WO2003071540A1

WO2003071540A1 - Disk cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2003071540A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/000287
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hong-Kyun Yim; Han-Kook Choi; Yong-Hoon Lee; Chong-Sam Chung; Jae-Yong Eum; Takizawa Teruyuki; Saji Yoshito
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-02-19
Filing date: 2003-02-10
Publication date: 2003-08-28
Also published as: CN1305070C; CN1647199A; TW200303529A; EP1476867A4; MY139065A; KR20030069294A; KR100850704B1; AU2003208039A1; JP2005518623A; TWI243361B; EP1476867A1

Abstract

A disk cartridge includes a case for accommodating a disk, a cover, installed at the case to be capable of being open and shut and having an open hole formed therein open to the outside, a shutter, installed under the disk in the case to be capable of moving, for opening/shutting an opening hole formed in the case and a clamping member, installed at the cover to seal the open hole, for clamping the disk. Thus, since the clamping member blocks the hole of the cover connected to the outside, the possibility of intrusion of dust into the disk cartridge is reduced. Also, since there is no need to installed the clamping member at the disk drive, the disk drive can be made simplified and slim.

Description

DISK CARTRIDGE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a disk cartridge for protecting a recording surface of an accommodated disk that is an information recording/reproduction medium from contaminants such as dust or finger print.

Background Art In general, a disk cartridge accommodates a disk that is an information recording/reproduction medium and is installed in a disk drive. As shown in FIG. 1 , a conventional disk cartridge 100 includes a case 101 for accommodating a disk D, a shutter 110 installed in the case 101 to be capable of rotating for selectively opening or shutting an opening hole 102 formed in the case 101 so that a pickup (not shown) of a disk drive can access the disk D, and a cover 103 fixed to the upper portion of the case 101. Reference numeral 103b denotes an open hole formed in the cover 103 for disk exchange and clamping. Reference numeral 103a denotes an escape prevention lever installed at the cover 103 to be capable of sliding to prevent the disk D from escaping through the open hole 103b. Thus, when the disk D is installed, the_.escape prevention lever 103a is pulled back not to interfere with the disk D. After the disk installation is completed, the escape prevention lever 103a is push forward so that an end portion of the escape prevention lever 103a prevents the disk D from escaping through the open hole 103b.

When the disk cartridge 100 accommodating the disk D is inserted into a disk drive, as shown in FIG. 2A, an opening lever 120 installed at the disk drive pushes a locking piece 111a so that a protrusion 111c of the shutter 110 is unlocked from a groove 101a of the case 101. Then, the opening lever 120 pushes an interference piece 111 b to have the shutter 110 pivot around left and right pivot axes 110a. The shutter 110 is formed of first and second shutter portions 111 and 112 respectively

installed to be capable of pivoting around left and right pivot axes 110a and engaged through an engagement gear portion 113. As the first shutter portion 111 incorporated with the interference piece 111b rotates clockwise, the second shutter portion 112 rotates counterclockwise so that the first and second shutter portions 111 and 112 are separated apart from each other and the opening hole 102 opens. Then, a turntable (not shown) and a clamper (not shown) of the disk drive enter through the opening hole 102 and the open hole 103a to clamp the disk D. A pickup (not shown) accesses a recording surface of the disk D to perform an information recording and/or reproduction process.

Although not shown in drawings, a torsion spring for elastically biasing the first shutter portion 111 in a counterclockwise direction on the drawings, that is, in a direction to close the opening hole 102, is installed between the first shutter portion 111 and the bottom surface of the case 101. When a force applied by the opening lever 120 is removed, the shutter 110 is returned to the original closed position.

However, in the above structure, dust can intrude through the open hole 103b of the cover 103. Of course, since the upper surface of the disk D facing the open hole 103b is not a surface for recording, direct contamination due to dust does not occur. Nonetheless, as dust intrudes and placed on the shutter 110, the dust on the shutter 110 adheres to the recording surface of the disk D during the opening/shutting operation. Also, if not necessarily by means of the shutter 110, there are high possibility that the recording surface of the disk D is contaminated by the dust.

Furthermore, since the shutter 110 is installed in the case 101 and the disk D is placed on the shutter 110, during the opening/shutting operation of the shutter 110, the shutter 110 contacts the recording surface of the disk D (a lower surface of a disk in the drawings) so that the recording surface of the disk D may be scratched by the shutter 110 and damaged.

Also, in the above structure, when the shutter 110 is pressed hard through the opening hole 102 in the state in which the shutter 1 10 is closed, the shutter 1 10 is easily deformed. That is, since each of the first and second shutter portions 1 1 1 and 1 12 is supported as one end thereof being coupled to be capable of pivoting around the pivot axis 110a, when a user presses the other end of the shutter 110 through the opening hole 102, the shutter 1 10 is easily deformed. As a result, the opening/shutting operation does not performed properly. If the opening/shutting operation is properly performed, a gap is generated between the first and second shutter portions 1 1 1 and 1 12 which may prevent a function as a shutter.

Therefore, an improved structure is needed by which the deformation of the shutter 110 and the intrusion of dust are prevented while the recording surface of a disk is protected.

Disclosure of the Invention

To solve the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to an improved disk cartridge by which dust is prevented from intruding into the case, the recording surface of a disk can be protected during the opening/shutting operation of a shutter, and deformation of the shutter due to an external force is prevented to keep the disk more stably.

To achieve the above object, there is provided a disk cartridge comprising a case for accommodating a disk, a cover, installed at the case to be capable of being open and shut and having an open hole formed therein open to the outside, a shutter, installed under the disk in the case to be capable of moving, for opening/shutting an opening hole formed in the case, and a clamping member, installed at the cover to seal the open hole, for clamping the disk. To achieve the above object, there is provided a disk cartridge comprising a case for accommodating a disk, a cover, installed on an upper surface of the case to be capable of being open and shut, for

sealing the upper surface of the case, a shutter, installed under the disk in the case to be capable of moving, for opening/shutting an opening hole formed in the case, and a clamping member, installed on an inner surface of the cover, for clamping the disk.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional disk cartridge;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing the state of opening/shutting of a shutter of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a disk cartridge according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the disk cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the state in which the shutter is closed in the disk cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the state in which the shutter is open in the disk cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line B-B' of FIG. 5; FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a view showing the state in which a disk is clamped in the disk cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 1 1 is a view showing the state in which a clamping holder is clamped in the disk cartridge of FIG. 3; FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a disk cartridge according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view showing the state in which a disk is clamped in the disk cartridge of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a view showing the state in which a clamping holder is clamped in the disk cartridge of FIG. 12.

Best mode for carrying out the Invention FIGS. 3 and 4 show the states in which a disk cartridge according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disassembled and assembled, respectively. Referring to the drawings, a case 201 for accommodating a disk D, a shutter 210 for opening/shutting an opening hole 202 formed in the case 201 under the disk D, a cover 203 for covering the upper surface of the case 201 , and a clamping member 240 installed at the cover 203 to seal an open hole 203a.

Here, the clamping member 240 has a function of clamping the disk D like a clamper of a conventional disk drive and simultaneously has a function of closely blocking the open hole 203a. That is, in the present structure, a member having a function of clamping is installed at the cover 203, not at the disk drive, and simultaneously has a function of sealing the open hole 203a. A detailed description thereof will be described later. Next, the shutter 210 is formed of first and second shutter portions

211 and 212 installed inside the case 201 to be capable of pivoting symmetrically. Thus, as the first and second shutter portions 211 and 121 pivot in a direction in which they are separated apart from each other, the opening hole 202 is open (refer to FIG. 6). When the first and second shutter portions 211 and 121 pivot in the opposite direction in which they are close to each other, the opening hole 202 is closed (refer to FIG. 5). Reference numeral 213 denotes a connection portion for making the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 interact. Accordingly, as the first shutter portion 211 pivots, the second shutter portion 212 pivots in the opposite direction by means of the connection portion 213. A torsion spring 204 for elastically biasing the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 in the directions of closing the opening hole 202, is installed at the bottom surface of the case 201 and each of the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212. When a force applied by the opening lever 120 is removed, the shutter 210 returns to the original closed position. Protrusions 230 and 220 contacting an edge portion D3 of the outer circumference of the disk D are formed at the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212, respectively. That is, the disk D includes a clamping area D1 at the inner circumference, an information area D2 where information is recorded, and an edge portion D3 disposed outside the information area D2. Since the edge portion D3 that is one of the non-information areas is supported by the protrusions 220 and 230, contact between the information area D2 and the shutter 201 can be avoided. The protrusions 220 and 230 have inclined surfaces 221 and 321 that are inclined toward the center of the accommodated disk D, respectively. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 are closed, the edge portion D3 of the disk D is supported by the upper ends of the protrusions 220 and 230. When the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 are open, as shown in FIG. 6, the disk D is lowered along the inclined surfaces 221 and 231. The clamping area D1 of the lowered disk D at the inner circumference thereof is supported by the protrusion 205 formed at the case 201. As the shutter 210 is closed, the disk D is raised and the clamping member 240 closely contacts the clamping area D1 thereof, as shown in FIG. 5.

Also, a support member 207 is provided at the lower surface of each of the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212, that is the opposite surface to the surface where the disk D is accommodated, so that it is inserted into a guide slot 206 formed in the case 201 to be capable of sliding. The guide slot 206 is formed along a track in which the support member 207 moves during pivot of the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212. Thus, during the opening/shutting operation of the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212, the support member 207 slides along the guide slot 206. An end portion 207a of the support member 207 inserted into the guide slot 206 is caught by a contact portion 206a of the guide slot 206, as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, when an external force is applied to the shutter 210 in a

direction indicated by an arrow F, since the end portion 207a is caught by the contact portion 206a of the guide slot 206, the shutter 210 is prevented from being deformed inwardly in the case 201. Here, although the end portion 207a may be formed to protrude outward the case 201 , preferably, an accommodation portion 206b connected to the guide slot 206 is formed in the case 207a so that the end portion 207a does not protrude above the outer surface of the case 201 , as shown in the drawing.

A coupling protrusion 21 1 a and a coupling groove 212a coupled together are formed at the position where the first and second shutter portions 21 1 and 212 closely contact, as shown in FIG. 8. When the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 closely contact each other while closing the opening hole 202, the coupling protrusion 211 a and a coupling groove 212a coupled each other lowers the possibility of deformation of the shutter 210 when the external force in the direction F is applied, compared to the case in which the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 are separated. Of course, the coupling protrusion can be formed at the second shutter portion 212 and the coupling groove can be formed at the first shutter portion 21 1. The clamping member 240 prevents intrusion of foreign materials such as dust by completely closing the open hole 203a of the cover 203 and clamps the disk D if necessary. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clamping member 240 includes a clamping holder 241 supporting an edge portion of the open hole 203a, a yoke 242 installed at the clamping holder 241 , a cover 243 for completely covering the open hole 203a from above the clamping holder 241. Thus, since the open hole 203a is completely sealed by the clamping member 240, dust cannot intrude through the open hole 203a. To exchange the disk D, the cover 203 is open and the disk D is replaced by a new disk, as shown in FIG. 4. When the disk D in the case 201 is raised, the clamping holder 241 closely contacts the clamping area D1 of the disk D, as shown in FIG. 1 1. The disk D is raised when the disk D is raised along the inclined surfaces 221 and 231 as the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 are closed as shown in FIG. 11. Also, the disk D is raised, as shown in FIG. 10, when a turntable T enters through the opening hole 202 to perform a recording/reproduction process in the disk drive so that the disk D accommodated on the turntable T is raised. Here, a magnetic attraction is generated between the yoke 242 and the magnet T1 installed at the turntable T which serves as a force to clamp the disk D.

Reference numeral 211b denotes a locking piece provided at the fist shutter portion 211 and has a locking hook 211c that is elastically coupled to a locking groove 212b' formed in a locking protrusion 212b of the second shutter portion 212 when the opening hole 202 is closed.

The disk cartridge having the disk D installed therein enters the disk drive in the state in which the shutter 210 and the cover 203 are all closed, as shown in FIG. 5. Here, all passages through dust can intrude inside the cartridge are all blocked. When the disk cartridge enters, as shown in FIG. 6, the opening lever 120 installed the disk drive pushes the locking piece 211 b to unlock the locking hook 211 c from the locking groove 212b' and push the locking protrusion 212b where the locking groove 212b' is formed, thus pivoting the second shutter portion 212 in a clockwise direction on the drawing. Then, the first shutter portion 211 pivots in the counterclockwise direction by being engaged by means of the connection portion 213. Accordingly, the opening hole 202 is open between the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212. However, since the protrusions 230 and 220 of the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 only contact the disk D, and since the contact area is limited to the edge portion D3 of the disk D that is a non-information area, the information area of the recording surface of the disk D is hardly damaged during the opening/shutting operation of the shutter 201. As the shutter 210 is open, the disk D is lowered along the inclined surfaces 221 and 231 of the protrusions 220 and 230 and are temporarily supported by the upper surface of the protrusion 205 and the inclined surfaces 221 and 231 , as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. In this state, a turntable (not shown) for driving a disk of the disk drive enters through the opening hole 202 and clamps the disk D supported by the protrusion 205 and the inclined surfaces 221 and 231 against the clamping member 240, as shown in FIG. 10. Then, the turntable rotates and the recording/reproduction operation is performed with respect to the disk D.

On the contrary, when the recording/reproduction operation is completed, the turntable is lowered and the clamping against the clamping member 240 is removed. The non-information areas D1 and D3 of the disk D are supported by the protrusion 205 and the inclined surfaces 221 and 231. In this state, the disk cartridge is drawn from the disk drive, the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 return to their original positions so that the opening hole 202 is closed. Here, the edge portion D3 at the outer circumference of the disk D is raised along the inclined surfaces 221 and 231 of the protrusions 220 and 230, back to the state shown in FIG. 5. Since the shutting operation is made while the shutter 210 does not contact the information area D2, the information area D2 can be safely kept. Also, in this state, the disk D rises along the inclined surfaces 221 and 231 and pushes the clamping holder 241 supporting the edge portion of the open hole 203a to closely contact the cover 243, as shown in FIG. 11. That is, the clamping holder 241 is clamped between the disk D and the cover 243. Thus, since the clamping holder 241 is not moved, a phenomenon that the clamping holder 241 bumps against other elements such as the cover 203 and the cover 243 in the disk cartridge and makes a noise can be prevented.

In the state in which the shutter 210 is closed, since the coupling protrusion 211a and the coupling groove 212a of the first and second shutter portions 211 and 212 are coupled and the end portion 207a of the support member 207 is caught by the contact portion 206a of the guide slot 206, even when the shutter 210 is pressed inwardly into the case 201 through the opening hole 202, the shutter 210 is not pushed. Thus, the deformation of the shutter 210 due to the external force is prevented and the closed state of the opening hole 202 can be firmly maintained.

Next, FIGS. 12 through 14 show a disk cartridge according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same reference numerals indicate the same members having the same functions.

As shown in the drawings, a disk cartridge of the present embodiment has the structure similar to that of the previous embodiment. However, there is no hole such as the open hole 203a in a cover 203', and a clamping member 240' is installed at the inner surface of the cover 203'. That is, in the present preferred embodiment, since an open hole through which dust can intrude is not formed in the cover 203' at all, a completely closed state is maintained at the side of the cover 203'. Since the cover 203' has no open hole, the clamping member 240' is installed at the inner surface of the cover 203'. The clamping member 240' includes the yoke 242, the clamping holder 241 , and a ring member 244 attached to the inner surface of the cover 203'. The clamping holder 241 is supported as it contacts an edge portion of the ring member 244. When the disk cartridge having the above structure is loaded in the disk drive and a recording/reproduction process is performed, as shown in FIG. 13, the disk D is clamped between the turntable T and the clamping holder 241. When the disk cartridge is unloaded from the disk drive, as shown in FIG. 14, the clamping holder 241 is clamped between the disk D and the inner surface of the cover 203'.

Thus, the disk cartridge in the present preferred embodiment, intrusion of dust through the cover 203' can be fundamentally prevented. Other functions including the opening/shutting of the shutter are the same as those described in the previous embodiment.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the disk cartridge according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, by blocking the hole of the cover connected to the outside, intrusion of dust is prevented so that the possibility of contamination of a recording surface of a disk can be reduced.

Second, since the clamping member is installed at the cartridge, the disk drive can be made simplified and slim.

Third, since the end portion of the support member is caught by the contact portion of the guide slot, deformation of the shutter due to the external force can be prevented and the closed state of the shutter can be firmly maintained.

Fourth, since the shutter in the case is formed to contact only the non-information area of a disk, during the opening/shutting operation of the opening hole, the information area of the disk can be safely kept. Fifth, since the cover is installed at the case to be capable of being open and shut, a disk can be easily replaced.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the above descriptions and drawings, and can be modified in a variety of ways within a scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A disk cartridge comprising: a case for accommodating a disk; a cover, installed at the case to be capable of being open and shut and having an open hole formed therein open to the outside; a shutter, installed under the disk in the case to be capable of moving, for opening/shutting an opening hole formed in the case; and a clamping member, installed at the cover to seal the open hole, for clamping the disk.

2. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the clamping member comprises: a clamping holder for contacting and supporting an edge portion of the open hole of the cover; a magnetic body, installed at the clamping holder, for applying a magnetic attraction to a turntable where the disk is accommodated in a disk drive; and a cover for sealing the open hole from above the clamping holder.

3. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shutter has an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle and a protruding portion protruding to support a non-information area at the outer circumference of the disk so that, when the shutter is open, the disk is lowered along the inclined surface and, when the shutter is closed, the disk is raised along the inclined surface to closely contact the cover.

4. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a guide slot is formed along a trace of the movement of the shutter is formed in the case, and a support member inserted into the guide slot to be capable of sliding is formed at the shutter so that an end portion of the support member is caught by a contact portion of the guide slot.

5. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shutter comprises first and second shutter portions for opening/shutting the opening hole while being closed to or separated apart from each other, and a coupling groove is formed at one of the first and second shutter portions and a coupling protrusion coupled to the coupling groove is formed at the other one of the first and second shutter portions, so that, as the coupling protrusion and the coupling groove are coupled together, the coupling protrusion is inserted into the coupling groove.

6. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a protrusion for supporting the non-information area at the inner circumference of the disk that lowers along the inclined surface is provided at the case.

7. A disk cartridge comprising: a case for accommodating a disk; a cover, installed on an upper surface of the case to be capable of being open and shut, for sealing the upper surface of the case; a shutter, installed under the disk in the case to be capable of moving, for opening/shutting an opening hole formed in the case; and a clamping member, installed on an inner surface of the cover, for clamping the disk.

8. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the clamping member comprises: a ring member installed on the inner surface of the cover; a clamping holder for supporting an edge portion of the ring member; and a magnetic body, installed at the clamping holder, for applying a magnetic attraction to a turntable where the disk is accommodated in a disk drive.

9. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the shutter has an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle and a protruding portion protruding to support a non-information area at the outer circumference of the disk so that, when the shutter is open, the disk is lowered along the inclined surface and, when the shutter is closed, the disk is raised along the inclined surface to closely contact the inner surface of the cover.

10. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 7, wherein a guide slot is formed along a trace of the movement of the shutter is formed in the case, and a support member inserted into the guide slot to be capable of sliding is formed at the shutter so that an end portion of the support member is caught by a contact portion of the guide slot.

11. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shutter comprises first and second shutter portions for opening/shutting the opening hole while being closed to or separated apart from each other, and a coupling groove is formed at one of the first and second shutter portions and a coupling protrusion coupled to the coupling groove is formed at the other one of the first and second shutter portions, so that, as the coupling protrusion and the coupling groove are coupled together, the coupling protrusion is inserted into the coupling groove.

12. The disk cartridge as claimed in claim 7, wherein a protrusion for supporting the non-information area at the inner circumference of the disk that lowers along the inclined surface is provided at the case.