JP2001101824A - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that the production cost of a disk cartridge is increased when the disk cartridges of different constitutions are produced for every clamping system. SOLUTION: This disk cartridge includes a disk-like recording medium having an information recording area on one of its both sides and a cartridge main body which consists of the 1st and 2nd shell members connected together and stores the recording medium in its freely rotatable way. The 1st shell member includes an opening part where a turntable enters, a recording/reproducing opening part where the laser beam is made incident to irradiate the information recording area and a shutter member which is assembled in its sliding enable way and opens and closes the recording/reproducing opening part. The 2nd shell member includes an opening part where a clamper enters to clamp a disk-like recording medium which has a diameter that is smaller than that of the recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk, such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk, in which a disc-shaped recording medium (hereinafter referred to as an optical disk) on which information signals are recorded or capable of recording is rotatably stored. Regarding the cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical disc mainly records a tone signal and is used mainly for portable audio equipment. In some cases, the optical disc is housed in a dedicated cartridge for the purpose of facilitating handling during carrying and preventing the information recording area of the optical disc from being damaged or dust from adhering.

[0003] A disk cartridge is constituted by rotatably storing an optical disk capable of recording or recording a desired information signal such as a musical sound signal or a video signal inside a cartridge body in which a pair of upper and lower shell members are connected. Have been. When the disk cartridge is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus, the central portion of the optical disk is mounted on the disk rotation drive and driven to rotate.

[0004] When the optical disk housed in the disk cartridge is driven to rotate, the information signal recorded in the information recording area is reproduced by the laser light emitted from the optical pickup device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional disk cartridge. (A) is a top view of the disk cartridge, (b) is a sectional view of the disk cartridge, and (c) is a bottom view of the disk cartridge. In the figure, 401 is a first shell member, 402 is a recording / reproducing opening, 403 is a turntable entry opening,
04 is a shutter member, 405 is a second shell member, 40
6 is an optical disk, and 407 is a center hole.

As shown in FIG. 3B, in the disk cartridge, an optical disk 406 is rotatably housed in a cartridge body in which a first shell member 401 and a second shell member 405 are coupled to face each other. It is the configuration that was done.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the first shell member 401 has a central hole 4
A turntable entry opening 403 is formed for entry of a turntable (not shown) that engages with the reference numeral 07. The first shell member 401 has a recording / reproducing opening 402 into which a laser beam emitted from an optical pickup (not shown) and applied to an information recording area (not shown) of the optical disk 406 is incident. . Further, a shutter member 404 for opening and closing the recording / reproducing opening 402 is slidably attached to the first shell member 401. At the time of recording / reproduction, the shutter member 404
Slides in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 3C, the second shell member 405 has no opening. Information relating to information recorded on the optical disk accommodated in the second shell member 405 (title name, song name, player name, etc.)
There is a case where a label or the like on which is printed is pasted.

Next, a conventional clamping method between the optical disk and the turntable of the recording / reproducing apparatus will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional method of clamping an optical disk to a turntable. (A) is a diagram showing a method of clamping by magnetic attraction, (b) is a diagram showing a method of clamping by clamping nail,
(C) is a diagram showing a method of clamping by a clamper. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. 501 is a metal disk, 502 is a turntable, 503 is a magnet, 504 is a clamping nail, 505 is a clamp arm, 506 is a clamper, 50
Reference numeral 7 denotes a rotating shaft.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a method of clamping an optical disk to a turntable by magnetic attraction.
A metal disk 501 made of a magnetic material and a metal to be adsorbed is mounted on the upper surface of the center hole 407 of the optical disk 406. Further, a magnet 503 is embedded in the upper surface of the turntable 502. The metal disk 501 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 503, and
Is clamped to the turntable 502.

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a method of clamping an optical disk to a turntable by a clamping nail. A plurality of clamping nails 504 are provided in a portion of the turntable 502 that fits with the center hole 407 of the optical disc 406. The clamping nail 504 is pushed into the inside of the turntable 502 when an external force is applied. Optical disk 4 on turntable 502
When the center hole 407 is fitted, the clamping nail 504 is once pushed in, and the center hole 407 is inserted into the turntable 502. When the optical disk 406 is further pressed against the turntable 502, the clamping nail 502 projects on the upper surface of the optical disk 406, and clamps the optical disk 406 on the turntable 502.

FIG. 4C shows a method of clamping an optical disk 406 by a clamper 506 and a turntable 502 which are rotatably attached to a tip of a clamp arm 505 which rotates about a rotation shaft 507. . A ring-shaped magnet is embedded in the clamper 506, and the turntable 502 is magnetically attracted to hold the optical disk. This clamping method is used for an optical disk that is not housed in a cartridge.

[0013]

The conventional disk cartridge is compatible with the clamp system shown in FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B, but the distal end of the clamp arm 505 shown in FIG. The optical disc 406 is provided by a clamper 506 and a turntable 502 which are rotatably mounted on the optical disc 406.
It does not correspond to the method of clamping.

[0014] In the future, it is expected that the need to reproduce recorded information at twice or higher speed will be further increased even in a disk cartridge type optical disk. FIG. 4 (a)
Alternatively, in the clamping method shown in FIG. 4B, when the optical disc is rotated at a high speed, the optical disc may fall off the turntable, so that it is clamped by the clamper and the turntable shown in FIG. Adoption of the method is desired.

[0015] In addition, a manufacturer of a disk cartridge manufactures a disk cartridge having a different configuration for each clamping method, which increases costs.
A disk cartridge that supports all of the above-described clamping methods is desired.

Further, in the disk cartridge,
There is a strong demand for miniaturization and thinning. A disk cartridge employing the method shown in FIG. 4A or FIG.
The thickness of the metal disk 501 or the optical disk 40 when clamped
6 had to be thick enough to include the height of the turntable 502 protruding from the upper surface of the turntable 6, and it was difficult to reduce the thickness.

Conventionally, a label on which information (for example, a title name, a recorded music name, a player name, a manufacturer name, etc.) related to information recorded on an optical disk 406 contained in a cartridge is displayed is called a cartridge. It was attached to the second shell member 405 of the main body. However, when manufacturing a disk cartridge, the optical disk contained in the cartridge and the label attached to the cartridge body may be mistaken. In order to solve this, label printing is performed on one side of the optical disc 406, the second shell member 405 is formed of a transparent material,
A method of displaying the label of the optical disk 406 via the second shell member 405 is conceivable. However, the second shell member 405 must be transparent, which is not preferable because the design (particularly, color arrangement) of the cartridge body is limited.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides a disk-shaped recording medium having an information recording area on one side, a first shell member and a second shell member. A disk cartridge, comprising a cartridge body that is formed by joining shell members and rotatably stores the disk-shaped recording medium therein;
The shell member has a turntable entry opening into which a turntable enters, a recording / reproducing opening through which a laser beam applied to the information recording area is incident, and a slidably assembled recording / reproducing opening. A shutter member that opens and closes, and the second shell member includes a clamper entry opening into which a clamper that clamps the disc-shaped recording medium is smaller than the diameter of the disc-shaped recording medium. I do.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a disk cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a disk cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a top view of the disk cartridge, (b) is a cross-sectional view of the disk cartridge,
(C) is a bottom view of the disk cartridge. In the figure, 101 is a first shell member, 102 is a recording / reproducing opening, 103 is a turntable entry opening, 104 is a shutter member, 105 is a second shell member, 106 is a clamper entry opening, 107 Is an optical disk and 108 is a center hole.

As shown in FIG. 1B, in the disk cartridge, an optical disk 107 is rotatably housed in a cartridge body in which a first shell member 101 and a second shell member 105 are coupled to face each other. It is the configuration that was done. The first shell member 101 and the second shell member 105 are connected by screwing, bonding with an adhesive, or press-fitting. Further, the configuration may be such that the coupling between the first shell member 101 and the second shell member 105 can be arbitrarily released so that the stored optical disk can be exchanged. The optical disc 107 is a single-sided recording / reproducing type optical disc having an information recording area (not shown) on one surface, and is accommodated such that a recording or reproducing laser beam incident surface faces the first shell member 101. Is done. In addition, a label is attached to a surface of the optical disk 107 facing the second shell member 105.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the first shell member 101 has a central hole 1
A turntable entry opening 403 is provided for entry of a turntable of a playback device (not shown) that engages with the device 08 (hereinafter, referred to as a clamp). The first shell member 101 has a recording / reproducing opening 102 into which a laser beam emitted from an optical pickup (not shown) and applied to an information recording area (not shown) of the optical disk 107 is incident. A shutter member 104 for opening and closing the recording / reproducing opening is slidably attached to the first shell member 101. During recording and reproduction, the shutter member 104 slides in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the second shell member 105 has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the optical disk 107 to be stored (for example, when the diameter of the optical disk 107 is 64 mm, the diameter is 55 to 60 mm). When the diameter of the optical disk 107 is 120 mm, the diameter is preferably in the range of 110 to 115 mm.). Since the diameter of the opening 106 for entering the clamper is smaller than the diameter of the optical disk 107, the optical disk 107 accommodated in the disk cartridge does not fall off.

Since the label printing surface of the optical disc 107 faces the opening 107 for entering the clamper, the user can visually recognize the label printing on the optical disc 107. Further, since it is not necessary to make the second shell member 105 transparent, the degree of freedom in design such as the color scheme of the disk cartridge is increased. Further, the first shell member 10 is inserted so that the optical disk 107 to be stored can be exchanged as described above.
In a configuration in which the connection between the first and second shell members 105 can be arbitrarily released, label printing of the stored optical disk can be confirmed from the clamper entrance opening 107, so that the user can store the optical disk. The content of the information recorded on the optical disk can be easily known.

Since the recording or reproducing laser light incident surface of the optical disk 107 is opposed to the first shell member 101, the laser light incident surface of the optical disk 107 may be scratched or dusty. Can be prevented from adhering.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the manner in which the disk cartridge of this embodiment is clamped on a turntable. (A) is a figure explaining the case where the method of clamping by magnetic attraction is adopted, (b) is a figure explaining the case where the method of clamping by clamping nail is adopted, and (c) is a figure explaining It is a figure explaining the case where the method of clamping by a clamper is adopted. In the figure,
The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
201 is a turntable, 202 is a metal disk, 203 is a magnet, 204 is an optical pickup, 205 is a clamping nail, 206 is a clamper, 207 is a clamp arm, and 208 is a rotating shaft.

The case where the method of clamping by magnetic attraction shown in FIG. 2A is employed will be described. When the disc cartridge is inserted into a recording / reproducing device (not shown), the turntable 201 enters from the turntable entry opening 103 formed in the first shell member, and is inserted into the center hole of the optical disc 107. Optical disk 10
The metal disk 202 attached to the upper surface of the center hole 7 and the magnet 203 embedded in the turntable 201 are attracted by magnetic force, and the optical disk 107 is held by the turntable 201. At this time, a shutter member (not shown) attached to the first shell member 101 slides, and laser light emitted from the optical pickup 204 enters the optical disc 107. The clamper entry opening 106 formed in the second shell member 105 does not affect the clamping operation at all.

A case where a method of clamping by a clamping nail shown in FIG. 2B will be described. When the disc cartridge is inserted into a recording / reproducing device (not shown), the turntable 201 enters from the turntable entry opening 103 formed in the first shell member, and is inserted into the center hole of the optical disc 107. At this time, since the outer peripheral portion of the optical disc 107 is fixed by the second shell member 105, the turntable 201 is inserted into the center hole of the optical disc 107 without mechanically fixing the disc cartridge from above. Optical disk 10
7 is turntable 201 and clamping nail 205
And is held by At this time, the first shell member 10
The shutter member (not shown) attached to the optical disc 1 slides, and the laser beam emitted from the optical pickup 204 enters the optical disc 107.

A case where the method of clamping by a clamper shown in FIG. 2C is employed will be described. When the disc cartridge is inserted into a recording / reproducing device (not shown), the turntable 201 enters from the turntable entry opening 103 formed in the first shell member, and is inserted into the center hole of the optical disc 107. Also, the rotating shaft 2
Clamp arm 207 that rotates around 08 as a rotation axis
Is inserted through the clamper entrance opening 106 of the second shell member 105 of the disk cartridge, and the clamper 20 rotatably attached to the tip of the clamp arm 207.
6 and magnet 2 embedded in turntable 201
03 holds the optical disk 107 by magnetic attraction. At this time, a shutter member (not shown) attached to the first shell member 101 slides, and the laser light emitted from the optical pickup 204 is
07.

In the conventional disk cartridge, the thickness of the metal disk 202 shown in FIG. 2A is taken into consideration, and as shown in FIG.
The thickness of the entire cartridge is determined in consideration of the height of the turntable 201 protruding from the upper surface of the cartridge (the height of a portion above the position where the clamping nail 205 is formed). However, in the disk cartridge of this embodiment, the second shell member 105 includes the clamp entry opening 106, and the metal disk 202 and the turntable 201 can protrude from the clamp entry opening 106 during clamping. In addition, the thickness of the cartridge can be reduced by the thickness of the metal disk 202 or the height of the turntable 201 protruding from the upper surface of the optical disk 107 during clamping.

[0030]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a disk cartridge compatible with a plurality of clamping methods such as a clamping method using magnetic attraction, a clamping method using a clamping nail, and a clamping method using a clamper.

According to the present invention, it is not necessary for a disk cartridge manufacturer to manufacture a cartridge body having a different configuration according to the clamping method, so that the manufacturing cost of the disk cartridge can be reduced.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a disk cartridge which is thinner than a conventional disk cartridge.

According to the present invention, since the label printing of the optical disk housed in the cartridge body can be visually recognized from the opening for entering the clamper, it is not necessary to use a transparent material for the cartridge body, and the design of the color arrangement of the disk cartridge can be freely performed. The degree increases.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment is clamped on a turntable.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of a conventional disk cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional method of clamping an optical disk and a turntable.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 First shell member 102 Recording / reproducing opening 103 Turntable entry opening 104 Shutter member 105 Second shell member 106 Clamper entry opening 107 Optical disk 108 Center hole 201 Turntable 202 Metal disk 203 Magnet 204 Optical pickup 205 Clamping nail 206 Clamper 207 Clamp arm 208 Rotating shaft 401 First shell member 402 Recording / reproducing opening 403 Turntable entry opening 404 Shutter member 405 Second shell member 406 Optical disk 407 Center hole 501 Metal disk 502 Turntable 503 Magnet 504 Clamping nail 505 Clamp arm 506 Clamper 507 Rotation axis

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A disk-shaped recording medium having an information recording area on one side, and a first shell member and a second shell member connected to each other, and the disk-shaped recording medium is rotatably housed therein. A disk cartridge comprising a cartridge body that performs a turntable entry into which a turntable enters, and a recording / reproducing opening through which a laser beam applied to the information recording area enters. And a shutter member slidably assembled to open and close the recording / reproducing opening. The second shell member has a clamper for clamping the disc-shaped recording medium smaller than the diameter of the disc-shaped recording medium. A disk cartridge comprising a clamper entry opening for entry.