JPH05334833A - Disk cartridge for optical disk library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stably and securely drive a disk cartridge to move in a disk library device even on a standardized disk cartridge. CONSTITUTION:Adapters 30 are embedded in gripper slotted recessed parts 25a and 25b provided in accordance with a stipulation, so that an adverse effect due to existence of the recessed parts 25a and 25b is not exerted upon an operation of a disk driving part, etc., at the time of driving the disk cartridge D to move.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc cartridge for an optical disc library device used in an optical disc library device having a plurality of disc cartridges containing optical discs such as optical discs and magneto-optical discs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the inside of an optical disk library apparatus in a see-through state. Reference numerals 1, 2, and 3 denote cartridge housing portions for housing a plurality of disk cartridges (described later) housing optical disks. Reference numerals 4 and 5 are disk drive units, 6 is a loading unit, and 7 is a carrier unit for moving the disk cartridge to a predetermined position.

In the above optical disc library apparatus,
In response to a control signal from the host computer, the disk cartridge is loaded and ejected, the carrier unit 7 moves up and down, and the disk cartridge is moved to the outside of the apparatus, the disk drive section 5, and the cartridge storage sections 1 to 3.

FIG. 19 shows the disk cartridge D ejected from the disk drive units 4 and 5 as the carrier.
It is a block diagram showing a mechanism for retracting into the unit 7,
Reference numeral 10 is a drive motor, 11 is a drive unit that rotates around a rotation fulcrum O, 12 is a plurality of drive side rollers that receive the rotational force of the drive motor 10 via a gear group, and rotate, and 13 is a drive side roller. It is a driven side roller that is installed opposite to 12.

Each of the side rollers 12 and 13 is in the retracted position so as not to come into contact with the disk cartridge D at the time of cartridge ejection, and after the ejection, as shown in FIG. Rotates in the counterclockwise direction and presses one side of the disk cartridge D to drive side roller 12 and driven side roller 12.
13 and 13 are brought into contact with both sides of the disc cartridge D, and both sides of the disc cartridge D are sandwiched by the side rollers 12 and 13.

In the sandwiched state, the drive motor 10 is operated to rotate the drive side roller 12 so that the driven side roller 13 and the driven side roller 13 pull out the disk cartridge D from the disk drive portions 4, 5.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a part of a conventional optical disk cartridge D in a cutaway manner.
Reference numeral 21 is a shutter for opening and closing the head access window 22, 23 is an optical disk, 24 is a hub provided at the center of the optical disk 23, and 25a and 25b are recesses which are gripper slots formed on both sides of the outer case 20. Then, each part of this optical disk cartridge is standardized by ISO and is standardized (the same applies to a magneto-optical disk cartridge).

[0008]

In the above-mentioned prior art, the optical disc cartridge and the magneto-optical disc cartridge are generally compliant with the standard (ISO) on the assumption that a person takes the disc cartridge in and out by a subsystem (ADD / ON) or the like. ), Designed.

However, as shown in FIG. 19, side rollers
It cannot be said that the eject amount is sufficient to automatically pull out the disc cartridge using the pulling mechanism such as 12, 13. Particularly, since the eject amount is not sufficient, the side rollers 12 and 13 are forced to pass through the recesses 25a and 25b of the gripper slots provided in the disc cartridge. Therefore, when the disk cartridge is moved, the side rollers 12 and 13 are set in the recesses 25a and 25b.
Even if it gets in, it needs a force to get on again, and there is a possibility that it cannot be ejected depending on the degree of the holding force of the side rollers 12, 13 with respect to the disc cartridge.

If the internal mechanism of the disk drive is changed in order to increase the eject amount, a large load will be imposed on the internal layout, and if the cover of the disk drive is removed or a notch is provided in the disk, the internal drive will go inside. There is a problem that the amount of dust and the like invading the vehicle increases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a disc cartridge for an optical disc library device, which is capable of stably and reliably moving and driving the disc cartridge in a disc library device even with a standardized disc cartridge. To provide.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a plurality of disc cartridges each containing an optical disc, the disc drive unit, the cartridge accommodating unit, or the disc cartridge being inserted into or removed from the apparatus. In a disc cartridge used in an optical disc library device for performing the above, a filling member for filling the inside of the recess is attached to the recess defined in the outer case.

Further, the elastic filling member is fitted in the recess.

Further, the filling member is fixed to the recess by an adhesive.

A filling member made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially the same as that of the material of the outer case is used.

Further, it is characterized in that a filling member having an outer shape such that the total protruding amount in the thickness direction of the outer case is approximately 1 mm or less is used.

Further, it is characterized in that a filling member having an outer shape which does not project from the outer surface of the outer case is used.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a filling member provided with a receiving recess for engaging with the holder of the cartridge accommodating portion is used.

Further, a plurality of filling portions are provided in the filling member, and the filling portions are respectively embedded in the recesses provided at a plurality of positions.

Further, a plurality of filling portions to be embedded in the recesses provided at a plurality of places are connected by a connecting portion arranged along the peripheral side of the exterior case.

Further, a plurality of filling portions embedded in the recesses provided at a plurality of locations are connected by a connecting portion arranged along at least one surface of the outer case.

[0022]

According to the above-mentioned means, since the recess formed at the predetermined position of the disc cartridge standardized by the standard is filled with the filling member, the ejecting amount of the disc cartridge cannot be made large in the disc library apparatus. However, the presence of the recess does not hinder the movement drive of the disc cartridge.

Further, by utilizing the elasticity of the filling member,
It is easy to embed in the recess, and after embedding, the elastic force works to make it difficult to drop off.

Further, by using an adhesive, the filling member can be firmly fixed in the recess.

Even if the temperature of the disc cartridge changes, the thermal expansion coefficient of the outer case and the filling member are substantially the same, so that the degree of deformation due to temperature rise is the same. It can be prevented from falling off.

By preventing the thickness of the filling member from protruding by more than 1 mm from the thickness of the outer case of the disk cartridge, it is possible to prevent the operation of the disk drive unit or the like from affecting the disk cartridge.

Further, since the filling member does not protrude from the outer surface of the outer case, it is possible to prevent an abnormality in the operation of the disk drive unit or the like with respect to the disk cartridge.

Further, since the receiving concave portion of the filling member is engaged with and held by the holding portion of the cartridge housing portion, the disc cartridge can be prevented from dropping from the cartridge housing portion.

Further, since one filling member fills a plurality of recesses, the filling member is supported at a plurality of places, and the filling member is less likely to fall off.

Further, by disposing the connecting portion for connecting the plurality of filling portions of the one filling member along the peripheral side of the outer case or along at least one surface of the outer case, the specifications of the disk drive portion and the like can be improved. Therefore, the filling member can be securely attached so as not to hinder the operation.

[0031]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, in which an optical disk cartridge D is manufactured so as to conform to the ISO standard, and the same members as those explained in FIG. 20 are the same. The reference numerals are given and detailed description is omitted.

In FIG. 1, in the recesses 25a and 25b of the gripper slots formed on both sides of the outer case 20, an adapter 30 which is a filling member made of plastic, rubber, brass, or a composite material of rubber and plastic is used. Is fitted.

The material of the adapter 30 is different from that of the outer case 20 in the degree of deformation due to temperature changes, and thus the concave portion
In order to prevent the material from falling off from 25a and 25b, it is desirable to use a material having the same or substantially the same thermal expansion coefficient as the material (polycarbonate) of the outer case 20. For example, in plastics, polycarbonate (thermal expansion ^{coefficient: 7.0 × 10 ~ 5 cm /} cm ·
℃), polyacetal (coefficient of thermal expansion: 8.1 ~ 8.5 × 10 ~ ⁵ cm /
cm · ° C) is exemplified.

As another adapter material, use of elastic rubber such as EPDM of EP rubber or urethane rubber can be considered. However, as a condition of the rubber used, the tolerance of the recesses 25a and 25b (in ISO, (± 0.3 mm), has an elastic force that is acceptable, does not easily deteriorate, and does not stick out from the upper and lower surfaces when the outer case side is pressed while being fitted in the recesses 25a and 25b. It does not generate a gas that adversely affects the optical disk, etc., and it is suitable that the rubber has a rubber hardness H _S of 50 ° to 75 ° defined by JIS-K6301.

In the optical disk cartridge D of FIG. 1, the outer surface of the outer case 20 and the outer surface of the adapter 30 are flush with each other. As shown in FIG. 19, the side roller is used to pull out the disk cartridge D at the time of ejection. Even if 12 and 13 are used, since the adapter 30 is still embedded in the recesses 25a and 25b of the disc cartridge D, the side roller
The disks 12 and 13 will not enter the recesses 25a and 25b, so that the disk cartridge D can be pulled out stably and reliably. Moreover, since the adapter 30 is only fitted into the recesses 25a and 25b, it does not affect the operation of the disk cartridge D, the disk drive unit, or the like and the dustproof function.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the recess 25a of the outer case 20, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the recess of FIG. 2. The adapter 31 is provided with a pair of elastic claws 31a and 31b. ,
The elastic claws 31a and 31b are elastically contacted with the inner wall of the recess 25a and embedded in the recess 25a, so that attachment and removal can be performed easily and reliably.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a modified example of the adapter, in which a large number of concaves and convexes 32a are formed on both sides of the adapter 32, and the concaves and convexes 32a are made to be eaten by the inner wall of the concave portion 25a. It is attached to 25a.

The adapter 33 shown in FIG. 5 has a large number of irregularities 33a formed on both sides and elastic claw portions 33b formed on one side so that the fitting force of the adapter 33 with respect to the concave portion 25a is further increased. There is.

The adapter 34 shown in FIG. 6 comprises a base portion 34a made of a rubber material and a plate portion 34b made of a relatively hard plastic material fixed to the outside of the base portion 34a.
4a is fitted in the concave portion 25a, and the plate portion 34b is present at the site where it comes into contact with the carrier unit or the hand of the operator.

The adapter 35 shown in the plan view of FIG. 7 and the front view of FIG. 8 has a larger area than the recess 25a on the upper and lower sides of the adapter 31 shown in FIGS. Flat plate portions 35a and 35b joined to the upper and lower surfaces 20a and 20b of the outer case 20 are provided, and the outer case 20 is sandwiched between the flat plate portions 35a and 35b.

However, the upper and lower surfaces of the flat plate portions 35a, 35b
The total protrusion amount H _T protruding from 20a, 20b is about 1 mm or less,
Even if the disk cartridge D is loaded in the disk drive section or the like, the flat plate section 35 is used for the operation of the disk drive section or the like so that the protrusion amount H _S on one side does not exceed 0.5 mm.
A and 35b do not interfere.

The adapter 36 shown in FIG. 9 has elastic claws 36a, 3a.
Irregularities 36c are formed on the outside of 6b, and flat plate portions 36d that are joined to the upper and lower surfaces of the outer case 20 are formed on the upper and lower sides.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part of the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the adapter 40 is filled in a pair of recesses 25a and 25b formed in the outer case 20 of the disk cartridge D, respectively. Connecting part with parts 40a and 40b protruding from both ends
40c, the connecting portion 40c is arranged along the peripheral side 20c of the outer case 20, and the thickness H ₁ of the adapter 40 is the same as or thinner than the thickness H ₂ of the outer case 20 (H ₁ ≤ H ₂ ) so that the adapter 40 does not protrude from the outer case 20 and the adapter 40 is fitted to the outer case 20 at two places, so that the adapter 40 does not easily drop from the outer case 20. I am trying.

Further, like the adapter 41 shown in FIG. 11, a connecting portion for connecting the filling portions 41a, 41b fitted in the recesses 25a, 25b.
The 41c may be arranged along either one of the upper and lower surfaces of the outer case 20.

As shown in FIG. 12, the adapter 42 is
Even if the filling portions 42a and 42b that are made of an elastic material and are inserted into the peripheral side and the upper and lower surfaces of the outer case 20 are formed into the box-shaped body and are fitted into the recesses 25a and 25b, respectively. Good.

Adapters 40-42 shown in FIGS. 10-12 above
The filling parts 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b of FIG.
The specific configuration of the adapters 30 to 36 shown in FIG. 4 can be adopted, and the installation portion of the connecting portions 40c and 41c with respect to the outer case 20 can be operated by the connecting portions 40c and 41c depending on the specifications of the disk driving portion. Set it so that it does not cause any problems.

By the way, each of the cartridge accommodating portions 1 to 3 described with reference to FIG. 18 is provided with a plurality of stages of cartridge holder portions. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the cartridge holder portion, and FIG. 14 is a front view of the cartridge holder portion. Leaf springs 51a and 51b, which are holding bodies, are provided on both sides of the cartridge holder portion 50 so as to face each other. The side of the outer case 20 of the disc cartridge D is held by the pair of leaf springs 51a and 51b.

In the adapter 55 shown in FIG. 15, a receiving recess 56 is formed in a portion corresponding to the leaf springs 51a and 51b in a state where the disk cartridge D is loaded in the cartridge holder portion 50, and the recess of the outer case 20 is formed. Adapter for 25a and 25b
When the disc cartridge D having the 55 fitted therein is loaded in the cartridge holder portion 50, the leaf spring 51 shown in FIGS.
As shown in the plan view and front view in which a and 51b parts are enlarged,
The leaf springs 51a and 51b are inserted into the receiving recesses 56 of the respective adapters 55.

Therefore, the disc cartridge D is securely held by the cartridge holder portion 50, and it is possible to prevent the disc cartridge D from easily coming off due to vibration, impact or the like.

The receiving recesses 56 are filled portions 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 42a, 4 of the adapters 30-36 and the adapters 40-42.
It can also be provided on the side of 2b.

The receiving recess 56 must have a recess width that does not affect the operation of the side rollers 12 and 13 for pulling out the disk cartridge D at the time of ejection shown in FIG. Outer case 20, side rollers 12,
Set according to 13 specifications.

Further, the filling portions 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b of the adapters 30 to 36, 55 and the adapters 40 to 42 have an adhesive layer formed by applying an adhesive to the side portions. hand,
By fixing it to the recesses 25a and 25b of the outer case 20, the adapter 30 to
The 36, 55, 40 to 42 may be firmly attached so as not to easily fall off the outer case 20.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By filling the inside of the concave portion formed at the predetermined position by the standard with the filling member, it is possible to prevent the presence of the concave portion from adversely affecting the movement of the disk cartridge in the disk library apparatus. By using elasticity, it is possible to easily and surely embed in the recess and mount it in the recess, and by firmly fixing the filling member to the recess using an adhesive,
The filling member can be reliably prevented from coming off, and the thermal expansion coefficient of the outer case and the filling member are the same, and the degree of deformation due to temperature change is the same, so that the filling member can be prevented from coming off. In addition, the above-mentioned filling member from the outer case 1
By not projecting more than mm or by not projecting from the outer surface of the outer case,
It is possible to prevent the presence of the filling member from adversely affecting the operation of the disc cartridge with respect to the disc drive unit, and the receiving recess of the filling member and the holding unit of the cartridge housing unit are engaged with each other, so that the disc cartridge is Since the cartridge can be held in the cartridge housing part, the holding property in the cartridge housing part can be kept good even if a filling member is provided, and a plurality of recesses can be filled with one filling member, so that the filling member is supported. Since the number of places is increased, the filling member can be securely mounted, and the connecting portion for connecting the plurality of filling portions is arranged on the peripheral side or the side surface of the outer case according to the specifications of the disk drive unit, etc. Since it is possible to prevent the presence of the disk from adversely affecting the operation of the disk drive section, even if it is a standardized disk cartridge, it is possible to Mobile drive for the disk cartridge it is possible to provide a disk cartridge for an optical disk library unit can be reliably performed stably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a disk cartridge for an optical disk library device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a concave portion of the outer case.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a concave portion of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a modified example of the adapter.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a modified example of the adapter.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a modified example of the adapter.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a modified example of the adapter.

8 is a front view of the adapter portion of FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modified example of the adapter.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the adapter.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the adapter.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a cartridge holder portion.

14 is a front view of the cartridge holder portion of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the adapter.

16 is a plan view of a main portion showing a fitted state of an adapter in the cartridge holder portion of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the main part of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the inside of the optical disc library apparatus as seen through.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing a mechanism for retracting the disc cartridge into the carrier unit.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a part of a conventional optical disc cartridge in a cutaway manner.

[Explanation of symbols]

D ... Disk cartridge, 20 ... Exterior case, 25
a, 25b ... recesses, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41,
42, 55 ... Adapter (filling member), 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b,
42a, 42b ... Filling section, 40c, 41c ... Connecting section, 50 ... Cartridge holder section, 51a, 51b ... Leaf spring (holding body), 56 ...
Receiving recess.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An outer case for a disk cartridge used for an optical disk library device in which a plurality of disk cartridges each containing an optical disk are built-in, and the disk cartridge is inserted into and removed from the disk drive section, the cartridge housing section, or the outside of the apparatus. A disk cartridge for an optical disk library device, wherein a filling member for filling the inside of the concave portion is mounted in the concave portion whose installation is regulated. 2. The disk cartridge for an optical disk library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic filling member is fitted in the recess. 3. The disk cartridge for an optical disk library device according to claim 1, wherein the filling member is fixed to the recess by an adhesive. 4. A disc cartridge for an optical disc library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a filling member made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient substantially the same as that of the material of the outer case is used. 5. The optical disk library device according to claim 1, wherein a filling member having an outer shape such that the total protruding amount in the thickness direction of the outer case is approximately 1 mm or less is used. Disk cartridge. 6. A filling member having an outer shape which does not protrude from the outer surface of the outer case is used.
A disk cartridge for the optical disk library device of 3 or 4. 7. The filling member according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein a receiving recess for engaging with a holder of the cartridge accommodating portion is provided in part. A disk cartridge for an optical disk library device. 8. The filling member is provided with a plurality of filling portions,
The filling section is embedded in each of the recesses provided at a plurality of locations.
A disk cartridge for 5, 6 or 7 optical disk library device. 9. The optical disk library according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of filling portions embedded in the recesses provided at a plurality of locations are connected by a connecting portion arranged along the peripheral side of the outer case. Disk cartridge for the device. 10. The optical disk according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of filling portions embedded in the recesses provided at a plurality of locations are connected by a connecting portion arranged along at least one surface of the outer case. Disk cartridge for library device.