JP2007128582A - Clamp device and disk device equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clamp device compatible with all sorts of disks including a cartridge with a built-in clamper, a cartridge without it and a bare disk to clamp a disk for recording/reproducing while suppressing the disk device from being made large. <P>SOLUTION: A clamp device is equipped with a clamper 10 arranged facing a disk receiving part 3, a clamper holder 20 for holding the clamper movable in a direction toward a rotation axis Lm of the disk receiving part, a switching means for switching between the clamped state and the clamp released state of a disk Db, a pressing part 11 for pressing disk to the disk receiving part in the clamped state, a held part 12 held by the clamper holder when the clamper holder is separated, and a coupling part 13 for coupling the held part and the pressing part relatively movably in the direction toward the axis of rotation. The coupling part clamps the held part and the pressing part while being kept in an initial position when the disk is clamped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a clamp device that clamps a disc as an information recording medium for video, music, computer data, etc., for example, at the time of recording / reproducing the disc, and a disc device provided with such a clamp device.

  In recent years, digitalization in the field of information recording / reproduction has progressed remarkably, and with regard to discs as information recording media, the conventional use of digital recording of only audio is changed to the use of digital recording of moving images and audio. Expansion is progressing rapidly. Therefore, there is a demand for further increase in the recording capacity of the disc and establishment of a recording / reproducing technique that enables stable recording and / or reproduction at a higher speed. In this specification, “recording and / or reproducing (with respect to a disc)” means “at least one of recording (information on the disc) and reproduction (information recorded on the disc)”. It is what was expressed.

Under the growing demand as described above, a so-called recordable DVD (digital versatile disk) is in the spotlight as a large capacity disk type information recording medium capable of digitally recording and reproducing information signals.
As this recordable DVD, a so-called DVD-R disk of a write-once recording (single recording) type and a so-called rewritable so-called DVD-RAM disk and DVD-RW disk are widely known. -RAM disks are widely used as large-capacity information recording media in fields such as video recording and computer data storage.

  Since these recordable DVDs optically record and reproduce information, they are easily affected by dust and dirt. If dust or fingerprints adhere to the surface, stable recording and reproduction cannot be performed. There is a case. Therefore, for any recordable DVD, a cartridge for storing a DVD is defined by the standard. In particular, in the case of a DVD-RAM disc, it is stored in such a cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a RAM cartridge as appropriate). Some types are used.

  In recent years, with the start of high-quality broadcasting, a larger capacity information recording medium is required to record the video with high quality. For this reason, it is called a so-called Blu-ray disc, in which the recording density is drastically improved by applying blue laser light having a shorter wavelength than the red laser light applied when recording and reproducing a conventional recordable DVD. The commercialization of information recording media (hereinafter abbreviated as BD as appropriate) is in progress.

  In the case of this Blu-ray disc, by applying blue laser light with a short wavelength, the signal is further miniaturized and the recording density is improved, but on the other hand, the signal quality is dusty due to the miniaturization of the signal. And more easily affected by dirt. For this reason, it is used by being housed in a cartridge of a different type from the conventional recordable DVD (hereinafter referred to as BD cartridge as appropriate).

  As a significant difference in the type of the storage cartridge, there is a difference in a disc clamping method for clamping the disc at the time of recording and reproduction. That is, in the case of a DVD-RAM disc, the disc clamping mechanism provided in the disc device for recording and / or reproducing the disc is applied as it is. A clamper that clamps the disc against the disc receiving portion that is rotated by the driving force of the motor during recording and playback is built in the cartridge for the purpose of enhancing the sealing to prevent dust and dust from entering the cartridge. Yes.

  Therefore, a disk device that handles these disks is compatible with both types of cartridges, and also with a single disk that is not contained in a cartridge (so-called bare disk). It is required to perform recording and reproduction by clamping.

  For this reason, conventionally, with respect to the information recording medium inserted in the disk device, the presence / absence of the cartridge and the cartridge shape difference are detected, and the clamper mounted on the recording / reproducing device is moved based on the detection result. In the case of a DVD-RAM type or a bare disk, the clamper in the apparatus may be used, and in the case of a Blu-ray disk, the clamper in the apparatus may be retracted so that the disk can be clamped by using the clamper in the BD cartridge. ing.

  However, in this configuration, when handling a Blu-ray disc contained in a clamper-enclosed BD cartridge, it is necessary to retract the clamper in the apparatus upward (or downward) so as not to interfere with the BD cartridge. In addition, since the retracting mechanism is provided, there is a problem that the disk device is increased in size accordingly.

Patent Document 1 is not particularly conscious of handling a disk containing a cartridge as described above. However, a clamper base (clamper holder) is used to increase the speed of a disk without causing an increase in size or cost. A coil spring is interposed between the upper clamper supported by the upper clamper and a back clamper that is movably locked in the axial direction with respect to the upper clamper via a support arm. When the disc is clamped, the upper clamper is attracted to the turntable (disc receiving portion) side against the biasing force of the coil spring by the magnetic force of the magnet, so that the back clamper locked to the upper clamper and the turntable A configuration in which a disk is sandwiched between the two is disclosed.
JP 2003-157600 A

However, in this configuration, the coil spring that exerts an urging force in the direction of separating the upper clamper and the back clamper from each other is compressed when the disc is clamped. In this disc clamp state, the clamper base interferes with the flange portion of the clamper. In order to avoid the interference of the disk when the disk is moved in and out between the back clamper and the turntable, the position of the clamper base is at least equivalent to the amount of displacement of the coil spring as compared with the prior art. Must be set upward.
Accordingly, when applying such a configuration to a clamping mechanism for a disk containing a cartridge, the clamper base needs to be set further upward in order to avoid interference with a cartridge that is considerably thicker than the disk. There is a problem that an increase in the size of the disk device is inevitable.

  As described above, it corresponds to both types of cartridges including a cartridge (for example, a BD cartridge) including a built-in clamper and a cartridge (for example, a RAM cartridge) that does not include a built-in clamper, and also to a so-called bare disk not stored in the cartridge. Correspondingly, in order to clamp the disc and perform recording and reproduction, there has been a problem that an increase in the size of the disc device is inevitable.

  Needless to say, the clamper should not interfere with the clamper holder side during rotation, and when inserting / removing the disk or cartridge into / from the upper side of the disk receiving portion, it interferes with or rubs against the disk or cartridge. In order to avoid such rubbing with certainty, there has been a problem that an increase in the size of the disk device cannot be avoided.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional technical problem, and suppresses an increase in size of a disk device, and clamps a disk corresponding to both a cartridge including a built-in clamper, a cartridge not including a built-in clamper, and a bare disk. The present invention provides a clamp device that can perform recording and reproduction, and also provides a clamp device that can reliably avoid interference or rubbing between the disc or cartridge and the clamper, and further includes such a clamp device. The basic object is to provide a disk device.

For this reason, the clamping device according to the first invention of the present application includes a clamper that is rotated by a driving force of a motor and receives a disc as an information medium and that is opposed to a disc receiving portion, and a rotary shaft of the disc receiving portion. A clamper holder that is movably held in a direction, and a clamped state of a disc that is positioned between the clamper holder and the disc receiving portion by relatively moving the clamper holder and the disc receiving portion in the direction of the rotation axis And a switching means for switching between the clamp release state and the clamper, wherein the clamper presses the disc against the disc receiving portion in the clamped state, and the clamper holder moves from the disc receiving portion toward the rotation axis. The held portion held by the clamper holder when relatively spaced apart, and the held portion and the pressing portion are And a connecting portion that is connected to be axially displaceable. When the disc is clamped, the connecting portion keeps the held portion and the pressing portion at an initial position. It is characterized by clamping in a state.
In this configuration, when clamping the disc, the clamper keeps the held portion and the pressing portion at the initial position, that is, the relative position of the held portion and the pressing portion in the rotation axis direction. The disc is clamped with room for close approach.

In the clamp device according to the first invention of the present application, the connecting portion exerts an urging force in the separation direction between the held portion and the pressing portion in the contracted state in which the held portion and the pressing portion are brought close to the rotation axis direction. When the disc of the cartridge containing the disc and the built-in clamper is placed on the disc receiving portion, the connecting portion is preferably in a contracted state while retracting toward the outside of the cartridge.
In this case, when clamping the cartridge including the disc and the built-in clamper, the clamper is in a contracted state, that is, the held portion and the pressing portion are close to the rotation axis direction, and the connected portion Clamps the cartridge in a state in which a biasing force in the separating direction is exerted between the two, but the connecting portion is retracted toward the outside of the cartridge and is in a contracted state so that the cartridge surface is not damaged. The cartridge is clamped with a clamping force.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clamp device that is rotated by a driving force of a motor and is disposed opposite to a disk receiving portion that receives a disk as an information medium, and the clamper is disposed in the direction of the rotation axis of the disk receiving portion. A clamper holder that is movably held, and a clamp state of a disk positioned between the clamper holder and the disk receiving part by moving the clamper holder and the disk receiving part relative to each other in the direction of the rotation axis. Switching means for switching between the clamp release state, at least a part of the clamper is formed of a magnetic material, the clamper holder has a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis, and in the clamp release state within the plane A position restricting means for restricting the position of the clamper. Clamper floating means for floating the direction away against disk receiving portion is provided, it is characterized in that.
In this configuration, the clamper is lifted in the direction away from the disk receiving portion by the clamper levitation means, so that when the disk is inserted between the clamper and the disk receiving portion, the clamper is lifted by the clamper holder. Therefore, it is possible to insert without any problem even if the distance between the two is not widened.

Furthermore, in the clamping device according to the second invention of the present application, a magnet is disposed on the plane of the clamper holder outside the position restricting means, and at least a portion of the clamp holder where the magnet is disposed. It is preferable that an inner portion is formed of a magnetic material, and the clamper levitation means is configured by the magnetic material and the magnet.
In this configuration, the magnet is disposed in the clamper holder, and at least the inner portion of the clamp holder where the magnet is disposed is formed of a magnetic material, and the clamper is levitated using magnetic force. Can do.

In this case, more preferably, the clamper has a pressing portion that presses the disc against the disc receiving portion in the clamped state, and the clamper holder is relatively separated from the disc receiving portion in the rotation axis direction. And a connecting portion that connects the held portion and the pressing portion so as to be relatively displaceable relative to each other in the rotational axis direction. When this is done, the connecting portion clamps the held portion and the pressing portion in an initial position.
In this configuration, when clamping the disc, the clamper keeps the held portion and the pressing portion at the initial position, that is, the relative position of the held portion and the pressing portion in the rotation axis direction. The disc is clamped with room for close approach.

Further, in the contracted state in which the held portion and the pressing portion are close to each other in the direction of the rotation axis, the connecting portion exerts a biasing force in the separating direction between the two and includes a disk and a built-in clamper. When the disc is placed on the disc receiving portion, it is more preferable that the connecting portion is in a contracted state while retracting toward the outside of the cartridge.
In this case, when clamping the cartridge including the disc and the built-in clamper, the clamper is in a contracted state, that is, the held portion and the pressing portion are close to the rotation axis direction, and the connected portion Clamps the cartridge in a state in which a biasing force in the separating direction is exerted between the two, but the connecting portion is retracted toward the outside of the cartridge and is in a contracted state so that the cartridge surface is not damaged. The cartridge is clamped with a clamping force.

Further, the disc device according to the third invention of the present application is a disc recording and / or recording method for any of a disc as an information medium, a first cartridge containing a disc, and a second cartridge containing a disc and a built-in clamper. Alternatively, a disk device that performs reproduction, and is one of the above-described clamp devices as a clamp device that presses the disk or the second cartridge against a disk receiving portion that rotates by a driving force of a motor and receives the disk. It is characterized by having prepared.
In this disc device, when the disc or the second cartridge is pressed against the disc receiving portion, the same operation and effect as any of the above clamping devices can be achieved.

  According to the clamp device according to the first invention of the present application, when the clamper clamps the disk, the connecting portion keeps the held portion and the pressing portion at the initial position, that is, the held portion and The disc can be clamped in a state in which there remains room for the pressing portion to relatively approach the rotation axis direction. Therefore, when clamping the cartridge containing the disk and the built-in clamper, the held portion and the pressing portion can be effectively accommodated by relatively approaching the rotation axis direction. That is, it is possible to effectively cope with both the clamp of the cartridge including the disk and the built-in clamper and the clamp of the disk without particularly increasing the size of the clamp device.

  Further, according to the clamping device according to the second invention of the present application, the clamper is lifted in a direction to be separated from the disk receiving portion by the clamper floating means, so that the disk is interposed between the clamper and the disk receiving portion. When inserting, the clamper can be inserted without hindrance without lifting the clamper with the clamper holder to widen the distance between them, so that the clamping device can be made smaller than before.

  Further, according to the disc device of the third invention of the present application, when the disc or the second cartridge is pressed against the disc receiving portion, the same effect as that of the clamp device according to the first or second invention is obtained. Therefore, it is possible to handle both the clamp of the cartridge including the disc and the built-in clamper and the clamp of the disc without causing an increase in the size of the disc. Miniaturization can be achieved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a clamp device 1 incorporated in a disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the clamp device 1 includes a clamper 10 disposed so as to face the motor 2 in the vertical direction, for example, and a substantially plate-like clamper holder 20 that holds the clamper 10. A substantially circular opening 21 is formed at a substantially central portion of the clamper holder 20, and the clamper 10 is located in the opening 21.

At the upper end of the motor 2, a disk receiving portion that rotates with the driving force of the motor 2 and receives a disk as an information medium (a so-called bare disk Db as a single unit not stored in the cartridge in the example of FIG. 1). 3 is disposed, and the clamper 10 is disposed opposite to the disk receiving portion 3.
The clamper holder 20 holds the clamper 10 so as to be movable in the direction of the rotation axis of the disk receiving portion 3 of the motor 2, that is, in the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm (arrows Ya and Yb in FIG. 1). . In the assembled state of the clamp device 1, at least the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder 20 is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis Lm.

Inside the motor 2, a magnet (not shown) for applying a magnetic force in the direction of the arrow Yb to the clamper 10 is disposed. Due to this magnetic force, the disc receiving portion 3 of the motor 2 and the clamper 10 are moved. The disc Db can be sandwiched between them.
Although not specifically shown, the clamp device 1 moves the clamper holder 20 and the disk receiving portion 3 relative to each other in the extending direction of the rotating shaft Lm, so that the clamper holder 20 and the disk receiving section are moved. A switching mechanism is provided for switching between the clamped state and the clamped state of the disk Db positioned between the unit 3 and the disk unit 3. As the switching mechanism, various conventionally known mechanisms such as a link type can be applied.

  The clamper 10 includes a pressing portion 11 that presses the disc Db against the disc receiving portion 3 in a clamped state, and the clamper holder 20 when the clamper holder 20 is relatively separated from the disc receiving portion 3 in the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm. And a connecting portion 13 that connects the held portion 12 and the pressing portion 11 so as to be capable of relative displacement in the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm.

The clamper 10 is obtained, for example, by punching and press-molding a thin metal leaf spring material, and the entire shape is formed in a shape similar to a bowl-shaped “zaru”. The leaf spring material used for the clamper 10 must have magnetism in order to receive a magnetic force attracted to the disk receiving portion 3 side by a magnet (not shown) in the motor 2 and has excellent strength and corrosion resistance. For example, martensitic stainless steel is suitable.
In the present embodiment, the clamper holder 20 is also manufactured using martensitic stainless steel, which is magnetic and excellent in strength and corrosion resistance.

The held portion 12 is located at the upper end portion of the clamper 10 and is formed as an annular flange having a predetermined width, and the outer diameter is set larger than the inner diameter of the opening 21 of the clamper holder 20. Therefore, when the clamper 10 is assembled to the clamper holder 20, the held portion 12 is locked to the peripheral portion of the opening 21, so that the clamper 10 does not fall out of the opening 21 of the clamper holder 20. .
The pressing portion 11 is located at the lower end portion of the clamper 10, and the lower surface shape thereof is formed in a shape corresponding to the upper surface shape of the disc receiving portion 3. The outer dimension of the pressing part 11 is set smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the held part 12.

The connecting portion 13 connects the held portion 12 and the pressing portion 11 to form a conical tapered surface. The tapered surface is provided with a large number of holes 13 h in order to ensure contractibility within the elastic range of the connecting portion 13. These hole portions 13h are preferably formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction so that contraction can be obtained more effectively in the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm.
By providing a large number of such hole portions 13h, the connecting portion 13 can secure a required contractibility within the elastic range of the material, and the held portion 12 and the pressing portion 11 are brought closer to the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm. In the contracted state, a biasing force in the separation direction acts between the two. More preferably, the connecting portion 13 can be in a contracted state while retracting in a direction substantially parallel to the clamper holder 20 as will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, the clamper 10 is configured as a single piece using a single plate-like or sheet-like material. However, as will be described later, at least one of a pressing portion, a held portion, and a connecting portion. Alternatively, the clamper may be formed by manufacturing one as a separate object and assembling and joining it with other elements.

A plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment) guide portions 25 are provided on the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder 20 as position restricting means for restricting the position of the clamper 10 within the upper surface 22 when the disk Db is unclamped. It is arranged. These guide portions 25 are arranged in a circumferentially equidistant manner near the periphery of the opening 21 of the clamp holder 20.
Each guide portion 25 is composed of a vertical wall 25a erected on the upper surface 22 of the clamp holder 20 and an upper wall 25b protruding inward from the upper end of the vertical wall 25a at a substantially right angle. By guiding the outer periphery of the held portion 12 of the clamper 10, the position of the clamper 10 in the upper surface 22 is regulated in the clamp release state. The upward movement of the held portion 12 (that is, the clamper 10) is restricted by the upper wall 25b.

A plurality (for example, three in this embodiment) of magnets 27 (magnets) are arranged on the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder 20 outside the guide portion 25. The magnets 27 are preferably arranged in a circumferentially equidistant manner at an intermediate position of the guide portion 25 in the circumferential direction of the opening 21 of the clamp holder 20.
As described above, the clamper 10 and the clamper holder 20 are manufactured using magnetic martensitic stainless steel as a material, and the magnet 27 is disposed on the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder 20. Due to the generated magnetic field, it is possible to apply a buoyancy that causes the clamper 10 to float in the direction in which the clamper 10 is separated from the disk receiving portion 3 (the direction of arrow Ya in FIG. 1).

  In particular, because the clamp holder 20 is made of a magnetic material, the buoyancy due to the magnetic force of the magnet 27 is further enhanced because the inner portion of the clamp holder 20 where the magnet 27 is disposed is a magnetic material. Yes. In the present embodiment, a clamper levitation means for reliably levitation of the clamper 10 in the direction of separating the clamper 10 from the disk receiving portion 3 is configured by the inner portion of the clamp holder 20 where the magnet 27 is disposed and the magnet 27.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view including a magnet 27 for explaining the clamper levitation means.
As shown in this figure, by arranging the magnet 27 on the upper surface 22 of the clamp holder 20, the clamp holder 20 is made of a magnetic material as described above, so that the gap between the peripheral edge of the opening 21 and the magnet 27 is not limited. 2 generates a magnetic field having a flow of magnetic lines of force as schematically shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, when the magnet 27 is arranged so that the N pole is located on the upper surface 22 of the clamp holder, the direction of the magnetic field is the direction indicated by the one-dot chain arrow in FIG.

In this case, the inner portion 20y of the magnet 27 of the clamper holder 20 made of a magnetic material is used together with the magnet and becomes a part of the magnetic circuit. It acts as a so-called back yoke located on the side opposite to the magnetic flux density side (that is, the upper side of the clamper holder 20), and the state of the magnetic field by the magnet 27 can be adjusted.
In the present embodiment, the entire clamper holder 20 is made of a magnetic material, but only the inner portion 20y of the magnet 27 of the clamper holder 20 is made of a magnetic material, and the other portions are made of a non-magnetic material. Anyway.

As described above, since the clamper 10 is a magnetic body, the clamper 10 is affected by the magnetic force generated by the magnetic field, and the upper part of the clamper 10 (particularly, the held portion 12) has a direction indicated by a one-dot chain line arrow in FIG. Receives magnetic force. Since the direction of the magnetic force is a direction in which the clamper 10 is levitated upward (that is, a direction in which the clamper 10 is separated from the disk receiving portion 3: the direction of the arrow Ya in FIG. 1), the magnetic force based on the magnetic field causes the clamper 10 to levitate. Will act as.
That is, the “clamper” is composed of the magnet 27 disposed in the clamper holder 20 and the inner portion (in the present embodiment, the entire clamp holder 20) of the portion of the clamp holder 20 made of a magnetic material where the magnet 27 is disposed. "Floating means" is configured.

  The buoyancy acting on the clamper 10 in this way can be adjusted by appropriately changing the strength of the magnet 27, the distance between the magnet 27 and the peripheral edge of the opening 21, and the like. By doing so, it is possible to set so that the held portion 12 of the clamper 10 does not contact the upper wall 25b of the guide portion 25 and the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder in the clamped state of the disk Db.

3 to 5 are explanatory views showing various recording media that can be handled by the disk device according to the present embodiment and their storage cartridges.
FIG. 3A is an explanatory plan view of a so-called bare disk Db that is not stored in the cartridge, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory side view of the bare disk Db.
4A is an explanatory plan view of a RAM cartridge C1 that does not contain a built-in clamper but houses a DVD-RAM disk Dr. FIG. 4B is an explanatory side view of the RAM cartridge C1. is there. In these drawings, reference numeral 41 denotes an opening / closing shutter of the cartridge C1.
FIG. 5A is a plan view of the BD cartridge C2 that houses the Blu-ray disc BD and contains the built-in clamper 46, and FIG. 5B is a side view of the BD cartridge C2.

As can be seen by comparing FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B, in the case of the BD cartridge C2, the built-in clamper 46 is included in the sealed convex portion 45, and therefore, compared with the RAM cartridge C1. The maximum thickness is thicker.
Note that the RAM cartridge C1 and the BD cartridge C2 both have the same structure as the conventionally known ones and perform the same functions, and thus detailed description and illustration of these structures are omitted.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the clamping device showing a state immediately before the disk Db is inserted in the clamping device, that is, between the clamper and the disk receiving portion. FIG. (B) has shown the comparative example which is not provided with the magnet.
As shown in FIG. 6A, in the embodiment of the present invention having the magnet 27 on the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder, the magnetic force Jc in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. Buoyancy acts on the portion 12, and the buoyancy lifts the clamper 10 in the direction of the arrow Ya until the held portion 12 contacts the upper wall 25 b of the guide portion 25. The clamper 10 is subjected to a reverse magnetic force Jm (in the direction of the arrow Yb) by a magnet (not shown) in the motor 2, but the clamper holder 20 is not clamped and separated from the motor 2 by a predetermined distance or more. Then, it is set so that the buoyancy by the magnet 27 is better.

  In this way, when the clamper 10 is in a floating state, even if the distance between the clamper holder 20 and the disk receiving part 3 is constant, the distance between the clamper 10 and the disk receiving part 3 is set to be above the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder and the guide part 25. The distance can be increased corresponding to the distance from the wall 25b. Therefore, when the disk Db is moved in the direction of the arrow Yc and inserted between the clamper holder 20 and the disk receiving portion 3, the disk Db does not need to be relatively separated from each other in the direction of the arrow Ya-Yb. It is possible to secure a necessary interval sufficient to avoid contact or interference with the clamper holder 20 and / or the disk receiving portion 3.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the comparative example in which the magnet 27 is not provided on the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder, the magnetic force Jc that causes the buoyancy as shown in FIG. The clamper 10 is lowered in the direction of the arrow Yb by its own weight and / or the magnetic force Jm on the motor 2 until the held portion 12 comes into contact with the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder.

  In this state where the clamper 10 is lowered, if the disk Db is to be inserted between the clamper holder 20 and the disk receiving part 3, the disk Db contacts or interferes with the clamper holder 20 and / or the disk receiving part 3. It becomes. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to relatively separate the clamper 10 and the disk receiving portion 3 in the arrow Ya-Yb direction by a distance sufficient to avoid such contact or interference. That is, it is necessary to increase the size of the clamp device 1 in the direction of the arrow Ya-Yb by this amount, resulting in an increase in size.

  However, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6A, buoyancy acts on the upper portion of the clamper 10 (particularly, on the held portion 12), and the buoyancy causes the clamper 10 to move to the held portion. 12 is lifted in the direction of the arrow Ya until it abuts against the upper wall 25b of the guide portion 25. When the disc Db is moved in the direction of the arrow Yc and inserted between the clamper holder 20 and the disc receiving portion 3, both 20 and 3 need not be relatively separated from each other in the direction of the arrow Ya-Yb, and it is possible to secure a necessary interval sufficient to avoid contact or interference of the disc Db with the clamper holder 20 and / or the disc receiving portion 3. it can.

That is, the disk Db can be inserted without any trouble without lifting the clamper 10 with the clamper holder 20 and widening the gap between the two as in the prior art, and the clamping device 1 can be made smaller than before. It can be done.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the magnet 27 is disposed on the clamper holder 20, and at least the inner portion of the clamp holder 20 where the magnet 27 is disposed (in the present embodiment, the entire clamp holder 20) is made of a magnetic material. The clamper 10 can be levitated using a magnetic force with a simple configuration that is simply formed.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the clamping device showing a state in which the disk Db is inserted into the clamping device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6A, that is, between the clamper and the disk receiving portion.
The state shown in FIG. 7 is a state where the disk Db is clamped by the switching mechanism (not shown), and the clamper holder 20 and the disk receiving portion 3 are in the state shown in FIG. In comparison, the disk receiving portion 3 is moved so as to relatively approach in the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm.

  Thereby, with respect to the magnetic force acting on the clamper 10, the downward magnetic force Jm (in the arrow Yb direction) by the magnet (not shown) in the motor 2 becomes larger than the upward magnetic force (in the arrow Ya direction) by the magnet 27, The disc Db is set so as to be sandwiched between the clamper 10 and the disc receiving portion 3.

  In the clamped state of the disk Db, the connecting portion 13 of the clamper 10 is not deformed at all in the extending direction of the rotating shaft Lm, and keeps the held portion 12 and the pressing portion 11 at the initial position. Yes. The held portion 12 of the clamper 10 is set so that it does not contact any of the upper wall 25b of the guide portion 25 and the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder, and can be rotated at high speed without hindering the clamp 10. The outer peripheral portion of the held portion 12 of the clamper 10 and the inner surface of the vertical wall 25a of the guide portion 25 are obtained by properly aligning the opening 21 of the clamper holder 20 and the disk receiving portion 3 of the motor 2. Are set so as not to contact each other.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the clamp device showing a state in which the BD cartridge C2 containing the Blu-ray disc BD and including the built-in clamper 46 is inserted in the clamp device, that is, between the clamper and the disc receiving portion. (A) shows an example of the present invention, and (b) shows a comparative example. In both examples shown in both figures, a magnet 27 similar to that shown in FIG. 6A is disposed on the upper surface 22 of the clamper holder.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, in the clamper 90 of the comparative example, the connecting portion 93 that connects the pressing portion 91 and the held portion 92 has high rigidity, and the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm of the disc receiving portion 3. About (arrow Ya-Yb direction), it is hardly possible to perform elastic expansion and contraction. For this reason, in order to insert the BD cartridge C2 having a large size in the thickness direction because of including the built-in clamper 46, the clamper 90 and the disk receiving portion 3 Needs to be relatively separated in the direction of the arrow Ya-Yb. That is, it is necessary to increase the size of the clamp device 1 in the direction of the arrow Ya-Yb by this amount, resulting in an increase in size.

  On the other hand, in the clamper 10 of the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, when the disk Db is clamped, the connecting portion 13 keeps the held portion 12 and the pressing portion 11 at the initial position. Thus, the disk Db is clamped, and the linked portion 13 contracts within the elastic range, so that the held portion 12 and the pressing portion 11 are made relative to the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm (arrow Ya-Yb direction). There is still room for approach.

As shown in FIG. 8A, when the BD cartridge C2 having a large size in the thickness direction is inserted, the connecting portion 13 contracts within the elastic range, so that the clamper 10 and the disc receiving portion. BD cartridge C2 can be inserted without hindrance without having to be relatively separated from each other in the direction of the arrow Ya-Yb, and in the contracted state, the separation direction between the held portion 12 and the pressing portion 11 The urging force can be applied.
Further, in the present embodiment, when the BD cartridge C2 is inserted and the contained disc BD is placed on the disc receiving portion 3, the connecting portion 13 is retracted toward the outside of the BD cartridge C2. However, it will be in a contracted state. In this case, when clamping the BD cartridge C2 having a large size in the thickness direction, the clamper 10 has the connecting portion 13 in the contracted state, that is, the held portion 12 and the pressing portion 11 are in the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm. The BD cartridge C2 is clamped with the connecting portion 13 exerting an urging force in the separating direction between the two, but the connecting portion 13 is retracted toward the outside of the BD cartridge C2 and is contracted. Thus, the BD cartridge C2 can be clamped with a clamping force that does not damage the surface of the BD cartridge C2.

  Thus, according to the clamping device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the cartridge C2 including the disk BD and the built-in clamper 46 is clamped, the connecting portion 13 contracts and the held portion 12 and the pressing portion are compressed. 11 is relatively close to the extending direction (arrow Ya-Yb direction) of the rotation axis Lm, so that it can be effectively handled. In other words, both the clamp of the thick cartridge C2 including the disk BD and the built-in clamper 46 and the clamp of the disk Db can be effectively handled without particularly increasing the size of the clamp device 1.

  In the above embodiment, the built-in clamper is not included, but a specific example of the insertion of the RAM cartridge C1 containing the DVD-RAM disk Dr and the clamper is not shown, but in this case, the built-in clamper is not shown. Is substantially the same as that of the bare disk Db shown in FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b) and 7.

  In the disk apparatus according to the present embodiment, the BD including the disk BD and the built-in clamper 46 without particularly increasing the size of the disk apparatus by incorporating the clamp apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above. The cartridge C2 can be clamped, and the disk Dr and the bare disk Db in the RAM cartridge C1 can be clamped, or the disk device can be made smaller than before.

In the above embodiment, the clamper 10 is configured as a single piece using a single plate-like or sheet-like material, but at least one of the pressing portion, the held portion, and the connecting portion is provided. The clamper may be manufactured as a separate product and assembled by joining with other elements.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a clamper having an assembly structure according to another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention, where (a) shows an initial state, and (b) shows a contracted state of the connecting portion. Show.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a clamper 50 according to this embodiment includes a disc-shaped upper plate 51, an intermediate body 52 having a peripheral edge fixed to the upper plate 51, and the intermediate A movable body 60 that is held so as to be relatively displaceable in the direction of the arrow Ya-Yb with respect to the body 52 and a compression spring 70 interposed between the upper plate 51 and the movable body 60 are provided.
The intermediate body 52 has annular flange portions 53 and 54 on the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion, and the inner edge end portion of the outer peripheral flange portion 53 and the outer edge end portion of the inner peripheral flange portion 54 are connected by the inclined surface portion 55. Configured. And the upper board 51 and the intermediate body 52 are integrated by joining the upper surface of the outer periphery flange part 53, and the lower surface of the upper board 51. FIG.

The movable body 60 includes an engagement flange portion 61 that is engaged with the inner peripheral flange portion 54 of the intermediate body 52, and a bottom plate portion 62 that is smaller in diameter than the inner periphery of the engagement flange portion 61. The inner edge end portion of the flange portion 61 and the outer edge end portion of the bottom plate portion 62 are connected by an inclined surface portion 63.
The compression spring 70 is formed in, for example, a cylindrical coil shape, and is interposed between the upper plate 51 and the bottom plate portion 62 of the movable body 60, and urges the two in a direction away from each other (arrow Ya-Yb direction). ing.

  In the clamper 50 according to the present embodiment, the bottom plate portion 62 of the movable body 60 corresponds to “a pressing portion that presses the disc Db against the disc receiving portion 3 in the clamped state”, and the outer peripheral flange portion 53 of the intermediate body 52 is “the clamper holder”. 20 corresponds to a held portion that is held by the clamper holder 20 when the disc holder 3 is relatively separated from the disc receiving portion 3 in the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm. This corresponds to a “linking portion that is linked so as to be capable of relative displacement in the extending direction of the rotation axis Lm”.

In the clamper 50 according to the present embodiment, when the inner peripheral flange portion 54 of the intermediate body 52 and the engagement flange portion 61 of the movable body 60 are engaged, the inner end surface 54k of the inner peripheral flange portion 54 is engaged with The outer end surface 63k positioned at the outer end of the inclined surface portion 63 directly below the flange 61 is fitted. More preferably, both the fitting surfaces 54k and 63k are both the rotation axis Lk ( It is formed on a cylindrical surface that is parallel to the rotation axis Lm of the disk receiving portion 3 during rotation.
By adopting such a configuration, as compared with the case where the fitting portion is tapered fitting, when the clamper 50 rotates, the intermediate body 52 and the movable body 60 are displaced (center misalignment) by the action of centrifugal force. Can be effectively regulated.

  The present invention is used in, for example, a clamp device that clamps a disc as an information recording medium for video, music, computer data, etc., at the time of recording / reproducing the disc, and a disc device provided with such a clamp device. It is possible to perform recording and playback by clamping the disc corresponding to both the cartridge including the built-in clamper, the cartridge not including the built-in clamper, and the bare disc while suppressing an increase in the size of the disc device. Interference or rubbing between the disk or cartridge and the clamper can be reliably avoided.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements can be added without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the clamp apparatus integrated in the disc apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a partial expanded sectional view containing the magnet for demonstrating the clamper floating means of the said clamp apparatus. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of a bare disk as a recording medium handled by the disk device, wherein FIG. 3A is a plan explanatory view of the bare disk, and FIG. 2B is a side explanatory view of the bare disk. 2A and 2B are explanatory views of a RAM cartridge as a recording medium handled by the disk device, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view of the RAM cartridge, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the RAM cartridge. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a Blu-ray disc as a recording medium handled by the disc device, where (a) is a plan explanatory diagram of the Blu-ray disc and (b) is a side explanatory diagram of the Blu-ray disc. It is sectional explanatory drawing of the clamp apparatus which shows the state immediately before the disk insertion in a clamp apparatus, (a) is explanatory drawing which shows this invention Example provided with the magnet, (b) is a comparative example which is not provided with the magnet. It is explanatory drawing shown. It is sectional explanatory drawing of the clamp apparatus which shows the disc insertion state in the clamp apparatus which concerns on the said invention Example. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the clamp device showing a state in which the BD cartridge is inserted into the clamp device, (a) is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is an explanatory view showing a comparative example. It is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the clamper of the assembly structure according to another embodiment of the present invention, (a) is an explanatory view showing the initial state, (b) is an explanatory view showing the contraction state of the connecting portion.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Clamp apparatus 2 Motor 3 Disc receiving part 10,50 Clamper 11 Pressing part 12 Held part 13 Linking part 20 Clamper holder 22 Upper surface of clamper holder 25 Guide part 27 Magnet 46 Built-in clamper 52 Intermediate body 53 Intermediate body outer peripheral flange part 60 Movable body 62 Bottom plate portion of movable body 70 Compression spring BD Blu-ray disc C1 RAM cartridge C2 BD cartridge Db Bare disc Dr DVD disc Lm Rotating shaft of disc receiving portion

Claims (7)

A clamper that is rotated by the driving force of the motor and that is disposed opposite to a disk receiving portion that receives a disk as an information medium;
A clamper holder for holding the clamper so as to be movable in the direction of the rotation axis of the disk receiving portion;
Switching means for relatively moving the clamper holder and the disk receiving portion in the direction of the rotation axis and switching between a clamped state and a clamp-released state of the disk located between the clamper holder and the disk receiving portion; With
The clamper is held by the clamper holder when the clamper is relatively separated from the disk receiving portion in the rotation axis direction, and a pressing portion that presses the disc against the disc receiving portion in the clamped state. A held portion, and a connecting portion that connects the held portion and the pressing portion so as to be capable of relative displacement in the rotation axis direction,
When the disc is clamped, the clamper clamps the linked portion while maintaining the held portion and the pressing portion at an initial position.
A clamping device characterized by that. The connecting portion exerts a biasing force in a separating direction between the both in the contracted state in which the held portion and the pressing portion are close to each other in the rotation axis direction,
When the disc of the cartridge containing the disc and the built-in clamper is placed on the disc receiving portion, the connecting portion is in a contracted state while retracting toward the outside of the cartridge.
The clamping device according to claim 1. A clamper that is rotated by the driving force of the motor and that is disposed opposite to a disk receiving portion that receives a disk as an information medium;
A clamper holder for holding the clamper so as to be movable in the direction of the rotation axis of the disk receiving portion;
Switching means for relatively moving the clamper holder and the disk receiving portion in the direction of the rotation axis and switching between a clamped state and a clamp-released state of the disk located between the clamper holder and the disk receiving portion; With
At least a portion of the clamper is formed of a magnetic material;
The clamper holder has a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis, and includes a position regulating means for regulating the position of the clamper in the plane in the clamp release state.
The clamper holder is provided with clamper levitation means for levitation in the direction of separating the clamper from the disk receiving portion.
A clamping device characterized by that. On the plane of the clamper holder, a magnet is disposed outside the position restricting means,
4. The clamper levitation means is formed of a magnetic body at least an inner portion of the clamp holder where the magnet is disposed, and the magnetic body and the magnet constitute the clamper levitation means. Clamping device. The clamper is held by the clamper holder when the clamper is relatively separated from the disk receiving portion in the rotation axis direction, and a pressing portion that presses the disc against the disc receiving portion in the clamped state. A held portion, and a connecting portion that connects the held portion and the pressing portion so as to be capable of relative displacement in the rotation axis direction,
When the disc is clamped, the clamper clamps the linked portion while maintaining the held portion and the pressing portion at an initial position.
The clamping device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by the above. The connecting portion exerts a biasing force in a separating direction between the both in the contracted state in which the held portion and the pressing portion are close to each other in the rotation axis direction,
When the disc of the cartridge containing the disc and the built-in clamper is placed on the disc receiving portion, the connecting portion is in a contracted state while retracting toward the outside of the cartridge.
The clamping device according to claim 5, wherein: A disc device that records and / or reproduces a disc for any of a disc as an information medium, a first cartridge containing a disc, and a second cartridge containing a disc and a built-in clamper,
The clamp device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the clamp device presses the disc or the second cartridge against a disc receiving portion that rotates by a driving force of a motor and receives the disc. A disk device comprising:

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