Recording medium driver and recorder/reproducer

A detection hole 34 is provided in a tray 30, on which a cartridge type recording medium is mounted and housed, at a position corresponding to an information hole of a cartridge, a detection lever 35 is provided on a back surface of the tray 30 on the lower surface side of the detection hole 34, and a switch section 111 is provided on a frame 10 on the lower surface side of the detection lever 35 while the tray 30 is housed within the frame 10. Accordingly, the switch section 111 can be separated from the motion of a base since the switch section 111 is fixed to the frame 10, and consequently, the structure can be simplified and the space efficiency can be enhanced.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a recording medium driver that can house a recording medium therein and to a recorder/reproducer.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a cartridge type recording medium has been known, in which a disc is accommodated inside a cartridge for preventing the disc from being contaminated or damaged due to dusts or the like. Information related to the state of such recording medium can be detected, for example, according to a condition of an opening formed in the cartridge. For instance, information can be written on the recording medium if the opening is in an opened condition, whereas information cannot be written on the recording medium if the opening is in a closed condition. Additionally, a recording medium having a hole formed in a cartridge has been known, the hole indicating a state or type of the recording medium.

There has also been known a disc drive which can house the above-described cartridge type recording medium (e.g., Patent Document 1). The disc drive disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a servomechanism chassis provided with a turntable for rotatably holding a recording medium and a pickup for recording/reproducing information on/from the recording medium. A base end of the servomechanism chassis is pivotally supported such that the rotation force is vertically applied. Conventionally, a switch section of a lead-in detection switch, write-protect switch, cartridge detection switch, or the like is provided on a tip end of the servomechanism chassis. Owing to this, vertical movement of the servomechanism chassis in a cartridge direction allows some of the switches to detect an information hole formed in the cartridge.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1 in which the switch section of the write-protect switch, the cartridge detection switch, or the like is moved along with the servomechanism chassis, since the switch section is vertically moved along with the movement of the turntable provided on the servomechanism chassis to hold the recording medium, space efficiency may be degraded. Also, since the switch section is required to be moved such that the switch section does not interrupt feeding movement of the recording medium in this time, the mechanism may be complicated.

Considering the above-described circumferences of the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium driver and a recorder/reproducer for detecting information of a cartridge with a simple configuration as well as enhancing space efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

A recording medium driver according to an aspect of the invention set forth in claim1drives a recording medium, the driver being able to detect information related to a state of a recording medium body accommodated in a cartridge according to whether an information hole formed in the cartridge is opened or closed. The driver, includes: a tray including a mount surface on which the recording medium is mounted and being capable of housing the recording medium within a frame; a detection section that can be come up from/come down into the mount surface of the tray and is projected from the mount surface to detect that the information hole is opened; and a switch section disposed on a frame side to detect whether the detection section is come up or come down and to acquire the information related to the state of the recording medium.

A recorder/reproducer according to another aspect of the invention set forth in claim6, includes: the recording medium driver set forth in any one of claims1to5, in which the recorder/reproducer records information on or reproduces information from the recording medium.

EXPLANATION OF CODES

35. . . detection lever as detection section

351. . . lever head as detection section

352. . . lever pin as detection section

353. . . plate spring as resilient member

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.FIGS. 1 to 6each show a recording medium driver of the embodiment.

[Configuration of Recording Medium Driver]

FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view showing the recording medium driver of the present embodiment. InFIG. 1, numeric reference100represents the recording medium driver. The recording medium driver100houses a recording medium therein and records information on the recording medium or reproduces information recorded on the recording medium. The recording medium housed in the recording medium driver100may be a bare disc type recording medium using an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc. in a bare manner, or may be a cartridge type recording medium accommodating such an optical disc in a cartridge. Alternatively, it is also preferable to use a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk as the recording medium without limiting to the optical disc. The recording medium driver100may be housed in terminal equipment like a personal computer or in audio equipment, or may be an external drive to be installed at the outside of the terminal equipment or audio equipment. Note that the recording medium driver is not limited to be used as peripheral equipment of the above-described terminal equipment or audio equipment, and may be a driver like a portable CD player which can solely be used, or is applicable to various drivers that drive the recording medium using the optical discs or magnetic disks.

FIG. 2is a front elevation showing the cartridge type recording medium as an example of the recording medium to be used for the recording medium driver100. InFIG. 2, a disc91has a circular hole93at the center, and a recording surface is formed on a surface of the disc91. A cartridge92accommodates the disc91for protecting the recording surface of the disc91from dusts and damages. In the cartridge92, an opening97is formed to the center from the outer circumference, so that the disc91can be reproduced and/or recorded via the opening97. A cover94is slidably provided over the opening97to protect the disc91. The cover94allows the opening97to be opened by sliding in a lateral surface direction of the cartridge92while reproducing/recording operation of the disc91is performed, whereas it allows the opening97to be closed for protection of the disc91while the reproducing/recording operation of the disc91is not performed.

Also, an information hole95is formed on an end portion or both end portions of the cartridge92. The information hole95is provided with a switching portion951for switching a state between write enable and write inhibit, so that the switching at the switching portion951can change information related to the state of a cartridge type recording medium90. Note that the information hole95of the cartridge92is not limited to one that switches the state between the write enable and the write inhibit, and may be the information hole95indicating other information, e.g., the information hole95that indicates the type of the cartridge type recording medium90, the information hole95that indicates the memory capacity of the cartridge type recording medium90, or the like. Also, the information hole95may not be provided with the switching portion951, and in such case, the information related to the state of the cartridge type recording medium90may be obtained by recognizing the presence of the information hole95.

Back toFIG. 1, the recording medium driver100includes a substantially planarly rectangular frame10, a base20attached inside the frame10, a tray30allowed to be ejected from/inserted to the frame10, a clamp mechanism40disposed on the upper surface of the frame10, and a metal casing (not shown) surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the frame.

The frame10is a member made of synthetic resin or the like. The frame10is substantially formed in a box, in which a bottom portion11is a substantially planarly rectangular plate. The frame10includes a rear portion12integrated with one of narrow sides of the periphery of the bottom portion11, a front portion14integrated with the other one of the narrow sides of the periphery of the bottom portion11in a rising manner, and two lateral portions15respectively integrated with wide sides of the periphery of the bottom portion11, to form an upper opening13surrounded by the lateral portions15and the rear portion12and confronting the bottom portion11.

In the recording medium driver100, regardless of installing the recording medium driver100vertically or horizontally, the upper opening13side is defined as an upper surface side, the opposite bottom portion11side is defined as a lower surface side, the rear portion12side is defined as a rear surface side, and the front portion14side is defined as a front surface side. Also, a direction along the front surface side to the rear surface side is assumed as an advance/retraction direction, a direction to the upper surface from the lower surface is assumed as a vertical direction, and a direction to the lateral surface orthogonal to the advance/retraction direction and the vertical direction is assumed as a lateral surface direction.

The lateral portion15, the front portion14and the rear portion12are provided on the periphery of the bottom portion11, and a hollow portion is formed inside these. The hollow portion is a space where an electric circuit (not shown) is housed, the electric circuit controlling the operation of the recording medium driver100. On the front surface side of the bottom portion11, a switch section111is provided. The switch section111includes a switch body112, and a switch pin113that can be advanced and retracted to the upper surface side from the switch body112.

The switch section111is a circuit board with a circuit (not shown) formed on a surface thereof. The switch body112is fixed at a predetermined position of the switch section111. The circuit of the switch section111is electrically connected to the switch body, and also electrically connected to an electric circuit provided in the hollow portion via a wiring (not shown), for instance, a flexible board. Accordingly, when the switch pin113provided on the switch body112is pushed down by a below-described detection lever provided on the tray30, a predetermined signal is output to the electric circuit of the hollow portion from the switch body112via the circuit formed on the switch section111. The signal output to the electric circuit from the switch body112may be a signal indicating that the cartridge type recording medium90is inserted, a signal indicating the write enable or write inhibit, etc.

The rear portion12has an external terminal section on the lower surface side, the external terminal section being electrically connected with the electric circuit provided on the bottom portion11within the frame. The external terminal section, for instance, may include a power cable connector for supplying power to the recording medium driver, an external terminal connector for allowing external equipment such as a personal computer to be connected, or the like. The information to be reproduced/recorded by the recording medium driver100is mainly input/output via the external terminal section.

On an inner wall of the lateral portion15, a sliding piece150slidably supporting the tray30provided along the advance/retraction direction. Also, the base20is swingably attached on the rear surface side of the lateral portion15.

The front portion14is so formed that a dimension in the vertical direction in the drawing is smaller than that of the rear portion12and the lateral portion15, and a front opening141through which the tray30is ejected or inserted is formed on the upper surface side of the front portion14. In addition, an operation section (not shown) is provided on the front portion14, the operation section being connected with the electric circuit provided on the bottom portion11. For instance, the operation section includes an eject button by which the tray30is ejected or inserted, a volume control for adjusting the volume, an insertion port of an earphone, and the like.

(Configuration of Base Member)

The base20is formed with a metal plate by press molding etc. The base20is rotatably attached on the rear surface side of the lateral portion15of the frame10in a manner that the base20can be advanced and retracted in the vertical direction. A planarly circular disc table23is mounted on the base20at a position away from the front surface side of the base20by a predetermined distance and substantially at the center in the lateral surface direction, the disc table23being rotatable around the vertical direction as a rotation axis. The disc table23interlocks with the rotation of the base20to be advanced/retracted in the vertical direction. The disc table23is projected to the upper surface side relative to the upper surface of the base20. On the lower surface side of the disc table23, a rotary drive mechanism (not shown) such as a motor or the like is provided, the rotary drive mechanism being electrically connected with the electric circuit via a flexible board etc. made of synthetic resin with a pattern wiring embedded therein. As an electric signal for a driving instruction is transmitted from the electric circuit, the rotary drive mechanism rotates the disc table23at high speed.

The disc table23includes a mount portion232on which the recording medium is mounted, and a tapered portion231provided at the center of the mount portion232with the upper surface side of the tapered portion231decreasing in diameter. The tapered portion231is engaged with the circular hole of the disc. Also, a magnet (not shown) is fitted into the upper surface side of the tapered portion231, and a synthetic resin sheet member (not shown) is bonded on the upper surface side of the mount portion232for protection and anti-slip purposes. The provision of the sheet member prevents the recording medium from being slipped even when the disc table23rotates at high speed, thus providing high-speed access to the information recorded on the recording medium.

A recording/reproducing mechanism setting hole26is formed in the base20at a portion to the rear surface side relative to the disc table23, and a recording/reproducing mechanism (not shown) is provided at the recording/reproducing mechanism setting hole26. The recording/reproducing mechanism is a device that irradiates laser beam on the recording surface of the recording medium to record and/or reproduce information, the recording/reproducing mechanism being able to be advanced/retracted along a front surface-rear surface direction of the recording/reproducing mechanism setting hole26of the base20. A synthetic resin flexible cable (not shown) is connected with a part of the recording/reproducing mechanism, so that the recording/reproducing mechanism is connected with the electric circuit via the flexible cable.

FIG. 3is a perspective view showing the tray30.FIG. 4is a cross section of the recording medium driver100with the view being vertically cut along the advance/retraction direction thereof.

The tray30is a member made of synthetic resin such as ABS resin, which allows the recording medium like a CD or DVD to be mounted thereon and housed inside the recording medium driver. The tray30includes a planarly rectangular mount surface31, and a rising portion32standing on the front surface side of the periphery of the mount surface31. In the lateral surface on the lower surface side of the tray30, a linear groove (not shown) is integrally formed along the advance/retraction direction of the tray30, and the sliding piece150of the lateral portion15is engaged with the groove. The tray30can smoothly be advanced/retracted in the advance/retraction direction by the groove and the sliding piece150.

The mount surface31is a surface on which the optical recording medium such as a CD or DVD is mounted. A hole is provided substantially at the center of the mount surface31, so that when the tray30is housed within the frame10, the disc table23is projected to the mount surface31side via the hole and holds the recording medium. Also, a pickup which is an information reproducing mechanism is advanced/retracted via the hole with respect to the recording surface of the recording medium, allowing the recording medium to be reproduced and/or recorded. On the mount surface31, either one of the cartridge type recording medium90and the bare disc type recording medium can be mounted, and a circular recessed portion is formed for allowing the bare disc type recording medium to be mounted. p A detection hole34is provided on the front surface side of the mount surface31of the tray30. A detection lever35as a detection section is provided on the lower surface side (on the side where a below-described fixing portion354is disposed as well as the side opposite to the mount surface of the tray30) of the detection hole34.

The detection lever35includes a lever head351as a support portion, and a lever pin352as a pin provided on the lever head351. An end of a plate spring353as a biasing member is arranged on the lever head351, while the other end of the plate spring353is fixed at the fixing portion354on the back surface of the tray30.

The lever head351is formed by a lightweight member such as synthetic resin. The lower portion of the lever head351is defined by a curved surface or by two or more planes. When the lever head351is pushed down to the lower surface side, the lower portion of the lever head351substantially perpendicularly abuts on the switch pin113to push the switch pin113. Also, the lever head351is biased by the plate spring353from the back side of the tray30to the mount surface side of the tray30. Then, while the tray30is housed in the recording medium driver100, the switch pin113of the switch body112is disposed on the lower surface side of the lever head351. In addition, the area of the lever head351confronting the back surface of the tray30is set to be greater than the hole area of the detection hole34, so that the lever head351will not be projected to the mount surface31side from the detection hole34.

The lever pin352is fixed on the lever head351such that the lever pin352passes through the detection hole34and is projected to the mount surface side. The lever pin352and the lever head351are formed to be advanced/retracted in the vertical direction relative to the tray30by the plate spring353. Then, as the lever pin352is pushed down by receiving a force from the mount surface31side, the lever head351is pushed down simultaneously. When the tray30is housed within the frame10, the lever head351pushes the switch pin113fixed on the bottom portion11of the frame10as described above, so that a predetermined signal is output to the electric circuit from the switch body112.

For example, the fixing portion354may be so formed that a part of the tray30is projected to the lower surface side and the plate spring353is fixed by holding it with that projecting portion, or alternatively, the fixing portion354may be fixed on the tray30directly by screwing, bonding with an adhesive, welding, etc. Note that the fixture of the plate spring353with the fixing portion354may not limited to the above-described fixture method, and may employ other fixture methods.

In addition, a guiding projection38is provided along the periphery of the circular recessed portion of the tray30. The guiding projection38is provided in a manner that can be come up from/come down into the surface of the mount surface31. When the bare disc type recording medium is mounted on the circular recessed portion of the mount surface31, the guiding projection38guides the bare disc type recording medium not to be deviated and dropped from the circular recessed portion. When the cartridge type recording medium is mounted on the mount surface31, the guiding projection38is pushed down to the back surface side of the tray30, and will not be projected relative to the mount surface31.

Further, a cartridge positioning projection37is provided on a predetermined position of the mount surface31. The cartridge positioning projection37, when the cartridge type recording medium is mounted on the tray30, positions the cartridge with respect to the mount surface31by engaging with a positioning hole96provided on the cartridge.

The substantial center of the mount surface31of the tray30is a position to which the disc table23is inserted, and an operation hole36is formed toward the rear surface direction relative to that position. The operation hole36allows the disc table23engaged with the recording medium mounted on the mount surface31to be inserted, and also is defined as a passing portion of the laser beam irradiated to the recording surface of the recording medium from the recording/reproducing mechanism that performs reproducing/recording of the recording medium.

The rising portion32covers the front surface side of the tray30to function as a cover hiding the front opening141. Also, while the recording medium is not held by the disc table23, the recording medium is prevented from being dropped from the mount surface31to the front surface side.

Further, the space surrounded by the lower portion of the rear surface side of the rising portion32and the back surface side of the tray30represents a moving space of the switch pin113and the lever head351, and within this space, the lever head351and the switch pin113are vertically advanced/retracted.

On the rear surface side of the tray30, a slider33made of synthetic resin or the like is attached as a positioning member for the recording medium. The slider33is biased on the front surface side using a resilient member (not shown) such as a spring etc. The slider33functions as a guide for the bare disc on the rear surface side of the tray while being biased on the front surface side. When the cartridge is mounted, the slider guides the cartridge to be mounted on the tray by sliding to the rear surface side of the tray in order to correspond the difference between respective external forms of the cartridge and the bare disc.

(Detection of Information Related to Recording Medium State)

FIG. 5is a cross section showing a state where the cartridge type recording medium90is mounted on the tray30inFIG. 4with the information hole95opened.FIG. 6Ais a cross section showing a state where the cartridge type recording medium90is mounted on the tray30inFIG. 4with the information hole closed and the tray30is housed within the frame10.FIG. 6Bis a cross section showing a state where the cartridge type recording medium90is mounted on the tray30inFIG. 4with the information hole closed and the tray30is ejected from the front surface side of the frame10.

The detection hole34is provided at a position corresponding to the position of the information hole95of the cartridge92, and the lever pin352is projected via the detection hole34. As shown inFIG. 5, if the information hole95of the cartridge92is opened, the tip end of the lever pin352extends into the information hole95of the cartridge, so that the disc91can be determined as write inhibit (seeFIG. 5) by way of the lever head351.

On the other hand, as shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B, if the information hole95of the cartridge92is closed with the switching portion951or the information hole95is not provided, when the tray30is ejected from the front surface side of the frame10and the cartridge92is mounted on the tray30, the lever pin352abuts on the switching portion951or the outer circumference of the cartridge92and to be pushed down together with the lever head351. When the tray30is housed within the frame10, the lever head351pushes the switch pin113of the switch body112arranged on the lower surface side, the switch body112outputs a signal indicating that the switch pin113is pushed, to the electric circuit, and thus the disc91can be determined as write enable (seeFIG. 6A). Note that, as described above, the information hole95of the cartridge92may not only show the state between the write enable and the write inhibit. There may be the information hole95indicating other information, e.g., the information hole95that indicates the type of the cartridge type recording medium, the information hole95that indicates the memory capacity of the cartridge type recording medium, or the like. The detection lever35detects the information hole95and outputs a signal corresponding to the information to the electric circuit via the switch body112of the switch section111.

(Configuration of Clamp Mechanism and Holding of Recording Medium)

On the upper opening13of the frame10, the clamp mechanism40is attached, the clamp mechanism40holding the recording medium engaged with the disc table23not to be released from the disc table23. The clamp mechanism40includes a damper41at a position confronting the disc table23, the damper41being supported by a damper holder42. The damper41is made of synthetic resin and has a disc metal member (not shown) fitted to the upper surface side of the central portion thereof. The damper holder42has a plate spring (not shown) to bias the damper holder42to the lower surface side.

In the recording medium driver100having the clamp mechanism40, for example, a disc is used as a recording medium, the disc is mounted on the mount surface31of the tray30and the tray30is housed within the frame10. In this case, the circular hole93formed in the disc of the recording medium is engaged with the tapered portion231of the disc table23, and the disc is mounted on the sheet member (not shown) of the mount portion232. Since the magnet (not shown) is fitted into the tapered portion231of the disc table23, the damper41is attracted to the disc table23side due to the magnet of the disc table23and the disc can be held by the damper41, thereby the disc being fixed not to be released from the disc table23. Accordingly, the disc table23will not be released from the disc table even when the optical disc is rotated at high speed during reproducing and/or recording.

In removal of the disc, the disc table23is moved to the lower surface side, the magnet is separated from the damper41, and the damper41is pushed up to the upper surface side together with the damper holder42due to the cam mechanism (not shown). Then, when the disc table23is moved to the lower surface side relative to the mount surface31, the disc is mounted on the upper surface side of the mount surface31, and the recording medium can be removed by ejecting the tray30from the frame10.

InFIGS. 1 and 4, an interlocking mechanism500is provided on the front surface side of the base20. The interlocking mechanism500includes a drive cam50engaged with the base20, a first rack52integrally formed with the drive cam50, a gear mechanism53meshed with the first rack52and having a first gear531through a fourth gear534, a motor54meshed with the gear mechanism53and being driven by the control of the electric circuit, and a second rack (not shown) provided on the lower surface side of the tray30and meshed with the gear mechanism53.

The drive cam50is made of synthetic resin or the like, which is reciprocatingly arranged in the lateral surface direction that is orthogonal to the advance/retraction direction of the tray30. A cam groove51extending to the lateral surface direction is formed on the rear surface side of the drive cam50, and a cam engagement pin24of the base20is engaged with the cam groove51. The cam groove51is sloped at the intermediate portion in the lateral surface direction such that an end is disposed on the upper surface side while the other end being disposed on the lower surface side. The reciprocating motion of the drive cam50in the lateral surface direction causes the cam engagement pin24to be moved between the both ends of the cam groove51along the sloped portion, and accordingly, the base20can reciprocatingly be moved in the vertical direction.

The first rack52formed on one lateral surface of the drive cam50is meshed with the third gear533of the gear mechanism53. The second gear532greater in diameter than the third gear533is integrally formed on the lower surface side of the third gear533, and the second gear532is meshed with the first gear531. Also, the third gear533is meshed with the fourth gear534.

The first gear531is meshed with a motor gear542of the motor54. The motor gear542is interlocked with a wheel541via a ringed belt543made of synthetic resin. A motor body (not shown) is provided on the lower surface side of the wheel541with the frame10interposed, and a driving force is directly provided by the motor body. The motor body is electrically connected with the electric circuit, which controls the rotation of the motor body.

The fourth gear534is meshed with the second rack (not shown) provided on the lower surface side of the tray30.

When a tray advance/retraction instruction is conveyed to the electric circuit by the eject button (not shown) provided on the front portion14of the frame10or by an input from the outside, the electric circuit drives the motor body. As the motor body rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the first gear531of the gear mechanism53via the motor gear542. Then, the rotation energy is transmitted from the first gear531to the second gear532to rotate the third gear533integrally provided with the second gear as well as the fourth gear534meshed with the third gear533. Due to the rotation of the third gear533, the drive cam50meshed with the third gear533in the first rack52is moved in the lateral surface direction, so that the base20engaged with the drive cam50is moved to the upper surface side or the lower surface side. In addition, by the rotation of the fourth gear534, the tray30meshed with the fourth gear534in the second rack is moved to the rear surface side or the front surface side.

As stated above, the base20and the tray30are interlocked to each other by the drive cam50and the gear mechanism53. Incidentally, when the tray30is ejected, the tray30should be ejected after the disc table23is moved to the lower surface side. This can be realized according to the restriction of the tray30to slide relative to the second rack. In particular, the tray30is so set that the tray30can slide relative to the second rack only by a predetermined distance, for instance. In such case, when the eject instruction of the tray30is given by the eject button etc., the motor54is driven, and the base is moved to the lower surface side due to the interlocking mechanism500. At the same time, although the fourth gear534also rotates and the second rack interlocks thereto, since the second rack is so provided that the second rack can slide relative to the tray30only by a predetermined distance, only the second rack is moved to the front surface side for the predetermined distance. When the base20is moved to the lower surface side to secure a space not to interfere with the tray30, the second rack then is engaged with the tray30to move the tray30to the front surface side. In addition, a play adjustment mechanism (not shown) is provided to restrict the tray30to slide relative to the second rack when the tray30is moved to the rear surface side and housed within the frame.

Further, when the tray30is inserted, the disc table23should be moved to the upper surface side after the tray30is inserted to avoid the interference between the tray30and the disc table23. This can be realized by a timing adjustment mechanism (not shown) provided between the tray30and the drive cam50.

[Advantages of Recording Medium Driver]

In the above-described recording medium driver according to the present embodiment, the detection hole34is provided in the tray30on which the cartridge type recording medium90is mounted and housed, at the position corresponding to the position of the information hole95of the cartridge92, and on the lower surface side of the detection hole34, the detection lever35is provided on the back surface of the tray30. Also, while the tray30is housed within the frame10, on the lower surface side of the detection lever35, the switch body112is provided on the bottom portion11of the frame10. Owing to this, when being pushed down to the lower surface side, the lever head351of the detection lever35abuts to the switch pin113of the switch body112to push the switch pin113into the switch body112, so that a predetermined signal can be output. Accordingly, since the information hole of the cartridge was conventionally detected by interlocking the base with the switch section, a space for securing the movement locus of the switch section was required. However, in the present embodiment, the base can separately be moved by fixing the switch section111on the frame10. Thus, the information hole95of the cartridge92can be detected with the simple configuration, and the space efficiency can be enhanced. In addition, since the switch section is fixed on the frame10, the wiring of the cables will not be complicated compared to a case in which, as the conventional way, the switch section is arranged on the base20that is vertically moved, so that the possibility of disconnection can be lowered while detection accuracy can be heightened.

Further, the detection lever35includes the lever head351and the lever pin352, the plate spring353is attached to the lever head351, the one end of the plate spring353is fixed on the back surface of the tray30, and the detection lever35is constantly biased from the back surface side of the tray30to the mount surface31side. Therefore, the lever pin352can come up from or come down into the mount surface31via the detection hole34provided in the tray30. Thus the lever pin352can easily detect the information hole95formed in the cartridge92when the cartridge92is mounted, thereby allowing the detection accuracy to be heightened. In addition, since the switch section is fixed to the frame10, the wiring of the cables will not be complicated compared to a case in which, as the conventional way, the switch section is arranged on the base20that is vertically moved, so that the possibility of disconnection can be lowered while detection accuracy can be heightened.

Further, the lower portion of the lever head351is defined by a curved surface or by two or more planes. With this configuration, when being pushed down to the lower surface side, the lever head351can abut to the switch pin113substantially perpendicularly. Hence, the lever head351can securely push the switch pin113, and avoids the switch pin113from being damaged since no excessive force is applied to the switch pin113. Alternatively, the switch pin113may be two-way operation type allowing the switch pin113to be pushed from vertical and horizontal directions, which can prevent the damage thereof.

MODIFICATIONS OF EMBODIMENT

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may include modifications, improvements, etc. as long as the object of the present invention can be attained.

For example, according to the recording medium driver of the present embodiment, although the detection lever35is biased to the mount surface31side from the back surface side of the tray30by way of the plate spring353, it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B, a detection lever35A may rotatably be provided on a fixing portion354A on the back side of the tray30to couple a lever head351A with the fixing portion354A by using a synthetic resin cover353A. With this configuration, although the lever head351A falls to the lower surface side due to its self weight, by setting the biasing force of the switch pin113to the upper surface side to be greater than the self weight of the lever head351A, the switch pin113can be prevented from being pushed due to the self weight of the lever head. Also, with this configuration, the biasing force of the switch pin113causes the lever head351A and a lever pin352A to be biased from the back surface side of the tray30to the mount surface31side. When the cartridge type recording medium90is mounted on the tray30, the lever head351A and the lever pin352A are advanced/retracted in the vertical direction according to the presence of the information hole95of the cartridge92. For example, if the information hole95of the cartridge92is opened, the lever pin352A is inserted to the information hole not to push down the switch pin113(seeFIG. 7A). On the other hand, if the information hole95of the cartridge92is closed, the lever pin352A is pushed down by the cartridge92to push the switch pin113(seeFIG. 7B). With this configuration, the resilient member need not be provided on the detection lever35for utilizing the biasing force of the switch pin113, and the configuration can further be simplified, thereby promoting decrease in manufacturing cost as well as in the number of components.

According to the recording medium driver of the present embodiment, although the mount surface31of the tray30includes the guiding projection38for positioning the bare disc type recording medium when the bare disc type recording medium being mounted, it is not limited thereto, and the guiding projection38may integrally be formed with the detection lever35to position the bare disc type recording medium.

In such case, the detection lever35and the detection hole34are provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the circular recessed portion on the mount surface31on which the bare disc type recording medium is mounted. With this configuration, the detection lever35, when the cartridge type recording medium90is mounted on the mount surface31of the tray30, in the same manner as the above-described embodiment, detects the information hole95of the cartridge92to acquire proper information. Further, when the bare disc type recording medium is mounted on the mount surface31, the guiding projection38is projected from the mount surface31along the periphery of the circular recessed portion of the tray30, so that the bare disc type recording medium can be prevented from being released or dropped. With this configuration, since the detection lever35can also serve as the guiding projection38, the guiding projection38need not be formed additionally. Thus, the number of components as well as the manufacturing cost can be decreased.

Further, in the present embodiment, although the plate spring353is used as the resilient member for biasing the lever head351of the detection lever35to the mount surface31side, it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B, the detection lever35may include the lever head351and the lever pin352, and the lever head351may be covered with a resilient synthetic resin cover353A from the lower surface side. In such case, during normal condition with the cartridge92not being mounted, the synthetic resin cover353A biases the detection lever35to the mount surface31side as shown inFIG. 8A. Then, when the lever pin352is pushed down because the cartridge92is mounted etc., as shown inFIG. 8B, the lever pin352is pushed down, which further pushes the switch pin113. With this configuration, the simple configuration causes the number of components to be decreased, thus decreasing the manufacturing cost.

In the present embodiment, although the one end of the plate spring353is provided on the lever head351of the detection lever35while the other end thereof is fixed on the fixing portion354provided on the lower surface side of the tray30, it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown inFIG. 9, one end of a plate spring353B may be provided on the lever head351of a detection lever35B while the other end thereof passes through a spring insertion hole39formed so as to penetrate from the lower surface side to the mount surface31side of the tray30and is fixed on a fixing portion354B provided on the mount surface31side.

In the present embodiment, although the switch pin113is projected upwardly from the switch body112, it is not limited thereto, and the switch body112may have a metal contacting portion on the upper surface thereof, and a conductive abutting portion that can abut on the contacting portion on the lower surface side of the lever head351, the contacting portion detecting that the abutting portion abuts thereto and outputting a predetermined signal to the electric circuit. Since such configuration allows the switch section111to be further thin, thus decreasing the entire thickness of the driver.

ADVANTAGES OF EMBODIMENT

The detection hole34is provided in the tray30on which the cartridge type recording medium90is mounted, at the position corresponding to the position of the information hole95of the cartridge92, and on the lower surface side of the detection hole34, the detection lever35is provided on the back surface of the tray30. Also, while the tray30is housed within the frame10, on the lower surface side of the detection lever35, the switch section111is provided on the bottom portion11of the frame10. Accordingly, the switch section111can be separated from the motion of the base since the switch section111is fixed on the frame10, and consequently, the information hole95of the cartridge92can be detected with the simple structure and the space efficiency can be enhanced.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to a recording medium driver and a recorder/reproducer of a cartridge type recording medium that accommodates a disc inside a cartridge.