WO2005020230A1

WO2005020230A1 - Device for locking front cover of optical disk drive

Info

Publication number: WO2005020230A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won-Youl Bae
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-08-22
Filing date: 2004-08-10
Publication date: 2005-03-03
Also published as: KR20050020864A

Abstract

A device for locking a front cover of an optical disk drive includes a front cover rotatably installed at a front panel of a main body of an apparatus in which an optical disk drive is installed; a connector which extends at each of opposite sides of the front cover and is hinged to the main body; a tray which is installed in the main body to go into and out of the main body and onto which a disk storage medium is put; a sliding member which selectively engages with a pinion gear when the tray goes into and out of the main body and moves in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the tray; and a locking bar extending from one side of the sliding member. Here, the connector is locked by the locking bar when the front cover is closed.

Description

Description DEVICE FOR LOCKING FRONT COVER Of OPΗCAL DISK DRIVE Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an optical disk drive, and more particularly, to a device for locking a front cover of an optical disk drive where the front cover rotates when it opens and closes. Background Art

[2] Generally, optical disk drives sich as CD-ROM drives, DVD players, and CD/ DVD RAM drives radiate light onto a disk, i.e., a recording medium, to write information to or read information from the disk. Recently, optical disks such as CDs, DVDs, and Blue-ray Disks (BDs) have been increasingly used as recording/reproducing media. Usually, a bare disk is put into a tray and loaded onto a drive. Since the surfaces of the bare disk are exposed outside, the bare disk needs to be handled cautiously. Accordingly, in order to prevent damages onto bare disks and facilitate handling thereof, a disk cartridge is widely used. In particular, disk cartridge type storage media are required to protect high-capacity disks from dust and users' finger prints.

[3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an appearance of a usual optical disk drive. Referring to FIG. 1, a tray 20 (shown in FIG. 2), which loads an optical recording medium thereon and goes into and out of a main body of an optical disk drive 1, is installed in the optical disk drive 1. A front cover 21 is attached to the tray 20 and moves together with the tray 20.

[4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an internal structure of the optical disk drive shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main frame shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a sliding member viewed in a direction expressed by an arrow A.

[5] Referring to FIG. 2, the optical disk drive 1 includes a main frame 10, a tray 20, a sub frame 30, and a base chassis 40. The tray 20 is installed to go into and out of the main frame 10. A disk (not shown) or a disk cartridge (not shown) including the disk is put onto the tray 20. The sub frame 30 is rotatably installed at the main frame 10. The base chassis 40 is installed to be supported by the sub frame 30. The front cover 21 is attached to a front of the tray 20.

[6] A turntable 41, a spindle motor (not shown), and an optical pickup device 42 are installed on the base chassis 40. A disk put onto the tray 20 and moved inward is mounted on the turntable 41. The spindle motor is installed to be coaxial with the turntable 41 and rotates the turntable 41. The optical pickup device 42 slides in the radial direction of the disk mounted on the turntable 41 and records information into or reproduces information from the disk.

[7] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a sliding member 12 is installed in the main frame 10. The sliding member 12 is linked to a driving unit 11 so as to slide in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the tray 20. Two cam holes 15 are formed in the sliding member 12. When cam projections 31 (shown in FIG. 2) provided in the sub frame 30 slide along the tracks of the cam holes 15, respectively, the sub frame 30 rotates around a rotating shaft 32 (shown in FIG. 2) supported by the main frame 10. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Meanwhile, a drive such as an expensive DVD RAM drive requires a structure allowing a tray to move when a front cover is open. In this situation, a locking device for preventing the front cover from opening during operation is needed. Technical Solution

[9] The present invention provides a locking device for a rotating cover through which a tray of an optical disk drive goes in and out .

[10] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for locking a front cover of an optical disk drive. The device comprises a front cover which is rotatably installed at a front panel of a main body of an apparatus in which an optical disk drive is installed; a connector which extends at each of opposite sides of the front cover and is hinged to the main body; a tray which is installed in the main body and onto which a disk storage medium is put in a state where the front cover is open, the tray going into and out of the main body; a sliding member which selectively engages with a pinion gear when the tray goes into and out of the main body and moves in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the tray; and a locking bar which extends from one side of the sliding member. Here, the connector is locked by the locking bar when the front cover is closed.

[11] The front cover may be connected to the main body by an elastic member that provides an elastic force in a closing direction of the front cover.

[12] The sliding member may comprise a linear gear which selectively engages with the pinion gear, and the locking bar may be horizontally formed at a side of the linear gear.

[13] The locking bar may be positioned between the pinion gear and the front cover. [14] The locking bar may extend in a direction in which the sliding member moves to a position for a reproducing operation. Description of Drawings

[15] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an appearance of a usual optical disk drive;

[16] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an internal structure of the optical disk drive shown in FIG. 1 ;

[17] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the internal structure shown in FIG. 2;

[18] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a sliding member viewed in a direction expressed by an arrow A;

[19] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an appearance of an apparatus, in which an optical disk drive including a front cover locking device according to the present invention is installed;

[20] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an internal structure of an optical disk drive including a front cover locking device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIGS. 7A and 7B are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of the optical disk drive, in which a tray is open; and

[22] FIGS. 8A and 8B are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of the optical disk drive, in which the tray is closed. Best Mode

[23] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same member.

[24] Referring to FIG. 5, a front cover 102 is provided in a front panel 101 of a main body 100 of an apparatus such as a household appliance or a computer in which an optical disk drive, for example, a DVD-RAM drive, is installed. The front cover 102 rotates when it opens and closes. An optical disk drive is installed inward behind the front cover 102. A tray 120, which loads an optical recording medium such as a DVD and goes into and out of the main body 100, is installed in the main body 100.

[25] FIGS. 7B and 8B illustrate a state where the front cover 102 rotates around the main body 100. The front cover 102 is hinged to the main body 100 at opposite sides thereof. More specifically, one end portion of a connector 103 extending inward at each of the opposite sides of the front cover 102 is hinged to the main body 100. A lever 106 is formed at other end portion of the connector 103. The lever 106 is locked by a locking bar 152 in a state where the front cover 102 is closed, thereby preventing the front cover 102 from opening. In addition, the front cover 102 is connected to the main body 100 by a spring 107 at the opposite sides thereof. Accordingly, when the front cover 102 is open, the spring 107 extends and provides an elastic force in a closing direction of the front cover 102.

[26] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an internal structure of an optical disk drive employing a front cover locking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed descriptions of the same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 will be omitted.

[27] Referring to FIG. 6, the optical disk drive, for example, a DVD-RAM drive, includes a main frame 110, a tray 120, a sub frame 130, and a base chassis 140. The tray 120 is installed to go into and out of the main frame 110. A disk (not shown) or a disk cartridge (not shown) including the disk is put onto the tray 120. The sub frame 130 is rotatably installed at the main frame 110. The base chassis 140 is installed to be supported by the sub frame 130.

[28] A turntable 141, a spindle motor (not shown), and an optical pickup device 142 are installed on the base chassis 140. A disk, which is put onto the tray 120 and moved inward, is mounted on the turntable 141. The spindle motor is installed to be coaxial with the turntable 141 and rotates the turntable 141. The optical pickup device 142 slides in the radial direction of the disk mounted on the turntable 141 and records information into or reproduces information from the disk.

[29] A sliding member 150 is installed in the main frame 110. The sliding member 150 is selectively linked to a pinion gear 111 driven by a driving unit (not shown) so as to slide in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the tray 120. Two cam holes (15 shown in FIG. 4) are formed in the sliding member 150. When cam projections 131 provided at the sub frame 130 slide along the tracks of the cam holes 15, respectively, the sub frame 130 rotates around a rotating shaft 132 supported by the main frame 110.

[30] The sliding member 150 linearly moves in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the tray 120. A linear gear 151 selectively engaging with the pinion gear 111 is formed at the sliding member 150. The locking bar 152 horizontally extends from one side of the sliding member 150. The locking bar 152 is integrally formed with the sliding member 150 using injection molding. Preferably, the locking bar 152 is formed to move between the pinion gear 111 and the front cover 102 (shown in FIG. 5) in a direction in which the sliding member 150 moves to a position for reproducing operation. [31] Meanwhile, a hole 110a is formed in the main frame 110 so that the locking bar 152 passes through a side of the main frame 110 when the sliding member 150 moves to the position for reproducing operation.

[32] A cam groove 153 is formed on a top of the sliding member 150. A projection 120a extends downward from the tray 120 by a predetermined length to be inserted into the cam groove 153. When the tray 120 goes into the main body 100, the projection 120a is inserted into the cam groove 153 and contacts an oblique portion 153a formed to be slant with respect to the moving direction of the projection 120a. Here, the sliding member 150 moves in a direction B due to an impact of the projection 120a contacting the oblique portion 153. Then, the linear gear 151 formed in the sliding member 150 engages with the pinion gear 111 so that the sliding member 150 is moved in the direction B by the action of the pinion gear 111.

[33] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a state where the tray 120 is ejected from the main body 100. FIGS. 8 A and 8B illustrate a state where the tray 120 is inserted into the main body 100.

[34] The following description concerns a procedure in which the tray 120 goes out of the main body 100 and the front cover 102 opens.

[35] When an open switch (not shown) is turned on, the pinion gear 111 is driven and moves the sliding member 150 in a direction C. Here, the locking bar 152 is withdrawn from the hole 110a formed in the side of the main frame 110 and releases the lever 106 of the front cover 102. The front cover 102 remains closed due to the spring 107.

[36] When the sliding member 150 completes a movement in the direction C, the projection 120a on the bottom of the tray 120 passes the oblique portion 153a of the cam groove 153 and escapes from the cam groove 153 of the sliding member 150. Thereafter, the tray 120 is ejected from the main body 100 by the rotation of the pinion gear 111 and pushes the front cover 102. Then, the front cover 102 rotates, and the spring 107 expands and is elastically biased.

[37] The following description concerns a procedure in which the tray 120 onto which a disk cartridge D has been put goes into the main body 100.

[38] When a close switch (not shown) is turned on after the disk cartridge D is put onto the tray 120, the pinion gear 111 reversely rotates, and the tray 120 goes into the main body 100. When the tray 120 is almost inserted into the main body 100, the projection 120a on the bottom of the tray 120 hits the oblique portion 153a of the cam groove 153. Then, the sliding member 150 slightly moves in a direction B so that the linear gear 151 engages with the pinion gear 111. Then, the tray 120 is completely inserted into the main body 100, and the front cover 102 rotates and closes due to the elastic force of the spring 107.

[39] Meanwhile, the sliding member 150 moves in the direction B so that the locking bar 152 penetrates through the hole 110a at the side of the main frame 110. Here, in a state where the front cover 102 is closed, the locking bar 152 is positioned on the lever 106 (See FIGS. 8A and 8B). Accordingly, the locking bar 152 prevents the front cover 102 from rotating.

[40] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[41] As described above, according to the present invention, a device for locking a front cover for an optical disk drive includes a locking bar formed at one side of a sliding member in a simple structure. Since the locking bar is driven by the movement of the sliding member, an additional driving source for the locking bar is not required. Accordingly, due to the operation of the locking bar, the front cover is prevented from opening due to an external force while a reproducing operation is performed in a state where a tray is closed.

Claims

[1] device for locking a front cover of an optical disk drive, the device comprising: a front cover which is rotatably installed at a front panel of a main body of an apparatus in which an optical disk drive is installed; a connector which extends at each of opposite sides of the front cover and is hinged to the main body; a tray which is installed in the main body and onto which a disk storage medium is put in a state where the front cover is open, the tray going into and out of the main body; a sliding member which selectively engages with a pinion gear when the tray goes into and out of the main body and moves in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the tray; and a locking bar which extends from one side of the sliding member, wherein the connector is locked by the locking bar when the front cover is closed. [2] The device of claim 1, wherein the front cover is connected to the main body by an elastic member that provides an elastic force in a closing direction of the front cover. [3] The device of claim 1, wherein the sliding member comprises a linear gear which selectively engages with the pinion gear, and the locking bar is horizontally formed at a side of the linear gear. [4] The device of claim 3, wherein the locking bar is positioned between the pinion gear and the front cover. [5] The device of claim 3, wherein the locking bar extends in a direction in which the sliding member moves to a position for a reproducing operation.