JP3106587B2 - Disk case and optical disk device - 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 case for accommodating an optical disk and an optical disk apparatus for recording and reproducing information using the disk case, and more particularly to recording and / or reproducing a single-sided disk and a double-sided disk with the same apparatus. The present invention relates to a configuration of a disk case and an optical disk device that are enabled.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, optical discs for recording and / or reproducing information using laser light have been put to practical use.
There are many types from read-only type to recordable type. These optical disks are designed to improve handling and dust-proofing.
It is often used while housed in a resin disk case.

The size of an optical disk is 12 inches (300 mm), 5.25 inches (130 mm), and 3.25 inches (130 mm).
There are various sizes such as 5 inches (86 mm), which are standardized together with the disk case by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) or the like. Further, a 2.5-inch (64 mm) optical disk and disk case having a smaller size have been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-86987.

Of these, 3.5 inches and 2.5 inches
A single-sided disk for recording and reproducing information from one direction (usually from the transparent substrate side) is accommodated in the inch-shaped disk case, in which a transparent substrate, a recording film and a protective film are formed one by one. Then, two single-sided disks are attached to the 12-inch and 5.25-inch disk cases, and
As a single optical disk, a double-sided disk capable of recording and reproducing information from both sides is stored.

[0005]

The thickness of a single-sided disk is half that of a double-sided disk, so that the disk case for storing the disk can be made thinner. On the other hand, the recording capacity decreases. In particular, 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch optical disks are small in size and single-sided, so that the recording capacity is limited.

Therefore, there is a demand to use a double-sided disk when the amount of information to be recorded is large, and to use a single-sided disk when the amount of information is not large. However, since the thickness of the double-sided disk is large, the disk case for storing the disk is also thick. Therefore, there are two types of disk cases having different thicknesses for single-sided and double-sided use, and a problem arises that conventional optical disk devices cannot cope with such cases. This problem will be described below.

In an optical disk device for recording and reproducing information while an optical disk is housed in a disk case, the disk case inserted into the device is held by holding means called a case holder, and the case holder is integrated with the disk case. In general, after the optical disk is mounted on the rotation driving means by driving by a loading mechanism, information is recorded and reproduced by an optical head unit. Here, the inner dimensions of the case holder are set in accordance with the outer dimensions of the disk case so that the disk case can be inserted. Therefore, the case holder cannot cope with two types of disk cases having different thicknesses, and must be set according to any one type. Here, if the inner dimension of the case holder is adjusted to the disk case for a single-sided disk having a small thickness, there arises a problem that the disk case for a double-sided disk cannot be inserted. On the other hand, if the inner dimensions of the case holder are matched to the thick double-sided disk case, when the single-sided disk case is inserted, rattling occurs and the disk case cannot be securely held. There is a problem that it cannot be attached to the camera.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to record and / or reproduce a double-sided disk case and a single-sided disk case with the same optical disk device. is there.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a disk case for housing an optical disk in which information is recorded and / or reproduced by an optical head provided in an optical disk device. A double-sided disk case for storing double-sided disks that can record and play back on both sides, and a single-sided disk case for storing single-sided disks that can record and play back only on one side are provided. The double-sided disk case is set to be thick and the single-sided disk case is set to be thin. The double-sided disk case is provided with a first groove extending in the disk device insertion direction at the center of both side surfaces. Has a second groove portion extending in the disk device insertion direction at a vertically asymmetric position on both side surfaces.

When the distance between the upper surface (or lower surface) of the double-sided disk case and the first groove portion is represented by T1, the surface of the single-sided disk case facing the optical head of the optical disk device and the second surface are denoted by T1. The distance from the groove is T1
It was configured to be equal to Also, in an optical disc apparatus having a case holder for holding a disc case by inserting a disc case containing an optical disc therein and an optical head unit for recording and reproducing information on and from the optical disc, an inner height dimension of the case holder Of the disk case for the double-sided disk case, or a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of the double-sided disk case, and a convex guide portion for guiding the first and second groove portions is provided at the center of the inner height of the case holder.

[0011]

The double-sided disk case is provided with a first groove extending in the center of both sides in the disk device insertion direction, and the case holder of the optical disk device has an inner height dimension corresponding to the above-mentioned double-sided disk. The thickness is equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the case, and a convex guide portion is provided at the center of the inside height of the case holder. Therefore, when the double-sided disk case is inserted into the case holder, the first groove portion is formed. The guide portions are engaged, and the double-sided disk case can be held. Even when the double-sided disk case is turned over and inserted into the case holder, the first groove portion is provided at the center in the thickness direction of the double-sided disk case. Does not change, so that the first groove and the guide engage with each other in the same manner as described above, and the double-sided disk case can be held.

In the single-sided disk case, the distance between the surface facing the optical head and the second groove is equal to the distance between the upper surface (or lower surface) and the first groove in the double-sided disk case. Since the single-sided disk case is inserted into the case holder in the normal direction, the second groove and the guide engage with each other, and the single-sided disk case can be held. However, if the single-sided disk case is turned over and inserted into the case holder, that is, erroneously inserted in the normal insertion direction, the second groove is provided at an asymmetric position in the thickness direction, and the second groove with respect to the guide portion is provided. Is different from that at the time of normal insertion, and the front edge of the single-sided disk case is in contact with the guide portion, so that the second groove portion and the guide portion cannot be engaged, thereby preventing erroneous insertion.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing the structure of a disk case according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a double-sided disk case in which a double-sided disk is stored, and FIG. 1 shows a single-sided disk case.
2A and 2B are enlarged views of a main part, FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a part A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a part B in FIG.

In FIG. 1A, 1 is a double-sided disk case, 2 is a double-sided disk housed in the double-sided disk case 1, and 3 is a rotary drive unit and an optical head (not shown). The opening is also provided on the lower surface side. Reference numeral 4 denotes a shutter for covering the opening 3, and this shutter 4 is opened and closed by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown) provided in the optical disk device when recording and reproducing information.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a first provided on both sides of the double-sided disk case 1.
The groove extends from the front edge of the double-sided disk case 1 to the center thereof. The double-sided disk case 1 is inserted into a disk device (not shown) in the direction of arrow 6. The thickness of the double-sided disk case 1 is represented by Ta as shown.

In FIG. 1B, reference numeral 11 denotes a single-sided disk case, 12 denotes a single-sided disk housed in the single-sided disk case 11, and 14 denotes a lower surface 11a.
Is a shutter for covering an opening (not shown) for the rotation driving means and an opening (not shown) for the optical head provided on the side of the optical disk drive. The shutter 14 is provided in the optical disk device when recording and reproducing information. It is opened and closed by an opening and closing mechanism (not shown). Reference numeral 15 denotes second grooves provided on both side surfaces of the single-sided disk case 1, extending from the front edge of the single-sided disk case 11 to the center. The single-sided disk case 11 is attached to a disk device (not shown) by arrows 6.
It is mounted so that the lower surface 11a faces an optical head (not shown). The thickness of the single-sided disk case 1 is represented by Tb as shown.

Here, the thickness of the double-sided disk case 1 and the single-sided disk case 11 satisfies the relationship of Ta> Tb due to the difference in the thickness of the disks accommodated therein. Is thicker.

Next, the first and second grooves 5, 15 will be further described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, the first groove portion 5 of the double-sided disk case 1 is centered in the thickness direction (T1 from the upper surface and at the same size as T1 from the lower surface), that is, vertically symmetrical. It is provided so that it becomes. On the other hand, the single-sided disk case 11
As shown in FIG. 2B, the second groove 15 is located at a position T1 (the same dimension as the double-sided disk case 1) from the lower surface in the thickness direction and at a position T2 from the upper surface in the thickness direction. Is provided. Here, between T1 and T2, T
1> T2. That is, the second groove 15 is provided so as to be vertically asymmetric. Also, the width of the groove 5 of the double-sided disk case 1 and the single-sided disk case 1
The widths of the grooves 15 are both equal to W as shown in the figure.

Next, a description will be given of a disk device into which the above-mentioned double-sided disk case 1 and single-sided disk case 11 are inserted. 2. Description of the Related Art In an optical disk device that records and reproduces information while an optical disk is housed in a disk case, a disk case inserted into the device is held by holding means called a case holder, and then the case holder is integrated with the disk case into a loading mechanism. In general, the optical disk is mounted on the rotating drive means and the disk case is positioned and mounted on the chassis. FIG. 3 is a structural perspective view showing one embodiment of the case holder of the optical disk device according to the present invention, and is partially cut away. FIG. 4 shows A in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A.

In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a case holder,
The above disk cases 1 and 11 are connected to the introduction portions 20a and 2
0b is inserted in the direction of arrow 6. Reference numeral 21 denotes a guide portion which is formed to protrude inside the case holder 20 and is provided on both sides of the case holder 20 so as to be engaged with the first and second grooves 5 and 15 described above.
The inner dimension Ha in the height direction of the case holder 20 is
The thickness is set slightly larger than the thickness Ta so that the double-sided disk case 1 can be inserted, and the guide portion 21 is formed with a thickness Hw at the center of the inside dimension Ha. The thickness Hw of the guide section 21 is
The dimension is set to be slightly smaller than the width W of the first and second grooves 5 and 15. Numeral 22 is a biasing means for biasing the inserted disk case downward.
a is formed in an arc and is located in the hole 23 of the case holder 20, and the root portion 22 b is joined to the case holder 20.

Although the guide portion 21 is formed integrally with the case holder 20 in FIGS. 3 and 4, it may be formed as a separate part and joined to the case holder 20, or the side surface of the case holder 20 may be formed. It may be formed by cutting and raising a part.

Next, the operation of inserting the double-sided disk case 1 into the case holder 20 of the disk device will be described. FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation when the double-sided disk case 1 is inserted. FIG. 5A shows a case where the disk case 1 is inserted in the direction of FIG. 1A, and FIG. Show the case. Note that the arrow 30 in the figure is marked for distinction and description of the insertion direction.

The disk case 1 for both sides is placed in the case holder 2
As shown in FIG. 5A, the first groove portion 5 engages with the guide portion 21 of the case holder 20, and the inserted state is held by holding means (not shown). Here, since the double-sided disk case 1 can record and reproduce on both sides of the disk housed therein, it must be inserted normally even when it is inserted upside down from the direction of FIG.

In the present invention, since the double-sided disk case 1 has a vertically symmetrical shape centering on the first groove 5 as described above, even when the double-sided disk case 1 is turned upside down, the guide portion 21 is inserted. Since the positional relationship of the first groove portion 5 with respect to the position does not change, insertion can be performed without any problem as shown in FIG. 5B.

Next, the operation of inserting the single-sided disk case 11 into the case holder 20 of the disk device will be described. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining the operation when the single-sided disk case 11 is inserted.

When the single-sided disk case 11 is inserted into the optical disk apparatus, the single-sided disk case 1 is housed inside the case holder 20, as shown in FIG. 6, and the inserted state is held by holding means (not shown). At this time, since the thickness of the single-sided disk case 11 is smaller than the inside dimension of the case holder 20 in the height direction, a space 25 is created in the case holder 20. However, since the second groove portion 15 is engaged with the guide portion 21 of the case holder 20, the single-sided disk case 11 is held by the case holder 20 without rattling.

Here, the operation of the urging means 22 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the urging means 22. FIG. 7A shows a state in the middle of the insertion operation, and FIG. 7B shows a state in which the insertion operation is completed. 7 shows a state in which the single-sided disk case 11 is inserted into the case holder 20, cut along the line BB in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the one-sided disk case 11 is inserted into the case holder 20, the one-sided disk case 11 comes into contact with the urging means 22. As a result, the lower portion of the case holder 20 is urged. As a result, the positions of the second groove 15 and the guide 21 in the height direction substantially match as shown in the figure. When the single-sided disk case 11 is further inserted into the case holder 20 from this state, as shown in FIG.
5 is engaged with the guide portion 21 and the single-sided disk case 11
Is held by the case holder 20, and the insertion operation is completed.

Here, in the single-sided disk case 11, since the disk housed therein can record and reproduce only on one side, the direction of insertion into the case holder 20 is shown in FIG.
The direction must be limited to the direction shown in FIG. 7, and if it is inserted upside down, it must be prevented from being erroneously inserted. This erroneous insertion prevention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining prevention of erroneous insertion of the single-sided disk case 11.
Is turned over and inserted into the case holder 20.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the one-sided disk case 11 is turned over and inserted into the case holder 20, the front edge of the one-sided disk case 11 comes into contact with the guide portion 21 of the case holder 20, and The second groove 15 is a guide 21
And cannot be inserted any more, preventing erroneous insertion.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform recording and reproduction with the same optical disk device even with disk cases having different thicknesses such as the double-sided disk case 1 and the single-sided disk case 11. Become. Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion in which the front and rear surfaces are inserted by mistake, which is a problem when the single-sided disk case 11 is used.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to a disk case and an optical disk device as an example, the present invention is not limited to these cases. it can.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, recording and reproduction can be performed with the same optical disk device even if the disk cases have different thicknesses, such as a double-sided disk case and a single-sided disk case. . Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion in which the front and rear surfaces are inserted by mistake, which is a problem when a single-sided disk case is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a disk case according to the present invention, wherein (a) shows a double-sided disk case and (b) shows a double-sided disk case.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part in FIG. 1, (a) is an enlarged view of a part A, and (b) is an enlarged view of a part B.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of an optical disk device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram when the double-sided disk case according to the present invention is inserted into the optical disk device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram when the single-sided disk case according to the present invention is inserted into the optical disk device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view of an urging means provided in the optical disc device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating prevention of erroneous insertion of a single-sided disk case.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Double-sided disk case, 2 ... Double-sided disk, 5 ... 1st groove part, 11 ... Single-sided disk case 12 ... Single-sided disk, 15 ... 2nd groove part, 20 ... Case holder, 21 ... Guide part 22 ... Urging means.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yukio Fukui 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Pref. Hitachi Media Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-255981 (JP, A) −49022 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G11B 23/03 G11B 17/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A double-sided disk in which a double-sided disk capable of recording and reproducing on both sides is stored in a disk case for storing therein an optical disk on which information is recorded and / or reproduced by an optical head unit provided in an optical disk device. A case and a single-sided disk case for storing a single-sided disk that can be recorded and reproduced only on one side are provided, so that the width and the depth are the same, the thickness is double-sided, and the single-sided disk case is thin. The double-sided disk case is provided with a first groove extending in the center of both sides in the disk device insertion direction, and the single-sided disk case is extended in the disk device insertion direction at a vertically asymmetrical position on both sides. A disk case provided with an existing second groove. 2. A distance between an upper surface (or a lower surface) of the double-sided disk case and the first groove portion is represented by T1.
2. The disk case according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a surface of the single-sided disk case facing the optical head of the optical disk device and the second groove is equal to the T1. 3. A disk case containing an optical disk therein.
Case that holds the disc case
Record and record information on the optical disc.
Optical disk having an optical head for performing reproduction and / or reproduction
3. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein an inner height dimension of the case holder is set.
Or slightly thicker than the thickness of the double-sided disc case
And the center of the inside height of the case holder
Protruding guide portions for guiding the first and second grooves are provided.
Along with Place the disc case inside the case holder
The urging means for urging in the direction of the optical head portion is
Set up in ruda An optical disk device characterized by the above-mentioned.