JPH06176524A - Cartridge of information recording or reproducing medium and driving device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a cartridge, to simplify the structure and also to reduce the cost by arranging a shutter spring so as to overlap in planelike with an information recording medium through an isolation means. CONSTITUTION:In the cartridge 10, the shutter spring 6 is arranged so as to overlap in planelike with the recording medium 1 through the isolation means 9 and engaged with the shutter 5 opening/closing the opening 3 of a case 2 to eliminate restriction on the space due to the shutter spring and to allow a free selection of the arm length of the shutter spring 6. By this arrangement, a closing power, stress, size of the opening/closing port, etc., of the shutter 5 are capable of setting to the optimum values for the cartridge, and also the miniaturization of the cartridge in its planar shape and the simplification of the structure are attained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge containing a recording or reproducing medium and its driving device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the cartridge structure shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-45780 is generally known.

[0003]

However, as shown in FIG. 4 of Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 59-45780, the structure is such that a spring for engaging a shutter for opening and closing the opening provided in the cartridge has a recording or reproducing medium. Since it was provided on the same plane as the information recording medium outside the outer shape of the cartridge, it was good if the opening of the cartridge was small, but when trying to enlarge the opening, the freeness of the spring that engages with the shutter If the end moving distance becomes large and this large moving range is configured to be closed by an appropriate spring force, it is necessary to set the arm of the spring to a large value, which causes the cartridge to become large in plan. was there.

Further, the cartridge having the slide type shutter structure described in the above structure has many drawbacks in that it has many components and the cost is high.

Further, the information recording or reproducing drive device using the cartridge having the conventional structure has a complicated structure for opening and closing the shutter, requires high precision, and is costly.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The constitution of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes: 1. an information recording or reproducing medium; a case means for accommodating the information recording medium; a shutter for opening and closing an opening of the case means; A shutter spring that engages with the shutter, and the shutter spring is arranged to overlap the information recording medium in a plane.

2, an information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, a shutter for opening and closing the opening of the case means, a shutter spring engaging with the shutter, the information recording medium and the shutter spring. The shutter spring is disposed so as to be planarly overlapped with the information recording medium via the isolation means.

3, an information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, a rail formed by notching one side of the case means and forming a step, and engaging with the step.
A shutter for opening and closing an opening provided in the case means is fixed to the rail, and the rail and the shutter are prevented from coming off from the case means by the step portion and the shutter coming into contact with the case means. thing.

4. An information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, and a part of the case means is configured to be openable and closable in the thickness direction of the information recording medium, and the information is recorded. A structure in which the case means is provided with an engaging means capable of engaging with an opening / closing means in the drive unit when the recording or reproducing medium cartridge is inserted into the drive unit using the cartridge.

5, an information recording or reproducing medium, and a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, the case means is provided with a plurality of hinges, and the case means can be opened and closed in the thickness direction of the information recording medium. Configured to.

6. An information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, and a thin plate-like cover means for opening and closing the opening of the case means. The opening is formed by utilizing the bending of the cover means. It has a structure that opens and closes.

7. An information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, and a cartridge constructed so that a part of the case means can be opened and closed in the thickness direction of the information recording medium. The opening and closing means for engaging with the engaging means for opening and closing the case means provided in the case means.

8. A medium for recording or reproducing information, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, and a cartridge constructed such that a part of the case means can be opened and closed in the thickness direction of the information recording medium. The opening / closing means for engaging with the engaging means for opening / closing the case means provided in the case means is configured such that a part of the opening / closing means is attachable / detachable to / from the engaging means, and the other part includes the engaging means The structure should open and close in the opening and closing direction.

A cartridge of the above-mentioned information recording or reproducing medium characterized by: or its driving device.

[0015]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cartridge 10 containing an information recording or reproducing medium. 2 is an enlarged partial assembly sectional view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view seen from the shutter side in FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a medium for recording or reproducing information, 2
Has a function of housing the information recording or reproducing medium 1 in a case. Reference numeral 3 denotes an escape means for a known head (optical head or magnetic head) acting on the information recording medium 1 through an opening provided in the case 2. Reference numeral 4 has a function of determining the moving direction of the shutter 5 that opens and closes the opening 3 with a rail, and also has a function of reducing the contact resistance between the rail 4 and the case 2. A shutter 5 is fixed to the rail 4 and has a function of opening and closing the opening 3. Reference numeral 6 denotes a shutter spring. One end side arm A engages with a corner provided inside the case 2, the other end side arm B engages with the rail 4, and the shutter 5
Opens the opening 3 to open the information recording or reproducing medium 1
Has a function of generating a closing force when the shutter 5 closes the opening 3 when the cartridge 10 is taken out from the information recording or reproducing apparatus using the cartridge after the head has accessed.

The operation will be described. The cartridge 10 having the above-mentioned structure is taken out from the information recording or reproducing device (that is, the driving device), and the cartridge 1
It is well known that when it is handled as 0, it is in the state of FIG. That is, the information recording or reproducing medium 1 is housed inside the case 2, and the opening 3 of the case 2 is also closed by the shutter 5. This is because the spring force generated by the shutter spring 6 installed inside the case 2 acts on the shutter 5 via the rail 4.

In this state, the user
However, since the information recording or reproducing medium 1 is completely surrounded by the case 2 and the shutter 5 as described above, the fingerprint of the user does not adhere to the medium 1 and dust is generated. Does not enter. Further, since the spring force acts on the shutter 5, the shutter 5 can maintain the closed state even if the cartridge 10 is shaken or some shock is applied.

The cartridge 10 is inserted into a well-known information recording or reproducing device using the cartridge.
Then, as is well known, the open lever 50 for opening the shutter 5 engages with the groove 7 provided on the side of the rail 4 constituting the cartridge 10. The tip of the open lever 50 contacts the edge 2a of the case 2 and rotates left about a rotation center 40 provided on the apparatus side. By the rotation, the rail 4 also moves in the direction of the arrow 30 of the cartridge 10, and the shutter 5 fixed to the rail 4 opens the opening 3. The rail 4 is a step portion 2 formed in a cutout portion on one side of the case 2.
It is guided by b and 2c, and a part of it is exposed from the cutout portion, but it is 31, 3 due to the engagement with the stepped portions 2b and 2c.
It does not fall in the direction of 2. However, the rail 4
When the rail 4 is rotated in the direction of 34 with the shutter 5 not fixed (Kosil), there is a risk that the rail 4 will fall out of the case 2. This is because the shutter 5 is fixed by the screw 20. You need to be careful before you do this, and there is no danger of such a drop if you consider it in the manufacturing plant.
In addition, the shutter 5 is attached to the rail 4 by the screw 20.
If the rail 4 and the shutter 5 are fixed in the case 2, the rail 4 and the shutter 5 can be prevented from rotating in the direction of 34 because the 5a portion of the shutter 5 abuts on the case 2. Direction, or the opposite direction, the shutter 5 operates stably. Therefore, the shutter 5 and the rail 4 do not fall off during the use of the user.

During the opening operation of the rail 4 and the shutter 5, the shutter spring 6 engaged with the rail 4 and overlapped in the thickness direction of the information recording or reproducing medium 1 is bent. The shutter spring 6 stores a restoring force. At this time, the shutter spring 6 is deformed and moved as shown by an imaginary line in FIG.

The opening 3 provided in the cartridge 10 must be set large when the head for accessing the opening is large, and therefore, the moving range of the shutter 5 is also large. If the movement amount is large, it becomes difficult to design the shutter spring 6 that generates the appropriate closing force over the entire movement range. This is because, when the minimum closing force in the closed state is secured by the initial bending, the stress generated when the spring is maximally bent increases due to the relationship between the closing force and the space.

This is still difficult when an attempt is made to dispose the information recording medium and the spring on the same plane as the information recording medium by removing the information recording medium and the spring from the outer shape of the information recording medium as in the conventional spring arrangement. It is also possible.

However, as in the present invention, the shutter spring 6 is overlapped with the information recording medium 1 in plan view so that the planar shape of the shutter spring 6 is not limited by space. Therefore, the arm length of the shutter spring 6 can be freely selected, and the closing force, stress, opening width, etc. can be set to the optimum values of the cartridge. Since the information recording medium 1 is arranged so as to overlap in a plane, the plane shape of the cartridge 10 can be set small. (Embodiment 2) In addition to the above arrangement, the structure of the cartridge 10 is also characterized in that the two separating means 9 are arranged between the information recording medium 1 and the shutter spring 6.

The structure, action and effect will be described in detail below.

The basic structure of the present invention described in the first embodiment has the above-mentioned effect because the information recording medium 1 and the shutter spring 6 are arranged so as to overlap each other in the plane of the information recording medium 1 as described above. With the arrangement as it is, the shutter spring 6 moves above the information recording medium 1 every time the shutter operates.

As described above, the shutter spring 6 does not open the shutter 5 due to an impact or the like even if it is transported to the user with the opening 3 closed.
Even if there is variation in the dimensions of the engaging portion between the case 2 and the rail 4, the minimum value is determined because the sliding operation of the rail must be completed. Then, the maximum value of the closing force of the shutter spring 6 is determined by the spring constant determined from the shape of the shutter spring 6 and the moving range of the rail 4 and the shutter 5, and the maximum generated force is determined. However, as described above, when the opening 3 of the case 2 is large, the maximum generated force also becomes large.

Designed with consideration as described above in the present invention,
Even if the stress of the shutter spring 6 can be set within the allowable stress range, it is not unusual for the maximum force to reach several times the minimum force. When the shutter spring 6 (torsion coil spring) generates the maximum force, the thickness of the information recording medium 1 of the arm A forming one end of the shutter spring 6 and the arm B forming the other end (free end side) Due to the difference in height between the directions (shown in FIG. 2), the shutter spring 6 receives a moment and tilts. As shown in FIG. 2, the shutter spring 6
Since the upper part (arm B) is guided by the case 2, the shutter spring 6 does not tilt further, but the tilt causes the shutter spring 6 to operate while rubbing the inner wall of the case 2. . By repeating this many times, the shutter spring 6 scrapes the inner wall of the case 2 to generate chips. When the cutting chips adhere to the information recording medium 1, the read performance of the information recorded on the information recording medium 1 or the write performance of the information recorded on the information recording medium 1 is greatly affected. Further, when the shutter spring 6 is tilted in the opposite direction, the part A side or the circular part of the shutter spring 6 comes into contact with the information recording medium 1 and damages the information recording medium 1. Alternatively, it becomes a load when the information recording medium 1 is driven by a well-known drive means such as a spindle motor in the drive device using the information recording medium 1.

Therefore, in the present invention, an isolation wall 2d is integrally arranged from the case 2 between the shutter spring 6 installed above the information recording medium 1 and the information recording medium 1,
The isolation means 9 was adhesively fixed to the upper portion of the isolation wall 2d.
By doing so, it is possible not only to prevent the chips from moving toward the information recording medium 1 but also to prevent the shutter spring 6 from tilting toward the information recording medium 1 and rubbing against the information recording medium 1. When the cartridge 10 is assembled at the factory, the information recording medium 1 is placed in the case 2.
When the rail 4 is installed and the shutter spring 6 is to be engaged with the rail 4, the shutter spring 6 is disengaged from the rail 4, or the shutter spring 6 and the case 2 are disengaged. And the shutter spring 6 pops out and comes into contact with the information recording medium 1,
It is also possible to prevent the information recording medium 1 from being damaged.

Further, according to this structure, as shown in FIG. 2, the case 2 is divided into upper and lower parts at a position approximately half the thickness, and the information recording medium 1 and the rail 4 are incorporated in the lower case at the time of assembly. It is also possible to turn the upper case over, and fix the shutter spring 6 and the isolation means 9 in the back case by fixing them by adhesion or the like, and combine these two units. Is even bigger.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a part of the cartridge 10 and the information recording / reproducing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the back side of the cartridge 10 and a perspective view of the cap.

Reference numeral 1 is an information recording medium, 2 is an upper case, and 200
Is a lower case and 2h is an engaging means provided on the side of the upper case. Reference numeral 300 denotes an information recording or reproducing apparatus to which the cartridge 10 having the structure can be attached, and 301 denotes the engaging means 2
Opening / closing means for engaging with h to open / close the upper case 2.

When the cartridge 10 having the structure is inserted into the accommodating space such as a well-known holder of the information recording or reproducing apparatus 300 which can be used in the cartridge 10, the upper case 2 of the cartridge 10 is constructed. The engaging means 2h engages with the groove of the opening / closing means 301 of the drive device 300 at the opening of the groove.

When the cartridge 10 is further inserted deeply, the engaging means 2h slides in the groove of the opening / closing means 301, so that the upper case 2 has the hinge 2i with respect to the lower case 200. The recording or reproducing medium 1 housed inside is exposed by rotating to the center and opening up to the position of the imaginary line. If the access opening 3 for the head is provided in the lower case 200 as shown in FIG. 6, the head for the information recording medium can be accessed from the vertical direction of the information recording medium 1 or from either one of them. Then, information can be read from the information recording medium 1 or information can be recorded on the information recording medium 1.

After the information recording or reproducing operation, the device 300
If the cartridge 10 is configured to be movable in the direction opposite to the insertion direction by operating an operation button or the like (not shown) provided on the upper case 2, the opening / closing means 301 moves to the upper case 2. In order to move the engaging means 2h in the opposite direction, the upper case 2 is moved to the lower case 20.
The hinge 2i of 0 is used as the center of rotation for the closing operation. The cartridge 10 is completely closed when it comes out of the opening of the groove of the opening / closing means 301 and is completely removed from the device 300.

If a well-known concavo-convex portion is formed in the facing portion of the lower case 200 and the upper case 2, and a structure for elastically engaging these is provided, the closed state is maintained and the cartridge 10 Even if some shock or the like is applied to the closed state, the closed state continues and the information recording medium 1 cannot be touched by dust from above, or even if the user tries to touch it from above.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the cartridge 10 seen from the back side. When the cartridge 10 is left for a long time, dust may enter through the head access opening 3 on the back side. . Therefore, it is effective to cover the cartridge 10 with a cardboard or a cap 400 made of resin. In this case, if the software name, brand name, etc. of the cartridge 10 are displayed on the cap 400, it can be displayed as it is at the storefront of a retail store, and thus a part of the packing material can also be used as the cap of the cartridge 10. Is also possible.
The cap 400 also has a function of strengthening the locking action to prevent the cartridge 10 from being opened accidentally while being carried.

4 and 5 show a pin-shaped engaging means 2h on the side of the case 2, and a groove engageable with the pin is shown in the opening / closing means 301 on the driving device side. By the cam action in the case means 2
Although the structure for opening and closing is described, even if the protrusion such as the pin is on the side of the drive device and the groove is on the side of the case means, or the case means 2 is directly connected to the opening and closing means 301.
It is also possible to open and close using the slope of.

The cartridge 10 shown in the third embodiment does not have the shutter 5, the rail 4, the shutter spring 6, the screw 20 and the like shown in the conventional example or the first embodiment. Therefore, the structure can be simplified and the cost of the cartridge 10 can be reduced. Further, the drive device 300 corresponding to the cartridge 10 does not need the open lever 50 on the holder and the spring (not shown in the drawings) for restoring the open lever 50, which is shown in the first embodiment. The structure of the drive device 300 is also simplified. Also, the opening / closing means 30
1 does not need to move with respect to the driving device 300 and can be configured as a fixed member, so that the reliability is high.

(Embodiment 4) An example in which a plurality of hinges are provided on the upper case 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The cartridge 10 having the structure shown in the third embodiment.
In particular, when the upper case 2 is to be widened with respect to the lower case 200, the tip of the upper case 2 occupies a space in the thickness direction of the information recording medium 1 as shown in FIG. The drive device using the cartridge 10 becomes large. Therefore, as Embodiment 4 of the present invention, resin-integrated hinges 2i, 2j are formed in the case 2 as shown in FIG.

By doing so, the cartridge 10
When the cartridge is inserted into the drive device corresponding to the cartridge 10, the engaging means 2h of the case 2 engages with the opening / closing means 301 of the drive device in the same manner as described above, and the case is inserted in accordance with the inserting operation of the cartridge 10. Part or all of 2 opens using the hinge 2i as a fulcrum. When the tip portion of the case 2 comes into contact with the stopper 302, which is a part of the apparatus, the case 2 bends in a Z shape with the hinge 2j as a fulcrum, and the head is different from that of the third embodiment. While producing the same effect, the disadvantage of thickening the driving device found in the third embodiment is eliminated. This is an effect of providing a plurality of hinges on the cartridge. In this case, it is possible to select which of the hinges is to be operated first depending on which position of the hinges at the plurality of positions the engaging means 2h is located. Therefore, various opening operations can be set.

FIG. 7 shows the resin-integrated type as the hinge structure, but the invention is not limited to this, and the pin and hole combination type shown in FIG. It does not deviate.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 8 shows an application example of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 is an information recording medium, 2 is a cover means which is a case means formed of a metal plate, 200 is a lower case, 2
10 is a fixing means for the cover means 2 which is integrally provided from the lower case 200, 2h is the engaging means, 300 is the drive device, and 301 is the opening / closing means in the drive device.

When the cartridge 10 having the above structure is inserted into the information recording or reproducing apparatus which is a driving device, the opening / closing means 301 is engaged with the engaging means 2h of the cartridge 10 to cause the cover means 2 to move. It opens while flexing. The tip of the cover means 2 is the stopper 3
When it comes into contact with 02, the cover means 2 is deformed in the drive as indicated by the phantom line.

The above-described head can access the space thus opened or the opening provided in the lower case 200. Also in this structure, the fourth embodiment
In addition to the effect of reducing the thickness of the device, the cost can be reduced by simplifying the structure, which is a great effect.

When the cartridge 10 is ejected, by the operation opposite to the inserting operation of the cartridge 10, the opening / closing means 301 causes the engaging portion 2h.
Since the amount of bending of the cover means 2 decreases, the cover means 2
Returns by its spring force, and the cover means 2 is completely closed when it is taken out from the drive device 300.
Dust, fingers, etc. cannot enter from the space formed at the time of opening. If necessary, the cap 400 and the like can be provided together.

Further, in the structure, if the cover means 2 has a slight initial deflection so as to generate a closing force in the closed state of the cover means 2, a gap is opened during the transportation. It won't end up.

Further, in order to make a part of the cover means 2 act in the same manner as the above-mentioned hinge, if the planar shape thereof is narrowed or the thickness thereof is changed, the deformed portion at the time of bending is limited. It is also possible to do.

Further, the upper case or the cover means 2 shown in the third, fourth and fifth embodiments has been described as having a structure for opening and closing substantially the entire width of the cartridge 10, but opening and closing by a necessary width corresponding to the head described above. It may have a structure that allows it.

The present invention and the application examples of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these, and the present invention may be applied to any structure, combination, or structure inferred therefrom. It is possible to produce the same operation and the same effect within the same, and such a thing does not depart from the gist of the present invention.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, each of the features described in each of the embodiments is provided, fingers and dust are prevented from entering, and the structure is simplified, the size is reduced, and the cost is reduced. It has advantages such as down.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cartridge 1 according to Examples 1 and 2 of the invention.
FIG.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial assembly sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view seen from the shutter side in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a cartridge 10 showing a third embodiment of the present invention and a drive device corresponding to the cartridge 10.

5 is a front view of the cartridge 10 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the cartridge 10 of FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the cartridge 10 showing Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cartridge 10 showing Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Information recording medium 2: Case or cover means 2h: Engagement means of case 3: Opening of case 4: Rail 5: Shutter 6: Shutter spring 7: Groove 9: Separation means 10: Cartridge 20: Screw 200: Lower case 300: Device for recording or reproducing information (driving device) 301: Opening / closing means 400: Cap

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, a shutter for opening and closing an opening of the case means, and a shutter spring engaging with the shutter, wherein the shutter spring is the information. A cartridge for an information recording or reproducing medium, which is arranged so as to overlap with a recording medium in a plane. 2. An information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, a shutter for opening and closing the opening of the case means, a shutter spring engaging with the shutter, the information recording medium and the shutter spring. A cartridge for an information recording or reproducing medium, characterized in that the cartridge comprises an isolation means for isolating the space, and the shutter spring is arranged to overlap the information recording medium in a plane manner via the isolation means. 3. An information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, a rail formed by cutting out one side of the case means and forming a step and engaging with the step, and the rail. A shutter that opens and closes an opening provided in the case means is fixed, and the rail and the shutter are prevented from falling off from the case means when the step portion and the shutter come into contact with the case means. Cartridge of information recording or reproducing medium. 4. An information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, a part of the case means being configured to be openable and closable in the thickness direction of the information recording medium, and the information. Information recording characterized by a structure in which the case means is provided with an engaging means capable of engaging with an opening / closing means in the drive unit when the cartridge for recording or reproducing medium is inserted into the drive unit using the cartridge. Or a cartridge of a reproducing medium. 5. An information recording or reproducing medium, and a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, wherein the case means is provided with a plurality of hinges, and the case means can be opened and closed in the thickness direction of the information recording medium. A cartridge for an information recording or reproducing medium, which is characterized in that 6. An information recording or reproducing medium, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, and a thin plate-like cover means for opening and closing the opening of the case means, wherein the opening is formed by utilizing the bending of the cover means. A cartridge for an information recording or reproducing medium having a structure for opening and closing. 7. A cartridge for information recording or reproducing, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, and a cartridge constructed so that a part of the case means can be opened and closed in the thickness direction of the information recording medium. The drive device for the information recording or reproducing medium, further comprising: an opening / closing means for engaging with the opening / closing engaging means provided in the case means. 8. A cartridge for information recording or reproduction, a case means for accommodating the information recording medium, and a cartridge constructed so that a part of the case means can be opened and closed in the thickness direction of the information recording medium. The opening / closing means for engaging with the engaging means for opening / closing the case means provided in the case means is configured such that a part of the opening / closing means is attachable / detachable to / from the engaging means, and the other part includes the engaging means. The drive device for the information recording or reproducing medium, which is structured to open and close in the opening and closing direction.