JPH10283747A - Optical disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a foreign object such as dust from entering a cartridge in an optical disk cartridge used for an optical disk. SOLUTION: A disk-shaped storage medium 1 where a skirt 11 is provided between a clamp part and a recording area is installed at an optical disk cartridge that is constituted of an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 3. The skirt 11 is elastic and is in bored square shape. When the optical disk cartridge has departed from an optical disk drive device, the skirt 11 contacts one portion of the upper shell 2, and the disk-shaped storage medium 1 contacts one portion of the lower shell 3, thus preventing foreign objects from entering. While the disk-shaped storage 1 when a drive device is installed is rotating, the skirt 11 departs from the upper shell 2 and smoothly rotates the disk-shaped storage medium 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical disk cartridge used for recording or reproducing information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical disk cartridge described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 61-145388 is known.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of a conventional optical disk cartridge. In FIG. 5, 1 is a disk-shaped recording medium, 2 is an upper shell, and 2a is one side of the upper shell 2 from the center to the outer periphery. The optical head insertion hole 2b is a circular turntable insertion hole provided in the approximate center of the upper shell 2, 3 is the lower shell, 3a is one side of the lower shell 3 and the outer periphery from the center. A magnetic head insertion hole having a rectangular shape provided in the section, 4 is a fixing member for fixing the upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3, and 5 is an openable and closable optical head insertion hole 2a and a magnetic head insertion hole 3a. Reference numeral 5a denotes a horizontal plate portion of the shutter 5, 5b denotes a vertical plate portion of the shutter 5, and 5c denotes a hook provided on the vertical plate portion 5b of the shutter 5.

The operation and function of the conventional optical disk cartridge constructed as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. The disk-shaped recording medium 1 is made of a writable material such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk. The disk-shaped recording medium 1 includes a screw, an adhesive,
It is rotatably housed between the upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3 fixed by a fixing member 4 such as a welding member. The shutter 5 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and integrally includes a pair of upper and lower horizontal plate portions 5a each having a rectangular shape and a vertical plate portion 5b that vertically connects one end portion between them. The vertical plate portion 5b is provided on one end surface 2c, 3c of the upper and lower shells 2, 3, and is configured to slide at a specific portion of the end surface 2c, 3c. By appropriately setting the specific position to be slid, the horizontal plate portion 5a can freely open and close the optical head insertion hole 2a and the magnetic head insertion hole 3a. Normally, the vertical plate 5b is closed by an elastic body (not shown) such as a spring installed between the upper and lower shells 2 and 3 so that the horizontal plate 5a closes the optical head insertion hole 2a and the magnetic head insertion hole 3a. Is acting on

When an optical disk cartridge is inserted into an optical disk cartridge insertion portion of an optical disk drive, a turntable (not shown) in the optical disk drive is first inserted into a turntable insertion hole 2b.
Next, a mechanism provided in the optical disk drive slides a hook portion 5c provided on the vertical plate portion 5b of the shutter 5, and in conjunction with this, the horizontal plate portion 5a of the shutter 5 slides and the optical head insertion hole 2a. And magnetic head insertion hole 3
a is opened, and the optical head (not shown) and the magnetic head (not shown) of the optical disk drive are connected to the disk-shaped recording medium 1.
And moves to the start position of the recording / reproducing operation.

The operation of taking out the optical disk cartridge from the optical disk drive device is performed by moving the optical head and the magnetic head of the optical disk drive device away from the disk-shaped recording medium 1 and providing a mechanism provided in the optical disk drive on the vertical plate portion 5b of the shutter 5. The horizontal plate portion 5a of the shutter 5 slides due to the action of the elastic member provided between the upper and lower shells 2 and 3 in conjunction with the hook portion 5c, and the optical head insertion hole 2a and the magnetic head insertion hole. 3a
Is closed, and the optical disk cartridge is ejected from the optical disk drive.

[0007]

In this optical disk cartridge, dust or the like that hinders recording and reproduction on the disk-shaped recording medium 1 is generated.
Is not required to adhere. However, in the above configuration, there is no mechanism for closing the turntable insertion hole 2b, and there is a problem that dust or the like intrudes from the turntable insertion hole 2b, hinders recording and reproduction, and increases errors in information recording and reproduction. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an optical disk cartridge for preventing dust or the like causing an error from entering from the outside.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an optical disk cartridge according to the present invention has a cartridge case composed of an upper shell and a lower shell each having an opening, and is housed in the cartridge case. A disk-shaped recording medium in which the skirt is set in a cantilever state,
The cartridge includes a hub installed on a disk-shaped recording medium, and a shutter plate installed on the cartridge so as to open and close a part of the opening of the upper shell and the lower shell.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical disk cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1a denotes a clamp portion of the disk-shaped recording medium 1, and 11 denotes a disk. A skirt made of a thin plate having an elastic function and formed in a square shape and installed near the clamp portion 1a of the recording medium 1 is an upper shell, 2a is one side portion of the upper shell 2 and is located from the center to the outer periphery. A rectangular optical head insertion hole provided, 2b is a circular turntable insertion hole provided at the center of the upper shell 2, 2c is one side surface of the upper shell 2, 3 is a lower shell, and 3a is a lower shell 3. A rectangular magnetic head insertion hole provided from the center to the outer periphery at the side, 3c is one side surface of the lower shell 3, 4 is a fixing member for fixing the upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3, and 5 is an optical head insertion. Hole 2a and magnetic head insertion hole 3 Shatter placed in open state, the horizontal plate portion of 5a shutter 5, the vertical plate portion of 5b shutter 5, the vertical plate portions 5b and 5c is the shutter 5
The hook portion 6 is a hub made of a magnetic material. The disk-shaped recording medium 1, the upper shell 2,
The optical head insertion hole 2a, the turntable insertion hole 2b, the lower shell 3, the magnetic head insertion hole 3a, the fixing member 4, the shutter 5, the horizontal plate portion 5a, the vertical plate portion 5b, and the hook portion 5c are the conventional ones shown in FIG. It has the same function as the optical disk cartridge having the configuration.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the vicinity of the skirt 11 of the optical disk cartridge shown in FIG. FIG.
1 is a disk-shaped recording medium, 1a is a clamp part,
11 is a skirt, 2 is an upper shell, 2b is a circular turntable insertion hole provided at the center of the upper shell 2, and 2d is an annular projection provided on the installation surface side of the disk-shaped recording medium 1 of the upper shell 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a lower shell, reference numeral 3b denotes an annular projection provided on the installation surface side of the disk-shaped recording medium 1 of the lower shell 3, 6
Is a hub made of a magnetic material. The disk-shaped recording medium 1, skirt 11, upper shell 2, turntable insertion hole 2b, lower shell 3, and hub 6 are the same as those shown in FIG. The protrusions 2d and 3b are not shown in FIG. The skirt 11 is disposed outside the outermost periphery of the clamp portion 1a of the disc-shaped recording medium 1 and inside the innermost periphery of the information area of the disc-shaped recording medium 1 (usually the innermost periphery of the lead-in area). The disk-shaped recording medium 1 is installed in a state where it does not hinder clamping of the disk-shaped recording medium 1 and recording and reproduction of information by the optical head. FIG. 3 (a), FIG. 3 (b)
3 shows the skirt 11 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 independently. In FIG. 3B, reference numeral 12 denotes a skirt in which a plurality of thin plates are installed so as to partially overlap.

FIG. 4A shows the skirt 11 of the optical disk cartridge when the optical disk cartridge in one embodiment of the present invention is inserted into an optical disk drive (not shown) and the disk-shaped recording medium 1 stops rotating. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the optical disk cartridge when the disk-shaped recording medium 1 rotates when the optical disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is inserted into an optical disk drive (not shown). Skirt 1
FIG. 4 (c) is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of where the skirt 11 of the optical disk cartridge is taken out of the optical disk drive (not shown) according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing. 4 (a), 4 (b) and 4 (c), 1 is a disk-shaped recording medium, 1a is a clamp unit,
1 is a skirt, 2 is an upper shell, 2b is a circular turntable insertion hole provided at the center of the upper shell 2, and 2d is an annular projection provided on the installation surface side of the disk-shaped recording medium 1 of the upper shell 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a lower shell, 3b denotes an annular protrusion provided on the installation surface side of the disk-shaped recording medium 1 of the lower shell 3, 6 denotes a hub made of a magnetic material, 7 denotes a turntable of an optical disk drive, and 8 denotes A magnetic field applying element composed of a permanent magnet or the like for magnetically attracting the hub 6, and includes a disk-shaped recording medium 1, a skirt 11, an upper shell 2, a turntable insertion hole 2b, a lower shell 3, an annular projection 2b, 3
d, hub 6 is the same as that shown in FIG.

The operation and functions of the optical disk cartridge configured as described above will be described below.

The disk-shaped recording medium 1 is made of a writable material such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk. The disk-shaped recording medium 1 includes an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 3 fixed by fixing members 4 such as screws, adhesives, and welding members.
It is stored between. The number of the welding members 4 is not limited to the number shown in FIG. 1, but may be any number as long as the upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3 can be fixed. The shutter 5 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and integrally includes a pair of upper and lower horizontal plate portions 5a each having a rectangular shape and a vertical plate portion 5b that vertically connects one end portion between them. The vertical plate portion 5b is installed on one end surface 2c, 3c of the upper and lower shells 2, 3,
It is configured to slide a specific portion of the end faces 2c, 3c. By appropriately setting the specific portion to be slid, the horizontal plate portion 5a can open and close the optical head insertion hole 2a and the magnetic head insertion hole 3a. Normally, the vertical plate portion 5b is formed by an elastic body (not shown) such as a spring installed between the upper and lower shells 2 and 3 by using the horizontal plate portion 5a.
Is acting in a direction to close the optical head insertion hole 2a and the magnetic head insertion hole 3a. The skirt 11 installed in the vicinity of the clamp portion 1a of the disk-shaped recording medium 1 is in contact with the annular projection 2d of the upper shell 2 on the side opposite to the place installed on the disk-shaped recording medium 1. A part of the surface facing the installation surface of the skirt 11 is the lower shell 3.
In contact with the annular projection 3b.

The material for the projection 2d and the skirt 11 is preferably selected so as to reduce the frictional force between them. For example, a fluororesin, a liquid crystal polymer, a lubricant impregnated resin can be selected as the material of the skirt 11, or the skirt 11 can be in contact with the material. Applying silicone oil or the like to the surface is one way to reduce the frictional force. The projections 3b are provided for the purpose of preventing the information area of the disc-shaped recording medium 1 from being damaged due to the direct contact between the disc-shaped recording medium 1 and the lower shell 3. Protrusion 3b
It is preferable that the rubber has appropriate elasticity. For example, silicone rubber or urethane rubber can be selected.

When the optical disk cartridge is inserted into the optical disk cartridge insertion portion of the optical disk drive, the turntable 7 incorporated in the optical disk drive is first inserted into the turntable insertion hole 2b.
The hub 6 is attracted to the magnetic field applying element 8 by the action of the magnetic field applying element 8, and the disc-shaped recording medium 1 is adjusted so that the substantially center of the turntable 7 and the substantially center of the disc-shaped recording medium 1 coincide.
Is set on the turntable 7. This state is shown in FIG.
(A). At this time, the disk-shaped recording medium 1 is separated from the lower shell 3, and the skirt 11 is bent so that the point of contact with the upper shell 2 escapes to the outer peripheral portion. Next, a mechanism provided in the optical disk drive slides a hook portion 5c provided on the vertical plate portion 5b of the shutter 5, and in conjunction therewith, the integrated horizontal plate portion 5a of the shutter 5 slides, and The insertion hole 2a and the magnetic head insertion hole 3a are opened, and the optical head (not shown) of the optical disk drive device is opened.
Then, the magnetic head (not shown) approaches the disk-shaped recording medium 1 and moves to the start position of the recording / reproducing operation. When the turntable 7 rotates, the disk-shaped recording medium 1 also rotates following the magnetic attraction. When the rotation speed becomes a steady state, the state shown in FIG. 4B is reached, and the contact portion between the skirt 11 and the annular projection 2d is separated by the action of the centrifugal force.

After the recording or reproducing operation is completed, the operation of taking out the optical disk cartridge from the optical disk drive is performed by stopping the turntable 7 from rotating.
Comes into contact with the annular protrusion 2d of the upper shell 2, the optical head and the magnetic head of the optical disk drive device move away from the disk-shaped recording medium 1, and a mechanism provided in the optical disk drive is provided on the vertical plate portion 5b of the shutter 5. The horizontal plate portion 5a of the shutter 5 slides by the action of an elastic body (not shown) provided between the upper and lower shells 2 and 3 in conjunction with the hook portion 5c.
and the magnetic head insertion hole 3a is closed, and the optical disk cartridge and the turntable 7 are separated. At this time, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the skirt 11 is further deformed by being pulled by the turntable 7, and when the pulling force exceeds the magnetic attraction force, the state shown in FIG. 2 is reached, and the optical disk cartridge is ejected from the optical disk drive. .

As described above, when the optical disk cartridge shown in FIG. 2 is detached from the optical disk drive, the turntable insertion hole 2b provided in the upper shell 2 of the optical disk cartridge is provided with the skirt 11 and the disk-shaped recording medium 1. The inside and the outside of the optical disk cartridge are substantially isolated from each other by the vicinity of the clamp 1a and the hub 6, so that entry of foreign matter such as dust through the turntable insertion hole 2b can be prevented. Can be restricted.

Further, since the skirt 11 having an elastic action has an effect of pressing the disk-shaped recording medium 1 against the lower shell 3,
The disc-shaped recording medium 1 can be prevented from rattling in the optical disc cartridge, and the disc-shaped recording medium 1 can be prevented from being damaged.

In this embodiment, the skirt 11 is shown in FIG.
The shape shown in FIG. 3A was used.
The skirt 12 having the configuration described in (1) can also be used. The skirt 12 is formed in a hollow shape with a plurality of thin plates partially folded. The thin plate constituting the skirt 12 can be deformed into a shape in which the petals open, and has a moderate bending in the lateral direction. For this reason, while the disk-shaped recording medium 1 is rotating in the optical disk drive device, it is subjected to buoyancy by the flow of air together with the centrifugal force, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 4B, and the annular projection 2d of the skirt 12 Can be released at a low rotation speed, which is effective in reducing the load on the spindle motor of the optical disk drive.

In this embodiment, the lower shell 3 is provided with the magnetic head insertion hole 3a. However, a similar effect can be expected in an optical disk cartridge without a magnetic head and without the magnetic head insertion hole 3a.

The setting procedure after inserting the optical disk cartridge shown in this embodiment into the optical disk drive is an example, and the effect is not impaired even if this procedure is not followed.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent foreign substances such as dust from entering through the turntable insertion hole 2b, and to restrict foreign substances from adhering to the information recording area of the disk-shaped recording medium. As a result, a remarkable effect is obtained that rattling of the disk-shaped recording medium in the optical disk cartridge can be limited and damage to the disk-shaped recording medium can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a main part of the optical disk cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a skirt according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the skirt when a plurality of thin plates are installed so as to partially overlap each other.

4A and 4B show the vicinity of a skirt of an optical disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view when the disk-shaped recording medium stops rotating, and FIG. c) is a sectional view when taken out of the disk drive device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical disk cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disc-shaped recording medium 1a Clamp part 11,12 Skirt 2 Upper shell 2a Optical head insertion hole 2b Turntable insertion hole 3 Lower shell 3a Magnetic head insertion hole 4 Fixing member 5 Shutter 6 Hub 7 Turntable 8 Magnetic field applying element

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge case comprising an upper shell and a lower shell each having an opening, and a skirt made of an elastically deformable thin plate housed in the cartridge case in a cantilevered state in the clamp region. A disk-shaped recording medium installed in an area between the outer circumference and the innermost circumference of the information area, a hub installed on the disk-shaped recording medium, and a configuration that can partially open and close the openings of the upper shell and the lower shell. An optical disc cartridge comprising: a shutter plate provided on the cartridge. 2. The skirt according to claim 1, wherein, in a state where the disk-shaped recording medium does not rotate, a side opposite to a side provided on the disk-shaped recording medium contacts one of the upper shell and the lower shell. The optical disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein 3. The optical disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the skirt has a cylindrical shape or a hollow shape, and a tip of the cylinder or the corner is provided on the disk-shaped recording medium. 4. The optical disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said skirt is constituted by a plurality of thin plates partially overlapping each other. 5. The optical disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper shell and the lower shell has an annular projection on a surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium.