JP2857125B2 - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk cartridge to be mounted on a disk player or the like integrated with a disk changer, and more particularly to a disk cartridge which can be easily assembled and can prevent the inserted disk from falling off. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent car audio systems and the like, a disc player integrally provided with a disc changer has been put to practical use. In this type of disc changer-integrated disc player, for example, a disc cartridge C as shown in FIG. 7 is used, and a plurality of discs DS are stored in the disc cartridge C. When the disk cartridge C is mounted, the lifting drive unit 1
00, the disk is searched, and a predetermined disk DS is pulled out by the pair of pull-out rollers 101a and 101b. The lifting drive unit 100 includes a disk clamp mechanism including a clamper 102, a clamp arm 103 that rotatably supports the clamper 102, and a disk support table 107.

At the position where the elevation drive unit 100 descends, a disk having a turntable 104 driven by a motor for rotating the disk DS, an optical pickup 105 for reproducing information in opposition to the disk DS, and the like. A drive unit is provided. When the disk DS is pulled out from the disk cartridge C by the pull-out rollers 101a and 101b, the lifting / lowering drive unit 100 holding the disk DS descends, and the disk DS is placed on the turntable 104 and the disk DS
Is clamped to the turntable 104 by the clamper 102. Then, the disk DS is driven to rotate by the turntable 104, and information is reproduced by the optical pickup 105.

[0004]

There are various types of disk cartridges to be loaded into this type of disk changer-integrated disk player. As an example, there is a type in which a plurality of rotatable trays are provided in a disk cartridge, and a disk is installed and stored on each tray. When the disc cartridge is loaded into the disc changer, the tray on which the disc to be reproduced is installed rotates and projects out of the cartridge. Then, the disk drive unit having the turntable and the optical pickup moves to the projecting position, and the reproduction of the disk is performed. However,
In this method, the locus of the rotation of the tray from the disk cartridge protrudes largely outside the cartridge, and thus there is a disadvantage that space is wasted.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the method of horizontally pulling out the disk DS from the disk cartridge C is advantageous in terms of space because it is not necessary to consider the space of the rotation trajectory of the tray. But disk D
Disk cartridge C having a structure in which S is pulled out in a horizontal position
Then, a spring mechanism for holding the disk DS in the cartridge, the disk DS withdrawal rollers 101a, 101
It is necessary to fix and provide an ejector for pushing out in the direction of 01b, and a partition plate for partitioning the disk storage portion. Therefore, the fixing structure of each member in the disk cartridge becomes complicated, and the increase in the thickness dimension and the overall dimension of the cartridge cannot be avoided. Further, the assembling work for mounting the partition plate and the spring mechanism in the cartridge has been complicated.

[0006] The present invention is to solve the above problems,
By providing a fixed portion with a minimum number of screws and the like, it is possible to provide a disk cartridge that can easily and efficiently assemble a partition plate and a spring mechanism therein, and that can be made smaller, thinner, and easier to assemble. The purpose is.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a disk cartridge comprising: a concave main body case having a surface parallel to a surface of a disk to be stored and a pair of side plates rising from both sides of the surface and facing each other; A cover plate for closing a concave opening of the case, a disc insertion opening opening on a side portion of the main body case, a partition plate provided in the main body case to divide a disc storage area, and the storage area A leaf spring for urging a peripheral portion of the disc inserted into the body case into the body case, wherein the partition plate can be inserted into the body case from the opening, and the leaf spring is also provided with the partition member.
In a state where the plate is inserted into the main body case from the opening,
Hole or the from the opening formed in the partition plate
Formed by the notch formed in the partition plate and the side plate
The opening is closed by the lid plate in a state in which the partition plate and the leaf spring are inserted from the opening into the main body case, and the partition plate is
The above-mentioned insertion is performed by a locking portion provided on each of the side plates.
It is regulated not to move out of the body case from the mouth,
The vertical direction of the leaf spring is the same as the lid plate and the lid plate.
It is characterized by being restrained by a surface of a parallel main body case .

[0008]

[0009]

[Action] In the disk cartridge according to the present invention, by inserting the partition plate from the concave opening portion side of the main body case, further wherein the partition plate has been hole or the specifications formed from the same direction
Formed by the notch formed in the cutting plate and the side plate
The assembly can be completed by inserting a leaf spring into the space , and then closing the opening of the main body case with the lid plate and fixing the lid plate and the main body case. Moreover, the partition plate is in the body case
The inside of the main body case and lid plate by the provided locking part
Locked, the leaf spring is in the hole or by the notch and the side plate
It is restrained in the vertical direction while being stored in the space formed.
Screws to secure the partition plate and leaf spring
Need not be provided. Thus, it the structure of the main body case easily can be a set stand work easily. In this disk cartridge, when the disk is inserted, the disk is urged in the insertion direction by the leaf spring and is reliably housed in the case, thereby preventing the disk from falling off.

[0010]

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a disk cartridge according to the present invention, in which arrows indicate a disk insertion direction. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the disk cartridge in an upside-down state in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer shape of the disc cartridge C is formed by a concave main body case 10 made of plastic and a bottom plate 11 serving as a lid plate that covers the concave opening of the main body case 10. I have. In the cartridge C, a portion on the right side with respect to the insertion direction indicated by the arrow is a disc insertion / ejection port Ca. The left corner of the front end in the insertion direction is an inclined surface 10a. This disk cartridge C
Arrow pattern 1 indicating the insertion direction on the upper surface of the main body case 10
2, the insertion direction can be more easily identified by providing the inclined surface 10a. A retaining recess 13 is formed on the upper surface of the main body case 10. When the disc cartridge is ejected from the disc changer, a pressing roller 31a (see FIG. 4) described later is hooked in the recess 13 so that the cartridge C can be prevented from jumping out.

As shown in FIG. 2, a bottom plate 1 serving as the lid plate is provided.
Screw insertion holes 11a are formed at five places on one edge. The main body case 10 is provided on the upper surface (downward in FIG. 2).
And three side plates, and female screw holes 10b are formed on the lower surface (upward in FIG. 2) of the main body case 10, that is, at five places on the edge of the concave opening. The bottom plate 11 is screwed by the five screw insertion holes 11a and the female screw holes 10b, and the concave opening of the main body case 10 is closed. However, in the above embodiment, the screwing portion is only this portion. ing. On the surface of the bottom plate 11, there are formed a guide groove 14 which serves as a guide when the disc is loaded into the disc changer, and a slide rail 15 which slides when inserted into the disc changer. A lock hole 16 is formed in the center of the rear portion of the bottom plate 11. In the disc changer, a lock member 30b (see FIG. 4) described later is fitted into the lock hole 16 to lock the cartridge C.

A plurality of partition plates 21 are provided in the main body case 10.
Is inserted. Spacers 2 are provided at both ends of the partition plate 21.
1a is provided integrally. Also, this spacer 21a
A step 21b is formed at the front end of the main body case 1.
A locking surface 10c as a locking portion for locking the step 21b is formed at the inner front end of the side plate 0. Similarly, a locking surface 10d is formed at the inner rear end of the side plate of the main body case 10 as a locking portion for locking the rear end 21c of the spacer 21a. Each partition plate 21 is inserted from the side of the concave opening of the main body case 10 shown in FIG. 2, and the step 21b and the rear end 21c of the spacer 21a on both sides are located between the locking surfaces 10c and 10d inside the case. It is positioned by being inserted. The distance between the partition plates 21 to be stacked is set by the thickness of the spacer 21a. By this interval, each partition plate 21
A disk insertion slit S is formed in the middle between the two.

The inner side of the spacer 21a is a guide surface A for guiding both sides of the disc to be inserted. In the illustrated embodiment, the disk insertion slits S are divided into six sections, so that six disks (compact disks in the case of the illustrated embodiment) can be inserted. Reference numeral 23 denotes a leaf spring. This leaf spring has six elastic pieces 24. Each of the elastic pieces 24 is opposed to the side of each of the disk insertion slits S divided into six sections. Each elastic piece 24 is formed in a substantially V-shape, and 24a is a pressing piece for pressing the disc in the ejection direction, and 24b is a pressing piece for pressing the disc in the inserting direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially triangular hole 21d is formed on each side of each partition plate 21. When the partition plates 21 are stacked, each hole 21d is a continuous storage. A chamber B is formed. The respective leaf springs 23 are inserted into the storage chamber B from the side of the concave opening of the main body case 10, and both ends thereof are formed on the upper plate and the bottom plate 11 of the main body case 10.
And is stored in a state of being restrained between them. That is, the leaf spring 23 is installed at a predetermined position in the cartridge without requiring fixing means such as screws.
In the illustrated embodiment, the storage chamber B is formed by forming a hole 21d in the partition plate 21. However, concave notches are formed on both sides of the partition plate 21, and this notch and the main body case 10 are formed.
The storage chamber B may be formed with the inner surface of the side plate.

As shown in FIG. 2, a notch E is provided at an end of the inclined surface 10a of the main body case 10. A support shaft 25 is provided in the notch E, and an ejector 26 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 25. Six ejectors 26 are stacked, each of which is located at the rear end of each disk insertion slit S. At the tip of each ejector 26, a pressing projection 26a is provided. In addition, the outer surface of the ejector 26 has a knurled portion 2.
6b are formed. In FIG. 2, when the ejector 26 is rotated clockwise, the rear end of the disk in each disk insertion slit S is pressed by the pressing protrusion 26a, and the disk is ejected.

A window F is formed in the main body case 10. The window F is provided on a side surface opposite to the notch E in which the ejector 26 is provided, and a transparent cover 28 is fixed to the window F. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the transparent cover 28 has a convex shape so that the function of a magnifying lens can be exhibited. In addition, transparent cover 2
Reference numeral 8 does not necessarily need to be a convex lens shape, and may be a flat transparent plate. The disc inserted into the cartridge C can be seen through the transparent cover 28. This makes it possible to immediately know how many discs are inserted and in which slit S the disc is inserted. In particular, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the notch E having the ejector 26 is formed in a portion facing the window F in which the transparent cover 28 is provided. Therefore, when the cartridge C is removed from the disc changer, the notch E The incoming external light allows the disc to be clearly seen through the transparent cover 28. In addition, disk support grooves 29a and 29b are formed on the inner surface of the rear end of the main body case 10 (the part opposite to the insertion / ejection port Ca). Each of the disk support grooves 29a and 29b is formed in six steps, and the disks inserted in the respective disk insertion slits S are supported by the support grooves 29a and 29b.

Next, the structure of a disc changer-integrated disc player in which the cartridge C is loaded will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of the disc changer-integrated disc player. The disc changer-integrated disc player includes a cartridge mounting section indicated by reference numeral M and a disk playing section indicated by N. The disk cartridge C containing a plurality of disks DS is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion M from the front. A cartridge table 30 is provided below the disc mounting section M. The cartridge table 30 is fixed to the bottom plate 34.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, a plurality of guide pins 30a are provided on the upper surface of the cartridge table 30.
Has been fixed. As shown in FIG. 2, a guide groove 14 is formed in the bottom plate 11 of the disk cartridge C. When the disk cartridge C is inserted into the disk mounting portion M, the guide groove 14
a, and is set on the upper surface of the cartridge table 30. As shown in FIG. 4, a lock member 30b is provided on the cartridge table 30 so as to be freely protruded. When the disc cartridge C is mounted, the lock member 30b protrudes and fits into the lock hole 16 provided in the bottom plate 11 of the disc cartridge C, so that the disc cartridge C is locked.

As shown in FIG. 5, an eject lever 35 is provided on the cartridge table 30.
When replacing the disk cartridge C, etc.
The ejection lever 35 is driven by an ejection mechanism (not shown), and the disc cartridge 30 is ejected from the cartridge mounting section M. On the other hand, pressing rollers 31 and 31a are provided on a ceiling plate 32 of the apparatus main body. The pressing rollers 31 and 31a are each urged by a leaf spring 33, and the loaded cartridge C is pressed against the cartridge table 30 by the urging force of the leaf spring 33. When the disc cartridge C is ejected by the eject lever 35, the pressing roller 31a provided on the cartridge insertion port side is locked by the locking recess 13 formed on the upper surface of the cartridge C, and the cartridge C It is held at a protruding position.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge mounting portion M
The disk drive unit 40 is arranged in the disk playing section N adjacent to the disk drive unit 40. This disk drive unit 4
Numeral 0 is fixed on the surface of the bottom plate 34 alongside the cartridge table 30. The disk drive unit 40 is provided with a turntable 41, an optical pickup 42, and the like. The disk drive unit 40 is disposed at the lowest part of the entire apparatus shown in FIG.
Is transported to this lowest part, the center of the disk is set on the turntable 41, and clamped by a clamper. Then, the disk is rotated together with the turntable 41 by the force of the motor, and the performance is performed by the optical pickup 42 that moves along the guide shaft 44.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, three elevating mechanisms 50 are provided in the apparatus. Each of the lifting mechanisms 50 includes a guide shaft 51, a lifting screw 52, and a gear 53 fixed to the lifting screw 52. 3 lifting mechanisms 50
The gears 53 provided on each of them are rotatably driven synchronously by a drive mechanism (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 34. The guide shaft 51 is inserted into a guide sleeve 61 of an elevating operation part 60 shown in FIG. 4, and the elevating screw 52 is held by a female screw holder 62 provided in the elevating operation part 60.

When the gears 53 of the lifting mechanisms 50 are driven by the driving mechanisms, the lifting operation unit 60 is driven to move up and down by the rotation of the lifting screw 52 integrated therewith. The elevating unit 60 has an upper drawer roller 66 driven by a motor and a lower drawer roller 69 facing the lower side. Further, a clamper 63 for clamping the disk DS to the turntable 41 and a disk D pulled out by pull-out rollers 66 and 69
A disk support table 64 on which S is installed is provided.

Further, the lifting / lowering operation section 60 is provided with a disk discharge member 70. This disk ejection member 70
Is provided so as to be able to move up and down together with the lifting and lowering section 60. As shown in FIG. 3, during a disk search operation, the disk discharge member 70 is located in the depth direction of the cartridge mounting section M. ing. The disk pressing piece 71 traversing the front end of the mounted disk cartridge C extends at a position facing the inclined surface 10a of the disk cartridge C. The disc discharge member 70 is driven by a motor mounted on the lifting / lowering operation unit 60.
This drive is performed when the disk DS is discharged from the cartridge C. At this time, when the motor is started, the disk discharge member 70 is driven in the direction f in FIG. It is driven to rotate in the retraction direction.

Next, the operation will be described. Disk D
A plurality of Ss are inserted into the disc cartridge C. In the case of the disk cartridge C shown in FIG.
Each of the disks DS is accommodated in the disk insertion slit S. This storing operation is performed by the disk cartridge C
The insertion is performed by inserting the disc DS from the insertion / ejection port Ca. When the disk DS is inserted into any one of the disk insertion slits S from the insertion / ejection port Ca, both ends of the disk DS hit the elastic pieces 24 of the pair of leaf springs 23 provided in the disk cartridge C. The disc DS strikes the elastic piece 24 of the leaf spring 23 at the position indicated by β in FIG. 3, but when the disc DS is further pushed in, both edges of the disc DS get over the elastic piece 24 and this elastic piece 24 The disc DS is naturally pushed into the cartridge by the pressing pieces 24b of the cartridge 24.

The disk DS inserted once is a leaf spring 2
Since the movement in the ejection direction is prevented by the elastic piece 24 of 3, the internal disk does not drop even if the insertion / ejection port Ca of the disk cartridge C is directed downward in the direction of gravity. When the disc cartridge C is loaded into the cartridge mounting section M of the disc changer, the insertion / ejection port Ca is directed toward the disc playing section N. When the disk cartridge C is loaded in the cartridge mounting portion M, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the transparent cover 28 provided on the disk cartridge C is at a position where it can be seen from the front of the apparatus.

To play a desired disk in the disk cartridge C, a search is first made for a disk to be played. This search operation is performed by rotating the lifting screws 52 of each lifting mechanism 50 in synchronization with a driving mechanism provided below the bottom plate 34. In the state where the search operation is completed, as shown in FIG. 6, the lifting / lowering operation unit 60 stops at a predetermined height position, and at this time, a pair of pull-out rollers 66 and 69 provided in the lifting / lowering operation unit 60 It faces the front of any slit S of C. As shown in FIG. 3, the disc pressing piece 71 of the disc discharge member 70 provided in the elevating unit 60 faces the inclined surface 10 a of the main body case 10 of the disc cartridge C, and
Are the extraction rollers 66 and 69 of the ejector 26.
Are opposed to those located behind the opposed slit S.

In this state, the motor provided in the lifting and lowering section 60 starts. As a result, the disc ejection member 70 is driven in the direction f shown in FIG.
Is driven. At this time, during the operation of the disk discharge member 70 in the f direction, the disk pressing piece 71 of the disk discharge member 70 presses the ejector 26 shown in FIG. Due to the turning operation of the ejector 26 in the counterclockwise direction, the pressing projection 26a at the tip pushes the rear end of the disc DS. The disc DS is pushed out from the storage position indicated by α in FIG. 3 in the direction of the insertion / ejection port Ca. In this pushing process, both sides of the disc DS are
When the third elastic piece 24 gets over, it is forcibly discharged in the direction of the insertion discharge port Ca by the pressing piece 24a. At this time, the disk DS is guided into the elevating unit 60 by the rotating pull-out roller 66.

Then, the lifting / lowering unit 60 is lowered, and the disk DS is set on the turntable 41 of the disk drive unit 40 shown in FIG. 5, and is clamped by the clamper 63 in the lifting / lowering unit 60. Then, the disc DS is driven to rotate by the turntable 41, and reproduction is performed by the optical pickup 42. When the stored disc DS is exchanged in a state where the disc cartridge C is ejected from the disc changer, of the plurality of ejectors 26 provided in the disc cartridge C, of the disc to be ejected, Press the object facing the rear end. This operation
A finger is attached to the notch 26b formed on the ejector 26, and the ejector 26 is turned in a counterclockwise direction (clockwise in FIG. 2).
Press. Thereby, the pressing protrusion 2 of the ejector 26
6a presses the disk DS, and the disk DS
When the disc DS has passed over the third elastic piece 24, the disc DS is ejected in the direction of the insertion and ejection port Ca by the elastic force of the pressing piece 24a.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the disk cartridge has a very simple and easy to assemble structure. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, from said opening side of the concave shape of the main body case by inserting the partition plate and a notch formed in the same direction in the hole or in the partition plate are formed in the partition plate side plate By inserting the leaf spring into the space defined by the above, the partition plate and the leaf spring can be attached. By fixing the lid plate to the concave opening of the main body case and closing the concave opening, the partition plate and the leaf spring are completely fixed at the same time when the entire cartridge is assembled.
Complete.

Therefore, the number of fixing points by screwing or the like at the time of assembling the cartridge is minimized, and the number of fixing points is small, so that the cartridge can be made small and thin.

Further, the side plate of the main body case, since the partition plate is engaging portion for regulating so as not go outside is provided from the insertion opening, by simply inserting the partition plate through the opening, the partition plate casing The partition plate can be prevented from going out of the case main body without providing a means for fixing the main body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disk cartridge for a disk changer.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the disk cartridge in an upside-down direction from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a mechanism for pushing out a disk in a disk changer and an internal mechanism of a cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of a disc changer-integrated disc player.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cartridge mounting section and a disk playing section.

FIG. 6 is a partial front view showing a disc changer-integrated disc player with a disc mounted thereon;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an outline of the structure of a disk cartridge and a disk changer-integrated disk player for explaining problems of the prior art;

[Explanation of symbols]

 C Disk cartridge Ca insertion / ejection slot DS disk 10 Cartridge main body case 10c, 10d Locking surface (locking portion) 11 Cartridge bottom plate (cover plate) 21 Partition plate 21d Hole B Leaf spring storage chamber formed by B hole 23 Leaf spring 24 Elastic piece 24a Pressing piece in the discharging direction 24b Pressing piece in the inserting direction 26 Ejector 26a Pressing protrusion M Cartridge mounting section N Disc playing section 30 Cartridge table 40 Disk drive unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A concave main body case having a surface parallel to the surface of a disk to be stored and a pair of side plates rising from both sides of the surface and facing each other, and a lid plate closing a concave opening of the main body case. A disk insertion opening that opens into a side portion of the main body case, a partition plate provided in the main body case to divide a storage area of the disk, and a peripheral portion of the disk inserted into the storage area is formed in the main body case. A leaf spring biasing inwardly of the main body, wherein the partition plate can be inserted into the main body case from the opening, and the leaf spring also moves the partition plate from the main body through the opening.
In the inserted state into the case, is capable of being inserted into the space formed above from the opening notch formed in the hole formed in the partition plate or the partition plate by said side plates, the main body case The opening is closed by the lid plate in a state in which the partition plate and the leaf spring are inserted from the opening , and the partition plate is provided in each of the pair of side plates.
From the insertion slot to the outside of the body case
The leaf spring is regulated so as not to move,
The direction of the main body case is parallel to the lid plate and the lid plate.
A disc cartridge, characterized by being restrained by: