JPH01315085A - Optical disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To protect the recording surface of an optical disk from the dust, fingerprints, etc., by blocking the light irradiation hole of an optical disk cartridge with a transparent member. CONSTITUTION:The square or rectangular upper and lower cases 1a and 1b are put on each other at the end side part and fixed to each other. Then an optical disk D is rotatably stored into the cases 1a and 1b. The case 1a contains an oblong light irradiation hole 2 at the position of the recording surface of the disk D. Then the hole 2 is blocked with a transparent plate 4 made of an acrylic material, etc. At the same time, a protecting plate 5 having a larger area than the hole 2 is slidably attached to a level difference part 3 so that the plate 5 can open and close the hole 2. In such a constitution, the lock is released and the plate 5 is slided at recording and reproduction. Then the hole 2 is exposed via the plate 4 and the disk D is irradiated by the laser light. The plate 5 is closed and locked except the recording/reproducing state to protect the recording surface of the disk D from the dust, fingerprints, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical disc cartridge that rotatably accommodates an optical disc used as an information medium in an optical recording/reproducing device that records or reproduces information using optical signals. It is something.

[Prior Art] Optical disks (1) have high recording density and low memory cost per bit, (2) enable high-speed access, and (3) are durable because they can record and reproduce without contacting the optical head. It has the advantage of being highly flexible, and is attracting attention as a new medium for the information industry in the future.

Normally, when using an optical disc, an optical disc cartridge that rotatably houses the optical disc has been proposed to protect the information recording surface.

However, with conventional optical disc cartridges, the optical disc is exposed through the light irradiation hole during recording and playback, and the shutter that closes the light irradiation hole can easily open even when not recording and playing back, causing scratches on the optical disc and dust and dirt. Fingerprints may become attached, resulting in data destruction or recording or reproduction errors.

[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to provide an optical disc cartridge that can improve the problems of the conventional example as described above and can more reliably protect the optical disc from scratches, dust, fingerprints, and the like.

[Summary of the Invention] The gist of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object is to provide an optical disc cartridge that stores therein an optical disc, which is an optical information medium, in which a light irradiation hole is sealed with a transparent member. It's a cartridge.

[Embodiments of the invention] The present invention will be explained in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. Square or rectangular upper case 1a
The edges of the lower case 1b and the lower case 1b are overlapped with each other and fixed with adhesive or screws, and an optical disk D is rotatably housed inside. An elongated light irradiation hole 2 is provided in the upper case 1a at a position where the information recording surface of the optical disc D exists, and a rectangular stepped portion 3 is formed around the light irradiation hole 2. The light irradiation hole 2 is closed by a transparent plate 4 made of, for example, acrylic or polycarbonate, and a protective plate 5 having a larger area than the light irradiation hole 2 is provided at the stepped portion 3.
is slidably attached, and the light irradiation hole 2 can be opened and closed by sliding the protection plate 5.

FIG. 3 shows the locking mechanism of the protective plate 5 on the stepped portion 3. A claw member 6 having a hook portion is provided on the side of the protective plate 5 in the sliding direction, and one of the stepped portions 3 abuts. An insertion hole 7 for the claw member 6 is formed in the surface 3a. Further, inside the insertion hole 7, a stow/bar 8 is rotatably supported on a shaft 8a.
One end thereof is urged in the direction of the insertion hole 7 by an elastic member 9, and is fitted into the hook portion of the inserted claw member 6, and the protective plate 5
is designed to be locked. Further, a hole 10 is provided on the side surface of the upper case 1a, and the other end of the stopper 8 faces this hole 10. Then, by pushing the other end of the stopper 8 through the hole 10 with a lever or the like inside the recording/reproducing apparatus, the stopper 8 can be rotated in the opposite direction to the biasing direction of the elastic member 9, and the lock can be released. It has become.

In the above configuration, the lock is automatically released during information recording and reproduction, the protection plate 5 is slid to expose the light irradiation hole 2 through the transparent plate 4, and the laser beam from the optical head is transmitted through the transparent plate 4. can be irradiated onto the optical disc D. In addition, the protection plate 5 is closed and locked except when recording and reproducing, and the transparent plate 4
Prevent scratches, dust, fingerprints, etc. from adhering to the surface.

In addition, by attaching a cleaning cloth 11 to the inside of the protection plate 5 as shown in FIG. 4, the protection of the transparent plate 4 is strengthened and the surface of the transparent plate 4 is cleaned every time the protection plate 5 slides. Can be cleaned.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a cartridge accommodating an optical disc D that can be recorded and reproduced on both sides. Upper case 2
1a and the lower case 21b are vertically symmetrical in shape, and have light irradiation holes 22a, 22b (22b not shown), respectively.
Step portions 23a, 23b and transparent plates 24a, 24b (24
b (not shown) are formed on the upper case 21a and the lower case 21b in the same way as the upper case 1a of the previous embodiment. Further, a step portion 23c is provided on the side between the first step portions 23a and 23b, and a protection plate 25 having a U-shaped cross section is provided on the side between the step portions 23a and 23b.
3a, 23b, and 23c so as to be slidable so as to simultaneously open and close the light irradiation holes 22a and 22b.

In this embodiment, the protection plate 25 is opened and closed by a locking mechanism similar to that of the first embodiment, and information is recorded and reproduced by two optical heads from both directions, or by turning one optical head upside down. It can be done twice.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the optical disc cartridge according to the present invention, by sealing the light irradiation hole with a transparent plate, the recording surface of the optical disc is protected from scratches, dust, fingerprints, etc., and information can be recorded stably. Can be played.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the optical disc cartridge according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment. Symbols 1a and 21a are the upper case, lb and 21b are the lower case, 2.22a is the light irradiation hole, and 3.23a, 23b, 23c
4.24a is a transparent plate. 5.25 is a protection plate. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical disc cartridge that houses an optical disc as an optical information medium inside the cartridge, characterized in that a light irradiation hole is sealed with a transparent member.