JPH0422412A - dust removal device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention mainly relates to a dust removal device installed in an optical disk information recording/reproducing device or the like.

(Prior Art) In the above-mentioned information recording and reproducing apparatus, means for rotating the optical disk, an electric circuit board for controlling the optical head, etc.
It is placed inside the device case and heats up the internal air by generating heat during the control process. For this reason, there is a risk that the loaded optical disk and peripheral mechanisms will be heated to a temperature higher than the permissible limit and be thermally damaged. Therefore, cooling air is circulated inside the device case to keep the internal temperature low. However, if the introduced external air contains dust, it may damage the lens surface of the optical system used. The above-mentioned dust may adhere and cause accidents such as interfering with recording and reproduction. For this reason, means such as a fan that forcibly sends air into the device case are usually equipped with a filter, which collects dust and uses the clean air that passes through the filter to cool the internal mechanism. I am trying to make sure that this is done.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, when removing dust by placing the filter in the air flow path so as to block it, the amount of dust trapped by the filter is As this increases, clogging occurs and flow resistance increases. As a result, the amount of air that passes through the device housing per unit time decreases, making the original purpose of air cooling insufficient, which may cause the temperature to rise beyond the permissible limit, causing heat in the optical disk and peripheral mechanisms. This may result in physical damage. To do this, you need to carefully monitor the condition and replace filters frequently.

(Objective of the Invention) The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and when the air permeability deteriorates due to dust adhering to the filter surface, this is detected when the temperature inside the device to be cooled is higher than the set temperature, and the above-mentioned filter The object of the present invention is to provide a dust removal device that removes the dust from the air flow path, secures the required air flow rate, and prevents the temperature from rising above the set temperature.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, in the present invention, in a dust removal device in which a filter member is disposed in an air flow passage to adsorb and remove dust, the air flow passage in which a cooling fan is located is provided. A support frame supporting the filter member is arranged to be openable and closable so as to open or block the air flow passage through the filter member, and a lock is provided to support the support frame in a closed state. A mechanism is configured to release the lock above a set temperature within the device to be cooled.

(Function) Therefore, in the process of removing dust by the filter member, the filter member becomes clogged (then the air flow rate to the device to be cooled decreases, causing a temperature rise, but the temperature rises above the set temperature). At this point, the lock is released, the support frame is removed, the air flow passage is opened, and a sufficient air flow rate is ensured to avoid thermal damage to the device to be cooled.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a drive case that protects and houses an optical disk drive device (as a device to be cooled) 2, a power source 4, a cooling fan 5, etc., and is on the opposite side from the side where the cooling fan 5 is installed. The cartridge insertion port 1a (which also serves as an air circulation port) is opened.

An electric circuit board 3 is disposed on the ceiling of the drive device 2, and is connected to each motor and drive device in the drive device 2 via wiring 10, and is connected to a power source 4.
, is also connected to the cooling fan 5. The above cooling fan 5
On the outside of the drive case 1, a support frame 6 supporting the filter member 6' is attached to a hinge 8 so that the filter member 6' is located on the air intake side of the drive case 1 and the filter member 6' is disposed in the air flow passage. The support frame 6 is pivotally connected through the filter member 6'' and is arranged to be openable and closable so as to open the airflow passage or block it through the filter member 6''. ) is disposed above the airflow passage, and its lock claw 7' engages with the engagement hole 6'' of the support frame 6. The locking mechanism 7 is equipped with a solenoid (not shown), and when it receives an electric signal, the locking claw 7' is pulled out of the engagement hole 6' to open the support frame 6 (see Fig. 2). ). At this time, it is preferable that the support frame 6 is provided with a spring 8° (see FIG. 3) for tilting the opening operation. The electric signal to the locking mechanism 7 is preferably provided via the wiring 10 from the electric circuit board 3. Further, this electrical signal is output when the temperature sensor 9 provided in the drive device 2 detects the internal temperature of the device at or above its set temperature (required temperature below the allowable limit temperature). This electrical signal causes the display device 11 provided in the drive case to display a message informing the user that it is time to replace the filter, and also causes the user to hear the buzzer 11.
Alert with 2.

In addition, in the figure, the reference numeral 1.06 is a holding member for holding the filter member 6 on the support frame 6.

In such a configuration, while the drive device 2 is being used, dust in the air sucked in by the cooling fan 5 adheres to the filter member 6', reducing its air permeability. In this process, the internal temperature T of the drive device 2 at the start of use. The temperature will rise little by little. As the filter member 6' becomes more contaminated, the filter member 6' becomes more and more dirty.
Since the flow rate of air that passes through the temperature drops significantly, the drive device 2 continues to rise in temperature toward the permissible limit temperature, but when the temperature sensor 9 reaches its set temperature T1, it outputs a signal and displays it on the display. 11. At the same time as energizing the buzzer 12, the lock claw 7 of the lock mechanism 7 is released by energizing the solenoid,
It is pulled out from the engagement hole 6'' of the support frame 6. As a result, the support frame 6 rotates around the hinge 8 and is opened as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the flow resistance due to the filter member 6° is reduced. Therefore, a sufficient air flow rate is ensured by the cooling fan 5, and the temperature inside the drive device 2 can be lowered.

Note that once the temperature sensor 9 is activated, it is preferable to continue energizing the display device 11 and the buzzer 12 until the operator performs a confirmation operation (for example, a reset operation). Further, in this embodiment, the filter member 6' and the support frame 6 are provided on the upstream side of the cooling fan 5, but it goes without saying that these may be provided on the downstream side.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, even if the filter member provided in the flow path of cooling air to the device to be cooled becomes clogged, the clogging reaches a certain value, and the temperature inside the device to be cooled decreases. If the temperature rises, this can be detected by a temperature sensor, etc., and the support frame that supports the filter member can be removed from the air flow path, thereby ensuring sufficient air flow, lowering the internal temperature of the equipment to be cooled, and eliminating heat. damage to objects can be avoided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a situation when the filter member is clogged, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part. 1... Drive case 2... Drive device 3...
・Electrical circuit board 4...Electric circuit board 71! 5...Cooling fan 6...Support frame 6゛...Filter member 7...
...Lock mechanism 9...Temperature sensor agent Patent attorney Seki Yamashita Figure 6' Figure 6'

Claims (1)

[Claims] A filter member is installed in the air flow path to attract dust,
In the dust removal device, a support frame supporting the filter member is provided in the air flow passage in which the cooling fan is located, and the support frame is configured to freely open and close the air flow passage so as to open or block the air flow passage through the filter member. 1. A dust removal device, wherein a locking mechanism for supporting the support frame in a closed state is configured to release the lock when the temperature within the device to be cooled reaches a set temperature or higher.