KR19990083542A - Disc cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

When a user ejects a disc and uses it as a single unit, the ejection history of the disc is left in the disc cartridge, and the disc is not used when the user does not correctly handle the disc, for example, moving the disc between the disc cartridges. Ejection history is not left in the disc cartridge. The cartridge of the present invention is provided with locking means for locking the insertion and removal port opening and closing member for opening and closing the disc insertion and removal port, and unlocking prevention means for preventing the locking means from releasing the locked state.

Description

Disc Cartridge {DISC CARTRIDGE}

The present invention relates to a disc cartridge containing a disc shaped recording medium such as an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc and the like.

Conventionally, discs such as an optical disc and the like have been used for disc type recording media. These discs are often used in a state where they are accommodated in a disc cartridge to prevent recording or playback errors due to the attachment of milk fat ingredients on their recording surfaces.

In this case, the disc-shaped recording medium has a structure in which, when the recording density is constant, the larger the diameter, the larger the recording capacity. On the other hand, when the above-described disk-type recording medium is used as a recording medium for a portable recording and reproducing apparatus such as a video camera or the like, a small disk is excellent in portability. Therefore, the disk used in the portable device sometimes has a different diameter than the disk used in the stationary device. At this time, of course, a small disk cartridge is used as the disk cartridge used for the portable disk. In the case where the recording methods are the same and only the disc shapes are different, if the disc can be mounted in the recording and reproducing apparatus, recording or reproducing becomes possible by the recording and reproducing means provided in the recording and reproducing apparatus. Therefore, the disc used in the portable device can be recorded and reproduced in the fixed recording and reproducing apparatus by taking out only the disc from the small disc cartridge and replacing it with a disc cartridge having the same appearance as the disc cartridge of the fixed device.

In addition, in the optical disc, the recording operation is sensitive to contaminants, but the reproduction operation is relatively resistant to contaminants. Therefore, when only the reproduction operation is performed without performing the recording operation again on the recorded disc, the disc is ejected from the disc cartridge. There is a system that can only handle disks.

For the reasons mentioned above, there is a need to insert and remove a disc for a disc cartridge. As a structure for taking out a disc from the disc cartridge, for example, there is a method of arranging the disc insertion and removal portions in a part of the disc cartridge as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-242626.

Referring to Fig. 9, a structure for taking out a disc from the disc cartridge according to the prior art will be described. On the opposite surface of the surface on which the shutter 3 is arranged, a disc insertion and removal port 12 is provided, on which a disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10e is arranged. Normally, the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10e is configured such that the locking hook 6e is fitted into the locking hole 7e arranged in the disc cartridge and the disc insertion and removal port 12 is closed. Upon taking out the disc 4, the locking hook 6e is removed from the locking hole 7e and the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10e rotates around the rotational support point 8e and the disc insertion and removal port 12 Is opened, so that the disk 4 is inserted and removed.

10, another prior art embodiment is shown. In the conventional embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10f is configured to be ejectable from the disc cartridge 1. In addition, at the time of attachment of the disk insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10f, the disk insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10f is locked by a tight fit between the locking hook 6f and the locking hole 7f. To prevent them from falling out.

In addition, another prior art embodiment is shown in FIG. In the conventional embodiment shown in Fig. 11, in the same manner as that of the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the disc insertion and removal port opening / closing member 10g is configured to be ejectable from the disc cartridge 1. At the time of attachment of the disk insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10g, the disk insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10g is locked by a tight fit between the locking hook 6g and the locking hole 7g. When taking out the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10g, the disc 4 can be taken out of the disc cartridge 1 by the disc auxiliary member 2 arranged in the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10g. It is configured to.

Moreover, another prior art embodiment is shown in FIG. Also in the conventional embodiment shown in Fig. 12, in the same manner as in the embodiments shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10h is configured to be ejectable from the disc cartridge 1. . In addition, at the time of attachment of the disk insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10h, the disk insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10h is locked by a tight fit between the locking hook 6h and the locking hole 7h. When taking out the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10h, the disc 4 is held by the disc holding member 5 arranged in the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10h. ) It is configured to be taken out.

In the above disc cartridge, when the disc cartridge containing the disc once taken out is used in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus corresponding to the cartridge, it is necessary to detect that the apparatus has been taken out. This is necessary to prohibit the recording operation of the disc which has been taken out externally or to perform the recording check more frequently because the recording operation in the optical disc is sensitive to contaminants as described above. A method of detecting the ejection history of the disc will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 shows a structure for inserting and removing a disk by opening and closing the disk insertion and removal port 12 by the disk insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10i in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG. The locking hook 6i and the locking hole 7i are fitted with respect to each other and the locking member 11 is fitted with the locking hole 9, whereby the locking operation of the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10i is performed. When the locking hook 6i is removed from the locking hole 7i, the locking hook 6i is elastically deformed inwardly of the disc cartridge, so that the fitting operation can be performed again even after being removed. In contrast, in the case of removing the locking member 11 from the locking hole 9, the locking member 11 is broken from the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10i. When the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10i is opened, it is necessary to release these two kinds of locking means. However, when the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10i is opened, the locking member 11 is broken. Therefore, the broken state can be detected to recognize the ejection history of the disk.

As described above, in the prior art, the disc ejection history remains clearly in the disc cartridge when the disc is ejected from the disc cartridge. However, for the purpose of disc ejection, there are cases where a disc is used by moving the disc between disc cartridges, in addition to simply using the disc exclusively for disc reproduction. In this case, since the user does not actively handle the disk, there is little possibility that contaminants will adhere to the disk surface. Furthermore, direct contact of the disc cartridge insertion and removal ports with respect to each other and moving the disc can avoid direct contact with the disc, thus preventing contaminants from adhering. Even in this case, if the ejection history of the disc is left, the usefulness of the disc is lowered because an impossible recording process or an excessive recording check is performed even if no dirt is attached to the disc.

It is an object of the present invention that the disc ejection history is left in the disc cartridge when the disc is ejected for the purpose of using a simple disc, and the disc is not used when the user does not actively handle the disc, such as moving the disc between the disc cartridges. It is to provide a disk cartridge configured so that the ejection history is not left in the disk cartridge.

1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention showing the structure of a disc cartridge;

2A-2C are schematic views of a first embodiment showing the structure of the locking means and the unlocking prevention means of the disk insertion and removal port opening and closing means;

3A and 3B are schematic views of a first embodiment according to the present invention, illustrating a method of locking and removing the locking means of the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing means without breaking the unlocking prevention means;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention showing the structure of a disc cartridge.

5A to 5C are schematic views of a second embodiment according to the present invention showing the structure of the locking means and the unlocking prevention means of the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing means;

6A and 6B are schematic views of a second embodiment according to the present invention, illustrating a method of locking and removing the locking means of the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing means without breaking the unlocking prevention means.

7A to 7C are schematic views of a third embodiment according to the present invention showing the structure of the locking means and the unlocking prevention means of the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing means.

8A and 8B are schematic views of a third embodiment according to the present invention, illustrating a method of locking and removing the locking means of the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing means without breaking the unlocking prevention means.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the prior art showing a structure for inserting and removing a disc into a disc cartridge.

Fig. 10 is another schematic view of the prior art showing a structure for inserting and removing a disc into a disc cartridge.

Figure 11 is another schematic view of the prior art showing a structure for inserting and removing a disk into a disk cartridge.

Figure 12 is another schematic view of the prior art showing a structure for inserting and removing a disk into a disk cartridge.

Fig. 13 is a schematic view of the prior art showing the disc ejection history structure in the disc cartridge.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: disc cartridge

4: disc

6a, 6b, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j: locking hook

7a, 7b, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7i, 7j: locking hole

10a, 10b, 10e, 10f, 10g, 10h, 10i, 10j: disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member

12: Disk insertion and removal port

16a, 16b, 16j: unlocking prevention member

18a, 18b, 18j: unlocking member

19a, 19j: opening

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention there is provided a disc cartridge capable of opening and closing a disc insertion and removal port by an insertion and removal port opening and closing member, which is provided when the insertion and removal port opening and closing member is closed. Locking means for locking the member and unlocking prevention means for preventing the locking means from unlocking the insertion and removal port opening and closing member are arranged.

Further, the unlocking preventing means is formed in a shape configured so that the locking means covers at least a part of the portion exposed to the outside of the disc cartridge.

In addition, at least a part of the unlocking prevention means is irreversibly displaced to expose at least a part of the locking means covered by the unlocking prevention means to the outside of the disc cartridge.

Further, at least a part of the unlocking prevention means is arranged on the movement path necessary for the locking means to unlock.

Further, the unlocking preventing means is irreversibly displaced out of the moving path from the moving path of the locking means, and the locking means is movable to release the locking.

Moreover, the unlocking preventing means is irreversibly displaced out of the moving path from the moving path of the locking means, and the locking means is moved in the state of displacing the unlocking preventing means to release the locking.

Further, the insertion and removal history of the disc can be recognized by detecting the state of the unlocking prevention means.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8B.

A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of a disc cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the disc cartridge 1 is provided with a disc insertion and removal port, and the disc 4 passes through this port when the disc 4 is inserted and removed. When the disc cartridge 1 receives the disc 4, the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10a is locked to the disc insertion and removal port 12 by locking means. The locking means according to the present embodiment consists of a locking hook 6a and a locking hole 7a, and is configured such that the locking hook 6a is inserted into the locking hole 7a and locked. In this case, the locking hole 7a is not penetrated and is configured to be impossible to release the locking through the locking hole 7a from the outside of the disc cartridge 1.

2A to 2C, the locked state of the locking means and the unlocking method will be described. 2A to 2C are schematic views showing details of the unlocking preventing member 16a corresponding to the locking means and the unlocking preventing means. When the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10 is attached to the disc cartridge 1, the locking hook 6a is fitted into the locking hole 7a and locked as shown in Fig. 2A. In addition, since the unlocking preventing member 16a is arranged at the bottom of the locking hook 6a, the locking hook 6a is hardly exposed to the outside, so that the user of the disc cartridge can be removed from the locking hole 7a in this state. It is difficult to take out the locking hook 6a. When the user takes out the disk from the disk cartridge 1 for the purpose of using the disk as a single piece, the unlocking preventing member 16a is broken as shown in Fig. 2B. The locking hook 6a can be removed by breaking the unlocking prevention member 16a and exposing it to the outside to take out the locking hook 6a. In this case, breakage of the unlocking prevention member 16a is detected to recognize the ejection history. Also, in the case where it is not desired to display the disc ejection history such as the movement of the disc between the disc cartridges, the locking hook 6a is removed without breaking the unlocking prevention member 16a as shown in Fig. 2C. Take out the disc.

A method of removing the locking hook 6a without breaking the unlocking prevention member 16a will be described with reference to Figs. 3A and 3B. An opening 19a is provided between the unlocking prevention member 16a and the disc cartridge 1 that is small enough that a user cannot operate the locking hook 6a with a finger. The locking hook 6a is moved by inserting the unlocking member 18a from the opening 19a as shown in Fig. 3b, and thus removed from the locking hole 7a. The unlocking member 18a is provided, for example, in the vicinity of the disc insertion and removal portion of the disc cartridge at the destination of the disc, thus releasing the locking and moving the disc by pressing the disc cartridge 1 according to the present invention. You can perform all of the actions.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6B. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a disc cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has a disc insertion and removal port 12 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10j when the disc cartridge 1 accommodates the disc 4 therein. Is locked to the disc insertion and removal port 12 by locking means. The locking means according to the present embodiment also consists of a locking hook 6j and a locking hole 7j, in which the locking hook 6j is fitted and locked in the locking hole 7j. Moreover, in the case of the disc cartridge which has not taken out the disc, the disc cartridge 1 and the unlocking prevention member 16j have a structure which covers almost all of the members which have the locking hook 6j. In this case, the locking hole 7j is not penetrated and is thus configured so that it is impossible to insert the locking hole 7j from the outside of the disc cartridge 1 and release the locking.

A locking state and a unlocking method of the locking means will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C. 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams showing details of the unlocking preventing member 16j corresponding to the locking means and the unlocking preventing means. 5A to 5C are external views in the vicinity of the portion where the unlocking preventing member 16j is arranged, and the right view shows the internal structure thereof. When the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10j is attached to the disc cartridge 1, the locking hook 6j is fitted into the locking hole 7j and locked as shown in Fig. 5A. In addition, since the disc cartridge 1 and the unlocking prevention member 16j cover almost all surfaces of the member having the locking hook 6j, the user of the disc cartridge removes the locking hook 6j from the locking hole 7j. It is difficult to remove. In order to allow the user to use the disk as a single piece, as shown in Fig. 5B, the unlocking prevention member 16j is broken, the lower part of the member having the locking hook 6j is exposed to the outside, and the portion is in the direction of the arrow. It is necessary to take out the locking hook 6j by displacing it. In this case, the disk apparatus detects the breakage of the unlocking preventing member 16j and recognizes the disk ejection history of the disk cartridge 1. In addition, when it is not desired to display the disc ejection history such as the movement of the disc between the disc cartridges, the locking hook 6j is removed without breaking the unlocking prevention member 16j as shown in Fig. 5C. Take out the disc.

Next, a method of removing the locking hook 6j without breaking the unlocking prevention member 16j will be described with reference to Figs. 6A and 6B. An opening 19j is provided between the unlocking prevention member 16j and the disc cartridge 1 that is small enough that a user cannot operate the locking hook 6j with a finger. The locking hook 6j is moved by inserting the unlocking member 18j from the opening 19j as shown in Fig. 6B, and is thus removed from the locking hole 7j. The unlocking member 18j is provided in the disk cartridge, for example, at the line of movement of the disk, so that the disk is moved by releasing and unlocking the unlocking prevention member 16j after pressing the disk cartridge 1 according to the present invention. You can perform the movement operation of. In addition, in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the lockin release preventing member 16j is exposed on the front surface or the rear surface of the disc cartridge. Therefore, since the ejection history can be detected from the front surface or the rear surface of the disk cartridge 1, the degree of freedom in designing the sensor arrangement on the disk device side can be increased.

Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 7A to 8B. 7A to 7C are schematic diagrams showing a locked state and a unlocking method of the locking means according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The locking hook 6b is fitted in the locking hole 7b to perform locking in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Moreover, in order to take out the locking hook 6b from the locking hole 7b, it is necessary to move inward of the disc cartridge 1, but the unlocking prevention member 16b is arranged on the movement path. In this state, the locking hook 6b cannot interfere with the unlocking prevention member 16b and cannot move, so that the locking hook 6b cannot be unlocked. When the user takes out the disk from the disk cartridge 1 to use the disk as a single piece, the unlocking preventing member 16b is broken as shown in Fig. 7B. Since the locking hook 6b can be moved by breaking and removing the unlocking prevention member 16b, the locking hook 6b can be taken out. In this case, the disk apparatus detects the breakage of the unlocking preventing member 16b and recognizes the disk ejection history. In addition, when it is not desired to display the disc ejection history such as the movement of the disc between the disc cartridges, as shown in Fig. 7C, the unlocking preventing member 16b is elastically deformed and the locking hook 6b is in this state. Unlocking is performed by moving.

A method of taking out the locking hook 6b while deforming the unlocking prevention member 16b will be described with reference to Figs. 8A and 8B. The deformation of the unlocking preventing member 16b and the movement of the locking hook 6b need to be performed substantially simultaneously. Thus, by pressing the unlocking member 18b having the fork-shaped front end to the locking hook 6b and the unlocking preventing member 16b as shown in Fig. 8A, the unlocking preventing member as shown in Fig. 8B. The locking hook 6b can be moved out of the locking hole 7b while deforming 16b. The unlocking member 18b is provided near the disc insertion and removal port of the disc cartridge, for example, at the line of movement of the disc, thus pressing both the disc cartridge 1 according to the present invention to thereby release both unlocking and disc movement. You can do it.

As described above, in the present invention, when a user ejects a disc and uses it as a unit, the disc ejection history is left in the disc cartridge, and the user actively handles the disc such as moving the disc between the disc cartridges. In the non-performing state, it is possible to provide a disc cartridge configured so that the ejection history of the disc is not left in the disc cartridge.

According to the above structure, when the user ejects the disc and uses it as a unit, the disc ejection history is left in the disc cartridge, and the user does not actively perform the disc handling such as moving the disc between the disc cartridges. If not, the ejection history of the disc is not left in the disc cartridge.

Claims (7)

A disc cartridge accommodating a disc-shaped recording medium therein, A disc insertion and removal port provided in the disc cartridge for inserting and removing the recording medium; A disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member for closing the disc insertion and removal port when the recording medium is in the disc cartridge—the disc insertion and removal port is moved by moving the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member from the disc insertion and removal port. Open-and, Locking means for locking the opening and closing member when the insertion and removal port opening and closing member closes the disk insertion and removal port; And unlocking preventing means for preventing the locking means from unlocking the insertion and removal port opening and closing member. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking prevention means is formed in a shape configured so that the locking means covers at least a part of the portion exposed to the outside of the disk cartridge. 3. A disc cartridge according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the unlocking prevention means is irreversibly displaced to expose at least a part of the locking means covered by the unlocking prevention means to the outside of the disc cartridge. A disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the unlocking prevention means is arranged on a movement path necessary for the locking means to unlock. 5. The disc cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the unlocking preventing means is irreversibly displaced out of the moving path from the moving path of the locking means, and the locking means is movable to release the locking. The unlocking prevention means is irreversibly displaced out of the movement path from the movement path of the locking means, and the locking means is movable in a state of displacing the unlocking prevention means to release the locking. Disk cartridge. 6. A disc cartridge according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the insertion and removal history of the recording medium can be recognized by detecting a state of the unlocking prevention means.