JPH08124234A - Magnetooptic disc drive - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To shorten the time required for replacing the cartridge by employing direct access system. CONSTITUTION: A cartridge 4 is fixed directly to and detachably from the spindle motor 15 part at the disc drive part 7 by means of a carriage 5 for holding and carrying the cartridge 4. A plate 9 provided with a magnetic head 11 can be shifted through a plate drive section 18 between a position close to a magnetooptic disc 3 in the cartridge 4 and a position on the outside of the operating area of the carriage 5 thus imparting a field to a magnetooptic disc 3 and shifting the carriage 5 smoothly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magneto-optical disk drive device capable of recording, erasing and reproducing information on a magneto-optical disk stored in a plurality of cartridges.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a magneto-optical disk drive device having a storage body (stocker) for storing a plurality of cartridges, which is provided with a so-called front loading mechanism, a cartridge pulled out from the stocker is transferred to a transfer body.
The cartridge is carried to the front surface of the disk drive unit by the (carriage), and then the cartridge is attached and detached by the loading mechanism mounted on the disk drive unit.
The time required for the attachment / detachment is usually about 2 seconds, and accounts for most of the cartridge exchange time, which is the most important of the required characteristics (specifications) for this type of drive device.

Further, in a magneto-optical disk drive device having a storage body, it is necessary to increase the number of times the cartridge is loaded and unloaded by the loading mechanism because it is premised on sequentially replacing a plurality of cartridges with respect to the disk drive unit. However, in a device that does not have a housing, the life of the disk drive is set to 20,000 times, whereas in a device that has a housing, a life of 600,000 times or more is required in recent years. ing. In order to obtain such a high service life, it is necessary to give special consideration to the material and processing accuracy of the parts constituting the driving part and the sliding part in the loading mechanism, and the loading mechanism becomes very expensive. . However, even if special consideration is given to the parts that make up the drive part and the sliding part, the loading mechanism
At present, it is not always possible to satisfy the number of times of service required in the market.

Reducing the cartridge mounting / removing time is effective in shortening the cartridge replacement time. Further, if the loading mechanism can be eliminated in the disk drive section, the number of times the loading mechanism is used becomes a problem. Solve. Therefore, a so-called direct access method has been proposed in which the cartridge is directly attached to and detached from the disk drive unit by the carriage without using the front loading mechanism.

For example, in the large-capacity disk storage device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-165364, the cartridge drive mechanism is eliminated in the disk drive device so that the cartridge can be loaded and unloaded by a vertically moving loading device. The cartridge replacement time is shortened by the amount by which the cartridge pull-in operation in the apparatus is eliminated.

[0006]

In the conventional large-capacity disk storage device described above, the effect of shortening the cartridge replacement time is small, although the structure of each part is complicated.

Further, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, since the magnetic head for applying a bias magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk needs to be arranged on the upper surface of the magneto-optical disk, the known direct access method cannot be used as it is.

Further, in the direct access type magneto-optical disk drive device, when information is recorded / reproduced on both sides of the magneto-optical disk, it is necessary to provide a cartridge reversing mechanism on the transfer body. However, by providing the transfer body with the reversing mechanism, there is a concern that the replacement time of the cartridge with respect to the disk drive unit will increase, and the reliability and durability of the device will decrease.

An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable magneto-optical disk drive device which uses a direct access system and can shorten the cartridge exchange time, and can record and reproduce data on both sides of the magneto-optical disk. To provide.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a magneto-optical disk drive device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a storage body capable of storing a plurality of cartridges storing magneto-optical disks. A magneto-optical disk drive device, comprising: a storage body and a transfer body for transferring the cartridge between the disk drive units, wherein the cartridge can be directly attached to and detached from a rotary drive body forming the disk drive unit by the transfer body. A support provided with a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk stored in the disk is moved to a first position in the vicinity of the magneto-optical disk when the rotation driving body is rotated, and It is characterized in that it is provided with a driving body for moving to a second position outside the operating range of the transfer body when it is not rotating.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magneto-optical disk drive device in which the working surface of the magnetic head with respect to the magneto-optical disk has a predetermined distance when the support is moved to the first position. It is characterized in that the supporting body is provided with a protruding portion for abutting and positioning a part of the main body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, an elastic portion for pressing the cartridge toward the disk drive portion is provided on the support body when the support body moves to the first position. Is characterized by.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magneto-optical disk drive device, wherein in the magneto-optical disk drive device, a support provided with a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk stored in the cartridge is provided in the cartridge. A space between the outer circumference of the magneto-optical disk and the inner wall of the cartridge and a part of the transfer body are installed so as to pass through, and the support and the passable position with respect to the space and the transfer body and a position near the magneto-optical disk. It is characterized in that a driving body for moving the support body is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, the magneto-optical disk drive device is provided in the disk drive portion so as to be movable in the radial direction of the magneto-optical disk, and emits a light beam for recording and reproduction. A magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk is provided at a position in the optical head that does not interfere with the light beam.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magneto-optical disk drive device, wherein in the magneto-optical disk drive device, a spindle motor is used as a rotation driving body, and at least a rotor portion of the spindle motor is installed at a portion where the spindle motor is installed in the disk drive unit. It is characterized in that a spare space is installed so as not to interfere with the.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magneto-optical disk drive device in which information is stored in a storage body capable of storing a plurality of cartridges storing the magneto-optical disk and a magneto-optical disk mounted on a spindle motor. In a magneto-optical disk drive device comprising a disk drive section for recording, erasing or reproducing data, and a transfer body for transferring the cartridge between the storage body and the disk drive section, a mounting section for the magneto-optical disk of the spindle motor. Is arranged on the movement path of the hub of the magneto-optical disk transferred by the transfer body, and the transfer body transfers the cartridge to the disk drive unit to attach the hub of the magneto-optical disk to the mounting portion of the spindle motor. Spin the magneto-optical disk hub by mounting it directly and separating the cartridge from the disk drive. And wherein the disconnecting directly from the mounting portion of Rumota.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magneto-optical disk drive device, wherein a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk housed in a cartridge is provided to the magneto-optical disk when the magneto-optical disk is mounted on the spindle motor. Is provided to the first position where it can be applied, and when the transfer body is moved, it is equipped with a drive body for retracting it to a second position outside the operating range of the transfer body.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magneto-optical disk drive device in which a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk stored in the cartridge is arranged outside the operating range of the transfer body.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, the transfer body has a shutter opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing a shutter arranged in an opening for exposing the magneto-optical disk to the outside in the cartridge. Characterize.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magneto-optical disk drive device, wherein an opening is provided in the main body of the apparatus for inserting and removing the cartridge from the outside of the main body of the apparatus, and a door arranged to be openable and closable in the opening. Is provided.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, one end of the cartridge on the side where the shutter is arranged opposes the operation area of the transfer body, and the other end of the cartridge opposes the main body of the device. It is characterized in that it is housed in the housing so as to face the opening.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, the door is transparent so that the display of the cartridge inside the housing and the other end of the cartridge can be visually recognized.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, a unique recognition symbol is set for each of a plurality of slots in the storage body, each slot holding one cartridge, and each of the slots corresponds to the plurality of slots. It is characterized in that the recognition symbol is displayed at the position.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, the disk drive parts are arranged at both ends of the operation area of the transfer body, the mounting parts of the spindle motors are opposed to each other, and the cartridge is held. The moving body is moved in the horizontal direction in the operation area, and the magneto-optical disk is attached to and detached from the spindle motor.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the magneto-optical disk drive device, the disk drive portions are arranged at both ends of the operation area of the transfer body, the mounting portions of the spindle motors are opposed to each other, and the cartridge is held. The moving body is moved in the vertical direction in the operation area, and the magneto-optical disk is attached to and detached from the spindle motor.

[0026]

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of claim 1 of the present invention, the cartridge is directly attached to and detached from the rotary drive body of the disk drive section (direct access).
In order not to hinder the operation of the transfer body, the support provided with the magnetic head is retracted outside the operating range of the transfer body, and the support is brought close to the magneto-optical disk when the magneto-optical disk is rotationally driven. By moving it to the position, it is possible to apply a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk by the magnetic head.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the second aspect, even if the magnetic head is moved as described above, the protrusion provided on the support member and a part of the device main body contact each other. Thus, the magneto-optical disk and the working surface of the magnetic head can be accurately positioned.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the third aspect, the elastic portion provided on the support body holds the cartridge by pressing it to a predetermined position of the disk drive portion.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the fourth aspect, the support provided with the magnetic head is constructed so that a part of the cartridge and the transfer body can pass therethrough, thereby obstructing direct access. Moreover, after the cartridge is set at the predetermined position, the transfer body can be moved regardless of the support body and the magnetic head, and another cartridge can be set.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the fifth aspect, by mounting the magnetic head on the optical head, direct access becomes possible without the above-mentioned magnetic head retracting structure.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the sixth aspect, by installing a spare space in the installation portion of the spindle motor in the disk drive section, it becomes possible to replace with a large spindle motor with high torque. By this replacement, the start-up and stop times of the spindle motor are shortened, and as a result, the cartridge replacement time is shortened.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the present invention, the magneto-optical disk can be directly attached / detached to / from the spindle motor by the transfer body without using a loading mechanism in the disk drive section, and the disk drive section is provided. This eliminates the need for a loading operation in the cartridge and shortens the cartridge replacement time.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the eighth aspect, when the transfer body is moved, the magnetic head does not hinder the operation of the transfer body for directly attaching and detaching the magneto-optical disk to the spindle motor. As described above, the magnetic head moves to the first position where the magnetic head can be applied to the magneto-optical disk when the magneto-optical disk is mounted on the spindle motor. .

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the ninth aspect, the magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk housed in the cartridge is arranged outside the operating range of the transfer body. Direct access is possible without a retracting structure, and the time for moving the magnetic head after cartridge mounting is unnecessary.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the tenth aspect, the transfer body can open the shutter of the cartridge while transferring the cartridge to the disk drive section.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the eleventh aspect, the user can open the door of the main body of the apparatus and directly insert or remove the cartridge from the outside of the main body of the apparatus into or from the container.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the twelfth aspect, the user can insert and remove the cartridge into and from the container by grasping the other end of the shutter, which is generally the handling part of the cartridge. Become.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the thirteenth aspect, the user can visually recognize the display of the cartridge inside the housing and the other end of the cartridge through the closed door.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus of the fourteenth aspect, the user visually recognizes the recognition symbols corresponding to the plurality of slots of the container, and the presence or absence of the cartridge in each slot or the cartridge identification in correspondence with the recognition number. It becomes possible to confirm the display.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the fifteenth aspect, the transfer body holding the cartridge can be moved in the horizontal direction in the operation area to attach / detach the magneto-optical disk to / from the spindle motor.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the sixteenth aspect, the transfer body holding the cartridge can be moved in the vertical direction in the operation range to attach / detach the magneto-optical disk to / from the spindle motor.

[0042]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a part of a main part in a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an apparatus main body, 2 is a storage body capable of storing a plurality of cartridges 4 in which magneto-optical disks 3 are stored ( A stocker 5 is a transfer body (carriage) capable of reciprocating (arrow A direction) on the cartridge inlet / outlet 2a side of the stocker 2, 6 and 7 are installed at both outer ends of the moving range of the carriage 5, and A first disk drive section and a second disk drive section for performing recording, erasing, and reproducing on the magneto-optical disk 3, and 8 and 9 are one side of the first disk drive section 6 and the second disk drive section 7. To the department
A plate that is a support body that is rotatably provided,
Reference numerals 10 and 11 denote magnetic heads fixed to the plates 8 and 9, respectively, for applying a bias magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk 3 during recording and erasing, and 18 denotes a plate driving section.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment in more detail. The stocker 2 has a cartridge 4 on the upper and lower inner walls.
A plurality of guide grooves 12a, 12b for guiding the storage of
The cartridge 4 is inserted into the slot portion formed between the upper and lower guide grooves 12a and 12b facing each other. The carriage 5 is a pair of guide shafts that are movable in the direction of arrow A.
It is supported by 13, 14 and driven by a driving means (not shown).

Further, in the first disk drive section 6 and the second disk drive section 7, a spindle motor 15 which is a rotary driving body for rotationally driving the magneto-optical disk 3 and a known method for the magneto-optical disk 3 are provided. An optical head 16 that focuses a light beam to exchange information such as recording and reproduction, a linear motor 17 that moves the optical head 16 in the radial direction of the magneto-optical disk 3, and the like are installed. Further, the spindle motor 15 supports a mounting portion 15a that is attached to and detached from the hub 3a of the magneto-optical disk 3, and the first disk drive portion 6 and the second disk drive portion 7 are mounted with their respective spindle motors 15. The parts 15a face each other.

On each side of the plates 8 and 9 provided with the magnetic heads 10 and 11 (only one is shown in FIG. 2),
A plate driving unit 18 including a motor and a gear group is provided.
Is moved close to the magneto-optical disk 3 to a first position where magnetic fields can be applied by the magnetic heads 10 and 11, and is retracted to a second position (state of FIG. 2) outside the operating range of the carriage 5. .

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the stocker and the carriage portion in the first embodiment. The stocker 2 is opened / closed on the outer side of the apparatus main body 1 for loading / unloading the cartridge 4 to / from the stocker 2. A door 20 made of a semi-transparent material is rotatably provided, and one end surface of the stocker 2 in which the concave engaging portion 22a of the shutter 22 is disposed is made to face the operation area of the carriage 5, A label 21 is attached to the other end surface of the door 20 opposite to the end surface, and a shutter 22 for opening and closing an access opening 4a formed on a flat surface is slidably provided in the cartridge 4. There is.

The door 20 is transparent so that the display of characters and the like written on the cartridge 4 and the label 21 inside the door 20 can be sufficiently recognized, and the cartridge 4 can be visually recognized by the user.
Since it is possible to confirm the direction of the, the information content, etc., it is possible to perform the search more effectively. Further, the stocker 2 is formed with a plurality of slots for holding the cartridge 4 by the guide grooves 12a and 12b as described above, and the characters are located at positions corresponding to the plurality of slots and visible through the door 20. The recognition symbol such as is displayed. These identification symbols are set in the control unit (not shown) corresponding to the plurality of slots, and the user inputs the identification symbols together with the operation signal to cause the carriage 5 to input the cartridge 4 to the desired slot. Can be taken out or stored. Of course, these recognition symbols do not necessarily have to be displayed on the stocker 2, and may be displayed near the door 20 on the exterior surface of the apparatus body.

Further, a pair of levers 23 having a V-shape in side view are provided on the side of the carriage 5, one end of which is engaged with a concave engaging portion 22a provided on the shutter 22 to move the shutter 22 in the opening direction. , 24 are rotatably supported at their central portions. At the other end of each of the levers 23 and 24, a spring 2 that urges the levers 23 and 24 in the direction in which the shutter 22 is closed.
5, 26 are provided. Here, the levers 23 and 24 and the springs 25 and 26 constitute a shutter opening / closing mechanism.

In the first embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, when a signal relating to recording, erasing, and reproducing is output to the control unit (not shown), the carriage 5 has the cartridge inlet / outlet of the stocker 2 storing the cartridge 4 desired by the user. The cartridge 4 is moved before 2a, and the corresponding cartridge 4 is transferred to the carriage 5 and fixed to the carriage 5.

In the above-described state, as shown in FIG. 3, the concave engagement portion 22a of the shutter 22 is moved in the direction of the arrow B of the cartridge 4 so that the lever 2 of either one of the levers 2 in the carriage 5 is moved.
It engages with the tips of 3, 24 (the upper lever 23 in this embodiment). The levers 23 and 24 are inward (directions of arrows C and D) when the cartridge 4 is further transferred in the direction of arrow B.
It will rotate to. As a result, the shutter 22 is indicated by arrow E.
The shutter 22 completely opens the opening 4a in the state where the cartridge 4 is fixed in the carriage 5 by moving in the direction. At this time, the carriage 5 fixes the cartridge 4 at a position where the rotation centers of the magneto-optical disk 3 and the spindle motor 15 coincide with each other, and moves between the disk drive units 6 and 7. The mounting portion 15a of the spindle motor 15 is arranged on the locus of the hub 3a of the magneto-optical disk 3 transferred by the carriage 5.

Then, with the shutter 22 of the cartridge 4 opening the opening 4a, depending on the surface (A surface or B surface) of the magneto-optical disk 3 to be accessed, the first disk drive section 6 or the second disk drive section 7 is selected. The carriage 5 is moved to either one of the above.

When the carriage 5 is moved to a predetermined position in any one of the disk drive units 6 and 7 that is selectively used, the cartridge 4 in the carriage 5 has the opening 4
Since a is open and the magneto-optical disc 3 is exposed at the opening 4a over the entire center of rotation and the radial direction, the hub 3a of the magneto-optical disc 3 is attached to the mounting portion 15a of the spindle motor 15. The magneto-optical disk 3 can be accessed by the optical head 16 and the plate 8 drives the plate 8 during recording and erasing.
The magneto-optical disk 3 is driven from the position shown in FIG.
The magnetic head 10 is positioned in the notch 5a of the carriage 5 in FIG. 3 so that a magnetic field is applied from the magnetic head 10 to the magneto-optical disk 3.

When the cartridge 4 is returned to the stocker 2, after stopping the operation of the disk drive units 6 and 7,
By separating the cartridge 4 from the disk drive units 6 and 7 by the carriage 5, the hub 3a is attached to the mounting unit 1.
5a, the carriage 5 is further moved to the target cartridge inlet / outlet 2a of the stocker 2 and the cartridge 4 is transferred into the stocker 2, so that the concave engagement portion 22a of the shutter 22 and the levers 23 and 24 of the carriage 5 are connected. Since the engagement is released, the shutter 22 returns in the direction of closing the opening 4a.

When the cartridge 4 is returned to the stocker 2, if the stocker 2 has an empty slot in which other cartridges are not stored, it is not always necessary to return the cartridge to the original slot, and it can be stored in any slot. Is.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to the operation of the main part of the first embodiment. The carriage 5 holding the cartridge 4 moves to either one of the disk drive parts 6 and 7, and the magneto-optical disk 3 is moved. Spindle motor 15
When it is chucked (S1), the spindle motor 15 starts rotating (S2). In conjunction with this rotation, the plate drive unit 18 is operated to move the plates 8 and 9 to the first position in the cartridge 4 which is close to the magneto-optical disk 3.
(S3). By the time the spindle motor 15 reaches the steady rotation, the movement to the first position is completed, and in this state, the magnetic fields of the magnetic heads 10 and 11 are applied to the magneto-optical disk 3 to perform recording / erasing. It is ready (S4).

When the recording / erasing on the magneto-optical disk 3 is completed (S5), the rotation of the spindle motor 15 is stopped.
(S6), in conjunction with this rotation stop, the plate driving unit 18 is operated to move the plates 8 and 9 to the second position outside the operating range of the carriage 5 (S7), and the carriage 5 is returned to the cartridge 4 to return it to the stocker. Move to 2 (S8). The movement to the second position is completed before the rotation of the spindle motor 15 is stopped, and the magneto-optical disk 3 is completely stopped when the carriage 5 is moved, which hinders the operation of the carriage 5. In addition, unnecessary contact of the magneto-optical disk 3 with the inner wall of the cartridge 4 is prevented.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the details of the disk drive section and the plate section, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the member shown in FIG. 5, facing the disk drive sections 6 and 7 of the plates 8 and 9. On the surfaces 8a and 9a, the surfaces 8a and 9a
Bend protrusions 30 are provided on both side portions of each, and a plurality of elastic tongue pieces 31 that are a plurality of elastic portions are provided on the flat portion in the corner portion.
(4 places in the figure). A pair of receiving holes 32 are formed on one side of the cartridge 4 mounted in the disk drive units 6 and 7, and a pair of positioning pins installed upright in a housing 33 of the disk drive units 6 and 7. Mates with 34.

When the plates 8 and 9 are moved to the first position by the plate drive unit 18, the bent protrusions 30 of the plates 8 and 9 are fixed to the apparatus main body 1 or integrally formed. The disk drive units 6 and 7 come into contact with a part of the casing 33 to stop the movement. At this time, the plates 8 and 9
The protruding amount of the bent protruding portion 30 is set so that the distance between the magnetic heads 10 and 11 and the magneto-optical disk 3 becomes a predetermined value h. Since the distance h varies only by the mounting dimension tolerance between the magnetic heads 10 and 11 and the plates 8 and 9 and the height dimension tolerance of the bent protrusion 30, it is possible to perform highly accurate positioning.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a contact portion between the bent protruding portion and the housing. In the contact portion with the bent protruding portion 30, the housing 33 is provided with the positioning pin 34 upright. The extended portion extends in the width direction of the cartridge 4, and the receiving surface 34a of the positioning pin 34 and the surface 33a that abuts the bent protrusion 30.
Are set to be on the same plane L.

As described above, by setting the distance h between the magnetic heads 10 and 11 and the magneto-optical disk 3 to be a constant value, the variation of the distance h is small and stable, so that the magnetic heads 10 and 11 are stable. In order to obtain the required magnetic field in 11, the number of turns of the coil can be reduced, and the size and weight can be reduced.

The elastic tongues 31 provided on the plates 8 and 9 are elastically brought into contact with the four corners of the upper surface of the cartridge 4 mounted on the disk drive units 6 and 7 to reach the first position. When moving, the upper surface of the cartridge 4 is pressed. In order to enable elastic contact between the elastic tongue piece 31 and the cartridge 4, a through hole (see FIG. 6) 36 is provided in the moving area of the elastic tongue piece 31 of the carriage 5. By providing such a cartridge pressing mechanism, it is not necessary to provide a special cartridge pressing means at or near the disk drive section.

As the elastic tongue-shaped piece 31, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), a leaf spring piece 31a is provided by cutting and raising a part of the plates 8 and 9, or as shown in FIG. 8 (b). It can be installed by fixing a convex leaf spring body 31b to the plates 8 and 9 and the like.

By placing the elastic tongue piece 31 on the plates 8 and 9 in the vicinity of the positioning pin 34, the cartridge 4 can be pressed more stably.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a side surface state of a main part in the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, hereinafter, the members corresponding to the constituent members of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, when the carriage 5 moves, the plate 8 is positioned parallel to the moving direction of the carriage 5 and is formed between the inner wall 4b of the cartridge 4 held by the carriage 5 and the outer circumference 3b of the magneto-optical disk 3. It is possible to pass through the space S.

When the carriage 5 moves without interfering with the plate 8 and reaches a predetermined position of the disk drive unit 6, the plate 8 is driven by the plate drive unit 18 to rotate to a position near the magneto-optical disk 3. . The convex portion 40 provided at the tip of the plate 8 serves to hold the cartridge and position the magnetic head.

Since the plate 8 and the like are sufficiently fitted to the outer dimensions of the cartridge 4, the carriage 5 is mounted on the disk drive unit 6 of the cartridge 4 after the completion of mounting.
The processing speed can be improved by shifting to the next operation.

Although not shown, the carriage 5 is provided with means for holding and releasing the cartridge 4 on the side surface of the cartridge 4.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the essential parts of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the operating state of the third embodiment.
In the third embodiment, in the optical head 16 of the disk drive unit 6,
A magnetic head 47 including a yoke 45 and a coil 46 wound around the center of the yoke 45 is installed. The magnetic head 47 is installed at a position where it does not interfere with the light beam H entering and exiting the magneto-optical disk 3 in the optical head 16.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, the magnetic head is
47 indicates that the light beam H from the optical head 16 is the magneto-optical disk 3
Since the magnetic field is applied only to the portion that is focused by, the size of the magnetic head 47 can be minimized.
As shown in FIG. 11, since the magnetic head 47 can move in the radial direction of the magneto-optical disk 3 together with the optical head 16, recording and erasing can be performed over the entire recording surface. Since the magnetic head 47 is arranged outside the operating range of the carriage 5,
The magnetic head moving means composed of the plate, the plate driving part and the like described above is unnecessary.

FIG. 12 is a side view in which a part of the essential parts of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in section. In the fourth embodiment, the disk drive section (the two-dot chain line W in the figure indicates the maximum of the disk drive section). A spare space 50 is provided in the vertical direction in the installation portion of the spindle motor 15 (showing the lower surface) 6 so as not to contact or interfere with at least the outer diameter portion of the rotor portion 15b of the spindle motor 15. Further, a through hole 52 is provided in a portion where the spindle motor 15 is mounted on the printed circuit board 51 on which various electric parts and the like are mounted so as not to come into contact with or interfere with the outer diameter portion of the rotor portion 15b of the spindle motor 15. Further, no constituent members other than the spindle motor are installed in the spare space 50 and the through hole 52.

For this reason, in the fourth embodiment, a space is ensured which allows replacement of the rotor portion 15b including the coil magnet with the spindle motor (indicated by the chain double-dashed line) 53 in which the rotor portion 15b is lengthened in the vertical direction to achieve high torque. However, by adopting this high-torque spindle motor 53, the start / stop time can be shortened, and as a result, the cartridge replacement time can be shortened.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a modified example of installation of the stocker, carriage, and disk drive unit. The example of FIG. 13 is approximately 90 with respect to the installation structure of FIG. 1 and the direction of gravity (direction of arrow G).
° The orientation is different. That is, the carriage 5 moves in parallel to the direction of gravity G, and the cartridge inlet / outlet 2a of the stocker 2 faces in a direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity G. In FIG. 1, a direction perpendicular to the drawing (paper surface). Gravity is applied to the, but in the example of FIG. 13, it is applied in the G direction.

Considering the replacement time of the cartridge 4, it is preferable that the moving direction of the carriage 5 and the gravitational direction are orthogonal to each other as shown in FIG. 1, and this will reduce the accumulation of dust in the apparatus main body 1. It is also advantageous in that it can be done.

However, due to the installation of the apparatus body 1, the apparatus body 1
It is often necessary to reduce the floor area related to the bottom surface M of the above, and in order to cope with this, the installation structure of FIG. 13 may be used. in this case,
In order to speed up the movement of the carriage 5, FIG.
It is necessary to reduce the mass of the carriage 5 in the above, and therefore, a material having a small specific gravity is adopted, or a hole is formed in a part of the carriage 5 to reduce the weight. Normally, iron or aluminum is used as the material of the carriage, but magnesium, plastic, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, or the like may be used to reduce the weight of this example.

Further, in FIG. 13, in particular, the upper disk drive portion 6 is provided with an elastic tongue piece 31 (31a, 31b) as a cartridge pressing means as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b). It is necessary to provide.

[0077]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention.
According to the magneto-optical disk drive device described,
Even when the access method is used, the magnetic head can be moved without hindering the operation of the carriage, so that the cartridge replacement time can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional case.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the second aspect, the working surface of the magnetic head with respect to the magneto-optical disk can be accurately positioned by the protruding portion of the support body of the magnetic head.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus of the third aspect, the cartridge can be pressed by the elastic portion of the support of the magnetic head, and the cartridge can be held and positioned with a simple structure.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the fourth aspect, the support of the magnetic head is configured to pass a part of the cartridge and the transfer body, so that direct access is not hindered. After the cartridge is set in the predetermined position, the transfer body can move regardless of the support and the magnetic head, so that another cartridge can be set and the processing speed can be increased.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the fifth aspect, by mounting the magnetic head on the optical head, direct access is possible with a simple structure without the above-mentioned magnetic head retracting structure. .

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the sixth aspect, by installing a spare space in the installation portion of the spindle motor in the disk drive portion, it becomes possible to replace with a large spindle motor with high torque. By this replacement, the start and stop times of the spindle motor can be shortened, and as a result, the cartridge replacement time can be shortened.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the present invention, the magneto-optical disk can be directly attached to and detached from the spindle motor by the transfer body without using a loading mechanism in the disk drive section. The cost can be reduced and the reliability can be significantly improved, and the loading operation in the disk drive section is not required, so that the cartridge replacement time can be shortened.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the eighth aspect, when the transfer body is moved, the magnetic head does not hinder the operation of the transfer body for directly attaching and detaching the magneto-optical disk to the spindle motor. As described above, the magnetic head moves to the first position where the magnetic head can be applied to the magneto-optical disk when the magneto-optical disk is mounted on the spindle motor. Therefore, a magnetic field can be applied to the magneto-optical disk using the conventional magnetic head.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the present invention, the magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk stored in the cartridge is arranged outside the operating range of the transfer body, so that the above-mentioned magnetic Even if there is no head retracting structure, direct access is possible, and the moving time of the magnetic head after mounting the cartridge is unnecessary, so that the structure of the device can be simplified and the cartridge replacement time can be shortened.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the tenth aspect, the transfer body can open the shutter of the cartridge while the cartridge is transferred to the disk drive section. By opening the shutter during the transfer, the cartridge replacement time can be shortened.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus of the eleventh aspect, the user can open the door of the apparatus main body and directly insert / remove the cartridge into / from the accommodation body from the outside of the apparatus body. On the other hand, the time required for inserting and removing the cartridge from the outside of the apparatus can be shortened.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the twelfth aspect, the user holds the cartridge in the accommodating portion by gripping the other end opposite to the one end on the side where the shutter serving as a handling portion is arranged in the cartridge. Since it is possible to insert and remove the cartridge, it is possible to improve workability when inserting and removing the cartridge with respect to the container.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the thirteenth aspect, the user can visually recognize the display of the cartridge inside the housing and the other end of the cartridge through the door closed from the outside of the device.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus of the fourteenth aspect, the user visually recognizes the recognition symbols corresponding to the plurality of slots of the housing through the closed door or directly, and associates them with the recognition numbers. Since it is possible to confirm the presence or absence of the cartridge or the display of the cartridge in each slot, it is possible to easily control the moving body by using the recognition symbol, for example.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the fifteenth aspect, the transfer body holding the cartridge can be moved in the horizontal direction in the operation range so that the magneto-optical disk can be attached to and detached from the spindle motor. Information can be recorded, reproduced, or erased on both sides of the magneto-optical disk by selecting the disk drive unit for transferring the cartridge.

According to the magneto-optical disk drive device of the sixteenth aspect, the transfer body holding the cartridge can be vertically moved in the operation range to attach / detach the magneto-optical disk to / from the spindle motor. Information can be recorded, reproduced, or erased on both sides of the magneto-optical disk by selecting a disk drive unit for transferring the cartridge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view in which a part of a main part of a magneto-optical disk drive device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is cross-sectioned.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a stocker and a carriage portion in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to an operation of a main part in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a disk drive portion and a plate portion in the first embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a perspective view showing a part of the member shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a contact portion between the bent protrusion and the housing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an elastic tongue.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a side surface state of a main part in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an operating state of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a side surface state of a main part in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a partially sectioned plan view showing a modified example of installation of the stocker, carriage, and disk drive unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device main body, 2 ... Stocker (container), 3 ... Magneto-optical disk, 3b ... Outer periphery of magneto-optical disk, 4 ... Cartridge, 4b ... Cartridge inner wall, 5 ... Carriage (transfer body), 6, 7 ... Disk Drive part, 8,
9 ... Plate (support), 10, 11, 47 ... Magnetic head,
15 ... Spindle motor (rotational driving body), 15b ... Spindle motor rotor part, 16 ... Optical head, 18 ... Plate driving part, 30 ... Bending projection part, 31, 31a, 31b ... Elastic tongue piece
(Elastic part), 33 ... housing, 45 ... yoke, 46 ... coil,
50 ... extra space, 52 ... printer board through hole, S ...
Space, H ... light beam.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yuji Nakajima 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock company Ricoh (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Aota 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Shares Company Ricoh

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A disk drive unit comprising a storage body capable of storing a plurality of cartridges storing magneto-optical disks, and a transfer body for transferring the cartridge between the storage body and the disk drive unit. In a magneto-optical disk drive device in which the cartridge can be directly attached to and detached from a rotary drive by the transfer body, a support provided with a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk stored in the cartridge is rotationally driven. When the body is rotated, it is moved to a first position near the magneto-optical disk, and when the rotation driver is not rotated, it is moved to a second position outside the operating range of the transfer body. Magneto-optical disk drive device. 2. When the support is moved to the first position, a part of the apparatus main body is positioned so that the acting surface of the magnetic head with respect to the magneto-optical disk has a predetermined separation distance. 2. The magneto-optical disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided on the support. 3. The support body is provided with an elastic portion for pressing the cartridge toward the disk drive portion when the support body is moved to the first position. Magneto-optical disk drive device. 4. The disk drive section is provided with a storage body capable of storing a plurality of cartridges storing magneto-optical disks and a transfer body for transferring the cartridge between the storage body and the disk drive section. In a magneto-optical disk drive device in which the cartridge can be directly attached to and detached from a rotation driver by the transfer member, a support provided with a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk stored in the cartridge is provided in the cartridge. In the space between the outer circumference of the magneto-optical disk and the inner wall of the cartridge, and a part of the transfer body, it is possible to pass, and the support is provided at a passable position with respect to the space and the transfer body and a position near the magneto-optical disk. A magneto-optical disk drive device comprising a drive body for moving a support body. 5. The disk drive section is provided with a storage body capable of storing a plurality of cartridges storing magneto-optical disks and a transfer body for transferring the cartridge between the storage body and the disk drive section. In a magneto-optical disk drive device in which the cartridge can be directly attached to and detached from a rotation driver by the transfer member, the disk drive unit is provided movably in the radial direction of the magneto-optical disk and emits a light beam for recording and reproduction. A magneto-optical disk drive device, wherein a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk is provided at a position in the optical head that does not interfere with the light beam. 6. The disk drive section is provided with a storage body capable of storing a plurality of cartridges storing magneto-optical disks, and a transfer body for transferring the cartridge between the storage body and the disk drive section. In a magneto-optical disk drive device in which the cartridge can be directly attached to and detached from a rotation drive body by the transfer body, a spindle motor is used as the rotation drive body, and at least a spindle motor rotor is installed at a portion where the spindle motor is installed in the disk drive unit. The magneto-optical disk drive device is characterized in that an extra space portion is installed so as not to interfere with the portion. 7. An accommodating body capable of accommodating a plurality of cartridges accommodating a magneto-optical disk, a disk drive section for recording, erasing or reproducing information on the magneto-optical disk mounted on a spindle motor, In a magneto-optical disk drive device including a storage body and a transfer body that transfers the cartridge between the disk drive unit, a mounting unit for the magneto-optical disk of the spindle motor,
It is arranged on the moving path of the hub of the magneto-optical disk transferred by the transfer body, and the transfer body transfers the cartridge to the disk drive unit to directly mount the hub of the magneto-optical disk on the mounting unit of the spindle motor. In addition, the magneto-optical disk drive device is characterized in that the cartridge is separated from the disk drive section and the hub of the magneto-optical disk is directly separated from the mounting section of the spindle motor. 8. A magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to a magneto-optical disk stored in a cartridge is moved to a first position where a magnetic field can be applied to the magneto-optical disk when the magneto-optical disk is mounted on the spindle motor. Let
8. The magneto-optical disk drive device according to claim 7, further comprising a drive member for retracting the transfer member to a second position outside the operating range of the transfer member. 9. The magneto-optical disk drive device according to claim 7, wherein a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk stored in the cartridge is arranged outside the operating range of the transfer body. 10. The transport body comprises a shutter opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing a shutter arranged in an opening for exposing the magneto-optical disk to the outside in the cartridge. The magneto-optical disk drive described. 11. The apparatus main body is provided with an opening for inserting and removing the cartridge from the outside of the apparatus main body into and from the container, and a door arranged to be openable and closable in the opening. The magneto-optical disk drive device according to 7, 8, 9 or 10. 12. The storage body of the cartridge, wherein one end on the side where the shutter is arranged faces the operation area of the transfer body, and the other end which faces the one end faces the opening of the apparatus main body. 12. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein
The magneto-optical disk drive described. 13. The magneto-optical disk drive device according to claim 11, wherein the door is transparent so that the display of the cartridge inside the housing and the other end of the cartridge can be visually recognized. 14. An identification symbol unique to each of a plurality of slots holding one cartridge in the container is set, and the identification symbol is displayed at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of slots. 14. The magneto-optical disk drive device according to claim 13, which is characterized in that. 15. The disk drive units are respectively arranged at both ends of the operation area of the transfer body, the mounting portions of the spindle motors are opposed to each other, and the transfer body holding a cartridge is horizontally moved in the operation area. 15. The magneto-optical disk drive device according to claim 7, wherein the magneto-optical disk is moved to and detached from the spindle motor. 16. The disk drive units are respectively arranged at both ends of the operation range of the transfer body, the mounting parts of the spindle motors are opposed to each other, and the transfer body holding a cartridge is vertically moved in the operation range. 15. The magneto-optical disk drive device according to claim 7, wherein the magneto-optical disk is moved to and detached from the spindle motor.