JP2003085925A - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk cartridge provided with shutter members, in which a large aperture can be secured. SOLUTION: The disk cartridge is provided with a case 30 rotatably housing a disk medium 20, apertures 40 and 50 for accessing the disk medium 20 formed in at least one surface of the case 30 and a plurality of shutter members 60 sliding and moving in the direction orthogonal to the loading direction of the cartridge to a drive while being superposed on each other to open and close the apertures 40 and 50.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc-shaped disk medium used as a recording / reproducing medium for an information processing apparatus or the like, and rotatably accommodates dust and the like. The present invention relates to a disc cartridge. [0002] For example, disk-shaped disk media such as optical disks and magneto-optical disks are used as portable recording / reproducing media for computers. Such disc media can be used for recording or playback.
By irradiating the recording surface with laser light while rotating in a drive device, information is recorded by pit formation, phase change, magnetization, etc. due to decomposition of the dye layer on the recording surface, or reflection of laser light The recorded information is reproduced based on the difference in rate and polarization angle. In such a disk medium,
In order to increase the recording capacity, it has been proposed to shorten the wavelength of the laser light applied to the recording surface. When recording or reproducing information using this short wavelength laser beam (for example, a blue-violet laser), in order to suppress the attenuation of the laser beam by the cover layer protecting the recording surface of the disk media, It is necessary to reduce the thickness. If the thickness of the cover layer is reduced in this way, the aperture of the laser beam on the surface of the cover layer (exposed surface) becomes small, and the influence of dust and the like adhering to the cover layer surface cannot be ignored. For this reason, a disk cartridge has been adopted in which the disk medium is housed in a case to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the disk medium. As shown in FIG. 6, the disc cartridge 100 has a center hole portion 102 provided at the center of the disc medium 110 and an opening 108 for exposing a part of the recording surface (cover layer) 104 to the outside. A shutter member 106 that opens and closes the opening 108 is provided. As a result, the disk cartridge 100
In general, the opening 108 is closed by the shutter member 106 to prevent dust and the like from entering the disk cartridge 100, that is, the dust and the like from adhering to the disk medium 110.
By opening the, the center hole portion 102 can be held by the rotating spindle shaft and the optical pickup can be brought close to the recording surface 104 (irradiation with laser light). In such disk cartridges, in recent years, a reduction in the diameter of disk media has been studied. However, since the optical pickup is composed of many optical system parts such as a laser light source, a lens, a mirror, a wave plate, and a photodetector, it is difficult to reduce the size of the optical pickup. The problem of becoming relatively large has arisen. That is, the conventional disk cartridge 1
In 00, since one shutter member 106 slides in a direction orthogonal to the loading direction to the drive device, the substantially rectangular opening 108 formed at the front center of the disk cartridge 100 is opened and closed. , Opening 1
08 is only about 1/3 of the width of the disk cartridge, and when the disk media is reduced in diameter,
There may be a case where the opening 108 is too small to allow the optical pickup to approach. Therefore, in order to reduce the diameter of the disk medium, it is necessary to provide as large an opening as possible. However, even if the opening is enlarged, there is a problem that the conventional shutter member 106 cannot sufficiently open the opening. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a disk cartridge provided with a shutter member capable of ensuring a large opening so as to cope with a reduction in the diameter of a disk medium. In order to achieve the above object, a disk cartridge according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a case for rotatably accommodating a disk-shaped disk medium; A plurality of shutter members that open and close the opening by sliding in both directions orthogonal to the loading direction to the drive device while overlapping each other and an opening for accessing the disk medium formed on at least one side of the case; It is characterized by having. If the shutter member is composed of a plurality of sheets and is moved so that they are overlapped with each other, the space for retracting the shutter member can be reduced, so that a large opening is provided in the disk cartridge. Can be secured. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a reduction in the diameter of the disk medium. Further, since the shutter member can be moved in both the left and right directions, it is possible to configure the operating direction of the engaging member for opening the shutter member provided in the drive device in either the left or right direction. Even in the case of double-sided recording loaded in reverse, the operating direction of the engaging member can be made only in one of the left and right directions, so that the cost of the drive device can be reduced. In other words, the conventional shutter member can move only in one direction, either left or right,
In the case of double-sided recording, the engaging member is configured to operate in both the left and right directions. However, if the shutter member is movable in both the left and right directions, the engaging member can be opened even in one direction. Therefore, the configuration of the engaging member can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced accordingly. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the loading (insertion) direction of the disk cartridge into the drive device is the forward direction (FR).
Based on that, backward (RE), upward (UP),
The description will be made with the downward direction (LO), the left direction (LE), and the right direction (RI). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the disk cartridge 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole and includes a disk medium 20 as an information recording / reproducing medium. The disk medium 20 is formed in a disk shape having a center hole 22 in the center, and the recording surface formed on the lower surface and the upper surface thereof is covered and protected by a cover layer. An annular center core portion 24 is attached to the center hole 22 by adhesion or the like, and this center core portion 24 is engaged with or held at the tip of the rotary spindle shaft of the drive device when the disk medium 20 is used. It is supposed to be retained. Such a disk medium 20 is accommodated in a case 30 formed by joining an upper shell 34 and a lower shell 32 formed substantially symmetrically in the vertical direction. The lower shell 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape of the disk cartridge 10, and an outer wall 42 is erected on the peripheral edge thereof. Further, the outer wall 4 is provided on the inner surface of the lower shell 32.
A substantially short cylindrical inner wall 44 having a height equivalent to 2 is erected, and the inner diameter thereof is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the disk medium 20. Further, the outer wall on the front side of the lower shell 32 (hereinafter referred to as “the outer wall”).
An inner wall 46 is erected in parallel with the front wall 42A at a predetermined interval on the inner side of the front wall 42A). A coil spring 6 described later is interposed between the front wall 42A and the inner wall 46.
8, 78, 88 and block pieces 70, 80 are accommodated. The height of the inner wall 46 is also equal to the height of the outer wall 42 and the inner wall 44, and a stepped portion 48 for forming a slit 90 described later is provided on the front wall 42A. An opening 40 is formed in the lower shell 32. The opening 40 has a circular hub hole 40A having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the center core portion 24 of the disk medium 20, and a substantially rectangular window portion that reaches the inner wall 46 symmetrically along the radial direction of the inner wall 44. 40B is continuously provided. On the other hand, since the upper shell 34 is also substantially symmetrical with the lower shell 32, the opening 50 corresponding to the opening 40, the outer wall 52 corresponding to the outer wall 42, and the inner wall 44 are provided.
, An inner wall (not shown) corresponding to the inner wall 46, a stepped portion 58 corresponding to the stepped portion 48, and the like. Then, the lower shell 32 and the upper shell 34
Are joined by bonding, welding, screwing or the like in a state where the respective outer walls and the inner wall face each other, and the disk media 20 can be rotated in a space formed by joining the inner wall 44 and the inner wall (not shown). Be contained. Further, the front wall 42A, the front wall 52A and the inner wall 4 are provided.
6 and coil springs 68, 78, 88 and block pieces 70, in the space formed by joining the inner wall (not shown).
80 is slidably accommodated, and a substantially rectangular recess 56 in which a shutter member 60 described later is slidably set is formed on the upper surface of the upper shell 34. A recess (not shown) equivalent to that is also formed on the lower surface of the lower shell 32. Further, step portions 48 and 58 are formed almost entirely in the center of the front wall 42A and the front wall 52A.
A slit 90 having a predetermined width is formed when the front wall 42A and the front wall 52A are joined. The slit 90 is formed at the tips 70A and 80A of the block pieces 70 and 80.
Block pieces 70, 80
Is formed in a substantially convex shape in side view, and three coil springs 68,
Two are provided so as to be arranged between 78 and 88, respectively. And the front-end | tips 70A and 80A of the block pieces 70 and 80 which protruded from the slit 90 engage with the 1st shutter member 62 and the 3rd shutter member 66 which are mentioned later. One end of the coil spring 68 is fixed to the left side surface of the block piece 70 so as to urge the block piece 70 in the left direction, and the coil spring 88 is provided with the block piece 8.
One end is fixed to the right side surface of 0, and the block piece 80 is urged rightward. The middle coil spring 78 further urges the left and right block pieces 70 and 80 leftward and rightward, respectively. In addition,
The ends of the coil spring 78 do not have to be fixed to the right side surface of the block piece 70 and the left side surface of the block piece 80, respectively, but are preferably fixed. A plurality of shutter members 60 (three in the figure) that slide in the left-right direction to open and close the openings 40 and 50 are provided at the front portion (concave portion) of the case 30.
The shutter member 60 includes, for example, a first shutter member 62 provided on the leftmost side of the case 30 as illustrated in FIG.
The second shutter member 64 provided at the approximate center of the case 30 on the right side thereof, and the third shutter member 66 provided on the rightmost side of the case 30 on the right side thereof. The first shutter member 62, the second shutter member 64, and the third shutter member 66 are connected to the connecting plate 7 at the front end.
2, 74, and 76, respectively, and these connecting plates 7
2, 74, 76 are connected in a state where the shutter lower surface plates 82, 84, 86 covering the opening 40 and the shutter upper surface plates 92, 94, 96 covering the opening 50 are opposed to each other, and the sectional view is omitted. It is formed in a U shape. The second shutter member 64 is disposed inside the first shutter member 62.
However, the connecting plate 7 is arranged so that the third shutter member 66 can be accommodated inside the second shutter member 64.
2, 74, and 76 are configured such that the width in the vertical direction decreases in order by the thickness of the shutter lower surface plate and the shutter upper surface plate. The shutter bottom plates 82, 84, 86 are also provided.
And the width in the left-right direction of the shutter upper surface plates 92, 94, 96 is formed to be about 1/5 of the left / right length of the case 30, and the opening 40 opened to about 3/5 of the left / right length of the case 30, 50, the first shutter member 62, the second
The shutter member 64 and the third shutter member 66 are closed in a state where a part (side end portion) thereof is overlapped with each other. When the disc cartridge 10 is used, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the openings 40 and 50 are opened regardless of the sliding movement in either the left or right direction. That is, the inner surface of the shutter upper plate 92 of the first shutter member 62 is near the left end of the connecting plate 72, and the inner surface of the shutter upper plate 96 of the third shutter member 66 is near the right end of the connecting plate 76. Are substantially rectangular plate-shaped engaging portions 16 and 18 that are suspended.
8 is inserted into an elongate guide groove 54 formed at the front end of the recess 56 of the upper shell 34. Also,
In the center of the connecting plate 72 of the first shutter member 62 and the center of the connecting plate 74 of the second shutter member 64, elongated holes 36 and 38 are formed in the left-right direction, respectively, and the left end portion of the connecting plate 74 is further provided. And the protrusions 12 and 14 protrude from the left end of the connecting plate 76 of the third shutter member 66, respectively. The protrusion 14 of the connecting plate 76 is inserted from the inside into the long hole 38 of the connecting plate 74, and the protrusion 12 of the connecting plate 74 is inserted into the long hole 36 of the connecting plate 72 from the inside. The leading ends 70A, 80A of the block pieces 70, 80 projecting from the slit 90 are small holes 2 formed in the left end of the connecting plate 72 of the first shutter member 62.
6 and a small hole portion 28 formed in the right end portion of the connecting plate 76 of the third shutter member 66, and the first shutter member 62 and the third shutter member 66 are fixed to each other. The coil springs 68 and 88 are pulled with the same force in opposite directions. Accordingly, the second shutter member 64 has the protrusion 12.
Is pulled in the left direction by being inserted through the long hole 36, and is pulled in the right direction by being inserted into the long hole 38, as shown in FIG.
The brake is applied in a state where the balance is maintained at the approximate center of the case 30, and the openings 40 and 50 are preferably closed by the shutter member 60. In the shutter member 60, an engaging member (not shown) provided in the drive device abuts on the left end portion of the connecting plate 72 of the first shutter member 62 and moves it to the right or Connecting plate 7 of the third shutter member 66
5 is brought into contact with the right end of 6 and pushed leftward to be moved along the guide groove 54 to the left or right end and held in a state of being overlapped with each other. As shown in FIG. 4, the openings 40 and 50 are opened. For example, when the connecting plate 76 of the third shutter member 66 is pushed leftward, the first shutter member 6
2, second shutter member 64, third shutter member 66
Is moved in the left direction while the openings 40 and 50 are closed, and the left end portion of the first shutter member 62 abuts against the left end portion of the concave portion 56, thereby being held in that position. Then, when pressed further leftward, the protrusion 14
The third shutter member 66 is slid leftward while moving in the long hole 38, and the second shutter member 64 is slid leftward while the protrusion 12 moves in the long hole 36, so that the third shutter The member 66 is housed inside the second shutter member 64, and the second shutter member 64 is housed inside the first shutter member 62 together with the third shutter member 66. Thus, as shown in FIG.
50 is opened, but the shutter member 60 is housed in a compact manner in a state where the shutter members 60 are sequentially overlapped.
When 0 and 50 are opened, the retreat space can be reduced. Therefore, as described above, the openings 40 and 50 can be formed to have a width of about 3/5 in the lateral length of the case 30, which can be opened larger than the conventional opening, and the diameter of the disk medium can be reduced. It can correspond to. The coil spring 78 is not necessarily provided in order to operate the shutter member 60, but is preferably provided in order to maintain the overall balance of the shutter member 60. Next, the operation of the disk cartridge 10 will be described. The disc cartridge 10
When loaded in the bucket of the drive device, the engaging member provided on the bucket slides the shutter member 60 to the left or right. For example, when the engaging member is configured to slide in the left direction, the following occurs. That is, when the engaging member presses the connecting plate 76 of the third shutter member 66 in the left direction and the third shutter member 66 is slid in the left direction, the first shutter member 62 and the second shutter member. 64, the third shutter member 6
6 first moves to the left in the state when the openings 40 and 50 are closed. The first shutter member 6
When the left end of 2 abuts against the left end of the recess 56, no further movement is possible and the position is held in that position. At this time, the engaging portions 16, 1
8 is inserted, the shutter member 60 slides on the case 30 while being preferably guided. Thereafter, when pressed further to the left, the third shutter member 66 is moved while the projection 14 moves in the long hole 38.
Is slid in the left direction, and the second shutter member 64 is slid in the left direction while the protrusion 12 moves in the long hole 36. The third shutter member 66 is replaced by the second shutter member 64.
And the second shutter member 64.
Is housed inside the first shutter member 62, and the second shutter member 64 and the third shutter member 66 are housed in the first shutter member 62. At this time, since the engaging portion 16 is disposed at the left end portion of the first shutter member 62, the second shutter member 64 is not prevented from being stored. In this way, the shutter member 60 is stored and retracted in a compact manner, and as shown in FIG.
0 is released. Then, a rotating spindle shaft and an optical pickup (not shown) are inserted, and information is recorded on or reproduced from the disk medium 20. Thereafter, when the disk cartridge 10 is taken out from the bucket of the drive device, the engaging member releases the pressing of the connecting plate 76, so that the third shutter member 66 is pulled rightward by the coil spring 88, and the second shutter member. 64 and the first shutter member 62 are slid rightward by the protrusions 12 and 14 inserted into the long holes 36 and 38. At this time, the first shutter member 62 is pulled leftward by the coil spring 68 and the block pieces 70 and 80 are pressed in the left and right directions by the coil spring 78.
Brakes substantially at the center of the case 30 and preferably closes the openings 40 and 50. The coil spring 78 may not be provided. However, if the coil spring 78 is provided, the first shutter member 62, the second shutter member 64, and the third shutter member 66 can be regulated in a balanced manner, so that the case 30 is provided. The shutter member 60 is faster at the approximate center position of
Can be stabilized. In the case where the engaging member is configured to slide the shutter member 60 in the right direction, it is needless to say that it is the same as described above. In this case, as shown in FIG. , 50 are opened. The shutter member 60 has the right end of the first shutter member 62 as the left end of the second shutter member 64 and the right end of the second shutter member 64 as the left end of the third shutter member 66, respectively. Since the openings 40 and 50 are closed by overlapping, the strength can be secured and improved even if the shutter member 60 is formed of a thin plate-like member. Further, since the shutter member 60 can open the openings 40 and 50 from either the left or right side, the shutter member 60 can be used regardless of which the engaging member provided in the bucket of the drive device moves to the left or right. It becomes possible. Further, since the double-sided recording type disk cartridge needs to be loaded upside down, in the case of a drive device corresponding to this, the engaging member is configured to be movable in both the left and right directions. In the case of the disk cartridge 10 according to the present invention, even if it is loaded upside down, it can be opened only by being configured to move in either the left or right direction, so that the cost of the drive device can be reduced. Can do. Thus, the disk cartridge 10 according to the present invention can be used particularly suitably as a double-sided recording type. Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, the openings are provided on the upper and lower sides to form the double-sided recording type. And
In this case, the shutter member does not have to be substantially U-shaped in cross section. In addition, although the opening 40 and the opening 50 have the same shape, they may have different shapes. As described above, according to the present invention, the space for retracting the shutter member can be reduced, and accordingly, a large opening can be provided in the disk cartridge. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a reduction in the diameter of the disk medium. Further, even in the case of double-sided recording, the operating direction of the engaging member for opening the shutter member can be made only in one of the left and right directions, and the configuration can be simplified, so that the cost of the drive device can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a disk cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view before assembly of a shutter member of the disk cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the open state of the disc cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the open state of the disc cartridge according to the present invention. 6) (A) Schematic perspective view showing a closed state of an opening of a conventional disk cartridge (B) Schematic perspective view showing an opened state of a conventional disk cartridge [Explanation of symbols] 10 Disk cartridge 20 Disk medium 30 Case 40 Opening 50 Opening 60 Shutter member

Claims (1)

What is claimed is: 1. A case for rotatably accommodating a disk-shaped disk medium; an opening for accessing the disk medium formed on at least one side of the case; A disk cartridge comprising: a plurality of shutter members that slide and move in both directions orthogonal to the loading direction of the apparatus to open and close the opening.