JP2002269942A - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk cartridge that can ensure dust-proof effects at a low cost and prevent a shutter member from being opened/closed by the intention. SOLUTION: In the disk cartridge 10, a 1st shutter member 110 and a 2nd shutter member 150 placed in a butted state, close an opening 14 for accessing a disk medium 20 placed at a lower side, and as the disk cartridge 10 is loaded to a driver, the 1st shutter member 110 and the 2nd shutter member 150 are turned while parting respective butt parts 112A, 150B to open the opening 14. The butted parts are covered by a cover step 114 of the 1st shutter member 110 to ensure the dust proof performance even in the presence of some amount of clearance and the cover step 114 and an engagement section 116 prevent deviation in a direction of the plate thickness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk cartridge for rotatably storing a disk-shaped disk medium used as a recording / reproducing medium of an information processing apparatus or the like and for preventing intrusion of dust and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Disc-shaped disc media such as optical discs and magneto-optical discs have been used as portable recording and reproducing media for computers. When recording or reproducing such a disk medium, the recording surface is irradiated with laser light while being rotated while being loaded in a drive device, so that pit formation or phase formation due to decomposition of the dye layer on the recording surface is performed. Information is recorded by a change, magnetization, or the like, or the recorded information is reproduced based on a difference in reflectance or polarization angle of a laser beam.

[0003] In such a disk medium,
In order to increase the recording capacity, it has been proposed to shorten the wavelength of a laser beam applied to a recording surface. When recording or reproducing information using this short-wavelength laser light (for example, blue-violet laser), in order to suppress the attenuation of the laser light by the cover layer that protects the recording surface of the disk medium, It is necessary to reduce the thickness. When the thickness of the cover layer is reduced in this manner, the diameter of the laser beam on the surface of the cover layer (exposed surface to the outside) is reduced, and the influence of dust or the like adhering to the cover layer surface cannot be ignored.

[0004] For this reason, a disk cartridge which accommodates the disk medium in a case and prevents dust and the like from adhering to the disk medium is employed. Such a disc cartridge includes an opening for exposing a part of a center hole and a recording surface (cover layer) provided at the center of the disc medium to the outside, and a shutter member for opening and closing the opening. It is configured. Thus, in the disk cartridge, normally, the opening is closed by the shutter member to prevent dust or the like from entering into the disk cartridge (that is, adhesion of dust or the like to the disk medium), and accompanying the loading into the drive device. By opening the opening, the center hole can be held by the rotating spindle shaft and the laser head can be brought close to the recording surface (irradiation of laser light).

However, in the above-described disk cartridge, it is necessary to secure a space for accommodating the shutter member when the above-mentioned opening is opened, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size of the disk cartridge.

In order to reduce the size, a disk cartridge in which a shutter member is divided into two parts has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-30394). In the disc cartridge described in this publication, a first shutter member that mainly closes an opening for inserting (approaching) a laser head, and a second shutter member that mainly closes an opening for inserting a rotary spindle shaft. In this configuration, the entire opening is closed in a state where the end faces are abutted against each other. When the opening is in an open state, the first shutter member and the second shutter member are rotated in different directions while separating the abutting surfaces from each other, and the first shutter member and the second shutter member accommodate the storage area substantially corresponding to the projected area of the disk-shaped disk medium. It is housed in the space. As a result, the size and thickness of the disk cartridge are reduced while preventing the attachment of dust and the like to the disk medium.

However, in such a conventional disk cartridge, the first and second shutter members close the opening in a state where the end surfaces are merely abutted against each other, and the abutting portion is exposed to the outside. Therefore, if a gap (abutment failure) occurs in the abutment portion, the desired dustproof effect cannot be obtained.

Further, in order to prevent the above-mentioned abutting failure, the first and second shutter members are required to have excessive machining accuracy and assembling accuracy, so that the machining and assembling operations are complicated and costly. Becomes Further, in this disk cartridge, since the lock mechanism is not provided on the second shutter member, it is easy to rotate the second shutter member from the abutting portion exposed to the outside. There was a problem that measures for opening were not sufficient.

An object of the present invention is to provide a disk cartridge which can secure the dustproof effect at low cost and prevent the intentional opening and closing operation of the shutter member in consideration of the above facts.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a disk cartridge according to the present invention is provided.
A pair of shutter members formed on at least one side of a case accommodating a disk-shaped disk medium rotatably and capable of opening and closing an opening for accessing the disk medium, wherein the pair of shutters is used when the disk medium is not used. In a disk cartridge in which members are abutted against end faces to close the opening, and when the disk medium is used, the pair of shutter members move while abutting portions are separated from each other to open the opening. The invention is characterized in that a cover member for covering the abutting portion of the end face is provided on at least one of the pair of shutter members.

In the disk cartridge according to the present invention, an opening for accessing the disk medium is provided on one or both sides of the case in which the disk-shaped disk medium is rotatably accommodated, and when the disk medium is not used. The opening is closed by a pair of shutter members whose end faces are abutted against each other, thereby preventing dust and the like from entering the case.

In this disk cartridge, when the disk medium is used (for example, when the disk medium is loaded into the drive device or after the loading is completed), the pair of shutter members move while the contact portions are separated from each other to open the opening. The disk medium can be accessed from the opening. As a result, the disk medium is operated (for example, rotated by a rotating spindle shaft or irradiated with laser light by a laser head) from this opening to record or reproduce information.

Here, at least one of the pair of shutter members is provided with a cover member for covering the abutting portions of the end surfaces in the closed state described above, so that even if a slight gap is formed in the abutting portions, the inside of the case is not removed. It is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the device, and to secure a dustproof effect. Accordingly, excessive processing accuracy and assembly accuracy are not required for the pair of shutter members, and the cost is reduced.

Further, even when dust or the like is caught in the abutting portion due to some error, the dustproof effect can be similarly secured.

Thus, in the disk cartridge according to the first aspect, the dustproof effect can be ensured at low cost.

In this disk cartridge, a case for accommodating a disk medium is formed by joining an upper shell and a lower shell, and a pair of shutters is provided between the case and a cover plate having an opening corresponding to the opening. It is desirable to adopt a configuration for accommodating members. Thus, the pair of shutter members cannot operate a portion that is not exposed from the opening of the covering plate portion, and can prevent intentional opening / closing operation.

In the above structure, if the cover member is housed in the housing provided in one or both of the case and the cover plate when the opening is open, the cover can be formed without making the entire disk cartridge thick. A member can be provided, which is preferable. In particular, when the cover member is provided on the inner surface (disc media side) of the shutter member, the storage portion is provided on the case (one or both of the upper shell and the lower shell), and the cover member is provided on the outer surface of the shutter member. When the cover member is provided on both the inner surface and the outer surface of the shutter member, the cover member is preferably provided on both the case and the cover plate portion.

Further, the pair of shutter members are linked to a first shutter member whose movement in the opening direction is restricted by a lock means when the disk medium is not used, and in conjunction with the first shutter member when the disk medium is used. If the second shutter member moves in the opening direction of the opening and the cover member is provided on the outer surface of the first shutter member, the intentional opening and closing operation of the shutter member is reliably prevented, which is more preferable. It is.

That is, when the disk medium is not used, it is impossible to move the first shutter member whose movement is restricted by the lock means only by operating the cover member, and the disk medium is covered from the outer surface side. Since it is difficult to operate the second shutter member in the opening direction from the contact portion with the first shutter member, intentional opening and closing of the shutter member is prevented. In a configuration having no locking means, it is desirable that the cover member be provided on the outer surface of the shutter member which has a large moving resistance (for example, sliding resistance with the case or the cover plate) and is difficult to open and close.

Still further, at least one of the pair of shutter members is provided so as to be able to engage with the other shutter member, and when the openings are closed, displacement of the abutting portions of the pair of shutter member end faces in the plate thickness direction is prevented. With the configuration including the engagement portion, generation of a gap in the abutting portion between the pair of shutter member ends is suppressed. Accordingly, excessive processing accuracy and assembly accuracy are not required for the pair of shutter members, so that the cost is reduced, which is preferable. Further, since the strength in the plate thickness direction at the abutting portion between the pair of shutter member end surfaces is improved, the reliability (strength and life) of the shutter member is improved, and the dustproof effect is also improved. Conversely, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the shutter member (that is, the thickness of the disk cartridge) while ensuring reliability (dust-proof effect).

In particular, if the engaging portion for preventing displacement in at least one direction in the plate thickness direction also serves as the cover member, the displacement of the abutting portion in the plate thickness direction can be prevented with a simple structure. This is more preferable because the dustproof effect when the shift in the moving direction of the shutter member occurs is also ensured.

Further, if the engaging portion (including the case also serving as the cover member) is provided along the outer surface and the inner surface of one of the shutter members, the processing and assembly of the shutter member is further facilitated. Becomes In particular, if the engaging portion is provided on the first shutter member in which movement of the opening in the opening direction is restricted by the lock means when the disk medium is not used, it is not only necessary to operate the engaging portion. The first shutter member cannot be moved, and the second shutter member, whose abutting portion with the first shutter member is engaged (covered by the cover member) from the outer surface side, is operated in the opening direction of the opening. Is difficult to do,
The intentional opening and closing of the shutter member is prevented.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A disk cartridge 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 1 to 10, arrows F
When R, arrow RE, arrow UP, arrow LO, arrow RI, and arrow LE are indicated, the disc cartridge 10 when viewed in the direction of loading (insertion) of the disc cartridge 10 into the drive device is viewed. A forward direction (loading direction), a backward direction, an upward direction, a downward direction, a rightward direction, and a leftward direction are indicated. It is needless to say that these directions are shown for the sake of convenience, and do not limit the directions when the disk cartridge 10 is used. Therefore, for example, the disk cartridge 1
In use, 0 may be arranged horizontally or vertically. (Overview of Disk Cartridge) FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the disk cartridge 10 viewed from obliquely above, and FIG. 1B is a view of the disk cartridge 10 viewed from obliquely below. The appearance is shown in a perspective view.

As shown in these figures, the disk cartridge 10 is formed in a flat case shape as a whole, and contains a disk-shaped disk medium 20 as an information recording / reproducing medium described later.

The disk cartridge 10 has a front end 10A curved in an arc shape and a rear end 10B formed in a polygonal shape with left and right corners cut off by a required function. The front and rear dimensions of the disk cartridge 10 are slightly larger than the right and left dimensions. As a result, the disc cartridge 10 is configured such that the loading direction to the drive device (not shown) can be easily recognized from the external appearance, and the loading to the drive device from an incorrect direction is not allowed.

A first guide groove 12A and a second guide groove 12B are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the disk cartridge 10, respectively, for guiding when the disk cartridge 10 is loaded into the drive device. A lock release lever 136 and a shutter engaging portion 122 described later protrude from the first guide groove 12A.

Further, an opening 14 is provided from the center of the lower surface of the disk cartridge 10 to the center in the left-right direction of the front wall of the front end 10A.
It is for accessing the disk medium 20 at the time of use. That is, when using the disk medium 20,
The configuration is such that a rotary spindle shaft of a drive device and a recording / reproducing head (for example, a laser head) are inserted and approached from the opening 14. When the disk medium 20 is not used, the opening 14 is closed by a first shutter member 110 and a second shutter member 150, which will be described later, housed in the disk cartridge 10 so that dust or the like enters the disk cartridge 10. Has been prevented.

In the vicinity of the rear end 10B of the lower surface of the disk cartridge 10, two position regulating holes 16 are provided.
Are provided for regulating (detecting) the position of the disk cartridge 10 in the drive device.

The disc cartridge 10 is loaded into the drive device from the front (in the direction of the arrow FR) while being guided by the drive device in the first guide groove 12A and the second guide groove 12B. With the position detected and positioned in the drive device in the hole 16, the disk medium 20 is
The recording of information on the disc medium and the reproduction of information recorded on the disk medium 20 are performed. (Detailed Configuration) As shown in an exploded perspective view in FIG. 2, the disk cartridge 10 includes a disk medium 20. The disc medium 20 has a center hole 2 at the center.
The recording surface formed on the lower surface 24 is covered and protected by a cover layer (both not shown). An annular center core 26 is attached to the center hole 22 of the disk medium 20 by bonding or the like. The center core portion 26 is adapted to be engaged or sucked and held at the tip of the rotary spindle shaft of the drive device.

The disk medium 20 is housed in a case 30. The case 30 is formed by joining a base plate portion 32 as a lower shell and an upper plate surface portion 34 as an upper shell. In addition, the case 30 (the base plate 3
The lower part of 2) is covered with a lower surface plate portion 36 as a cover plate portion, and a first shutter member 110 and a second shutter member 150 described later are accommodated between the case 30 and the lower surface plate portion 36. It is.

The base plate portion 32 has a base bottom portion 38 formed of a substantially rectangular thin plate whose front portion is formed in a semicircular shape and whose rear portion circumscribes the remaining semicircular portion.
On the base bottom portion 38, a cylindrical wall 40 having the same diameter as the front semicircular portion is provided upright. The inner diameter of the cylindrical wall 40 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the disk medium 20.

On the outer periphery of the rear portion of the base bottom portion 38, a peripheral wall 42 having a substantially "U" shape in plan view is formed so as to surround a substantially rear half portion of the cylindrical wall 40. The rear wall 4 of this peripheral wall 42
4 corresponds to the rear end 10B of the disk cartridge 10 in a folded line shape in which the right and left corners are bent in a plan view, and the height from the upper surface 38A of the base bottom 38 is lower than the cylindrical wall 40. And project below the lower surface 38B of the base bottom 38 (see FIG. 3).

The left wall 46 of the peripheral wall 42 has an outer surface formed along a tangent line parallel to the front-rear direction of the cylindrical wall 40 and a front end surface formed along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 40 and in contact therewith.
A and a cylindrical wall 4 provided outside (left side) of the left inner wall 46A.
0 and a left outer wall 46B extending slightly forward from the center in the front-rear direction. The left inner wall 46A is erected only on the upper surface 38A side of the base bottom portion 38 and has the same height as the rear wall 44. The left outer wall 46B is lower than the left inner wall 46A on the upper surface 38A side and is lower on the lower surface 38B side. It is at the same height as the rear wall 44. A narrow groove 46C opening upward is formed between the left outer wall 46B, the left inner wall 46A, and the cylindrical wall 40. On the other hand, the right wall 4 of the peripheral wall 42
8 also has the same configuration as the left wall 46, except that no narrow groove is formed on the right wall 48 side.

As a result, the peripheral wall 42 is
On the upper surface 38A side, the rear wall 44, the left inner wall 46A, and the right inner wall 48A form a substantially “U” -shape in plan view of the same height and serve as a contact portion with a peripheral wall 88 (described later) of the upper surface plate portion 32, On the lower surface 38B side of the base bottom portion 38, the rear wall 44, the left outer wall 46B, and the right outer wall 48B form a substantially “U” shape in plan view of the same height and serve as a fitting portion with the lower surface plate portion 36. . Further, the outer surface (left side surface) of the left inner wall 46A is a lower portion of the bottom surface at the rear of the first guide groove 12A of the disk cartridge 10, and the upper end surface of the left outer wall 46B is the first guide groove 12A.
Outer surface of right inner wall 48A (right side)
Is located below the bottom surface of the rear portion of the second guide groove 12B of the disk cartridge 10, and the upper end surface of the right outer wall 48B is the lower wall surface of the rear portion of the second guide groove 12B.

Cylindrical projections 50 are provided upright at both rear end corners of the upper surface 38A of the base bottom 38 between the cylindrical wall 40 and the peripheral wall 42. This cylindrical projection 5
0 is at the same height as the rear wall 44 of the peripheral wall 42. Although not shown, a conical screw receiving portion corresponding to the through hole and the head of the fixing screw is formed inside the cylindrical projection 50.

In the vicinity of the left cylindrical projection 50,
A shutter shaft hole 52 is provided to support a second shutter member 152 described later. Further, the shutter shaft hole 52 is provided with a spring holding portion 53 for holding one end of a torsion spring 156 described later.

The base plate 32 has an opening 54 that forms the opening 14 of the disk cartridge 10. The opening 54 has a circular hub hole 56 whose diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the center core portion 26 of the disk medium 20,
A substantially rectangular recording / reproducing head window 58 having a semicircular portion of the base bottom 38 symmetrically extending in the radial direction to the outer peripheral front end thereof and also notching the cylindrical wall 40 is formed continuously. I have.

The width of the recording / reproducing head window 58 in the left-right direction is the same as the width of the hub hole 56 except for the vicinity of the connection with the hub hole 56.
The right and left widened portions 58A are provided so as to be larger than the diameter of the left and right widened portions 58A.
Is a storage portion for an engagement piece 116 of the first shutter member 110 described later.

Around the hub hole 56 of the base bottom portion 38, a rib 60 having a thick upper surface 38A is provided.

Further, a shutter guide hole 62 is provided near the hub hole 56 in the base bottom 38. The shutter guide hole 62 has a shape in which two arcs coaxial with the shutter shaft hole 52 and a front corner of an arc-shaped hole surrounded by two straight lines passing through the axis of the shutter shaft hole 52 extend forward. Have been.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A concave portion 38C is formed on the lower surface 38B of the second (base bottom portion 38), and is used for the operation of the shutter main body 112 and the second shutter member 150 of the first shutter member 110, which will be described later, and the formation of the accommodation space. That is, on the lower surface 38B side of the base plate portion 32, the lower end surface of the peripheral wall 42 projects downward with respect to the lower surface 38B of the base bottom portion 38, and the concave portion 38C is recessed upward.

As a result, the lower surface plate portion 36 is fitted to the peripheral wall 42 in a state where the lower surface plate portion 36 is in contact with the lower surface 38B.
6 and a concave space 38C. Further, the cylindrical projection 5 on the lower surface 38B of the base bottom 38 is formed.
In the position corresponding to 0, a cylindrical projection 63 coaxially communicated with the inside of the cylindrical projection 50 so that screws and tools can be inserted.
Are set up downward, the outer periphery thereof is used for positioning the lower surface plate portion 36, and the inside thereof is the above-described position regulating hole 16 of the disk cartridge 10.

The cylindrical wall 40 of the base plate 32 described above
The disk medium 20 is housed inside. In the disk medium 20, the center core 26 has a hub hole 56.
It is placed on the ribs 60 in a state of being inserted therein, so that contact with the upper surface 38A of the base bottom portion 38 and the cylindrical wall 40 is prevented. In this state, the upper part of the base plate part 32 is covered with the upper surface plate part 34.

The top plate 34 has a polygonal flat plate 64 whose front end is curved in a circular arc shape and whose rear end is cut off at the left and right corners. The front-back dimension of the flat plate portion 64 is slightly larger than the left-right dimension.

An annular projection 66 corresponding to the rib 60 of the base plate 32 is provided at the center of the lower surface 64A of the flat plate 64.
Provided on the lower surface 64A.
0 is for contact prevention.

An annular groove 68 corresponding to the cylindrical wall 40 of the base plate portion 32 is formed in the lower surface 64A of the flat plate portion 64. The annular groove 68 is formed so that the cylindrical wall 40 can be inserted as a whole, and the left outer wall 46 of the base plate portion 32.
B and an outer diameter of a portion in front of the right outer wall 48B are slightly larger (wider), and together with the cylindrical groove 40, an arc-shaped guide wall portion 1 of a first shutter member 110 described later.
18 can be inserted.

Further, on the outer periphery of the front portion of the flat plate portion 64, an outer wall 70 which is formed in a substantially "U" shape in plan view so as to surround the front half portion of the annular groove 68 is erected downward. . The outer wall 70 has a height corresponding to the entire thickness of the disk cartridge 10, and includes a front wall 72, a left wall 74, and a right wall 76.

The front wall 72 is curved in accordance with the curved shape of the front end of the flat plate portion 64, and has a rectangular window portion 78 which is open at the bottom and is cut out at the center in the left-right direction. I have. The width of the window portion 78 in the left-right direction is the base plate portion 3.
2 corresponds to the width of the recording / reproducing head window 58 and constitutes a part of the opening 14 of the disk cartridge 10. The front wall 72 constitutes a front end 10A of the disk cartridge 10.

The left wall 74 and the right wall 76 extend rearward from the left and right ends of the front wall 72, respectively, and the positions corresponding to the front ends of the left outer wall 46A and the right outer wall 48B of the base plate portion 32 are rearward. It is the end. That is, in the assembled state, the lower portions of the rear end surfaces of the left wall 74 and the right wall 76 of the upper surface plate portion 34 are in contact with the front end surfaces of the left outer wall 46B and the right outer wall 48B of the base plate portion 32.

Inside the outer wall 70, there are provided inner walls 80A and 80B formed along the inner surfaces of the right and left corners, respectively. The lower end surfaces of these inner walls 80A and 80B are located slightly above the lower end surface of the outer wall 70 (recessed toward the inside of the disk cartridge 10), and
It is a contact surface with the upper surface of the lower surface plate portion 36 to be fitted to the “0”.

Further, a lateral groove 74A is formed on the outer surface of the left wall 74 of the outer wall 70 along the front-rear direction, and the bottom thereof reaches the inner wall 80A. The lateral groove 74A forms a front portion of the first guide groove 12A of the disk cartridge 10. The inner wall 80A is provided with a lock release lever hole 84 that communicates the bottom of the lateral groove 74A with the inside of the inner wall 80A. Further, on the lower surface 64A of the flat plate portion 64 near the lock release lever hole 84, a lock lever 13 described later is provided.
A shaft hole 86A for supporting two shafts and a holding hole 86B for holding one end of the torsion spring 140 are provided.

On the other hand, the right wall 76 of the outer wall 70 has the same configuration as the left wall 74, and has a horizontal groove 76A which forms the front of the second guide groove 12B and whose bottom extends to the inner wall 80B. Note that the lock release lever hole, the shaft hole, and the holding hole are not provided on the right wall 76 (inner wall 80B) side.

Further, on the outer periphery behind the outer wall 70 of the flat plate portion 64, a peripheral wall 8 corresponding to the peripheral wall 42 of the base plate portion 32 is provided.
8 is erected downward. That is, the peripheral wall 88
Has a rear wall 90, a left wall 92, and a right wall 94 corresponding to the rear wall 44, the left wall 46, and the right wall 48 of the base plate portion 32, respectively.

The rear wall 90 contacts the rear wall 44 of the base plate 32 to form the rear end 10B of the disc cartridge 10.

The left wall 92A is in contact with the left inner wall 46A of the base plate 32 and the left outer wall 92B.
And the narrow groove 92C is formed on the left outer wall 46 of the base plate 32.
B and the narrow groove 46C, the disk cartridge 10
And the rear left wall of the first guide groove 12A. The narrow grooves 46C facing each other,
92C constitutes a shutter guide groove 96 into which a shutter drawer 120 of the first shutter member 110 described later is inserted. This shutter guide groove 96
The (narrow groove 92C) communicates with the annular groove 68 near the front end of the left inner wall 92A. That is, the shutter guide groove 96 is provided near the base plate 32 near the front end thereof.
The narrow groove 46C and the portion near the outer wall of the annular groove 68 are formed to face each other.

On the other hand, in the right wall 94, similarly to the left wall 92, the right inner wall 94A is in contact with the right inner wall 48A of the base plate 32, and the right outer wall 94B is opposed to the right outer wall 48B of the base plate 32. 10 rear right wall and second
The rear portion of the guide groove 12B is configured.

A column 98 is provided between the peripheral wall 88 and the annular groove 68 at a position corresponding to each cylindrical projection 50 of the base plate portion 32. This column 98
Are located at the same height as the rear wall 90 of the peripheral wall 88, and each lower end surface thereof is in contact with the upper end surface of the cylindrical projection 50 of the base plate portion 32. A screw hole 98A is provided at the center of the cylinder 98, and a screw whose head is engaged with a conical portion inside the cylindrical projection 50 of the base plate portion 32 is screwed into the screw hole 98A. The position of the position regulating hole 16 (cylindrical projection 63) with respect to the upper surface plate portion 34 is determined.

Also, the upper plate 34 covers the upper part of the base plate 32 by the screwing.
And a case 30 that rotatably accommodates the disk medium 20 is formed. In this state, the cylindrical wall 40 of the base plate 32 is inserted into the annular groove 68 of the upper plate 34 and the peripheral wall 4 of the base plate 32 is
2 is in contact with a corresponding portion of the peripheral wall 88 of the upper plate portion 34.

On the other hand, a lower surface plate portion 36 is arranged below the base plate portion 32. The lower surface plate portion 36 is formed in a flat plate shape whose outer shape is substantially the same as the flat plate portion 64 of the upper surface plate portion 34, and the outer periphery thereof is slightly smaller than the flat plate portion 64. The outer wall 70 and the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 42 (the rear wall 44, the left outer wall 46B, and the right outer wall 48B) of the base plate portion 32 can be fitted.

The lower plate 36 is provided with the base plate 32.
An opening 100 having substantially the same shape as the opening 54 is formed at a position corresponding to the opening 54. That is, the opening 100 includes a hub hole 102 corresponding to the hub hole 56, a recording / reproducing head window 104 corresponding to the recording / reproducing head window 58, and right and left widened portions 104A, 104B.
An opening 14 of the disk cartridge 10 is formed. Widened portion 104B on the left side of this recording / reproducing head window 104
Is a cover step 1 of the first shutter member 110 described later.
There are 14 accommodation units.

Further, the base plate 3 is provided on the lower plate 36.
Two through holes 106 corresponding to the outer diameter of the cylindrical projection 63 are provided at positions corresponding to the cylindrical projection 63.

The lower plate 36 has a through hole 106 into which the cylindrical projection 63 of the base plate 32 is inserted, and an upper surface formed by the lower surface 38B of the base plate 32 (excluding the recess 38C) and the upper plate 34. The peripheral wall 42 (the rear wall 44 and the left outer wall 46) of the base plate portion 32 is in contact with the inner walls 80A and 80B.
B, the right outer wall 48B) and the inner peripheral surface of the outer wall 70 of the upper plate 34.

As described above, the lower portion of the case 30 accommodating the disk medium 20 is covered with the lower plate 36. As described above, the case 30 covered with the lower portion includes the front end portion 10A of the disc cartridge 10,
Rear end 10B, first guide groove 12A, second guide groove 12
B, the opening 14 of the disc cartridge 10 in which the opening 54 of the base plate 32, the window 78 of the upper plate 34, and the opening 100 of the lower plate 36 communicate with each other in addition to the two position regulating holes 16; Are formed.

The case 30 is provided with a shutter mechanism. The shutter mechanism closes or opens the opening 14. In the following, when describing each component of the shutter mechanism using the front, rear, left, and right directions, it is basically based on the direction in which the opening 14 is closed.

This shutter mechanism has a first shutter member 110, and the first shutter member 110 has a shutter body 112 for mainly closing the recording / reproducing head window 58 of the base plate 32. Shutter body 1
Reference numeral 12 denotes a substantially trapezoidal shape (a front-rear dimension is substantially the same as the radius of the cylindrical wall 40 of the base plate portion 32 and a width dimension is larger than a width dimension of the recording / reproducing head window 58 in a plan view). A slightly large rectangle is formed of a thin flat plate having a front end portion in an arc shape corresponding to the cylindrical wall 40 and a shape in which a right rear corner portion is cut out. Shutter body 11
The thickness dimension of 2 is smaller than the height from the lower surface 38B of the base plate portion 32 to the concave portion 38C (the upper surface of the lower plate portion 36).

The end face of the oblique side of the shutter body 112 (see FIGS. 2 to 4) is used for the second shutter member 1 described later.
The contact portion 112 </ b> A with 50 is formed. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, on the lower surface of the shutter body 112, a cover step 11 as a cover member and an engagement portion is provided.
4 extends from the butting portion 112A toward the right rear. The cover step 114 is disposed on the right front side of the center of the butting portion 112A.
Is covered.

On the upper surface of the shutter body 112,
An engagement piece 116 is provided as an engagement portion extending rightward and rearward from the abutting portion 112A. Engaging piece 11
Reference numerals 6 are provided at two positions sandwiching the cover step 114 in plan view.

The height from the lower surface of the cover step 114 to the lower surface of the shutter body 112 is equal to or less than the thickness of the lower plate 36. The height from the upper surface of the engagement piece 116 to the upper surface of the shutter body 112 is equal to or less than the thickness of the peripheral portion of the opening 54 of the base plate 32 (the thickness from the upper surface 38A of the base 38 to the recess 38C). Have been.

Further, at the left rear corner of the shutter main body 112, there is provided a pressing piece 112B which is provided upright, and is used for pressing a second shutter member 150 described later.

Further, at the front end of the shutter main body 112, the recording / reproducing head window 5 of the base plate 32 slides along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 40 of the base plate 32.
An arc-shaped guide wall portion 118 that closes a part of 8 (a cutout portion at the front part of the cylindrical wall 40) is integrally erected upward. The arc-shaped guide wall portion 118 has a cylindrical wall 40 in plan view.
And the height is determined so that the height of the upper end in the assembled state corresponds to the upper end surface of the cylindrical wall 40 (see FIG. 8A).

The arc-shaped guide wall portion 118 is provided with a short projecting portion 118A to the left of the shutter body 112 and a long projecting portion 118B to the right. The window portion 1 having a downward opening is provided on the right overhang portion 118B.
18C, which corresponds to the window 78 of the upper plate surface 34. When the opening 14 is opened by the shutter mechanism, the dimensions of each part are determined so that the window 118C is located forward.

On the other hand, a shutter pull-out portion 120 is connected to a distal end portion of a left-side protruding portion 118A of the arc-shaped guide wall portion 118. This shutter drawer 12
Reference numeral 0 denotes a plate that is sufficiently thinner than the arc-shaped guide wall portion 118 and is elastically deformable in the thickness direction, and a small block-shaped shutter engaging portion 122 is attached to a tip end thereof. As shown in FIG. 8B, the vertical widths of the shutter pullout portion 120 and the shutter engagement portion 122 are respectively equal to the vertical size of the shutter guide groove 96 and the first width.
It corresponds to the vertical dimension of the guide groove 12A. A small hole 120A is provided in an intermediate portion of the shutter drawer 120, and is used for engaging a lock claw 138 described later.

As shown in FIG. 4 (a bottom view with the lower plate 36 removed) and FIG. 8A, the first shutter member 110 has an arc-shaped guide wall portion 118 together with the cylindrical wall 40 of the base plate portion 32. When the shutter body 112 is inserted into the annular groove 68 of the upper surface plate portion 34 and slidably disposed along the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical wall 40, the shutter main body 112 is provided with the concave portion 38 </ b> C of the base plate portion 32 and the upper surface of the lower surface plate portion 36. Is located between
Normally, a part of the opening 14 (mainly the window 5 for the recording / reproducing head)
8) is closed.

In this state, the pressing piece 112 B of the shutter main body 112 is
And is located in front of it. In this state, the leading end of the shutter drawer 120 is positioned on the upper plate 34.
The first guide groove 1 is located in the shutter guide groove 96 communicating with the annular groove 68 of the first guide groove 1.
It is located at a substantially central portion (rear side of the left wall 74 of the upper surface plate portion 34) in 2A and is exposed to the outside. Accordingly, by moving the shutter engaging portion 122 backward from the outside, the arc-shaped guide wall portion 118 slides along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 40 via the shutter drawer portion 120, and the shutter main body 112 is rotated. (See FIGS. 4 to 7).

Further, the shutter mechanism includes locking means 130 for restricting the rotation of the first shutter member. The lock unit 130 includes a lock lever 132 having a substantially “C” shape in plan view. Lock lever 132
The first guide groove 12 </ b> A (lateral groove 74) is provided at a central portion and rotatably supported by a shaft hole 86 </ b> A of the upper surface plate portion 34 and a lock release lever hole 84 provided at one end.
A) includes a lock release lever 136 protruding inward, and a lock claw 138 provided at the other end and engageable with the small hole 120A of the shutter drawer 120.

One end of a torsion spring 140 is locked to the support shaft 134 of the lock lever 132, and the other end of the torsion spring 140 is inserted and held in a holding hole 86 B of the upper plate 34. . As a result, the lock lever 132 is urged by the torsion spring 140 in a direction in which the lock claw 138 engages with the small hole 120A of the shutter drawer 120, and the opening 14 is normally kept closed.

On the other hand, when the lock release lever 136 is pressed rearward, the lock lever 132 is rotated around the support shaft 134 against the urging force of the torsion spring 140, and the lock claw 138 and the small hole of the shutter drawer 120 are formed. The engagement state with 120A is released.

Further, the shutter mechanism includes a base plate 3
2nd shutter member 15 which mainly closes hub hole 56 of 2nd
0 is provided. The second shutter member 150 is made of a resin material, a metal plate, or the like, and is formed of a thin flat plate having a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view (a trapezoidal shape in which parallel line segments located on the left and right are offset and the parallel line segment is long). The thickness dimension of the shutter main body 112 of the first shutter member 110
Is equivalent to

In the second shutter member 150, the end face of the hatched portion at the front end of the second shutter member 150 abuts against the abutting portion 112 A of the shutter body 112 of the first shutter member 110.
50A. At a position corresponding to the pressing piece 112B of the shutter body 112 of the abutting portion 150A,
The pressed piece 150B is erected upward (inside the case 30). The pressed piece 150B is attached to the base plate 32.
Corresponds to the arc portion of the shutter guide hole 62, and the rotation range of the shutter body 112 (the shutter guide hole 62).
The width dimension always comes into contact with the pressing piece 112B within the movement range of the pressing piece 112B regulated by the above.

The second shutter member 150 has a rotating shaft 152 erected upward at the left rear end thereof. The rotating shaft 152 corresponds to the shutter shaft hole 52 of the base plate 32, and a sliding 154 is provided at the upper end.
Are formed.

The second shutter member 150 is mounted on the base plate portion with the rotating shaft 152 inserted through the shutter shaft hole 52 of the base plate portion 32 and the pressed piece 150B inserted into the shutter guide hole 62. It is arranged between the concave portion 38 </ b> C of the 32 and the upper surface of the lower plate portion 36. In this state, one end of the torsion spring 156 is locked to the seat 154 of the rotating shaft 152, and the other end of the torsion spring 156 is locked to the spring holding portion 53 of the base plate 32. Thus, the second shutter member 150 is constantly urged in the direction in which the second shutter member 150 abuts against the first shutter member 110.

Thus, the second shutter member 150
Usually, the abutting portion 150A is in a state of abutting against the abutting portion 112A of the first shutter member 110, and in this state, the hub hole 56 of the base plate portion 32 is mainly closed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150 normally open the opening 14 of the disc cartridge 10 with the abutting portions 112A and 150A abutting each other. It is designed to be closed.

In this state, the pressing piece 112B of the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150
The pressed pieces 150B are engaged with front inner edges of the shutter guide holes 62 of the base plate portion 32, respectively, so that the contact portions 112A and 150A maintain the contact state.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

In the disk cartridge 10 having the above-described structure, when the disk medium 20 is not used, the opening 14 is provided with the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 15.
It is closed by 0. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the abutting portion 112A of the first shutter member 110
The first shutter member 110 mainly closes the recording / reproducing head window 58 of the base plate 32, and the second shutter member 150 abuts against the butting portion 150 </ b> A of the second shutter member 150. The shutter member 150 mainly closes the hub hole 56 of the base plate 32.

In this state, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10B, the cover step 114 covers the lower part of the abutting portion, and the engaging piece 116 is in contact with the upper surface of the second shutter member 150. It is positioned to be engageable.

At this time, the first shutter member 110
When the lock claw 138 of the lock means 130 is engaged with the small hole 120A of the shutter drawer 120, the opening 1
4 The rotation in the opening direction is restricted, and the above-mentioned closed state is maintained. On the other hand, the second shutter member 150 is urged by the torsion spring 156 in the direction in which the second shutter member 150 abuts against the first shutter member 110, and maintains the closed state. This prevents dust from entering the disk cartridge 10 when the disk medium 20 is not used, that is, preventing dust from adhering to the lower surface 24 of the disk medium 20.

The disk cartridge 10 is mounted on a drive device when the disk medium 20 is used (when information is recorded on the disk medium 20 or when information recorded on the disk medium 20 is reproduced).
When mounting the disk cartridge 10 in the drive device, the disk cartridge 10 is inserted into the insertion opening 200 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) of the drive device with its front end 10A at the head.

With this insertion, the guide projections 202 of the drive device are inserted into the first guide groove 12A and the second guide groove 12B of the disk cartridge 10, respectively. Guide convex portion 202 inserted in first guide groove 12A
Moves relative to the rear of the first guide groove 12A with the further insertion of the disk cartridge 10, abuts against the lock release lever 136 located in the first guide groove 12A, and presses this rearward.

When the lock release lever 136 is pressed rearward, the lock lever 132 rotates around the support shaft 134 (shaft hole 86A) as shown in FIG. The lock claw 138 and the small hole 12 of the shutter drawer 120 are retracted inward.
The engagement state with 0A is released. Thereby, the locked state of the first shutter member 110 is released, and the first shutter member 110 is rotatable.

When the guide convex portion 202 of the drive device relatively moves rearward in the first guide groove 12A, the guide convex portion 202 maintains the above-mentioned unlocked state, and the shutter located in the first guide groove 12A. It engages with the engaging portion 122 and presses it backward. When the shutter engaging portion 122 is pressed rearward, the first shutter member 110 in the unlocked state rotates as shown in FIG.

That is, as the shutter engaging portion 122 moves rearward, the shutter drawer 120 moves rearward in the shutter guide groove 96 extending in the tangential direction of the cylindrical wall 40, so that the arcuate guide wall portion is formed. 118 is the cylindrical wall 4
It rotates while sliding along the outer peripheral surface of the zero. With the rotation of the arc-shaped guide wall portion 118, the shutter main body 112 integrated therewith rotates along the cylindrical wall 40 (around the axis of the cylindrical wall 40).

Further, with the rotation of the first shutter member 110, the pressing piece 112B of the shutter body 112 moves substantially rearward in the shutter guide hole 62 (provided apart from the axis of the cylindrical wall 40). Pressing piece 112B is cylindrical shaft 40
Around the axis). When the pressing piece 112B moves substantially rearward, the second shutter member 1 placed in contact with the pressing piece 112B
The 50 pressed pieces 150B move along the arc-shaped portion of the shutter guide hole 62 while being pressed substantially rearward. With the movement of the pressed piece 150B, the second shutter member 150 rotates around the rotation shaft 152 in a direction away from the first shutter member 110 against the biasing force of the torsion spring 156.

The guide convex portion 202 of the drive device is engaged with the shutter engaging portion 122 (the shutter engaging portion 122).
7), the first shutter member 110 (the shutter body 112 and the arc-shaped guide portion 118) and the second shutter member are moved relative to each other further in the first guide groove 12A as shown in FIG. 150 further rotates, and the recording / reproducing head window 58 and the hub hole 56 are opened. In this state, the window 118C of the arcuate guide wall 118 is located at the front of the disk cartridge 10, and the front of the recording / reproducing head window 58 is also opened through the window 78 of the upper plate 34. That is, the opening 14 of the disk cartridge 10 is opened.

In this state, the cover step 114 is connected to the widened portion 1 of the recording / reproducing head window 104 of the lower plate 36.
04B, and the engaging piece 116 is accommodated in the widened portion 58B of the recording / reproducing head window 58 of the base plate 32.

As described above, the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150 are brought into contact with each other.
By moving (rotating) A and 150A in different directions while separating from each other, it is possible to open the large opening 14 of the disk cartridge 10 while reducing the shutter moving area.

When the disc cartridge 10 is inserted to a predetermined position of the drive device, the position regulating hole 16
The positioning mechanism of the drive device is inserted into the device to accurately position the drive device. As a result, the disk cartridge 10 cannot be inserted any further, and the closing of the opening 14 by the urging force of the torsion spring 156 and the movement of the disk cartridge 10 in the ejection direction (the insertion port 200 side) are also prevented.

In this state, the opening 1 from which the closed state is released
The rotary spindle shaft is inserted from the portion corresponding to the hub hole 56 of No. 4. The rotating spindle shaft holds the center core portion 26 of the disk medium 20 at the tip end by engagement, suction, or the like, and rotates the disk medium 20 around the axis. In addition, the recording / reproducing head window 58 of the opening 14 is formed.
A recording / reproducing head is inserted from the portion corresponding to the above, and records information on the recording surface of the disk medium 20, or reproduces the information recorded on the recording surface.

On the other hand, when the disc cartridge 10 is ejected from the drive device, the positioning mechanism is extracted from the position regulating hole 16 and is ejected in the ejection direction (the insertion port 200).
Side) can be moved. In this state, the disc cartridge 10 is moved with the rear end portion 10B at the front by the urging force of the torsion spring 156 or the pressing force applied in the discharge direction by the drive device. With this movement, even though the guide convex portion 202 of the drive device is engaged with the shutter engaging portion 122, the pressing force via the guide convex portion 202 does not act, and the first shutter member 11
0 is in a rotatable state.

In this state, the disk cartridge 10
Closes the opening 14 while moving in the discharge direction as described above. That is, the second shutter member 150 rotates in the closing direction of the opening 14 while pressing the pressing piece 112B of the first shutter member 110 substantially forward with the pressed piece 150B by the urging force of the torsion spring 156. The first shutter member 110 pressed substantially forward by the pressing piece 112B rotates in the closing direction of the opening 14 by this pressing.

When the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150 rotate and return to the initial positions, the opening 14 is closed. The pressing piece 112B of the first shutter member 110 that has returned to the initial position is engaged with the inner edge of the front portion of the shutter guide hole 62, and the first shutter member 110 and the pressed piece 150 of the second shutter member 150 that abuts on the pressing piece 112B. Further rotation by the urging force of the torsion spring 156 is prevented.

Note that the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter
The rotation of the shutter member 150 beyond the initial position is the second rotation.
The pressed piece 150B of the shutter member 150 may be blocked by engaging the peripheral portion of the shutter guide hole 62 in the initial position, and the projecting end 118B of the arc-shaped guide portion 118 of the first shutter member 110 may be initially set. The position may be prevented by engaging the wide end of the annular groove 68 at the position. Further, the first shutter member 110 may return to the initial position when the shutter engagement portion 122 is pressed by the drive device.

When the disc cartridge 10 is further moved in the ejection direction, the guide projection 202 is moved to the first guide groove 12A.
When it is moved forward from the lock release lever hole 84 of
The lock lever 1 is driven by the urging force of the torsion spring 140.
32 rotates, the lock release lever 136 projects into the first guide groove 12A, and the lock claw 138 engages with the small hole 12 of the shutter drawer 120 of the first shutter member 110.
Engage with 0A. Thereby, the disk cartridge 1
In the case of 0, the state returns to the state before loading in the drive device, the rotation of the first shutter member 110 is prevented, and the closed state of the opening 14 is maintained.

Here, the abutting portion 112A of the first shutter member 110 is provided with a cover step 1 for covering the abutting portion of the second shutter member 150 with the abutting portion 150A.
Since the space 14 is provided, even if a slight gap is formed in the abutting portion, entry of dust or the like into the disk cartridge 10 (case 30) is prevented, and a dustproof effect can be secured.
Accordingly, the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150 are not required to have excessive processing accuracy or assembly accuracy, and cost is reduced. In particular, processing or assembling such that the gap at the abutting portion on the right front side (the end side farther from the rotation shaft 152 of the second shutter member 150) provided with the cover step 114 is larger than the left rear gap. Giving a tolerance is preferred.

Further, even when dust or the like is caught in the abutted portion due to some error, the dustproof effect can be similarly secured. Also in this case, the above-described configuration in which the cover step 114 is provided on the front right is preferable because the gap on the front right is larger.

As described above, in the disk cartridge 10 according to the present embodiment, the dustproof effect can be ensured at low cost.

Since the lower plate 36 has the widened portion 104B as a storage portion for the cover step 114,
The provision of the cover step 114 prevents the thickness of the disk cartridge 10 from increasing. Similarly, since the widened portion 58B is provided in the base plate portion 32 as the storage portion for the engagement piece 116, the provision of the engagement piece 116 prevents the thickness of the disk cartridge 10 from increasing.

The lower surface side of the first shutter member 110 (the disc cartridge 10) in which the cover step 114 normally keeps the opening 14 closed by the locking means 130.
Of the first shutter member 110 cannot be moved only by operating the cover step 114, and the abutting portion 150A (which is covered from below (outer surface side)). Second shutter member 150)
Is difficult to operate, and intentional opening and closing of the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150 is prevented. Also in this case, the provision of the cover step 114 on the right front increases the operating force (rotational moment) of the abutting portion 150A, and the second shutter member 1
The opening and closing operation of 50 is more difficult, which is preferable.

The first shutter member 110 has an arc-shaped guide wall portion 118 formed by the cylindrical wall 40 of the base plate portion 32.
Because of the large sliding resistance associated with the rotation, it is difficult to operate the cover step 114 to perform the opening / closing operation even in a configuration in which the movement is not restricted by the locking means 130. is there. For this reason, the locking means 1
It is desirable that the cover step 114 be provided on the lower surface side of the first shutter member 10 (shutter main body 112) even in a configuration without the 30.

Here, the first shutter member 110
An engaging piece 116 is provided on the surface of the abutting portion 112A opposite to the cover step 114 so as to be engageable with the second shutter member 150.
14 and the abutting portion 15 of the second shutter member 150
In order to prevent vertical displacement (plate thickness direction) of the abutting portion from 0A, generation of a gap at the abutting portion is suppressed. This also allows the first shutter member 11
Excessive processing accuracy and assembly accuracy are not required for the zero and second shutter members 150, and the cost is further reduced.

Further, since the strength of the abutting portion in the vertical direction is improved, the reliability of the shutter mechanism is improved, and the dustproof effect is also improved. Conversely, while ensuring the reliability (dustproof effect) of the shutter mechanism, the first shutter member 110
And the thickness dimension of the second shutter member 150 (ie,
The thickness dimension of the disk cartridge 10 can be reduced.

Further, since the cover step 114 also functions as an engagement part for preventing displacement in one direction in the thickness direction of the abutting portion, the cover step 114 is provided on the lower surface of the first shutter member 110. Does not require a separate engaging piece 116, and the structure is simplified.

Furthermore, the engagement piece 116 is
14, the first shutter member 110 is provided together with the first shutter member 110, so that the structure is simple and easy to assemble, and there is also a risk of intentional opening / closing operation which is a concern when the engagement piece 116 is provided on the second shutter member 150. Absent.

In the above embodiment, the engagement piece 11
6 is provided in the first shutter member 110, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the engagement piece 162 may be provided in the second shutter member 160 as shown in FIGS. good. This engagement piece 162 is
The lower surface of the shutter member 160 is extended rightward and forward from the lower surface of the abutting portion 160A, and is located on both sides of the cover 114 of the first shutter member 170 when the opening 14 is closed. Also according to this configuration, as described above, the vertical direction (plate thickness direction) of the abutting portion
And the strength is improved. in this case,
Since the intentional release operation of the blockage due to the external operation of the engagement piece 162 cannot be prevented, the second shutter member 16
It is desirable to provide a lock means also at 0. The lower plate 36 has an engagement piece 1 associated with the rotation of the second shutter member.
It is desirable to provide a storage portion (a concave portion or a notch portion) corresponding to the rotation locus of 60.

In the above embodiment, the cover step 114 is provided on the first shutter member. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cover step 114 may be provided on the second shutter member. 150 may be provided. In this case, the engagement piece 116 may be provided on the second shutter member 150, and the engagement piece 162 may be provided on the first shutter member 110.
May be provided. The cover step 114 and the engagement piece 11
Needless to say, 6 and the like may be provided on both the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150 and the like.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cover step 114 preferably functions as an engagement portion for preventing a displacement of the abutting portion between the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150 in the thickness direction. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this, and a cover member that covers the abutting portion and an engaging portion that can engage with the abutting portion and prevent displacement in the plate thickness direction are separately provided. It is good also as a configuration. Further, for example, the disk cartridge 10 includes only the engagement piece 116 and the engagement piece 162, and covers a portion where the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150 abut (for example, the cover step 114). May not be provided. Further, it goes without saying that a cover step 114 may be provided on the upper surface of the first shutter member 110 instead of the engagement piece 116. In this case, the upper and lower cover steps may be arranged to face each other or may be arranged offset.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cover step 114 covers only a part of the abutting portion between the first shutter member 110 and the second shutter member 150, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, for example, the cover step portion 11 that covers the abutting portion over the entire length is provided.
4 may be provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the widened portion 104B is provided as the storage portion of the cover step portion 114. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, it may be accommodated in the thin portion (concave portion) of 36. When the thickness of the disk cartridge 10 is not required to be reduced (for example, when the thickness is determined by a standard or the like) or when the thickness is to be reduced in another part, the storage portion of the cover step 114 (each width portion 104B). Needless to say, it is not necessary to include the above-mentioned thin portion).

Further, in the above embodiment, the disk medium 20 is of a single-sided recording type and the opening 14 is provided below (including the front side). However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to arrange a shutter member for opening and closing the upper and lower openings by using a configuration in which the disk medium 20 is a double-sided recording type and the opening 14 is also provided above. In addition, the opening 14 is not limited to the configuration in which the hub hole 56 and the recording / reproducing head window 58 are provided continuously, and it goes without saying that these may be formed separately. Further, the disk media 20
Is not limited to the configuration having the center core portion 26, and the disk medium 20 may be held on the rotating spindle shaft in the center hole 22.

[0122]

As described above, the disk cartridge according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the dustproof effect can be secured at low cost and the intentional opening and closing operation of the shutter member can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing the appearance of a disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view as viewed obliquely from above and below, and FIG. .

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the entire configuration of the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention in a state where the opening is closed, with a lower plate portion removed and partially cut away.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing an unlocked state of the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a process of opening the opening of the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing an open state of the opening of the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

8A is a sectional view taken along line 8A-8A in FIG.
(B) is a sectional view taken along line 8B-8B in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a shutter member included in the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a shutter member constituting the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing a modified example of a shutter member included in the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 Disc cartridge 14 Opening 20 Disc media 30 Case 32 Base plate (Case) 34 Upper plate (Case) 36 Lower plate (Coating plate) 54 Opening 56 Hub hole (Opening) 58 Window for recording / reproducing head (Opening) 110 110 First shutter member (a pair of shutter members) 114 Cover step (cover member) 150 2nd shutter member (a pair of shutter members)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pair of shutter members provided on at least one side of a case accommodating a disk-shaped disk medium in a rotatable manner and capable of opening and closing an opening for accessing the disk medium; Sometimes, the pair of shutter members abut the end faces of each other to close the opening, and when the disc medium is used, the pair of shutter members move while abutting portions are separated from each other to open the opening. 5. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a cover member for covering the abutting portion of the end surface in the closed state is provided on at least one of the pair of shutter members.