JPH103767A - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge which can store normal and small disks and can be loaded into a vertical type disk device without adding a special mechanism to the disk device. I have. A member (8) containing a small disk (2) is provided inside a cartridge (1) for a normal disk (10) so that the disk can be held at a specified position. Without adding a special mechanism to the disk device, a simple configuration of the cartridge enables storage of a plurality of types of disks and loading into a vertical type disk device. The functions can be improved, and the user can also improve usability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk cartridge for accommodating a disk for recording and reproducing information such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Compact discs (hereinafter referred to as CDs) include discs having a diameter of 120 mm (hereinafter referred to as normal discs) represented by CD-ROMs and single CDs for electronic books and audio. Discs having a diameter of 80 mm and differing only in outer diameter and having the same thickness and inner diameter of the clamp portion (hereinafter referred to as small discs) are mixed. Examples of an optical disk recording or reproducing device (hereinafter abbreviated as a disk device) include a disk having such a different outer shape as a single unit or a disk cartridge (hereinafter abbreviated as a cartridge) as an example of a device capable of recording or reproducing information. An apparatus described in JP-A-7-161112 has been proposed. In this apparatus, a loading device for loading a cartridge into a disk device is a tray type, and this tray has a stepped two-layer structure, and defines the position of a disk in a spindle motor unit that drives the disk of the disk device to rotate. In this example, when loading a small disk, a method is used in which a frame slightly larger than the diameter of the disk is formed on this tray and the disk is placed in this frame. Is recognized on the market.

On the other hand, in order to record or reproduce information at a high density, the cartridge protects the disk from dust and the attachment of fats and oils due to human operations during storage and operation by humans. When recording or reproducing information in the disk device, the disk is exposed by moving the shutter of the cartridge to open the opening of the disk. In the case of a CD-ROM, loading a disk into a drive device is performed by a single disk, for example, as disclosed in
As described in Japanese Patent No. 68641, there is a type in which a disk is stored in a cartridge called a caddy. This CD caddy opens and closes the top cover and lets you change the disc,
As an example of a cartridge capable of replacing a disk, for example, in the cartridge described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-242626, the bottom of the opposite side of the shutter is rotatable, and that is a place where the disk is inserted and ejected. Only one type of disc (normal disc) whose diameter is slightly smaller than the outer dimensions of the cartridge can be stored and loaded into the drive device.

[0004]

The above prior art has the following problems.

In order to load a small disk into a conventional disk device in a vertical type, it is necessary to use the above-mentioned adapter, use a small cartridge dedicated to the small disk, or form a tray in which these can be loaded. is there. Therefore, to make such a disk drive,
There is a problem that a space for hooking or holding a disk or a cartridge is required, so that the disk device is increased in size, a loading mechanism of the disk device is complicated, and the cost of the device is increased.

In addition, the method using an adapter has a problem that the operation is complicated and a problem that the tray and the adapter are rubbed due to the deformation of the adapter, which hinders the operation of the disk device.

[0007] The cartridge for a normal disk defines the position of the disk by an inner wall or the like for holding the normal disk. Even if a small disk is stored, the clearance with the inner wall is large, so that the concentricity with the normal disk is large. Therefore, there is a problem that the disk is not clamped by the disk device or the disk is damaged during transportation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a disk drive without adding a special mechanism.
An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge which can store normal and small disks and can be loaded into a disk device of a vertical type.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a member for containing a small disk is provided inside a normal disk cartridge so that the disk can be held at a predetermined position. By doing so, the concentricity and position of the small disk with respect to the cartridge can be ensured in the same manner as the normal disk, so that the disk device can be clamped to the disk device regardless of whether it is placed vertically or horizontally, and the disk device also has a special mechanism for small disks,
No space is required.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cartridge of the present invention. The cartridge 1 includes a disc 2 on which information is recorded or reproduced, an upper case 3 containing the disc 2,
A lower case 4, an opening / closing lid 5, a shutter 6 for opening / closing an opening 3a of the case and an opening 4a opposed thereto, a plate 7 for suppressing protrusion of a corner of the shutter 6, and a slightly larger outer diameter of the disk 2; The disk 2 includes a support 8 rotatably enclosing the inner diameter of the disk 2 and mounted in a recess 5 d of the opening / closing lid 5. The upper case 3 and the lower case 4 are vertically bonded to each other, and are rotatably supported so as to sandwich the shaft 5a of the opening / closing lid 5 vertically. The upper case 3 and the lower case 4 constitute a hole 1a for fitting with the locking piece 5b. The figure shows the locking piece 5b
In this state, the engagement between the disk 1 and the hole 1a is released, the opening / closing lid 5 is opened, and the disk 2 is projected from the cartridge 1.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cartridge. The figure shows a state where the opening / closing lid 5 is attached to the cartridge 1. In the following description, the upper case 3 will be described, but since the lower case 4 has a shape symmetrical to the upper case 3, the description is omitted. The shutter 6 is urged by a tension spring 9 included in the cartridge 1 during storage and when not in use, is pressed against the wall 3b of the upper case 3, and closes the opening 3a. The upper case 3 has an inner wall 3c for preventing dust from entering the inside of the cartridge 1. When the cartridge 1 is inserted into the recording / reproducing apparatus to exchange information, the shutter 6 is slid by the loading mechanism of the apparatus in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the tension spring 9, and the surface of the disk 2 is opened through the opening 3a. Is exposed. The disk 2 is rotatably contained, held and positioned in the support 8. When the disk 2 is loaded into the disk device and recorded or reproduced, the disk 2 is positioned at the approximate center 1b of the cartridge 1 to be clamped by a clamper (not shown) of a spindle motor (not shown) for driving the disk of the disk device. Have been. In this case, it is desirable to design the positioning member so that the concentricity between the center of the positioning member of the cartridge 1 and the disk is 1.8 mm or less.
That is, it is necessary to securely clamp the spindle motor and the clamper described above, and to prevent the disc and the cartridge from contacting each other after the clamp.

By holding the disk 2 with respect to the cartridge 1 in this manner, the position of the disk 2 with respect to the cartridge 1 is defined even if the cartridge 1 is loaded vertically in the disk device.

Next, the operation of replacing a disk will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a cartridge. FIG. 3 (a) is the same as the state of FIG. 2, and the locking piece 5b is hooked and locked in the hole 1a. FIG. 3 (b) shows a state in which the locking piece 5b facing from the hole 1a is pushed in from the state of FIG. 3 (a) by using a pen point, the tip of a driver or the like. Since the locking piece 5 is formed of an elastic plastic or the like, the locking piece 5 is elastically deformed by being pushed in, the locking with the hole 1a is released, and the opening / closing lid 5 is pulled out from this state as shown in FIG. State. At this time, the disc 2 shown in FIG. 1 is guided and pulled out by a support 8 which rotates about a shaft 5a in conjunction with the opening / closing lid 5. The disk 2 can be exchanged by further rotating from the state shown in FIG. The operation of inserting the disk is the reverse of the above-described operation. The disk 2 is replaced and inserted into the cartridge 1, and the opening / closing lid 5 is locked until the locking piece 5b is locked in the hole 1a as shown in FIG. Close to complete disk swap.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cartridge. The figure shows a state in which a disk 10 having a diameter larger than that of the disk 2 described above is stored in the cartridge 1. The support 8 described with reference to FIG. 2 has been removed by moving the support 8 from the recess 5d in the axial direction of the disk 2, thereby securing a space for storing the disk 10. In the state shown, the cartridge 10 is held so that the center of the disk 10 is positioned at the approximate center 1b of the cartridge described with reference to FIG.
The disk 10 is inserted into the cartridge 1 by rotating the open / close lid 5 to insert the disk 10 into the cartridge 1 in the same manner as in the case of the disk 2 and then closing and locking the open / close lid 5.

Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cartridge showing another embodiment. In the above embodiment, the support is linked to the opening / closing lid and is rotated integrally. However, as shown in FIG.
The upper cover can be opened and closed, and the support 8 can be attached to the lower case and can be detached. A guide groove 4b for engaging the support 8 is formed in the lower case. By removing the support 8, the disk having a large diameter shown in FIG. 4 can be loaded. In this method, the support 8 is cut by a circle corresponding to the outer diameter of the disk 2 only at a portion where the head and the spindle motor of the disk device are inserted. However, the shape is not limited to a circle as long as the disk 2 can be held. It may be radial, hexagonal or the like. Further, in the above embodiment, two types of disks can be held, but any number of types may be used as long as the positioning of the disk with respect to the disk device can be specified. Further, depending on the disk device, there are a plurality of spindle motors, and when the center position of the disk is different, the support position may be changed according to the disk device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cartridge showing another embodiment. In the above embodiment, the support is linked to the opening / closing lid and is rotated integrally. However, as shown in the figure, the disk 2 can be replaced by sliding the opening / closing lid 5 from the case. May form a concave portion 5e for containing the disk 2, and by changing the size of the concave portion 5e, the disk to be loaded may be selected. In the above embodiment, the number of disks that can be stored in the cartridge at one time is one. However, for example, two disks having the same or different diameters may be stored vertically.

In the above embodiment, the support is detachable. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the cartridge is used exclusively for the small disk, there is no need to make it detachable.

In addition to the above embodiment, the protection of the disk surface
From the viewpoint of cleaning, a configuration may be adopted in which a cleaning member is attached to the inner surface of the disk insertion / removal opening of the cartridge, and when the disk is replaced, the disk and the cleaning member are brought into contact to clean the disk surface.

Further, at least one of the bottom cover and the upper and lower cases may be made of a transparent material so that the presence or absence of a disc in the cartridge and the adhesion of dust to the disc and the scratch can be determined.

[0021]

According to the present invention, a plurality of types of disks can be stored and loaded into a vertical type disk device with a simple configuration of the cartridge without adding a special mechanism to the disk device. In addition, the size and cost of the disk device can be reduced, the function can be improved, and the user can improve the usability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cartridge showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a cartridge showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a cartridge showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cartridge showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cartridge showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... cartridge, 2 ... disk, 3 ...
..Upper case, 4 ... Lower case, 5 ... Open / close lid, 8
···support

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Nagai Seiichiro 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Pref. Multimedia Systems Development Division, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A disk cartridge comprising a case for accommodating a recording medium on which information is recorded / reproduced and an opening / closing lid for opening a part of the case, wherein the recording medium can be taken in and out. A disc cartridge comprising a positioning member for defining positions of a plurality of different types of recording media. 2. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of recording media having different diameters can be stored by attaching and detaching the positioning member. 3. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said positioning member is detachable. 4. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the concentricity of the plurality of recording media positioned by the positioning member is 1.8 mm or less. 5. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the centers of the plurality of positioning members are the same. 6. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein centers of the plurality of positioning members are different. 7. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said positioning member is an arc of 180 degrees or more. 8. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member defines three or more positions of the outer diameter of the recording medium.
A disc cartridge according to claim 1. 9. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said recording media are stored simultaneously. 10. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said positioning member inserts and removes said recording medium from said case in conjunction with said opening / closing lid. 11. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said positioning member does not rotate with said recording medium. 12. The recording medium having a diameter of 120 mm can be stored, and the recording medium having a diameter of 80 mm is positioned at the center of the recording medium having a diameter of 120 mm by mounting the positioning member. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: 13. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning member for the recording medium is provided on an inner periphery of the opening and the opening of the recording medium of the opening / closing lid. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said case and said opening / closing lid is made of a transparent material.
A disc cartridge according to claim 1.