JPH103775A - Disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and exactly discriminate a disk cartridge from others having different specifications by providing a cartridge body provided with specification discriminating holes along the back surface side opposite to the front surface facing in the cartridge inserting direction. SOLUTION: A lower half 5 is provided with 1st recording capacity discriminating holes 34A to 34F positioned in a 1st setting area A1 respectively. These individual recording capacity discriminating holes 34 are formed without passing through an upper half. Consequently, since when the recording capacity discriminating holes 34 are discriminated by a discriminating hole detecting device, no opening parts of them are closed by a label stuck there for the purpose of displaying recording contents etc., no influence is exerted at all, irrespective of the presence or absence of the label to be stuck on a label area of the upper half. For the purpose of certainly preventing a discriminating error owing to the discriminating hole detecting device, it is preferable that the label area is provided out of an area opposite to a place provided with the recording capacity discriminating holes 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a disk cartridge in which a disk-shaped recording medium such as a magnetic disk is rotatably stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a disk cartridge 9 in which a disk-shaped recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a magneto-optical disk is stored.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a cartridge main body formed by combining a pair of upper halves 91 and lower halves 92, as shown in FIGS. In the cartridge body, a disk-shaped recording medium is rotatably stored in a disk storage section (not shown) formed therein.

[0003] In the cartridge body, recording and reproducing openings (not shown) are opened opposite to each other, and a shutter member 93 is assembled in the recording and reproducing opening to be openable and closable.

[0004] The lower half 92 is provided with a table entry opening 94 in the center of the disk storage section, into which a turntable on the recording and / or reproducing apparatus enters. The table entry opening 94 has a center hub 95 attached to the center of the disc-shaped recording medium housed in the cartridge body facing outward from the lower half 92.

In the upper half 92 and the lower half 93, an erroneous erasure prevention member 96 for preventing the information signal from being erased due to the erroneous recording of the information signal on the disc-shaped recording medium is provided with an opening. Parts 97 and 98 are slidably disposed. Further, the upper half 92 and the lower half 93 are provided with recording capacity identification holes 99A and 99B for identifying the recording capacity of the stored disk-shaped recording medium.

[0006] With the recent trend toward multimedia, information signals such as image data and audio data to be handled have become diversified and enormous.
Recording capacity is increasing. For this reason, the disk cartridge 90 is required to have a higher recording density of information signals, and there are various kinds of disk cartridges having different specifications such as recording capacity.

Therefore, the disk cartridge 90
When loaded into a recording and / or reproducing apparatus, it must be clearly distinguished from other disk cartridges having different specifications such as recording capacity.

[0008]

The state of identifying the recording capacity of a conventional disk cartridge will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the above-described disk cartridge 9
Since the configuration is almost the same as that of 0,
The same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

A disk cartridge 101 having a recording capacity of 1 megabyte (MB) or less is used in accordance with a capacity indication displayed on a shutter member 93 or the like as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The MB disk cartridge 102 has a lower half 102
In order to distinguish the disk cartridge from another disk cartridge having a recording capacity of 2 MB or less, the erroneous erasure prevention member 9 described above is used.
A recording capacity identification hole 110 is provided on the side surface side opposite to the side surface side on which 6 is provided. 2M recording capacity
When the disc cartridge 102 of B is loaded into the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the recording and / or reproducing apparatus detects the recording capacity identification hole 110 to identify the recording capacity.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24, a disk cartridge 103 having a recording capacity of 4 MB has a lower half 1
03A, a recording capacity identification hole 111 provided in the 2MB disk cartridge 102 is provided to identify the recording capacity identification hole 111 in the 2MB disk cartridge 102.
It is provided shifted from the position of 0.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, disk cartridges 104 and 2 each having a recording capacity of 13 MB are provided.
The lower half 1 is attached to the 1 MB disk cartridge 105.
04A and 105A, in order to distinguish them from the other disk cartridges 101, 102, and 103 having different recording capacities, the other disk cartridges 101, 10
An erroneous erasure prevention member 106 and a recording capacity identification hole 112 are provided at positions where the positions of the erroneous erasure prevention member 97 and the recording capacity identification hole 110 provided in 2 and 103 are interchanged. Further, the erroneous erasure prevention member 106 is provided with the lower half 1.
It is movably arranged in the opening 107 opened in 04A and 105A.

The 13 MB disk cartridge 104 and the 21 MB disk cartridge 10
Reference numeral 5 denotes a second recording capacity identification hole 11 adjacent to one end in the sliding direction of the shutter member 93 for distinguishing the recording capacity from each other, as shown in FIGS.
3, 114 are provided. The 13 MB disk cartridge 104 is provided with a second recording capacity identification hole 113 located near the side of the cartridge body.
The 21 MB disk cartridge 105 has a second recording capacity identification hole 11 located near the shutter member 93.
4 are provided.

The 13 MB disk cartridge 104 and the 21 MB disk cartridge 105
Is set to be the same as the state where it is determined that writing is prohibited in a disk cartridge of 4 MB or less. That is, these disk cartridges 104 and 105
Recording and / or compatible with disk cartridges of MB or less
Alternatively, when the information signal is loaded into the reproducing apparatus, the information is set to the write-protected state, so that the information signal is not erroneously erased by writing the information signal.

As described above, the conventional disk cartridges 102 to 105 have the recording capacity identification hole 1.
10, 111, 112 and second recording capacity identification hole 11
3 and 114 are the lower half 1 constituting the cartridge body.
It is provided at various positions on the main surface of 02A to 105A.

Therefore, in the conventional disk cartridges 101 to 105, when the user identifies the recording capacity, it is necessary to visually check the capacity indication displayed by printing or the like on the shutter member 93 or the cartridge body, and the recording capacity can be quickly reduced. There was a problem that it was difficult to identify.

The conventional disk cartridge 101
Nos. 105 to 105 have a problem that when the user identifies the recording capacity, the recording capacity cannot be identified except by visually checking the recording capacity display.

The disk cartridge is required to have an increased recording capacity. The disk cartridge of 21 MB or more and the conventional disk cartridge 10 described above are required.
1 to 105 had to be clearly identified.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk cartridge which can be easily and reliably identified from other cartridges having different recording capacities and specifications.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a disk cartridge according to the present invention is provided on one surface with a label area on which a display label indicating the recording content of an information signal is attached, and on the other side. A cartridge body provided with a spindle hole for rotating a disc-shaped recording medium by a recording and / or reproducing device on the surface of the cartridge body, and a specification identification hole provided along a rear surface facing a front surface facing the cartridge insertion direction. Prepare.

Further, the recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has a label area on one surface to which a display label indicating the recording content of the information signal is attached, and a disc-shaped recording medium on the other surface. The recording and / or reproducing of information signals is performed on a disk cartridge having a cartridge body provided with a spindle hole for rotating the cartridge and having a specification identification hole provided along a rear surface facing the front surface facing the cartridge insertion direction. Do. The recording and / or reproducing apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects a specification identifying hole of the cartridge body.

In the disk cartridge configured as described above, the specification such as the recording capacity of the information signal is identified by the specification identification hole.

Further, in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, when recording and / or reproducing the information signal with respect to the disk cartridge, the detecting means detects the specification identifying hole of the cartridge body. That is, in this recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the detecting means identifies the specification such as the recording capacity of the information signal of the inserted disk cartridge.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The disk cartridge 1 according to the embodiment is a disk cartridge 1 in which a 3.5-inch diameter magnetic disk 2 is rotatably stored as shown in FIG. The disk cartridge 1 forms an overall thin box-shaped cartridge main body 3 by abutting and joining an upper half 4 and a lower half 5 each of which is formed in a substantially shallow dish and formed of a synthetic resin material.

On the outer periphery of the upper half 4 and the lower half 5,
The rising peripheral walls 6 and 7 that abut against each other and form the outer peripheral wall of the cartridge body 3 are integrally formed to protrude. The upper half 4 and the lower half 5 have opposite inner walls which are formed as a plurality of walls substantially inscribing the rising peripheral walls 6 and 7 and which abut against each other to form a circular disk storage portion 8. Storage section forming wall 9, 1
0 and a plurality of butting fitting projections 11 and 12 are integrally provided upright.

The upper half 4 and the lower half 5 configured as described above are assembled so that the rising peripheral walls 6, 7 and the disk storage section forming walls 9, 10 are abutted against each other. The projections 11 and 12 are fitted, and the butted fitting projections 11 and 12 are integrated by ultrasonic welding to form the cartridge body 3.

The lower half 5 has a circular table entry opening 13 so as to form a center hole of the disk storage portion 8.
Has been established. When the disk cartridge 1 is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus, the turntable on the recording / reproducing apparatus side that drives the magnetic disk 2 housed in the cartridge body 3 enters the table entry opening 13.
The table entry opening 13 is provided in the center hole 2A of the magnetic disk 2 housed in the cartridge body 3.
The center hub 14 attached via the attachment ring 15 is closed from the lower half 5 so as to be closed.

The center hub 14 is formed in a substantially coupling shape in which a flange portion is integrally provided on an outer peripheral portion of a fitting portion having substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the center hole 2A of the magnetic disk 2. Also, in the center hub 14,
When the disc cartridge 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, a spindle shaft hole 31 and a chucking convex portion into which a spindle shaft provided on a turntable of the recording / reproducing apparatus which enters from the table entry opening 13 is fitted. A chucking hole 32 to be fitted is provided.

In the upper half 4 and the lower half 5, at least a part of the signal recording area of the magnetic disk 2 stored in the disk storage section 8 is exposed to the outside of the cartridge body 3 over the inner and outer circumferences. Reproduction openings 16 and 17 are opened opposite to each other. These recording / reproducing openings 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the rectangular members 6 and 17 are located substantially at the center in the width direction of the upper half 4 and the lower half 5 from the position adjacent to the table entry opening 13 to the front side of the cartridge body 3. It is formed in a shape.

The cartridge body 3 has an entirety of integrated shutter portions 19 and 20 formed of a synthetic resin material and facing each other in parallel, and a connecting portion 21 connecting the base ends of the shutter portions 19 and 20. A shutter member 18 having a U-shaped cross section is movably assembled. The shutters 19 and 20 have openings 22A and 22B having substantially the same shape as the recording and reproducing openings 16 and 17.
Are set up facing each other.

The shutter member 18 is arranged so that the openings 22A and 22B do not correspond to the recording / reproducing openings 16 and 17 due to the elastic force of the shutter spring 23 disposed at one corner on the front side of the lower half 5. Has been energized. Therefore, when the disk cartridge 1 is not used, the shutter member 18 prevents dust and the like from entering the disk storage unit 8 from the recording / reproducing openings 16 and 17 and adhering to the magnetic disk 2 stored therein. Alternatively, it acts to prevent the magnetic disk 2 from being damaged.

When the disk cartridge 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the shutter member 18 is engaged with a shutter driving member of the recording / reproducing apparatus which moves along the front side of the cartridge body 3 to engage the shutter. By moving along the cartridge body 3 against the elastic force of the spring 23, the openings 22A, 22B are opened corresponding to the recording and reproducing openings 16, 17, respectively.

At one corner on the back side of the lower half 5,
An erroneous erasure prevention member 24A is movably assembled. The erroneous erasure prevention member 24 is moved to a first position at which the erroneous erasure detection holes 24B formed in the upper half 4 and the lower half 5 are opened and a second position at which the erroneous erasure detection holes 24B are closed. When the disk cartridge 1 is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus with the erroneous erasure prevention member 24A moved to the first position where the erroneous erasure detection hole 24B is opened, the erroneous erasure detection is performed by the erroneous erasure detection means of the recording / reproducing apparatus. The hole 24B is detected, and the recording of the information signal on the magnetic disk 2 is prohibited. Therefore, the disk cartridge 1 is prevented from erroneously erasing the information signal recorded on the magnetic disk 2.
Further, the disk cartridge 1 includes an erroneous erasure prevention member 24.
In the state where A is moved to the second position where the erroneous erasure detection hole 24B is closed, the erroneous erasure detection hole 24B is not detected by the erroneous erasure detection means, so that an information signal can be recorded on the magnetic disk 2. It is said.

Between the inner wall of the upper half 4 and the magnetic disk 2, and between the inner wall of the lower half 5 and the magnetic disk 2, an upper liner 25 and a lower liner 26 joined and fixed to the upper half 4 and the lower half 5, respectively. It is arranged. The upper liner 25 and the lower liner 26 have substantially the same diameter as that of the magnetic disk 2, and have a central hole 2 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the center hole 2 A of the magnetic disk 2 at the center.
5A and 26A are formed in an annular shape. The upper liner 25 and the lower liner 26 are provided with notches 25B, 26B in the radial direction from the outer peripheral portion toward the positions adjacent to the center holes 25A, 26A. These notches 25B and 26B are cut out slightly larger than the opening dimensions of the recording and reproducing openings 16 and 17 provided in the upper half 4 and the lower half 5, respectively.

The upper half 4 is formed integrally with an annular rib (not shown) at the center of the inner wall so as to correspond to the table entry opening 13 of the lower half 5. This annular rib
The magnetic disk 2 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the center hub 14. In addition, the annular ribs are butted against each other and
Has a height dimension slightly smaller than the height dimension of the rising peripheral walls 6 and 7 that constitute the outer peripheral wall of the first embodiment. Therefore, the annular rib extends along the inner peripheral wall of the center hub 14 with respect to the magnetic disk 2 rotatably housed in the cartridge body 3 in a state where the upper half 4 and the lower half 5 are connected. . The magnetic disk 2 rotates smoothly inside the cartridge main body 3 because the inner peripheral wall of the center hub 14 is regulated over the entire circumference by the annular rib to prevent play in the diameter direction and the thickness direction.

A lifter 29 formed by bending a sheet material made of a synthetic resin into a substantially rectangular shape is fixed to the lower half 5. The lifter 29 acts so as to press the lower liner 26 against the lower surface of the magnetic disk 2 by contacting the rising end with the lower surface of the lower liner 26 welded and fixed to the inner wall of the lower half 5 so as to be pushed up. Further, a center plate 30 formed of a wear-resistant synthetic resin material is joined and fixed to the inner wall of the upper half 4 at the center. When the disk cartridge 1 is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus, the center plate 30 regulates the abutment height of the spindle shaft of the turntable which enters from the table entrance opening 13 formed in the lower half 5 and also controls the magnetic disk. 2
Of the upper portion of the center hub 14 attached to the center hole 2A, thereby preventing the upper half 4 from being worn or damaged.

When the magnetic disk 2 is rotated after the disk cartridge 1 is loaded in a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording operation or a reproducing operation is performed, the upper liner 25 and the lower liner 26 are acted on by a lifter 29 with a light contact pressure. The upper and lower surfaces of the magnetic disk 2 are rubbed. Magnetic disk 2
The torque is braked by the contact pressure of the upper liner 25 and the lower liner 26, and smooth rotation is performed without causing rotation unevenness or the like.

In the lower half 5, a pair of positioning holes 27A and 27B are formed on the main surface for positioning the recording / reproducing apparatus with respect to the cartridge mounting portion. When the disc cartridge 1 is inserted into the recording / reproducing apparatus, the positioning projections on the recording / reproducing apparatus side are inserted into the positioning holes 27A and 27B,
Positioning with respect to the cartridge loading section is reliably performed.

The lower half 5 has grip recesses 28A, 2A, 2B having a semicircular cross section on both sides in the cartridge insertion direction.
8B are respectively formed. These grip recesses 28A and 28B are used for gripping the cartridge main body 3 at the time of automatic loading of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, automatic exchange of the cartridge, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower half 5 is located on the main surface excluding the area corresponding to the disk storage portion 8 and faces the surface facing the cartridge loading direction. A first set area A1 located on a certain back side and a second set area A1 located on both sides parallel to the cartridge loading direction.
And the third setting area A3 located on the side facing the cartridge loading direction.
It is possible to provide a recording capacity identification hole for identifying the recording capacity of the recording medium.

Since the recording capacity identification hole provided in the third setting area A3 is adjacent to the shutter member 18 in which the third setting area A3 slides, the interference with the shutter member 18 is sufficiently reduced. It is necessary to arrange them in consideration.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower half 5, which is a main part of the present embodiment, is located in the first setting area A1 and has the first recording capacity identification hole 34A. The sixth to sixth recording capacity identification holes 34F are provided. Each of the recording capacity identification holes 34 is formed without penetrating the upper half 4 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, when the recording capacity identification hole 34 is identified by the identification hole detection device 41 described later, the opening is not closed by the label attached to display the recorded contents and the like. It is not affected by the presence or absence of a label attached to the label area 33 of the upper half 5.

The cartridge body 3 may have a configuration in which a label area is provided in the upper half 5 in a region opposed to a position where the recording capacity identification hole 34 is provided. However, in this case, the stroke of the recording capacity identification hole 34 in the thickness direction (hereinafter, referred to as the depth direction) of the cartridge body 3 is reduced, so that erroneous recognition of the identification by the identification hole detection device 41 is reliably prevented. Above, as shown in FIG.
It is desirable to provide the label area 33 so as to avoid the area facing the place where the recording capacity identification hole 34 is provided.

Next, the size and pitch of the recording capacity identification hole 34 provided in the lower half 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. The recording capacity identification hole 34 is
By providing the dimension in the depth direction as deep as possible, it is possible to further prevent erroneous recognition of the identification by the identification hole detection device 41.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the lower half 5 is provided with a circular recording capacity discriminating hole such as a perfect circle or an ellipse, the opening / closing pattern of the recording capacity discriminating hole 34 is changed by the tactile sensation of the user's fingertip. In order to be able to identify, the diameter d
Is 2.5 mm or more, and the pitch dimension p1 is p1 = (d +
It is desirable to set each to 0.5) mm or more.

The lower half 5 has d = 3.5 m.
By setting m and p1 = 4.5 mm, it is possible to continuously provide three recording capacity identification holes 34, and it is sufficient to identify these recording capacity identification holes 34 by the tactile sensation of a fingertip. It is possible.

When the recording capacity identification hole 34 is formed in an elliptical shape, the dimension parallel to the width direction of the lower half 5 (hereinafter, referred to as the width dimension) is the above-mentioned diameter d.

Further, when the lower half 55 of the other embodiment is provided with a rectangular recording capacity identification hole 35 such as a square, a rectangle, a parallelogram or the like as shown in FIG. In order to make it possible to identify the opening / closing pattern of the recording capacity identification hole 35 by tactile sensation, the width dimension w
1 is 2.5 mm or more, and the pitch dimension p2 is p2 = (w
It is desirable to set each to 1 + 1.0) mm or more.

Then, in the lower half 55, w1 = 3.5
By setting mm and p2 = 5.0 mm, it is possible to continuously provide three recording capacity identification holes 35 side by side, and it is sufficient to identify these recording capacity identification holes 35 by the tactile sensation of the fingertip. It is possible.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the lower half 56 of the other embodiment is provided with a substantially arc-shaped groove-shaped recording capacity identification hole 36 formed by being cut out from the rear surface portion. In order to make it possible to identify the opening / closing pattern of the recording capacity identification hole 36 by the tactile sensation, the width dimension w2 is 2.5 mm or more and a dimension parallel to the cartridge insertion direction (hereinafter, referred to as a depth dimension) D. Is 3.0mm
As described above, the pitch dimension p3 is p3 = (w2 + 1.0) mm
It is desirable to set each of the above.

The lower half 56 has w2 = 3.5.
By setting mm, D = 3.5 mm, and p3 = 5.0 mm, three recording capacity identification holes 36 can be continuously arranged and provided.
Can be identified by the tactile sensation of the fingertip.

Further, the recording capacity identification holes 34, 35, 36 provided in the lower halves 5, 55, 56 are provided on the rear side of the lower halves 5, 55, 56, as shown in FIGS. They are arranged on one parallel straight line L, respectively.

The identification hole detecting device 40 provided on the recording / reproducing device side for identifying the disk cartridge 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the identification hole detection device 40 includes a detection unit 40A inserted into the recording capacity identification holes 34, 35, and 36.
And a base portion 40B that swingably supports the base end of the detection portion 40A.

The detection section 40A is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and a detection piece 40C inserted into the recording capacity identification holes 34, 35, 36 is bent at the tip. The base portion 40B is connected and wired to a detection circuit (not shown), and detects a detection signal according to a displacement amount of the detection portion 40A which is swung by being inserted into the recording capacity identification holes 34, 35, and 36 (not shown). Output to the circuit. Based on this detection signal, the recording / reproducing apparatus allows the recording capacity identification holes 34, 35,
6 is identified.

The discriminating hole detecting device 40 needs to be arranged with high accuracy in the position and the like with respect to the recording capacity discriminating holes 34, 35 and 36. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, each discrimination hole detection device 40 has a straight line L parallel to the edge of the back surface of the cartridge body 3.
, Respectively, at different positions.

In the disc cartridge 1 of the present embodiment, recording capacity identification holes 34, 35, 36 are provided on a straight line L parallel to the back surface of the lower halves 5, 55, 56, respectively. . For this reason, according to the disk cartridge 1, as shown in FIG.
It is possible to adopt the identification hole detection device 41 in which a plurality of identification hole detection devices 40 are combined in advance in advance by adapting to the number and pitch size of 5, 36 as described above. It is not necessary to adjust the position such as the direction of the camera.

Therefore, according to the disk cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 13, the recording capacity discrimination hole 3 is formed by using the straight line L parallel to the back surface of the lower half 5 as a reference.
High-precision positioning of the identification hole detection device 41 with respect to 4, 35, 36 can be easily performed.

Next, for the recording capacity identification holes provided in the lower half 5 of the disk cartridge 1, a combination of opening / closing patterns depending on the presence or absence of the holes and a state of identifying the opening / closing patterns will be described with reference to the drawings and tables. Will be explained.

First, the first recording capacity discriminating holes 34A to the third recording capacity discriminating holes 3A are symmetrical with respect to a straight line passing through the center of the center hub 14 and parallel to the cartridge loading direction.
14 and 15 and FIGS. 14 and 15 and Tables 1 and 2 when 4C and six recording capacity identification holes 34D to 34F are provided in the lower halves 5 and 57, respectively. This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, the lower half 5 of the disk cartridge 1 has a recording capacity of 13 M
Recording capacity identification hole 11 for identifying B and 21 MB
3, 114, these recording capacity identification holes 1
13 and 114, respectively, if the discrimination hole detection device 41 on the recording / reproducing device side or the visual inspection, etc.
It is identified that it has the above recording capacity.

Next, this disk cartridge 1
From the six opening / closing patterns of the first recording capacity discriminating holes 34A to the sixth recording capacity discriminating holes 34F, the recording capacity is stored in the cartridge body 3 by the discriminating hole detecting device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side or visually. The specification such as the type of the magnetic disk 2 is identified.

Then, this disk cartridge 1
As shown in FIG. 14 and Table 1, the first recording capacity identification hole 3
Regarding six of the 4A to 6th recording capacity identification holes 34F,
Since there are two types with or without holes, it is possible to set 2 ⁶ = 64 open / close patterns.

[0064]

[Table 1]

That is, according to this opening / closing pattern, the first recording capacity identification hole 34A to the sixth recording capacity identification hole 3
A state in which all the 4Fs are not opened is identified as a type # 1 disk cartridge. According to this opening / closing pattern, a disk cartridge having only the first recording capacity identification hole 34A opened is used as a # 2 disk cartridge, and a disk cartridge having only the second recording capacity identification hole 34B opened. Is set in advance for each recording capacity from the disk cartridge of # 4 to the disk cartridge of # 64 so that the disk cartridge of # 3 can be identified as the disk cartridge of # 3. Will be possible.

Alternatively, the disk cartridge 1
As shown in FIG. 5, when the recording capacity identification holes 113 and 114 for discriminating between the recording capacities of 13 MB and 21 MB shown in the conventional example in the lower half 57 are not opened, the first recording capacity identification hole 34A is used for recording. The capacity is used to distinguish between 13 MB and 21 MB. Therefore, if the first recording capacity discrimination hole 34A is opened, this disc cartridge 1 is discriminated as a disc cartridge having a recording capacity of 21 MB or more by the discrimination hole detection device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side or visually. You.

Next, this disk cartridge 1
From the five opening / closing patterns of the recording capacity identification holes of the second recording capacity identification holes 34B to 634F, the recording capacity and the magnetic capacity stored in the cartridge body 3 are visually checked by the identification hole detection device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side or the like. The specification such as the type of the disc is identified.

Then, this disk cartridge 1
As shown in FIG. 15 and Table 2, the second recording capacity identification hole 3
Regarding five of the 4B to 6th recording capacity identification holes 34F,
Since there are two types with or without holes, it is possible to set 2 ⁵ = 32 opening and closing patterns.

[0069]

[Table 2]

That is, according to this open / close pattern, a state in which only the first recording capacity identification hole 34A is opened is identified as a type # 1 disk cartridge.
According to this opening / closing pattern, it is possible to identify 32 types of disk cartridges having different recording capacities by setting in advance for each recording capacity from the disk cartridges # 2 to # 32 in advance. .

Next, similarly to the lower halves 5 and 57 described above, the first and second recording capacity identification holes 37A and 37B pass through the center of the center hub 14 and are symmetrical with a straight line parallel to the cartridge loading direction. And four of the third and fourth recording capacity identification holes 37C and 37D correspond to the lower halves 58 and 59.
16 and FIG.
With reference to Tables 3 and 4.

In this disk cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 16, the lower half 58 has recording capacity identification holes 113 and 114 for discriminating between the recording capacities of 13 MB and 21 MB shown in the conventional example. If these recording capacity identification holes 113 and 114 are opened, respectively, the identification hole detection device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side, the visual inspection, etc.
It is identified that it has a recording capacity of MB or more.

Next, this disk cartridge 1
From the four opening / closing patterns of the first recording capacity discriminating hole 37A to the fourth recording capacity discriminating hole 37D, the recording capacity was stored in the cartridge main body 3 by the discriminating hole detecting device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side or visually. The specification such as the type of the magnetic disk is identified.

Then, this disk cartridge 1
As shown in FIG. 16 and Table 3, the first recording capacity identification hole 3
Regarding four of the 7A to 4th recording capacity identification holes 37D,
Since there are two types with or without holes, it is possible to set 2 ⁴ = 16 opening and closing patterns.

[0075]

[Table 3]

That is, according to the opening / closing pattern, the first recording capacity identification hole 37A to the fourth recording capacity identification hole 3
A state in which all the 7Ds are not opened is identified as a type # 1 disk cartridge. According to this opening / closing pattern, a disk cartridge having only the first recording capacity identification hole 37A opened is used as a # 2 disk cartridge, and a disk cartridge having only the second recording capacity identification hole 37B opened. The disk cartridges having different recording capacities can be identified by setting in advance for each recording capacity from the disk cartridges of # 4 to # 16 in order so as to identify the disk cartridges as disk cartridges of # 3. Will be possible.

Alternatively, the disc cartridge 1 is
As shown in FIG. 7, when the lower half 59 is not provided with the recording capacity identification holes 113 and 114 for discriminating between the recording capacities of 13 MB and 21 MB shown in the conventional example, the first recording capacity identification hole 37A is The recording capacity is used to distinguish between 13 MB and 21 MB. Therefore, if the first recording capacity identification hole 37A is opened, the disc cartridge 1 is identified as a disc cartridge having a recording capacity of 21 MB or more by the identification hole detection device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side or by visual observation. You.

Next, this disk cartridge 1
From the three opening / closing patterns of the second recording capacity discriminating hole 37B to the fourth recording capacity discriminating hole 37D, the recording capacity was stored in the cartridge main body 3 by the discriminating hole detecting device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side or visually. The specification such as the type of the magnetic disk is identified.

Then, this disk cartridge 1
As shown in FIG. 17 and Table 4, the second recording capacity identification hole 3
Regarding three of the 7B to 4th recording capacity identification holes 37D,
Since there are two types of presence / absence of holes, it is possible to set 2 ³ = 8 opening / closing patterns.

[0080]

[Table 4]

That is, according to this opening / closing pattern, a state in which only the first recording capacity identification hole 37A is opened is identified as a type # 1 disk cartridge.
Then, according to this opening / closing pattern, the disk cartridges of # 2 to # 8 are sequentially changed.
By setting in advance for each recording capacity, it is possible to identify eight types of disk cartridges having different recording capacities.

Similarly to the lower halves 58 and 59, the first recording capacity identification hole 38A and the second recording capacity identification hole 38A are symmetrical with respect to a straight line passing through the center of the center hub 14 and parallel to the cartridge loading direction. Regarding the case where two of the capacity identification holes 38B are provided in the lower halves 60 and 61, respectively,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19 and Tables 5 and 6.

As shown in FIG. 18, the disk cartridge 1 has a lower half 60 having a recording capacity of 13 in the prior art.
Recording capacity identification hole 11 for identifying MB and 21 MB
3, 114, these recording capacity identification holes 1
If each of the openings 13 and 114 is opened, the identification hole detection device 41 on the recording / reproducing device side and the visual inspection or the like will allow the 21 MB
It is identified that it has the above recording capacity.

Next, this disc cartridge 1
From the two open / close patterns of the first and second recording capacity identification holes 38A and 38B, the identification hole detection device 4 on the recording / reproducing device side is used.
The specifications such as the recording capacity and the type of the magnetic disk stored in the cartridge body 3 are identified by visual inspection or the like.

Then, this disk cartridge 1
As shown in FIG. 18 and Table 5, for the first and second recording capacity identification holes 38A and 38B, there are two types of presence / absence of holes, and 2 ² = 4 opening / closing patterns are set. It is possible.

[0086]

[Table 5]

That is, according to this opening / closing pattern, a state where both the first and second recording capacity identification holes 38A and 38B are not opened is identified as a type # 1 disk cartridge. According to this opening / closing pattern, a disk cartridge having only the first recording capacity identification hole 38A opened is used as a # 2 disk cartridge, and a disk cartridge having only the second recording capacity identification hole 38B opened. Is set as a # 3 disk cartridge, and a disk cartridge having both the first and second recording capacity identification holes 38A and 38B opened is identified as a # 4 disk cartridge in advance for each recording capacity. Thus, it is possible to identify four types of disk cartridges having different recording capacities.

Alternatively, the disk cartridge 1 is
As shown in FIG. 9, when the lower half 61 is not provided with the recording capacity identification holes 113 and 114 for discriminating between the recording capacities of 13 MB and 21 MB shown in the conventional example, the first recording capacity identification hole 38A is The recording capacity is used to distinguish between 13 MB and 21 MB. Therefore, if the first recording capacity identification hole 38A is opened, the disc cartridge 1 is identified as a disc cartridge having a recording capacity of 21 MB or more by the identification hole detection device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side or visually. You.

Next, this disc cartridge 1
From one opening / closing pattern of the second recording capacity identification hole 38B, the specification such as the recording capacity and the type of the magnetic disk stored in the cartridge body is identified by the identification hole detection device 41 on the recording / reproducing apparatus side, visually or the like. You.

Then, as shown in FIG. 19 and Table 6, the disc cartridge has a second recording capacity identification hole 38.
For one B, it is possible to set two types of opening / closing patterns that indicate the presence or absence of a hole.

[0091]

[Table 6]

That is, according to this open / close pattern, a disk cartridge having only the first recording capacity identification hole 38A opened is used as a type # 1 disk cartridge, and the first and second recording capacity identification holes 38A, By setting in advance for each recording capacity such that the disc cartridge having both the openings 38B is identified as the # 2 disc cartridge, it is possible to identify two kinds of disc cartridges having different recording capacities.

In the disk cartridge 1, the lower half 5 provided with the recording capacity identification hole and the upper half 4 forming the bottom surface of the recording capacity identification hole are formed of resin materials having different colors. . That is, for the upper half 4 and the lower half 5 constituting the cartridge body 3, for example, one half is formed in white and the other half is formed in black.

Therefore, the cartridge body 3 is
When the opening / closing pattern of the recording capacity identification hole 34 is visually read from the lower half 5 side, the upper half 4 of a different color can be easily visually observed from the recording capacity identification hole 34 provided in the lower half 5. The difference makes it possible to clearly confirm the opening / closing pattern of the recording capacity identification hole.

The upper half 4 and the lower half 5 are formed so that the colors are different from each other. For example, the appearance such as color including colorlessness, color saturation, lightness, density, pattern and combination thereof is different from each other. It may be formed differently.

The cartridge body 3 is provided with a lower half 5.
Only the region of the upper half 4 corresponding to the recording capacity identification hole 34 may be formed of a resin material having a different color such as color or shade of color by, for example, two-color molding. Alternatively, the cartridge body 3 is provided with the recording capacity identification hole 34 of the lower half 5.
Other materials having different colors such as colors or shades of color may be fitted only in the upper half 4 region corresponding to.

The cartridge body 3 can be more easily and reliably visually inspected by appropriately setting the colors of the upper half 4 and the lower half 5 and the colors such as light and shade of the colors and combinations thereof for each recording capacity. It can be identified.

As described above, the disk cartridge 1 according to the embodiment is located on the straight line L parallel to the back surface of the lower half 5 and has a different recording capacity due to the provision of the recording capacity identification hole 34. Disc cartridges can be easily and reliably identified. Further, since this recording capacity identification hole 34 is provided adjacent to the position where the erroneous erasure prevention member 24A is provided, the recording capacity identification hole 34 is combined with the identification hole detection device 41 and the detection means for detecting the erroneous erasure prevention member 24A. It can be arranged in a recording / reproducing apparatus.

In the disc cartridge 1 according to the present embodiment, the specification identifying hole is used as the recording capacity identifying hole. However, the specification identifying hole is not limited only to identifying the recording capacity. Of course, it may be applied to identify different specifications such as reproduction means.

[0100]

As described above, according to the disk cartridge of the present invention, a label area to which a display label indicating the recording content of an information signal is attached is provided on one surface, and recording and recording is performed on the other surface. And / or providing a cartridge body provided with a spindle hole for rotating the disc-shaped recording medium by the reproducing device and having a specification identification hole provided along a rear surface facing the front surface facing the cartridge insertion direction. It can be easily and reliably identified from other disk cartridges having different specifications such as recording capacity.

Further, according to the recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the present invention, when recording and / or reproducing the information signal to / from the disk cartridge, the recording / reproducing apparatus is arranged along the rear side opposite to the front side of the cartridge body facing the cartridge insertion direction. With the provision of the detecting means for detecting the specification identification hole provided, the specification such as the recording capacity of the information signal of the disk cartridge can be easily and reliably identified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a lower half of the disk cartridge from the inside.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a lower half of the disk cartridge from the outside.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the disk cartridge from the upper half side.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the disk cartridge from the lower half side.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining an example of a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining an example of a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an identification hole detection device used for identifying a recording capacity identification hole of a disk cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the identification hole detection device.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an identification hole detection device used for identifying the recording capacity identification hole of the disk cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view for explaining the identification hole detection device.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an example of a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an example of a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing an example of a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing an example of a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing an example of a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing an example of a recording capacity identification hole provided in the disk cartridge.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a conventional disk cartridge from the upper half side.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a conventional disk cartridge viewed from a lower half side.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a conventional disk cartridge from the lower half side.

FIG. 23 is a plan view for explaining a recording capacity identification hole provided in a conventional disk cartridge.

FIG. 24 is a plan view for explaining a recording capacity identification hole provided in a conventional disk cartridge.

FIG. 25 is a plan view illustrating a recording capacity identification hole provided in a conventional disk cartridge.

FIG. 26 is a plan view for explaining a recording capacity identification hole provided in a conventional disk cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 disk cartridge, 2 magnetic disk, 3 cartridge body, 4 upper half, 5 lower half, 34 recording capacity identification hole, 41 identification hole detection device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Masugi 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A disc cartridge having a disc-shaped recording medium and a cartridge body in which the disc-shaped recording medium is rotatably housed, which is loaded into a recording and / or reproducing apparatus, wherein the cartridge body has On one surface, a label area is provided to which a display label indicating the recorded content of the information signal is attached, and on the other surface, a spindle hole for rotating a disc-shaped recording medium by a recording and / or reproducing device is provided. A disc cartridge characterized in that a specification identification hole is provided along a back side facing a front face facing the cartridge insertion direction. 2. The disc cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the specification identification hole is arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line of the cartridge main body parallel to the cartridge insertion direction. 3. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the specification identification hole is provided on a straight line orthogonal to the cartridge insertion direction. 4. An erroneous erasure prevention member for restricting recording of an information signal on a disk-shaped recording medium is provided at a position adjacent to the specification identification hole in the cartridge main body. The disk cartridge according to claim 1. 5. The cartridge body according to claim 1, wherein a recording capacity identification hole for identifying a recording capacity of an information signal is provided at a position adjacent to the specification identification hole. Disk cartridge. 6. The disk according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge main body is formed by combining a pair of an upper half and a lower half, and the upper half and the lower half have different colors. cartridge. 7. A cartridge having a label area on one surface to which a display label indicating the recorded content of an information signal is attached, and a spindle hole for rotating a disk-shaped recording medium provided on the other surface. A recording and / or reproducing apparatus for recording and / or reproducing information signals on a disk cartridge having a cartridge body provided with a specification identification hole along a rear side facing a front side facing an insertion direction, A recording and / or reproducing apparatus comprising a detecting means for detecting a hole.