JP2003085928A - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk cartridge provided with a shutter member by which a large aperture can be secured. SOLUTION: The disk cartridge is provided with a case 30 rotatably housing a disk like disk medium 20, an aperture 40 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 loading and ejecting direction of the cartridge to a drive while being superposed on each other to open and close the aperture 40.

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. 5, 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 perpendicular 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 10
No. 8 is only opened about 1/3 of the width of the disk cartridge. When the diameter of the disk medium is reduced, the opening 108 is too small, and the optical pickup may not be able 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; An opening for accessing the disk media formed on at least one side of the case, and a plurality of shutter members that open and close the opening by sliding in the loading / unloading direction of the drive device while overlapping each other. It is characterized by having prepared. 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. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment 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 4, 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 upper surface 26 and the lower surface 28 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 used when the disk medium 20 is used.
It is adapted to be held in engagement or suction at the tip of the rotary spindle shaft of the drive device. Such a disk medium 20 is accommodated in a case 30 formed by joining an upper shell 32 and a lower shell 34 formed substantially symmetrically in the vertical direction. The upper shell 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape of the disk cartridge 10, and an outer wall 44 is erected on the peripheral edge thereof. In addition, a substantially short cylindrical inner wall 42 having a low height for rotatably accommodating the disk medium 20 is erected on the inner surface of the upper shell 32, and a part of the front side thereof (for example,
About 1/3 of the circumference of the disk medium 20 is cut out, and both end portions of the cut-out inner wall 42 and the outer wall 44 are integrally connected by the inner wall 43. The inner diameter of the inner wall 42 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the disk medium 20, and the height of the outer wall 44 is equal to the height of the inner wall 42. The upper shell 32 has an opening 40 that opens at least a front half or more of the whole in a plan view, preferably about 2/3 of the front side of the disk medium 20 in a plan view.
Is formed. The opening 40 extends from the outer wall 44B on the rear side of the upper shell 32 (hereinafter referred to as the rear wall) 44B in the longitudinal direction.
About 3 is then cut in a straight line to reach the inner wall 42 in parallel with the wall 44B, and is cut along the shape of the inner walls 42, 43 from both ends reaching the inner wall 42 to the front. Is formed. On the other hand, since the lower shell 34 is also formed substantially vertically symmetrical with the upper shell 32, the opening 50 corresponding to the opening 40 and the inner walls 52, 53 corresponding to the inner walls 42, 43 are provided.
And an outer wall 54 corresponding to the outer wall 44. Therefore, the upper shell 32 and the lower shell 34 are connected to the inner wall 42,
43 and the inner walls 52 and 53, and the outer wall 44 and the outer wall 54 are joined to each other by bonding, welding, screwing, or the like. The disc medium 20 is rotatably accommodated in a space formed by joining the inner walls 42 and 52. The case 30 formed by joining the upper shell 32 and the lower shell 34 has a plurality of shutter members (two in the figure) that slide in the front-rear direction to open and close the openings 40 and 50. 60 is provided. This shutter member 6
2, the first shutter member 62 provided on the foremost side of the case 30 and the case 3 behind the first shutter member 62 as shown in FIG.
The second shutter member 64 is provided at approximately the center of 0, and the openings 40 and 50 are opened by sliding in the front-rear direction with the first shutter member overlapping the second shutter member 64. It is configured as follows. The first shutter member 62 and the second shutter member 64 are provided with connecting portions 66 and 68 at either one of the left and right ends (the right end portion in the drawing), respectively. The shutter upper surface plates 70 and 74 covering the opening 40 and the shutter lower surface plates 72 and 76 covering the opening 50 are connected in a state of facing each other,
It is formed in a substantially U shape in cross section. The shutter upper surface plates 70 and 74 and the shutter lower surface plates 72 and 76 are
The case 30 is formed to have a width of about 1/3 in the longitudinal direction. When the disc cartridge 10 is used, as shown in FIG. 3, the case 30 is accommodated in the state where the second shutter member 64 is housed in the first shutter member 62. Is held behind the opening 4
0 and 50 are opened. Further, on the inner surface of the shutter upper surface plate 70 of the first shutter member 62, in the vicinity of the right rear corner, a substantially square columnar convex portion 78 projects downward, and the second shutter member 64 is provided. On the inner surface of the shutter upper surface plate 74, in the vicinity of the right front corner portion and in the vicinity of the right rear corner portion, a substantially square columnar convex portion 82 projects downward. And
A long hole 80 through which the convex part 78 can be inserted is formed between the convex parts 82, and the convex part 78 that penetrates the long hole 80 and the convex part 82 are fitted into the upper right end of the upper shell 32. A groove 18 is formed. These convex portions 78 and 8
2 and the long hole 80 are provided in the shutter lower surface plates 72 and 76,
The groove 18 may be provided at the lower right end of the lower shell 34,
It can be provided on both the top and bottom. Further, the convex portions 78 and 8
The shape of 2 is not limited to that illustrated. On the other hand, the left outer wall 44C, 54C of the case 30 has an overhanging wall 46 projecting from the upper surface of the upper shell 32 and the lower surface of the lower shell 34, as shown in FIG. 56 is extended, and its overhanging walls 46, 5
6 between the upper surface of the upper shell 32 and the lower surface of the lower shell 34, the shutter upper surface plate 70 of the first shutter member 62.
And the shutter upper surface plate 74 of the second shutter member 64, and the groove portions 14 and 16 into which the left end portions of the shutter lower surface plate 72 of the first shutter member 62 and the shutter lower surface plate 76 of the second shutter member 64 are respectively inserted. . Thus, the first shutter member 62 and the second shutter member 64 are slidable in the front-rear direction while being guided on the case 30 by the grooves 14, 16, and 18. Further, stopper walls 48 and 58 are provided vertically on the outer walls 44A and 54A on the front side of the case 30 (hereinafter referred to as front walls) so that the first is not used when the disk cartridge 10 is not used. The front end portions of the shutter upper surface plate 70 and the shutter lower surface plate 72 of the shutter member 62 are in contact with each other. Furthermore, the left wall 4 of the case 30
4C, 54C and right outer wall (hereinafter referred to as right wall) 44
Horizontal grooves 88 and 90 are formed at the center of D and 54D, and when inserted into the bucket of the drive device,
By engaging engaging members (not shown) in the lateral grooves 88 and 90, the disk cartridge 10 is inserted while being positioned. The engaging member that engages with the lateral groove 90 is the connecting portion 6 of the first shutter member 62.
By pressing 6, the first shutter member 62 is slid rearward and the second shutter member 64 is slid rearward via the convex portion 78. The first shutter member 62 is always urged by the coil spring 84 in a direction (frontward direction) for closing the openings 40 and 50, and the second shutter member 64 is always opened by the coil spring 86 weaker than the coil spring 84.
It is biased in the direction of opening 0, 50 (rearward direction).
That is, one end of the coil spring 84 is connected to the right wall 4 of the case 30.
4D, 54D is locked inside the front walls 44A, 54A in the vicinity of 54D by hooks (not shown), and the other end is a transverse groove 90.
The hook 3 provided on the inner surface of the connecting portion 66 of the first shutter member 62 protrudes from the slit 90 </ b> A provided in the first shutter member 62.
6, the first shutter member 62 is urged forward, and similarly, one end of the coil spring 86 is connected to the case 3.
The connecting portion of the second shutter member 64 is fixed to the inside of the rear walls 44B, 54B near the right walls 44D, 54D of the zero by a hook or the like (not shown) and the other end protrudes from a slit 90A provided in the lateral groove 90 The second shutter member 64 is urged rearward by being locked and fixed to a hook 38 provided on the inner surface of 68. Accordingly, the first shutter member 62 is
The second shutter member 64 tries to be positioned rearward by the biasing force of the coil spring 86 because the biasing force of the coil spring 84 is superior to the biasing force of the coil spring 86. The second shutter member 64 is connected to the first shutter member 62 by the convex portion 7.
As shown in FIG. 2, it is pulled toward the front via 8 and is arranged at the approximate center of the case 30. That is, the second shutter member 64 is not slidable rearward because the projection 78 of the first shutter member 62 is inserted into the long hole 80, and is not movable by the coil spring 86. Since the urging force is applied toward the rear, it is possible to prevent inadvertent sliding in the range of the long hole 80. For this reason, the disk cartridge 1
When 0 is not used, the openings 40 and 50 can be suitably closed by the first shutter member 62 and the second shutter member 64. The first shutter member 62 is provided with a lock mechanism (not shown) so as to prevent the openings 40 and 50 from being illegally opened. In addition, a torsion spring or the like may be employed instead of the coil springs 84 and 86, and the above-described configuration may be employed. Further, when the second shutter member 64 is accommodated in the first shutter member 62, the hook 36 has the second shutter member 62.
1, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, extending from the front end of the connecting portion 66 to the left from the front end of the bracket 12 extending beyond the thickness of the connecting portion 68, further extending backward. Needless to say, it is provided at the tip of the bracket 12A. Next, the operation of the disk cartridge 10 as described above will be described. When the disk cartridge 10 is loaded in the bucket of the drive device, the engaging member provided in the bucket is the lateral groove 8.
8 and 90 and loaded while being positioned with respect to the bucket. Along with this, a locking mechanism (not shown) of the first shutter member 62 is released, and the engaging member abuts on the connecting portion 66 of the first shutter member 62 so that the first shutter member 62 is moved rearward. Press. Then, since the second shutter member 64 is urged rearward by the coil spring 86, the second shutter member 64 faces rearward together with the first shutter member 62 while the convex portion 78 is located at the front end of the long hole 80. Move.
At this time, the convex portion 78 of the first shutter member 62 is fitted into the groove 18 through the long hole 80, and the left end portions of the shutter upper surface plate 70 and the shutter lower surface plate 72 are the groove portions 1.
4 and 16, the coil spring 8
4 to slide backward while being preferably guided against the urging force of 4. The second shutter member 6
4, the convex portion 82 is fitted in the groove portion 18, and the left end portions of the shutter upper surface plate 74 and the shutter lower surface plate 76 are fitted in the groove portions 14 and 16, so that the rear portion is suitably guided. Move the slide. Thereafter, the second shutter member 64 cannot move further rearward when the rear projection 82 reaches the rear end of the groove 18. Then this time first
The shutter member 62 slides backward so as to cover the second shutter member 64. That is, the convex portion 78 of the first shutter member 62 is formed by the long hole 80 and the groove portion 1.
The second shutter member 64 is accommodated in the first shutter member 62 by moving rearward along 8 and reaching the rear end of the long hole 80. Thus, the shutter member 60 is mounted on the case 3.
Evacuate to the rear side of 0, that is, to the rear side of the openings 40, 50,
As a result, the openings 40 and 50 are opened, and the rotary spindle shaft and the optical pickup can be inserted. Thereafter, when the disk cartridge 10 is taken out from the bucket of the drive device, the above is reversed. That is, since the engaging member does not press the first shutter member 62 and the urging force of the coil spring 84 is greater than the urging force of the coil spring 86, first, the first shutter member 62 is moved forward by the urging force of the coil spring 84. Move towards the slide. Then, the convex portion 78 slides forward in the long hole 80 and reaches the front end of the long hole 80, whereby the second shutter member 64 appears from the first shutter member 62. When the first shutter member 62 is further slid forward, the projection 78 pulls the second shutter member 64 forward through the long hole 80, so that the second shutter member 62 64 slides forward against the biasing force of the coil spring 86. Thereafter, the front end portions of the shutter upper surface plate 70 and the lower surface plate 72 of the first shutter member 62 abut against the stopper walls 48 and 58, so that the first shutter member 62 is positioned on the foremost side of the case 30, and is shown in FIG. Thus, the openings 40 and 50 are closed. And by a lock mechanism (not shown)
The first shutter member 62 is locked, and the disc cartridge 10 is completely ejected from the bucket of the drive device. In the above embodiment, the disk medium 20 is of the double-sided recording type, and the disk cartridge 1
Although openings 40 and 50 are provided on both the upper and lower sides of 0, the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, an opening and a shutter member are provided only on the surface. In this case, the shutter member need not be substantially U-shaped in cross-sectional view. 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, so that a larger opening can be provided in the disk cartridge. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a reduction in the diameter of the disk medium.

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 showing an opening closed state of the disk cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the open state of the cartridge. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 2. FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view showing the closed state of the conventional disk cartridge. Schematic perspective view showing the open state of the disk cartridge of the disk [Description 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 disc cartridge comprising: a plurality of shutter members that slide in a loading / unloading direction of the apparatus to open and close the opening.