JPH04318386A - Disk cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a disk cleaner capable of preventing the generation of error due to an electrostatic noise at the recording/reproducing time by the electrostatic charge to a cartridge when an optical disk housed in the cartridge is cleaned up. CONSTITUTION:The subject device is provided with a dust elimination means having a cloth tape 13 for cleaning abutting on the optical disk 2 in the cartridge 1 and moving in the radius direction of optical disk, a rotating mechanism 8 giving the rotation to a cam 21 to give the above-mentioned operation in the radius direction and also giving the rotation to the optical disk 2, and an electrostatic elimination brush 50 arranged between a loading mechanism 4 positioning the cartridge 1 and a front surface panel 3a, to eliminate the charge of the cartridge 1 at the loading/unloading time of the optical disk.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc cleaner for removing dust from an optical disc that is housed in a cartridge.

0002

[Prior Art] FIG. 4 shows, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-46278.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a conventional disk cleaner disclosed in the above publication. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a disk rotation mechanism section, which includes a handle 52, a spindle 19, a reduction gear 53, and a chuck 54. 2 is resin cartridge 1
This is a type of optical disc that is stored in the. Reference numeral 9 denotes a disk dust removal mechanism section, which includes a cleaning tool 56, an interlocking pin 57, a spring 58, and a guide pin 59. The geared spindle 19 has a handle 52 attached to its upper end and a spline shaft at its lower part. A reduction gear 53 rotates the disk 2, and 51 is a housing of the reduction gear. 54 is a chuck, and the gear of the chuck 54 meshes with the gear of the spindle 19 via a reduction gear 53. 56 is a cleaning tool made of a cylindrical brush or cloth. 2
A cam 1 has a wave-shaped outer periphery and is fitted into the spline shaft of the spindle 19. Reference numeral 55 denotes a table that fits into the shutter opening of the cartridge 1 to enable centering of the disk. 57 is cam 21
This is an interlocking pin that circumferentially surrounds the cleaning tool 56 and gives reciprocating motion to the cleaning tool 56. This interlocking pin 57 is integrated with a guide pin 59 and a cleaning tool 56, and is pressed by a spring 58.
It is always surrounding the cam.

With the above configuration, the optical disc 2 is placed on the table 55 with the shutter of the cartridge 1 open.
Attach. At this time, the surface of the optical disc 2 and the cleaning tool 5
6 is in contact. Next, the housing 51 is mounted on the cartridge 1 so that the cam 21 and the spline shaft portion of the spindle 19 are fitted. At this time, chuck 5
The tip of 4 is fitted into the center hole of the optical disc 2. By rotating the handle 52 in this state, the optical disc 2 is rotated at a speed different from that of the spindle 19 via the reduction gear 53 and the chuck 54. On the other hand, handle 5
The rotation movement is converted into a reciprocating motion by the cam 21 fitted on the spindle 19 of No. 2 and the interlocking pin 57 in contact with the circumferential surface of the cam 21, thereby moving the cleaning tool 56 which is integrated with the interlocking pin 57. In this manner, by rotating the handle 52, the optical disc 2 is rotated, and the cleaning tool 56 is reciprocated to clean dust adhering to the surface of the optical disc 2.

0004

The conventional disc cleaner as described above is used with an optical disc housed in a cartridge made of resin. When a large number of optical disks are attached to and removed from an optical disk device in order to read/reproduce information from the optical disk, the cartridge becomes electrically charged due to friction with the sliding parts within the optical disk device. Conventional disk cleaners do not have a function to remove static electricity from the cartridge, and therefore have a problem in that errors occur due to static noise when recording and reproducing information.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is capable of not only cleaning and removing dust adhering to the surface of an optical disk, but also removing the electrical charge on the cartridge itself that houses the optical disk. The purpose is to obtain a disk cleaner that can.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A disc cleaner according to the present invention is provided with a dust removing means for cleaning an optical disc of the type housed in a cartridge, and a charge removing means for removing electrical charge from the cartridge when the optical disc is attached or removed. It is being

[0007]

[Function] In this invention, since a means for removing the charge from the cartridge is added, the charge from the cartridge itself is removed when the optical disk is loaded into and removed from the disk cleaner.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a disk cartridge to be cleaned with the cleaner of the present invention. This figure shows a state in which the shutter 1a provided in the cartridge 1 is opened in the direction of arrow A, and a part of the disk 2 to be cleaned is exposed.
Clean the disc in this state. Further, this state is the same as when reading and writing information with an optical disc device. The disk 2 is provided with a hub 2a formed of a magnetic material for rotating the disk, and a center hole 2b for positioning the center of rotation of the disk 2. On the other hand, the cartridge 1 also has a locate hole 1b for positioning the cartridge.
is provided.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaner, showing a state in which a cartridge 1 is set in a predetermined position and a disk 2 is being cleaned. Reference numeral 3 designates an exterior panel, and a front panel 3a is attached to the left side of the figure, and an insertion opening 3b into which the cartridge 1 is inserted is provided in the front panel 3a.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a disk cartridge loading mechanism, which grips the cartridge 1 inserted through the insertion opening 3b and transports the cartridge 1 to a predetermined position and vice versa with the shutter 1a of the cartridge 1 open. This mechanism is the same as that used in general optical disc devices, and detailed diagrams are omitted. Note that there are two positions in this mechanism 4: a position where the cartridge 1 is manually inserted, a position where the mechanism 4 operates and the cartridge 1 is set in a predetermined position (the state shown in FIG. Limit switches for position detection are provided at three locations in total, including the positions where 1 is discharged.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a main base, on the top of which a locating pin 6 for positioning the loading mechanism 4 and the cartridge 1 is attached, and on the lower side a disk and cam rotation mechanism 8 and a disk cleaning cloth tape 13 for feeding the cloth tape 13 little by little. An actuator 10 and a bottom plate 11 are attached. The bottom plate 11 has a square hole, and one end of the lid 12 is attached to the bottom plate 11 via a hinge so as to cover the hole.
The lid 12 is configured to open and close in the direction of arrows B1-B2 in the figure. Further, a cleaning mechanism 9 is attached to the lid 12,
The cleaning cloth tape 13 can be replaced when the lid 12 is open (moved in the direction of arrow B2), and constitutes dust removal means.

Next, the structure of the disk and cam rotation mechanism 8 will be explained. A turntable 14 has a ring-shaped magnet 15 and a ring-shaped stopper 16 for attracting the disk 2 and transmitting rotational power at its upper part, and a spur gear 14a at its lower part. This turntable 14 has a bearing stand 1 attached to a base 5.
7 via a bearing 18 and a spindle 19 so as to be rotatable. The upper end of the spindle 19 is tapered to facilitate centering of the disk 2, and the lower end is connected to a spur gear 21 via a bearing 20.
A cam 21 having a shape is rotatably mounted. A tapered portion is formed below the convex portion 21b of the cam 21 so that a tapered roller 37 provided in the cleaning mechanism 9, which will be described later, can easily enter from the direction of arrow B1.

On the other hand, the gears 22 and 23 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 7 attached to the base 5, and the small diameter spur gear portion 22a of the gear 22 at the top meshes with the spur gear portion 14a of the turntable 14. The large-diameter helical gear portion 22b meshes with a screw gear 25 attached to the shaft portion of the DC motor 24. The small diameter spur gear portion 23a of the gear 23 also located at the bottom meshes with the spur gear portion 21a of the cam 21,
The large-diameter helical gear portion 23b meshes with a screw gear 27 attached to the shaft portion of the DC motor 26. However, the numbers of teeth of the gears provided on the turntable 14 and the cam 21 are slightly different, so that when driven by motors with the same rotation speed, the rotation speeds of each are slightly different. Note that the DC motors 24 and 26 are mounted on the base 5 so as to face each other.

Next, the structure of the cleaning mechanism 9, which serves as dust removal means, will be explained. Reference numeral 28 denotes a sponge roller with a shaft, which is used to evenly press the cleaning cloth tape 13 having a width slightly larger than the data surface e of the disk 2 onto the disk surface. , is constantly pushed upward by the leaf spring 33. On the other hand, the shaft portions 28a at both ends are connected to the side plate 3.
The sponge roller 28 is also loosely fitted into the vertical oval holes provided in the rollers 1 and 32, so that the sponge roller 28 does not jump out upward.

34 is a joint plate, and the side plates 31, 3
2 forms a lateral movement frame of the cleaning mechanism section 9. Reference numeral 35 denotes a roller support plate attached to the joint plate 34, and a shaft 36 is provided at the end of the roller support plate 35 to rotatably support a tapered roller 37. On the other hand, this roller 3
Two slide shafts 41 are attached to the side plates 31 and 32 so as to sandwich the cloth tape 13 between them, and a slider 43 for moving the cloth tape 13 is attached to the right shaft end of the two slide shafts 41. Moreover, this slide shaft 41 is supported via a slide bearing 42a attached to a bearing base 42 so as to be movable in the horizontal and lateral directions. 39 is the slide shaft 4 in the compressed state.
1 and one end is in contact with the side plate 32, so that the movable parts of the cleaning mechanism 9 (other than the bearing base) always tend to move to the left in the figure. Therefore,
The roller 37 is always in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cam 21 mentioned above.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an actuator consisting of a rotary solenoid. When energized, the yoke 10a is attracted and rotated by a certain angle, and when energized, it is returned to the original position by a built-in return spring. (The one used here is rotated by 25 degrees.) Therefore, the yoke 10
One end of the pin 10b attached to the pin 10a is engaged with a groove in the slider 43, causing the slider 43 to reciprocate.

The details of the cleaning mechanism 9 will be explained below with reference to FIG. The slider 43 has an actuator 10 as shown in the figure.
A groove 43a is formed in which the pin 10b engages, and the upper part thereof is widened, and oval holes are formed in the lateral direction at both ends thereof. This oval hole and the slide shaft 41 allow the slider 43 to slide laterally. Therefore, when the cleaning cloth tape 13 is replaced with a new one and the lid 12 is closed, no matter where the slider 43 is in the horizontal direction, the pin 10b of the actuator 10 and the groove 4 of the slider
a is engaged. Further, one end of a leaf spring 45 is attached to the lower part of the slider 43, and the other end of the leaf spring 45 is attached to the flange of the reel 46 when the driving reel 46 for winding the cloth tape 13 is set in the direction of arrow D. It is designed to mesh with the formed ratchet tooth profile.

44 is a mountain-shaped leaf spring, and the mountain part (center part)
is fixed to the joint plate 34, with both ends expanded. One end of the leaf spring 44 engages with the ratchet tooth section of the driving reel 46, and the other end abuts against the flange of the driven reel 47, which is housed with the cloth tape 13 wound therein, and plays the role of a brake. Fulfilling. Therefore, since the disk 2 rotates in the direction of arrow E, even if the tape is pulled in the direction of arrow F by the frictional force, the reel 46 will not rotate in the opposite direction.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a bearing plate made of an elastic material for rotatably attaching both shaft portions provided on the reels 46 and 47, and the lower portion is attached opposite to two locations on each of the side plates 31 and 32. reel 46 from the top,
47, both shaft ends 46a of the reels 46, 47
, 47a, the bearing plates 48 are bent to open slightly, and the reel shafts are fitted into the holes provided in each bearing plate 48. Furthermore, when taking out the reels 46, 47, by pinching the reels with your fingers and pressing your fingertips, the bearing plate 48 opens and the reels 46, 47 can be easily removed. The difference between the reels 46 and 47 is that the reel 46 has a ratchet tooth profile 46b formed on the outer periphery of one side of the flange portion, whereas the reel 47 does not have a ratchet tooth profile. However, the ratchet tooth profile may be formed on the reel 47 as long as the direction of the ratchet tooth profile is the same.

Finally, the charge removing means of the cartridge 1 will be explained. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 50 denotes a static electricity removing brush for removing static electricity from the cartridge 1, and when the cartridge 1 is inserted from the insertion port 3b, the tip of the static electricity removing brush 50 comes into contact with the cartridge 1.
The static electricity removal brush 50 is installed between the front panel 3a and the loading mechanism 4.

Next, the operation will be explained. With the power of this device turned on, push the cartridge 1 into the insertion slot 3b of the front panel 3a by about 2/3 of the length of the cartridge. At this time, the shutter 1a of the cartridge 1 is opened,
Cartridge 1 is held by loading mechanism 4 . At the same time, the first position detection limit switch in the loading mechanism 4 is activated, and the loading mechanism 4 is activated by the motor to draw the cartridge 1 into the apparatus. At this time,
The tip of the static electricity removing brush 50 installed between the front panel 3a and the loading mechanism 4 comes into contact with the surface of the cartridge 1, and removes the static electricity on the surface of the cartridge 1. Subsequently, the cartridge 1 is lowered horizontally. At this time, the disc 2 in the cartridge is placed on the turntable 14.
While being attracted by the magnet 15 provided in the
The position is determined by a stopper 16 and a spindle 19. At the same time, at the opening of the shutter 1a of the cartridge 1, the disc 2 lightly presses the cleaning cloth tape 13 on the sponge roller 28, and the disc 2 and the cloth tape 13 come into contact (FIG. 1 shows this state). . When the cartridge 1 and the disk 2 are positioned as described above, the second position detection limit switch in the loading mechanism 4 is activated, the DC motors 24 and 26 are simultaneously driven, and the reduction gears 25, 22 and 27 are driven. The turntable 14 and the cam 21 begin to rotate independently of each other via 23. When the turntable 14 rotates, the magnetic force of the magnet 15 generates a frictional force on the contact surface between the stopper 16 and the disk 2, causing the disk 2 to rotate. On the other hand, when the cam 21 rotates, the roller 37 that is in contact with the outer periphery of the cam 21 rotates.
As a result, the parts of the cleaning mechanism 9 other than the bearing base 40 reciprocate in the directions of arrows C1 and C2 in FIG. Therefore, the cleaning cloth tape 13 moves back and forth while rubbing the disk surface in the radial direction of the disk 2 to clean the disk surface.

This cleaning time is set by a timer within the device (usually 30 seconds to 1 minute), and when that time is over, the DC motors 24 and 26 are stopped by a signal from the timer. At the same time, the loading mechanism 4 is operated in the opposite direction as described above (the motor is rotated in the opposite direction), and the cartridge 1 is ejected from the insertion opening 3b of the front panel 3a. At this time, the static electricity removal brush 5
When the tip of the cartridge 1 comes into contact with the disk surface again, the charge on the cartridge 1 is removed, and the dust collection effect due to the charge on the cartridge 1 itself is suppressed.

Next, when the third position detecting limit switch in the loading mechanism 4 is activated, the actuator 10 is driven by the signal, and the pin 10b attached to the yoke 10a is rotated by a certain angle. Due to this,
The slider 43 engaged with the pin 10b is indicated by the arrow G in FIG.
1, the ratchet tooth profile 46b of the reel 46 is pushed by the tip of the leaf spring 45 attached to the slider 43, and the reel 46 is rotated by one tooth of the ratchet tooth profile 46b in the direction of arrow H1. That is, the cleaning cloth tape 13 is slightly wound onto the reel 46, and the tape surface 13a that comes into contact with the disk 2 moves to become a clean tape surface.

A sensor (not shown) detects the completion of the above series of operations and turns off the power to the actuator 10. Then, the slider 43 is returned in the direction of the arrow G2 by the return spring built into the actuator 10, resulting in the state shown in FIG. Next, when the actuator 10 operates, the reel 46 is similarly fed by one tooth of the ratchet tooth profile 46b.

[0025] In this apparatus, all of the above operations are automatically performed and the process is completed. If a new cartridge is subsequently inserted, the same operation will be repeated. By repeating this disk cleaning, a predetermined amount of dirty cloth tape 13 is left on the reel 46.
When the tape is caught, a sensor (not shown) is activated, a tape replacement lamp lights up on the front panel 3a of the device, and the device does not operate automatically unless the tape is replaced. Therefore, in that case, warm up the knob 49 shown in Fig. 2, open the lid 12 (in the direction of arrow B2), replace the reel with a new cleaning cloth tape, and close the lid 12 (in the direction of arrow B1).
, the lid 12 is fixed by the knob 49, and the next disk can be cleaned.

[0026]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by simply adding the charge removing means to the dust removing means of the disk,
The charge on the cartridge can be removed, and information can be recorded and reproduced accurately without being adversely affected by the electrostatic nozzle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a conventional disk cleaner.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cartridge 2 Optical disc 3a Front panel 3b Insertion slot 4 Loading mechanism 8 Disk and cam rotation mechanism 9 Cleaning mechanism (dust removal means) 13 Cleaning cloth tape 21 Cam

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A loading mechanism for positioning a cartridge containing an optical disk; a dust removing means having a cleaning cloth tape that presses against the optical disk and moves in the radial direction of the optical disk; a rotation mechanism that rotates a cam that drives a dust removal means; and a charge removal means that is disposed between a front panel provided with an insertion slot for the cartridge and the loading mechanism and removes charge from the cartridge when the optical disc is attached or removed. A disc cleaner equipped with the following.