Disk type recording and reproducing device

Disclosed is a disk recording and reproduction apparatus for recording and/or reproduction of optical disks of multiple different formats impossible to record or reproduce with a single pickup. A disk recording and reproduction apparatus containing a base unit (25) with two separate optical pickups (31) and (32) corresponding to two different format types and installed around the center of a turntable (27) for rotating a disk.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a disk recording and reproduction apparatus and relates in particular to a disk recording and reproduction apparatus for recording and/or reproduction by using a pickup while rotating a disk recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

Disk recording and reproduction devices are widely used to perform recording or reproduction by utilizing an optical pickup while rotating a disk recording medium. In this technology of the prior art, an optical disk constituting the disk recording medium is accessed by an optical pickup by rotating the optical disk on a turntable and moving the optical pickup along the radius direction of the optical disk, and the specified recording or reproduction is performed.

The laser light wavelength of the optical pickup varies according to the optical disk format. In the case of a CD (compact disk), for example, laser light of 780 nm (nanometers) wavelength is used. However, a DVD uses laser light of 650 nm wavelength. A so-called DVR capable of writing in a high density recording format utilizes laser light of 405 nm wavelength.

Using an optical pickup capable of emitting laser light at wavelengths suitable for all formats allows compatible use of all the above mentioned optical disk types by a single optical pickup.

Though installing two lenses and their respective laser emitters in a single pickup to actually use both DVR and DVD/CD was possible, an optical pickup of the prior art configured this way had the problem that the size was too large and adjustment was complicated.

Two types of optical disks are used. One type is a bare disk not utilizing a cartridge. The other type is an optical disk stored inside a cartridge. The bare disk must be placed on a turntable and clamped in place by a clamping means. Though differing depending on the format, cartridge type optical disks usually have a clamping means inside the cartridge and do not require a clamping means in the recording and reproduction apparatus itself. A disk recording and reproduction apparatus configured to use compatibly both cartridge type optical disks and bare disks therefore had the problem that a means was required to retract a clamping mechanism used especially when a cartridge type optical disk was inserted.

In view of the above-described problems, the present invention therefore has the object of providing a disk recording and reproduction apparatus capable of using multiple disk recording media that were impossible to be recorded or reproduced by a single pickup. A further object is to provide a disk recording and reproduction apparatus capable of retracting the clamping mechanism during loading of a cartridge type disk recording medium when a cartridge type disk recording medium or a bare disk type recording medium is selectively installed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention resides in a disk recording and reproduction apparatus for performing recording and/or reproduction with a pickup while rotating a disk recording medium, wherein the disk recording and reproduction apparatus is comprised of a common rotating drive means for driving multiple types of disk recording media of different formats, and multiple pickups respectively installed for the multiple types of disk recording media of different formats.

Here, the multiple pickups each have a drive means and when one pickup is accessing the recording medium with the corresponding format, the other pickups may be retracted to the outer circumferential side of the recording medium. Also, multiple pickups may have their respective drive means, and when one pickup is accessing the recording medium with the corresponding format, the other pickups may be retracted to the outer side of the light projection area. The invention may also contain two types of pickups, and these two types of pickups may be installed approximately 180 degrees apart in a circumferential direction versus the center of rotation of the disk recording and reproduction apparatus. Pickups for formats susceptible to dust may be installed on the inner side of the case. The multiple pickups may also be capable of separate operating system alignment.

Another aspect of the present invention resides in a disk recording and reproduction apparatus for performing recording and/or reproduction with an optical pickup while rotating a disk recording medium, wherein said recording and reproduction apparatus comprises an installation means to selectively install a cartridge type disk recording medium and bare disk type recording medium, and a clamping means to clamp the bare disk type recording medium, and a drive means to move the clamping means to a non-operating position when the cartridge type disk recording means has been installed.

When a cartridge type disk recording means has been installed, the driving force of the installation means may be utilized to allow the cartridge to move the clamping means to a non-operating position. Also, when the cartridge has been ejected, the resilient recovery force of the elastic member may be utilized to return the clamping means to the operating position. The clamping means may contain a movable retractor, and at the final stroke of the installation means to eject the cartridge, the retractor may be pulled out of the clamping means. The installation means may contain an engaging means having a limiter function and the retractor is pulled from the clamping means by the engaging means.

In another preferred aspect of the present invention, a disk recording and reproduction apparatus capable of compatible use of two different formats for a DVR at a laser light wavelength of 405 nm and a DVD at a laser light wavelength of 650 nm uses two separate optical pickups installed corresponding to each of the above two formats. Furthermore, a single turntable for rotating all types of optical disks is installed and the above two optical pickups are installed facing each other at 180 degrees apart along the circumferential direction versus the turntable rotating the disk. The optical systems of each optical pickup are capable of separate alignment. Optical pickups having formats easily susceptible to dust may be installed toward the rear of the case to avoid errors caused by dust that otherwise might occur when inserting an optical disk into or ejecting it from this apparatus.

The above structure of the present intention will take up less space in view of structures for using optical disks of multiple formats by a single apparatus. Also, when two optical disk pickups are installed along with the turntable onto a mono-strength base chassis, no overall movement mechanism is required for moving these components so dimensions are highly stable once assembled and adjusted.

Another aspect of the present invention, along with having separate optical pickups for multiple types of optical disks of different formats, is provided with an apparatus to drive the multiple types of optical disks on a common turntable. In this aspect, while one optical pickup is in operation, at least the objective lens unit of the other optical pickup is moved to the outer circumferential side of the optical disk or more preferably to the outer side of the light projection area. This is because the position of the objective lens unit is more protrudent than the other optical pickup, namely it is in the nearest position for the optical disk.

An apparatus configured this way for using optical disks of mutually different formats prevents interference from occurring between the optical disk and multiple types of optical pickups and allows using a common turntable for driving various types of optical disks, so that less component space is required, fewer components are needed, and the assembly cost is lowered. Also by making one optical pickup retract to a position farther to the outer circumferential side than the position during recording and reproduction without having to add special components, the increase in parts cost can be held to virtually zero and the reliability maintained. By retracting the optical pickup toward the outer circumferential side along the radius, no space or mechanism is required in the thickness direction so that the base unit and device can be kept unchanged at their thin dimensions.

In another aspect of the present invention, the disk drive device compatible with both cartridge type optical disks and bare disk type optical disks uses a bare disk clamping mechanism capable of retracting when it is not needed because the cartridge type optical disk is in use. When a cartridge has been inserted, the tray loading drive force is utilized to apply contract pressure on the front surface of the disk cartridge to retract it to a specified position. During ejection of the cartridge, the disk clamping mechanism is restored to its original position by the elastic force of a resilient means, for example, a torsion coil spring. A hook on the rear edge of the tray catches the front side of the retractor, and by extending the retractor, makes it function as a limiter on the hook to restore the disk clamping mechanism to its original position during ejection of the cartridge and also eliminates effects of an irregular tray eject stroke.

The invention configured as described above is therefore capable of rendering a device able to compatibly use both cartridge type optical disks and bare type optical disks while limiting the axial dimensions of the turntable.

Installing a retractor eliminates the direct press-contact on the clamping device by the cartridge and also eliminates the possibility that the top and bottom clamping members might disintegrate during insertion of the cartridge. Installing the retractor also eliminates the direct pressing of the cartridge on the clamping ring, eliminates the clamping ring from biting into the clamping holder rail during insertion of the cartridge, and alleviates the load applied to the loading motor during tray loading. Installing the retractor also increases the amount of overlap on the cartridge so that operation errors can be prevented and the operation is made more reliable.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(1) Working Examples

FIG.1andFIG. 2are drawings showing the overall structure of the disk recording and reproduction apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus has an outer case10made of a flat rectangular parallelepiped. The upper section is open here as shown in FIG.1andFIG. 2. Alongitudinal slot12is formed in a front panel11for sealing the opening on the front side of this outer case10. A tray13capable of being pulled out from this longitudinal slot12is assembled into the inside of the outer case10.

The tray13has a concavity14formed in the middle section to receive the cartridge or the bare disk. The tray13is also formed with an opening15extending vertically so as to cross the concavity14. The inner side of this opening15is formed with a U-shaped notch16and the nearer side is formed with a semicircular notch17.

A drive unit18is formed on a side section of the inner side of the tray13. A motor19is installed to drive the drive unit18. The tray13is supported by a step20on both sides of the inner sides of the outer case10. A pinion comprising the output end of the drive unit18engages with a rack21on the lower side of the step20, so the longitudinal slot12can in this way be pulled out or stored freely as shown by FIG.1and FIG.2.

A base unit25is installed on the upper section of the bottom plate of the outer case10as shown in FIG.3through FIG.6. The base unit is made from a chassis of sheet metal. A turntable27is installed approximately in the center of that chassis supported by a bracket26. The turntable27is directly driven by a motor below it.

A DVD pickup31is installed on the nearer side and a DVR pickup32ais installed on the inner side of the turntable27in the base unit25. This DVD pickup is supported on both sides by a guide rod33and a feed screw34. The feed screw34is driven by a stepping motor35and the DVD pickup is in this way moved along the radius of the optical disk.

The DVR pickup32on the inner side, however, is guided by a pair of guide rods37and38provided on both sides. A feed screw39is installed for moving the DVR pickup32along the radius of the optical disk. This feed screw39is driven by a stepping motor40and engages with a nut41of the pickup32.

A pair of support rods45are installed on both sides at the front on the base unit25and a support arm46is installed on both sides at the rear. When the base unit25are raised by an elevating mechanism not shown in the drawing, these support rods45and support arm46protrude from the openings47and48, and the DVR cartridge51on the tray13is supported by the four corners of the tray from the bottom.

Next, the clamping device for driving the bare disk52and the turntable27on the base unit25as well as the structure of the mechanism to retract the clamping device are described. A holder plate60is installed to shut the opening on the upper section of the outer case10as shown in FIG.13andFIG. 14. Adrive arm61that rotates centered around a pin62is installed on the holder plate60as shown inFIG. 13. Atorsion coil spring63is installed on the outer circumference of the pin62for the drive arm61as shown in FIG.15and FIG.16. The arm of this torsion coil spring63makes press-contact with the protrusion piece67installed on the drive arm61.

A pin64is installed so as to protrude into the bottom surface of the drive arm61. This pin64is held by an arc-shaped opening65formed in the holder plate60(SeeFIG. 13) The leading edge section of the drive arm61contains an arc-shaped opening66with a comparatively large curve radius.

A holder70for the clamping device can be installed on the lower side of the holder plate60. A pair of pins71and72with flanges are installed on the holder70as shown in FIG.15. These pins71and72engage with the line-shaped slit73of the holder plate60. In particular, the pin71further engages with the arc-shaped opening66of the drive arm61. Therefore, when the drive arm61is driven to rotate, the holder70is linearly moved along the line-shaped slit73of the holder plate60.

A circular opening74is formed in the holder70and the upper and lower clamp rings75and76are installed so as to sandwich the clamp plate77by way of this circular opening74. The upper clamp ring75has three hooks78formed along the circumferential direction at 120 degree intervals to protrude downward. These hooks78are inserted into engaging holes79installed at 120 degree intervals along the circumferential direction of the clamp ring76and fastened. The pair of clamp rings75and76and the clamp plate77installed on the holder70comprise the clamping mechanism and clamp the bare disk52from above.

A retractor83is also installed on the holder70. The retractor83is a frame made from plastic. The rear edge has a pair of posts84with flanges. The posts84engage within the slits85on both sides of the holder70so as to slide along the slits. The flange section of the posts84are inserted into the slits85by way of an enlarged section86on the front end of the slit85. The lower surface of the front edge side of the retractor83engages with the stop pieces87formed to protrude on both sides to the front end of the holder70(See FIG.20and FIG.21). This kind of structure allows the retractor83to be coupled to the holder70to allow movement along its length.

The retractor83is made from a molded plastic piece and contains two elastic pieces90at an intermediate position on both sides along its length. The elastic pieces90engage with the engaging concavity91formed on both sides at an intermediate position of the holder70or engage with the engaging concavity92formed on both sides at the leading edge side of the holder70. The retractor83has a pair of hooks93that protrude downward in the front edge side. The hooks93are pressed on by the walls of the front end side of the DVR cartridge51and the retraction operation is performed in this way.

(2) Explanation of Operation

The operation of the above recording and reproduction apparatus is described next. When the tray13is pulled into the outer case10while loaded with a DVR cartridge51in the concavity14of the tray13as shown inFIG. 2, the DVR cartridge51is loaded into the apparatus as shown in FIG.1through FIG.9. The DVD pickup31is then retracted at this time by the stepping motor35and the feed screw34to the outer circumferential side which is a section on the forward side of the tray13. The DVR cartridge51is supported at this time respectively by the pair of support rods45and the pair of support arms46of the base unit25. These rods45and arms46are all brought up through the openings47and48of tray13to the concavity14of tray13by the elevating operation of the base unit25, and the DVR cartridge51is correctly positioned.

In contrast, when the tray13is pulled into the device while the bare disk52is loaded on the concavity14of tray13, the tray13is pulled into the outer case10. The positional relation of the bare disk52on the base unit25at this time is shown in FIG.10through FIG.12. In this case, the feed screw39retracts the DVR pickup32to a section on the inner side of tray13by utilizing the stepping motor40, and the DVR pickup32is positioned on the outer circumferential side of the bare disk52. In other words, the above scheme is contrived to retract the DVR pickup32so that at least the lens section cannot enter the inner side of the light projection area of base unit25holding the bare disk52. The DVD pickup31is positioned on the lower side of the bare disk52by way of the feed screw34by the stepping motor35. The bare disk52is rotated in this state by the turntable27, and recording and reproduction of the bare disk52performed.

In this way, the recording and reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment is capable of using disk recording media consisting of two mutually incompatible disk formats, namely DVD/CD and DVR. The base unit25is made of sheet metal or plastic and installed within the outer case10of this apparatus. The DVD/CD optical pickup31may be installed on the nearer side or the forward side in the base unit25, and the DVR optical pickup32may be installed on the inner side. In contrast, the optical disk motor and the turntable27are utilized as one common unit, and the two types of optical pickups31and32at positions 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction of the turntable27are respectively movable along the radius of the optical disk. The tilt and positions of each of the two types of optical pickups31and32can be adjusted.

When dust might possibly penetrate into the apparatus, the DRV pickup32, which is an optical pickup for a high density recording format susceptible to dust, may be installed to the rear of the base unit25so its position is on the inner side of the outer case10as a dust countermeasure. The main spindle or sub-spindle of any of the guides33,37and38for moving the two types of optical pickups31and32have been consolidated into at least one spindle in order to reduce the number of parts.

To prevent the DVR pickup32from striking the bare disk52when utilizing a bare disk52comprised of a DVD/CD, guide rods37and38are installed in this apparatus to move the DVR optical pickup32in a level position to the opposite side of the turntable27. These guide rods37,38are parts necessary for moving the DVR optical pickup32in the radius direction of the optical disk inside the cartridge when the DVR optical pickup32accesses the DVR cartridge51. However, by making these guide rods37and38slightly longer, a mechanism for retracting the DVR optical pickup32can be obtained.

Conversely, to prevent the DVD/CD pickup31from striking the DVR cartridge51when using the DVR cartridge51, the length of the guide rod33and the feed screw34are increased to move the DVD/CD pickup31to the outer circumferential side of the turntable27on the opposite side. The guide rod33and the feed screw34are parts required when the DVD/CD pickup31is accessing the bare disk52. However, making these guide rods33and34slightly longer allows the DVD pickup to be retracted.

In the above embodiment, a pair of optical pickups31and32were installed at the nearer side and inner side of the base unit25at positions 180 degrees apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the turntable27. However, the two types of optical pickups31and32need not always have this 180-degree positional relationship. For example, the two optical pickups31and32maybe installed in directions at right angle to each other so as to be movable, or they may be set at any desired angles, for example, at intersecting angles of 60 degrees in their direction of movement. The positions for directional movement of these two types of optical pickups31and32can be selected according to the relation with other components inside the outer case10or the base unit25.

In this kind of apparatus, when the bare disk52has been loaded as shown in FIG.10throughFIG. 12, this bare disk52is clamped and rotated by the turntable27and the clamping mechanism. However, when a DVR cartridge51has been loaded as shown in FIG.7throughFIG. 9, the disk inside the cartridge51is rotated by the turntable27so there is no need to clamp it with a clamping mechanism. To the contrary, the DVR cartridge51has specified dimensions along the optical disk axis, so that the clamping mechanism must be retracted when the DVR cartridge51has been loaded. The operation for retracting this clamping mechanism is described next.

A torsion coil spring63wound on a support pin62of the drive arm61applies a force in the counterclockwise direction centering on the pin62of the drive arm61in FIG.17. So while the tray13is pulled out, the holder70engages with the arc-shaped opening66of the drive arm61by way of the pin71, and the other pin72is in direct contact with the end edge of the line-shaped slit73of the holder plate60. In other words, the holder70is pressed outward to the forward-most position.

At this time, the retractor83capable of movement while combined with the holder70has elastic pieces90engaging with the concavity92of the front end of the holder plate60. This occurs because the when the tray13is pulled out as shown in FIG.17andFIG. 18, the engaging piece98(SeeFIG. 22) installed at the rear end of tray13catches on the hook93of retractor83and is pulled to the forward side with the movement of the tray13.

When the tray13is pulled inward into the inside of the outer case10as shown in FIG.13andFIG. 14while the DVR cartridge51is loaded into the concavity14of tray13as shown in FIG.17andFIG. 18, the cartridge51on the tray13enters the lower side in the holder plate60. In particular at this time, the wall section on the forward side of the cartridge51presses the hook93of retractor83as shown in FIG.14. The retractor83is in this way first pressed rearward and moves rearward relative to the holder70. The pull-out mechanism for the clamping mechanism in this way changes from the state shown in FIG.20andFIG. 21to the state shown in FIG.24and FIG.25.

More specifically, the position of the elastic piece90of retractor83changes from a position that engages with the engaging concavity92of holder70to a position engaging with the concavity91. The retractor83then retracts along with the holder70. The drive arm61linked to this holder70by way of the pin71is pressed back rearward while opposing the force of the torsion coil spring63. At this time, elastic energy is accumulated in the torsion coil spring63. When the drive arm61is then pressed back to approximately the maximum angle, in this state the pin64of the drive arm61is pressed into a shallow concavity101(SeeFIG. 14) formed on the rear end side of tray13. The hook93of the retractor83is in this way separated slightly from the wall surface of the leading edge of the DVR cartridge51(side where it is inserted). The operation for retracting the clamping mechanism is shown in FIG.26A through FIG.26C.

However, when a bare disk51has been loaded on the tray13and this tray13then pulled inward as shown in FIG.27A throughFIG. 27C, the retractor83is not pressed because the bare disk51has no cartridge. The arm61is therefore in a state moving to press out the clamping mechanism as shown in FIG.20and FIG.21. When the tray13is pressed on in this state as shown inFIGS. 26A through 26C, the pin64of the drive arm61is received into the deep concavity102for the tray13shown in FIG.14. The pin64of the drive arm61is therefore not pressed by the shallow concavity101of tray13.

In the recording and reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment, when the retractable disk clamping mechanism in this way is inserted with the DVR cartridge51, in the process for pulling in the tray13as shown inFIGS. 26A through 26C, first of all the leading edge of the hook93of retractor83grabs the front edge of the cartridge51, releasing the position holding elastic piece90of retractor83. The retractor83then gradually retracts to the position of the holder70as the tray13is pulled inward and the clamping holder70and retractor83are together pushed farther rearward by the driving force of the tray13.

A torsion coil spring63is installed in the drive arm61. When the tray13is ejected, the torsion coil spring63functions to press the disk clamping mechanism back. At this point, when the force accumulated in this torsion coil spring63is applied to the cartridge51after cartridge loading, the positioning of the cartridge51is adversely affected. To avoid this, as shown inFIG. 14, a shallow concavity101installed in the innermost part of tray13presses on the pin64installed on the lower edge of the drive arm61immediately prior to loading of the tray13, so that the cartridge51is freed from the retractable disk clamping mechanism during clamping of the disk.

As shown inFIGS. 27A through 27C, when the bare disk52is loaded on the tray13, the disk clamping mechanism is held at the specified position by the torsion coil spring63of the drive arm61. The retractor83is extended during pull out of the tray13and that specified position is maintained with the elastic piece90engaged in the concavity92of holder70

In the process for ejecting the cartridge51, the spring force of the torsion coil spring63of the drive arm61pushes the clamping mechanism back to the forward side specified position as the tray13is ejected. After the tray13is further ejected, the engaging piece97formed on the tray13catches the hook93of the retractor83as shown inFIG. 22, and extends the retractor83to the specified position. A slope97is formed on the root of the extension hook93of the retractor83for engaging with the engaging piece of tray13since variations or irregularities might occur in the ejection stroke for the tray13. This slope97functions as a limiter on the variations in the ejection stroke. The hook93section, which catches the leading edge of retractor83of cartridge51when the ejection of the tray13is complete, is unaffected by variations (irregularities) in the tray13ejection stroke and is positioned on the outer circumferential side of the bare disk52contour (FIG.27C).

Working examples of the present invention were described according to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples and the technical concepts of the present invention may encompass all types of changes and adaptations. For example, the invention described above relates to an optical disk player for performing recording or reproduction by utilizing an optical pickup to access a disk recording medium comprised of an optical disk. However, the present invention is not limited to a recording and reproduction apparatus utilizing an optical pickup and is widely applicable to all types of disk recording and reproduction apparatus including magneto-optical disks, magnetic disks and electrostatic disks. Also pickups having functions corresponding to the respective recording and reproduction method are of course also applicable to the present invention.

As a major aspect of a disk recording and reproduction apparatus for performing recording and/or reproduction with a pickup while rotating a disk recording medium, this disk recording and reproduction apparatus is comprised of a rotating drive means for driving multiple types of disk record media of different formats and, multiple pickups respectively installed for said multiple types of disk record media of different formats.

The disk recording and reproduction apparatus of this invention therefore drives multiple types of disk recording media of different formats by utilizing a rotating drive means and also performs recording and/or reproduction by means of a corresponding pickup. This device can therefore perform recording and/or reproduction of multiple types of disk media with a minimal structure of mechanism.

In another major aspect of a disk recording and reproduction apparatus for performing recording and/or reproduction with a pickup while rotating a disk recording medium, this disk recording and reproduction apparatus is comprised of an installation means to selectively install a cartridge type disk recording medium and bare disk type recording medium and, a clamping means to clamp the bare disk type recording medium and, a drive means to drive the clamping means when the cartridge type disk recording means has been installed.

Therefore, in this kind of disk recording and reproduction apparatus, the clamping mechanism is moved to a non-operating position when a cartridge type disk recording medium has been loaded. However, when a bare disk type disk recording medium has been loaded, a clamping means reliably clamps this bare disk type disk recording medium and recording and/or reproduction is performed.