retainer 5 in the apparatus. The front wall 5e of the retainer F5a performs a dustproof function to prevent dust and dust from entering the cartridge case 2.

Since the outer side surfaces of the retainers L5b and R5c have a linear shape up to the fin-shaped protrusion 6, the retainers L5b and R5c are kept in the retracted position until the disk comes to the spindle motor 12 position while the retainer 5 is being pulled out. Is restricted so as not to open on both sides on the inner side surface of the cartridge case 2. Therefore, since the disk is sandwiched while the retainer 5 is being pulled out, the disk does not fall off, and the apparatus can be used vertically.

An outline of a disk recording / reproducing storage mechanism using the cartridge 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mechanism from the insertion of the cartridge 1 until the selected disk is ready for recording and reproduction.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view and a side sectional view schematically showing the inside of the disk recording / reproducing apparatus. Reference numeral 11 denotes a drive mechanism for recording / reproducing a disk, reference numeral 12 denotes a spindle motor for rotating the disk, and reference numeral 13 denotes a clamper with a magnet for fixing the disk to the spindle motor. As shown by an arrow X1, when the cartridge 1 is pushed from the left to the right and the shutter 17 is pushed open from the apparatus insertion port 16 and pushed in, the cartridge 1 is automatically pulled into the disk recording / reproducing apparatus, and it is detected that the cartridge 1 has reached the position of the stopper 18. Is conveyed to the right until the operation is performed (steps S1 and S2).

Next, when recording and reproducing the disk 3,
The cartridge 1 is moved upward until it is detected that the height of the disk 3 matches the height of the retainer drawn out (steps S3 and S4). In FIG. 5, the cartridge 1 is moved upward as indicated by an arrow X2 in order to adjust the height of the disk 3 to the height H at which the retainer is pulled out. With this operation, the picker 14 for pulling out the retainer enters the cutout 9 of the retainer F5a. At the same time, the lock claws 7 of the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c are pushed inward as shown by arrows X3 and X3 by a cam member (not shown) to release the lock, and the retainer 5 and the disk 3 can be pulled out from the cartridge 1.

The picker 14 pulls out the retainer 5 and the disc 3 held therein from the cartridge case 2 until it is detected that the retainer 5 has reached a predetermined position (disc chucking position) (steps S5 and S6).
FIG. 6 shows that the picker 14 pulls out the retainer 5 and the disc 3 held by the picker 14 from the cartridge case 2 as indicated by an arrow X4, and a predetermined position of the drive mechanism 11 capable of recording and reproducing the disc 3 (the retainer 5 is moved about 2/3). Pull out position). The retainer L5b and the retainer R5c are regulated so as not to open to both sides on the inner side surface of the cartridge case 2 during the pulling out, so that the disc 3 can be prevented from dropping. At this time, retainer F5a
The fixing post 15 of the apparatus starts to enter the guide groove 10 of FIG.

The drive mechanism 11 on which the spindle motor 12 is mounted rises until disc chucking is completed (steps S7 and S8). FIG. 7 shows a state in which the drive mechanism 11 on which the spindle motor 12 is mounted rises as shown by arrows X5 and X5, and at the same time, the clamper 13 lowers, and the disk 3 is mounted and fixed on the spindle motor 12. The picker 14 further moves rightward, and the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c are opened outward by the fixed post 15 and the guide groove 10 (step S9).
In FIG. 8, the picker 14 moves further rightward as indicated by the arrow X6, and the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c are opened outward by the fixing post 15 and the guide groove 10 as indicated by the arrows X7 and X7 to support the disk 3. After the release, the gaps A1, A2, and A3 are formed around the disk 3. Then, the disk 3 is rotated by the spindle motor 12 to enter a state where recording and reproduction are possible (step S10).

When the cartridge 1 is ejected out of the apparatus or when recording / reproducing is exchanged for the disk 4, the retainer 5 is returned into the cartridge case 2 in the reverse order to the above. At this time, the retainer F5a is overrun by the picker 14 to the left, and is pushed until the lock claw 7 enters the hole 8 of the cartridge case 2 and is fixed. Next picker 14
Picker 1 to obtain a gap between the
4 is slightly moved rightward and stopped, and then returns to the state of FIG.

On the other hand, in step S3, the disk 4
When replacing the cartridge 1, the cartridge 1 is moved upward until it is detected that the height of the disk 4 matches the height of the retainer drawn out (steps S3 and S11). FIG. 9 shows that the disk 4 is replaced. The cartridge 1 is moved upward from the position shown in FIG. 5 as indicated by an arrow X8, and the disk 4 is brought to the height H at which the retainer is pulled out. After that, in the same manner as the operation from FIG. 6 to FIG.
The disk 4 is rotated to make recording and reproduction possible.

As described above, the retainer L5b and the retainer R5
c is a closed state close to the disk 3 when the retainer 5 is in the state of being inserted into the cartridge case 2 as shown in FIG.
The disk 3 is supported from both outer sides in the radial direction and both outer sides in a direction substantially perpendicular to the drawing direction from the cartridge case 2, and from this state, the retainer 5 is moved from the cartridge case 2 by the picker 14. In conjunction with the pulling out, as shown in FIG. 8, the opening operation is performed in a direction away from the disk 3 and substantially perpendicular to the direction of pulling out from the cartridge case 2 to be in an open state. From the open state, which is separated and does not support this, in the direction approaching the disk 3 in conjunction with the insertion into the cartridge case 2 and
The closing operation is performed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet is pulled out from the opening.

More specifically, the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c move from the state where the retainer 5 is inserted into the cartridge case 2 to the limit position (the state shown in FIG. 4) to a predetermined position (FIGS. 6 and 6). 7), the closed state is maintained even when the retainer 5 is pulled out, and when the retainer 5 is pulled out beyond the predetermined position, the retainer 5 is opened to be in the open state (the state shown in FIG. 8).

As described above, the cartridge 1 shown in FIG.
By pulling out a plurality of disks contained therein from the cartridge 1 one by one in the apparatus, recording and reproduction can be performed on each disk from one side of the cartridge 1. Also, since the disc is exposed on both the front and back surfaces, if the cartridge 1 is mounted upside down using a disc for double-sided recording, recording and reproduction of the back surface can be performed on each of the discs. In addition, the amount of disc to be pulled out is the
It is not necessary to expose the entire disk from the disk, and the diameter of the disk can be reduced to about ／ of the disk diameter.

In FIG. 2, each of the discs 3 and 4 is held by a retainer L5b and a retainer R5c, each of which has a U-shaped cross section opened at a slightly obtuse angle, with the outer edge of the disc avoiding the recording signal surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording portion from being damaged, and it is also possible to prevent a problem such as shaking of the disk in the cartridge and generation of shavings due to friction with the inner surface of the cartridge. In addition, since the retainer 5b and the retainer 5c do not open to both sides while the retainer 5 is being pulled out and the disc can be prevented from dropping, the apparatus can also be used for a device of a vertical installation type. Further, since the retainer 5 cannot be pulled out unless the lock claws 7 on both sides of the cartridge 1 are simultaneously released at the same time, it is possible to prevent a risk that the disk may accidentally fly out.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. The first effect is that a plurality of disks 3 and 4 contained in the cartridge 1 are pulled out from the cartridge 1 one by one in the apparatus, so that recording and reproduction can be performed on each disk 3 and 4 from one side of the cartridge 1. It is. If the disks 3 and 4 for double-sided recording are used, recording and reproduction on the front and back of each of the plurality of disks 3 and 4 can be performed. This reduces the capacity per cartridge to 2
Can be increased more than twice.

The second effect is that the depth of the apparatus can be reduced because the amount of pulling out the disks 3 and 4 is only about 2/3 of the disk diameter.

The third effect is that when the retainer 5 is inside the cartridge case 2, the projection utilizing the elasticity of the resin enters the hole of the cartridge case 2 and fixes the retainer 5, so that the retainer 5 can be prevented from falling off. Further, by installing this projection on both the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c, the retainer 5 cannot be pulled out unless the left and right sides of the cartridge 1 are simultaneously released.
It is possible to prevent the danger of the 4 jumping out by mistake.

The fourth effect is that the retainers L5b and R5c for holding the discs 3 and 4 have a bow shape corresponding to the outer radius of the discs 3 and 4, and the cross section thereof is a U-shape slightly opened at an obtuse angle. Therefore, by suppressing the outer edge of the disk 3 or 4 avoiding the recording signal surface at this portion, it is possible to prevent the recording portion from being damaged. When the cartridge 3 is in the cartridge 1, the disks 3 and 4 are held, so that the disks 3 and 4 do not interfere with each other and are not damaged. The disks 3 and 4 are shaken and shavings are generated due to friction with the inner surface of the cartridge case 2. Inconveniences such as running can be prevented. Further, when pulling out the retainer 5, the disc 3,
4 can be prevented from falling, so it can also be used for equipment with vertical specifications.

The fifth effect is that when the retainer 5 is pulled out from the cartridge case 2, the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c can be opened in a direction away from the disk, so that the retainer L5b and the retainer R5c By pulling out the disk via the retainer 5, the disk can be delivered to the drive mechanism 11 as a drive mechanism and can be separated from the disk. Therefore, it does not interfere with the disk when the disk is rotated by the drive mechanism 11, which is a drive mechanism.

Instead of the pin 5d, a boss having a retaining hook or the like attached to the retainer F5a is formed, and a retainer L5b is formed.
And a configuration in which the boss and the hole are rotatably pushed into the hole provided in the retainer R5c (or the boss and the hole are provided in reverse). Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the retainer F5a and the retainer L5
b, the joint between the retainer F5a and the retainer R5c is hinged using the elasticity of the resin, and is rotatable;
May be an integral structure. In these embodiments, the number of parts can be reduced, and material costs and assembly costs can be reduced.

[0029]

As described above in detail, according to the disk cartridge of the present invention, since a plurality of disks can be housed so that they can be pulled out, the capacity per cartridge can be reduced by continuously exchanging these disks. It becomes a compact disk cartridge that is more than doubled. Also,
Since the retainer has an opening and closing support portion for supporting the disk from both outer sides in the radial direction of the disk,
By suppressing the outer edge avoiding the recording signal surface of the disc by the opening / closing support portion, it is possible to prevent the recording portion from being damaged. In addition, since each retainer holds the disk, the plurality of disks do not interfere with each other and are not damaged, and it is possible to prevent a problem such as shaking of the disk and rubbing against the inner surface of the cartridge case to generate shavings. Further, when the retainer is pulled out of the cartridge case, the opening / closing support portion can be opened in a direction away from the disk, so that the opening / closing support portion drives the disk by pulling out the disk via the retainer. It can be delivered to the mechanism and separated from the disk. Therefore, it does not interfere with the disk when the disk is rotated by the drive mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a component configuration of a disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan sectional view and FIG. 2B is a side sectional view showing the inside of a disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of a mechanism from insertion of a disk cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention to a state in which a selected disk can be recorded and reproduced.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view, respectively, showing when the cartridge is inserted into the disk cartridge and the disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

5A is a plan sectional view and FIG. 5B is a side sectional view showing the cartridge height when the disk 3 is selected in the disk cartridge and the disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows a state where the disk 3 is pulled out to a predetermined position of the drive mechanism in the disk cartridge and the disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention (a).
It is a plane sectional view and (b) side sectional view.

7A is a plan sectional view and FIG. 7B is a side sectional view of the disk cartridge and the disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the disk 3 is chucked by a spindle motor. .

8A is a plan sectional view and FIG. 8B is a side sectional view of the disk cartridge and the disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the disk 3 is ready for recording / reproduction. is there.

9A is a plan sectional view and FIG. 9B is a side sectional view showing the cartridge height when the disk 4 is selected in the disk cartridge and the disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another example of the retainer of the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a retainer of a resin integrally molded product.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cartridge 2 Cartridge case 2a Upper shell 2b Lower shell 3 Disk 4 Disk 5 Retainer 5a Retainer F 5b Retainer L 5c Retainer R 5d Pin 5e Wall 6 Fin-like projection 7 Lock claw 8 Hole 9 Notch 10 Guide groove 11 Drive mechanism 12 Spindle motor 13 Clamper 14 Picker 15 Fixing post 16 Device insertion port 17 Shutter 18 Stopper

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge case, and a plurality of retainers respectively provided in the cartridge case so as to be able to be drawn out, each supporting a disk, wherein the retainer holds the disk from both outer sides in a radial direction of the disk. A disk cartridge having an open / close support portion that supports and can be opened in a direction away from the disk when pulled out from the cartridge case.