JPH10302431A - Magnetic disk cartridge and magnetic disk drive device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the positional accuracy for holding and also to secure the function of low-order compatibility while contriving the simplification and cost suppression of a magnetic disk drive device, in the case the recording capacity is expanded with the increase of the outside diameters of magnetic disk media by making the size of a case large. SOLUTION: In this device, magnetic disk media 4 with large capacity are housed inside the case 2, and also a pair of reference holes 6, 7 are provided at both of the left/right sides in the direction X to be inserted into the magnetic disk drive device. In this case, the shape of the case 2 is almost similar to that of a case of the magnetic disk cartridge with small capacity, and at least the planar dimension is formed in a large way as to the outside dimension, and the outside diameters of the magnetic disk media 4 are made to be large. In the case 2, further, two pairs of reference holes 6, 7, 16, 17 capable of allowing reference point engagement in the drive device are provided on the almost symmetrical position at both left/right sides against the direction X inserting to the magnetic disk drive device, and a pair of inside reference holes 6, 7 is formed so that the dimension A of the part between these reference holes is set to the same dimension of the part between a pair of reference holes of the magnetic disk cartridge with small capacity.

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. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic disk cartridge and a magnetic disk drive device for securing 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 the present application, these conventional magnetic disk cartridges are referred to as small-capacity magnetic disk cartridges.

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 position reference in the drive device is defined on both left and right sides with respect to the direction of insertion into the magnetic disk drive device. A pair of reference holes are provided, and a reference pin that engages with the reference hole is provided in the magnetic disk drive. In recent years, such magnetic disk cartridges have been 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 magnetic disk drive for driving the large-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge is newly provided. This new magnetic disk drive device can drive a new large-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge. Of course, in many cases, for the convenience of the user, a so-called “lower compatibility” function, that is, a lower capacity in terms of recording capacity. The conventional magnetic disk cartridge is often formed to have a function of driving.

[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. It is difficult to increase in number.

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. However, there is a problem that the mechanism for obtaining the backward compatibility function is complicated in the magnetic disk drive device.

That is, the magnetic disk drive device is greatly affected by dimensional restrictions and cost restrictions for mounting on a personal computer, and simplification of a mechanism for a backward compatible function.
Low cost is an important requirement.

In order to secure the backward compatibility function in the large-capacity type magnetic disk drive as described above, it is necessary to provide a reference pin which engages with the existing reference hole in the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. ,
In the case of a large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge in which a reference hole is separately provided, it is necessary to provide a reference pin at a position corresponding to the reference hole.

In the magnetic disk drive, it is important to accurately perform the reference positioning of the magnetic disk cartridge in order to improve the quality of the recording accuracy. When a plurality of reference pins are provided as described above, the magnetic disk It is conceivable that a reference pin to be installed in the drive device is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract so that when a magnetic disk cartridge of a different size is inserted, the reference pin is provided so as to be immersed. It is disadvantageous in securing the positioning accuracy by the reference pin.

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 and a magnetic disk drive device capable of securing a function of backward compatibility while simplifying the magnetic disk 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 has a magnetic head insertion opening in the case. The case is substantially similar to the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and the external dimensions of the case are formed to have at least a plane dimension larger than that of the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. The outer diameter is formed larger than the small-capacity magnetic disk medium, and the case has two pairs of reference holes at substantially symmetrical positions on both the left and right sides with respect to the insertion direction into the magnetic disk drive as reference positions in the magnetic disk drive. A pair of inner reference holes has a small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge with a dimension between the reference holes. The distance between the reference holes of the pair of reference holes formed in the case is the same as the distance between the reference holes of the pair of reference holes formed in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. It is characterized in that it is formed larger than the reference gap.

It is preferable that the pair of outer reference holes be located outside the side of the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge.

On the other hand, according to the magnetic disk drive of the present invention, the above-described large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge can be properly loaded, and two pairs of reference holes corresponding to two pairs of reference holes in the case of the magnetic disk cartridge are provided. A reference pin is provided.

When the magnetic disk cartridge of the present invention as described above is inserted into a large-capacity type magnetic disk drive, a reference pin is engaged with at least a pair of outer reference holes to position the case. (It is not necessary to position the magnetic disk according to the reference pin engaged with the pair of inner reference holes). The spindle is joined and driven in accordance with the center position of the magnetic disk medium, and the magnetic head is moved from the magnetic head insertion opening to the magnetic disk. The magnetic recording / reproduction is performed in close proximity to the medium, and the recording capacity can be increased as the outer diameter of the magnetic disk medium increases.

When a small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge is inserted into the large-capacity magnetic disk drive, a reference pin inside the drive engages a pair of left and right reference holes. Positioning of the case is performed, rotation of the magnetic disk medium, magnetic recording / reproduction can be performed in the same manner, and a backward compatible function can be obtained.

[0018]

According to the present invention as described above, with regard to increasing the recording capacity by increasing the outer diameter of the magnetic disk medium, the case is substantially similar to the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and the outer dimensions are also reduced. Are formed at least in plane dimensions larger than the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. Further, the case is provided with two pairs of reference holes at substantially symmetric positions on both the left and right sides with respect to the direction of insertion into the magnetic disk drive. By setting the distance between the reference holes of the holes to be the same as the distance between the reference holes of a pair of reference holes formed in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, the magnetic disk drive can be engaged with each of the reference holes. Provision of a simple reference pin allows positioning for insertion of a large-capacity magnetic disk cartridge as described above. The same spindle mechanism can be used for the positioning of the magnetic disk medium and the small-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge, especially when the case is set so that the center position of the magnetic disk medium is set to the same position. Driving can be performed, and the magnetic head mechanism for recording and reproduction by the magnetic head can be shared,
The backward compatibility function can be secured with high reliability at low cost with a simple structure.

Of the two pairs of reference holes in the large-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge, a pair of outer reference holes are engaged with the outer reference pins for the large-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge in the drive device as described above. The inner reference pin for the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge is inserted into the pair of inner reference holes at this time, but this is an engagement to avoid interference with the inner reference pin. In addition, the above-described backward compatibility function is ensured, and the positioning accuracy can be ensured because the inner reference pin does not need to be movably provided.

Further, in the case where the pair of outer reference holes described above is arranged outside the side of the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, the outer reference pin is provided when the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge is inserted. It is not necessary to provide the outer reference pin movably without interfering with
Only the inner pair of reference pins engages with the inserted magnetic disk cartridge, so that there is no trouble in cartridge chucking by the two pairs of reference pins.

On the other hand, the magnetic disk drive of the present invention has two pairs of reference pins, so that magnetic disk cartridges having different sizes can be held at the respective reference positions, and the function of backward compatibility can be secured. Can,
The mechanism is simplified.

[0022]

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 an 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 magnetic disk drive (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 is made up of two upper and lower shell halves fixed to each other in a lid-like manner, and has a lower surface and an upper surface provided with a magnetic head insertion opening 5 extending in a rectangular shape from the front end to the center. 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 inner reference holes 6, 7 and a pair of outer reference holes 16, 17 are provided at substantially symmetric positions on both the left and right sides with respect to the insertion direction X into the magnetic disk drive. Two pairs of reference holes are provided. The pair of inner reference holes 6 and 7 have a pair of reference holes 56 and 57 formed in a case 52 of a small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 (see FIG. 2) described later.
And a pair of outer reference holes 1
Reference numerals 6 and 17 are located on the extension of the line segment L1 connecting the inner reference holes 6 and 7, and the distance between the reference holes is formed larger than the distance A between the inner reference holes. Reference numerals 16 and 17 are arranged at positions outside the side (shown by a chain line in FIG. 1) of the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50. The two pairs of reference holes 6 and 7 have inside and outside 2 not shown in the magnetic disk drive device.
A pair of fixed reference pins are inserted to serve as a position reference.

Further, a spindle hole 2c for exposing the center core member 3 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 left and right sides with respect to the insertion direction X into the magnetic disk drive, and a spindle hole 52c is formed in the center of the lower surface in a circular shape. Have been. further,
At one corner of the front end of the case 2, a notch 58 for preventing erroneous insertion is provided diagonally. Similarly, on both sides behind the insertion, an erroneous erasure prevention display part 10 is similarly provided on one side, and the other is recorded on the other side. An identification hole 11 for identifying the capacity 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.

As described above, the distance A between the reference holes in the pair of inner reference holes 6 and 7 formed in the case 2 is also described.
Are formed to be the same as the distance a between the reference holes of the pair of reference holes 56 and 57 formed in the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 (A = a), and the reference holes 5 on both sides are formed.
The distance B between the line segment L1 connecting 6 and 15, 16 and the rotation center S of the large-capacity magnetic disk medium 4 is formed to be the same as the distance b in the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 (FIG. 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 16 and 17 on both sides of the case 2 and the front end face 2a of the case 2 before insertion.
Is the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50.
(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). 7 is formed to be larger than the distance g in the case 52 of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 (G> g), and a pair of outer sides is formed at the increased portion. Reference holes 16 and 17 are formed. This case 2
The magnetic disk medium 4 having a large outer diameter D can be accommodated by the expansion of the size of the magnetic disk medium 4.

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 front-rear 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.

A magnetic disk drive device in which the large-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge 1 and the small-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge 50 can be mounted at regular positions is not specifically shown, but is formed in the case 2. At positions corresponding to the two pairs of reference holes 6, 7, 16, and 17, two pairs of fixed inner and outer reference pins engageable with the reference holes are provided, and a shutter opening / closing mechanism, a spindle mechanism,
It has a magnetic head and the like.

The large-capacity type magnetic disk cartridge 1 as described above is driven by a magnetic disk drive (not shown) having a so-called "lower compatibility" function. This magnetic disk drive has a mechanism for opening the shutter member in response to the insertion of the magnetic disk cartridge 1 and further engages the external reference pins of the drive with the external reference holes 16 and 17 in the inserted state. And the magnetic head is moved closer to the magnetic disk medium 4 through 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 rotational speed. The magnetic recording / reproducing is performed by the magnetic head while being rotated. At this time, the inner reference pins of the drive device are inserted into the inner reference holes 5 and 6.

When the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge 50 is inserted into the magnetic disk drive, the inner reference pins of the drive engage with the reference holes 56 and 57, and the rotation center of the magnetic disk medium 54 is set at the same position. The same spindle shaft is connected and driven, and magnetic recording and reproduction can be performed on the magnetic disk medium 54 by a magnetic head.

In the large-capacity magnetic disk drive, the inserted magnetic disk cartridges 1 and 50 are inserted and guided to hold the magnetic disk cartridges having different widths in the bucket portion while aligning the center positions. It is preferable to provide a pressing guide means for pressing the side of the plate toward the center from both sides.

In the above embodiment, the pair of outer reference holes 16, 17 are provided on the same axis L1 with respect to the pair of inner reference holes 6, 7, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It may be provided offset with respect to a line connecting the pair of reference holes 6 and 7.

[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 media 5,55 Magnetic head insertion opening 6,7, 16, 17, 56, 57 Reference hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic disk cartridge comprising a disk-shaped large-capacity magnetic disk medium rotatably housed in a case and a magnetic head insertion opening provided in the case, wherein the case is a small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. The outer dimensions of the case are formed at least in plane dimensions larger than the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge, and the large-capacity magnetic disk medium has an outer diameter smaller than that of the small-capacity magnetic disk medium. The case is provided with two pairs of reference holes serving as reference positions in the drive device at substantially symmetrical positions on both the left and right sides with respect to the direction of insertion into the drive device. Reference holes of a pair of reference holes formed in the case of a magnetic disk cartridge having a small reference hole dimension The pair of outer reference holes are formed so as to have the same size as the distance between the reference holes of the pair of reference holes formed in the case of the small-capacity magnetic disk cartridge. Magnetic disk cartridge. 2. A magnetic disk drive device in which the magnetic disk cartridge according to claim 1 can be loaded properly, comprising two pairs of reference pins corresponding to two pairs of reference holes in a case of the magnetic disk cartridge. A magnetic disk drive device.