CA2018169A1 - Disk cartridge - Google Patents
Disk cartridgeInfo
- Publication number
- CA2018169A1 CA2018169A1 CA002018169A CA2018169A CA2018169A1 CA 2018169 A1 CA2018169 A1 CA 2018169A1 CA 002018169 A CA002018169 A CA 002018169A CA 2018169 A CA2018169 A CA 2018169A CA 2018169 A1 CA2018169 A1 CA 2018169A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- shutter
- main body
- cartridge
- opening
- cartridge main
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 7
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005668 polycarbonate resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004431 polycarbonate resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004080 punching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
- G11B23/02—Containers; Storing means both adapted to cooperate with the recording or reproducing means
- G11B23/03—Containers for flat record carriers
- G11B23/0301—Details
- G11B23/0308—Shutters
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
- G11B23/02—Containers; Storing means both adapted to cooperate with the recording or reproducing means
- G11B23/03—Containers for flat record carriers
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A disk cartridge includes a cartridge main body in which an optical disk such as a magneto-optical disk is rotatably mounted and in which an opening for exposing the signal record area and a chucking area of the optical disk to outside is formed. The disk cartridge also includes a shutter movably mounted on the cartridge main body for opening or closing the opening, and a torsion spring mounted at a corner in the cartridge main body towards a position in which the shutter opens the opening. The torsion coil spring biasing the shutter in the opening closing direction has the end of its one arm section retained at a retaining portion formed in the cartridge main body and the end of its other section retained by the shutter. An insertion opening for the torsion spring is provided on the front side of the cartridge main body mounting the shutter. A movement control portion is also provided on the front side of the cartridge main body which controls the movement direction of the other section when a coil section of the torsion coil spring is inserted via the insertion opening with the end of the one arm section of the torsion coil spring being retained by the cartridge main body and with the arm sections being closed on each other, and the other arm section is then moved in the opening direction with respect to the other arm section and into engagement will the shutter.
A disk cartridge includes a cartridge main body in which an optical disk such as a magneto-optical disk is rotatably mounted and in which an opening for exposing the signal record area and a chucking area of the optical disk to outside is formed. The disk cartridge also includes a shutter movably mounted on the cartridge main body for opening or closing the opening, and a torsion spring mounted at a corner in the cartridge main body towards a position in which the shutter opens the opening. The torsion coil spring biasing the shutter in the opening closing direction has the end of its one arm section retained at a retaining portion formed in the cartridge main body and the end of its other section retained by the shutter. An insertion opening for the torsion spring is provided on the front side of the cartridge main body mounting the shutter. A movement control portion is also provided on the front side of the cartridge main body which controls the movement direction of the other section when a coil section of the torsion coil spring is inserted via the insertion opening with the end of the one arm section of the torsion coil spring being retained by the cartridge main body and with the arm sections being closed on each other, and the other arm section is then moved in the opening direction with respect to the other arm section and into engagement will the shutter.
Description
? ~ 3~ 7 Z~ `6~
SPECIFICATION
Title of the Invention Disk Cartridge Field of the Invention This invention relates to a disk cartridge accommodating a disk-shaped recording medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk.
Related Art Statement A disk cartridge is compressed of a disk-shaped recording medium, such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk, rotatably accommodated in a cartridge main body which is made up of an upper half and a lower half abutted and connected to each other. This disk cartridge is mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a recording/reproducing apparatus, with the disk-shaped recording medium accommodated in the main cartridge body, for reading or writing predetermined data from or on the recording medium.
The main cartridge body accommodating the disk-shaped recording medium has signal writing and reading openings for exposing signal writing and reading means, such as an optical pickup unit, on the signal recording surface of the disk-shaped recording medium, and a central opening by means of which a disk table driving the disk-shaped recording medium into rotational movement may be intruded into the cartridge main body.
~9 ~ eanwhile, should the signal writing and reading opening remain open, dust and dirt may be intruded into the cartridge main body by means of the signal writing reading openings or the central opening during storage or the like non-use time when the disk cartridge is not mounted in position in the recording/reproducing apparatus, and are affixed to the signal recording surface. With the contaminations or dust and dirt thus affixed to the signal recording surface of the disk-shaped recording medium, data signal dropout may be caused during data signal writing or reading, or the data signal writing or reading may become unfeasible.
In order to present such situation from occurring, a shutter is mounted on the main cartridge body for closing the signal writing reading openings and the central opening during the non-use time when the disk cartridge is not mounted in position within the recording/reproducing apparatus, and for opening the opening when the disk cartridge is mounted in position in the recording/reproducing apparatus. That is, the shutter is mounted on the main cartridge body so as to be movable between a position of closing the signal recording and reading opening and the central opening and a position of opening these openings.
During the non-use time when the disk cartridge is not mounted in position within the recording/reproducing 6~
apparatus, the shutter is biased by biasing means for perpetually closing the signal writing and reading openings.
A torsion coil spring is used as the biasing means for biasing the shutter in the direction of closing the openings.
The torsion coil spring is mounted within the cartridge main with the end of one arm section of the torsion coil spring extended from its coil section retained by a retainer in the cartridge main body and with the end of the other arm section extended from the coil section retained by a retainer formed in the shutter. The torsion coil spring biases the shutter in the direction of opening the shutter.
The torsion coil spring is introduced into the cartridge main body after the shutter is mounted in position on the cartridge main body. The insertion of the torsion coil spring into the main cartridge is by means of an insertion opening for the torsion coil spring which is formed in the front side of the cartridge main body mounting the shutter.
For introducing the torsion coil spring into the cartridge main body, after the end of its one arm section is previously retained by a retainer in the cartridge main body, the other arm section is thrust manually for opening the arm sections apart from each other. The torsion coil spring is introduced in this state into the cartridge ma n body. After the spring is introduced into the cartridge main body, the other arm section is released from manual thrusting, so that 2~18~ 6~
the other arm section is shifted towards the shutter under the resilient restoring force of the torsion coil spring, until the end of the other arm section is retained by the retainer formed in the shutter.
In this manner, the shutter is biased in the direction of closing the signal writing and reading openings and the central opening, by having the end of the other arm section thus retained by the shutter, with the end of the one arm section being retained by the retainer in the main cartridge body.
Meanwhile, a disk cartridge in which a shutter adapted for opening and closing openings in the main cartridge body is biased by a torsion coil spring in the direction of opening the openings is disclosed for example in the U.S.P.
4,550,354 and the corresponding Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-2381(1986).
As described hereinabove, the torsion coil spring is introduced into the main cartridge body with its arm sections flexed manually in the direction of being closed one on the other. When the torsion coil spring is introduced as far as a predetermined position within the cartridge main body, the other arm seGtion is freed of manual thrusting so that the other arm section is shifted under the resilient restoring force of the torsion coil spring until it is retained by the retainer provided in the shutter.
2~ 6~
Meanwhile, for accurately engaging the other arm section with the retainer provided in the shutter, it is necessary to accurately control the insertion angle of the torsion coil spring into the cartridge main body and the position at which the manual thrusting on the other arm section is released.
However, since the torsion coil spring is introduced into the cartridge main body in the resiliently flexed state, it becomes difficult to accurately control the insertion angle, while the position of releasing the manual thrusting on the other arm section cannot be controlled accurately. As a result, it is extremely difficult to engage the other arm section positively with the retainer provided in the shutter.
A disk cartridge in which the insertion of the torsion coil spring into the cartridge main body is facilitated and the arm sections of the torsion coil spring may be positively retained between the retainers of the cartridge main body and the shutter, is disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Publication 59-177073(1984).
It is noted that, with the disk cartridge accommodating a disk-shaped recording medium having its substrate formed of synthetic resin or glass exhibiting certain toughness, the cartridge main body has an increased thickness. As a result, the space in the cartridge main body in which to store the torsion coil spring is increased in height as compared with the coil section of the torsion coil spring, so that it Z~ 6~
becomes more and more difficult to accurate control the posit:ion of the torsion coil spring. If the inserting position of the torsion coil spring cannot be controlled correctly, not only its one arm section becomes unable to be retained positively by the retainer of the cartridge main body, but its other arm section also becomes unable to be retained by the retainer in the shutter, so that the shutter cannot be biased into the movement of opening or closing the openings.
Summary of the Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disk cartridge in which the movement of the arm section of the torsion coil spring under the resilient restorative force of the torsion coil spring may be accurately controlled along the height and along the major surface of the main cartridge body to assure positive engagement of the arm section with the retainer provided in the shutter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk cartridge in which the torsion coil spring can be mounted easily and positively both by the manual operation and with the aid of an automatic mounting system.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a disk cartridge comprising a cartridge main body having a disk-shaped recording medium rotatably accommodated 2~ 6~
therein and having an opening for exposing at least a portion of a signal recording area of said disk-shaped recording medium radially to outside, a shutter movably mounted on said cartridge main body for opening or closing said opening, and a torsion coil spring mounted in said cartridge main body with one arm section thereof retained at a portion of said cartridge main body and with the other arm section thereof retained at a portion of said shutter, said torsion coil spring biasing said shutter in the direction of closing said opening, wherein an insertion opening for said torsion coil spring is provided on the front side of said cartridge main body mounting said shutter, and wherein movement control means are provided for controlling the direction of flexural movement of said other arm section during the flexural movement of said other arm section into engagement with said portion of said shutter.
With the above described disk cartridge, after the torsion coil spring having its arm sections resiliently flexed in the direction of being opened one from the other is introduced into the cartridge main body by means of the insertion opening in the cartridge main body, the manual thrusting on the arm section adapted for engaging with the shutteris released, whereby the latter arm section is moved in the direction of engaging with the shutter. During this time, the movement of the arm section along the height and Z~B~ 6.~
the major surface of the cartridge main body is controlled by movement controlling means.
Also, with the other arm section engaging with the shutter, the shutter is biased by the torsion coil spring for closing the openings in which the disk-shaped recording medium is rotatably accommodated and which is adapted for exposing the signal recording area of the disk-shaped recording medium towards outside.
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a disk cartridge according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the disk cartridge shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an overall perspective view of a shutter mounted to the cartridge main body.
Fig. 4 is a front view showing a spring retainer of the shutter.
Fig. 5A is a side elevational view of a torsion coil spring.
Fig. SB is a plan view thereof.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the state in which one arm section of the torsion coil spring is engaged with the spring retainer.
Figs. 7A and 7B are perspective views showing the state of inserting the torsion coil spring into the cartridge main 6~
body.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the state in which the torsion coil spring is installedf between the shutter and the cartridge main body.
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the bent retaining end of the arm section of the torsion coil spring is engaged with the retainer provided in the shutter.
Fig. 10 is a plan view, looking from the upper half, and showing the state in which the shutter is moved to a position of closing the data signal writing and reading openings and the central opening.
Fig. 11 is a plan view similar to Fig. 10 but looking from the lower half.
Fig. 12 is a plan view, looking from the upper half, and showing the state in which the shutter is moved to a position of opening the data signal writing and reading openings and the central opening.
Fig. 13 is a plan view similar to Fig. 12 but looking from the lower half.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments In the presently described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a disk cartridge containing a magneto-optical disk as a disk-shaped recording medium.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the disk cartridge according Z~ 6!~
to the present invention includes, as main components, a disk~shaped magneto-optical disk, a main cartridge body 2 rotatably accommodating the magneto-optical disk 1, a shutter 6 movably mounted on the cartridge main body 2 and adapted for closing data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 provided in the cartridge main body 2 for exposing a signal recording area 1a of the disk 1 to outside and a central opening 5 which causes a center hub 1b at the center of the disk 1 to be exposed to outside and by means of which a disk table of a disk driving device is intruded into the cartridge main body, and a torsion coil spring 7 which is provided within the cartridge main body 2 and which operates to bias the shutter 6 in a direction of closing the openings 3, 4 and 5.
The magneto-optical disk 1 includes a disk base plate or substrate which exhibits certain stiffness and is formed of polycarbonate resin or glass and on the major surface of which a signal recording layer is formed. The disk 1 has a sufficient thickness as compared with a magnetic sheet disk.
Referring to Fig. 2, the cartridge main body 2 accommodating the magneto-optical disk 1 is composed of an upper half 8 and a lower half 9, in the form each of a substantially rectangular flat plate, which are abutted to each other and interconnected by a plurality of set screws 10. This cartridge main body 2 is of a sufficient thickness z~ t 6~
to form a disk containing section 11 therein which is sufficient to rotatably accommodate the magneto-optical disk 1 of the larger thickness. To this end, there are formed, on the outer peripheral sides of the upper and lower halves 8, 9 making up the cartridge main body 2, side wall sections 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b constituting left and right side walls 12 and 13 of the cartridge main body 2, rear side wall sections 14a, 14b constituting a rear wall 14 of the cartridge main body 2, and front side wall sections 15a, 15b constituting a front wall 15 of the cartridge main body 2. Within the interior of the main cartridge body 2, there is formed the disk containing section 11 delimited by an arcuate peripheral wall for safeguarding the magneto-optical disk 1 in the cartridge main body 2 against possible contact with the torsion coil spring 7 in the main cartridge body 2 and also for assuring smooth rotation of the disk 1. Thus, arcuate upstanding wall sections 16 are formed at the registering positions on the inner peripheral surface of the upper and lower halves 8 and 9 of the cartridge main body 2, so that, when the upper and lower halves 8 and g are abutted on each other, the wall sections 16 also abut on each other to complete the above mentioned disk containing section 11.
On one corner of the rear wall 14 of the cartridge main body 2 is mounted an inadvertent recording inhibit member 17 adapted for selecting if data signals can be written on the 21~8~ 6~
magneto-optical disk 1. More specifically, the inadvertent recording inhibit member 17 is movably mounted with a portion thereof facing to an inadvertent recording inhibit detection opening 18 formed at a corner on the rear side wall section 14b of the lower half 9.
The data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 are formed in the upper and lower sides of the cartridge main body 2, respectively. That is, the data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 and formed in the upper and lower halves 8, 9, respectively. These openings 3, 4 are substantially rectangular and formed at the center in the left-to-right direction of the cartridge main body 2 for extending from the front side wall 15 towards the vicinity of the center of the cartridge main body 2. The central opening 5 is formed only in the lower half 9 at a position in register with the center hub 1b of the magneto-optical disk 1 accommodated in the main cartridge body 2. The central opening 5 is substantially circular and formed in contiguity to the data writing and reading opening 4.
The disk cartridge of the present embodiment is designed for magneto-optical applications, so that, when the disk cartridge is mounted in position within the recording/reproducing apparatus, the data signal writing and reading opening 3 formed in the upper half 8 is confronted by the magnetic head, while the data signal recording and .6~
reading opening 4 formed in the lower half 8 is confronted by a pickup device adapted for irradiating the signal recording surface of the magneto-optical disk 1 with the ]ight beam.
On the outer lateral side of the lower half 9, at the front end face of the data signal recording and reading opening 4 formed in the lower half 9, there is formed a recess 19 by means of which the optical pickup device may be intruded into the cartridge main body 2 in opposition and in close proximity to the surface of the magneto-optical disk 1.
The shutter 6 is formed by punching and bending a thin metal plate, such as a thin stainless steel plate, into the cross-sectional shape of a letter U, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This shutter 6 is comprised of a first shutter section 6a for closing the data signal writing reading opening 3 in the upper half 8, a second shutter section 6b for closing the data signal recording and reading opening 4 and the central opening 5 in the lower half 9 simultaneously, and a connecting plate 6c interconnecting the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b. As shown in Fig. 5, the first shutter section 6a of the shutter 6 is in the from of a transversely wide rectangle and formed with a rectangular through-hole 20 adapted for opening the data signal recording and reading opening 3 when the shutter 6 is moved in the direction of opening the openings 3, 4 and 5. As shown in Fig. 4, the second shutter section 6b is in the form of a 2~)18~...6~
transversely narrow rectangle for closing the data signal writing and reading opening 4 and the central opening 5 in the lower half 9 simultaneously. The forward side of the second shutter section 6b is formed with a bent thrust portion 22 which is thrust and supported by a shutter retaining plate 21 mounted on the outer lateral side of the lower half 9 for preventing the second shutter section 6b from floating from the cartridge main body 2. On one lateral side of the second shutter section 6b connecting to the connecting section 6c, a first engaging pawl 24 engaging with a first slide guide groove 23 formed on the outer lateral side of the lower half 9 on attachment of the shutter 6 to the cartridge main body 2 is integrally formed for extending in the direction of the first shutter section 6a. The one end of the connecting plate 6c, not facing the second shutter section 6b, is formed with a slide guide section 27 on the end of which is formed a second engaging pawl 26 engaging with a second slide guide groove 25 when the shutter 6 is mounted on the cartridge main body 2. The second slide guide groove 25 is provided on the outer lateral side of the lower half 6 in parallel with the first slide guide groove 23. The connecting plate 6c interconnecting the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b in slid in contact with the front side of the cartridge main body 2 to play the role of stably sliding the shutter 6. Thus the connecting plate 6c is "~ 6~
formed with a width substantially equal to the thickness of the front side of the cartridge main body 2. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the connecting plate 6c is formed with a recess 28 which is of substantially the same shape as the recess 19 in the lower half 9 and which is at a position in register with the recess 19 when the shutter 6 is ~oved for opening the openings 3, 4 and 5. Similarly to the recess 19, the recess 28 is adapted to enable the optical pickup device to be intruded into the cartridge main body in proximity and opposition to the magneto-optical disk 1.
The connecting plate 6c is formed with a spring retainer 29 adapted for retaining the torsion coil spring 7. The spring retainer 29 is provided in the cartridge main body 2 and is adapted for retaining the torsion coil spring adapted in turn for biasing the shutter mounted on the cartridge main body 2 in the direction of closing the data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 and the central opening 5 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. This spring retainer 29 is provided at the side of the connecting plate 6c interconnecting the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b and is bent towards the interior of the shutter 6 so as to run parallel to the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b. The spring retainer 29 is formed substantially in the form of a letter L, as shown in Fig. 4.
The above described shutter 6 is mounted on the Z~lfl1 6~
cartridge main body 2 by being fitted at the front side of the cartridye main body 2 with the first and second shutter sect:Lons 6a, 6b extending on the outer lateral sides of the upper and lower halves 7 and 9. At this time, the shutter 6 is mounted to the cartridge main body 2 by engaging in the first and second slide guide grooves 23, 25. The shutter 6 thus mounted on the cartridge main body 2 is moved, with the first and second engaging pawls 24, 26 being guided in the first and second slide guide grooves 23, 25, between a position shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of closing the data signal recording reading openings 3, g and the central opening 5 and a position shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of opening these openings 3, 4 and 5.
The regions of the cartridge main body 2 over which the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b of the shutter 6 are extended and moved are formed as recesses in which the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b are received flush with the outer lateral sides of the cartridge main body 2.
Meanwhile, when the shutter 6 is fitted to the cartridge main body 2I the thrust portion 22 on the foremost part of the first shutter section 6b is intruded along the side of the lower surface of the shutter retaining plate 21 so as to be thrust and supported by the plate 21. With the thrust portion 22 being thrust and supported by the shutter retaining plate 21, it becomes possible to present the 2~ 6~
shutter 6 from being floated from the cartridge main body 2 to assure a stabilized sliding movement of the shutter 6.
The torsion coil spring 7 for biasing the shutter 6 is formed by forming several helical turns in a stainless steel wire for forming a coil section 31 from both ends of which a pair of arm sections 32 and 33 are extended in the tangential direction of the coil section 31. The ends of the arm sections 32, 33 are formed with retaining sections 34, 35 which are bent in opposite directions with a bending angle approximately equal to 90. This torsion coil spring 7 is intruded into the cartridge main body 2 by means of a spring insertion opening 36 formed in the front side of the main cartridge body 2.
As shown in Fig. 1 the spring insertion opening 36 is formed on the front side of the cartridge main body 2 mounting the shutter 6 and at a position in which it is opened when the shutter 6 is moved to the position of closing the data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 and the central opening 5.
That is, the opening 36 is formed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, towards the other side wall 13 of the cartridge main body 2 by partially removing the front wall 15 of the cartridge main body 2. In other words, as shown in Figs.
1 and 2, the front wall sections 15a, 15b of the upper and lower halves 8 and 9 are interrupted at the spring inserting 6~
opening 36. On the confronting inner lateral sides of the opening 36, inclined guide surfaces 37, 38 are formed for delimiting the inserting position of the coil section 31 inserted into the cartridge main body 2.
On ~he side of the opening 36 towards the other side wall 13, a relief section 40 is formed across the upper and lower halves 8 and 9 to permit the bent retaining end 34 of the arm section 32 of the torsion coil spring 7 to be inserted into the cartridge main body 2 into engagement with a spring retainer 39 provided on the front side corner of the upper half 8. The spring retainer 39 is formed as an engaging recess on the front side corner of the upper half 8.
On the front side of the cartridge main body 2, there is provided a spring movement controlling section 41 in contiguity to the spring inserting opening 36, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The controlling section 41 causes the arm section 32 of the torsion coil spring 7 to be resiliently shifted into engagement with the spring retainer 29 of the shutter 6 when the coil spring 7 is introduced into the main cartridge body 2. The controlling section 41 is constituted by a height controlling rib 42 for controlling the position along the thickness of the cartridge main body 2 of the arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring 7 introduced into the main cartridge body 2 and a horizontal movement controlling rib 43 for controlling the movement of the arm section 33 6~
along the major planar surface of the cartridge main body 2.
These controlling ribs 42, 43 are protruded on the front side of the lower half 9 in parallel wiih each other with a horizontal length extending from near the end of the data signal writing and reading opening 4 to a mid portion of the spring inserting opening 36.
The height controlling rib 42 has its foremost part projecting from the foremost part of the horizontal movement controlling rib 43 towards the spring inserting opening 36.
This projecting portion of the rib 42 towards the spring inserting opening 36 is formed with an inclined guide surface 44 for guiding the resiliently shifted arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring so as to lie on the upper surface of the height controlling rib 42.
The height controlling rib 42 has such a height that the arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring 7 resting on the upper surface of the height controlling rib 42 is not deviated markedly along the thickness of the main cartridge body 2. That is, as shown in Fig. 9, the position controlling rib 42 is formed with a height H1 such that a distance W1 between the top of the rib 42 and the inner surface of the upper half 8 is approximately equal to the radius R1 of the arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring 7.
The horizontal movement controlling rib 43 is formed with a height H2 such that the spring retainer 29 formed .6~
integrally with the connecting plate 6c of the shutter 6 may be moved along an upper end surface 43a of the rib 43. In other words, the height H2 is so selected as to permit movement of the spring retainer 29 which is formed at about the center along the thickness of the connecting plate 6c of the shutter 6 integrally therewith for extending towards the inside of the cartridge main body 2. The height controlling rib 42, which is formed at a higher position than the horizontal rib 43, is receded towards the inner side of the main cartridge body 2 so that the rib 42 is not abutted by the foremost part of the spring retainer 2g which is prot~uded towards the inside of the cartridge main body 2.
The bent retaining end 35 of the arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring 7 has a length L1 such that, when the arm section 33 rests on an upper end face 42a of the height controlling rib 42, the bent rataining section 35 may be engaged with the horizontal movement controlling rib 43.
On the front side of the lower half 9, formed with the horizontal controlling rib 43, there is formed a recess 50 to permit movement of the bent retaining and 35 of the torsion coil spring 7.
The state in which the torsion coil spring 7 is introduced into the cartridge main body 2 so as to be installed between the spring retainer 39 in the cartridge main body 2 and the spring retainer 29 of the shutter 6, is 6~) hereinafter explained.
For introducing the torsion coil spring 7 into the inside of the main cartridge body 2, the bent retaining er.d 34 of the arm section 32 is positioned in the vicinity of the relief section 40 of the main cartridge body 2. The bent retaining end 34 is introduced into the cartridge main body 2 from the opening end of the spring insertion opening 36, as the retaining end 34 is twisted, until the end 34 is engaged with th~ spring retainer 39, as shown in Fig. 7A. The arm section 33 is thrust manually so that the arm sections 32, 33 are resiliently closed on each other. The coil section 31 of the torsion coil spring 7 is placed in proximity to the inclined guide surfaces 37, 38 of the spring inserting opening 36 and is introduced into the inside of the main cartridge body 2 by way of these inclined guide surfaces 37, 38. The torsion coil spring 7 in its entirety is progressively introduced into the cartridge main body 2.
Thus the torsion coil spring 7 is introduced into the cartridge main body 2 until the bent retaining end 35 of the arm section 33 confronts the terminal ends of the position controlling rib 42 and the horizontal controlling rib 43.
When the thrust state of the arm section 33 is released, the arm section 33 is shifted in a direction shown by an arrow A
in Fig. 8 under the resiliency of the torsion coil spring 7.
At this time, the arm section 33 rides on the upper end face 6~
42a of the height controlling rib 42 as it is guided by the inclined guide surface 44 of the height controlling rib 42.
The bent retaining end 35 of the arm section 33 engages with the front surface of the horizontal movement controlling rib 42, as shown in Fig. 7B. With the bent engaging end 35 thus engaging with the horizontal movement controlling rib 42, the arm section 33 in prohibited from being resiliently shifted towards the interior of the cartridge main body 2 in the horizontal direction of the cartridge main body 2 when the torsion coil spring 7 is resiliently restored towards its extended position. The arm section 33 is progressively shifted in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 8, as it is prohibited by the horizontal movement controlling rib 42 from being moved towards the interior of the cartridge main body 2, until the bent retaining end 35 is engaged with the spring retainer 29 of the shutter 6 mounted on the cartridge main body 2, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, for biasing the shutter 6 in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 8. The shutter 6, thus biased by the torsion coil spring 7, is maintained at a position of closing the data signal recording and reading openings 3, 4 and the central opening 5, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
Thus the torsion coil spring 7 is installed between the cartridge main member 2 and the shutter 6, with the bent retaining end 34 of the arm section 32 being retained by the fl~6~
spring retainer 39 in the cartridge main body 2 and the bent retaining end 35 of the other arm section 33 being retained by the spring retainer 29 of the shutter 6, so that the shutter 6 is biased in the closure direction under the biasing force of extending the arm sections 32, 33 apart from each other.
It will be noted that, when the disk cartridge is introduced into the recording/reproducing apparatus, the shutter 6 is actuated by a shutter opening and closure unit of the recording/reproducing apparatus for opening the data signal recording and reading openings 3, 4 and the central opening 5 against the bias of the torsion coil spring 7.
That is, as the disk cartridge is progressively introduced into the recording/reproducing apparatus from the front side thereof mounting the shutter 6, a shutter opening and closing pin 101 constituting the shutter opening and closing unit of the recording/reproducing apparatus is engaged with the end of a sliding recess 51 for the shutter opening and closing pin 101 which is formed on the front side of the cartridge main body 2. As the disk cartridge is further introduced into the inside of the recording/reproducing apparatus, the shutter opening and closing pin 101 is moved in the direction shown by an arrow C in Figs. 12 and 13. The shutter is moved against the bias of the shutter opening and closing pin 111 for opening the data signal recording reading openings 3, 4 "~ 6~
and l:he central opening 5 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.
Meanwhile, after shifting the shutter 6 to its open position, the pin 101 snaps into an engaging recess 52 formed on the front side of the cartridge main body 2 to maintain the shutter 6 in the above mentioned open position.
Although the present invention is applied in the above embodiment to a aisk cartridge accommodating a magneto-optical disk, it is to be noted that the present invention may be broadly applied to a disk cartridge adapted to bias a shutter with the aid of a torsion coil spring.
With the disk cartridge of the present invention, afterthe torsion coil spring having a pair of arm sections thereof resiliently thrust in the direction of being closed one on the other is introduced at the insertion opening provided in the cartridge main body, the arm section operatively associated with the shutter is released from thrusting, whereby the latter arm section is shifted in the direction of positively engaging with the spring retainer of the shutter at the same time that the movement of the latter arm section in the horizontal direction and that along the thickness of the cartridge main body are controlled in the above described manner.
With the latter arm section engaging with the shutter, the shutter is biased by the torsion coil spring to close the openings of the cartridge main body which are adapted for 2~ 6~
exposing the signal recording area of the disk-shaped recording medium towards outside.
As described hereinabove, it becomes possible with the disk cartridge of the present invention to control the direction of movement of the arm sections of the torsion coil spring which is produced by the resilient restoring force of the torsion coil spring to permit the arm section to be engaged positively with the retainer of the shutter. In addition, the torsion coil spring can be mounted reliably both by manual operation or with the aid of an automatic assembly system.
SPECIFICATION
Title of the Invention Disk Cartridge Field of the Invention This invention relates to a disk cartridge accommodating a disk-shaped recording medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk.
Related Art Statement A disk cartridge is compressed of a disk-shaped recording medium, such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk, rotatably accommodated in a cartridge main body which is made up of an upper half and a lower half abutted and connected to each other. This disk cartridge is mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a recording/reproducing apparatus, with the disk-shaped recording medium accommodated in the main cartridge body, for reading or writing predetermined data from or on the recording medium.
The main cartridge body accommodating the disk-shaped recording medium has signal writing and reading openings for exposing signal writing and reading means, such as an optical pickup unit, on the signal recording surface of the disk-shaped recording medium, and a central opening by means of which a disk table driving the disk-shaped recording medium into rotational movement may be intruded into the cartridge main body.
~9 ~ eanwhile, should the signal writing and reading opening remain open, dust and dirt may be intruded into the cartridge main body by means of the signal writing reading openings or the central opening during storage or the like non-use time when the disk cartridge is not mounted in position in the recording/reproducing apparatus, and are affixed to the signal recording surface. With the contaminations or dust and dirt thus affixed to the signal recording surface of the disk-shaped recording medium, data signal dropout may be caused during data signal writing or reading, or the data signal writing or reading may become unfeasible.
In order to present such situation from occurring, a shutter is mounted on the main cartridge body for closing the signal writing reading openings and the central opening during the non-use time when the disk cartridge is not mounted in position within the recording/reproducing apparatus, and for opening the opening when the disk cartridge is mounted in position in the recording/reproducing apparatus. That is, the shutter is mounted on the main cartridge body so as to be movable between a position of closing the signal recording and reading opening and the central opening and a position of opening these openings.
During the non-use time when the disk cartridge is not mounted in position within the recording/reproducing 6~
apparatus, the shutter is biased by biasing means for perpetually closing the signal writing and reading openings.
A torsion coil spring is used as the biasing means for biasing the shutter in the direction of closing the openings.
The torsion coil spring is mounted within the cartridge main with the end of one arm section of the torsion coil spring extended from its coil section retained by a retainer in the cartridge main body and with the end of the other arm section extended from the coil section retained by a retainer formed in the shutter. The torsion coil spring biases the shutter in the direction of opening the shutter.
The torsion coil spring is introduced into the cartridge main body after the shutter is mounted in position on the cartridge main body. The insertion of the torsion coil spring into the main cartridge is by means of an insertion opening for the torsion coil spring which is formed in the front side of the cartridge main body mounting the shutter.
For introducing the torsion coil spring into the cartridge main body, after the end of its one arm section is previously retained by a retainer in the cartridge main body, the other arm section is thrust manually for opening the arm sections apart from each other. The torsion coil spring is introduced in this state into the cartridge ma n body. After the spring is introduced into the cartridge main body, the other arm section is released from manual thrusting, so that 2~18~ 6~
the other arm section is shifted towards the shutter under the resilient restoring force of the torsion coil spring, until the end of the other arm section is retained by the retainer formed in the shutter.
In this manner, the shutter is biased in the direction of closing the signal writing and reading openings and the central opening, by having the end of the other arm section thus retained by the shutter, with the end of the one arm section being retained by the retainer in the main cartridge body.
Meanwhile, a disk cartridge in which a shutter adapted for opening and closing openings in the main cartridge body is biased by a torsion coil spring in the direction of opening the openings is disclosed for example in the U.S.P.
4,550,354 and the corresponding Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-2381(1986).
As described hereinabove, the torsion coil spring is introduced into the main cartridge body with its arm sections flexed manually in the direction of being closed one on the other. When the torsion coil spring is introduced as far as a predetermined position within the cartridge main body, the other arm seGtion is freed of manual thrusting so that the other arm section is shifted under the resilient restoring force of the torsion coil spring until it is retained by the retainer provided in the shutter.
2~ 6~
Meanwhile, for accurately engaging the other arm section with the retainer provided in the shutter, it is necessary to accurately control the insertion angle of the torsion coil spring into the cartridge main body and the position at which the manual thrusting on the other arm section is released.
However, since the torsion coil spring is introduced into the cartridge main body in the resiliently flexed state, it becomes difficult to accurately control the insertion angle, while the position of releasing the manual thrusting on the other arm section cannot be controlled accurately. As a result, it is extremely difficult to engage the other arm section positively with the retainer provided in the shutter.
A disk cartridge in which the insertion of the torsion coil spring into the cartridge main body is facilitated and the arm sections of the torsion coil spring may be positively retained between the retainers of the cartridge main body and the shutter, is disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Publication 59-177073(1984).
It is noted that, with the disk cartridge accommodating a disk-shaped recording medium having its substrate formed of synthetic resin or glass exhibiting certain toughness, the cartridge main body has an increased thickness. As a result, the space in the cartridge main body in which to store the torsion coil spring is increased in height as compared with the coil section of the torsion coil spring, so that it Z~ 6~
becomes more and more difficult to accurate control the posit:ion of the torsion coil spring. If the inserting position of the torsion coil spring cannot be controlled correctly, not only its one arm section becomes unable to be retained positively by the retainer of the cartridge main body, but its other arm section also becomes unable to be retained by the retainer in the shutter, so that the shutter cannot be biased into the movement of opening or closing the openings.
Summary of the Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disk cartridge in which the movement of the arm section of the torsion coil spring under the resilient restorative force of the torsion coil spring may be accurately controlled along the height and along the major surface of the main cartridge body to assure positive engagement of the arm section with the retainer provided in the shutter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk cartridge in which the torsion coil spring can be mounted easily and positively both by the manual operation and with the aid of an automatic mounting system.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a disk cartridge comprising a cartridge main body having a disk-shaped recording medium rotatably accommodated 2~ 6~
therein and having an opening for exposing at least a portion of a signal recording area of said disk-shaped recording medium radially to outside, a shutter movably mounted on said cartridge main body for opening or closing said opening, and a torsion coil spring mounted in said cartridge main body with one arm section thereof retained at a portion of said cartridge main body and with the other arm section thereof retained at a portion of said shutter, said torsion coil spring biasing said shutter in the direction of closing said opening, wherein an insertion opening for said torsion coil spring is provided on the front side of said cartridge main body mounting said shutter, and wherein movement control means are provided for controlling the direction of flexural movement of said other arm section during the flexural movement of said other arm section into engagement with said portion of said shutter.
With the above described disk cartridge, after the torsion coil spring having its arm sections resiliently flexed in the direction of being opened one from the other is introduced into the cartridge main body by means of the insertion opening in the cartridge main body, the manual thrusting on the arm section adapted for engaging with the shutteris released, whereby the latter arm section is moved in the direction of engaging with the shutter. During this time, the movement of the arm section along the height and Z~B~ 6.~
the major surface of the cartridge main body is controlled by movement controlling means.
Also, with the other arm section engaging with the shutter, the shutter is biased by the torsion coil spring for closing the openings in which the disk-shaped recording medium is rotatably accommodated and which is adapted for exposing the signal recording area of the disk-shaped recording medium towards outside.
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a disk cartridge according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the disk cartridge shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an overall perspective view of a shutter mounted to the cartridge main body.
Fig. 4 is a front view showing a spring retainer of the shutter.
Fig. 5A is a side elevational view of a torsion coil spring.
Fig. SB is a plan view thereof.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the state in which one arm section of the torsion coil spring is engaged with the spring retainer.
Figs. 7A and 7B are perspective views showing the state of inserting the torsion coil spring into the cartridge main 6~
body.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the state in which the torsion coil spring is installedf between the shutter and the cartridge main body.
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the bent retaining end of the arm section of the torsion coil spring is engaged with the retainer provided in the shutter.
Fig. 10 is a plan view, looking from the upper half, and showing the state in which the shutter is moved to a position of closing the data signal writing and reading openings and the central opening.
Fig. 11 is a plan view similar to Fig. 10 but looking from the lower half.
Fig. 12 is a plan view, looking from the upper half, and showing the state in which the shutter is moved to a position of opening the data signal writing and reading openings and the central opening.
Fig. 13 is a plan view similar to Fig. 12 but looking from the lower half.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments In the presently described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a disk cartridge containing a magneto-optical disk as a disk-shaped recording medium.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the disk cartridge according Z~ 6!~
to the present invention includes, as main components, a disk~shaped magneto-optical disk, a main cartridge body 2 rotatably accommodating the magneto-optical disk 1, a shutter 6 movably mounted on the cartridge main body 2 and adapted for closing data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 provided in the cartridge main body 2 for exposing a signal recording area 1a of the disk 1 to outside and a central opening 5 which causes a center hub 1b at the center of the disk 1 to be exposed to outside and by means of which a disk table of a disk driving device is intruded into the cartridge main body, and a torsion coil spring 7 which is provided within the cartridge main body 2 and which operates to bias the shutter 6 in a direction of closing the openings 3, 4 and 5.
The magneto-optical disk 1 includes a disk base plate or substrate which exhibits certain stiffness and is formed of polycarbonate resin or glass and on the major surface of which a signal recording layer is formed. The disk 1 has a sufficient thickness as compared with a magnetic sheet disk.
Referring to Fig. 2, the cartridge main body 2 accommodating the magneto-optical disk 1 is composed of an upper half 8 and a lower half 9, in the form each of a substantially rectangular flat plate, which are abutted to each other and interconnected by a plurality of set screws 10. This cartridge main body 2 is of a sufficient thickness z~ t 6~
to form a disk containing section 11 therein which is sufficient to rotatably accommodate the magneto-optical disk 1 of the larger thickness. To this end, there are formed, on the outer peripheral sides of the upper and lower halves 8, 9 making up the cartridge main body 2, side wall sections 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b constituting left and right side walls 12 and 13 of the cartridge main body 2, rear side wall sections 14a, 14b constituting a rear wall 14 of the cartridge main body 2, and front side wall sections 15a, 15b constituting a front wall 15 of the cartridge main body 2. Within the interior of the main cartridge body 2, there is formed the disk containing section 11 delimited by an arcuate peripheral wall for safeguarding the magneto-optical disk 1 in the cartridge main body 2 against possible contact with the torsion coil spring 7 in the main cartridge body 2 and also for assuring smooth rotation of the disk 1. Thus, arcuate upstanding wall sections 16 are formed at the registering positions on the inner peripheral surface of the upper and lower halves 8 and 9 of the cartridge main body 2, so that, when the upper and lower halves 8 and g are abutted on each other, the wall sections 16 also abut on each other to complete the above mentioned disk containing section 11.
On one corner of the rear wall 14 of the cartridge main body 2 is mounted an inadvertent recording inhibit member 17 adapted for selecting if data signals can be written on the 21~8~ 6~
magneto-optical disk 1. More specifically, the inadvertent recording inhibit member 17 is movably mounted with a portion thereof facing to an inadvertent recording inhibit detection opening 18 formed at a corner on the rear side wall section 14b of the lower half 9.
The data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 are formed in the upper and lower sides of the cartridge main body 2, respectively. That is, the data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 and formed in the upper and lower halves 8, 9, respectively. These openings 3, 4 are substantially rectangular and formed at the center in the left-to-right direction of the cartridge main body 2 for extending from the front side wall 15 towards the vicinity of the center of the cartridge main body 2. The central opening 5 is formed only in the lower half 9 at a position in register with the center hub 1b of the magneto-optical disk 1 accommodated in the main cartridge body 2. The central opening 5 is substantially circular and formed in contiguity to the data writing and reading opening 4.
The disk cartridge of the present embodiment is designed for magneto-optical applications, so that, when the disk cartridge is mounted in position within the recording/reproducing apparatus, the data signal writing and reading opening 3 formed in the upper half 8 is confronted by the magnetic head, while the data signal recording and .6~
reading opening 4 formed in the lower half 8 is confronted by a pickup device adapted for irradiating the signal recording surface of the magneto-optical disk 1 with the ]ight beam.
On the outer lateral side of the lower half 9, at the front end face of the data signal recording and reading opening 4 formed in the lower half 9, there is formed a recess 19 by means of which the optical pickup device may be intruded into the cartridge main body 2 in opposition and in close proximity to the surface of the magneto-optical disk 1.
The shutter 6 is formed by punching and bending a thin metal plate, such as a thin stainless steel plate, into the cross-sectional shape of a letter U, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This shutter 6 is comprised of a first shutter section 6a for closing the data signal writing reading opening 3 in the upper half 8, a second shutter section 6b for closing the data signal recording and reading opening 4 and the central opening 5 in the lower half 9 simultaneously, and a connecting plate 6c interconnecting the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b. As shown in Fig. 5, the first shutter section 6a of the shutter 6 is in the from of a transversely wide rectangle and formed with a rectangular through-hole 20 adapted for opening the data signal recording and reading opening 3 when the shutter 6 is moved in the direction of opening the openings 3, 4 and 5. As shown in Fig. 4, the second shutter section 6b is in the form of a 2~)18~...6~
transversely narrow rectangle for closing the data signal writing and reading opening 4 and the central opening 5 in the lower half 9 simultaneously. The forward side of the second shutter section 6b is formed with a bent thrust portion 22 which is thrust and supported by a shutter retaining plate 21 mounted on the outer lateral side of the lower half 9 for preventing the second shutter section 6b from floating from the cartridge main body 2. On one lateral side of the second shutter section 6b connecting to the connecting section 6c, a first engaging pawl 24 engaging with a first slide guide groove 23 formed on the outer lateral side of the lower half 9 on attachment of the shutter 6 to the cartridge main body 2 is integrally formed for extending in the direction of the first shutter section 6a. The one end of the connecting plate 6c, not facing the second shutter section 6b, is formed with a slide guide section 27 on the end of which is formed a second engaging pawl 26 engaging with a second slide guide groove 25 when the shutter 6 is mounted on the cartridge main body 2. The second slide guide groove 25 is provided on the outer lateral side of the lower half 6 in parallel with the first slide guide groove 23. The connecting plate 6c interconnecting the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b in slid in contact with the front side of the cartridge main body 2 to play the role of stably sliding the shutter 6. Thus the connecting plate 6c is "~ 6~
formed with a width substantially equal to the thickness of the front side of the cartridge main body 2. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the connecting plate 6c is formed with a recess 28 which is of substantially the same shape as the recess 19 in the lower half 9 and which is at a position in register with the recess 19 when the shutter 6 is ~oved for opening the openings 3, 4 and 5. Similarly to the recess 19, the recess 28 is adapted to enable the optical pickup device to be intruded into the cartridge main body in proximity and opposition to the magneto-optical disk 1.
The connecting plate 6c is formed with a spring retainer 29 adapted for retaining the torsion coil spring 7. The spring retainer 29 is provided in the cartridge main body 2 and is adapted for retaining the torsion coil spring adapted in turn for biasing the shutter mounted on the cartridge main body 2 in the direction of closing the data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 and the central opening 5 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. This spring retainer 29 is provided at the side of the connecting plate 6c interconnecting the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b and is bent towards the interior of the shutter 6 so as to run parallel to the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b. The spring retainer 29 is formed substantially in the form of a letter L, as shown in Fig. 4.
The above described shutter 6 is mounted on the Z~lfl1 6~
cartridge main body 2 by being fitted at the front side of the cartridye main body 2 with the first and second shutter sect:Lons 6a, 6b extending on the outer lateral sides of the upper and lower halves 7 and 9. At this time, the shutter 6 is mounted to the cartridge main body 2 by engaging in the first and second slide guide grooves 23, 25. The shutter 6 thus mounted on the cartridge main body 2 is moved, with the first and second engaging pawls 24, 26 being guided in the first and second slide guide grooves 23, 25, between a position shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of closing the data signal recording reading openings 3, g and the central opening 5 and a position shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of opening these openings 3, 4 and 5.
The regions of the cartridge main body 2 over which the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b of the shutter 6 are extended and moved are formed as recesses in which the first and second shutter sections 6a, 6b are received flush with the outer lateral sides of the cartridge main body 2.
Meanwhile, when the shutter 6 is fitted to the cartridge main body 2I the thrust portion 22 on the foremost part of the first shutter section 6b is intruded along the side of the lower surface of the shutter retaining plate 21 so as to be thrust and supported by the plate 21. With the thrust portion 22 being thrust and supported by the shutter retaining plate 21, it becomes possible to present the 2~ 6~
shutter 6 from being floated from the cartridge main body 2 to assure a stabilized sliding movement of the shutter 6.
The torsion coil spring 7 for biasing the shutter 6 is formed by forming several helical turns in a stainless steel wire for forming a coil section 31 from both ends of which a pair of arm sections 32 and 33 are extended in the tangential direction of the coil section 31. The ends of the arm sections 32, 33 are formed with retaining sections 34, 35 which are bent in opposite directions with a bending angle approximately equal to 90. This torsion coil spring 7 is intruded into the cartridge main body 2 by means of a spring insertion opening 36 formed in the front side of the main cartridge body 2.
As shown in Fig. 1 the spring insertion opening 36 is formed on the front side of the cartridge main body 2 mounting the shutter 6 and at a position in which it is opened when the shutter 6 is moved to the position of closing the data signal writing and reading openings 3, 4 and the central opening 5.
That is, the opening 36 is formed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, towards the other side wall 13 of the cartridge main body 2 by partially removing the front wall 15 of the cartridge main body 2. In other words, as shown in Figs.
1 and 2, the front wall sections 15a, 15b of the upper and lower halves 8 and 9 are interrupted at the spring inserting 6~
opening 36. On the confronting inner lateral sides of the opening 36, inclined guide surfaces 37, 38 are formed for delimiting the inserting position of the coil section 31 inserted into the cartridge main body 2.
On ~he side of the opening 36 towards the other side wall 13, a relief section 40 is formed across the upper and lower halves 8 and 9 to permit the bent retaining end 34 of the arm section 32 of the torsion coil spring 7 to be inserted into the cartridge main body 2 into engagement with a spring retainer 39 provided on the front side corner of the upper half 8. The spring retainer 39 is formed as an engaging recess on the front side corner of the upper half 8.
On the front side of the cartridge main body 2, there is provided a spring movement controlling section 41 in contiguity to the spring inserting opening 36, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The controlling section 41 causes the arm section 32 of the torsion coil spring 7 to be resiliently shifted into engagement with the spring retainer 29 of the shutter 6 when the coil spring 7 is introduced into the main cartridge body 2. The controlling section 41 is constituted by a height controlling rib 42 for controlling the position along the thickness of the cartridge main body 2 of the arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring 7 introduced into the main cartridge body 2 and a horizontal movement controlling rib 43 for controlling the movement of the arm section 33 6~
along the major planar surface of the cartridge main body 2.
These controlling ribs 42, 43 are protruded on the front side of the lower half 9 in parallel wiih each other with a horizontal length extending from near the end of the data signal writing and reading opening 4 to a mid portion of the spring inserting opening 36.
The height controlling rib 42 has its foremost part projecting from the foremost part of the horizontal movement controlling rib 43 towards the spring inserting opening 36.
This projecting portion of the rib 42 towards the spring inserting opening 36 is formed with an inclined guide surface 44 for guiding the resiliently shifted arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring so as to lie on the upper surface of the height controlling rib 42.
The height controlling rib 42 has such a height that the arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring 7 resting on the upper surface of the height controlling rib 42 is not deviated markedly along the thickness of the main cartridge body 2. That is, as shown in Fig. 9, the position controlling rib 42 is formed with a height H1 such that a distance W1 between the top of the rib 42 and the inner surface of the upper half 8 is approximately equal to the radius R1 of the arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring 7.
The horizontal movement controlling rib 43 is formed with a height H2 such that the spring retainer 29 formed .6~
integrally with the connecting plate 6c of the shutter 6 may be moved along an upper end surface 43a of the rib 43. In other words, the height H2 is so selected as to permit movement of the spring retainer 29 which is formed at about the center along the thickness of the connecting plate 6c of the shutter 6 integrally therewith for extending towards the inside of the cartridge main body 2. The height controlling rib 42, which is formed at a higher position than the horizontal rib 43, is receded towards the inner side of the main cartridge body 2 so that the rib 42 is not abutted by the foremost part of the spring retainer 2g which is prot~uded towards the inside of the cartridge main body 2.
The bent retaining end 35 of the arm section 33 of the torsion coil spring 7 has a length L1 such that, when the arm section 33 rests on an upper end face 42a of the height controlling rib 42, the bent rataining section 35 may be engaged with the horizontal movement controlling rib 43.
On the front side of the lower half 9, formed with the horizontal controlling rib 43, there is formed a recess 50 to permit movement of the bent retaining and 35 of the torsion coil spring 7.
The state in which the torsion coil spring 7 is introduced into the cartridge main body 2 so as to be installed between the spring retainer 39 in the cartridge main body 2 and the spring retainer 29 of the shutter 6, is 6~) hereinafter explained.
For introducing the torsion coil spring 7 into the inside of the main cartridge body 2, the bent retaining er.d 34 of the arm section 32 is positioned in the vicinity of the relief section 40 of the main cartridge body 2. The bent retaining end 34 is introduced into the cartridge main body 2 from the opening end of the spring insertion opening 36, as the retaining end 34 is twisted, until the end 34 is engaged with th~ spring retainer 39, as shown in Fig. 7A. The arm section 33 is thrust manually so that the arm sections 32, 33 are resiliently closed on each other. The coil section 31 of the torsion coil spring 7 is placed in proximity to the inclined guide surfaces 37, 38 of the spring inserting opening 36 and is introduced into the inside of the main cartridge body 2 by way of these inclined guide surfaces 37, 38. The torsion coil spring 7 in its entirety is progressively introduced into the cartridge main body 2.
Thus the torsion coil spring 7 is introduced into the cartridge main body 2 until the bent retaining end 35 of the arm section 33 confronts the terminal ends of the position controlling rib 42 and the horizontal controlling rib 43.
When the thrust state of the arm section 33 is released, the arm section 33 is shifted in a direction shown by an arrow A
in Fig. 8 under the resiliency of the torsion coil spring 7.
At this time, the arm section 33 rides on the upper end face 6~
42a of the height controlling rib 42 as it is guided by the inclined guide surface 44 of the height controlling rib 42.
The bent retaining end 35 of the arm section 33 engages with the front surface of the horizontal movement controlling rib 42, as shown in Fig. 7B. With the bent engaging end 35 thus engaging with the horizontal movement controlling rib 42, the arm section 33 in prohibited from being resiliently shifted towards the interior of the cartridge main body 2 in the horizontal direction of the cartridge main body 2 when the torsion coil spring 7 is resiliently restored towards its extended position. The arm section 33 is progressively shifted in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 8, as it is prohibited by the horizontal movement controlling rib 42 from being moved towards the interior of the cartridge main body 2, until the bent retaining end 35 is engaged with the spring retainer 29 of the shutter 6 mounted on the cartridge main body 2, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, for biasing the shutter 6 in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 8. The shutter 6, thus biased by the torsion coil spring 7, is maintained at a position of closing the data signal recording and reading openings 3, 4 and the central opening 5, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
Thus the torsion coil spring 7 is installed between the cartridge main member 2 and the shutter 6, with the bent retaining end 34 of the arm section 32 being retained by the fl~6~
spring retainer 39 in the cartridge main body 2 and the bent retaining end 35 of the other arm section 33 being retained by the spring retainer 29 of the shutter 6, so that the shutter 6 is biased in the closure direction under the biasing force of extending the arm sections 32, 33 apart from each other.
It will be noted that, when the disk cartridge is introduced into the recording/reproducing apparatus, the shutter 6 is actuated by a shutter opening and closure unit of the recording/reproducing apparatus for opening the data signal recording and reading openings 3, 4 and the central opening 5 against the bias of the torsion coil spring 7.
That is, as the disk cartridge is progressively introduced into the recording/reproducing apparatus from the front side thereof mounting the shutter 6, a shutter opening and closing pin 101 constituting the shutter opening and closing unit of the recording/reproducing apparatus is engaged with the end of a sliding recess 51 for the shutter opening and closing pin 101 which is formed on the front side of the cartridge main body 2. As the disk cartridge is further introduced into the inside of the recording/reproducing apparatus, the shutter opening and closing pin 101 is moved in the direction shown by an arrow C in Figs. 12 and 13. The shutter is moved against the bias of the shutter opening and closing pin 111 for opening the data signal recording reading openings 3, 4 "~ 6~
and l:he central opening 5 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.
Meanwhile, after shifting the shutter 6 to its open position, the pin 101 snaps into an engaging recess 52 formed on the front side of the cartridge main body 2 to maintain the shutter 6 in the above mentioned open position.
Although the present invention is applied in the above embodiment to a aisk cartridge accommodating a magneto-optical disk, it is to be noted that the present invention may be broadly applied to a disk cartridge adapted to bias a shutter with the aid of a torsion coil spring.
With the disk cartridge of the present invention, afterthe torsion coil spring having a pair of arm sections thereof resiliently thrust in the direction of being closed one on the other is introduced at the insertion opening provided in the cartridge main body, the arm section operatively associated with the shutter is released from thrusting, whereby the latter arm section is shifted in the direction of positively engaging with the spring retainer of the shutter at the same time that the movement of the latter arm section in the horizontal direction and that along the thickness of the cartridge main body are controlled in the above described manner.
With the latter arm section engaging with the shutter, the shutter is biased by the torsion coil spring to close the openings of the cartridge main body which are adapted for 2~ 6~
exposing the signal recording area of the disk-shaped recording medium towards outside.
As described hereinabove, it becomes possible with the disk cartridge of the present invention to control the direction of movement of the arm sections of the torsion coil spring which is produced by the resilient restoring force of the torsion coil spring to permit the arm section to be engaged positively with the retainer of the shutter. In addition, the torsion coil spring can be mounted reliably both by manual operation or with the aid of an automatic assembly system.
Claims (4)
1. A disk cartridge comprising a cartridge main body having a disk-shaped recording medium rotatably accommodated therein and having an opening for radially expositing at least a portion of signal recording region of said disk-shaped recording medium towards outside, a shutter movably mounted on said cartridge main body for opening or closing said opening, and a torsion coil spring mounted in said main cartridge body with one arm section thereof retained at a portion of said cartridge main body and with the other arm section thereof retained at a portion of said shutter, said torsion coil spring biasing said shutter in the direction of closing said opening, wherein an insertion opening for said torsion coil spring is provided on the front side of said cartridge main body mounting said shutter, and wherein movement control means are provided for controlling the direction of flexural movement of said other arm section during the flexural movement of said other arm section into engagement with said portion of said shutter.
2. The disk cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said movement control means includes first control means for controlling the movement of said other arm section along the thickness of said cartridge main body, and second control means for controlling the movement of said other arm section along the major surface of said cartridge main body.
3. The disk cartridge according to claim 2 wherein said main cartridge body is comprised of an upper half and or lower half and wherein said first and second control means are ribs formed towards said insertion opening.
4. The disk cartridge according to claim 2 wherein said second control means is engaged with a bent retaining end of said other arm section to control the extent of movement of said other arm section.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP14256289 | 1989-06-05 | ||
| JP142562/89 | 1989-06-05 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2018169A1 true CA2018169A1 (en) | 1990-12-05 |
Family
ID=15318221
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002018169A Abandoned CA2018169A1 (en) | 1989-06-05 | 1990-06-04 | Disk cartridge |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5063558A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0402037B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2961816B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR0181293B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2018169A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69010780T2 (en) |
| MY (1) | MY106758A (en) |
Families Citing this family (18)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2827332B2 (en) * | 1989-10-06 | 1998-11-25 | ソニー株式会社 | Disk cartridge |
| US5317467A (en) * | 1990-05-21 | 1994-05-31 | Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. | Data recording cartridge including a flexible magnetic recording medium |
| CA2062100C (en) * | 1991-03-05 | 2000-10-31 | Hirotoshi Fujisawa | Disc cartridge |
| JPH06131841A (en) * | 1992-07-15 | 1994-05-13 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Disk cartridge |
| JPH06180962A (en) * | 1992-12-10 | 1994-06-28 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Method and apparatus for mounting shutter spring for magnetic-disk cartridge |
| JP2898886B2 (en) * | 1994-09-20 | 1999-06-02 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Disk cartridge |
| DE19543943A1 (en) * | 1995-03-17 | 1996-09-19 | Fujitsu Ltd | Optical disc and carrier e.g. for computers |
| JP3445881B2 (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 2003-09-08 | 日立マクセル株式会社 | Magnetic disk cartridge and shutter opening / closing mechanism thereof |
| JPH09167422A (en) * | 1995-12-19 | 1997-06-24 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Disk reproducing device and its applied interchangeable cartridge |
| JPH09274780A (en) * | 1996-04-03 | 1997-10-21 | Hitachi Maxell Ltd | Disk cartridge |
| JP4103257B2 (en) * | 1998-07-13 | 2008-06-18 | ソニー株式会社 | Disc cartridge |
| US7227817B1 (en) | 1999-12-07 | 2007-06-05 | Dphi Acquisitions, Inc. | Low profile optical head |
| US6580683B1 (en) | 1999-06-23 | 2003-06-17 | Dataplay, Inc. | Optical recording medium having a master data area and a writeable data area |
| JP2003162881A (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2003-06-06 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Cartridge for housing disk |
| US7191153B1 (en) | 1999-09-10 | 2007-03-13 | Dphi Acquisitions, Inc. | Content distribution method and apparatus |
| US6631359B1 (en) | 1999-09-10 | 2003-10-07 | Dphi Acquisitions, Inc. | Writeable medium access control using a medium writeable area |
| US6687215B1 (en) * | 2000-04-12 | 2004-02-03 | Dphi Acquisitions, Inc. | Low profile and medium protecting cartridge assembly |
| JP3892274B2 (en) * | 2001-10-23 | 2007-03-14 | シャープ株式会社 | Cartridge adapter and stationary optical disk device |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5870463A (en) * | 1981-10-21 | 1983-04-26 | Hitachi Ltd | Disk cassette |
| JPS59177073A (en) * | 1983-03-29 | 1984-10-06 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Production of golf wood club head |
| JPS59177073U (en) * | 1983-05-13 | 1984-11-27 | ソニー株式会社 | disc cassette |
| JPH0627029Y2 (en) * | 1984-06-01 | 1994-07-20 | 富士写真フイルム株式会社 | Magnetic disk cartridge |
| JPH0740423B2 (en) * | 1986-03-01 | 1995-05-01 | 日立マクセル株式会社 | Disco Cartridge |
| JPH0632183B2 (en) * | 1987-01-09 | 1994-04-27 | 富士写真フイルム株式会社 | Assembly device for magnetic disk cartridge |
| JPH0521724Y2 (en) * | 1987-04-27 | 1993-06-03 | ||
| US4858050A (en) * | 1987-06-09 | 1989-08-15 | Verbatim Corp. | Structurally rigid disk cartridge adaptable to eliminating relative axial cartridge and/or transducer head loading/unloading movement |
-
1990
- 1990-05-28 JP JP2135451A patent/JP2961816B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-05-30 US US07/530,317 patent/US5063558A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-05-31 DE DE69010780T patent/DE69010780T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-05-31 EP EP90305914A patent/EP0402037B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-06-04 KR KR1019900008180A patent/KR0181293B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-06-04 CA CA002018169A patent/CA2018169A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-06-04 MY MYPI90000929A patent/MY106758A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE69010780D1 (en) | 1994-08-25 |
| EP0402037A3 (en) | 1991-01-30 |
| JPH0386986A (en) | 1991-04-11 |
| KR0181293B1 (en) | 1999-04-15 |
| EP0402037B1 (en) | 1994-07-20 |
| DE69010780T2 (en) | 1995-01-12 |
| KR910001733A (en) | 1991-01-31 |
| MY106758A (en) | 1995-07-31 |
| US5063558A (en) | 1991-11-05 |
| JP2961816B2 (en) | 1999-10-12 |
| EP0402037A2 (en) | 1990-12-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |