JP2008059651A - Member and method for protecting floating mechanism, and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protection member properly protecting a floating mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor that uses a hard disk housed in a disk cartridge as a main memory is provided with a disk holder 20 for housing the disk cartridge. The disk holder 20 is supported to float from a chassis by a floating mechanism having an elastic body. When large shocks are applied, in place of the disk cartridge, a dummy cartridge 70 which is a protection member is inserted into the disk holder 20, and the dummy cartridge 70 is engaged with the disk holder 20 and a front chassis 26. Thus, as the movements of the disk holder 20 and the floating mechanism are regulated, damage or the like of the floating mechanism is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that uses a hard disk stored in a disk cartridge as main storage means, a protective member that protects a floating mechanism that connects a disk holder that stores the disk cartridge to a chassis in a floating state, and a floating mechanism The present invention relates to a protection method and an information processing apparatus capable of protecting the floating mechanism.

  In recent years, information processing apparatuses using a removable hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) or the like as main storage means are known. In this case, the HDD is stored in a storage container called a disk cartridge. The information processing apparatus is provided with a disk holder for accommodating the disk cartridge. By mounting the disk cartridge storing the HDD in the disk holder, electrical connection between the information processing apparatus and the HDD is achieved. Figured. The disk holder is often connected to the chassis of the information processing apparatus via a floating mechanism including an elastic body such as a damper. In this case, the vibration generated in the information processing apparatus is absorbed by the elastic body constituting the floating mechanism, so that the transmission of vibration to the disk cartridge and thus to the HDD is reduced. This makes it possible to perform preferable data access and, in turn, preferable information processing.

  Here, the floating mechanism is designed based on the amount of vibration that will occur when the information processing apparatus is normally used. However, when transporting the information processing device in the course of distribution, there is a large impact that does not occur during normal use of the information processing device due to falling packages, in other words, a large impact that cannot be absorbed by the floating mechanism. It may occur. If such an impact occurs and the impact is transmitted to the HDD accommodated in the disk holder, the HDD may have a reduced life or damage. Therefore, conventionally, when transporting the information processing apparatus, the disk cartridge incorporating the HDD has been removed from the disk holder. The disc cartridge is packed and transported separately from the main body of the information processing apparatus.

  Thus, it has been proposed in part to mount a dummy cartridge instead of emptying the disk holder when the disk cartridge is removed from the disk holder (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). This is for preventing dust from entering the disk holder and fixing other movable parts such as a magnetic head.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-96691 JP-A-2-267785

  By the way, an impact caused by a drop during transportation may adversely affect not only the HDD but also a floating mechanism that supports the disk holder in a floating manner. That is, when an impact occurs, the elastic body constituting the floating mechanism is greatly deformed. Due to this elastic deformation, there is a case where the elastic body is drooped (decrease in the spring constant) or the elastic body itself is damaged.

  In order to prevent such deterioration and damage of the floating mechanism, conventionally, the amount of the packing material of the information processing apparatus has been increased or the quality has been improved. However, it was difficult to properly protect the floating mechanism only with the amount and quality of the packing material. In addition, an increase in the amount of packing material and an improvement in quality have a problem in that the cost for transportation is increased.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a protection member, a protection method, and an information processing apparatus capable of appropriately protecting the floating mechanism that can appropriately protect the floating mechanism even when a large impact occurs. Objective.

  The protection member of the present invention is a protection member that protects a floating mechanism that connects a disk holder that houses the disk cartridge to the chassis in a floating state in an information processing apparatus that uses a hard disk stored in the disk cartridge as a main storage unit. The protection member includes at least a first connection means for connecting the protection member and the disk holder, and a second connection for connecting the protection member and the chassis in a state where the protection member and the disk holder are connected. Connecting means, and the floating mechanism is protected by restricting the movement of the disk holder relative to the chassis when connected to both the disk holder and the chassis.

  In a preferred embodiment, when the disc holder has an opening for receiving the insertion of the disc cartridge, the protective member is shaped to cover at least the opening of the disc holder when connected to the disc holder and the chassis. In this case, the protective member is provided in a box-shaped storage unit sized to be accommodated in the disc holder and the front surface of the storage unit, and covers the opening of the disc holder when the storage unit is accommodated in the disc holder. And a first connecting means is a through hole or a notch formed in the connecting plate, through which a first connecting screw for threadably connecting the disk holder and the protection member is inserted, The connection means is preferably a through-hole or a notch formed in the connection plate, through which a second connection screw for threadably connecting the chassis and the protection member is inserted. In addition, when the disk holder is formed with a holder-side female screw that allows screw connection with the disk cartridge, it is also desirable that the protective member is screwed and connected to the disk holder via the holder-side female screw. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a floating mechanism protecting method, in an information processing apparatus using a hard disk housed in a disk cartridge as a main storage means, and connecting the disk holder housing the disk cartridge to the chassis in a floating state. The floating mechanism is protected by connecting the disk holder to the chassis via a protection member that is detachable from the disk holder and the chassis, and restricting the movement of the disk holder relative to the chassis. And

  Another information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that uses a hard disk stored in a disk cartridge as main storage means, and includes a chassis, a disk holder that detachably stores the disk cartridge, and a disk holder. A floating mechanism that connects to the chassis in a floating state, the disk holder includes a holder-side connected portion to which a protective member made of a rigid material is connected, and the chassis is protected when connected to the disk holder. It is provided with a chassis-side connected portion to which the member is connected, and the floating mechanism is protected by connecting the disk holder and the chassis via the protective member and restricting the movement of the disk holder relative to the chassis. Features.

  According to the present invention, the disk holder and the chassis are connected via the protective member, and the movement of the disk holder with respect to the chassis is restricted. As a result, the elastic deformation of the elastic body of the floating mechanism that supports the disk holder in a floating manner is also restricted, and even if a large impact or the like occurs, a great load is not applied to the floating mechanism. As a result, the floating mechanism is appropriately protected.

  Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus and a dummy disk according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

  The information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is connected to data acquisition means (not shown), for example, a camera that acquires image data, and the data acquired by the data acquisition means is stored in the main memory as needed. It is a recording device. The information processing apparatus 10 includes a CPU, a memory, a bus, main storage means, a housing, and the like, as in a normal information processing apparatus. Further, the information processing apparatus 10 is assumed to be used in an environment where there is relatively much vibration, and is provided with a vibration isolating function represented by a floating mechanism described later.

  Here, in the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) that functions as a main storage unit is detachable from the main body 12 of the information processing apparatus 10 to which a CPU, memory, and the like are fixed. It has become. That is, the HDD is stored in advance in a storage container called a disk cartridge 50. The disk cartridge 50 is formed with connection terminals for connecting the HDD and the bus. On the other hand, a disk holder (not shown in FIG. 1) for accommodating the disk cartridge 50 is formed in the main body 12 of the information processing apparatus 10. The disc cartridge can be inserted into and removed from the disc holder through an insertion port 16 formed on the front surface of the external housing 14 of the main body 12. When the disk cartridge 50 containing the HDD is completely inserted into the disk holder, the HDD is connected to the bus of the information processing apparatus 10 via a connection terminal formed on the disk cartridge 50. An opening / closing door 18 is attached to the insertion opening 16, and the insertion opening 16 is shielded by the opening / closing door 18 after the disc cartridge 50 is inserted. As a result, entry of dust into the information processing apparatus 10 is prevented.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration around the disc holder 20. 3 is a schematic lateral view of the periphery of the disc holder 20, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. In FIG. 2, a main chassis and a floating mechanism, which will be described later, are not shown for ease of viewing.

  The disk cartridge 50 that stores the HDD includes a storage portion 52 that is a box-shaped member that stores the HDD, and a front plate 54 mounted on the front surface of the storage portion 52. The front plate 54 is a plate material larger than the front surface of the storage unit 52. Therefore, the front plate 54 extends beyond the front surface of the storage portion 52. In the vicinity of the left and right ends of the front plate 54, through holes 56 are formed. The first connection screw 32 that connects the disk cartridge 50 and the disk holder 20 is inserted into the through hole 56.

  The disc holder 20 provided inside the housing of the information processing apparatus 10 is a box-shaped member that forms a space that can accommodate the disc cartridge 50. The front surface of the disc holder 20 is opened to accept the insertion of the disc cartridge 50. Further, an overhang portion 22 projects in the left-right direction from the periphery of the opening. The overhanging portion 22 is a portion that contacts the front plate 54 of the disk cartridge 50 when the disk cartridge 50 is completely inserted into the disk holder 20. In the vicinity of both end portions of the overhanging portion 22, a holder-side female screw 24 to which the above-described first connection screw 32 is screwed is formed. Then, with the front plate 54 of the disk cartridge 50 sandwiched between the head of the first connection screw 32 and the overhanging portion 22, the first connection screw 32 is screwed into the holder-side female screw 24, thereby The detachment of the disk cartridge 50 from the holder 20 is prevented. Here, the holder-side female screw 24 also functions as a first connected portion to which a dummy cartridge described later is connected. This will be described in detail later.

  The periphery of the disk holder 20 excluding the front surface and the top surface is surrounded by the main chassis 40. The main chassis 40 is a frame member connected to the external housing 14 via connection means such as screwing. The disk holder 20 is disposed between the main chassis 40 with a predetermined gap.

  A front chassis 26 is also disposed on the front surface of the disc holder 20 with a predetermined gap. The front chassis 26 is a frame member that is connected to the front surface of the external housing 14 through connection means such as screwing. The front chassis 26 is formed with an insertion opening 28 for allowing the disk cartridge 50 to advance and retract. In addition, chassis-side female screws 30 are formed on the left and right sides of the insertion opening 28 in the front chassis to enable screw connection with a dummy cartridge described later. The chassis-side female screw 30 functions as a second connected portion to which a dummy cartridge, which will be described later, is connected. This will also be described in detail later.

  Here, as described above, it is assumed that the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is used in an environment with relatively much vibration. In order to prevent such vibrations from being transmitted to the HDD as the main storage means, the disk holder 20 is floatingly supported by a floating mechanism 46 having an elastic body such as a damper 42 and a coil spring 44. That is, the side surface of the disc holder 20 is connected to the side surface of the main chassis 40 via the coil spring 44 and the damper 42. At this time, the disk holder 20 is not directly in contact with the bottom surface of the main chassis 40 but is held in a floating state in the air. The vibration generated in the information processing apparatus 10 is absorbed by the coil spring 44 and the damper 42. As a result, vibration transmission to the disk holder 20 and the disk cartridge 50 (and hence the HDD) is prevented, and data access to a suitable HDD and thus suitable information processing are possible.

  Here, the floating mechanism 46 is designed assuming an amount of vibration during normal use. On the other hand, when the information processing apparatus 10 is transported in the distribution process, a large impact that cannot be generated during normal use, in other words, a large impact that cannot be absorbed by the floating mechanism 46 may occur. When such an impact occurs and the impact is transmitted to the HDD accommodated in the disk holder 20, there is a case where the life of the HDD is reduced or damaged. Therefore, conventionally, when the information processing apparatus 10 is transported, the disk cartridge 50 incorporating the HDD is removed from the disk holder 20. The disk cartridge 50 is packed and transported separately from the main body 12 of the information processing apparatus 10. By packing and transporting the disk cartridge 50 separately, adverse effects on the HDD due to impact can be reduced.

  However, an impact caused by a cause such as a package drop during transportation has adversely affected not only the HDD but also the floating mechanism 46 itself. In other words, the coil spring 44, the damper 42, and the like constituting the floating mechanism 46 are repeatedly subjected to large fluctuations (elastic deformation) due to the impact, and there is a possibility that these elastic bodies may be set loose (decrease in spring constant) or damaged. It was.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the dummy mechanism described in detail below protects the floating mechanism 46 when a drop impact that may occur during transportation occurs. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the dummy cartridge 70 is mounted on the disc holder 20. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view when the dummy cartridge 70 is mounted on the disc holder 20.

  The dummy cartridge 70 is a cartridge that is attached to the disk holder 20 in place of the disk cartridge 50 when the disk cartridge 50 containing the HDD is removed from the disk holder 20, and serves as a protective member that protects the floating mechanism 46. It functions. Accordingly, the shape of the dummy cartridge 70 is substantially the same as that of the disk cartridge 50. That is, the dummy cartridge 70 includes a storage portion 72 that is a box-shaped member large enough to store a HDD, and a connection plate 74 provided on the front surface of the storage portion 72. The inside of the storage portion 72 of the dummy cartridge 70 is hollow and does not store the HDD.

  The connection plate 74 is a plate member that is larger than the front surface of the storage portion 72, similarly to the front plate 54 of the disk cartridge 50. However, the connection plate 74 is wider than the front plate 54 of the disk cartridge 50. Specifically, the connection plate 74 of the dummy cartridge 70 has such a width that both ends thereof can contact the front chassis 26 when the dummy cartridge 70 is inserted into the disk holder 20. Here, the front chassis 26 is located in front of the overhanging portion 22 of the disc holder 20. In other words, it can be said that the front chassis 26 and the overhanging portion 22 of the disk holder 20 are in different planes. A step is formed on the connection plate 74 of the dummy cartridge 70 so as to contact both the front chassis 26 and the overhanging portion 22 in the different planes. In other words, the connection plate 74 includes a first plane part 78 that is flush with the front surface of the storage part 72 and a second plane part 79 that projects slightly forward from the first plane part 78. The second plane part 79 is provided at both ends of the first plane part 78.

  Similar to the front plate 54 of the disk cartridge 50, a first through hole 76 through which the first connection screw 32 is inserted is formed in the first flat portion 78. Then, the first connection screw 32 inserted through the first through hole 76 is screwed into the holder-side female screw 24 formed in the overhanging portion 22 of the disk holder 20, so that the disk holder 20 and the dummy cartridge are 70 is connected. That is, the first through hole 76 functions as a first connecting means for connecting the dummy cartridge 70 and the disc holder 20.

  A substantially U-shaped cutout 80 is formed in the second plane portion 79. The width of the notch 80 is smaller than the head of the second connection screw 33 that connects the dummy cartridge 70 and the front chassis 26. Further, when the dummy cartridge 70 is completely accommodated in the disk holder 20, the chassis-side female screw 30 formed in the front chassis 26 is positioned within the width of the notch 80. In this state, when the second connection screw 33 is screwed into the chassis-side female screw 30 formed in the front chassis 26, the dummy cartridge 70 is connected to the front chassis 26. That is, the notch 80 functions as second connection means for connecting the dummy cartridge 70 and the chassis 26. Since the first through hole 76 and the notch 80 are present, the dummy cartridge 70 can be screwed to the front chassis 26 while being screwed to the disk holder 20.

  A procedure for protecting the floating mechanism 46 using the dummy cartridge 70 will be briefly described. When a large impact is expected, such as when the information processing apparatus 10 is transported, the disk cartridge 50 incorporating the HDD is removed from the disk holder 20 in advance. The removed disk cartridge 50 is packed separately from the main body 12 of the information processing apparatus 10 and transported. On the other hand, the aforementioned dummy cartridge 70 is inserted into the disc holder 20 from which the disc cartridge 50 has been removed. Then, the dummy cartridge 70 is screwed and connected to the disk holder 20 via the first connection screw 32 and to the front chassis 26 via the second connection screw 33. If the dummy cartridge 70 can be screwed and connected to both the disk holder 20 and the front chassis 26, then the main body of the information processing apparatus 10 is packed and processing such as transportation is executed as in the prior art.

  Here, the case where the dummy cartridge 70 is screwed and connected to both the disk holder 20 and the front chassis 26 can be said to be a state where the disk holder 20 is rigidly connected to the front chassis 26 via the dummy cartridge 70. The rigid connection restricts the relative movement of the disc holder 20 with respect to the front chassis 26 and the main chassis 40. When the disk holder 20 does not move relative to the chassis 26, 40, naturally, the elastic deformation of the damper 42 and the coil spring 44 constituting the floating mechanism 46 does not occur. That is, the elastic deformation of the elastic bodies 42 and 44 constituting the floating mechanism 46 can be restricted by rigidly connecting the disc holder 20 and the front chassis 26 via the dummy cartridge 70. As a result, the floating mechanism 46 can be prevented from being broken or damaged even if a drop impact occurs during transportation.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, since the dummy cartridge 70 is rigidly connected to both the disk holder 20 and the front chassis 26, it can be understood that the floating mechanism 46 can be protected from a drop impact generated during transportation.

  Further, in this embodiment, the dummy cartridge 70 that rigidly connects the disk holder 20 and the front chassis 26 has substantially the same shape as the normal disk cartridge 50. For this reason, the number of design changes of the information processing apparatus 10 necessary for mounting the dummy cartridge 70 can be extremely reduced. Specifically, the floating mechanism 46 can be protected by the dummy cartridge 70 only by additionally forming the chassis-side female screw 30 in the front chassis 26. The dummy cartridge 70 is originally disposed at a position where the disk cartridge 50 is disposed. Therefore, it is possible to completely prevent an erroneous operation of erroneously mounting the disk cartridge 50 while forgetting to release the protection of the floating mechanism 46 (removal of the dummy cartridge 70).

  In this embodiment, a dummy cartridge 70 having a shape similar to that of the disk cartridge 50 is used as a protective member for the floating mechanism 46. However, as long as the disk holder 20 and the chassis 26, 40 can be rigidly connected while covering the opening of the disk holder 20, other shapes of members may naturally be used. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, only the plate member 90 having the same shape as the connection plate 74 of the dummy cartridge 70 described above may be used as the protective member of the floating mechanism.

  In the above description, the protective member (the dummy cartridge 70, the plate member 90 in FIG. 6 and the like) and the disk holder 20, and the protective member and the chassis 26 are screwed together. However, as long as it is a connecting means that is detachable from each other and that can inhibit the relative movement of the two at the time of mounting, it is a matter of course that the connection may be made by other connecting means, for example, fitting or locking.

It is a perspective view of an information processor which is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic perspective view around a disk holder. It is a schematic cross-sectional view around the disc holder. It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. It is a schematic perspective view of the periphery of the disc holder when inserting a dummy cartridge. It is a partially expanded sectional view when a dummy cartridge is mounted. It is a perspective view which shows an example of another protection member.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information processing apparatus, 12 Main body part, 14 External housing | casing, 16 Insertion slot, 20 Disk holder, 22 Overhang | projection part, 24 Holder side female screw, 26 Front chassis, 30 Chassis side female screw, 32 First connection screw, 33 Second connection screw, 40 main chassis, 42 damper, 44 coil spring, 46 floating mechanism, 50 disk cartridge, 70 dummy cartridge, 72 storage section, 74 connection plate, 76 first through hole, 80 notch.

Claims (6)

In an information processing apparatus that uses a hard disk stored in a disk cartridge as main storage means, a protective member that protects a floating mechanism that connects a disk holder that stores the disk cartridge to the chassis in a floating state,
The protective member is at least
First connection means for connecting the protective member and the disc holder;
In a state where the protection member and the disk holder are connected, a second connection means for connecting the protection member and the chassis,
A protective member for a floating mechanism, wherein the floating mechanism is protected by restricting the movement of the disk holder relative to the chassis when connected to both the disk holder and the chassis. It is a protection member of the floating mechanism according to claim 1,
If the disc holder has an opening to accept the insertion of a disc cartridge,
A protective member for a floating mechanism, wherein the protective member is shaped to cover at least the opening of the disk holder when connected to the disk holder and the chassis. A protection member for a floating mechanism according to claim 2,
The protective member is
A box-shaped storage unit sized to be accommodated in the disc holder;
A connection plate that is provided on the front surface of the storage unit and covers the opening of the disk holder when the storage unit is stored in the disk holder;
With
The first connection means is a through hole or notch formed in the connection plate, through which a first connection screw for screwing and connecting the disk holder and the protection member is inserted,
The second connection means is a through-hole or a notch formed in the connection plate, through which a second connection screw for threadably connecting the chassis and the protection member is inserted. It is a protection member of the floating mechanism according to claim 3,
When the holder side female screw that allows screw connection with the disc cartridge is formed on the disc holder,
The protective member of the floating mechanism, wherein the protective member is screwed to the disk holder via a holder-side female screw. In an information processing apparatus that uses a hard disk housed in a disk cartridge as a main storage means, a protection method for a floating mechanism that connects a disk holder that houses the disk cartridge to a chassis in a floating state,
A floating mechanism protection method comprising: protecting a floating mechanism by connecting the disk holder to the chassis via a protection member that is detachably attached to the disk holder and the chassis, and restricting the movement of the disk holder with respect to the chassis. An information processing apparatus that uses a hard disk stored in a disk cartridge as main storage means,
The chassis,
A disc holder for detachably storing a disc cartridge;
A floating mechanism that connects the disk holder to the chassis in a floating state;
With
The disc holder includes a holder-side connected portion to which a protective member made of a rigid material is connected,
The chassis includes a chassis-side connected portion to which a protective member connected to the disk holder is connected.
An information processing apparatus characterized in that a floating mechanism is protected by connecting a disk holder and a chassis via a protective member and restricting movement of the disk holder relative to the chassis.

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