JP3169122B2 - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a disk-shaped medium,
More particularly, the present invention relates to a disk cartridge in which a double-sided or single-sided recordable / reproducible optical disk, a magneto-optical disk and the like are rotatably housed in a case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an information medium, for example, a disk medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk is used as a disk cartridge housed in upper and lower cases. It is known that a shutter for opening and closing the opening is provided. However, conventionally, for a disk cartridge containing a disk-shaped medium capable of recording / reproducing on both sides, many methods of opening the shutter in both directions have been proposed. For example,
In Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-153221, return spring members are provided on both sides of the sliding shutter independently to urge the shutters in the closing direction.

[0003]

However, in this double-opening type structure, the assemblability of the shutter is not taken into account, and the assembling of the upper and lower cases, the shutter and the return spring is extremely difficult, and the mass productivity is extremely poor. For example, when incorporating a spring member before combining the upper and lower cases, if the spring is locked to the slider, it will come off the case due to the elastic force of the spring,
In the configuration where automation and labor saving of assembly are very difficult, and the upper and lower cases are combined and the spring is incorporated,
Although there is no problem described above, it is necessary to open a wide opening for inserting the spring on the front side of the case, there is a problem of intrusion such as dust inside, and the slider etc. are exposed to the outside, so the user can In addition to the problem of being inadvertently touched and possibly being damaged, the durability is inferior. In addition, it is difficult to reduce the size of the disk cartridge, and it cannot be said that the assemblability or operation reliability is sufficient. The present invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a compact and highly reliable disk cartridge which has good shutter opening / closing properties, is easy to assemble, and has a high reliability even when the shutter of the disk cartridge is opened in both directions.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a recordable / reproducible disk-shaped medium is rotatably housed in a case having an opening through which a recording / reproducing head or a drive shaft can be inserted. A disk cartridge comprising a shutter for opening and closing the opening, an upper plate and a lower plate, and a connecting plate for connecting the upper and lower plates in a substantially U-shaped section, and the shutter slidably provided via a slider. In the case, a gap through which a spring can be inserted at the front end side of the head insertion hole of the opening and a connecting portion are formed in the case, and guide portions are provided at both left and right end sides of the head insertion hole of the case, A first slider having a shutter mounting portion, a guide concave portion guided by the connecting portion on the rear side, and a ridge guide portion engaging and sliding with the guide portion; and a spring locking of the spring Part and guide part of the case And a second slider provided with a rail is fitted, locking the spring to the spring locking portion of the second slider, to place the spring in the gap of the case, the first
The pair of the second sliders are assembled to the case with the pair of the second sliders sandwiched between both ends of the slider.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment of the present invention, the shutter has a substantially U-shaped cross section and slides across both front end portions of the upper and lower cases. A slider fixed to the shutter is provided with a guide on the inner surface of the case. The section guides sliding from the closed state to the open state of the shutter. The shutter is slidably guided by a first slider which engages with a guide portion provided on the case via a rail to slide and guide, and a spring is provided in a gap inside the case and substantially both ends in the width direction of the shutter. When the shutter is moved to the left open position, the second slider on the left is in contact with the first slider when the shutter moves to the left open position. The second slider on the right side is in contact with the case in contact with the restoring force in the closing position direction. That is, the first slider is sandwiched between a pair of second sliders by a spring, and the first slider is fitted and held in a connecting portion provided at the front end side of the head insertion opening with a gap therebetween.
Since the spring can be arranged in the gap between the connecting portion and the front end side, it can be incorporated into one of the upper and lower cases in a state where it is engaged with both ends of the first slider against the spring elastic restoring force, After the upper and lower cases are fixed, the shutter can be fixed to the first slider, so that the assemblability can be greatly improved, and the end of the first slider has a substantially U-shaped cross section so that the spring can be inserted. And the connecting part and the first
Since the guide concave portion of the slider is sandwiched, the shutter moves smoothly, is durable, and can be used safely.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an example of a disk cartridge accommodating an optical disk shown in FIGS. 1 to 9. A double-sided or single-sided recording / reproduction can be performed inside a case including an upper case 1 and a lower case 2. The disk-shaped medium 10 of a suitable information medium is rotatably accommodated, and the drive shaft insertion holes 11 and 21 and the head insertion holes 12 and 22 are formed in the case.
A cartridge provided with a shutter 4 for opening and closing the opening slidably in a shutter sliding area 5 one step lower than the outer surface of the case, wherein the shutter 4 includes an upper plate 41 and a lower plate 42.
And a connecting plate 43 for connecting the upper and lower plates 41 and 42 to have a substantially U-shaped cross section. The shutter 4 is provided with a first slider 6 and a second slider 7 for sliding guide, This is provided by a spring 8 of an elastic member that urges in the closing direction. In the case, a gap 26 through which the spring 8 can be inserted and a connecting portion 25 are formed at the front end side of the head insertion hole of the opening, and the guide portions 9 are provided at both left and right ends of the head insertion hole of the case. 9 ₁ provided, having a projection of the shutter mounting portion 63 on the front side, a guide recess 67 to be guided to the connecting portion 25 on the rear side, the ridge guide portion 64 which engages slidably with the guide portion 9 And a first slider 6 having a U-shaped holding portion 61 for mounting a pair of second sliders at both ends in the sliding direction, a first slider 6 having a concave portion 66, and a spring locking portion 7 of the spring 8
1, the U-shaped holding portion 61 of the first slider 6 and the surrounding wall 72 encompassing the outer rail 73 guided by the支杆74 and the guide portion 9, 9 ₁ of the case to be fitted into the concave portion 66 , and a second slider 7 provided with the 73 _1, the spring 8 to the spring locking portion 71 of the second slider 7
And the spring 8 is disposed in the gap 26 of the case, and a pair of the second sliders 7,
7 is inserted into the case with the cover 7 held therebetween (FIGS. 1 to 4). In addition, surrounding walls 72 for fitting the ends of the first slider 6 are provided on both upper and lower sides of a spring locking portion 71 provided on the second slider 7, and the respective second sliders 7, 7 are located at the center of the case. Stopper protruding wall surfaces 23, 2 of connecting portion 25 provided on the case along both edges of the opening.
4, and the shutter 4 is opened and closed in both directions. (FIGS. 5 to 9)

To form the stopper projecting wall surfaces 23, 24, a connecting portion 25 is formed through a gap 26 provided on the front end side 28 of the head insertion holes 12, 22 of the upper and lower cases 1, 2, that is, the connecting portion 25. Is provided in front of the front end side 28 with a gap 26 therebetween. The spring 8 is disposed in the gap 26, and the guide recess 67 of the first slider 6 is fitted from both ends of the connecting portion 25 and guided and slid. As a result, it is easy to incorporate it into the case and contributes to smooth opening and closing operation. (FIGS. 6 to 9) The connecting portion 25 is connected to one of the pair of rail-shaped guide portions 9 provided in the case, and the U-shaped holding portion 61 with the first slider 6 is fitted into the gap 26. The guide sliding is performed so that a stable sliding operation can be maintained for a long time. Further, the width W _H of the two said connection portion 25 are set to the same. The width 7 is the are smaller than the width W _s of the shutter sliding portions of the upper and lower cases 1 and 2,
Is for passing the head (pickup light) for recording and reproduction on the disc, the width of the spring 8 disposed between the connecting portion 25, to equal to or smaller than the width W _H of the connecting portion 25 Is good.

The first slider 6 and the second slider 7 have a vertically symmetric structure as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the second slider 7 holds the first slider 6 with a spring 8 to hold the pressure. After the upper and lower cases 1 and 2 are fixed to one of the upper and lower cases 1 and 2, the shutter 4 is fixed to the first slider 6. That is, the shutter 4 is fixed to the first slider 6,
Move at the same time. Second sliders 7 and 7 are provided at both ends of the first slider 6 so as to sandwich the first slider 6 therebetween.
Each of them receives an elastic force of tension by a spring 8 and urges the first slider 6 to a closing position.

In this case, both ends of the first slider 6 are formed in a substantially U-shaped holding portion 61 having a gap through which the spring 8 is inserted, and the second sliders 7, 7 are formed.
The spring 8 is a tension coil spring. The center of the coil spring 8 and the center of the portion covered by the surrounding wall 72 substantially coincide with each other, so that the shutter 4 can smoothly move. To do. Further, a lower shutter sliding area 5 of the case where the shutter 4 slides is provided with a guide 3 by a fixing means such as fusion or bonding to hold the free ends of the shutter upper and lower plates, and the upper and lower cases 1 and 2 are provided. 4 that slides over the front end of the shutter 4
The first slider 6 provided at both ends has reinforcing portions 62 at both ends for reinforcing the projecting portion 44 of the shutter to which the shutter opening / closing operation member contacts, and the first slider 6 is fitted into the mounting hole 45 provided in the shutter 4.
3 should be provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the first slider 6 has a U-shaped holding portion 61 on both sides of which the second slider 7 abuts, and has a ridge guide portion 64 projecting up and down. The ridge guide portion 64 engages with the guide portions 9 at both ends of the case and slides. The spring 8 is inserted into the gap between the U-shaped holding portions 61, and a projection 63 for attaching the shutter is provided in the middle. The projection 63 enters the projection 44 of the shutter 4, and the two projections 63 It is fixedly attached to the shutter 4 by the elastic arm 65 between them. FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the second slider 7. The second slider 7 has a spring locking portion 71 for locking the spring 8 and a U-shaped holding portion 61 of the first slider 6.
Together with having the shape of a surrounding wall 72 encompassing the outer, the rail 73 ₁ is fitted into the guide 9, 9 ₁ of the case inner surface, and支杆74 that fits into the recess 66 of the first slider 6 And the first slider 6 and the second
The slider 4 is integrated with the slider 7 to make the movement of the shutter 4 smooth, and the durability is also improved.

With such a configuration of the first and second sliders 6 and 7, when the shutter 4 is opened, the first slider 6 and the second slider 7 can open and close integrally. Also, when assembling, the first slider 6
And the second slider 7 (two pieces) and the spring 8 are temporarily assembled,
It can be easily incorporated into the lower case 2 (one of the upper and lower cases), and the spring 8 is fitted into the gap 26 adjacent to the connecting portion 25, so that stable assembling is possible. Furthermore, the first wall covered by the surrounding wall 72
The pressed portion at the end of the slider 6 is formed into a substantially U-shaped holding portion 61 so as to cover the coil spring 8, and the surrounding wall 72 is made substantially coincident with the center of the coil spring 8, so that the temporary assembly during assembly is stable. Operation and the opening and closing of the shutter 4 after assembly stabilizes the operation. Since the upper and lower cases 1 and 2 have substantially the same shape, the lower case 2 has been described, but the same applies to the upper case 1.

The shutter 4 is fixed to the first slider 6. For example, the ridge guide portion 64 of the first slider 6 is provided.
Is engaged with the guide portion 9 on the inner surface of the case to guide the sliding of the shutter 4 from the closed state to the open state. Also,
Two erroneous erasure prevention members 13 for selectively setting whether or not recording is possible on the disk are provided inside the case so as to be independently movable for the upper surface and the lower surface of the disk 10. The shutter 4 is formed by injection molding using a polyacetal resin or the like, and is formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section. However, when a resin is used, it is inexpensive and lightweight compared to metal (for example, stainless steel or surface-treated aluminum). Being,
Further, there is an advantage that even a complicated shape can be made relatively easily.

In the drawing, 19 is a label area, 20 is a positioning hole of the disk cartridge, and 27 is a recess for accommodating the spring locking portion 71.

[0014]

According to the present invention, a recordable / reproducible disk-shaped medium is rotatably housed in a case having an opening through which a recording / reproducing head or a drive shaft can be inserted, and the opening is provided. The upper and lower plates are shutters that open and close,
The upper and lower plates are connected to each other to form a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the shutter is slidably provided via a slider.
A disc cartridge provided with a spring for urging in a closing direction of a shutter, wherein a gap through which a spring can be inserted into a front end side of a head insertion hole of the opening and a connecting portion are formed in the case, A guide portion is provided on both left and right ends of the head insertion hole, a shutter mounting portion is provided on the front side, and a guide concave portion guided by the connecting portion on the rear side, and a ridge guide engaging and sliding with the guide portion. And a second slider provided with a spring engaging portion of the spring, and a rail fitted into the guide portion of the case,
A structure in which a spring is locked to a spring locking portion of a slider, the spring is disposed in a gap between the cases, and a pair of the second sliders is sandwiched between both ends of the first slider in the case. As a result, the first slider, the second slider and the spring at both ends thereof can be assembled and stabilized first, and the first slider is fitted and held in the connecting portion on the front end side of the head insertion opening. The temporary assembly is stable because the spring can be inserted and arranged in the gap in the connection part, and the assembly can be assembled in the lower case or the upper case and then combined with the other case and fixed, greatly improving the assemblability. In the automatic assembly, stable production with few assembly defects is possible, and the temporary assembly during assembly is stabilized by the shutter mechanism including the downsized first slider and the second slider. The mottle shutter can be made of inexpensive resin, and the shutter can be opened or closed in one direction or on both sides. The shutter opening / closing operability is improved, the durability is improved, and the shutter is opened / closed with a compact shutter mechanism. A highly reliable disk cartridge in operation can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a separated state showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the shutter of FIG. 1 in a separated state.

3A and 3B show a first slider of the example of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A is a front view, FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line AA, FIG. 3C is a plan view, FIG. e) is a bottom view.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the example of FIG. 3, (a) is an overall perspective view,
(B) is a partial perspective view cut from the center.

5 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 5 (b) is a front view, FIG. 5 (c) is a cut-away plan view taken along line BB, and FIG. It is a perspective view.

6A and 6B show a state in which a shutter is incorporated and an upper case is removed, wherein FIG. 6A is a partially cutaway plan view and FIG. 6B is a front view.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the lower case.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the enlarged separation state along the line DD in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper case 2 Lower case 3 Guide 4 Shutter 5 Shutter sliding area 6 First slider 7 Second slider 8 Spring 9,9 ₁ Guide section 10 Disk 11,21 Drive shaft insertion hole 12,22 Head insertion hole 13 Erroneous erasure prevention Member 20 Positioning hole 23, 24 Stopper projecting wall surface 25 Connecting portion 26 Gap 28 Front end 41 Upper plate 42 Lower plate 43 Connecting plate 44 Projecting portion 61 U-shaped holding portion 62 Reinforcement portion 63 Shutter mounting portion 64 Convex guide portion 66 Concave portion 67 Guide concave portion 71 Spring locking portion 72 Surrounding wall 73, 73 ₁ rail 74 Support rod

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G11B 23/03

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing disk-shaped medium is rotatably housed in a case having an opening through which a recording / reproducing head or a drive shaft can be inserted, and a shutter for opening and closing the opening is provided. In a disk cartridge comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, and a connecting plate connecting the upper and lower plates and having a substantially U-shaped cross section, the shutter being slidably provided via a slider, the opening is formed in the case. On the front end side of the head insertion hole
A gap (26) through which a screw (8) can be inserted, and a connecting portion (25)
Are formed at the left and right ends of the head insertion hole of the case.
Guide section (9), _{(9 1)} provided, has shutter mounting portion (63) on the front side, the connection to the rear
A guide recess (67) guided by the section (25);
And a ridge guide portion (64) which engages with and slides on the guide portion (9).
A first slider (6) provided, a spring engaging portion (71) of the spring (8),
Guide section (9), rails (7 guided by _{(9 1)}
3) and the second slider (7) provided with (73 ₁ )
Provided, spring spring locking portion of the second slider (7) (71)
(8) is locked, and the spring (8) is inserted into the gap (26) of the case.
And a pair of front ends at both ends of the first slider (6).
The case where the second sliders (7), (7) are sandwiched
A disc cartridge characterized by being incorporated in a disc cartridge. 2. Both ends of the first slider (6) in the sliding direction.
U-shaped holder for mounting the second slider (7) on the
(61) and a concave portion (66), the second slider
(7) includes a U-shaped holding portion (6) of the first slider (6).
Enclosed in the surrounding wall (72) surrounding the 1) and the concave portion (66)
And a supporting rod (74).
The disc cartridge as described.