JP3405982B1 - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A disk cartridge having a small thickness and a simple shutter configuration is provided. SOLUTION: Disk 1 having first and second surfaces
00 is rotatable and the disk opening 12w
A disk storage portion 10d for storing the first surface from the outside so as to be exposed to the outside, a chucking opening 11c for chucking the disk 100 from the outside, and a head for recording and reproducing a signal from the disk to the second surface of the disk A disc cartridge having a cartridge body including a head opening 11h for accessing the disc, and shutters 21 and 22 for opening and closing the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h; Disk 100
Is provided with a falling-off preventing member 23 for preventing falling off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc cartridge that accommodates a disc-shaped signal recording medium such as an optical disc or a magnetic disc in a rotatable state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a disc cartridge for holding a disc-shaped signal recording medium has been proposed.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-153264, a disc-shaped recording medium having a signal recording surface on one side or both sides (hereinafter referred to as a disc) is provided inside a cartridge body composed of an upper half and a lower half. Disclosed is a disc cartridge that is stored in a completely covered form in a disc storage portion. The cartridge body has a chucking opening for the turntable of the spindle motor and the clamper to chuck the disk, and a head opening for the head to reproduce and record signals on the disk. .
The chucking opening and the head opening are connected,
When the cartridge is carried and conveyed, it is easy for dust to enter through these openings and for fingerprints to adhere to the disc. Therefore, a shutter that covers these openings is formed in the disc cartridge.

However, in the case of a disc cartridge of this structure, in order to insert the disc cartridge into the disc device and perform recording / reproduction on the disc, surface wobbling at the time of rotation of the disc, warp of the disc and the disc device It is necessary to secure a space for allowing the positioning error of (3) in the space for housing the disc formed between the upper half and the lower half. Therefore, there is a problem in that the thickness of the cartridge main body becomes large.

The lower half is provided with an opening for a turntable of a spindle motor and a head opening.
Since the upper half is provided with the opening for the clamper, the shutter for closing the openings at the same time needs to have a U-shape continuous from the upper half to the lower half. However, since the shutter having such a shape is expensive, the manufacturing cost of the disc cartridge is increased.

Further, in the case of a disk with a metal hub, it is possible to attract it without backlash due to magnetic force, but in the case of an optical disk without a hub such as a CD or DVD, the disk is generally not fixed in the cartridge. Is in a free state. For this reason, there is also a problem that the shutter opens in the disk device and dust that has entered the cartridge through the opening adheres to the disk. In addition, there is a problem that the signal recording surface of the disc is damaged due to the looseness of the disc, or dust is generated due to the collision between the disc and the inner wall of the cartridge, and the dust adheres to the disc.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above problems, and particularly, in a cartridge for accommodating a disc having a recording surface only on one side, the thickness is reduced and the cost of the disc cartridge is reduced by a simple shutter structure. The purpose is to Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disc cartridge excellent in design by holding the disc in the disc cartridge, eliminating rattling, reducing dust adhesion to the disc, and utilizing the exposed disc label surface. To do.

[0008]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A disk cartridge of the present invention accommodates a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposes the first surface of the disk to the outside. And a chucking opening provided at the bottom of the disc storage unit for chucking the disc from the outside and at least signal reproduction and recording for the second surface of the disc. A cartridge body including a head opening for access by a head that performs one side, and a shutter movably supported with respect to the cartridge body so as to open or close at least the head opening to the outside. And a disc holding member that holds or releases the disc with respect to the cartridge body.

It is preferable that the disc holding member holds the disc by pressing the second surface of the disc against the bottom of the disc housing portion. Further, the disc holding member,
It is preferable that at least the outer peripheral portion of the second surface of the disc is brought into contact with the bottom portion of the disc storage portion.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge includes a plurality of disc holding members, and each of the plurality of disc holding members is arranged so that a part thereof is located on the outer circumference of the disc. At least two of the plurality of disc holding members may have the same shape. The plurality of disc holding members may interlock with each other to perform an operation of holding or releasing the disc.

In one embodiment, the disc holding member is an elliptical ring made of an elastic member, and the ring is deformable so as to have an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the disc.

The disk holding member has an inclined surface which is in contact with the disk, and the disk holding member is arranged in the cartridge body so that the inclined surface of the disk holding member projects above the outer periphery of the disk. It is preferable that the inclined surface is brought into contact with a side surface or a ridge of the disk to grip the disk, and the disk is pressed against the bottom portion of the disk storage portion and held.

[0013] In one embodiment, the disc cartridge has a pair of positioning holes with which a positioning pin for locating a mounting position provided in the disc drive device is engaged when the disc cartridge is mounted in the disc drive device. It has in the cartridge body.

Further, in one embodiment, the disc cartridge has a concave portion in the disc cartridge main body, which is engaged with a convex portion provided in the disc drive device to prevent erroneous insertion of the disc cartridge.

Further, in one embodiment, the disc cartridge has a concave portion in the disc cartridge body which engages with a convex portion provided in the disc drive device when the disc cartridge is inserted into the disc drive device. .

When the disc cartridge is mounted and positioned in the disc drive device, the disc holding member may shift the disc from the holding state to the releasing state.

The disc holding member may shift from the state of holding the disc to the state of releasing the disc in association with the engagement of the positioning pin of the disc drive device with the positioning hole of the disc cartridge.

The disc holding member holds the disc in association with the engagement between the convex portion for preventing the wrong insertion of the disc cartridge provided in the disc drive device and the concave portion provided for the disc cartridge. The state may be changed to the release state.

The disc holding member may shift from the state of holding the disc to the state of releasing the disc in association with the engagement of the convex portion provided in the disc drive device and the concave portion of the disc cartridge. .

A pair of disk holding members for holding the disks at two positions are provided, and each of the pair of disk holding members engages with one of a pair of positioning pins provided in the disk drive device, The holding and releasing operations of the disc may be performed substantially simultaneously at two positions of the disc holding member.

The shutter may have a member that engages with the disc holding member, and the state of holding the disc may be changed to the state of releasing the disc in conjunction with the closing / opening operation of the shutter.

The disc holding member is integrally formed with the cartridge body and has a deformable elastic portion, and the disc may be held or released by deformation of the elastic portion.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge further has a lock mechanism for fixedly supporting the operation of the disc holding member on the cartridge body while the disc holding member holds the disc.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge includes a lock mechanism for fixedly supporting the operation of the plurality of disc holding members to the cartridge body in a state where the plurality of disc holding members hold the disc. It has one of the holding members.

[0025] In one embodiment, the disc cartridge further includes a drop-out preventing portion so that the disc holding member does not fall out of the storage portion of the disc cartridge when the disc holding member releases the disc. .

In one embodiment, the head opening reaches a side surface of the cartridge body.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge has a protective layer at the bottom of the disc storage portion that comes into contact with the second surface of the disc, the protective layer preventing damage to the disc. The protective layer is preferably one selected from a scratch-proof nonwoven fabric, a dust-proof nonwoven fabric, a scratch-proof coating layer, and a dust-proof coating layer.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge further comprises a brush or a dust wiping member on the side of the shutter that traverses the head opening when the shutter is opened and closed.

In one embodiment, when the disc is in contact with a protective layer provided on the bottom of the disc housing, the disc is rotated to remove dirt from the disc.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge further comprises a disc holding interlocking member housed in the disc housing portion for interlocking opening / closing of the shutter and holding / releasing operation of the disc holding member.

In one embodiment, the shutter is
It has a substantially fan shape that is rotatably held around the chucking opening, and the opening / closing of the shutter and the holding / releasing operation of the disc holding member are interlocked with each other.

It is preferable that the disc holding member presses and holds at least the outer peripheral portion of the second surface of the disc against the bottom of the disc housing portion, the disc holding interlocking member, or the shutter.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge includes a plurality of disc holding members, and each of the plurality of disc holding members is arranged such that a part thereof is located on the outer circumference of the disc.

The disc holding member has an inclined surface which is in contact with the disc. By disposing the disc holding member on the cartridge main body so that the inclined surface of the disc holding member projects above the outer periphery of the disc, It is preferable that the inclined surface is brought into contact with the side surface or the ridge of the disk to grip the disk, and the disk is pressed against the bottom of the disk storage portion and held.

In one embodiment, the disc holding member is formed integrally with the cartridge body, and has an elastic portion that can be deformed to hold or release the disc.

In one embodiment, the disc holding member further has a drop-out prevention portion so that the disc does not drop out from the storage portion of the disc cartridge when the disc holding member releases the disc.

In one embodiment, when the shutter opens the head opening to the outside, the disk holding member opens the disk.

In one embodiment, the disc holding interlocking member is substantially fan-shaped.

In one embodiment, the disc storage portion has a first inner side surface that is a bottom portion of the disc storage portion and a second cylindrical inner surface that surrounds the outer periphery of the disc when the disc is stored. Including with sides.

In one embodiment, the shutter is provided outside the disc cartridge.

In one embodiment, the shutter is provided on the bottom of the disc storage section.

In one embodiment, the shutter opens or closes the chucking opening to the outside.

In one embodiment, the shutter is 1
Is one.

Another disc cartridge of the present invention is provided with a disc storage portion for rotatably storing a disc having first and second surfaces and a bottom portion of the disc storage portion. A cartridge body including a chucking opening for chucking from the outside and a head opening for accessing a second surface of the disk by a head that performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal, and the chuck body. Movably with respect to the cartridge body between the second surface of the disc and the bottom of the disc storage portion so as to open or close the king opening and the head opening to the outside. And a supported shutter.

Further, another disc cartridge of the present invention is provided with a disc accommodating portion for rotatably accommodating the disc having the first and second surfaces, and a bottom portion of the disc accommodating portion. A cartridge body including a chucking opening for externally chucking the disk and a head opening for accessing a second surface of the disk by a head that performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal; A shutter movably supported with respect to the cartridge body so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening with respect to the outside, and in conjunction with opening / closing operation of the shutter, When the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening, the shutter or the car is closed. And a disc holding portion for fixing the disc against the ridge body.

In one embodiment, the disc storage portion has a first inner side surface which is a bottom portion of the disc storage portion and a second cylindrical inner portion which surrounds an outer periphery of the disc when the disc is stored. The disk storage portion includes a side surface and a disk opening portion for loading and unloading the disk, and the disk housing portion houses the disk so that one surface of the disk is exposed to the outside.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge holds the disc with respect to the shutter when the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening in association with the opening / closing operation of the shutter. The shutter has a fixed disk holding portion.

In one embodiment, the disc holding portion is provided in a part of the shutter.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge has a plurality of the disc holding portions and is arranged on the shutter so as to hold a portion near the outer periphery of the disc.

In one embodiment, the disc holding portion brings the disc into surface contact with the shutter.

In one embodiment, the disc holding portion has an inversely tapered slope, and the slope is brought into contact with a side surface or a ridge of the disc to hold the disc and to hold the disc. The disc is held with respect to the cartridge main body by making surface contact with the shutter.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge further comprises a lock mechanism for fixing and supporting the shutter to the cartridge body at a position where the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening. It is preferable that a part of the second inner surface is cut out so as not to interfere with the operation of the shutter.

In one embodiment, in the disc cartridge, when the shutter opens the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside, a shutter housing portion for housing a part of the shutter is provided in a cartridge body. Have.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge further comprises a plurality of drop-out preventing portions projecting from the disc opening for preventing the disc from falling out of the disc opening. The plurality of drop-out preventing portions may move in the thickness direction of the disc cartridge in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the shutter.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge may have a plurality of shutters, and the plurality of shutters may cooperate with each other to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. .

In one embodiment, a lock mechanism for fixing the plurality of shutters to the cartridge main body when the plurality of shutters closes the chucking opening and the head opening, It is provided in one of them.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of shutters partially overlaps in the thickness direction of the shutter to close the chucking opening and the head opening.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge has an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism for the disc cartridge.

In one embodiment, the head opening reaches a side surface of the cartridge body.

In one embodiment, the plurality of shutters rotate about a plurality of rotation shafts provided in the disc cartridge body. It is preferable that the plurality of rotation shafts are provided in an area other than the disk storage portion of the disk cartridge body. Also,
The head opening may reach a side surface of the cartridge body, and the plurality of rotation shafts may be provided near a side surface facing the side surface.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of shutters has an interlocking portion that opens and closes while interlocking with each other. The interlocking portion may be a cam-shaped portion or a gear-shaped portion provided on each of the plurality of shutters. The interlocking portion may be a belt or a link.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge further comprises an elastic member for urging the plurality of shutters so as to keep them open or closed. It is preferable that the elastic member is provided in a region other than the disc storage portion of the disc cartridge body. The elastic member may be formed integrally with the shutter.

[0063] In one embodiment, the plurality of drop-off preventing members may be detachable and may be integrally formed with the cartridge body.

In one embodiment, the drop-off preventing member is detachably attached to the cartridge body.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge is provided with a protective layer for preventing the disc from being scratched in a region of the shutter in contact with the second surface of the disc. The protective layer is preferably one selected from a scratch-proof nonwoven fabric, a dust-proof nonwoven fabric, a scratch-proof coating layer, and a dust-proof coating layer.

In one embodiment, when the disc is in surface contact with the shutter, the disc is rotated to remove dirt from the disc. Alternatively, the dirt of the disk is removed by the opening / closing operation of the shutter to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside.

In one embodiment, the erroneous insertion prevention mechanism includes a convex portion or a concave portion provided on the outer surface of the cartridge body so as to be asymmetric with respect to the direction of inserting the disc cartridge into an external device. I'm out.

In one embodiment, the lock mechanism is fitted into the lock hole formed in the disk cartridge body and the lock hole at a position where the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening. And a lock protrusion provided on the shutter.

In one embodiment, the lock protrusion is provided on the shutter through an elastic member, and the elastic protrusion urges the lock protrusion into the lock hole to fit the lock protrusion.

In one embodiment, the lock mechanism fits into the lock hole formed in the disk cartridge body and the lock hole at a position where the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening. A lock lever provided on the disk cartridge main body, a first convex portion or a first concave portion formed on the lock lever, and a first convex portion at the closed position. The shutter includes a second concave portion or a second convex portion formed on the shutter so as to fit with the first concave portion.

The lock lever is provided on the disk cartridge body via an elastic member, and the elastic member urges the lock protrusion into the lock hole so that the lock lever engages with the lock lever. The portion or the first concave portion may be biased and fitted to the second concave portion or the second convex portion. Further, the lock protrusion and the elastic member may be formed integrally with the shutter. The lock lever and the elastic member may be integrally formed with the disc cartridge body.

In one embodiment, the shutter is
In a state where the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening while making surface contact with the disk, the shutter has a convex portion provided so as to project into the center hole of the disk, The protrusion raises the disc in the thickness direction of the cartridge while contacting the lower surface of the disc by the opening operation of the shutter, and the surface contact between the disc and the shutter is released.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge has a plurality of shutters, and the plurality of shutters close the chucking opening and the head opening while the plurality of shutters are in surface contact with the disc. In this state, the plurality of shutters each have a convex portion so as to project into the center hole of the disc, and the convex portion abuts the lower surface of the disc when the shutter is opened. Is lifted in the thickness direction of the cartridge to release the surface contact between the disc and the shutter.

The convex portion may be one selected from a spherical shape, a conical shape, a ring shape or a plurality of spherical shapes.

In one embodiment, the fall prevention member is formed integrally with the shutter. The captive prevention member may be formed integrally with the shutter via a flexible member or an elastic member. The captive prevention member has a convex portion or a concave portion, and the cartridge main body has a guide concave portion or a guide convex portion that engages with the convex portion or the concave portion of the captive prevention member, and The fall prevention member may move in the thickness direction of the disc cartridge in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the shutter.

In one embodiment, the fall prevention member is formed integrally with the cartridge body. The captive prevention member may be formed integrally with the cartridge body via an elastic member. The fall-off prevention member may be an elastic body obtained by dividing a part of the cartridge body with a slit. The fall prevention member has a first convex portion or a first inclined portion, and the shutter has a second inclined portion or a second convex portion. The first inclined portion and the second inclined portion or the second convex portion may be in contact with each other.

When the shutter opens the chucking opening and the head opening, the first convex portion or the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion or the second convex portion are different from each other. They may abut each other.

A concave portion with which the second convex portion or the first convex portion is engaged may be provided near the first inclined portion or the second inclined portion.

In one embodiment, the fall-preventing member presses the disk in the thickness direction to bring it into surface contact with the shutter when the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening. The disk is held with respect to the cartridge body.

In one embodiment, an opening / closing lever for opening and closing the shutter and a lock mechanism for fixing and supporting the shutter to the cartridge body at a position where the plurality of shutters close the chucking opening and the head opening are provided. The shutters are respectively provided to two different shutters.

Another disc cartridge of the present invention is a disc storage portion for storing a disc having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposing the first surface of the disc to the outside. And a head that is provided at the bottom of the disc storage unit and performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a chucking opening for externally chucking the disc and the second surface of the disc. Of the cartridge body including a head opening for access by the disk, and the second surface of the disk and the disk storage portion so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. It is supported so as to be movable with respect to the cartridge body between the bottom portion and the bottom, and in the closed state, A shutter having a hole in a region corresponding to the centers hole is provided in said shutter,
And a disk holding portion that holds the disk by pressing the disk against the shutter when the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening.

In one embodiment, the hole provided in the shutter has approximately the same diameter as the center hole of the disc.

Another disc cartridge of the present invention is a disc that accommodates a disc having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposes the first surface of the disc to the outside. An accommodating portion and a chucking opening portion provided at a bottom portion of the disc accommodating portion for externally chucking the disc and at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a second surface of the disc. A cartridge body including a head opening for a head to perform, and a second surface of the disk and the disk storage so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A shutter that is movably supported with respect to the cartridge body between the bottom of the cartridge and the bottom of the cartridge;
A disc holding portion provided on the shutter for holding the disc by pressing the disc against the shutter when the shutter closes the chucking opening portion and the head opening portion; A flange that projects from the inner side surface toward the center of the disc and that abuts on the outer edge of the disc when the shutter is closed.

In one embodiment, the shutter is
In the closed state, the disk has a hole in a region corresponding to the center hole. The collar is the second of the disc.
You may contact with the surface of. In the state where the shutter opens the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside, a space for accommodating a part of the shutter is provided between the brim and the inner lower surface of the disc accommodating portion. May be equipped with.

In one embodiment, in a state where the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside, a protrusion contacting the second surface of the disk is formed in the hole of the shutter. Have around.

In one embodiment, the shutter has a convex portion that fills a gap between the second surface of the disk and the shutter when the shutter is closed.
The convex portion may be provided in a region located closer to the center of the disc storage portion than the flange in a state where the shutter opens the chucking opening portion and the head opening portion to the outside. . The convex portion may be a protective layer that prevents damage to the disc.

In one embodiment, a protective layer for preventing scratches on the disc is provided on the collar.
The protective layer may be one selected from a scratch-proof nonwoven fabric, a dust-proof nonwoven fabric, a scratch-proof coating layer, and a dust-proof coating layer.

In one embodiment, the convex portion is formed integrally with the shutter.

Another disk cartridge of the present invention is a disk storage portion for storing a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposing the first surface of the disk to the outside. And a head that is provided at the bottom of the disc storage unit and performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a chucking opening for externally chucking the disc and the second surface of the disc. Of the cartridge body including a head opening for access by the disk, and the second surface of the disk and the disk storage portion so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge body between the shutter and a bottom portion, and a pair of shutters provided on the shutters. And which, when the shutter is closed the chucking opening and the head opening,
A disk holding portion that presses the disk against the shutter to hold the disk, the head opening is provided to reach a side surface of the cartridge body, and the head opening is provided on the shutter to open and close the shutter. The operating section is provided in the head opening.

The disc cartridge of the present invention is a disc for storing a disc having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposing the first surface of the disc to the outside. An accommodating portion and a chucking opening portion provided at a bottom portion of the disc accommodating portion for externally chucking the disc and at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a second surface of the disc. A cartridge body including a head opening for a head to perform, and a second surface of the disk and the disk storage so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge body between the bottom and the bottom of the cartridge; The shutter is provided with a disk holding portion that holds the disk by pressing the disk against the shutter when the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening. The first and second joint surfaces are in contact with each other, and the first and second joint surfaces are not aligned.

In one embodiment, the first and second joint surfaces are inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the disc and overlap each other.

Another disk cartridge of the present invention is a disk storage portion for storing a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposing the first surface of the disk to the outside. And a head that is provided at the bottom of the disc storage unit and performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a chucking opening for externally chucking the disc and the second surface of the disc. Of the cartridge body including a head opening for access by the disk, and the second surface of the disk and the disk storage portion so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge main body between the bottom and the bottom, and a pair of shutters provided on the shutters. And which, when the shutter is closed the chucking opening and the head opening,
A plurality of disc holding portions for holding the disc by pressing the disc against the shutter, wherein at least one of the plurality of disc holding portions is a center of the disc storage portion with respect to one of the pair of shutters. It can be moved in the direction toward.

Another disc cartridge of the present invention is a disc which accommodates a disc having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposes the first surface of the disc to the outside. An accommodating portion and a chucking opening portion provided at a bottom portion of the disc accommodating portion for externally chucking the disc and at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a second surface of the disc. A cartridge body including a head opening for a head to perform, and a second surface of the disk and the disk storage so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge body between the bottom and the bottom of the cartridge; And a plurality of disc holding portions each having a reverse tapered slope for holding the disc by pressing the disc against the shutter when the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening. A plurality of fall prevention members provided on the cartridge body so as to project above the disc, the disc contact surface for preventing the disc from falling out of the disc storage portion, A part of the inclined surface of the holding portion is located above the contact surface of the fall prevention member.

In one embodiment, the pair of shutters are locked to each other in the closed state.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge further has a shutter abutment portion for restricting the positions of the pair of shutters when the pair of shutters are closed.

Another disk cartridge of the present invention is a disk storage portion for storing a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposing the first surface of the disk to the outside. And a head that is provided at the bottom of the disc storage unit and performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a chucking opening for externally chucking the disc and the second surface of the disc. Of the cartridge body including a head opening for access by the disk, and the second surface of the disk and the disk storage portion so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge main body between the bottom and the bottom, and a pair of shutters provided on the shutters. And which, when the shutter is closed the chucking opening and the head opening,
A plurality of disc holding portions for holding the disc by pressing the disc against the shutter, wherein the disc holding portion has a first region having a first height and a first region lower than the first height. A second region having a height of 2 is provided, and a region on the upper surface of the cartridge body through which the first region of the disc holding portion passes when the shutter is opened and closed is a tip of the first region. It is recessed to receive a portion and is thinner than the region through which the second region passes.

In one embodiment, the first area contacts the disc earlier than the second area when the shutter is closed.

According to another disk cartridge of the present invention, the disk having the first and second surfaces is housed in a rotatable state and the first surface of the disk is exposed to the outside. A disc storage portion having a disc opening portion for inserting and removing the disc, and a chucking opening portion for chucking the disc from the outside and a second surface of the disc, which is provided at the bottom portion of the disc storage portion. A cartridge main body including a head opening for access by a head that performs at least one of reproduction and recording of signals, and the disk so that the chucking opening and the head opening are opened or closed to the outside. So as to be movable with respect to the cartridge body between the second surface of the disk and the bottom of the disk storage section. A pair of held shutters, and a plurality of shutters provided on the shutter, which hold the disc by pressing the disc against the shutter when the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening. A disk holding portion and a drop-out preventing member movably held in the cartridge body so as to be in a state of protruding to the disk opening and a state of not protruding to the disk opening.

In one embodiment, the fall prevention member can move in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the cartridge body. The fall prevention member may be rotatable on the upper surface of the cartridge body.

Another disk cartridge of the present invention is a disk housing portion for housing a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposing the first surface of the disk to the outside. And a head that is provided at the bottom of the disc storage unit and performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a chucking opening for externally chucking the disc and the second surface of the disc. Of the cartridge body including a head opening for access by the disk, and the second surface of the disk and the disk storage portion so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge main body between the bottom and the bottom, and a pair of shutters provided on the shutters. And which, when the shutter is closed the chucking opening and the head opening,
A plurality of disc holding portions that hold the disc by pressing the disc against the shutter, and contact the outer peripheral portion of the second surface of the disc when the shutter is closed and the disc is held. And a disk receiving portion provided on the inner periphery of the inner lower surface of the disk storage portion.

In one embodiment, the disc receiving portion has at least a region parallel to the inner lower surface of the disc housing portion and is in contact with the other surface of the disc. The disc receiving portion is a taper provided over the inner side surface and the inner lower surface of the disc storage portion, and when the shutter is closed and the disc is held, the outer peripheral edge of the disc is the disc. You may contact | abut a receiving part.

Another disk cartridge of the present invention is a disk housing portion for housing a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposing the first surface of the disk to the outside. And a head that is provided at the bottom of the disc storage unit and performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a chucking opening for externally chucking the disc and the second surface of the disc. Of the cartridge body including a head opening for access by the disk, and the second surface of the disk and the disk storage portion so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge main body between the bottom and the bottom, and a pair of shutters provided on the shutters. And which, when the shutter is closed the chucking opening and the head opening,
A plurality of disc holders for holding the discs by pressing the discs against the shutter, and opening and closing the shutters, a first region through which a bottom portion of the disc holders passes is provided on an inner bottom surface of the disc storage portion. And the first region is a recess.

Another disc cartridge of the present invention is a disc which accommodates a disc having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposes the first surface of the disc to the outside. An accommodating portion and a chucking opening portion provided at a bottom portion of the disc accommodating portion for externally chucking the disc and at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a second surface of the disc. A cartridge body including a head opening for a head to perform, and a second surface of the disk and the disk storage so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge body between the bottom and the bottom of the cartridge; Vignetting and, when the shutter is closed the chucking opening and the head opening, and a plurality of disc holding portion for holding said disk against said disk to said shutter,
When the shutter is closed, the inner lower surface of the disc storage portion includes a second region located near the outer periphery of the shutter, and the second region is a recess.

Another disk cartridge of the present invention is a disk which accommodates a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposes the first surface of the disk to the outside. An accommodating portion and a chucking opening portion provided at a bottom portion of the disc accommodating portion for externally chucking the disc and at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a second surface of the disc. A cartridge body including a head opening for a head to perform, and a second surface of the disk and the disk storage so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge body between the bottom and the bottom of the cartridge; Vignetting and, when the shutter is closed the chucking opening and the head opening, and a plurality of disc holding portion for holding said disk against said disk to said shutter,
The inner lower surface of the disk storage portion includes a third area located around the chucking opening and the head opening and / or in the vicinity of the inner side surface of the disk storage portion. It is a recess.

Another disc cartridge of the present invention is a disc which accommodates a disc having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposes the first surface of the disc to the outside. An accommodating portion and a chucking opening portion provided at a bottom portion of the disc accommodating portion for externally chucking the disc and at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a second surface of the disc. A cartridge body including a head opening for a head to perform, and a second surface of the disk and the disk storage so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A shutter supported so as to be movable with respect to the cartridge main body between the shutter and the bottom of the cartridge; When the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening, a plurality of disk holding portions that hold the disk by pressing the disks against the shutter and open or close the shutter And first and second operating parts of the.

In one embodiment, the first and second operating parts are the first and second operating parts of the cartridge body.
Is provided on each side of the.

The first and second side faces may be adjacent to each other. The first operation section is a protrusion connected to the shutter, and has a structure capable of opening and closing the shutter by sliding the first operation section along a part of the first side surface. May be. The second operation unit may be a rotating member engaged with the shutter, and may have a structure capable of opening and closing the shutter by rotating the second operation unit. The second operation section is a slide link member engaged with the shutter, and has a structure capable of opening and closing the shutter by sliding the second operation section along the second side surface. May be.

In one embodiment, the second operating section is a belt member connected to the shutter, and the shutter is opened and closed by sliding the second operating section along the second side surface. It has a possible structure.

In one embodiment, the disc cartridge includes a pair of the shutters. The first and second operation parts may be connected to or engaged with the pair of shutters, respectively.

Another disk cartridge of the present invention is a disk storage unit for storing a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state and exposing the first surface of the disk to the outside. And a head that is provided at the bottom of the disc storage unit and performs at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal with respect to a chucking opening for externally chucking the disc and the second surface of the disc. Of the cartridge body including a head opening for access by the disk, and the second surface of the disk and the disk storage portion so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A pair of shutters movably supported with respect to the cartridge main body between the bottom and the bottom, and a pair of shutters provided on the shutters. And which, when the shutter is closed the chucking opening and the head opening,
A plurality of disc holding portions for holding the disc by pressing the disc against the shutter, and at least one of the plurality of disc holding portions for preventing the disc from rotating with the shutter closed. And a rotation prevention member provided on the.

In one embodiment, the anti-rotation member is made of a material having a high friction coefficient, and is provided in at least one of the plurality of disc holding portions so as to contact the disc with the shutter closed. .

In one embodiment, the rotation preventing member is made of rubber.

Another disk cartridge of the present invention has a disk opening and has a disk having first and second surfaces in a rotatable state, and the disk disk opening opens the first surface. A disc storage portion that is stored so as to be exposed to the outside, and a chucking opening portion that is provided at the bottom of the disc storage portion for chucking the disc from the outside and the second surface of the disc. A cartridge main body including a head opening for access by a head that performs at least one of reproduction and recording of signals, and the disk so that the chucking opening and the head opening are opened or closed to the outside. Is supported so as to be movable with respect to the cartridge body between the second surface of the cartridge and the bottom of the disc storage portion. A pair of shutters, and a plurality of discs which are provided on the shutters and hold the discs by pressing the discs against the shutters when the shutters close the chucking opening and the head opening. A holding portion and at least one drop-out prevention member provided on the cartridge body so that at least a part of the holding portion protrudes into the disc opening portion, and the head opening portion is provided to reach a side surface of the cartridge body. In addition, an operating portion provided on the shutter for opening and closing the shutter is provided in the head opening.

In one embodiment, the pair of shutters respectively have first and second joint surfaces that abut each other, and the first and second joint surfaces are not aligned. The first and second joint surfaces may be inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the disc and may overlap each other. The first joint surface of one of the pair of shutters is positioned higher than the first joint surface of the other shutter, and the one second joint surface is the other second joint surface. It may be located below. The pair of shutters may have a hole in a region corresponding to the center hole of the disc in the closed state. The hole provided in the pair of shutters may have the same diameter as the center hole of the disc.

In one embodiment, the plurality of disc holding portions are provided at both ends of the pair of shutters, and each disc holding portion has a reverse tapered slope. At least one of the plurality of disc holding portions may be provided so as to be movable in a direction toward the center of the disc.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of disk holding portions has a first area having a first height and a second area having a second height lower than the first height. The upper surface of the cartridge body, the first portion of the disc holding portion when the shutter is opened and closed.
The region through which the region passes is recessed so as to receive the tip portion of the first region, and is thinner than the region through which the second region passes.

The first area may contact the disk earlier than the second area when the shutter is closed.

In one embodiment, the captive member has a contact surface for contacting the disc 100, and at least one of the inclined surfaces of the plurality of disc holding portions has a part thereof contacted with the captive member. It is located above the plane.

In one embodiment, the pair of shutters rotate about a pair of rotation shafts provided on the disk cartridge body. The pair of shutters may each have an interlocking portion that opens and closes while interlocking with each other. The disk cartridge may further include an elastic member for urging the pair of shutters so as to keep the shutter closed.

[0120]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A disk cartridge 301 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure together with the disc 100 from obliquely above, FIG. 2 is shown obliquely from below, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of each part showing the exploded state thereof. explain.

The disc 100 has the first and second discs.
In FIG. 1, the first surface, which is the surface on which the label or the like of the normal disk is drawn, is shown. The signal recording surface 100A, which is the second surface of the disc 100, is
It is shown as the back side in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the disc cartridge 301 includes a cartridge lower body 11 and a cartridge upper body 1.
2, including disk holding members 13 and 14 and shutter 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge lower body 11
Is at least one of a chucking opening 11c opened so that a chucking member such as a spindle motor for rotating the disc 100 from the outside can enter and a signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100. It has a head opening 11h opened so that the head to be inserted can access and access. Also, a pair of cartridge positioning pins 21 of the disk drive device.
A pair of positioning holes 1 which are fitted with 0 to position the disk cartridge 301 with respect to the disk drive device.
Have 1w. The cartridge lower body 11 is the disk 10
It faces the signal recording surface 100A of 0.

The cartridge upper body 12 is the disk 100.
The disk has a circular disk opening 12w that opens the entire projection area of the disk 100 so as to expose the upper surface of the disk. The cartridge upper body 12 and the cartridge lower body 11 are bonded or welded to each other at their outer edges to form the cartridge body 10.

The first inner surface 11u facing the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100 of the lower cartridge body 11
And a substantially cylindrical second inner side surface 12i forming the disk opening 12w of the cartridge upper body 12 form a disk storage portion 10d (FIG. 1) for storing the disk 100. As a result, the first inner surface 11u becomes the bottom of the disc storage portion 10d. The first inner surface 11u of the lower cartridge body 11 is provided with a protective layer 11p for preventing scratches on the disk 100 or intrusion of dust into the signal recording surface 100A.

The protective layer 11p can be appropriately selected from a scratch-proof nonwoven fabric, a dust-proof nonwoven fabric, a scratch-proof coating layer, and a dust-proof coating layer. In this embodiment, a sheet made of a dustproof non-woven fabric is used as the protective layer 11
It is adhered or ultrasonically welded as p.

In the disc housing portion 10d, the disc 100 is provided between the second inner surface 12i and the disc 100.
A space is provided to allow rotation. In addition, the upper portion of the disc storage portion 10d has a disc opening 12w, and the disc 100 held in the disc storage portion 10d.
Exposes one surface thereof to the outside through the disk opening 12w.

As shown in FIG. 3, the disc holding member 13
Is a pair of elastic portions 13d and a hole portion 13w penetrating diagonally.
The disk cartridge 301 includes two disk holding members 13 having the same shape. The elastic portion 13d of the disk holding member 13 is the cartridge upper body 1
The tip end of the disc holding member 13 is urged in the direction of the arrow 13B by being sandwiched between the disc 2 and the cartridge lower body 11, whereby the disc 100 is moved to the first inner surface 11u.
Are pressed against. Further, the pair of disc holding members 1
3 is a hole portion 1 directly above the pair of positioning holes 11w.
It is arranged so that 3w is almost located.

The disc holding member 14 has a rotating shaft 14s and an elastic portion 14d. The disk holding member 14 is attached to the cartridge body 10 so that the disk holding member 14 can rotate around the rotating shaft 14s.
And the elastic portion 14d is sandwiched between the cartridge upper body 12 and the cartridge lower body 11, the tip of the disk holding member 14 is urged in the direction of arrow 14B. As a result, the disc 100 is pressed against the first inner surface 11u.

The shutter 21 is provided outside the lower cartridge body 11 so as to face the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shutter moves in the direction of arrow 21A or 21B to open or close the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h to the outside. The shutter spring 31 is stretched between the shutter 21 and the cartridge body 10,
The shutter 21 is biased in the closing direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge body 10
On the surface of the (cartridge lower body 11), there is provided a label surface or a concave portion 10f capable of describing the contents written on the accommodated disc 100. In addition, a pair of recesses 1 provided on the left and right of the cartridge body 10.
0c can be used as a locking for positioning or a recess for positioning when the drive device pulls in and loads the disc cartridge 301, or when the disc cartridge 301 is housed in the changer. Further, the concave portion 10g provided on only one side has an erroneous insertion preventing shape and normally fits with the convex portion provided on the drive device only when the disc cartridge 301 is inserted in the correct direction. On the other hand, the disk cartridge 30
If 1 is mistakenly inserted into the disk drive device upside down or backwards and forwards, it will interfere with each other and cannot be inserted properly. This can prevent erroneous insertion.

Here, the holding operation of the disc 100 by the disc holding members 13 and 14 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the disc holding member 13 and the disc holding member 14 in the disc radial direction in the state where the disc 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is held.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, at the tips of the disk holding members 13 and 14, slopes 13 'and 14' inclined so as to project above the outer circumference of the disk 100 on the disk projection area are provided. It is provided. Disk holding members 13 and 1 biased by elastic portions 13d and 14d in the directions of arrows 13B and 14B, respectively.
In No. 4, the slopes 13 'and 14' are brought into contact with the ridge 100c on the outer periphery of the disc 100, the disc 100 is gripped and the disc 100 is pressed in the thickness direction 100t, and the signal recording surface 100A is brought into surface contact with the sheet 11p. As a result, the disc 100 is held and fixed to the cartridge body 10. In this state, the signal recording surface 100 of the disc 100
Since the outer peripheral portion of A is in close contact with the sheet 11p, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the signal recording surface 100A.

Next, the releasing operation of the disc 100 by the disc holding members 13 and 14 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the disc cartridge with the cartridge upper body 12 and the disc 100 removed. In FIG. 6, the shutter 21 includes an L-shaped portion 21.
s is pushed in the direction of arrow 21A by the shutter opening mechanism of the disk drive device (not shown), and as a result,
The chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h are open to the outside. Further, a pair of cartridge positioning pins 210 of the disk drive device are fitted in the positioning holes 11w of the cartridge body 10.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the disk holding member 13 in the disk radial direction in the state of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a disk holding member 14 and shutter 2 in the state of FIG.
It is a principal part enlarged view which shows the relationship of 1.

In the disk holding member 13, as shown in FIG. 7, when the cartridge positioning pin 210 of the disk drive device is inserted from the positioning hole 11w, the cartridge positioning pin is inserted into the hole 13w that obliquely penetrates the disk holding member 13. 210 fits. Therefore, the disc holding member 13 is lifted in the direction 13A, and the disc 100 is released from the pressure contact by the inclined surface 13 'and is in a free state. At this time, the eaves 1 at the tip of the disk holding member 13
3e overhangs on the outer circumference of the disc still in the disc projection area. Therefore, even when the disc drive device configured so that the disc 100 is vertical is in the disc open state, it is possible to prevent the disc 100 from falling out of the disc cartridge 301.

In the disc holding member 14, as shown in FIG. 8, when the shutter 21 is in the open state, the guide rib 21x provided on the shutter has the guide rib 21x.
4 enters the recess 14w and pushes up the ceiling of the recess 14w. As a result, the disc holding member 14 is lifted in the 14A direction, and the disc 100 is released from the pressure contact by the inclined surface 14 'and becomes free. At this time, the eaves 14e at the tip of the disc holding member 14 still projects to the outer periphery of the disc which is on the disc projection area. Therefore, in the disc drive device configured such that the disc 100 is vertical, even when the disc is released, the disc cartridge 301 to the disc
It is possible to prevent 00 from falling off.

If the disc is forcibly taken out, the disc holding member 14 and the pair of disc holding members 1
It is necessary to release 3 places at the same time in 3 and take out. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operator from easily removing the disc.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a brush or a dust wiping material is provided at the end 21r of the shutter 21 on the side facing the disc 100, and the shutter 2
The signal recording surface 10 of the disc 100 in association with the opening operation of No. 1
The dust on 0A may be removed. Further, a lock mechanism for fixing and supporting the disk holding member to the cartridge body 10 while holding the disk may be provided.

(Second Embodiment) A disk cartridge 302 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disk cartridge 302 holding the disk 100 and FIG. 9 showing the disk 100 open. This will be described with reference to FIG. 10, which is a plan view showing the overall structure. 9 and 10, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The disc cartridge 302 has a disc holding member different from that of the disc cartridge 301 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the disc cartridge 302 has a pair of disc holding members which slide in the direction of arrow 15A or 15B. The members 15 and 16 are provided.

Each disk holding member 15 has an elastic portion 15d, which is biased in the direction of arrow 15B by the elastic portion 15d.
Similar to the disc holding members 13 and 14 in the first embodiment, the disc 100 is held and fixed to the cartridge body 10 by the inclined surface 15 ′ provided at the tip.

The disc holding member 16 has a rotating shaft 16c, and the disc holding member 16 is provided on the cartridge body 10 so as to be rotatable around the rotating shaft 16c.
Similarly to the disc holding members 13 and 14 in the first embodiment, the disc holding member 16 also has an inclined surface 16 'provided at the tip.
Thus, the disc 100 is held and fixed to the cartridge body 10. The disc holding member 15 has a connecting pin 15p, and the groove portion 16g provided in the disc holding member 16 and the connecting pin 15p are engaged and interlocked with each other.

When the pair of cartridge positioning pins 210 of the disk drive device is fitted into the positioning holes 11w of the cartridge body 10, the projection 15s of the disk holding member 15 is pushed by the positioning pins 210 as shown in FIG. And the slope 15 'releases the disc 100. Further, the disc holding member 16 rotates in the direction of the arrow 16A in conjunction with the movement of the disc holding member 15, and the inclined surface 16 ′ also releases the disc 100.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disk cartridge 303 according to the third embodiment of the present invention in which the disk 100 is held. This will be described with reference to FIG. 12, which is a plan view showing the overall structure. Figure 1
1 and FIG. 12, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The disc cartridge 303 is different from the disc cartridge 301 of the first embodiment in the disc holding member, and as shown in FIG. 11, the disc cartridge 303 is paired in the directions of arrows 17B and 18B. Disc holding members 17 and 18. The disk holding members 17 and 18 are integrally formed with the cartridge body 10.

The disk holding member 17 has an elastic portion 17d, and is biased by the elastic portion 17d in the direction of arrow 17B. Similarly to the disc holding members 13 and 14 in the first embodiment, the disc holding member 17 holds the disc 100 in the cartridge body 1 by the inclined surface 17 'provided at the tip.
It is held and fixed at 0.

The disc holding member 18 also has an elastic portion 18d, and the elastic portion 18d causes the disc holding member 18 to move in the direction of arrow 1.
It is biased in the 8B direction. In addition, the slope 1 provided at the tip
The disk 100 is held and fixed to the cartridge body 10 by 8 '.

When this disc cartridge 303 is inserted into the disc drive device 200, a pair of disc release pins 21 provided in the disc drive device 200.
7 pushes the protrusion 17s of the disc holding member 17. As a result, the disc holding member 17 releases the disc 100 as shown in FIG. At the same time, the pair of disc releasing pins 218 provided in the disc drive device 200 also come into contact with the side surface 18 s of the disc holding member 18, and the disc holding member 18 releases the disc 100.

(Fourth Embodiment) A disk cartridge 304 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disk 100 held in FIG. 13, the disk 100 in the opened state. This will be described with reference to FIG. 14, which is a plan view showing the overall structure. Figure 1
3 and 14, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The disc cartridge 304 is different from the disc cartridge 301 of the first embodiment in disc holding member, and is provided with a ring-shaped disc holding member 19.

As shown in FIG. 13, the disc holding member 1
9 is formed of a ring-shaped elastic member such as a rubber ring whose shape can be freely changed. When the disc holding member 19 has no external force,
Although it has an elliptical shape, it can be deformed so as to have a substantially circular shape by applying a force from the outside. When the disc holding member 19 is deformed so as to have a substantially perfect circle, its inner diameter is larger than the diameter of the disc 100.

As shown in FIG. 13, the disc holding member 1
Reference numeral 9 is in contact with the disc 100 at a plurality of elliptical locations to hold and fix the disc 100 to the cartridge body 10. When the disc cartridge 304 is inserted into the disc drive device 200, as shown in FIG. 14, a pair of convex portions 219 provided on the disc drive device 200 push the long axis side of the ring-shaped disc holding member 19 to push the disc. The holding member 19 is deformed. This allows
The disc holding member 19 has a substantially circular shape, and the disc 100 and the disc holding member 19 are not in contact with each other. That is, the disc holding member 19 is the disc 1
Release 00.

In order to release the disc 100, the force for deforming the disc holding member 19 is applied to the disc holding member 19 by the convex portion of the disc drive device which fits into the concave portion 10g (FIG. 2) for preventing erroneous insertion. May be. Alternatively, the recesses 10 for pulling in the disk drive device provided on the left and right of the disk cartridge 304.
It may be added to the disk holding member 19 by a convex portion of the disk drive device that fits in c (FIG. 2).

(Fifth Embodiment) The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
Embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18. Figure 1
5 and 17 are plan views showing the structure of the remaining portion of the disc cartridge 305 according to the present embodiment from which the cartridge upper body is removed. FIG. 15 shows the state in which the shutter 21 closes the openings 11h and 11c. 17 shows that the shutter 21 has openings 11h and 11c.
Shows the state in which is opened. 16 and 18 show the state of the disc holding portion 43 when the shutter 21 is in the closed state and the opened state.

In this embodiment, the same components as those of the disc cartridge of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

A characteristic of the disc cartridge of this embodiment is that the disc holding / releasing operation of the disc holding member 43 is interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the shutter 21 by the disc holding interlocking member 44.

As shown by an arrow 44A in FIGS. 15 and 17, the disk holding interlocking member 44 is formed in the first inner portion of the cartridge lower body 11 so as to be rotatable and slidable around the chucking opening portion 11c of the cartridge lower body 11. It is provided on the side surface 11u. Disc holding interlocking member 44
Has a fan shape in which a part of a ring having the chucking opening 11c as the inner diameter is cut off.

The disk holding interlocking member 44 is provided with an engagement pin 47 which projects toward the cartridge lower body 11 side (in FIGS. 15 and 17, the direction toward the back of the paper). Guide grooves 11m and 21m that engage with the engagement pin 47 are provided in the cartridge lower body 11 and the shutter 21, respectively. Further, on the outer periphery of the disc holding interlocking member 44, the outside and the cartridge body side (see FIGS. 15 and 17).
In this case, a plurality of protrusions 45 protruding in the direction toward the front of the paper) are provided. On the upper surface of the disc holding interlocking member 44, a non-woven fabric or a coating material is applied to prevent scratches on the disc 100 or adhesion of dust to the signal recording surface.

A plurality of disc holding members 43 are provided at intervals in the area of the lower cartridge body 11 so that the outer peripheral portion of the disc can be held when the disc is housed in the disc cartridge. 15 and 17,
Although three disk holding members 43 are shown, two, four, or more disk holding members 43 may be provided. Disk holding member 43
Are held by the lower cartridge body 11 so as to slide around the rotary shaft 43A.

As shown in FIG. 16, the disc holding member 4
No. 3 is located in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the disc holding interlocking member 44 so that a part thereof overlaps. The disc holding member 43 is pressed in the direction 43B toward the cartridge lower body 11 by a mechanism (not shown in FIG. 16) such as the elastic portion 14d shown in FIG. As a result, the slope 43 ′ of the disc holding member 43 is
The disc 100 is pressed in the direction of 43B so that the disc 100 comes into contact with the disc holding interlocking member 44 while abutting the edge of 00, and the disc 100 is held.

As shown in FIG. 15, when a disc cartridge holding a disc (not shown) is inserted into the disc drive device 200 in the direction of arrow 1A, a shutter opening / closing lever of the disc drive device 200 (see FIG. (Not shown) moves the shutter 21 in the direction of 21A to open it. When the shutter 21 starts to move in the direction of 21A, the arrow 21 also appears on the engaging pin 47 of the disc holding interlocking member 44 inserted in the guide groove 21m of the shutter 21.
A force is applied in the direction of A. As a result, the engagement pin 47 is moved along the guide groove 11m of the lower cartridge body 11, and along with this, the disc holding interlocking member 44 is moved by the arrow 4 to move.
As shown at 4A, it begins to rotate around the chucking opening 11c. The disk holding interlocking member 44 is the shutter 21.
It is preferable that the guide groove 11m extends approximately along the moving direction of the shutter 21 so that the guide groove 11m moves.

When the shutter 21 is completely opened,
As shown in FIG. 17, the plurality of protrusions 45 provided on the outer circumference of the disc holding interlocking member 44 are located below the disc holding member 43. As shown in FIG. 18, the protrusion 45 pushes the disc holding member 43 upward, so that the slope 43 ′ of the disc holding member 43 causes the disc 10 to move.
Move away from the outer edge of 0. As a result, the disk 10
Release the force 43B that pushes 0 in the direction perpendicular to the disk surface,
The disc 100 is opened so as to be rotatable. At this time, the eaves 43e at the tip of the disc holding member 43 projects above the outer periphery of the disc 100 on the projection area of the disc 100. Therefore, even in a disc drive device that holds the disc 100 vertically, it is possible to prevent the disc from falling out of the cartridge when the disc is released.

The disc cartridge 30 of this embodiment
According to 5, the disc can be released without inserting the disc cartridge into the disc drive device 200. For example, when the shutter 21 is opened by hand, the disc holding member 43 opens the disc 100 in conjunction with the operation of the shutter 21. Therefore, depending on the intention of the user, it is possible to take out a disc from the cartridge and insert another disc into the cartridge, for example.

(Sixth Embodiment) The sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
Will be described. 19 and 20 are plan views showing the structure of the remaining portion of the disc cartridge 306 according to the present embodiment with the cartridge upper body removed, and FIG. 19 shows a state in which the shutter closes the head opening. FIG. 20 shows a state where the shutter opens the head opening. 19 and 20
In the above, the same components as those of the disc cartridges of the first and fifth embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals.

A characteristic of the disc cartridge of this embodiment is that the disc holding interlocking member described in the fifth embodiment also serves as a shutter. As shown by the arrow 46B in FIGS. 19 and 20, the shutter 46 is provided on the first inner surface 11u of the lower cartridge body 11 so as to be rotatable and slidable around the chucking opening 11c of the lower cartridge body 11. There is. The shutter 46 has a fan-like shape in which a part of a ring having the chucking opening 11c as an inner diameter is cut off.

The shutter 46 has a cartridge lower body 11
Engaging pins 46p are provided that project to the side (the direction toward the back of the paper in FIGS. 19 and 20). The guide groove 11m that engages with the engagement pin 46p is
It is provided in. When the engaging pin 46p is located at one end of the guide groove 11m, the head opening 11h is closed by the shutter 46, and when the engaging pin 46p is at the other end of the guide groove 11m, the head opening 11h is It will be released. The guide groove 11m is provided along a part of an arc that is concentric with the chuck opening 11c. It is preferable that the guide groove 11m extends approximately along the insertion direction 1A of the disc cartridge so that the shutter 46 is opened along with the insertion operation into the disc drive device.

On the outer circumference of the shutter 46, there are provided a plurality of projections 46c projecting in the outer circumference direction and toward the cartridge upper body 12 side (the direction toward the front of the paper surface in FIGS. 19 and 20). The disc 100 is provided on the upper surface of the shutter 46.
A non-woven fabric or coating material is added to prevent scratches on the signal recording surface or prevent dust from adhering to the signal recording surface.

In the area of the lower cartridge body 11, a plurality of disc holding members 43 having the same structure as the disc holding member of the fifth embodiment are provided at intervals. The protrusion 46c provided on the disc holding member 43 and the shutter 46 holds or releases the disc in conjunction with the operation of the shutter 46 as described in the fifth embodiment.

When the disc cartridge of this embodiment is inserted into the disc drive device 200 as indicated by the arrow 1A in FIG. 19, the engaging pin 46p of the shutter 46 is attached to the contact member 201 provided in the disc drive device 200.
Abut. When the disk cartridge is further inserted into the disk drive device 200, the contact member 201 causes the engagement pin 46p to start moving along the guide groove 11m. Along with this, the shutter 46 starts to rotate around the chucking opening 11c of the lower cartridge body 11 as shown by an arrow 46B, and the head opening 11h opens with rotation.

As shown in FIG. 20, when the disc cartridge is completely inserted into the disc drive device 200, the engaging pin 46p reaches the other end of the guide groove 11m, and the head opening 11h is completely opened. At this time, as described in the fifth embodiment, the protrusion 46c comes to be positioned below the disc holding member 43, and the protrusion 46c pushes the disc holding portion up to the cartridge upper body side (front side in FIG. 20). To be As a result, the disk 10 held by the disk holding member 43
0 is released and can rotate freely.

According to the disk cartridge of the present embodiment, since the disk holding interlocking member is unnecessary, it is possible to make the thickness thinner than that of the disk cartridge of the fifth embodiment. Further, the engaging pin 46p is connected to the guide groove 11
The shutter 46 can be opened and the disc holding member can be released to take out the disc by moving the disc along the line m with a hand or the like.

In the present embodiment, the shutter 4
6 rotates clockwise when viewed from the cartridge upper body side, but the shutter 46 may be rotated counterclockwise by changing the position of the guide groove 11m.

(Seventh Embodiment) The seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
Will be described. 21 and 22 are plan views showing the structure of the remaining portion of the disc cartridge 307 according to the present embodiment with the cartridge upper body removed, and FIG. 21 shows a state where the shutter closes the head opening. 22 shows the state in which the shutter opens the head opening. 21 and 22
In the above, the same components as those of the disk cartridges of the third and sixth embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals.

The disc cartridge of this embodiment is different from the disc cartridge of the sixth embodiment in the structure of the disc holding member. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the disc cartridge of this embodiment includes a plurality of disc holding members 17. The disc holding member 17 has an elastic portion 17d like the disc holding member described in the third embodiment, and when the shutter 46 is closed, the elastic portion 17d is provided.
The elastic force of the disk holds the disk so as to press the disk 100 toward the center direction 17R of the disk. In the present embodiment, the disc holding member 17 is formed integrally with the cartridge lower body 11, but it may be formed separately from the cartridge lower body 11.

The sectional shape of the disc holding member 17 in the disc radial direction is the same as that of the disc holding member 43 shown in FIG.
Similarly to the above, it has a slanted surface so as to project above the outer circumference of the disk, which is the disk projection area. For this reason, the disc holding member 17 is so arranged that the ridge of the disc comes into contact with the slope.
By holding the disc, the disc is pressed against the shutter 46.

The shutter 46 has a plurality of projections 4 on its outer peripheral portion.
6c. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 46c is projected outward, and when the shutter 46 is in the open state, the protrusion 46c is located at a position where the protrusion 46c abuts on the elastic portion 17d of the disc holding member 17. Provided in the department.

As shown in FIG. 22, when the shutter 46 is opened, the protrusion 46c presses the elastic portion 17d against the elastic force in the direction 17s toward the outside of the disc 100. As a result, the disc 100 is released. However, the eaves 17e are provided at the tip of the disc holding member 17, and the eaves 17e are projected to the projection area of the disc even when the disc 100 is released. Therefore, the disc cartridge is installed in the disc drive device 20 so that the disc 100 is held vertically.
The disc 100 will not fall out of the disc cartridge even if it is inserted into the disc cartridge 0.

According to the disk cartridge of this embodiment, in addition to the features described in the sixth embodiment,
The disc holding member 17 can be formed integrally with the cartridge lower body 11. In this case, the structure of the disk cartridge can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

(Eighth Embodiment) A disk cartridge 308 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the general structure of the disk cartridge 308 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Like the first embodiment, the disc 100 shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 has the first and second surfaces. In FIG. 23, the first surface is the normal disc label or the like. The surface is shown. Disc 100
The second surface of the signal recording surface 100A is shown as the back surface in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the disk cartridge 308 includes a cartridge lower body 11, a cartridge upper body 12, a pair of shutters 21 and 22, and a fall prevention member 23.

As shown in FIG. 24, the lower cartridge body 11 has a chucking opening 11c opened so that a chucking member such as a spindle motor for rotating the disc 100 from the outside can enter, and a signal recording surface of the disc 100. A head opening 11h opened so that a head for performing at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal can enter the 100A and can be accessed. The lower cartridge body 11 faces the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100. Further, the head opening 11h reaches the side surface of the cartridge lower body 11.

The cartridge upper body 12 is the disk 100.
The disk has a circular disk opening 12w that opens the entire projection area of the disk 100 so as to expose the upper surface of the disk. The cartridge upper body 12 and the cartridge lower body 11 are bonded or welded to each other at their outer edges to form the cartridge body 10.

The first inner surface 11u of the lower cartridge body 11 which faces the signal recording surface 100A of the disk 100.
And a substantially cylindrical second inner side surface 12i forming the disk opening 12w of the cartridge upper body 12 form a disk storage portion 10d for storing the disk 100. As a result, the first inner surface 11u becomes the bottom of the disc storage portion 10d.

In the disc housing portion 10d, the disc 100 is provided between the second inner surface 12i and the disc 100.
A space is provided to allow rotation. In addition, the upper portion of the disc storage portion 10d has a disc opening 12w, and the disc 100 held in the disc storage portion 10d.
Exposes one surface thereof to the outside through the disk opening 12w.

The drop-out preventing member 23 is detachably attached to the cartridge upper body 12 so that a part thereof projects into the disc opening 12w. As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, two falling prevention members 23 are provided in this embodiment. On the other hand, the cartridge upper body 12 is formed integrally with the cartridge upper body 12, and the disc opening 1
A fall prevention portion 12s protruding from 2w is provided. Two fall prevention members 23 and a fall prevention portion 12s
Are arranged at substantially equal intervals on the circumference of the disc opening 12w, and prevent the disc 100 from falling out of the disc opening 12w. In particular, when the disc cartridge is used by inserting it vertically into the drive device, it is effective in preventing the disc from falling off.

The shutters 21 and 22 are used for the disk 10
It is provided between the signal recording surface 100A of 0 and the inner side surface 11u of the disk storage portion 10d. The shutters 21 and 22 have rotation holes 21u and 22u, respectively, and are a pair of rotations provided in the area other than the disk storage portion 10d of the cartridge body 10 and on the side opposite to the head opening 11h. Rotation holes 21u and 22u are rotatably fitted in the shaft 11s, respectively. Therefore, the shutters 21 and 22 move around the rotation shaft 11s so as to open or close the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h to the outside.

A cam 21c and a follower 22c are provided near the rotary holes 21u and 22u of the shutters 21 and 22, respectively. Cam 21c and follower 2
2c has a shape that meshes with each other, and constitutes an interlocking mechanism 20c that opens and closes the shutters 21 and 22 while interlocking with each other.

Protective layers 21p and 22p are provided on the surfaces of the shutters 21 and 22 facing the disc signal recording surface 100A to prevent the disc 100 from being scratched or dust from entering the signal recording surface 100A.

The protective layers 21p and 22p can be appropriately selected from scratch-resistant nonwoven fabrics, dust-proof nonwoven fabrics, scratch-resistant coating layers, and dust-proof coating layers. In this embodiment, sheets made of a dustproof nonwoven fabric are adhered or ultrasonically welded as the protective layers 21p and 22p.

The shutters 21 and 22 are urged in a direction in which the shutters 21 and 22 are closed by shutter springs 31 and 32 provided in regions other than the disc storage portion 10d, respectively. An elastic member other than the spring may be used to urge the shutters 21 and 22 in the closing direction.

As shown in FIG. 24, the disk cartridge 308 has disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b at the ends of the shutters 21 and 22.
The disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b have reverse taper slopes at the ends of the shutters 21 and 22 so as to hold the outer circumference of the disk 100 when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed. There is. The structure and operation of the disc holders 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 23, the cartridge body 1
On the upper surface of 0 (cartridge upper body 12), a label surface 10f capable of describing the contents written in the accommodated disc 100 and the disc cartridge 308.
Is provided with an arrow-shaped marking or recess 10a indicating the insertion direction (arrow 1A) into the drive device. Further, the recesses 10c provided on the pair of side surfaces parallel to the insertion direction 1A of the cartridge body 10 are for pulling in when the drive device loads the disc cartridge 308 or when the disc cartridge 308 is stored in the changer. Can be used as a recess for locking or positioning.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutters 21 and 22 close the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h to the outside when the cartridge upper body 12 and the disk 100 are not present. Figure 25
In, the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b provided on the shutters 21, 22 are positioned so as to grip the outer periphery of the disk 100 (not shown).

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutters 21 and 22 open the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h to the outside when the cartridge upper body 12 and the disk 100 are not present. By rotating the shutters 21 and 22 around the rotation holes 21u and 22u, the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h are opened to the outside. Further, as the shutters 21 and 22 move, the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b also rotate holes 21u and 22.
The disk rotates around u and is separated from the outer periphery of the disk 100 (not shown).

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutters 21 and 22 close the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h to the outside when the disk 100 is not provided. As shown in FIG. 27, the disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b are in a state of protruding into the disc storage portion 10d, and the disc 1 (not shown) is shown.
Holds 00. On the other hand, FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutters 21 and 22 open the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h to the outside when the disk 100 is not present. As shown in FIG. 28, when the shutters 21 and 22 are in the open state, the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b are housed in areas other than the disk holding portion 10d of the cartridge body.

Next, the configuration and operation of the shutters 21 and 22 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 29, 30 and 31. FIG. 29 is a sectional view passing through the center of the disc 100. As shown in FIG. 29, the cartridge body 10
In the second inner side surface 12i of the disc storage portion 10d in the above, a notch 10w is provided so as not to interfere with the shutter 22 (21) for opening and closing, and a part of the shutter 22 (21) in the open state is stored. Shutter housing 10
s is provided in the cartridge body 10. Further, among the edge portions of the shutters 21 and 22 that are abutted when the shutter is closed, the edge portions 21f and 22f that are abutted on at least the head opening 11h and the chucking opening 11c.
Are superposed in the thickness direction of the disc 100, as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 30, the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b are inclined surfaces 21a '(21b') which are inclined so as to project onto the outer circumference of the disk 100 on the disk projection area. , 22a ', 22b')
Is provided with a shape. That is, the slope 21 a ′ has an inverse taper shape and is inclined toward the disc 100. When the shutters 21 and 22 close the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h, the slope 21
The disc 100 is gripped by pressing a'to the ridge 100c of the disc 100 and the disc 100 is pressed in the thickness direction 100t to bring the signal recording surface 100A into surface contact with the sheets 21p and 22p of the shutters 21 and 22. 100 is held and fixed to the cartridge body 10. In this state, since the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100 is in close contact with the sheets 21p and 22p, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the signal recording surface 100A.

Further, by forcibly rotating one side of the disc 100 exposed from the outside, or by the shutter 2
By forcibly opening and closing 1 and 22, it is possible to wipe away dirt such as dust and fingerprints attached to the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100.

Further, as shown in FIG. 31, the shutter 21 is integrally formed with a shutter opening / closing operation portion 21t for opening and closing the shutter from the outside, an elastic portion 21v, and a lock projection portion 21k formed therethrough. There is. In the state where the shutter 21 closes the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h, as shown in FIG. 31, the lock protrusion 21k urged by the elastic portion 21v has the lock hole 10k formed in the cartridge body 10. And the shutter 21 is fixedly supported on the cartridge body 10 so as not to rotate. When the shutter 21 is fixed, the shutter 22 connected by the interlocking mechanism 20c is also fixed.

Therefore, while the lock projection 21k is pushed from the outside by the projection in the direction of the arrow 20A to disengage the lock hole 10k, the opening / closing operation portion 21t is simultaneously moved to the arrow 2a.
Only by pushing in the 0B direction, the shutters 21 and 22 are rotated to open the chucking opening portion 11c and the head opening portion 11h to the outside, and at the same time, the disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, and 22b serve to disc 10.
The holding of 0 can be released. In this way, it is possible to prevent the operator from easily removing the disc.

The structure and operation of the fall prevention member 23 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the detachable prevention member 23, which is detachably provided, which is viewed upside down and upside down. Fall prevention member 23
Of the convex portions 23a, 23b, and 23c shown in FIG.
Is fitted with the recesses 12a, 12b, 12c provided near the disk opening 12w of the cartridge upper body 12 shown in FIG.
Can be detachably attached.

The mechanism for preventing the erroneous insertion of the disc cartridge 308 into the drive device will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 33 is a front view seen from the insertion direction (arrow 1B) of the disk cartridge 308 in FIG. 23 into the drive device. As shown in FIG. 33, the cartridge body 10 has a recess 10g formed on one side surface thereof at a position displaced from the center of thickness, and is asymmetric with respect to the insertion direction 1A (FIG. 23) into the drive device. ing.

Due to such a structure, the disk cartridge 308 can be correctly inserted into the drive device and the drive device operates normally only when the convex portion provided in the drive device fits into the concave portion 10g.

On the other hand, when the disk cartridge 308 is mistakenly inserted into the drive device upside down, the convex portion provided on the drive device interferes with the side surface without the concave portion 10g and the cartridge 308 is inserted into the drive device. Can not be inserted into. Further, even if the drive device is mistakenly inserted in opposite directions in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, the convex portion provided in the drive device interferes with the non-recessed portion of the side surface provided with the concave portion 10g, and thus the drive device cannot be inserted. This can prevent erroneous insertion.

Various modifications can be made to the disk cartridge 308 described in this embodiment.

For example, when the shutters 21 and 22 are in the closed state, the drop-preventing member 23 serves as the upper surface 1 of the cartridge upper body 12.
The thickness of the cartridge body 10 is further reduced to the extent that it does not protrude from 2f (FIG. 24). And the shutter 2
When the shutters 1, 2 are open, the shutters 21, 2
In conjunction with the opening operation of 2, the disk holding unit 21
When a and 22a pass below the drop-out prevention member 23, the drop-out prevention member 23 is pushed from the upper surface 12f of the cartridge upper body 12 by pushing the convex portion 23a of the drop-out prevention member 23 from below.
To project. With this structure, the disk 10
It is possible to further reduce the thickness of the disc cartridge while ensuring a sufficient space necessary for 0 to rotate in the disc storage portion 10d.

The drop-out prevention member 23 may be formed integrally with the cartridge body 10 and has a structure capable of being folded, and the drop-off prevention member 23 may be detachably provided.

Further, the shutter springs 31 and 32 may be biased in the direction in which the shutters 21 and 22 are opened. If the operation of the shutters by the interlocking mechanism is reliable, the shutter spring 3
Only one of 1 and 32 may be provided.

Although the lock protrusion 21k is formed on the shutter 21, the lock protrusion and the protrusion are provided at the tip of the elastic portion of the lock lever formed on the cartridge body 10, and the protrusion and the shutter are provided. The engagement with the recess may be released by pushing the lock protrusion from the lock hole provided in the cartridge body, and the shutter may be rotatably opened. Further, in this case, the lock lever, together with the shutter spring (elastic member), together with the cartridge body 10
It may be formed of a resin spring integrally molded with.

(Ninth Embodiment) A disk cartridge 309 according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the disc cartridge 309 includes a cartridge lower body 41, a cartridge upper body 42, and fall-preventing members 42a, 42b, 42.
c, 42d and a pair of shutters 51 and 52.

As shown in FIG. 35, the lower cartridge body 41 has a chucking opening 41c opened so that a chucking member such as a spindle motor for rotating the disc 100 from the outside can enter, and a signal recording surface of the disc 100. A head opening portion 41h opened so that a head for performing at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal enters the 100A and can be accessed. The lower cartridge body 41 faces the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100. Further, the head opening 41h reaches the side surface of the cartridge lower body 41.

The cartridge upper body 42 is the disk 100.
The disk has a circular disk opening 42w that opens the entire projection area of the disk 100 so that the upper surface of the disk can be exposed. The cartridge upper body 42 and the cartridge lower body 41 are bonded or welded to each other at their outer edges to form the cartridge body 40.

A first inner surface 41u facing the signal recording surface 100A of the disk 100 of the lower cartridge body 41.
And a substantially cylindrical second inner side surface 42i forming the disk opening 42w of the cartridge upper body 42, a disk housing portion 40d for housing the disk 100 is formed. As a result, the first inner surface 41u becomes the bottom of the disc storage portion 40d.

In the disc storage portion 40d, the disc 100 is provided between the second inner surface 42i and the disc 100.
A space is provided to allow rotation. Further, the upper portion of the disc storage portion 40d is a disc opening 42w, and the disc 100 held in the disc storage portion 40d is
Exposes one surface thereof to the outside through the disc opening 42w.

Fall prevention members 42a, 42b, 42c, 4
2d is divided from the cartridge upper body 42 by a slit so that a part of each 2d protrudes into the disc opening 42w, and is integrally provided on the cartridge upper body 42. Fall prevention members 42a, 42b, 42c, 42
d prevents the disc 100 from falling out of the disc opening 42w. In particular, when the disc cartridge is used by inserting it vertically into the drive device, it is effective in preventing the disc from falling off. Fall prevention members 42a, 42
b, 42c, 42d may be integrally formed on the cartridge upper body 42 via an elastic member.

The shutters 51 and 52 are used for the disk 10
It is provided between the signal recording surface 100A of 0 and the inner side surface 41u of the disc storage portion 40d. The shutters 51 and 52 have rotation holes 51u and 52u, respectively, and are a pair of rotations provided in the area other than the disk storage portion 40d of the cartridge body 40 and on the side opposite to the head opening 41h. Rotation holes 51u and 52u are rotatably fitted in the shaft 41s, respectively. Therefore, the shutters 51 and 52 move about the rotation shaft 41s so as to open or close the chucking opening 41c and the head opening 41h to the outside.

A cam 51c and a follower 52c are provided near the rotary holes 51u and 52u of the shutters 51 and 52, respectively. Cam 51c and follower 5
2c has a shape that meshes with each other, and constitutes an interlocking mechanism 50c that opens and closes the shutters 51 and 52 while interlocking with each other.

Protective layers 51p and 52p are provided on the surfaces of the shutters 51 and 52 facing the disc signal recording surface 100A to prevent scratches on the disc 100 or dust from entering the signal recording surface 100A.

The protective layers 51p and 52p can be appropriately selected from scratch-resistant nonwoven fabrics, dust-proof nonwoven fabrics, scratch-resistant coating layers, and dust-proof coating layers. In this embodiment, sheets made of a dustproof nonwoven fabric are adhered or ultrasonically welded as the protective layers 51p and 52p.

The shutters 51 and 52 are urged in a direction in which the shutters 51 and 52 are closed by shutter springs 61 and 62 provided in regions other than the disc storage portion 40d, respectively. The shutter springs 61 and 62 may urge the shutters 51 and 52 in the opening direction. Further, only one of the shutter springs 61 and 62 may be provided if the shutters are surely operated by the interlocking mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 35, as in the eighth embodiment, the disk holding portion 5 is provided at the end portions of the shutters 51 and 52.
1a, 51b, 52a, 52b are provided. Further, as will be described in detail below, the projections 51 are formed on the areas of the shutters 51 and 52 corresponding to the center holes of the disc 100.
e, 52e are provided.

As shown in FIG. 34, the cartridge body 4
0 (cartridge upper body 42), the insertion direction (arrow 1
An arrow-shaped stamp or recess 40a indicating A) is provided. A recess 40c is provided on each of a pair of side surfaces parallel to the insertion direction 1A of the cartridge body 40. The recess 40c can be used as a recess for locking or positioning for pulling in when the drive device loads the disc cartridge 309 or when the cartridge 309 is housed in the changer. Further, by providing the recess 40c only on one side surface of the cartridge 309, the disk cartridge 30
It also serves as an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism on the front and back when inserting or mounting 9 into the drive device. A grip portion 40e for an operator to hold the cartridge 309 is provided on the upper surface of the cartridge body 40.
Is provided. The grip portion 40e is provided with an uneven shape for preventing slippage.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutters 51 and 52 close the chucking opening 41c and the head opening 41h to the outside when the disk 100 is not provided. In FIG. 37, the shutters 51 and 52 are chucking openings 4 when there is no disc 100.
It is a perspective view showing the state where 1c and head opening 41h are opened to the outside.

The structure and operation of the shutters 51 and 52 will be described in more detail below. 34 and 35
As shown in FIG. 7, the disk holding portions 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b provided on the shutters 51 and 52 are the eighth
Similar to the above embodiment, it has a shape having an inclined surface so as to project on the outer circumference of the disk 100 on the disk projection area. That is, the slope has an inverse taper shape and is inclined toward the disc 100. As a result, the same effect as that of the eighth embodiment is exhibited.

Further, the shutter 52 is provided with an opening / closing operation portion 52t for opening and closing the shutter from the outside, and the shutter 51 is integrally formed with an elastic portion 51v and a lock projection portion 51k formed therethrough. There is. As a result, when the shutters 51 and 52 close the chucking opening 41c and the head opening 41h, the elastic portion 5 is removed.
The lock protrusion 51k biased by 1v fits into the lock hole 40k formed in the cartridge body 40, and fixedly supports the shutter 51 on the cartridge body 40 so as not to rotate. When the shutter 51 is fixed, the interlocking mechanism 5
The shutter 52 connected by 0c is also fixed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 36, the lock projection 51k is pushed from the outside by a projection or the like in the direction of arrow 50A to disengage the lock hole 40k, and at the same time the opening / closing operation portion 52t is pushed in the direction of arrow 50B. Only by doing so, the shutters 51 and 52 are rotated to open the chucking opening 41c and the head opening 41h to the outside, and at the same time, the disk holding portions 51a, 51b, 52a, 52.
The holding of the disc 100 by b can be released. In this way, it is possible to prevent the operator from easily removing the disc.

Also, unlike the eighth embodiment, the lock projections 51k provided on the shutters 51 and 52 and the opening / closing operation portion 52t are provided on separate shutters 51 and 52, respectively. Such a structure is particularly effective for a disc cartridge for small-diameter discs. This is because, in a disc cartridge for a small-diameter disc, the entire cartridge and the shutter are small, and thus it is difficult to form the lock protrusion and the opening / closing operation portion on one shutter in terms of design. Further, even if the lock protrusion and the opening / closing operation unit can be formed in one shutter, the gap between the shutter opening / closing mechanism and the unlocking mechanism provided on the drive device side becomes very narrow, or both mechanisms are provided in a small space. This is because the need arises and the design of the drive device becomes difficult.

The lock projection 51k is provided on the shutter 51.
The lock protrusion and the protrusion are provided at the tip of the lock lever formed in the cartridge body 40 via the elastic portion, and the protrusion and the recess provided in the shutter are fitted to the cartridge body. The shutter may be rotatably opened by pressing the lock protrusion from the provided lock hole to remove it. In addition, in this case, the lock lever works together with the shutter spring (elastic member) together with the cartridge body 40.
It may be formed of a resin spring integrally molded with.

Next, the function of the convex portions 51e and 52e provided on the shutters 51 and 52 will be described. Figure 38 shows Disk 1
It is a cross-sectional view near the center of the disk passing through the center 00. Figure 3
As shown in FIG. 8, when the shutters 51 and 52 are in the closed state,
The protrusions 51e and 52e project into the center hole 100h, and the disc 100 is in surface contact with the shutters 51 and 52.

As shown in FIG. 39, the shutters 51, 52
When the disk shifts to the open state, the protrusions 51e and 52e go under the center hole 100h to the lower surface of the disk 100, lift the disk 100, and release the shutters 51, 5 and 5.
The surface contact between 2 and the disc 100 is released. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the shutters 51 and 52 from damaging the signal recording surface 100A when the shutters 51 and 52 are opened and closed. The moving areas of the convex portions 51e and 52e due to the opening and closing operations of the shutters 51 and 52 are the signal recording surface 100.
Since it is on the inner circumference side of the signal recording area of A, the convex portion 51
e and 52e do not come into contact with the signal recording area, and the signal recording area is not scratched.

Next, the structure and operation of the captive prevention member will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. Figure 4
Reference numeral 0 is a cross-sectional view near the outer circumference of the disk passing through the center of the disk 100, and the falling prevention member 42c (42a, 42b, 42
The convex portion 42c '(42a', 42b ', 42
d ') is formed. As shown in FIG. 40, when the shutters 51 and 52 are closed, the fall prevention member 4
2c is substantially parallel to the disc 100 and is contained within the thickness of the cartridge 309. The appearance of the disc cartridge 309 in this state is shown in FIG.

When the shutters 51 and 52 are open, as shown in FIG. 41, the inclined portions 52f, 51f, 51d and 52d formed on the shutters 51 and 52 are convex portions 42a ', 42b' and 42c, respectively. It comes into contact with “, 42d” and pushes the fall prevention members 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d above the disc 100. The appearance of the disc cartridge 309 in this state is shown in FIG. With this structure, it is possible to prevent the disc 100 from falling out of the disc cartridge 309 particularly after the disc cartridge 309 is vertically inserted into the disc drive device and before the disc 100 is chucked. On the other hand, when the disc 100 is chucked, the space in which the disc 100 can operate can be expanded.
Further, with this structure, the cartridge body can be made thinner.

In the state where the shutters 51 and 52 are open, the convex portions 42a '(42b', 42c ') are formed on the inclined portions 52f (51f, 51d, 52d) in order to temporarily hold the shutter open state. , 42d ') may be provided with a convex portion or a concave portion for locking.

(Tenth Embodiment) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
A disk cartridge 310 according to the No. 0 embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The main feature of the disc cartridge 310 of this embodiment is that the shutter is provided with a stopper member.

As shown in FIGS. 42 and 43, the disc cartridge 310 includes a cartridge lower body 71, a cartridge upper body 72, and drop-off prevention members 81d, 81f, 82d.
And a pair of shutters 81 and 82.

As shown in FIG. 43, the lower cartridge body 71 has a chucking opening 71c opened so that a chucking member such as a spindle motor for rotating the disc 100 from the outside can enter, and a signal recording surface of the disc 100. A head opening 71h is opened so that a head for performing at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal can enter the 100A and can be accessed. The lower cartridge body 71 faces the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100. The head opening 71h reaches the side surface of the cartridge lower body 71.

The cartridge upper body 72 is the disk 100.
The disk has a circular disk opening 72w that opens the entire projection area of the disk 100 so as to expose the upper surface of the disk. The cartridge upper body 72 and the cartridge lower body 71 are bonded or welded to each other at their outer edges to form the cartridge body 70.

[0242] The first inner side surface 71u of the lower cartridge body 71 which faces the signal recording surface 100A of the disk 100.
And a substantially cylindrical second inner side surface 72i forming the disk opening 72w of the cartridge upper body 72, a disk housing portion 70d for housing the disk 100 is formed. As a result, the first inner surface 71u becomes the bottom of the disc storage portion 70d.

In the disc storage portion 70d, the disc 100 is placed between the second inner surface 72i and the disc 100.
A space is provided to allow rotation. In addition, the upper portion of the disc storage portion 70d has a disc opening 72w, and the disc 100 held in the disc storage portion 70d.
Exposes one side thereof to the outside through the disc opening 72w.

The shutters 81 and 82 are used for the disk 10
It is provided between the 0 signal recording surface 100A and the inner side surface 71u of the disc storage portion 70d. The shutters 81 and 82 have rotation holes 81u and 82u, respectively, and are a pair of rotations provided in the area other than the disk storage portion 70d of the cartridge body 70 and on the side opposite to the head opening 71h. Rotation holes 81u and 82u are rotatably fitted in the shaft 71s. Therefore, the shutters 81 and 82 move around the rotation shaft 71s so as to open or close the chucking opening 71c and the head opening 71h to the outside.

A cam 81c and a follower 82c are provided near the rotation holes 81u and 82u of the shutters 81 and 82, respectively. Cam 81c and follower 8
2c has a shape that meshes with each other, and constitutes an interlocking mechanism 80c that opens and closes the shutters 81 and 82 while interlocking with each other.

Protective layers 81p and 82p are provided on the surfaces of the shutters 81 and 82 facing the disc signal recording surface 100A to prevent the disc 100 from being scratched or dust from entering the signal recording surface 100A.

The protective layers 81p and 82p can be appropriately selected from scratch-resistant nonwoven fabrics, dust-proof nonwoven fabrics, scratch-resistant coating layers, and dust-proof coating layers. In this embodiment, sheets made of a dustproof nonwoven fabric are adhered or ultrasonically welded as the protective layers 81p and 82p.

The shutters 81 and 82 are urged in the direction in which the shutters 81 and 82 are closed by shutter springs 91 and 92 provided in regions other than the disc storage portion 70d, respectively. The shutter springs 91 and 92 may urge the shutters 81 and 82 in the opening direction. Further, only one of the shutter springs 91 and 92 may be provided if the operation of the shutters by the interlocking mechanism is reliable.

As shown in FIG. 43, as in the eighth embodiment, the disk holding portion 8 is provided at the end portions of the shutters 81 and 82.
1a, 81b, 82a, 82b are provided. The convex portions 81e and 82e are also provided on the shutters 81 and 82 in the same manner.

Further, as will be described in detail below, drop-off preventing members 81f, 81d, 82d are integrally formed with the shutters 81, 82 near the disk holding portions 81a, 81b, 82b of the shutters 81, 82, respectively. The fall prevention members 81f, 81d, 82d may be formed integrally with the shutters 81, 82 via elastic members.

As shown in FIG. 42, the cartridge body 7
0 (cartridge upper body 72) has an upper surface in the insertion direction (arrow 1
An arrow-shaped stamp or recess 70a indicating A) is provided. In addition, a recess 70c is provided on each of a pair of side surfaces parallel to the insertion direction 1A of the cartridge body 70. The recess 70c can be used as a recess for pulling in or for positioning when the drive device loads the disk cartridge 310 or when the cartridge 310 is housed in the changer. Further, by providing the recess 70c only on one side surface of the cartridge 310, the disk cartridge 310
It also serves as an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism on the front and back when inserting or mounting the drive into the drive device. A grip portion 70e for an operator to hold the cartridge 310 is provided on the upper surface of the cartridge body 70. The grip portion 70e is provided with an uneven shape to prevent slipping.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutters 81 and 82 close the chucking opening 71c and the head opening 71h to the outside when the disk 100 is not provided. In FIG. 45, the shutters 81 and 82 are chucking openings 7 when there is no disc 100.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which 1c and a head opening 71h are open to the outside.

The structure and operation of the shutters 81 and 82 will be described in more detail below. 42 and 43
As shown in FIG. 11, the disk holding portions 81a, 81b, 82a, 82b provided on the shutters 81 and 82 are
Similar to the above embodiment, it has a shape having an inclined surface so as to project on the outer circumference of the disk 100 on the disk projection area. That is, the slope has an inverse taper shape and is inclined toward the disc 100. As a result, the same effect as that of the eighth embodiment is exhibited.

The shutter 82 has an opening / closing operation portion 82t and an elastic portion 8 for opening and closing the shutter from the outside.
2v and a lock protrusion 82k formed therethrough are integrally formed. Thereby, the shutters 81, 8
2 is the chucking opening 71c and the head opening 71.
In the state where h is closed, the lock protrusion 82k urged by the elastic portion 82v fits into the lock hole 70k (FIG. 44) formed in the cartridge body 70, and the shutter 82
Is fixedly supported on the cartridge body 70 so as not to rotate. When the shutter 82 is fixed, the shutter 81 connected by the interlocking mechanism 80c is also fixed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 44, the lock projection 82k is pushed from the outside by a projection or the like in the direction of arrow 70A to disengage the lock hole 70k, and at the same time the opening / closing operation portion 82t is pushed in the direction of arrow 70B. Only by doing so, the shutters 81 and 82 are rotated to open the chucking opening 71c and the head opening 71h to the outside, and at the same time, the disk holding portions 81a, 81b, 82a, 82.
The holding of the disc 100 by b can be released. In this way, it is possible to prevent the operator from easily removing the disc.

The lock projection 82k is provided on the shutter 82.
The lock protrusion and the protrusion are provided at the tip of the lock lever formed in the cartridge body 70 via the elastic portion, and the protrusion and the recess provided in the shutter are fitted to the cartridge body. The shutter may be rotatably opened by pressing the lock protrusion from the provided lock hole to remove it. In addition, in this case, the lock lever works together with the shutter spring (elastic member) together with the cartridge body 70.
It may be formed of a resin spring integrally molded with.

Next, the fall prevention members 81f, 81d, 82d
The structure and operation of will be described in more detail. When the shutters 81 and 82 are closed, the stopper members 81f, 81d, and 82d are substantially parallel to the disc 100, as shown in FIGS.
The f, 81d, and 82d do not project. The appearance of the disc cartridge 310 in this state is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 47 and 49, when the shutters 81 and 82 are moved to the open state, the stopper member 81 is prevented from falling off.
The f, 81d, and 82d are respectively guided by the slit 70s provided on the inner side wall of the cartridge 70 and the inclined portion 72s provided on the inner upper wall, and pushed up above the disc 100. Further, the cartridge upper body 72 is provided with notches 72a, 72b, 72c so as not to interfere with the cartridge upper body 72 when the fall prevention members 81f, 81d, 82d are pushed up. The disk cartridge 310 in this state
The appearance of is shown in FIG.

When the shutters 81 and 82 are closed, the stopper members 81f, 81d and 82d are located in the projection area of the disc 100 and above the disc 100. It is possible to eliminate the disk holding portions 81a, 81b, 82a, and 82b of the shutters 81 and 82 by pressing and holding the disk 100.

With this structure, in particular, from the time when the disc cartridge 310 is vertically inserted into the disc drive device to the time when the disc 100 is chucked.
It is possible to prevent the disc 100 from falling off the disc cartridge 310. On the other hand, when the disc 100 is chucked, the space in which the disc 100 can operate can be expanded. Further, with this structure, the cartridge body can be made thinner.

(Eleventh Embodiment) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The disc cartridge 311 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 50 and 51, the disc cartridge 311 includes a cartridge lower body 11, a cartridge upper body 12, a pair of shutters 21 and 22, and a drop-out preventing member 23. The structure and function of these components are
As shown in FIGS. 52 to 56, this is as described in the eighth embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 50 and 51, the disk cartridge 311 of the present embodiment has shutters 21, 2
2 is provided with a hole 20h, which is different from the disk cartridge 308 of the eighth embodiment.

Specifically, the disk cartridge 311
When the shutters 21 and 22 of the disk are closed, the center hole 100 of the disk 100 of the shutters 21 and 22 is
20 h of holes are provided in the area | region corresponding to h. The hole 20h is formed by notches 21h and 22h provided in the shutters 21 and 22, respectively.

According to this structure, when the disc cartridge 311 is left with the upper surface of the disc 100 facing upward as shown in FIG. 50, dust entering from the center hole 100h is provided in the shutters 21 and 22. Two
After passing 0 h, it does not stay in the disc cartridge 311 and goes out. In other words, dust is not
No deposit on 1, 22. Thereby, the shutters 21, 2
It is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the signal recording surface side 100A of the disc in a state in which the disc 2 is opened, that is, in the drive mounted state.

The hole 20h is provided in the disk cartridge 311.
In consideration of being left face-up (state shown in FIG. 50) or face-down (state in which the cartridge lower body 11 is on top), the center hole 100h has almost the same diameter and diameter. preferable. By satisfying such a relationship, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the shutters 21 and 22 when the disc cartridge 311 is left face-up, and the signal of the disc 100 is left when the disc cartridge 311 is left face-down. This is because it is possible to prevent dust from directly adhering to the recording surface side 100A.

In the disc cartridge 311, an opening / closing operation portion for opening / closing the shutters 21 and 22 is provided in the shutter 22 and is different from the disc cartridge 308 of the eighth embodiment. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 51 and 57, the opening / closing operation unit 22
t and the elastic portion 22v, and the lock protrusion 22k formed therethrough are integrally formed with the shutter 22.
Therefore, unlike the eighth embodiment, the disk 10
When viewed from the 0 side, the opening / closing operation part 22t has the head opening 21h.
It is located on the right side of. The function and operation of the opening / closing operation unit 22t are the same as those of the disk cartridge 308 of the eighth embodiment.

(Twelfth Embodiment) Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The disc cartridge 312 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the disc cartridge 312, a point having a collar 12t on the inner side surface 12i of the disc housing portion 10d and a convex portion 20w around the holes 20h of the shutters 21 and 22.
It is different from the disc cartridge 311 of the eleventh embodiment in that These features will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 58, the brim 12t extends from the inner side surface 12i of the cartridge upper body 12 in the inner circumferential direction of the disc 100, and is formed almost all over the outer circumferential portion of the disc housing portion 10d. FIG. 59 shows a cross section of the disc cartridge 312 when the disc 100 is stored in the disc storage portion 10d. When the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, as shown in FIG. 59, the outer peripheral portion of the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100 contacts the flange 12t. As a result, the gap between the outer periphery of the disc 100 and the cartridge body is closed, and the signal recording surface 1
It is possible to prevent dust from entering the 00A side.

A space 10w is provided between the brim 12t of the cartridge body 10 and the cartridge lower body 11.
When the shutters 21 and 22 are opened, as shown in FIGS. 60 and 61, a part of the shutters 21 and 22 enter the space 10w, and the cartridge body 10 and the shutters 21 and 22 are opened.
It prevents the and from interfering.

In such a structure, as shown in FIG. 59, when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, a gap 10z communicating with the outside is formed between the disc 100 and the shutters 21 and 22. In order to close the gap 10z, convex portions 21w and 22w are provided on the shutters 21 and 22 near the disc center hole 100h. As shown in FIG. 58, when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, the projection 21
w and 22w are in close contact, and the disc center hole is 100h
A convex portion 20w that closes the entire circumference in the vicinity is formed. As a result, the disc 10 is moved from near the disc center hole 100h.
It is possible to prevent dust from entering the 0 signal recording surface 100A side.

The tips of the convex portions 21w and 22w are the disk 1
There is a possibility of contact with the signal recording surface 100A of 00. Therefore, it is preferable that the ridges of the convex portions 21w and 22w are rounded to prevent the disc from being scratched. Also, the convex portion 2
The 1w and 22w may be formed integrally with the shutters 21 and 22, respectively. In this case, the disk 10 of the convex portion 20w
It is preferable that a non-woven fabric for preventing scratches on the disc is adhered or ultrasonically welded to the portion in contact with 0, or a coating for preventing scratches is formed. In addition, the convex portion 21
The w and 22w themselves may be formed of a non-woven fabric for preventing scratches on the disc or a coating for preventing scratches, and may be ultrasonically welded or fixed directly onto the shutters 21 and 22.

Further, as well shown in FIG. 59,
When the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, the disk 10
0 is held by the shutters 21 and 22 in a state of being floated by the gap 10z from the shutters 21 and 22 by the convex portion 20w and the flange 12t. That is, the disc 100
Most of the signal recording surface 100A of the shutters 21 and 2
2 is not in surface contact. Therefore, even if the shutters 21 and 22 are not subjected to a process such as the attachment of a scratch-preventing non-woven fabric, it is possible to prevent the signal recording surface 100A from being scratched.

62 and 63 show a disk cartridge having convex portions 21w 'and 22w' which are enlarged in the outer peripheral direction of the disk 100, and FIG. 62 shows a state in which the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, and FIG. Is shutter 2
1 and 22 show the opened state.

As shown in FIGS. 62 and 63, the protrusion 21
It is preferable that w ′ and 22w ′ are provided closer to the center of the disc storage portion than the flange 12t provided on the disc storage portion 10d when the shutters 21 and 22 are open. Thereby, the convex portions 21w ′ and 22
It is possible to prevent w ′ from contacting or interfering with the brim 12t.

The projections 21w 'and 22w' are provided on the shutter 21.
And 22 may be integrally formed. In this case, it is preferable that a non-woven fabric for preventing scratches on the disc is adhered or ultrasonically welded to the portions of the protrusions 21w 'and 22w' that come into contact with the disc 100, or a coating for preventing scratches is formed. Further, the projections 21w 'and 22w' themselves are formed of a non-woven fabric for preventing scratches on the disc or a coating for preventing scratches, and the shutter 2
It may be ultrasonically welded or fixed directly on 1 and 22.

(Thirteenth Embodiment) Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
A disk cartridge 313 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the general structure of the disc cartridge 313 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As in the eighth embodiment, the disc 100 shown in FIGS. 64 and 65 has the first and second surfaces. In FIG. 64, the disc 100 is the first surface, and a label or the like of a normal disc is drawn. The surface is shown. Disc 100
The second surface of the signal recording surface 100A is shown as the back surface in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 64 and 65, the disk cartridge 313 includes a cartridge lower body 11, a cartridge upper body 12, a pair of shutters 21 and 22, and a drop-out preventing member 23.

As shown in FIG. 65, the lower cartridge body 11 has a chucking opening 11c opened so that a chucking member such as a spindle motor for rotating the disc 100 from the outside can enter, and a signal recording surface of the disc 100. A head opening 11h opened so that a head for performing at least one of reproduction and recording of a signal can enter the 100A and can be accessed. The lower cartridge body 11 faces the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100. The lower cartridge body 11 is formed by molding synthetic resin.

The head opening 11 is used for the cartridge lower body 1.
In order to prevent the rigidity of the cartridge lower body 11 from being weakened by the head opening 11h, the cartridge lower body 11 has a bridge portion 11b connecting the head openings 11h.

Further, on the back surface of the cartridge lower body 11, there are provided two positioning holes 11w for inserting the cartridge positioning pins on the drive device side.

The cartridge upper body 12 is the disk 100.
The disk has a circular disk opening 12w that opens the entire projection area of the disk 100 so as to expose the upper surface of the disk. The cartridge upper body 12 and the cartridge lower body 11 are bonded or welded to each other at their outer edges to form the cartridge body 10. The cartridge upper body 12 is also made of synthetic resin.

The first inner surface 11u facing the signal recording surface 100A of the disk 100 of the lower cartridge body 11
And a substantially cylindrical second inner side surface 12i forming the disk opening 12w of the cartridge upper body 12 form a disk storage portion 10d for storing the disk 100. As a result, the first inner surface 11u becomes the bottom of the disc storage portion 10d.

In the disc storage portion 10d, the disc 100 is provided between the second inner surface 12i and the disc 100.
A space is provided to allow rotation. In addition, the upper portion of the disc storage portion 10d has a disc opening 12w, and the disc 100 held in the disc storage portion 10d.
Exposes one surface thereof to the outside through the disk opening 12w.

The drop-out preventing member 23 is detachably attached to the cartridge upper body 12 so that a part thereof projects into the disc opening 12w. As shown in FIGS. 64 and 65, two fall prevention members 23 are provided in this embodiment. On the other hand, the cartridge upper body 12 is formed integrally with the cartridge upper body 12, and the disc opening 1
A fall prevention portion 12s protruding from 2w is provided. Two fall prevention members 23 and a fall prevention portion 12s
Are arranged at substantially equal intervals on the circumference of the disc opening 12w, and prevent the disc 100 from falling out of the disc opening 12w. In addition, a protrusion-shaped disc contact portion 12s' is provided on a part of the drop-out prevention portion 12s.
There are several locations. The height of the disc contact portion 12s ′ is the same as the disc contact portion 23a of the fall prevention member 23 when viewed from the disc 100.

With this structure, the posture of the disc 100 can be stably maintained even when the disc cartridge 313 is used in a vertical or face-down state. Therefore, when the disc cartridge 313 is inserted into the drive device in a vertical or face-down state and used, a dropout prevention effect is particularly exerted. The fall prevention member 23 may not be detachably attached to the cartridge body 10. The fall prevention member 23 may be fixed to the cartridge upper body 12 as long as the disc 100 can be rotated or moved up and down within the disc housing portion 10d to such an extent that it can be taken out from the cartridge body 10.

The shutters 21 and 22 are used for the disk 10
It is provided on the same plane between the signal recording surface 100A of 0 and the inner side surface 11u of the disk housing portion 10d. The shutters 21 and 22 have rotation holes 21u and 22u, respectively, and are areas other than the disk storage portion 10d of the cartridge body 10 and the head opening 11h.
The pair of rotation shafts 11s provided on the opposite side to the rotation hole 21
u and 22u are rotatably fitted in each other. Therefore, the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11
The shutter 21 opens or closes h to the outside.
And 22 move around the rotating shaft 11s. The shutters 21 and 22 are also made of synthetic resin.

A ring-shaped portion 21c and a pin-shaped portion 22c are provided near the rotation holes 21u and 22u of the shutters 21 and 22, respectively. Ring-shaped portion 21c
The pin-shaped portion 22c has a shape that meshes with each other, and configures an interlocking mechanism 20c that opens and closes the shutters 21 and 22 while interlocking with each other. The interlocking mechanism 20c may be configured by a cam mechanism or another mechanism capable of interlocking operation such as a gear mechanism.

Protective layers 21p and 22p are provided on the surfaces of the shutters 21 and 22 facing the disc signal recording surface 100A to prevent scratches on the disc 100 or dust from entering the signal recording surface 100A.

The protective layers 21p and 22p can be appropriately selected from scratch-resistant nonwoven fabrics, dust-proof nonwoven fabrics, scratch-resistant coating layers, and dust-proof coating layers. In this embodiment, sheets made of a dustproof nonwoven fabric are adhered or ultrasonically welded as the protective layers 21p and 22p.

Lock protrusion 2 provided on the shutter 21
1k and a lock engaging portion 22k provided on the shutter 22 so as to mesh with the lock 1k constitute a lock mechanism 20k that locks the shutters 21 and 22 to be opened and closed with respect to each other. With this structure, the shutters 21 and 22 can be locked to be opened and closed, which prevents the operator from easily opening the shutters. And disk 1
It is possible to prevent dust, fingerprints, scratches, etc. from adhering to the signal recording surface 100A of 00. The lock protrusion 21k is integrally formed with the shutter 21, and the lock engagement portion 22k is integrally formed with the shutter 22.

Further, the shutters 21 and 22 are provided with notches 21h and 22h. Shutter 21
When 22 and 22 are closed, the notches 21h and 22h come into contact with each other to form the hole 20h. Shutters 21 and 22
When the disk 1 is closed, the hole 20h is
It is in a position corresponding to the center hole 100h of 00,
The diameter of the hole 20h is the center hole 10 of the disc 100.
It is almost equal to the diameter of 0h. This prevents dust from adhering to the shutters 21 and 22 when the disc cartridge 313 is left face-up, and directly onto the signal recording surface side 100A of the disc 100 when the disc cartridge 313 is left face-down. It can prevent dust from adhering.

As described in the eighth embodiment and the like, the shutters 21 and 22 are provided with a disc holding portion 21a for holding the disc 100 when the shutters are closed.
Reference numerals 21b, 22a and 22b are integrally formed with the shutters 21 and 22 so as to be scattered on the circumference of the disk. The portions of the disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b that come into contact with the disc 100 are formed into a reverse tapered slope. With these slopes, the disk 100 can be reliably held while being pressed against the shutters 21 and 22 when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the disc holding portion 2
Only 1b is not fixed to the shutter 21 but is coupled by the elastic portion 21d, and is formed so as to be freely movable in the radial direction of the disc 100 (toward the center of the disc). As a result, even if the diameter or thickness of the mounted disc varies, the disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b can securely hold the disc 100 without rattling.

A shutter opening / closing operation portion 22t for opening / closing the shutter 22 is formed integrally with the shutter 22 on the side opposite to the rotation hole 22u, that is, near the disc holding portion 22a. Then, the shutter 2 is attached to the cartridge body 10.
1 and 22, the shutter opening / closing operation part 22
t is located in the head opening 11h below the bridge 11b. When opening / closing the shutters 21 and 22, the opening / closing operation part 22t moves in the head opening 11h along the bridge part 11b. With this arrangement, it is not necessary to separately provide a space for moving the shutter opening / closing operation portion 22t in the cartridge body 10. In other words, it is not necessary to provide an extra space in the cartridge body 10,
It is possible to prevent dust from entering the cartridge body 10. Further, since the shutter opening / closing operation portion 22t can be arranged in the head opening portion of the cartridge body 10, a cartridge excellent in design can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 66, the shutter 21 and the shutter 22 do not abut on a straight line, but
It has a plurality of joint surfaces that are not on a straight line. Specifically, in the chucking opening 11c area, the shutter 21 and the shutter 22 have first joining surfaces 21f and 22f, respectively, and in the head opening 11h area, the shutter 21 and the shutter 22 respectively. It has the second joint surfaces 21g and 22g. The joining surfaces 21f and 22f are the same as the disk cartridge 3 in this embodiment.
Abut on the center line of symmetry of 13. On the other hand, the joint surfaces 21g and 22g are in contact with each other on a straight line which is deviated from the center line of symmetry by a predetermined angle, here about 15 to 16 degrees. With such a shape, the shutter opening / closing operation portion 22t
The shutter 22 can be formed in an integrated shape from the vicinity, and the rigidity of the shutter 22 can be sufficiently ensured.

The shutters 21 and 22 are urged in a direction in which the shutters 21 and 22 are closed by shutter springs 31 and 32 provided in regions other than the disc housing portion 10d, respectively. Shutter springs 31 and 3
2 are respectively inserted into spring pillars 11t provided at two places in the cartridge ridge lower body 11. In this embodiment, torsion coil springs are used as the shutter springs 31 and 32. Shutter springs 31 and 3 having the same shape are used.
By using it as 2, the cost is reduced. In addition to the torsion coil spring, various elastic members such as a compression spring, a leaf spring, and a resin elastic spring can be used as the shutter spring.

As shown in FIG. 65, the disc cartridge 313 has a write protect member 40.
The write protect member 40 is slidably mounted in the groove 11v of the lower cartridge body 11. By sliding the write protect member 40, the position of the convex portion 40t moves, and the detection switch provided in the drive device is turned on or off corresponding to the position of the convex portion 40t.
As a result, recording on the disc 100 can be prohibited or permitted.

The cartridge main body 10 including the cartridge lower body 11 and the cartridge upper body 12 described above, the stopper member 23, the shutters 21 and 22, the shutter springs 31 and 3.
2. The disk cartridge 313 is composed of the write protect member 40.

When the lower cartridge body 11 and the upper cartridge body 12 are joined together, the two rotating shafts 11s of the lower cartridge body 11 have two recessed portions 12h in the upper cartridge body 12.
Are to be fitted respectively. As a result, the rigidity of the rotating shaft 11s is increased, and even when the shutters 21 and 22 are in the open state, the shutter springs 31 and 32 are provided.
Twisting of the shutter rotation peripheral portion due to the biasing force of can be reduced, and a reliable shutter opening amount can be secured.

On the upper surface of the cartridge body 10 (cartridge upper body 12), the label surface 10 on which the contents written on the disc 100 to be stored can be described.
f, an arrow-shaped marking or recess 10 indicating the insertion direction (arrow 1A) of the disk cartridge 313 into the drive device
a is provided.

Further, the pair of recesses 10c and 10e provided on the two side surfaces of the cartridge main body 10 parallel to the inserting direction 1A are provided with the disk cartridge 313 by the drive device.
Can be used as a catch for retracting or as a recess for positioning when the cartridge 313 is stored in the changer. Further, the slit portion 10b provided on one side surface of the cartridge body
Can be used as a recess for front and back detection when the disc cartridge 313 is inserted into the drive device.

Next, regarding the operation of the disc cartridge 313, FIG. 66 showing the state where the shutter is closed, FIG. 67 showing the state where the shutter is opened, FIG. 68 showing the shutter lock part in detail, and the disc holding part of the shutter. Description will be made with reference to FIG. 69 which is a detailed view.

First, the state in which the disk cartridge 313 is not mounted in the drive device, that is, the storage state will be described. At this time, as shown in FIG. 66, the shutters 21 and 22 are in the closed state, and as shown in FIG. 69, the sloped portion 22 of the disc holding portion 22a of the shutter 22.
The disc 100 holds the disc 100 and presses it in the thickness direction 100t by the contact of a'with the ridge of the disc 100.
Are brought into surface contact with each other, and the disk 100 is attached to the cartridge body 10
Hold and fix. Other disc holding portions 21a, 21
b and 22b, the slope portions 21a 'and 21
b'and 22b 'are formed to hold and fix the disc 100 to the cartridge body 10 like the inclined surface portion 22a'.

In this state, since the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100 is in close contact with the sheets 21p and 22p, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the signal recording surface 100A.
Also, by forcibly rotating one side of the disc 100 exposed from the outside, or by shutters 21 and 2
By forcibly opening and closing 2
It is also possible to wipe dirt such as dust and fingerprints attached to the 0 signal recording surface 100A.

The shutter 21 is locked by the lock mechanism 20k.
Since the opening and closing of 22 and 22 are locked, the operator cannot easily open the shutters 21 and 22. Therefore,
The signal recording side 100A of the disc 100 can be protected,
It can prevent dust, fingerprints, scratches, etc. from adhering.

Also, the center hole 10 of the disc 100
In the areas of the shutters 21 and 22 corresponding to 0h, the cutouts 21h and 2 of the shutters 21 and 22 are provided.
A hole 20h formed by 2h is provided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the shutters 21 and 22 from the center hole 100h when the cartridge 313 is left.

Further, when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, of the joining surfaces of the shutters 21 and 22, at least the joining surfaces 21f and 22f butted on the head opening 11h and the chucking opening 11c and the joining surfaces. The surfaces 21g and 22g overlap in the thickness direction of the disc 100, as shown in FIGS. 70 and 71. Therefore, when the shutters 21 and 22 are not completely closed due to the reason that the diameter of the disk 100 varies, or because the shutters 21 and 22 are not completely locked, the shutters 21 and 22 are completely closed. Shutters 21 and 22 even if they are not closed
No gap is created on the joint surface of. Therefore, even in such a case, it is possible to reliably prevent dust, fingerprints, scratches, and the like from adhering to the disc 100.

Also, as shown in FIG. 70, the head opening 1
Around 1h, the shutters 21 and 22 are joined such that the joint surface 22g of the shutter 22 is above the joint surface 21g of the shutter 21. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 71, in the vicinity of the chucking opening 11c, the shutters 21 and 22 are joined such that the joint surface 21f of the shutter 21 is located above the joint surface 22f of the shutter 22. In this way, the angles of the joint surfaces may be different between the plurality of joint surfaces with which the shutters 21 and 22 are in contact. With such a structure, the two shutters 21 and 22 are securely engaged with each other in the thickness direction of the disc, so that it is possible to prevent the shutters 21 and 22 from floating, respectively. Two
In the state where 2 is closed, the rigidity of the joint surface of the shutters 21 and 22 can be increased.

In this embodiment, the shutter 21
And 22 are joint surfaces 2 as shown in FIGS. 70 and 71.
1g, 22g, 21f and 22g are provided, but the positions of the joint surfaces of the shutters 21 and 22 and the manner of joining are shown in FIG.
Positions and joining methods other than those shown in 0 and 71 may be used. For example, the joint surface 21 shown in FIG.
g and 22g may be arranged around the head opening 11h to be joined, or conversely, the joining surfaces 21f and 22f shown in FIG. 71 may be arranged around the chucking opening 11c and joined. May be. As a result, the rigidity of the shutters 21 and 22 when closed is further improved, the gap between the joint surfaces can be reduced, and dust can be prevented from entering the inside of the cartridge.

When the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, the convex portions 21j and 22j provided on the shutters 21 and 22 shown in FIG. 68 are two shutters provided on the cartridge upper body 12 shown in FIG. 65, respectively. It is in contact with the stopper portion 12f. Therefore, the shutters 21 and 22 are regulated with respect to rotation, and do not move from the closed state. As a result, the backlash of the shutter can be prevented, and the shutter can be prevented from being damaged by the intentional handling of the operator. Furthermore, since the rotation of the shutters 21 and 22 is restricted, the position of the shutter opening / closing operation part 22t does not change. Therefore, when the disc cartridge 313 is inserted into the drive device, the shutter opening / closing mechanism of the drive device can reliably engage the shutter opening / closing operation portion 22t.

Next, the state in which the disc cartridge 313 is mounted in the drive device will be described. As shown in FIG. 66, when the disc cartridge 313 is inserted into the drive device in the 1A direction, the cartridge positioning pin provided on the drive device engages with the positioning hole 11w of the disc cartridge 313, and the disc cartridge 313 inside the drive device is Horizontal and height positioning is done.

Next, the shutter opening / closing member of the shutter opening / closing mechanism provided in the drive device is engaged with the shutter opening / closing operation portion 22t shown in FIG. 68, and the lock release member of the shutter opening / closing mechanism is the lock elastic portion 21e of the shutter 21. The lock pressing portion 21y connected by is pressed in the 20A direction. As a result, the lock protrusion 21k and the lock engaging portion 22k of the lock mechanism 20k are separated from each other, and the lock is released. In this state, the shutter opening / closing member simultaneously moves the shutter opening / closing operation portion 22t in the 20B direction. As shown in FIG. 67,
The shutter 21 rotates about the rotating shaft 11s as a center of rotation against the biasing force of the shutter spring 31. Along with this, the shutter 22 that is interlocked by the interlocking mechanism 20c also rotates counter to the biasing force of the shutter spring 32. Therefore, when the shutter 21 is completely opened, the shutter 22 is also completely opened.

At this time, the lock protrusion 21k and the lock pressing portion 21y are returned to their original shape positions by the lock elastic portion 21e. Therefore, plastic deformation of the lock elastic portion 21e formed of resin does not occur. In this way, the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100 is exposed to the outside through the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h. In addition, the disk holding portions 21a, 21
disk 10 held by b, 22a, 22b
0 means that the shutters 21 and 22 rotate,
It is released from the holding state and is in a rotatable state in the disc storage portion 10d.

Subsequently, the spindle motor, the turntable and the head of the drive unit enter the chucking opening 11c and the head opening 11h, respectively, and the disk 100 is ready for recording or reproduction.

As described above, the lock protrusion 21k is pushed from the outside in the direction of 20A by the protrusion or the like, and the lock engaging portion 22k is pressed.
The shutter opening / closing operation section 22 is simultaneously removed while the fitting with the
The shutters 21 and 22 are rotated to push the chucking opening 11c only by pressing t in the direction of the arrow 20B.
The head opening 11h can be opened to the outside, and at the same time, the holding of the disk 100 by the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b can be released. Therefore,
Since it is possible to prevent the operator from easily opening the shutter or removing the disc, it is possible to prevent dust, fingerprints, scratches or the like from adhering to the disc 100.

Next, a state in which the disc cartridge 313 is ejected from the drive device will be described. When the eject mechanism of the drive device operates, the shutter opening / closing member engaged with the shutter opening / closing operation part 22t is separated from the shutter opening / closing operation part 22t. As a result, the shutters 21 and 22 cannot be kept open, and the shutters 21 and 22 biased in the closing direction by the shutter springs 31 and 32 rotate in the closing direction. As a result, the shutter 21
And 22 close the head opening 11h and the chucking opening 11c. At this time, the shutters 21 and 2
2 is locked by the lock mechanism 20k. Further, the disc 100 includes disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22.
It is held by a and 22b and returns to the original state. In this state, the cartridge 313 is ejected from the drive device.

In the disc cartridge 313, as shown in FIG. 69, the height of the disc contact portion 23a of the stopper member 23 provided in the cartridge body 10 and the height of the disc contact portion 12s' of the cartridge upper body 12 are set. Are the same. Also, the sloped portion 21 of the disk holding portion 21a (21b, 22a, 22b) of the shutters 21 and 22.
The a '(21b', 22a ', 22b') is formed higher than the disc contact portions 23a and 12s' in the upward direction of the disc 100, that is, in the 100u direction. As a result, even if the disc cartridge 313 is used in a vertical state or a face-down state depending on the form of the drive device, the shutters 21 and 22 can be used for the disc 1
00 can be reliably held. For example, particularly when the disc 100 is used in a face-down state, when the disc 100 is released from the chucking state, the disc 100 abuts on the disc abutting portions 23a and 12s' and maintains a stable horizontal state. When the shutters 21 and 22 shift to the closed state in this state, the disc 100 is inclined 21a ′ (2
1b ', 22a', 22b ') and slides smoothly on the slope to hold the disk holding portion 21a (21b, 22a, 22b).
It is held securely by b).

As described above, according to the disk cartridge of the present embodiment, the cartridge body has the structure having the disk opening and covers only one surface of the disk. Further, by providing the opening / closing operation portion of the shutter in the head opening portion of the cartridge body, it is not necessary to form an unnecessary gap in the cartridge body. This can prevent dust from entering the cartridge body.

Further, the two shutters are brought into contact with each other on the center line of the disk in the chucking opening area, and are brought into contact with each other on the straight line deviating from the center line of the disk by a predetermined angle in the head opening area. As a result, the shutter opening / closing operation portion and its vicinity can be formed into an integrated shape, and the rigidity of the shutter can be sufficiently ensured.

Further, since the two shutters are configured to be locked by opening and closing each other, the operator cannot easily open the shutters. Therefore, dust on the disc
It is possible to prevent the attachment of fingerprints, scratches, etc.

Further, at least one of the plurality of disc holding portions is not fixed to the shutter but is joined by the elastic portion, and the force of the shutter spring is also applied so that the disc can be elastically deformed in the radial direction. As a result, even if the diameter of the mounted disc varies, the disc can be reliably held without rattling.

(Fourteenth Embodiment) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
A disk cartridge 314 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 72 to 81. In the disc cartridge 314 of this embodiment, the same components as those of the disc cartridge 313 of the thirteenth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

The disc cartridge 314 differs from the disc cartridge 313 of the thirteenth embodiment in that the shape of the inner upper surface 12u of the cartridge upper body 12 (FIG. 79) and the disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b are different. The shape (FIGS. 72 to 79) and the shape of the fall prevention member 53 (FIGS. 72, 77, 78). The disc cartridge 314 further has a disc receiving portion 60 (FIGS. 72 and 81). The differences between the disk cartridges 314 will be mainly described below.

In the disc cartridge 313 of the thirteenth embodiment, the disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22 are provided.
The heights of a and 22b were almost the same along the outer circumference of the disc 100. On the other hand, in the disc cartridge 314 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 73 and 79, protrusions are provided on part of the disc holding portions 21b, 22a and 22b. Specifically, the disk holding portions 21b, 22a and 22b include protrusions and have first areas 121b, 122a and 1 having a first height h1.
22b and a second region 221 having a second height h2
b, 222a and 222b, respectively.
On the other hand, the disc holding portion 21a includes only the second region 221a having the second height h2.

Although the first height h1 is larger than the second height h2, the disk cartridge 31 of the thirteenth embodiment
The height is approximately the same as the height of the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b of No. That is, the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b of the present embodiment are the thirteenth except for the first areas 121b, 122a, 122b.
It is lower than the disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b of the disc cartridge 313 of the above embodiment.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 74 and 75, the upper surface of the first area 122a of the disc holding portion 22a is provided with a step 223 that is higher on the disc side along the direction along the outer periphery of the disc. There is. Similarly, the upper surface of the first area 121b of the disk holding portion 21b and the first area 122b of the disk holding portion 22b are provided with steps.

First areas 121b, 122a and 12
Reference numeral 2b is an area that comes into contact with the disk earliest in each of the disk holding portions 21b, 22a, and 22b when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, and therefore, precedes the second areas 221b, 222a, and 222b. It contacts the disc 100.

The disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a,
22b moves as the shutters 21 and 22 open and close. 77 and 78 clearly show the positions of the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed and open. Also, FIGS. 79 and 80 show B shown in FIG. 78.
The -B cross section and the CC cross section are shown.

As shown in FIGS. 77 to 79, on the inner upper surface 12u of the cartridge upper body 12, when the shutters 21 and 22 are opened / closed, the disk holding portions 21b, 22.
a, 22b first regions 121b, 122a, 122b
The regions 12y, 12x, and 12z through which are passed are recessed.
On the other hand, the regions 12y ', 12x', 12z 'through which the second regions 221b, 222a, 222b pass are not hollow.
Therefore, the thickness of the cartridge upper body 12 in the regions 12x, 12y, 12z is equal to the regions 12x ′, 12y ′, 1
It is thinner than 2z 'and other areas.

As shown in FIGS. 76 and 79, the tip of the first region 122a is located above the lower surface of the fall prevention member 53. Further, the tip portion of the first area 122a of the disk holding portion 22a is inserted into the recess of the area 12x provided on the inner upper surface 12u of the cartridge upper body 12, and the recess of the area 12x is the tip of the first area 122a. Receiving the part. At the tip of the first region 122a, due to the step 223, only a part of the upper surface of the first region 122a is in contact with the inner upper surface 12u. Second area 22
2a does not contact the inner upper surface 12u of the cartridge upper body 12.

In order to facilitate the opening / closing operation of the shutters 21 and 22, the first area 12 of the disk holding portion 22a is formed.
2a and the inner upper surface 12 of the cartridge body 12
The friction caused by contact with u is preferably small. Therefore, the tip portion of the first area 122a of the disc holding portion 22a has a convex shape whose cross section along the radial direction of the disc 100 is a part of an arc. The step 223 compensates for the lack of strength due to the sharp tip portion,
It is provided to increase the molding accuracy of the tip portion and to facilitate the molding.

As shown in FIG. 80, the disc holding portion 22
Also in b, the tip of the first region 122b is located above the lower surface of the fall prevention member 53. Further, the tip portion of the first region 122b enters into the concave portion of the region 12z provided on the inner upper surface 12u of the cartridge upper body 12, and the concave portion of the region 12z receives the tip portion of the first region 122b. . Although not shown, the disc holding portion 21
Also in b, the tip of the first region 121b is located above the lower surface of the drop-out prevention member 53, and enters the concave portion of the region 12y provided on the inner upper surface 12u of the cartridge upper body 12.

As described above, the regions 12x, 12y, and 12z of the inner upper surface 12u of the cartridge upper body 12 are dented, and a part of the disc holding portion is inserted into the recesses to thereby form the regions 12x, 12y, and 12z. The entire disc cartridge 314 can be thinned by the depth of the concave portion.

According to such a structure, even if the cartridge is used vertically or face down,
When the disc 100 is released from chucking and the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, the inclined portion 122a ′ of the first region 122a of the disc holding portion 22a surely contacts the disc 100. Then, the slanted portion 122a 'is slid smoothly into the second area 2 of the disc holding portion 22a.
The slanted portion 222a 'of 22a also comes into contact (see FIG. 7).
4). At this time, the inclined portion 221a ′ of the second region 221a of the disc holding portion 21a, which is not provided with the protrusion, also comes into contact with the disc 100. As a result, the disc holder 2
1a and 22a cooperate to hold the disc 100. The disk holding portions 21b and 22b hold the disk 100 by the same operation. Therefore, even if the disc cartridge is made thin, the shutter can be surely closed in any posture, and the disc can be surely held.

If the shape of the disc holding portion is the first
If it is attempted to make the entire disc cartridge thin while keeping the same as the embodiment of the above, as shown in FIG. 78, the disc holding portion 2 of the inner upper surface 12u of the cartridge upper body 12 is
Region 12 through which 2a, 21b, and 22b all pass
x, 12x ', 12y, 12y'12z, and 12z'
Need to be depressed. In this case, the cartridge upper body 1
In No. 2, the thickness becomes thin over a considerably large area, and the strength of the entire disc cartridge is impaired. On the other hand, according to the disc cartridge 314, the regions 12x, 12y, and 12z having the reduced thickness are formed.
Is narrow, the thickness of the disk cartridge can be reduced without impairing the strength of the entire disk cartridge.

In this embodiment, three of the four disk holding portions are provided with protrusions to form the first area.
Various numbers can be selected according to the number of disc holding portions and the shape of the shutter.

The disk cartridge 314 of this embodiment
In the disk cartridge 31 of the thirteenth embodiment
Another point different from 3 lies in the structure of the fall prevention member 53.

As shown in FIG. 72, the retaining member 53 has a shape in which a part of a disc is cut off. A notch 54 substantially corresponding to the drop-out preventing member 53 is provided so as to come into contact with the disc opening 12w of the cartridge upper body 12, and the drop-out preventing member 53 is rotatably engaged with the notch 54. As shown in FIG. 77, the fall prevention member 53 is
By rotation, the disc opening 1 of the cartridge upper body 12
It is held so that a part of the drop-out prevention member 53 is projected to 2w. Further, as shown in FIG. 78, by rotating the fall-preventing member 53, the fall-preventing member 53 is housed in the cartridge upper body, and the protruding portion has the disc opening 12w.
The fall prevention member 53 can be held even in a state where it does not exist. When it becomes a problem that the drop-out prevention member 53 comes off the notch 54, an unevenness or the like that engages the side surface of the drop-out prevention member 53 and the side surface of the cartridge upper body 12 forming the cutout 54 is provided. Good.

With such a structure, the thickness of the drop-out preventing member 53 can be made substantially the same as the upper surface of the cartridge upper body 12, so that the thickness of the entire disc cartridge 314 can be reduced.

The disk cartridge 314 of this embodiment
In FIG. 72, 77, 78,
And 81, the disc receiving portion 60 is provided on the inner circumference of the bottom portion of the disc accommodating portion formed by the inner lower surface 11u and the inner side surface 11i of the lower cartridge body. The disc receiving portion 60 has an upper surface 60a parallel to the inner lower surface 11u of the lower cartridge body.

When the shutters 21 and 22 are closed and the disc 100 is held by the disc holding portion, the vicinity of the outer circumference of the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100 and the upper surface 60a of the disc receiving portion 60 are in contact with each other. As a result, the signal recording surface 100 of the disc 100
Dust adheres to A, or the inner lower surface 11 of the lower cartridge body
It is possible to prevent the accumulation of dust on the inside.

The disc receiving portion 60 may have a shape other than that shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 82, a taper-shaped disc receiving portion 76 may be provided so as to contact the inner lower surface 11u and the inner side surface 11i of the lower cartridge body. In this case, when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed and the disc 100 is held by the disc holding portion, the outer periphery of the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100 contacts the disc receiving portion 76.

(Fifteenth Embodiment) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The disk cartridge 315 according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the disc cartridge 315 of this embodiment, the same components as those of the disc cartridge 314 of the fourteenth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 83, the disc cartridge 315 has four types of recesses 85, 86 on the inner lower surface 11u of the lower cartridge body 11 in contact with the shutters 21 and 22, and the lower surfaces 21v and 22v of the shutters 21 and 22. , 87, 88a to 88c are provided, which is different from the disk cartridge 314.
These four types of recesses will be described in order. The depth of the recess is, for example, about 0.1 mm to 0.3 m in the case of a disc cartridge holding a 12 cm disc.
m.

As well shown in FIG. 84 showing the shutters 21 and 22 in the closed state and FIG. 85 showing the open state, first, when the shutters 21 and 22 are opened and closed, the disk holding of the shutters 21 and 22 is performed. Part 21
A first concave portion 86 is provided in a region of the inner lower surface 11u of the lower cartridge body 11 where a, 21b, 22a and 22b are in contact.

The disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b are sandwiched by the cartridge upper body 12 and the cartridge lower body 11 with almost no space. The disc holders 21a, 21b, 22a and 22 may be assembled when the disc cartridge 315 is assembled or due to variations in the dimensions of the components that make up the disc cartridge 315.
b may strongly contact the upper body 12 and the lower body 11 of the cartridge. As a result, the disc holding portion 21
a, 21b, 22a and 22b and the cartridge upper body 1
2 or the friction with the lower body 11 becomes large, and the shutter 2
The opening / closing operation of 1 and 22 becomes unstable, and dust is generated due to friction.

By providing the first concave portion 86, a gap is formed in the lower portion of the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b, so that such friction can be reduced, and the shutters 21 and 22 can be opened and closed. It is possible to stabilize the operation and reduce dust generation due to friction.

The second concave portion 87 is formed by the shutters 21 and 2
When 2 is closed, it is provided in the area where the outer edge portions of the shutters 21 and 22 are located. 84 and 86
As shown in FIG.
It is preferable that the outer lower surface 11u of the lower cartridge body 11 corresponding to the outer edge portion of the second outer peripheral portion 11 is provided over the outer side and the inner side thereof.

Since the disc cartridge 315 is stored with one side of the disc exposed, it is possible to press the disc 100 as shown by the arrow A as shown in FIG. Nonwoven fabrics 21s and 22s are provided to protect the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100, but they are not completely attached to the outer edge portions of the shutters 21 and 22. Therefore, the disk 10
When 0 is pressed down as indicated by arrow A, the outer edge portions of the shutters 21 and 22 come into contact with the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100, which may damage the signal recording surface 100A.

However, by providing the second recess 87, the outer edge portions of the shutters 21 and 22 can be deformed so that a part thereof enters the second recess 87. As a result, the pressing force is dispersed and the outer edge portions of the shutters 21 and 22 are prevented from coming into strong contact with the signal recording surface 100A of the disc 100.

The third recess is the chucking opening 11c.
And the inner lower surface 11u so as to surround the head opening 11h.
The third recess 88a provided above and the third recess 88b provided in the region of the inner lower surface 11u which does not overlap the shutters 21 and 22 when the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, and the shutters 21 and 22. Inner lower surface 1 overlapping the shutters 21 and 22 with the shutter closed
It includes a third recess 88c provided in the 1u region. Third
The concave portions 88b and 88c are provided in an arc shape along the inner side surface of the disk storage portion. Further, in the present embodiment, three third concave portions 88a are provided.

The disc cartridge 315 has various structures such as a disc receiving portion for preventing dust from entering the disc cartridge and preventing dust from adhering to the signal recording surface of the disc. It is difficult to completely prevent the ingress and adhesion of dust.

The third recess functions to store the dust that has entered the disk cartridge 315. Specifically, as the shutters 21 and 22 are opened and closed, dust moves to these third recesses. Once 3rd
Since the dust that has entered the concave portion does not come into contact with the shutters 21 and 22, it does not leave the third concave portion and remains in the third concave portion. In this way the third
By storing the dust in the concave portion, it is possible to reduce malfunction of the shutter due to dust and dust generation due to friction.

Such an effect can also be obtained by the first concave portion 86 and the second concave portion 87. Therefore, the first recess 86, the second recess 87 and the third recess
The recesses 88a to 88c do not necessarily have all of the recesses, and even if only one of them is provided,
At least malfunction of the shutter due to dust and dust generation due to friction can be reduced.

Further, in order to more effectively remove the dust that has entered between the shutters 21 and 22 and the inner lower surface 11u of the lower cartridge body 11 and store it in the second recesses 87, etc., the lower surfaces 21v of the shutters 21 and 22. And 2
In 2v, a recess 85 may be further provided along the outer edge portion. In this case, as shown in FIG. 84, it is preferable to provide the recess 85 closer to the center of the cartridge than the second recess 87 with the shutters 21 and 22 closed. Further, as shown in FIG. 86, the shutters 21 and 2
2 concave portion 85 and the inner lower surface 11u of the lower cartridge body 11
It is preferable that the shutters 21 and 22 do not communicate with the second concave portion 87 in the closed state.

By providing the recess 85, the shutter 2
The outer edge portions of 1 and 22 are more easily deformed. Therefore, even if the force indicated by the arrow A is applied to the disc 100, the outer edge portions of the shutters 21 and 22 come into strong contact with the signal recording surface 100A, and the signal recording surface 10
There is also an effect that the risk of scratching the 0A can be further reduced. Further, the recesses 86, 87, 88a, 88b, 8
By providing a non-woven fabric or the like in the inside of 8c by welding or adhering, it is possible to fill the gap in the cartridge main body, and it is possible to more firmly prevent dust from entering from the outside.

In the present embodiment, an example in which various recesses are provided in the disc cartridge 314 of the fourteenth embodiment has been shown, but these recesses may be provided in the disc cartridges of the eighth to thirteenth embodiments.

(Sixteenth Embodiment) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The disc cartridge 316 according to the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the disc cartridge 316 of this embodiment, the same components as those of the disc cartridge 313 of the thirteenth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 88, the disc cartridge 316 of this embodiment has a first side surface 10 of the cartridge body which is substantially perpendicular to the disc insertion direction 1A.
p is provided with the first opening / closing operation part 22t, and the second side face 10q
Has a second opening / closing operation section 93. Of these, the first opening / closing operation section 22t has the same structure as the opening / closing operation section 22t of the disk cartridge of the thirteenth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 89, the second opening / closing operation section 93 includes a rotating shaft 11q provided on the lower cartridge body 11.
It has a gear shape with a hole that can be inserted into. When the second opening / closing operation section 93 is inserted into the rotating shaft 11q, a part of the opening / closing operation section 93 is exposed from the second side surface 10q of the cartridge body 10.
r is provided. The rotation shaft 11q may be provided on the cartridge upper body 12.

Of the two shutters 21 and 22 for opening or closing the head opening 11h and the chucking opening 11c provided in the cartridge lower body 11, the shutter 22 which is the first shutter member has the first opening / closing operation. The part 22t is integrally formed. On the other hand, the disk holding portion 21 on the outer side surface of the shutter 21 which is the second shutter member.
A sector gear 21m that engages with the gear-shaped second opening / closing operation portion 93 is provided near b. The center of the sector gear 21m coincides with the rotation hole 21u of the shutter 21. In addition, the concave portion 21n is adjacent to the sector gear 21m.
Is provided. The concave portion 21n forms a space in which the second gear-shaped opening / closing operation portion 93 can be engaged with the sector gear 21m.

In order to open and close the shutters 21 and 22 using the first opening / closing operation portion 22t, first, as shown in FIG. 90, the lock projection portion 21k and the lock engagement portion 22k.
The lock state of the lock mechanism 20k is released. Then, as shown by the arrow 22W, the first opening / closing operation portion 22t is slid along the first side surface 10p of the cartridge. As a result, as shown in FIG. 91, the movement of the shutter 22 is transmitted to the shutter 21 via the interlocking mechanism 20c, and the shutters 21 and 22 cooperate with each other to move the head opening 11h.
And the chucking opening 11c is opened.

On the other hand, in order to open / close the shutters 21 and 22 using the second opening / closing operation section 93, first, referring to FIG.
As shown in, the engagement state of the lock mechanism 20k is released. Next, the second opening / closing operation section 93 is rotated as shown by an arrow 93A. Then, it engages with the gear of the second opening / closing operation section 93, and the sector gear 21m starts to rotate around the rotation hole 21u. This movement is the opening operation of the shutter 21. Since the movement of the shutter 21 is transmitted to the shutter 22 via the interlocking mechanism 20c, the shutters 21 and 22 cooperate to open the head opening 11h and the chucking opening 11c. As shown in FIG. 91, the shutter 2
When 1 and 22 completely open the head opening 11h and the chucking opening 11c, part of the second opening / closing operation part 93 enters the recess 21n provided in the shutter 21.

To close the shutters 21 and 22, the first opening / closing operation portion 22t may be slid in the direction opposite to 22W, or the second opening / closing operation portion 93 may be rotated in the direction opposite to 93A. In the present embodiment, since the shutter springs 31 and 32 are provided so that the force acts in the closing direction of the shutters 21 and 22, the shutters 21 and 2 resist the force of the shutter springs 31 and 32.
The force to release 2 or the force to keep it open is
If the opening / closing operation unit 22t and the second opening / closing operation unit 93 are not reached, the shutters 21 and 22 are closed without performing the above operation.

The disk cartridge 316 of this embodiment
In the above, the opening / closing operation portions of the shutters 21 and 22 are provided on both the plane perpendicular to the disc insertion direction and the plane parallel to the disc insertion direction. Therefore, even in a disk drive device in which the shutter opening / closing operation section is provided only on the side surface provided on the side surface perpendicular to the insertion direction of the disk cartridge, the shutter opening / closing operation section does not move in the disk cartridge insertion direction. On the other hand, even a disc drive device that is only compatible with disc cartridges provided on parallel side surfaces can record / reproduce signals on / from the discs housed in the disc cartridge of this embodiment.

Further, according to the disc cartridge 316 of the present embodiment, the second opening / closing operation portion 93 provided on the side surface parallel to the inserting direction of the disc cartridge 316 has a gear shape. Therefore, the shutter opening / closing mechanism provided in the disk drive device can also be formed by various gears that can be engaged with the second opening / closing operation portion 93, and the shutters 21 and 22 of the disk cartridge 316 can be reliably made with a relatively simple mechanism. Can be opened and closed.

In the above embodiment, the sector gear 21m is provided near the disc holding portion 21b. This is because if it is provided at this position, the distance from the sector gear 21m to the rotation hole 21u of the shutter 21 can be reduced, and the length of the sector gear 21m required to completely open the shutter 21 can be shortened. However, sector gear 2
The place where 1 m is formed is not limited to this position. For example, as shown in FIGS. 92 and 93, the sector gear 21
The sector gear 21m is provided at a position such that the center of the disc is approximately on the extension of the arc of m.
The second opening / closing operation section 93 may be provided so as to engage with 1 m. If the second opening / closing operation portion 93 is provided at this position, the sector gear 2 required to completely open the shutter 21 is provided.
Although the length of 1 m is increased, the distance from the rotation hole 21u can be increased. This corresponds to increasing the distance between the fulcrum and the action point, and the shutters 21 and 22 can be opened and closed by rotating the second opening / closing operation section 93 with a lighter force.

(17th Embodiment) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
A disk cartridge 317 according to the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the disc cartridge 317 of this embodiment, the same components as those of the disc cartridge 316 of the sixteenth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 94, the disc cartridge 317 of this embodiment has a second opening / closing operation section 94 instead of the second opening / closing operation section 93 of the disk cartridge 316 of the sixteenth embodiment. 2 side surface 10q.

As well shown in FIG. 95, the second opening / closing operation portion 94 is a link member which can slide along the opening 11r provided on the side surface of the cartridge lower body 11, and at the middle thereof. It is bent. A projection 94a is provided at the end of the second opening / closing operation section 94, and the projection 94a engages with a groove 21i provided near the disc holding section 21b of the shutter 21.

96 and 97 show the state in which the shutters 21 and 22 of the disc cartridge 317 are closed and the state in which they are open, respectively. As described in the thirteenth and sixteenth embodiments, the shutters 21 and 22 can be opened and closed by sliding the first opening / closing operation portion 22t in the direction of the arrow 22w or in the opposite direction.

To open and close the shutters 21 and 22 using the second opening / closing operation section 94, first, as shown in FIG. 96, the engagement state of the lock mechanism 20k is released. Next, the second opening / closing operation section 94 is slid in the direction indicated by arrow 94B. By this operation, the second opening / closing operation unit 9
The force acts so as to move the protrusion 94a of No. 4 in the direction of arrow 94B. As a result, the shutter 21 opens around the rotation hole 21u. Since the movement of the shutter 21 is transmitted to the shutter 22 via the interlocking mechanism 20c, as a result, the shutters 21 and 22 cooperate to open the head opening 11h and the chucking opening 11c. The point that the shutters 21 and 22 can be closed by sliding the second opening / closing operation portion 94 in the direction opposite to the arrow 94B and the force of the shutter springs 31 and 32 is the same as in the 16th embodiment.

Like the disc cartridge of the sixteenth embodiment, the disc cartridge of this embodiment corresponds only to the disc cartridge in which the opening / closing operation portion of the shutter is provided on the side surface vertical to the insertion direction of the disc cartridge. Even if the disc drive device is a disc drive device corresponding to only the disc cartridge in which the opening / closing operation portion of the shutter is provided on the side surface parallel to the insertion direction of the disc cartridge, the disc of the present embodiment A signal can be recorded / reproduced on / from a disc contained in a cartridge.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 96 and 97, the direction in which the second opening / closing operation portion 94 is operated to open the shutters 21 and 22 (94B) and the direction in which the disc cartridge is inserted (1A) are opposite. It is oriented and parallel. Therefore, if a protrusion or the like that engages with the second opening / closing operation portion 94 is provided in the disk drive device, when the disc cartridge of the present embodiment is inserted into the disk drive device, the protrusion has the second opening / closing operation portion 94. The shutters 21 and 22 of the disc cartridge can be opened in association with the insertion operation of the disc cartridge. Therefore, the shutter opening / closing mechanism provided in the disk drive device can be simplified.

(Eighteenth Embodiment) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The disk cartridge 318 according to the eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Also in the disc cartridge 318 of this embodiment, the same components as those of the disc cartridge 316 of the sixteenth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 98, the disc cartridge 318 of this embodiment has a second opening / closing operation portion 96 instead of the second opening / closing operation portion 93 of the disc cartridge 316 of the sixteenth embodiment. 2 side surface 10q.

As shown in FIG. 99, the second opening / closing operation section 9
Reference numeral 6 is a belt member connected to the disc holding portion 21a of the shutter 21. A projection 96a is provided at the end of the belt member.
Is provided, and the protrusion 96a is
It can slide along the opening 11r provided on the side surface of the No. 1 side. The second opening / closing operation unit 96 may be formed integrally with the shutter 21.

Shutter 2 of disk cartridge 318
The closed and open states of 1 and 22 are shown in FIGS. 100 and 101, respectively. It is the 16th and 17th that the shutters 21 and 22 can be opened and closed by sliding the first opening / closing operation portion 22t in the direction of the arrow 22w or in the opposite direction.
It is as described in the embodiment.

In order to open / close the shutters 21 and 22 using the second opening / closing operation section 96, first, referring to FIG.
As shown in 0, the engagement state of the lock mechanism 20k is released. Next, the protrusion 96a of the second opening / closing operation portion 96 is attached to the arrow 9
Slide in the direction indicated by 6B. By this action,
A force acts on the shutter 21 such that the tip portion of the shutter 21 is pulled in the direction of arrow 96C about the rotation hole 21u. Since the movement of the shutter 21 is transmitted to the shutter 22 via the interlocking mechanism 20c, the shutters 21 and 22 cooperate to open the head opening 11h and the chucking opening 11c. When closing the shutters 21 and 22, the reverse operation is performed.

The disc cartridge of the embodiment is also the 16th
Similar to the disc cartridge of the above embodiment, even if the disc drive device is compatible with only the disc cartridge in which the shutter opening / closing operation unit is provided on the side surface vertical to the insertion direction of the disc cartridge, the shutter opening / closing operation unit Even if the disc drive device is compatible with only the disc cartridge provided on the side surface parallel to the insertion direction of the disc cartridge, it is possible to record / reproduce signals to / from the disc cartridge of the present embodiment. .

Also, the shutter 21 and the second opening / closing operation section 9
If 6 and 6 are integrally formed, the number of parts constituting the disk cartridge can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the disc cartridge and to simplify the manufacturing process.

In the sixteenth to eighteenth embodiments, the second opening / closing operation portion is provided on the side surface on the left side with respect to the insertion direction of the disc cartridge. However, the place where the second opening / closing operation portion is formed is not limited to the side surface shown in the above embodiment. For example, it may be provided on the right side surface (10r shown in FIG. 88) with respect to the disc insertion direction. Alternatively, the second opening / closing operation portion may be provided on the back surface of the disc cartridge (10t shown in FIG. 88). In this case, for example, with the belt-shaped second opening / closing operation section 96 described in the eighteenth embodiment, the second opening / closing operation section can be provided on the back surface of the disk cartridge without making a large change. .

(19th Embodiment) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
A disk cartridge 319 according to the ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the disc cartridge 319 of this embodiment, the same components as those of the disc cartridge 313 of the thirteenth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

The disc cartridge 319 of this embodiment
Is characterized in that the disk holding portions 21b, 22a and 22b are provided with rotation preventing members 97, respectively. In addition, a recess 89 is provided for ultrasonically welding the nonwoven fabric to the shutters 21 and 22.

Specifically, the disk holding portions 21b and 22
Holes 21q, 22r and 22q are provided in a and 22b, and a rotation prevention member 97 is embedded in each of the holes 21q, 22q and 22r. As shown in FIG. 103, the rotation preventing member 97 is provided on the disc holding portion 21b (22
a, 22b), each slope 21b '(22
a ', 22b'), a part of which projects from the disk holding portion 21a, 21b, 22a, 22.
When held by b, the rotation preventing member 97 contacts the outer periphery of the disc 100. The rotation preventing member 97 is preferably made of a material having elasticity and a large friction coefficient, and for example, the rotation preventing member 97 made of rubber.
Is preferably used.

If the anti-rotation member 97 is provided on at least one of the disk holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, the anti-rotation member 97 exerts the anti-rotation effect. However, in order to prevent the disk 100 from rotating more reliably, it is preferable to provide three rotation preventing members 97 as shown in the drawing.

According to this structure, when the disc 100 is held by the disc holding portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, even if the operator intentionally rotates the disc 100, the rotation that comes into contact with the disc 100 is performed. Due to the function of the prevention member 97, the disc 100 cannot be rotated with a little force. Therefore, if the operator
Even if the disc 100 is intentionally rotated while pressing the disc 100 against the shutters 21 and 22, the disc 100 is prevented from rotating. by this,
It is possible to prevent the disc from being scratched by the above-described operation of the operator when hard dust is caught in the nonwoven fabric provided on the shutters 21 and 22.

By providing the rotation preventing member 97, it is possible to prevent the disc 100 from rattling in the disc holding portion.

As shown in FIG. 102, the shutters 21 and 22 are provided with a recess 89 for ultrasonically welding a nonwoven fabric on the contact surface of the disc 10 with the signal recording surface. In FIG. 102, the recess 89 is provided so as to surround the outer peripheries of the portions of the shutters 21 and 22 that come into contact with the signal recording surfaces. Further, it is also provided in a region inside the concave portion 89 surrounding the outer periphery thereof. The formation area of the concave portion 89 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 102, and may be any area as long as the nonwoven fabric can be reliably attached to the shutters 21 and 22. In this recess 89, the nonwoven fabric and the shutters 21 and 22 are ultrasonically welded. By providing the concave portion 89, even if a cured portion of the nonwoven fabric by ultrasonic welding or a protrusion from the nonwoven fabric of the resin material forming the shutters 21 and 22 occurs, the cured portion or the protrusion is contained in the concave portion 89. , Avoid contact with the disc. This can prevent the disc from being scratched. The recess 89 is preferably formed in the shutter when the nonwoven fabric is provided also in the first to eighteenth embodiments.

In the first to nineteenth embodiments described above, the non-woven fabric is attached to the shutter by ultrasonic waves or the like. However, scratches are caused by forming a tough hard coat on the signal recording surface of the disc. Non-woven fabric is not necessary if the disc has a difficult structure,
The shutter may make direct surface contact with the disk. Further, it is not necessary that the entire surface of the shutter be in surface contact with the signal recording surface of the disc, and the shutter may be provided with a structure in which at least a part of the shutter is in contact with the signal recording surface of the disc. In other words, the structure may be such that a part of the shutter is in surface contact with the disk, not the entire surface. Further, a structure for preventing scratches such as a non-woven fabric may be provided on the surface contacting portion.

In the above first to nineteenth embodiments,
The disc 100 housed in the disc cartridge had a signal recording surface on only one side. This is because the disc cartridge of the present invention has a structure in which one side of the disc is exposed to the outside, and an example of a disc most suitable for such a structure is a disc having a signal recording surface only on one side. Only. For example, even a disc having signal recording surfaces on both sides can be properly stored in the disc cartridge of the present invention and loaded into the disc device to record and reproduce signals. But,
When a disc having signal recording surfaces on both sides is stored and stored in the disc cartridge of the present invention, dust may adhere to the exposed signal recording surface. It is preferable to provide.

In the first to nineteenth embodiments, the size of the disc 100 is not particularly mentioned, but discs of various sizes such as 12 cm discs and discs of other sizes are stored. The present invention can be implemented as a cartridge.

Further, in the first to nineteenth embodiments, the outer shape of the disc cartridge is shown to be slightly larger than the disc, but the sizes of the disc and the disc cartridge are shown. It is not limited to the relationship. For example, although the outer shape of the disc cartridge is large enough to accommodate a 12 cm disc, the disc storage portion and the disc holding portion provided in the disc cartridge may have a size and structure suitable for storing an 8 cm disc. Good. Such a disc cartridge also functions as an adapter for recording / reproducing on an 8 cm disc in a 12 cm disc recording / reproducing apparatus.

The features described in each of the first to nineteenth embodiments can be implemented in appropriate combination. For example, the rotation prevention member described in the nineteenth embodiment may be provided in the disc cartridge of the sixteenth embodiment. Furthermore, as described in the fifteenth embodiment,
Various recesses for collecting dust may be provided in the disc cartridge of the sixteenth embodiment. As described above, since there are various aspects of the combinations of the first to nineteenth embodiments, it is impossible to list all possible combinations of the embodiments. However, it is possible for those skilled in the art to carry out combinations of such various possible embodiments based on the present specification, and such combinations of various possible embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0398]

According to the disc cartridge of the present invention, it is particularly suitable for accommodating a disc having a recording surface on one side only. Since the cartridge body has a structure that covers only the signal recording surface of the disk and exposes one surface, the thickness of the cartridge can be reduced. Further, by forming the shutter so as to cover only one side of the disc cartridge, the structure can be simplified and the cost of the shutter can be reduced. Further, since the disc holding portion or the disc holding member presses and holds the disc against the shutter or the cartridge body, it is possible to prevent the disc from rattling in the cartridge body, and to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the signal recording surface of the disc. . In addition, by utilizing the disc label surface exposed at the disc opening, it is excellent in design.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a disk cartridge which is thin, has high dust resistance, is excellent in design, and can be used in various drive devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall structure of a disc cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disc cartridge of FIG. 1 as seen from below.

3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the disc cartridge of FIG. 1 is disassembled. FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a disc holding member of the disc cartridge of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a disc holding member of the disc cartridge of FIG.

6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a shutter is opened and a positioning pin is inserted in the disc cartridge of FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the disc holding member in FIG.

8 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the disc holding member in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the overall structure of a disc cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a plan view showing the disc cartridge of FIG. 9 with the disc opened.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the overall structure of a disk cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the disk cartridge of FIG.
It is a top view showing the state where the disc was opened.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the overall structure of a disk cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state where the disc is opened in the disc cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disk cartridge according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention with the shutter closed.

16 is a sectional view of a disc holding member in the disc cartridge of FIG.

17 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 15 with the shutter open.

18 is a sectional view of a disc holding member in the disc cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention with the shutter closed.

20 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 19 with the shutter open.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disk cartridge according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention with the shutter closed.

22 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge of FIG. 21 with the shutter open.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a disk cartridge according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the disc cartridge of FIG. 23 is disassembled.

25 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is closed in the disc cartridge of FIG. 23 when there is no disc on the cartridge upper body and the disc.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is opened in the disc cartridge of FIG. 23 when there is no disc on the cartridge upper body and the disc.

27 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is closed in the disc cartridge of FIG. 23 when there is no disc.

28 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is opened in the disc cartridge of FIG. 23 when there is no disc.

FIG. 29 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a cross section passing through the center of the disc of the disc cartridge of FIG. 23.

30 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the shutter of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 31 is a partial plan view showing the vicinity of the operation portion of the disc cartridge of FIG. 23.

32 is a perspective view showing a fall-out preventing member of the disc cartridge of FIG. 23. FIG.

FIG. 33 is a front view of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 23 as seen from the drive insertion direction.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a disc cartridge according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the disc cartridge of FIG. 34 is disassembled.

36 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is closed when there is no disc in the disc cartridge of FIG. 34. FIG.

37 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is open when there is no disc in the disc cartridge of FIG. 34. FIG.

38 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter is closed, which is a cross-section through the disc center of the disc cartridge of FIG. 34. FIG.

FIG. 39 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter is open, which is a cross-section taken through the center of the disc of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 34.

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view near the outer periphery of the disk passing through the disk center of the disk cartridge of FIG. 34, showing a state in which the shutter is closed.

41 is a cross-sectional view near the outer periphery of the disk passing through the disk center of the disk cartridge of FIG. 34, showing a state in which the shutter is open.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a disc cartridge according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

43 is an exploded perspective view showing the disc cartridge of FIG. 42 in a disassembled state.

44 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is closed when there is no disc in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 42.

FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is open when there is no disc in the disc cartridge of FIG. 42.

FIG. 46 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter is closed, which is a cross section passing through the center of the disk of the disk cartridge of FIG. 42.

FIG. 47 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter is open, which is a cross-section taken through the center of the disc of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 42.

48 is a cross-sectional view of the disk cartridge of FIG. 42 near the disk outer periphery passing through the disk center and showing a state in which the shutter is closed.

49 is a cross-sectional view of the disk cartridge of FIG. 42 near the disk outer periphery passing through the disk center and showing a state in which the shutter is open.

FIG. 50 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a disc cartridge according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

51 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the disc cartridge in FIG. 50 is disassembled.

52 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is closed when there is no disc in the disc cartridge of FIG. 50. FIG.

53 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is open when there is no disc in the disc cartridge of FIG. 50. FIG.

54 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter is closed, which is a cross section passing through the center of the disc of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 50.

55 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter is opened, which is a cross-section through the disc center of the disc cartridge of FIG. 50.

56 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the shutter of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 50.

57 is a partial plan view showing the vicinity of the operating portion of the disc cartridge of FIG. 50. FIG.

FIG. 58 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is closed when there is no disc in the disc cartridge of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

59 is a partial sectional view showing a state in which the shutter is closed, which is a cross section passing through the center of the disk of the disk cartridge of FIG. 58.

FIG. 60 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter is open when there is no disc in the disc cartridge of FIG. 58.

61 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter is opened, which is a cross-section through the disc center of the disc cartridge of FIG. 58.

FIG. 62 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 58 and showing a state in which the shutter is closed when there is no disc.

FIG. 63 is a perspective view showing a modification of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 58 and showing a state in which the shutter is open when there is no disc.

FIG. 64 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

65 is an exploded perspective view showing the disc cartridge of FIG. 64 in a disassembled state.

66 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 64 is closed.

67 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 64 is opened.

68 is a detailed perspective view of a shutter lock portion. FIG.

FIG. 69 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the disc holding portion of the shutter.

FIG. 70 is a sectional view showing a joint surface shape of two shutters.

FIG. 71 is a cross-sectional view showing the joint surface shape of two shutters.

72 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

73 is a perspective view of a shutter of the disc cartridge of FIG. 72. FIG.

74 is an enlarged perspective view near the disc holding portion of the disc cartridge of FIG. 72. FIG.

75 is an enlarged perspective view near the disc holding portion of the disc cartridge of FIG. 72. FIG.

76 is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the disc holding portion of the disc cartridge of FIG. 72.

77 is a schematic plan view showing the state where the shutter is closed in the disc cartridge of FIG. 72. FIG.

78 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is opened in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 72.

79 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 78.

80 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 78.

81 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 77.

FIG. 82 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the disc receiving portion.

FIG. 83 is an exploded perspective view showing a disassembled state of the disk cartridge according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

84 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is closed in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 83.

85 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is opened in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 83.

86 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 84.

87 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 85.

88 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge according to the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

89 is an exploded perspective view showing the disc cartridge of FIG. 88 in a disassembled state. FIG.

90 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is closed in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 88.

91 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is opened in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 88.

92 is a schematic plan view showing a modified example of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 88 and showing a state in which the shutter of the disc cartridge is closed. FIG.

93 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is opened in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 92.

FIG. 94 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge according to the seventeenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 95 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the disc cartridge of FIG. 94 is disassembled.

96 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is closed in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 94.

97 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is opened in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 94.

FIG. 98 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the disc cartridge according to the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

99 is an exploded perspective view showing the disc cartridge of FIG. 98 in a disassembled state.

100 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is closed in the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 98.

101 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the shutter is opened in the disc cartridge of FIG. 98. FIG.

FIG. 102 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the disc cartridge according to the nineteenth embodiment of the present invention is disassembled.

103 is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the disc holding portion of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 102.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 40, 70 Cartridge bodies 10d, 40d, 70d Disk storage units 11, 41, 71 Cartridge lower bodies 11c, 41c, 71c Chucking openings 11h, 41h, 71h Head openings 11s, 41s, 71s Rotating shafts 12, 42, 72 cartridge upper body 12s, 13 drop-off prevention member 12w, 42w, 72w disc opening 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 disc holding member 21, 22, 51, 52, 81, 82 shutter 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b disc Holding portions 31, 32, 61, 62, 91, 92 Shutter spring 100 Disc 100A Signal recording surface 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 Disc cartridge 306, 307, 308, 309, 310 Disc cartridge 311, 312, 313, 314, 31 Disk cartridge 316,317,318,319, disk cartridge

Continuation of the front page (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application 2001-276284 (P2001-276284) (32) Priority date September 12, 2001 (September 12, 2001) (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP ) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-344030 (P2001-344030) (32) Priority date November 9, 2001 (November 1, 2001) (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP) (31) ) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-364438 (P2001-364438) (32) Priority date November 29, 2001 (November 29, 2001) (33) Country of priority claim Japan (JP) (31) Priority Claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-364463 (P2001-364463) (32) Priority date November 29, 2001 (November 29, 2001) (33) Country of priority claim Japan (JP) Application for accelerated examination (56) Reference References JP-A-4-67486 (JP, A) JP-A-8-7514 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G11B 23/03 604 G11B 23/03 605

Claims (17)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first opening having a disk opening and a bottom.
And with the disc having the second surface rotatable,
Also, a disc storage portion that stores the first surface from the disc opening portion so as to be exposed to the outside, and a chucking opening portion provided at a bottom portion of the disc storage portion for chucking the disc from the outside. And a head for recording and / or reproducing a signal is the second of the disk.
A cartridge body including a head opening provided at the bottom of the disk storage portion for accessing the surface of the cartridge, the cartridge so as to open or close the chucking opening and the head opening to the outside. A shutter that is movably supported with respect to the main body, and when the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the shutter , the disk is stored in the disk storage unit. Push to the bottom side
And a disc holding portion for fixing the disc to the shutter or the cartridge body, and the disc opening portion for preventing the disc from falling out of the disc opening portion when the shutter is opened. A disc cartridge including a drop-out prevention member that protrudes to the inside. 2. The fall prevention member is removable.
The disc cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the disc cartridge is formed integrally with the cartridge body. 3. The drop-preventing member is detachably attached to the cartridge body.
1. The disk cartridge described in 1 . Wherein said stopper member is a disk cartridge according to claim 1, in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the shutter, is moved in the thickness direction of the disc cartridge. Wherein said stopper member is, the shutter and the disk cartridge according to claim 4, characterized in that integrally formed. Wherein said stopper members via a flexible member or the elastic member, the disc cartridge according to claim 5 which is formed on the shutter integrally. 7. The fall prevention member has a convex portion or a concave portion, and the cartridge main body is provided with a guide concave portion or a guide convex portion that engages with the convex portion or the concave portion of the fall prevention member. Alternatively, the disc cartridge according to claim 5 or 6 , which is provided on an inner upper wall, and in which the stopper member moves in the thickness direction of the disc cartridge in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the shutter. Wherein said stopper member is a disk cartridge according to claim 4 which is formed integrally with the cartridge body. 9. The fall prevention member is provided with an elastic member,
Claim 8 formed integrally with the cartridge body
The disk cartridge described in. Wherein said stopper member is a disk cartridge according to claim 8 a portion of the cartridge body an elastic body divided by the slit. 11. The falling prevention member has a first convex portion or a first inclined portion, and the shutter has a second inclined portion or a second convex portion. protrusion or the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion or the second convex portions abut each other, the disk cartridge according to claim 8 10 for the. 12. When the shutter opens the chucking opening and the head opening, and the first convex portion or the second inclined portion or the second convex portion and the first inclined portion The disc cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the disc cartridges abut each other. 13. The disk cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein a concave portion with which the second convex portion or the first convex portion engages is provided near the first inclined portion or the second inclined portion. . 14. The cartridge body is configured such that the stopper member presses the disk in a thickness direction and makes a surface contact with the shutter when the shutter closes the chucking opening and the head opening. disc cartridge according to claim 5 or 8 to hold the disk against. 15. The disk cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14 comprising a plurality of said stopper member. 16. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that a mis-insertion preventing mechanism for the disc cartridge. 17. The erroneous insertion preventing mechanism according to claim 16 including the direction of inserting the disc cartridge to an external device, a convex portion or concave portion provided on the outer surface of the cartridge body so as to be asymmetrical The disk cartridge described in.