JPH10283751A - Magnetic disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a drive device, secure reliability, reduce cost, and secure a downward compatibility function when increasing a case size and hence increasing the outer diameter of a magnetic disk media and increasing a storage capacity. SOLUTION: A large-capacity magnetic disk media 4 is accommodated in a case 2 and at the same time a pair of reference holes 6 and 7 are provided at both left and right sides for an insertion direction X into a drive device. The case 2 is in nearly similar shape as the case of a small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, at least a flat surface dimension of an outer-shape dimension is increased, the outer diameter of the magnetic disk media 4 is increased, further a dimension A between reference holes in the reference holes 6 and 7 is set to the same as the reference hole of the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and a distance B between a line segment L1 for connecting the reference holes 6 and 7 and the rotary center of the magnetic disk media 4 is equally set to the distance at the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic disk cartridge in which a large-capacity magnetic disk medium is accommodated in a case, and the magnetic disk medium is rotated and used for magnetic recording and reproduction. The present invention relates to a magnetic disk cartridge which secures a backward compatibility function with other small capacity type magnetic disk cartridges.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic disk (a so-called floppy disk) in which magnetic layers are formed on both surfaces of a disk-shaped base made of a flexible polyester sheet or the like and magnetic recording is performed on the magnetic layers by a magnetic head while rotating. Disc) is provided, and is mainly used as a recording medium for a computer because of its advantages such as easy handling and low cost.

Recently, this type of magnetic disk, such as a so-called 3.5-inch type, is rotatably housed in a small hard case and used as a magnetic disk cartridge. More.

In a magnetic disk cartridge of this type using a hard case, an opening for inserting a magnetic head is provided in the case, and a pair of positions on the left and right sides with respect to the direction of insertion into the drive device as a position reference in the drive device. Reference holes are provided. In addition, such magnetic disk cartridges are always required to have a large capacity.

As described above, when a magnetic disk cartridge having a recording capacity higher than that of a conventional product is provided, a drive device for driving the large-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge is newly provided. This new drive device can drive a new large-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge, and of course, in many cases, is a so-called "lower-compatible" function, that is, lower in terms of recording capacity for the convenience of the user. It is often formed to have a function of driving a conventional magnetic disk cartridge.

[0006]

In order to increase the recording capacity of the above-mentioned magnetic disk medium, the recording linear density and track density have been improved. One of the effective means is to increase the recording area of the magnetic disk medium.

In other words, increasing the outer diameter of a disk-shaped magnetic disk medium is effective in increasing the recording area and the recording capacity. In particular, the increase in the recording area on the inner peripheral side of the magnetic disk medium is not likely to increase the recording area in spite of the increase in the radius, and the center side of the magnetic disk medium is provided with a center core member and the like. This is because the increase is difficult.

However, increasing the outer diameter of the magnetic disk medium as described above requires increasing the size of the case containing the magnetic disk medium. On the other hand, as described above, it is indispensable to secure the function of “backward compatibility” and utilize the past data. However, the increase in the case size due to the increase in the outer diameter of the magnetic disk medium is a large capacity type. In this drive device, there is a problem that a mechanism for obtaining a backward compatible function is complicated.

[0009] Specifically, the drive device is greatly affected by dimensional restrictions and cost restrictions for mounting it on a personal computer, and simplification of the mechanism for the backward compatibility function and cost reduction are important requirements.

In view of the above, in a large-capacity drive device, the main components, such as a rotary spindle and a magnetic head, are used by fixing the same components as much as possible at the same position in the drive device, thereby improving reliability. Security and cost reduction are required. Further, by setting the detecting means of the erroneous erasure prevention mechanism at the same position, it is required that a plurality of the same functional parts are not installed when the size of the magnetic disk cartridge is changed.

In the above-described point, and in the current magnetic disk cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as a small-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge), a shutter member for opening and closing a magnetic head insertion opening provided in the case is provided. A structure for mounting the shutter member slidably on the front edge of the case is formed at the front end of the case. For this reason, paying attention to the fact that the distance from the position of the center of rotation of the magnetic disk medium to the front end face of the case is formed to be larger than the distance from the rear end face of the case, it is possible to adopt this configuration also in a large capacity magnetic disk cartridge. This is essential for ensuring backward compatibility while simplifying the structure of the drive device. As a result, it is possible to increase the recording capacity by increasing the outer diameter of the magnetic disk cartridge.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned point, and it has been proposed to increase the recording capacity by increasing the outer diameter of the magnetic disk medium by increasing the size of the case.
An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic disk cartridge capable of securing a function of backward compatibility while simplifying a drive device, securing reliability, and suppressing costs.

[0013]

A magnetic disk cartridge according to the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, accommodates a disk-shaped large-capacity magnetic disk medium rotatably in a case, and includes a magnetic head insertion opening in the case. A pair of reference holes serving as position references in the drive device are provided on both left and right sides with respect to the direction of insertion into the drive device, and the case is substantially similar to the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge; The dimensions are at least planar dimensions larger than the case of the small capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and the large capacity magnetic disk medium has an outer diameter larger than the small capacity magnetic disk medium,
The distance between the reference holes in the pair of reference holes is formed to be the same as the distance between the reference holes in the pair of reference holes formed in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and further, a line segment connecting the reference holes on both sides. The distance from the center of rotation of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium is the same as the distance in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge.

The distance between the line connecting the reference holes on both sides of the case and the front end face of the case is made substantially equal to the distance in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. It is desirable that the width in the direction and the distance between the line segment connecting the reference holes on both sides and the rear end face of the case be larger than the width and the distance in the case of the small capacity magnetic disk cartridge.

A notch for preventing erroneous insertion is provided at one of the corners of the front end of the case, and a center line passing through the center of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium in the insertion direction of the large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. From the front end face of the case to the start position of the notch is preferably substantially the same as the distance in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge.

On the other hand, the case is provided with erroneous erasure preventing means for preventing rewriting of data recorded on the magnetic disk medium, and the erroneous erasing preventing means is provided in the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge with respect to the reference hole. It is preferable to provide the same size at the same position as the erroneous erasure prevention means.

When the magnetic disk cartridge of the present invention as described above is inserted into a large-capacity type drive device, the case is positioned by the reference hole, and the spindle is joined corresponding to the center position of the magnetic disk medium. When driven, the magnetic head approaches the magnetic disk medium from the magnetic head insertion opening to perform magnetic recording and reproduction, and the recording capacity can be increased as the outer diameter of the magnetic disk medium increases.

Further, by aligning the reference hole position, the center position of the magnetic disk medium, etc. with the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge can be inserted into the large-capacity drive device. Then, the small-capacity magnetic disk medium is held at the same position by the reference hole, and can be driven to rotate by the same spindle, the magnetic head can be approached to the magnetic disk medium in the same way, and a multi-track head is used as the magnetic head. By doing so, it is possible to cope with each recording density, magnetic recording and reproduction are possible, and a backward compatible function is obtained.

[0019]

According to the present invention as described above, with respect to increasing the recording capacity by increasing the outer diameter of the magnetic disk medium, the case is substantially similar in shape to the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and the outer dimensions are reduced. Is formed at least in plane dimension larger than the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, the dimension between the reference holes of this case is formed to be the same as the dimension between the reference holes in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and the reference holes on both sides are further formed. The distance between the connected line segment and the center of rotation of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium is the same as the distance in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. The center of rotation of the magnetic disk media is With the same spindle mechanism, magnetic head mechanism, etc., both magnetic disk cartridges can be rotated and recorded / reproduced by holding them in the same position, and the lower compatibility function is secured with a simple structure at low cost and high reliability. can do.

The distance between the line connecting the reference holes on both sides of the case and the front end face of the case is made substantially equal to the distance in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. When the width of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge is larger than the width of the case and the distance between the line connecting the reference holes on both sides and the rear end face of the case and the distance between the end surface and the case, the case is inserted and held in the drive device. Can be located at substantially the same position as the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and the magnetic head mechanism, shutter opening / closing mechanism, and the like can be further shared.

Further, the notch for preventing erroneous insertion provided at the front end corner of the case is designed to be shared with a small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge.
The erroneous insertion prevention mechanism can also be shared.

Similarly, the erroneous erasure preventing means provided in the case is provided at the same position and the same size as the erroneous erasure preventing means in the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. The backward compatibility function can be obtained more easily.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an example of a large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge with a shutter member removed.

The magnetic disk cartridge 1 is held in a case 2 (hard case) made of a synthetic resin such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, with a central portion attached to a center core member 3. A disk-shaped magnetic disk medium 4 is rotatably accommodated. The center core member 3 magnetically engages with a rotating spindle of a drive device (not shown) to transmit a rotating force to the magnetic disk medium 4. The magnetic disk medium 4 has a disk-shaped base made of a flexible polyester sheet or the like and magnetic layers formed on both surfaces.

The case 2 has two upper and lower shell halves fixedly attached to each other in a lid-like manner. A magnetic head insertion opening 5 extending in a rectangular shape from the front end to the center is provided on the lower surface and the upper surface. In the case of FIG. 1, the opening 5 for inserting the magnetic head in the front end face portion is entirely opened in the vertical direction, and the openings on the upper and lower surfaces are formed so as to communicate with each other. In order to open and close the magnetic head insertion opening 5, a shutter member (not shown) slidable in the left-right direction in the figure is assembled, and a shallow sliding groove 2d is provided on the surface of the case 2 in the sliding range.
Is formed.

On the lower surface of the case 2, a pair of reference holes 6 and 7 are provided on both the left and right sides in the insertion direction X into the drive device. It is inserted and becomes a position reference. Further, a spindle hole 2c from which the center core member 3 is exposed is formed in a circular shape at the center of the lower surface of the case 2.

At one corner (left side in FIG. 1) of the front end of the case 2, there is provided a notch 8 for preventing erroneous insertion, which is obliquely removed. In addition, on both sides behind the insertion of the case 2, an erroneous erasure prevention display section 10 is provided on one side, and an identification hole 11 for identifying the recording capacity is provided on the other side.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 (a 3.5-inch magnetic disk cartridge having a recording capacity of 1 to 2 MB, which is widely used) with the shutter member removed.

This small capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50
Also, a disk-shaped magnetic disk medium 54 whose center is attached to the center core member 3 is rotatably accommodated in the case 52, and the lower and upper surfaces of the case 52 extend from the front end to the center in a rectangular shape at the center. An opening 55 for inserting a magnetic head is provided. This magnetic head insertion opening 55
A shutter member (not shown) that opens and closes the
A shallow sliding groove 52d is formed in the surface of the case 52 in the sliding range.
Is formed.

On the lower surface of the case 52, a pair of reference holes 56 and 57 are provided on both the left and right sides in the insertion direction X into the drive device.
2c is opened in a circular shape. Further, the case 2
A notch 58 for preventing erroneous insertion is provided diagonally at one corner of the front end portion of the front end, and an erroneous erasure prevention display portion 10 is similarly provided on both sides behind the insertion, and a recording capacity identification is provided on the other side. An identification hole 11 for performing the above is provided.

The case 2 of the large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 1 has a planar outer shape substantially similar to that of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50. It is formed larger than the case 52 of the magnetic disk cartridge 50. Accordingly, the outer diameter D of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium 4 is formed to be larger than the outer diameter d of the small-capacity magnetic disk medium 54 (D> d), and the recording capacity is increased by increasing the recording area.

The dimension A between the reference holes in the pair of reference holes 6 and 7 formed in the case 2 is the same as that of the pair of reference holes 56 and 57 formed in the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50. A line segment L connecting the reference holes 5 and 6 on both sides together with the same dimension a (A = a)
1 and the distance B between the rotation center S of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium 4 and the distance b in the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 are formed (B = b). That is, the centers of both magnetic disk media are disposed at the same position with respect to each reference hole, and can be driven by the spindle shaft at the same position, and the magnetic head can also perform recording and reproduction by moving on the same line. .

The distance E between the line segment L1 connecting the reference holes 6 and 7 on both sides of the case 2 and the front end face 2a of the case 2 before insertion is
The distance e in the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 is substantially equal to the distance e (E ≒).
e). On the other hand, the width F in the left-right direction with respect to the insertion direction X of the case 2 is formed to be larger than the width f of the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 (F> f). The distance G between the line segment L1 connecting the line 7 and the inserted rear end face 2b is formed to be larger than the distance g in the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 (G> g). By enlarging the dimensions of the case 2, the magnetic disk medium 4 having a large outer diameter D can be stored.

Further, the notch 8 for preventing erroneous insertion formed at the corner of the case 2 is located at the front end face 2a of the case 2 from the center line L2 passing through the center S of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium 4 in the insertion direction. The distance H to the start position of the notch 8 is smaller than the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 5.
The same distance h for the notch 58 in the case 52 of 0 is formed substantially the same (H 距離 h). Thus, the erroneous insertion preventing member that contacts the notch 8 of the large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 1 also contacts the notch 58 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50.

The erroneous erasure prevention means 10 of the case 2 is provided at the same position and the same size as the erroneous erasure prevention means 10 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 with respect to the reference holes 6 and 7, and the detection means at the same position. Is detected by

The large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 1
The thickness of the case 2 may be larger than the thickness of the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50.

The large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 1 as described above is driven by a drive device (not shown) having a so-called "lower compatibility" function. This drive device has a mechanism for opening the shutter member in response to the insertion of the magnetic disk cartridge 1, and further engages a positioning pin in the reference holes 6 and 7 in the inserted state to hold the shutter at a specified position. The magnetic head is moved closer to the magnetic disk medium 4 from the magnetic head insertion opening 5, and the rotating spindle is magnetically engaged with the center core member 3 to rotate the magnetic disk medium 4 at a predetermined number of rotations. The magnetic recording and reproduction are performed by the head. When the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 is inserted into this drive device, the reference hole 5
Positioning pins are engaged with 6, 57, the center of rotation of the magnetic disk medium 54 is set at the same position, the same spindle shaft is joined and driven, and magnetic recording and reproduction can be performed on the magnetic disk medium 54 by a magnetic head. is there.

In the large-capacity drive device, the inserted magnetic disk cartridges 1 and 50 are inserted and guided in such a manner that the magnetic disk cartridges having different widths are aligned and guided to be held in the bucket portion. It is necessary to provide a pressing guide means for pressing the side to the center side from both sides.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a magnetic disk cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention with a shutter member removed.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the small capacity type magnetic disk cartridge with a shutter member removed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 Small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 2,52 Case 2a, 52a Front end surface 2b, 52b Rear end surface 3,53 Center core member 4,54 Magnetic disk medium 5,55 Magnetic head insertion opening 6,7, 56,57 Reference hole 8,58 Notch portion 10 Erroneous erasure prevention means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A disk-shaped large-capacity magnetic disk medium is rotatably accommodated in a case, and a magnetic head insertion opening is formed in the case, and the left and right sides of the medium in the drive device are inserted in the drive device. In a magnetic disk cartridge provided with a pair of reference holes serving as a position reference, the case is substantially similar to the case of a small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and the outer dimensions of the case are at least two-dimensional when the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge has the outer dimensions. The large-capacity magnetic disk medium is formed larger than the small-capacity magnetic disk medium, and the dimension between the reference holes in the pair of reference holes is smaller than the small-capacity magnetic disk medium. It is formed to be the same as the distance between the reference holes of the pair of reference holes formed, and further, Magnetic disk cartridge, wherein a distance between the rotation center of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium and a line segment connecting the reference hole side is formed in the same said distance in the case of small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. 2. A distance between a line connecting the reference holes on both sides of the case and a front end face of the case substantially coincides with the distance in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. 2. The width in the direction and the distance between the line connecting the reference holes on both sides and the rear end face of the case are formed to be larger than the width and the distance in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. The magnetic disk cartridge as described in the above. 3. A notch for preventing erroneous insertion is provided at one of corners of the front end of the case, and a notch at a front end face of the case from a center line passing through the center of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium in the insertion direction. 3. The magnetic disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the distance to the start position of the notch is substantially the same as the distance in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. 4. The case is provided with erroneous erasure preventing means for preventing data recorded on a magnetic disk medium from being rewritten.
2. The magnetic disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic disk cartridge is provided at the same position and the same size as the erroneous erasure prevention means in the small capacity magnetic disk cartridge.