Information recording apparatus

An information recording apparatus into which an information recording medium is loaded, in which a label can be printed on a label surface of the loaded information recording medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes: an information recording means positioned on the recording surface side of the information recording medium; a print head positioned on the opposite side of the information recording means and the information recording medium and configured to print a label; and a print head moving means for moving the print head at a position shifted from the rotational center of the information recording medium in parallel with the radial direction of at least in the part of the information recording medium.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Applications JP 2006-251758 and JP 2007-041445 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Sep. 15, 2006 and Feb. 21, 2007, respectively, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus which can record and read digital data, particularly to an information recording apparatus which can print a label on the label surface (a printing surface for text and images) on the opposite side of the data recording surface of an information recording medium such as an optical disk.

2. Description of the Related Art

An information recording apparatus before such as an optical disk apparatus is known as an apparatus in which an optical disk medium having a few megabytes to a few gigabytes of recording capacity such as a CD (Compact Disk) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) is carried into the apparatus by a housing mechanism, it is clamped (chucked) to a spindle motor, and data is read out or read and written by an information recording unit such as an optical head having a lens mounted thereon, and the apparatus is generally widely used.

In addition, in recent years, a BD (Blu-Ray Disk) and a HD-DVD (High Definition Digital Versatile Disk) which are capable of recording in high density are devices having the same basic configuration, and such an optical disk medium is also developed that can achieve the recording capacity five to ten times greater than that of a medium before such as DVD by forming a light source to have shorter wavelengths, or by increasing the NA (Numerical Aperture) value of a lens.

An increasing number of information recording apparatus including an optical disk apparatus using an information recording medium capable of recording in high density such as an optical disk medium multiplies a volume of information to be recorded. In addition, an increasing number of recorded information recording media causes the difficulty to manage a large number of information recording media on which information is recorded.

In contrast to this, various methods are proposed that display management information about an information recording medium such as an optical disk medium on a medium such as a disk. For example, Patent Reference 1 (JP-A-2004-280953) describes a method that records management information about an optical disk medium on the recording surface of the disk so that the management information can be visually recognized. More specifically, a method is disclosed in which the laser beam of an optical pickup is used to record management information in an area different from the information recording area on the recording surface of an optical disk.

In addition, it is also performed that text and images corresponding to information recorded on an information recording medium are printed on the label surface that is on the opposite side of the recording surface of the information recording medium such as an optical disk. More specifically, for example, a printer of the ink jet system that can print a label is used to print on the label surface of an optical disk. In addition to this, some of optical disk apparatus are commercially available that have an ink jet print head incorporated therein to print labels. For the optical disk apparatus which can print labels, a method is proposed in which a print head is mounted on an optical disk apparatus to print a label on a rotating optical disk (for example, see Patent Reference 2 (JP-T-2002-812140)), and an optical disk apparatus is proposed that has a printing function incorporated therein (for example, see Patent Reference 3 (Japanese Patent No. 3341572)). In the optical disk apparatus described in Patent References 2 and 3, the print head is configured to move the radial axis of the optical disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the case in which a print head movable on the radial axis is provided as the optical disk apparatus described in the Patent References 2 and 3, since the print head passes through the rotational center of the disk in printing a label, the print head comes into contact with a member such as a chucking plate. Therefore, a problem arises that the movable area of the print head, that is, the printable area is narrowed to cause the difficulty of printing near the inner radius of the disk.

In addition, on this account, in the case in which it is desired to print throughout the surface, a problem arises that it takes a long time to print a label because the printable area is narrowed.

Moreover, in consideration of a reduction in size of the overall information recording apparatus such as an optical disk apparatus, it is necessary to arrange the print head and the cap of the print head in the rear part of the apparatus (on the opposite side of the eject side of the disk). Thus, a problem arises that the maintenance of the apparatus takes efforts because it is necessary to remove the top cover of the apparatus to replace the print head.

Thus, it is desirable to provide an information recording apparatus which can record and read digital data as well as can print a label, in which a print can be easily made near the inner radius of an information recording medium such as a disk, a print can be made at high speed, and the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed easily.

According to an embodiment of the invention, for example, an information recording apparatus such as an optical disk apparatus is provided into which an information recording medium such as an optical disk is loaded, in which a label can be printed on a label surface of the loaded information recording medium, the apparatus including: an information recording means such as an optical pickup, positioned on the recording surface side of the information recording medium; a print head positioned on the opposite side of the information recording means and the information recording medium and configured to print a label; and a print head moving means for moving the print head at a position shifted from the rotational center of the information recording medium in parallel with the radial direction of at least in the part of the information recording medium.

As described above, the print head moving means moves the print head at the position shifted from the rotational center of the information recording medium such as an optical disk in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, whereby the printable area is increased, and a print can be easily made to near the inner radius of the information recording medium such as a disk. In addition, the print area is thus increased, the time for printing can be reduced greatly, and a print can be made at high speed in the case in which a print is made throughout the label surface of the information recording medium such as an optical disk.

Here, the information recording apparatus may further include a chucking plate disposed on the same side as the print head with respect to the information recording medium and configured to hold the center part of the information recording medium, wherein the print head moving means moves the print head at a position at which the chucking plate is not interfered.

In addition, in the information recording apparatus, the print head moving means may move the print head to a retract position, having a head cleaning mechanism configured to clean the print head and a cap means for capping the print head at the retract position, and the print head is cleaned and capped at a position distant from the information recording means.

In an embodiment of the invention, since the print head can be moved at the position shifted (offset) from the rotational center of the information recording medium, the print head does not interfere with a member such as an optical pickup on the radial axis and the mechanisms for capping and cleaning can be disposed more on the front side of the apparatus than before. Therefore, a reduction in size of the information recording apparatus can be implemented.

In addition, in the information recording apparatus, in the case in which the print head is moved over the information recording medium, the print head moving means may move the print head in parallel with the radial direction of the information recording medium, and in the case in which the print head is off the information recording medium, the print head moving means may move the print head in a predetermined direction different from the radial direction and then moves the print head to a retract position.

In addition, the print head may have an ink discharge part on the side facing to the label surface of the information recording medium, and the ink discharge part may have a plurality of ink discharge ports which is arranged in a direction in parallel with the radial direction of the information recording medium.

In addition, the information recording apparatus may further include a loading means for loading the information recording medium in or ejecting it, wherein the eject operation for the information recording medium by the loading means may be used to print the label.

With this configuration, particularly in the case in which print data is text information, a print time can be shortened to improve the convenience for users. In other words, the operation of the loading means is used to greatly reduce the time for printing when there is a little print data.

In addition, in the information recording apparatus, the print head may be detachably disposed with respect to the information recording apparatus, and the print head moving means may move the print head at a position sifted from the rotational center of the information recording medium toward an opening which is disposed on the surface on the eject side of the information recording medium.

In this case, for example, an openable print head replace cover is disposed with respect to the opening, whereby the print head can be replaced on the front surface side of the apparatus without removing the top cover of the information recording apparatus. Therefore, even though there is no space in the upper part of the information recording apparatus, it is unnecessary to draw the information recording apparatus as the manner before.

In addition, the information recording apparatus may further include a loading means having a tray on which the information recording medium is placed, wherein the tray may be provided with a maintenance member configured to perform maintenance of the print head.

For the maintenance member here, for example, there are a member which caps the print head, and an ink reservoir which stores ink in the case in which ink is discharged on purpose.

With this configuration, the configuration of the information recording apparatus can be simplified as well as the maintenance of the apparatus can be facilitated to improve the convenience for users.

In this case, the maintenance member may be detachably disposed with respect to the tray. For example, a function which caps the print head, and an ink reservoir which stores ink in the case in which ink is discharged on purpose can be detachably disposed on the rear part of the tray.

With this configuration, in drawing the apparatus in order to take the information recording medium out, the maintenance members such as the cap and the ink reservoir can be removed for cleaning, which more easily prevents the inside of the information recording apparatus from being smeared than before.

In addition, preferably, between two areas that are obtained by splitting an area including the information recording medium along the direction of moving the information recording means, the print head may be placed in the area positioned more on the downstream side than the information recording means is positioned with respect to the direction of rotating the information recording medium.

With this configuration, since ink that is discharged from the print head for floating flows toward the side surface side of the housing of the information recording apparatus due to a flow generated in association with the rotation of the information recording medium, the information recording means such as an optical pickup and a substrate positioned in the rear part of the apparatus can be prevented from being smeared.

In addition, the print head may be provided with an ink discharge part on the side facing to the label surface of the information recording medium, and the ink discharge part may have a plurality of ink discharge ports which is arranged in the direction vertical to the radial direction of the information recording medium. In this case, the information recording apparatus may further include a loading means for loading the information recording medium in or ejecting it, wherein the eject operation for the information recording medium by the loading means may be used to print the label.

In addition, a head control part may be provided which is configured to control the print head moving means so that a distance of a single movement of the print head can be changed, wherein the head control part may change a distance of a single movement of the print head, whereby it can be selectively set a single print mode in which the same region on the information recording medium is printed for a single time and a multiprint mode in which the same region on the information recording medium is printed for a plurality of times. In this case, the head control part may control the print head moving means so that a distance of a single movement of the print head is 1/n of a maximum print width of the print head (n is a natural number).

In addition, a head cleaning mechanism configured to clean the print head and a recording means cleaning mechanism configured to clean the information recording means may be provided, wherein the head cleaning mechanism may be formed in one piece with the recording means cleaning mechanism. In this case, a maintenance member may be provided which is configured to perform maintenance of the print head, wherein the head cleaning mechanism, the recording means cleaning mechanism and the maintenance member may be formed in one piece with each other. Moreover, in this case, the information recording apparatus may further include a maintenance control part configured to perform control so that after the head cleaning mechanism cleans the print head, the recording means cleaning mechanism cleans the information recording means.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the invention, in the information recording apparatus which can record and read digital data as well as can print a label, the print head is moved at the position shifted from the rotational center of the information recording medium such as a disk, whereby the print head does not come into contact with the member such as the chucking plate. Therefore, the printable area is more widened than before, and a print can be easily made near the inner radius of the disk. In addition, even though a print is made throughout the surface, the print area is widened to reduce a print time significantly, and a print can be made at high speed.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the invention, the print head is moved at the position shifted from the rotational center of the information recording medium such as a disk, whereby maintenance can be performed such as replacing the print head from the eject side of the information recording medium (from the front surface side of the information recording apparatus). Therefore, as different from the manner before, even though there is no room in the upper part of the apparatus, it is unnecessary to move the main body of the information recording apparatus, which can lead to an improved convenience for users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the specification and the drawings, for the components having substantially the same functional configuration, the same numerals and signs are assigned to omit the overlapping descriptions.

The Configuration and Operation of the Information Recording Apparatus Before

First, an optical disk apparatus is taken as an example as one example of the information recording apparatus before, and the configuration and the operation will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 5. In addition,FIG. 1shows a perspective view depicting the configuration of the appearance of an optical disk apparatus700before having the function of printing a label (tray system),FIG. 2shows a perspective view depicting the configuration of the appearance of an optical disk apparatus800before having the function of printing a label (slot-in system),FIG. 3shows an illustration depicting the radial direction and the tangential direction of an optical disk5,FIG. 4shows a perspective view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus700before, andFIG. 5shows a plan view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus700before.

For example, the optical disk apparatus700and the optical disk apparatus800shown inFIGS. 1 and 2are examples of a removable optical disk apparatus which can replace media among optical disk apparatus which can record and read digital data, using an optical disk medium having a few megabytes to a few gigabytes of recording capacity such as CD (Compact Disk) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an optical disk medium having a few tens of gigabyte of recording capacity such as BD (Blu-Ray Disk), HD-DVD (High Definition Digital Versatile Disk), or near field recording. Among these optical disk apparatus, some of them can print a label inside the apparatus using a disk shaped information recording medium having the data recording surface on one side and the label surface (the printing surface for information such as text and images corresponding to recorded data) on the other side (on the opposite side of the data recording surface). Both of the optical disk apparatus700and the optical disk apparatus800are also examples of the optical disk apparatus which can print labels.

First, the configuration of the appearance of the optical disk apparatus700and the optical disk apparatus800will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown inFIG. 1, in the optical disk apparatus700of the tray system, a housing710nearly in a rectangular parallelepiped is provided with a top cover712and a tray720. In the case of performing maintenance of replacing a print head (seeFIGS. 4 and 5), or a cap and an ink reservoir (seeFIGS. 4 and 5), the top cover712can be removed for maintenance from the upper part of the optical disk apparatus700(seeFIG. 26).

The tray720is movably disposed in the radial direction of the optical disk so as to move from the inside to the outside of the optical disk apparatus700by a predetermined loading mechanism (not shown). In addition, on the top surface side of the tray720, a disk mounting part722is formed which is a recessed part nearly in a circular shape having almost the same diameter as that of the optical disk5.

Here, the radial direction means the radial direction of the optical disk5nearly in a disk shape as shown inFIG. 3. In addition, in the specification, the virtual axis that passes through a rotational center c of the optical disk5in parallel with the radial direction is referred to as a radial axis (R). On the other hand, the tangential direction means the direction vertical to the radial direction on the optical disk5. In addition, at the center part of the optical disk5, an opening5ais formed which is fit into the hub part (not shown) of a spindle motor (not shown) disposed inside the optical disk apparatus700and800.

The optical disk5is placed on the disk mounting part722, and carried into the optical disk apparatus700by a loading mechanism. The optical disk5is thus carried into the optical disk apparatus700, it is clamped (chucked) by the spindle motor (not shown), and then a laser beam is applied onto the data recording surface of the optical disk5by an optical head (seeFIGS. 4 and 5) such as an optical pickup mounted with a lens, whereby recorded data can be read out of the optical disk5, or data can be read and written to the optical disk5.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 2, in the optical disk apparatus800of the slot-in system, a housing810nearly in a rectangular parallelepiped is provided with a top cover812, an opening814and a slot cover816. In the case of performing maintenance of replacing a print head (not shown), or a cap and an ink reservoir (not shown), as similar to the optical disk apparatus700, the top cover812can be removed for maintenance from the upper part of the optical disk apparatus800. In addition, the optical disk5is loaded from the opening814, it is carried into the optical disk apparatus800by a predetermined loading mechanism (not shown), it is clamped (chucked) by a spindle motor (not shown), and a laser beam is applied onto the data recording surface of the optical disk5by an optical head (not shown) mounted with a lens, whereby recorded data can be read out of the optical disk5, or data can be read and written to the optical disk5.

Both of the opening814and the slot cover816are disposed on the entrance side (the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus800) of the optical disk5of the housing810. In addition, the slot cover816is openably disposed which opens the opening814while the optical disk5is being loaded or ejected, whereas which closes the opening814while the optical disk5is being recorded or reproduced.

Next, the internal configuration and the operation of the optical disk apparatus700will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5as the apparatus is taken as an example among the optical disk apparatus before.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the optical disk apparatus700mainly has a drive part D7which uses the optical disk5to record and reproduce data, and a label printing part L7which is disposed on the label surface (printing surface) side on the opposite side of the data recording surface of the optical disk5, that is, which is disposed above the drive part D7and prints a label.

The drive part D7is disposed in the area surrounded by a front panel714, a rear panel716, two side panels718and718which configure the housing710together with the top cover712(seeFIGS. 1 and 2), mainly having the tray720which is disposed movably by a predetermined loading mechanism, a chucking plate730which is disposed above the center part of the disk mounting part722of the tray720, and an optical pickup740as an information recording unit which is disposed under the tray720(on the data recording surface side of the optical disk5).

In the tray720, the optical disk5is placed on the disk mounting part722which is the recessed part nearly in a circular shape disposed on the top surface side, and the optical disk5is loaded into the optical disk apparatus700or ejected to outside. The tray720is movably disposed to and fro in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5, which ejects the optical disk5from the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus700(on the front panel714side) to outside, and on which the disk is replaced on the front surface side.

The chucking plate730is a member that has a shaft at the center part, which is mounted on a chucking plate supporting plate732nearly in a rectangular plate through a bearing (not shown), and is supported from above by the chucking plate supporting plate732. The chucking plate730catches the optical disk5together with the hub part of a spindle motor (not shown) which is disposed on the under surface side (the data recording surface side) of the optical disk5and rotates the optical disk5, and the chucking plate is rotated together with the optical disk5. In addition, the both ends of the chucking plate supporting plate732in the longitudinal direction are mounted on the top surface of the side panel718, and the chucking plate supporting plate732supports the chucking plate730at the center part thereof.

The optical pickup740is movably disposed under the tray720, that is, on the recording surface side of the optical disk5in the radial direction. In addition, the optical pickup740has a lens742which applies a laser beam onto the recording surface of the optical disk5, in which the lens742collects a laser beam and applies the laser beam onto the recording surface of the optical disk5, whereby data can be recorded and reproduced.

In the drive part D7of the optical disk apparatus700having this configuration, the optical disk5is placed on the disk mounting part722of the tray720, the tray720is moved into the apparatus to retract the optical disk5inside the apparatus, the optical disk is caught and clamped between the hub part of the spindle motor (not shown) and the chucking plate730, and then the optical disk5is rotated. In the state in which the optical disk5is being rotated, the optical pickup740approaches to read and write data so that it directs and collects the laser beam onto the data recording surface of the optical disk5while the optical pickup is moving in the radial direction.

In addition, the other configurations of the drive part D7are similar to those of known optical disk apparatus, omitting the detailed descriptions.

The label printing part L7mainly has a print head750, a print head drive mechanism which moves the print head750in the radial direction, and a print head maintenance unit which caps and cleans the print head750.

The print head750is disposed on the opposite side of the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus700(the front panel714side) with respect to the center of the optical disk5(or the chucking plate730), and is disposed on the opposite side (the label surface side of the optical disk5) of the optical pickup740with respect to the optical disk5, which is configured to be movable along the radial axis R (that is, the radial direction of the optical disk5). In addition, on the under surface side of the print head750(the label surface side of the optical disk5), an ink discharge part750ais disposed in which ink is discharged from the ink discharge part750awhile the print head750is moving toward the outer radius or the inner radius of the optical disk5rotating on the radial axis, whereby a label can be printed on the label surface of the optical disk5.

The print head750is held from three sides by a print head holder752nearly in a U-shape, and mounted on a head supporting plate754. On the top surface side of the head supporting plate754, head drive bearing members756are disposed two each on the right and left sides of the print head750. On each of the head drive bearing members756, a bearing (linear bearing)756ais disposed which penetrates through in the direction in parallel with the radial direction. In addition, two head drive shafts757are disposed almost in parallel with each other so as to penetrate through the inner radius of two bearings756aarranged in the radial direction (in parallel with the radial direction). The both ends of two head drive shafts757(the end part on the front panel714side and the end part on the rear panel716) are supported by identical shaft support members758.

The print head drive mechanism is mainly configured of a head drive motor760, a ball screw762which is joined to the head drive motor760, a bearing764through which the ball screw762is inserted, a joining member766which joins the bearing764to the head support member754, and a drive mechanism support member768which supports the head drive motor760and the ball screw762.

The head drive motor760rotates the ball screw762with the power. The ball screw762is extended in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, and the bearing764is configured to be movable in the direction in parallel with the radial direction by the rotation of the ball screw762. The joining member766joins the bearing764to the head support member754to move the head support member754in the direction in parallel with the radial direction in association with the movement of the bearing764. The drive mechanism support member768supports the joining part of the head drive motor760to the ball screw762and the tip end part of the ball screw762.

In addition, the shaft support member758and the drive mechanism support member768are mounted on a plate shaped support member disposed on the upper part, not shown.

The print head maintenance unit has a cap accommodating part770which accommodates a cap772and an ink reservoir774. The cap772is used not to dry the print head, and the ink discharge part750aof the print head750is capped by the cap772during the standby for printing. In addition, for example, in order to prevent such a print error that the ink discharge part750ais clogged and ink is not discharged, the ink reservoir774is a place at which ink is discharged on purpose so that air does not enter the print head750(ink is discharged from the ink discharge part750awithout printing a label). The cap accommodating part770in which the cap772and the ink reservoir774are accommodated is disposed on the rear side (the rear panel716side) of the optical disk apparatus700on the opposite side of the eject side (the eject port side) of the optical disk5.

In the label printing part L7of the optical disk apparatus700having this configuration, when the head drive motor760is rotated to turn the ball screw762, the bearing764is moved along the ball screw762in the direction in parallel with the radial direction. Since the bearing764is joined to the head supporting plate754through the joining member766, the head supporting plate754is moved in the radial direction in association with the movement of the bearing764. At this time, since the head drive shaft757is inserted into the head drive bearing member756disposed on the head supporting plate754through the bearing756a, the head supporting plate754is guided by two head drive shafts757disposed in parallel with each other in the radial direction, and can be linearly moved in the direction in parallel with the radial direction. Here, since the print head750is disposed so that the center thereof comes to the radial axis R, it can be freely moved on the radial axis in the inner radial direction and the outer radial direction of the optical disk in association with the movement of the head supporting plate754, that is, the movement of the bearing764.

As described above, in the optical disk apparatus700before, the print head750is configured to move on the radial axis R.

However, since the chucking plate730is disposed at the center part of the optical disk5, the print head750is moved on the radial axis R to come into contact with the chucking plate730. Then, in order to avoid such a contact, it is difficult to move the print head750to near the inner radius of the optical disk5(around the opening5a), which causes a problem that as shown inFIG. 6, in the optical disk apparatus700before, the printable area becomes narrow and it is difficult to print a label near the inner radius of the optical disk5. In other words, when the optical disk apparatus700before is used to print a label, it is difficult to move the print head750to near the inner radius of the optical disk5, and then as shown in an exemplary print inFIG. 7, it is difficult to print well in an area W near the inner radius of the optical disk5(around the opening5a). In addition, for making a print on the label surface of the optical disk5, original information desired to print is converted into the polar coordinates for print.

In addition, for example, as shown in an exemplary print inFIG. 7, in the case in which it is desired to make a print solidly throughout the surface of the optical disk5, a problem arises that it takes time for printing because the printable area is narrow as described above.

On the other hand, in order to avoid these problems, when the print head drive mechanism is disposed so as to move the print head750in the direction vertical to the radial direction of the optical disk5(the movable direction of the tray720to carry the optical disk5), the overall breadth of the optical disk apparatus700is increased because the print head drive mechanism such as the head drive motor760is larger than the width of the optical disk5, causing a problem that the apparatus is increased in size.

Then, in optical disk apparatus100,200,300,400,500and600according to first to sixth embodiments of an embodiment of the invention, the movable area of the print head is placed at the position shifted from the radial axis R for the purposes that information corresponding to data recorded on the optical disk5is easily printed on the label surface of the optical disk5for simple management of optical disk media as well as a print is easily made near the inner radius of the optical disk5, in addition to these, a print can be made at high speed even in the case of making a print throughout the surface, or the maintenance of the apparatus is maintained easily. Hereinafter, the optical disk apparatus100,200,300,400,500and600according to the first to sixth embodiments of an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.

The Configuration and Operation of an Optical Disk Apparatus100According to a First Embodiment

First, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention as an exemplary information recording apparatus will be described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9. In addition,FIG. 8shows a perspective view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 9shows a plan view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention.

The optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment is an apparatus in which an optical disk5as an information recording medium is loaded to print a label on the label surface of the loaded optical disk5, and the apparatus mainly has a drive part D1which uses the optical disk5to record and reproduce data, and a label printing part L1which is disposed on the label surface (the printing surface) side on the opposite side of the data recording surface of the optical disk5, that is, above the drive part D1and prints a label.

The drive part D1is placed in the area surrounded by a front panel114, a rear panel116, and two side panels118and118, and mainly has a tray120which is movably disposed by a predetermined loading mechanism, a chucking plate130which is disposed above the center part of a disk mounting part122of the tray120, and an optical pickup140as an information recording unit disposed below the tray120(on the data recording surface side of the optical disk5which is loaded into the optical disk apparatus100).

The tray120is movably disposed in the radial direction of the optical disk5so as to move from inside to outside the optical disk apparatus100by a predetermined loading mechanism (not shown). In addition, on the top surface side of the tray120, a disk mounting part122is formed that is a recessed part nearly in a circular shape having almost the same diameter as that of the optical disk5. With this configuration, the tray120is moved to the outer radial side or the inner radial side in the radial direction in the state in which the optical disk5is placed on the disk mounting part122, whereby the optical disk5can be loaded into the optical disk apparatus100, or the optical disk5can be ejected from the front side (the front panel114side) of the optical disk apparatus100to outside.

The chucking plate130is a disk-shaped member that has a shaft at the center part, which is mounted on a chucking plate supporting plate132nearly in a rectangular plate through a bearing (not shown), and is supported from above by the chucking plate supporting plate132. In addition, the chucking plate130catches the optical disk5together with the hub part of a spindle motor (not shown) which is disposed on the under surface side (the data recording surface side) of the optical disk5and rotates the optical disk5, and the chucking plate is rotated together with the optical disk5. On the other hand, one end of the chucking plate supporting plate132in the longitudinal direction is mounted on the top surface of the side panel118, and the other end of the chucking plate supporting plate132supports the chucking plate130.

At this time, the chucking plate supporting plate132may support the chucking plate130as cantilevered, or the other end may be joined to the side panel118by another member. Here, the configuration of the chucking plate supporting plate132will be described with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11. In addition,FIGS. 10 and 11show a perspective view illustrative of an exemplary configuration of the chucking plate supporting plate132according to the embodiment.

First, as shown inFIG. 10, in the case in which the chucking plate supporting plate132supports the chucking plate130as cantilevered, the length of the chucking plate supporting plate132in the longitudinal direction is almost equal to the length from the side panel118to the rotational center of the optical disk5, in which one end is mounted on the side panel118and the other end is mounted on the chucking plate130through a bearing132a. Since a print head150according to the embodiment is moved at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5, when the chucking plate supporting plate132is disposed so as to cross the inside of the optical disk apparatus100, it hampers the print head150from moving. However, as described above, since the chucking plate supporting plate132exists up to the rotational center of the optical disk5, the print head150can be moved over the optical disk5at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5in parallel with the radial direction without coming into contact with the chucking plate supporting plate132.

However, as described above, in the state in which the chucking plate supporting plate132is cantilevered, the support is more unstable than the case in which both end parts of the chucking plate supporting plate are fixed and the chucking plate is supported at the center part as before. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 11, a bridge member134is disposed which bridges the chucking plate supporting plate132and the side panel118so as to avoid the area in which the print head150is moved (so as to join them above the moving path of the print head), whereby the support for the chucking plate130by the chucking plate supporting plate132can be made more stable and reliable. In addition, at this time, the chucking plate supporting plate132is joined to the bridge member134with a joining part136, and the other end of the bridge member134is mounted on the side panel118.

The optical pickup140is movably disposed under the tray120, that is, on the recording surface side of the optical disk5in the radial direction. In addition, the optical pickup140has a lens142which applies a laser beam onto the recording surface of the optical disk, in which the lens142collects a laser beam and applies the laser beam onto the recording surface of the optical disk5, whereby data can be recorded and reproduced.

In the drive part D1of the optical disk apparatus100having this configuration, the optical disk5is placed on the disk mounting part122of the tray120, the tray120is moved into the apparatus to retract the optical disk5inside the apparatus, the optical disk5is caught and clamped between the hub part of a spindle motor (not shown) and the chucking plate130, and then the optical disk5is rotated. In the state in which the optical disk5is rotated, the optical pickup140comes close to the data recording surface of the optical disk5so as to collect and direct a laser beam there onto while the optical pickup is moving in the radial direction, and then data is read and written.

In addition, the other configurations of the drive part D1are the same as those of the known optical disk apparatus, omitting the detailed descriptions.

The label printing part L1according to the embodiment mainly has the print head150, a print head moving unit which moves the print head150in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5, and a print head maintenance unit which caps and cleans the print head150.

The print head150is disposed on the opposite side of the optical pickup140and the optical disk5(the label surface side of the optical disk5), which is configured to move in parallel with the radial direction (the P-axis inFIG. 9) at the position shifted (offset) from a radial axis R. In addition, on the under surface side of the print head150(the label surface side of the optical disk5), an ink discharge part150ais disposed, in which ink is discharged from the ink discharge part150aonto the rotating optical disk5while the print head150is moving on the P-axis in parallel with the radial direction shifted (offset) from the radial axis R, whereby a label can be printed on the label surface of the optical disk5.

Although not shown in the drawing, for example, the ink discharge part150ais formed of a plurality of nozzles (for example, 300 to 400 nozzles at a pitch of about 40 □m) arranged in the direction in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5. The nozzles arranged in the direction in parallel with the radial direction may be arranged in a line, or may be arranged in a plurality of lines (for example, in two lines). In this case, the nozzles are arranged two dimensionally on the plane in parallel with the plane of the optical disk5.

In addition, the print head150is held from three sides by a print head holder152nearly in a U-shape, and is mounted on a head supporting plate154. On the top surface side of the head supporting plate154, head drive bearing members156are disposed two each on the right and left sides of the print head150. On each of the head drive bearing members156, a bearing (linear bearing)156ais disposed which penetrates in the direction in parallel with the radial direction. In addition, two head drive shafts157are disposed almost in parallel with each other (in parallel with the radial direction) so as to penetrate through the inner radius of two bearings156aarranged in the radial direction. One ends of the two head drive shafts157(the end part on the front panel114side) are joined to the front panel114on the inner surface side of the apparatus, and the other ends of the two head drive shafts157(the end part on the rear panel116side) are supported by a same shaft support member158which is mounted on the rear panel116.

The print head moving unit is mainly configured of a head drive motor160, a ball screw162which is joined to the head drive motor160, a ball screw nut164through which the ball screw162is inserted, a joining member166which joins the ball screw nut164to the head support member154, and a ball screw support member168which is disposed in the midway part of the ball screw164.

The head drive motor160rotates the ball screw162with its power. The ball screw162is extended in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, and the ball screw nut164is configured to move in the direction in parallel with the radial direction by the rotation of the ball screw162. The joining member166joins the ball screw nut164to the head support member154to move the head support member154in the direction in parallel with the radial direction at the position shifted (offset) from the rotational center of the optical disk5in association with the movement of the ball screw nut164.

The ball screw support member168is a member which supports the ball screw162, formed of a ball screw supporting plate168A, and ball screw support units168B and168C in which a bearing (not shown) is incorporated. In the embodiment, the ball screw support units168B and168C are configured in one piece. After the ball screw162is fit into the ball screw support units168B and168C through the bearing, it is clamped by a nut, not shown.

In addition, in the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment, for example, the movement of the print head150in the radial direction can be controlled by a limit sensor (not shown). Here, the limit sensor is a member that controls the print area, and preferably, it is disposed at the position at which the ink discharge part150aof the print head150can at least reach the rim part of the optical disk5on the rear surface side. The limit sensor is placed at the position like this, whereby the printable area can be widened when the print head150makes a print on the label surface of the optical disk5, and a print can be easily made near the inner radius of the optical disk5.

The print head maintenance unit has a cap accommodating part170which accommodates a cap172and an ink reservoir174. The cap172is used not to dry the print head, and the ink discharge part150aof the print head150is capped by the cap172during the standby for printing. In addition, for example, in order to prevent such a print error that the ink discharge part150ais clogged and ink is not discharged, the ink reservoir174is a place at which ink is discharged on purpose so that air does not enter the print head150(ink is discharged from the ink discharge part150awithout printing a label). The cap accommodating part170in which the cap172and the ink reservoir174are accommodated is disposed on the rear side (the rear panel116side) of the optical disk apparatus100on the opposite side of the eject side (the eject port side) of the optical disk5.

Here, again with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11, as different from the manner before, since the print head150does not exist on the radial axis, the cap accommodating part170including the cap172and the ink reservoir174is also disposed at the position shifted (offset) from the radial axis. Therefore, even though the optical pickup140is moved to the rear surface side of the apparatus along the radial axis, it does not come into contact with the cap accommodating part170and the optical pickup140. Thus, the cap accommodating part170can be placed at the position closer to the front surface side of the apparatus than before, and the length of the optical disk apparatus100in the radial direction can be reduced. In other words, the optical disk apparatus100can be reduced in size.

In the label printing part L1of the optical disk apparatus100having this configuration, when the head drive motor160is rotated to turn the ball screw162, the ball screw nut164is moved in the radial direction along the ball screw162. Since the ball screw nut164is joined to the head supporting plate154through the joining member166, the head supporting plate154is moved in the radial direction at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5in association with the movement of the ball screw nut164. At this time, since the head drive shaft157is inserted into the head drive bearing member156disposed on the head supporting plate154through the bearing156a, the head supporting plate754is guided by two head drive shafts157disposed in parallel with each other in the radial direction, and can be linearly moved in the direction in parallel with the radial direction at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5. In addition, as different from the manner before, since the print head150is arranged so that the center thereof comes at the position offset from the radial axis R, it can be freely moved toward the inner radius and the outer radius of the optical disk5in the direction in parallel with the radial direction at the position offset from the radial axis R in association with the movement of the head supporting plate154, that is, in association with the movement of the ball screw nut164.

In addition, preferably, between two areas that are obtained by splitting the area including the optical disk5along the direction of moving the optical pickup140(that is, in the embodiment, the radial axis R), the print head150is placed in the area positioned more on the downstream side than the optical pickup140with respect to the direction of rotating the optical disk5. Therefore, in the embodiment, suppose the optical disk5is rotating clockwise inFIG. 8orFIG. 9, preferably, the print head150is placed on the right area of the areas obtained by splitting at the radial axis R.

This is because ink discharged from the print head150for floating is toward the outside of the optical disk5due to the flow generated in association with the rotation of the optical disk5, but when the print head150is placed at the position offset more on the upstream side than the optical pickup140(on the left side of the radial axis R inFIGS. 8 and 9), the floating ink tends to be deposited on the optical pickup140side to smear the optical pickup140. On the other hand, when the print head150is placed at the position offset more on the downstream side than the optical pickup140(on the right side of the radial axis R inFIGS. 8 and 9), ink flows in the direction toward the side panel118. Thus, for example, an ink absorber is provided on the side panel118to facilitate preventing the optical pickup140from being smeared and retrieving the floating ink (mist).

Here, the operation and advantages of the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 12A,12B and13. In addition,FIGS. 12A and 12Bshow an illustration depicting the comparison of the printable area in the case of using the optical disk apparatus700before with the printable area in the case of using the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment;FIG. 12Ashows the case of using the optical disk apparatus700before, andFIG. 12Bshows the case of using the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment. In addition,FIG. 13shows an illustration depicting an exemplary print in the case of using the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 12A, in the optical disk apparatus700before, since the print head750is moved on the radial axis R, it is difficult to move to near the inner radius of the optical disk5in order to avoid coming into contact with the member such as the chucking plate730, and it is difficult to make a print near the inner radius of the optical disk5as described above (seeFIG. 6). However, as shown inFIG. 12B, in the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment, as different from the manner before, the print head150is disposed so that it passes through the rotational center of the optical disk5, and the center thereof comes to the position shifted (offset) from the radial axis R in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5, and thus the print head can be moved at the offset position. Therefore, since the print head150does not come into contact with the member such as the chucking plate130, the printable area is more widened than before. Accordingly, in accordance with the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment, a print can be made easily near the inner radius of the optical disk5(the area W around the opening5a). For example, as shown inFIG. 13, even though a print is made throughout the label surface of the optical disk5, as different from the case of using the optical disk apparatus700before shown inFIG. 6, in accordance with the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment, patterns can be printed in the area W near the inner radius of the optical disk5as well. In addition, in accordance with the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment, since the print area is widened as described above, even though a print is made throughout the label surface of the optical disk5, a print time can be reduced significantly, and a print can be made at high speed.

In addition, in the optical disk apparatus100according to the embodiment, a label may be printed by using the eject operation of the optical disk5by means of the tray120as a loading unit which loads or ejects the optical disk5out of the optical disk apparatus100. For example, as shown inFIG. 14, in the case in which only text information about the descriptions of recorded data is printed on the optical disk5, ink is discharged so that the print head150is controlled to print text information in the eject operation in which the optical disk5is ejected out of the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus100(inFIG. 14, the direction of ejecting the optical disk5is denoted by E), the printed result shown inFIG. 14can be obtained easily.

In other words, in the embodiment, since the print head150is placed at the position offset from the center of the optical disk5, the tray120moves the optical disk5in the outer radial direction thereof in order to eject the optical disk5out of the optical disk apparatus100, whereby the print head150can be moved relatively to the optical disk5. Therefore, for information of text or images that can be printed in passing the print head150over the optical disk5at one time or a plurality of times, the eject operation of the optical disk5can be used to print a label. In addition, although it is irrelevant whether to operate the print head150in the eject operation of the optical disk5, when the print head150is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of ejecting the optical disk5, a print can be made at higher speed than the case in which the print head150is not operated.

In addition, in an exemplary print shown inFIG. 14, as the print head150, such a print head is used that a plurality of nozzles is arranged in the direction in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5(for example, 300 to 400 nozzles are arranged at a pitch of about 40 □m in a single line or two lines), in which the print head150is moved over the optical disk5for one time or a plurality of times to print a label to obtain that exemplary print.

The operation and advantages of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment described above are the same as those of the optical disk apparatus200,300,400,500and600according to the second to sixth embodiments, described later.

Next, an exemplary configuration of the print head of the ink jet system for use in printing a label will be described with reference toFIGS. 15aand15B. In addition,FIG. 15Ashows a perspective view depicting the schematic configuration of the print head150according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 15Bshows a perspective view depicting the schematic configuration of a print head250according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention, described later.

As shown inFIG. 15A, the print head150according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention is an example in which the print head150having the ink discharge part150ais formed in one piece with the ink tank part. On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 15B, the print head250according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention is an example in which a print head250having an ink discharge part250ais joined to an ink tank part251as separatable through a joining part259. In addition, in both cases, the part that receives signals to control ink and discharge is omitted.

The Configuration and Operation of an Optical Disk Apparatus200According to the Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus200according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention as an information recording apparatus using such a print head in which the print head250having the ink discharge part250acan be separated from the ink tank part251will be described with reference toFIGS. 16 and 17A. In addition,FIG. 16shows a perspective view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus200according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 17Ashows a plan view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus200according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention.

The optical disk apparatus200according to the embodiment is an apparatus in which an optical disk5as an information recording medium is loaded to print a label on the label surface of the loaded optical disk5, and the apparatus mainly has a drive part D2which uses the optical disk5to record and reproduce data, and a label printing part L2which is disposed on the label surface (the printing surface) side on the opposite side of the data recording surface of the optical disk5, that is, disposed above the drive part D2and prints a label.

The drive part D2is placed in the area surrounded by a front panel214, a rear panel216, and two side panels218and218, and mainly has a tray220which is movably disposed by a predetermined loading mechanism, a chucking plate230which is disposed above the center part of a disk mounting part (not shown) of the tray220, and an optical pickup240as an information recording unit disposed below the tray220(on the side of the data recording surface of the optical disk5which is loaded into the optical disk apparatus200). In addition, the configuration and operation of the drive part D2of the optical disk apparatus200according to the embodiment are the same as those of the configuration and operation of the drive part D1of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment, omitting the detailed descriptions here.

The label printing part L2has the print head250, a print head moving unit which moves the print head250in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5, and a print head maintenance unit which caps and cleans the print head250.

The print head250is disposed on the opposite side of the optical pickup240and the optical disk5(the label surface side of the optical disk5), which is configured to move in parallel with the radial direction (the P-axis inFIG. 17B) at the position shifted (offset) from a radial axis R. In addition, on the under surface side of the print head250(the label surface side of the optical disk5), an ink discharge part250ais disposed, in which ink is discharged from the ink discharge part250aonto the rotating optical disk5while the print head150is moving on the P-axis in parallel with the radial direction shifted (offset) from the radial axis R, whereby a label can be printed on the label surface of the optical disk5.

Here, as described above, the print head250according to the embodiment is disposed as it can be separated from the ink tank part251, which is configured in which only the print head250is movable in parallel with the radial direction at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5as the position of the ink tank part251remains to fix to the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus200. In the embodiment, the ink tank part251has the structure in which ink cartridges having ink of four colors, Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), are arranged side by side, and each of the ink cartridges is joined to ink tubes251a(four tubes in total). Ink is supplied from the ink tubes251ato the print head250in printing a label.

In addition, the print head250is held from above by a print head holder252nearly in a rectangular parallelepiped. The print head holder252has two head elevating shafts252a, in which the two head elevating shafts252aare fit into two through holes254aformed in a head supporting plate254nearly in a T-shape, and the upper part is fixed by a fastening screw (not shown). The head elevating shafts252aguide the movement of the print head250in the vertical direction. On the under surface side of the head supporting plate254, a head drive bearing member256is disposed which is extended laterally (in the direction vertical to the radial direction), and a bearing (linear bearing)256ais provided to each of the both lateral ends of the head drive bearing member256. The bearing256apenetrates through in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, and two head drive shafts257are disposed which are arranged almost in parallel with each other (in parallel with the radial direction) so as to penetrate through the inner radius of the bearing256a. The both ends of the two head drive shafts257are supported by identical shaft support members258. In addition, the detailed configuration of the print head holder252will be described later.

The print head moving unit is mainly configured of a head drive motor260, a ball screw262which is joined to the head drive motor260, a ball screw nut264through which the ball screw262is inserted, a joining member266which joins the ball screw nut264to a head drive bearing member256, a ball screw support member268which is disposed in the midway part of the ball screw264, and limit sensors291and294.

The head drive motor260rotates the ball screw262with its power. The ball screw262is extended in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, and the ball screw nut264is configured to move in the direction in parallel with the radial direction by the rotation of the ball screw262. The joining member266joins the ball screw nut264to the head drive bearing member256to move the head drive bearing member256in the direction in parallel with the radial direction at the position shifted (offset) from the rotational center of the optical disk5in association with the movement of the ball screw nut264.

The ball screw support member268is a member that supports the ball screw262, which is formed of a ball screw supporting plate268A, and ball screw support units268B and268C in which a bearing (not shown) is incorporated. In the embodiment, the ball screw support units268B and268C are configured in one piece. After the ball screw262is fit into the ball screw support units268B and268C through the bearing, it is clamped by a nut, not shown.

In addition, in the optical disk apparatus200according to the embodiment, for example, the movement of the print head250in the radial direction can be controlled by the limit sensor291. More specifically, for example, the limit sensor291is configured as an optical sensor nearly in a U-shape, having a light emitting device and a light receiving device (not shown). The light emitting device and the light receiving device are disposed as facing to each other, in which the light emitted from the light emitting device passes through a recessed part291avertically, and received by the light receiving device. On the other hand, on the joining member266of the print head moving unit, a limit sensor light shielding plate292is disposed through a light shielding plate support member293nearly in an L-shape.

Here, the limit sensor291is a member that controls the print area, and preferably, it is disposed at the position at which the ink discharge part250aof the print head250can at least reach the rim part of the optical disk5on the rear surface side. The limit sensor291is placed at the position like this, whereby the printable area can be widened when the print head250makes a print on the label surface of the optical disk5, and a print can be easily made near the inner radius of the optical disk5.

InFIGS. 16 and 17A, the print head maintenance unit is placed under the print head250and the print head holder252, which is difficult to visually see, but has a cap accommodating part270which accommodates a cap272and an ink reservoir274(seeFIG. 17B). The cap272is used not to dry the print head, and the ink discharge part250aof the print head250is capped by the cap272during the standby for printing. In addition, for example, in order to prevent such a print error that the ink discharge part250ais clogged and ink is not discharged, the ink reservoir274is a place at which ink is discharged on purpose so that air does not enter the print head250(ink is discharged from the ink discharge part250awithout printing a label). The cap accommodating part270in which the cap272and the ink reservoir274are accommodated is disposed on the rear side (the rear panel216side) of the optical disk apparatus200on the opposite side of the eject side (the eject port side) of the optical disk5.

Here, since the print head250is not arranged on the radial axis, the cap accommodating part270including the cap272and the ink reservoir274is also placed at the position shifted (offset) from the radial axis. Thus, the optical disk apparatus200can be reduced in size, as similar to the case of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment.

As discussed above, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus200has been described. Next, the operation of the label printing part L2of the optical disk apparatus200having this configuration will be described with reference toFIGS. 17A and 17B. In addition,FIG. 17Bshows a plan view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus200according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention, showing the state in which the print head250is printing a label.

FIG. 17Ashows the state in which the print head250waits at the retract position. In this state, when the head drive motor260is rotated to turn the ball screw262, the ball screw nut264is moved in the radial direction along the ball screw262. Since the ball screw nut264is joined to the head drive bearing member256through the joining member266, the head drive bearing member256is moved in the radial direction at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5in association with the movement of the ball screw nut264. At this time, since the head drive shaft257is inserted into the head drive bearing member256through the bearing256a, the head drive bearing member256is guided by two head drive shafts257disposed in parallel with each other in the radial direction, and it can be moved linearly in the direction in parallel with the radial direction at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5. Moreover, since the print head250is joined to the head drive bearing member256through the head support member254, the print head250is eventually moved in the direction in parallel with in the radial direction at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5in association with the movement of the ball screw nut264.

Here, as different from the manner before, since the print head250is placed so that the center thereof comes to the position offset from the radial axis R, the print head can be freely moved toward the inner radius and the outer radius of the optical disk5in the direction in parallel with the radial direction at the position offset from the radial axis R in association with the movement of the head drive bearing member256, that is, the movement of the ball screw nut264.

More specifically, as shown inFIG. 17A, the print head250is offset from the radial axis, and the print head250can be moved at the position with no interference with the chucking plate230and the optical pickup240(inFIG. 17A, a broken line is depicted at the position offset from the chucking plate230and the optical pickup240in parallel with the radial direction, and the print head250is placed at the position on the right side of the broken line).

In addition, preferably, between two areas that are obtained by splitting the area including the optical disk5along the direction of moving the optical pickup240(that is, in the embodiment, the radial axis R), the print head250is placed in the area positioned more on the downstream side than the optical pickup240with respect to the direction of rotating the optical disk5. Therefore, in the embodiment, suppose the optical disk5is rotating clockwise inFIG. 16orFIG. 17A, preferably, the print head250is placed on the right area of the areas obtained by splitting at the radial axis R.

This is because ink discharged from the print head250for floating is toward the outside of the optical disk5due to the flow generated in association with the rotation of the optical disk5, but when the print head250is placed at the position offset more on the upstream side than the optical pickup240(on the left side of the radial axis R inFIGS. 16 and 17A), the floating ink tends to be deposited on the optical pickup240side to smear the optical pickup240. On the other hand, when the print head250is placed at the position offset more on the downstream side than the optical pickup240(on the right side of the radial axis R inFIGS. 16 and 17A), ink flows in the direction toward the side panel218. Thus, for example, an ink absorber is provided on the side panel218to facilitate preventing the optical pickup240from being smeared and retrieving the floating ink (mist).

Moreover, as described above, in the embodiment, the movement of the print head250in the direction in parallel with the radial direction is controlled by the limit sensor291. In other words, as shown inFIG. 17B, when the print head250is moved on the front surface side of the apparatus and the limit sensor light shielding plate292is positioned at the recessed part291aof the limit sensor291, the limit sensor light shielding plate292blocks the light passing through inside the recessed part291a. Then, it is difficult that the light receiving device of the limit sensor291receives the light from the light emitting device, and thus the print head250is controlled not to further move to the front surface side of the apparatus from this position.

Here, in the example above, the example is discussed that the print head250is always linearly moved in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, but the print head250is not always necessarily moved in the direction in parallel with the radial direction as long as it moves with no interference with the chucking plate230and the optical pickup240. However, in order to efficiently print a label on the optical disk5, the print head250may be moved in the direction in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5while it is moving over at least the optical disk5, and may be moved in the direction not in parallel with the radial direction after it is off the optical disk5. An exemplary movement of the print head250will be described with reference toFIG. 18. In addition,FIG. 18shows an illustration depicting an exemplary trace of the movement of the print head250according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention.

As shown inFIG. 18, suppose the print head250moves between position A (the position at which the print head250is depicted by a solid line) and position B (the position denoted by a two-dot chain line on position A) and prints a label. As described above, in the case in which the print head250prints a label over the optical disk5, from the viewpoints of increasing the printable area and printing at high speed, the print head is preferably, linearly moved on the axis in parallel with at least the radial axis R. However, in the case in which the print head250is temporarily off the optical disk5and moves to the position at which a label is not printed (for example, it is moved from position B to position C in the drawing), the print head250is not necessarily moved linearly, and it may be moved in the direction not in parallel with the radial axis R.

In other words, the print head250is capped at the retract position for the purpose of maintenance such as cleaning or the purpose of preventing the ink discharge part250afrom drying in the case in which a label is not printed. It is necessary that the retract position is a position at which the print head does not interfere (not come into contact) with members such as the optical pickup (not shown) moving on the radial axis R. Therefore, preferably, the retract position is at the position closer to the outer radius (closer to the side panel218) than the center part of the optical disk5. Therefore, in the case in which the print head250is off the optical disk5to move to the retract position, it may be configured to move in the direction not in parallel with the radial axis R so as to move toward more outside than in the case in which a label is printed. In addition, without consideration of the easiness of printing a label and the print speed, even in the case in which the print head250is above the optical disk5, it is not necessarily linearly moved on the axis in parallel with the radial axis R as long as it is moved so as not to interfere with members such as the chucking table230.

Here, a more specific mechanism for moving the print head250in the trace shown inFIG. 18will be described with reference toFIGS. 19 to 21. In addition,FIG. 19shows a perspective view depicting the configuration of an optical disk apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment,FIG. 20shows a perspective view depicting the configuration of the essential part of the optical disk apparatus shown inFIG. 19, andFIG. 21shows a plan view depicting the configuration of the optical disk apparatus shown inFIG. 19. In addition, the descriptions for the same configurations as those of the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention are omitted.

As shown inFIGS. 19 to 21, above a print head250, a print head holder296is disposed which holds the print head250, and on the top surface of the print head holder296, a print head guide pin296ais disposed which guides the movement of the print head250. In addition, on the print head holder296, a through hole (not shown) is provided so as to penetrate through the side surface thereof in the direction vertical to the radial direction, and into the through hole, a head transverse shaft297is inserted through a linear bearing296b. One end of the head transverse shaft297is fit into a through hole298aformed in a first shaft support member298, and the other end is mounted on a second shaft support member299. The second shaft support member299is a member nearly in an L-shape, which is mounted on the head drive bearing member256.

In addition, a print head guide plate295is disposed so as to cover the area in which the print head250is moved from above the apparatus. The length of the print head guide plate295(the length in the direction in parallel with the radial direction) is almost the same as that of the head drive shaft257, and the width of the print head guide plate295(the length in the direction vertical to the radial direction) is almost the same as the length of the shaft support member258. The print head guide plate295is provided with a print head guide groove295awhich guides the movement of the print head250, in which the print head guide pin296is fit into the print head guide groove295a, whereby the print head250is guided by the print head guide groove295aand moved along the print head guide groove295a. In the modification, the print head guide groove295ais formed in a linear shape in the direction in parallel with the radial direction over the optical disk5, it is bent at a predetermined angle at a predetermined position more on the outer side than the outer radius of the optical disk5, and it is formed in a linear shape in the direction not in parallel with the radial direction. Therefore, the print head250is moved in the direction in parallel with the radial direction when it is guided by the print head guide groove295aand moved over the optical disk5, and it is moved in the direction not in parallel with the radial direction after it is off the optical disk5.

Again, with reference toFIGS. 17A and 17B, the discussion of the operation of the label printing part L2of the optical disk apparatus200according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention is continued. As shown inFIG. 17B, the ball screw nut264is moved to a certain position of the ball screw support member268toward the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus200, and then it is retained at that position. Thus, the print head250can be moved to the position corresponding to the retain position of the ball screw nut264. Therefore, the print head250discharges ink from the ink discharge part250awhile it is moved from the position shown inFIG. 17Ato the position shown inFIG. 17B, whereby it can print a label on the optical disk5.

Next, the print head250according to the second embodiment of an embodiment of the invention is taken as an example and the configurations and operations of the cap mechanism which caps the print head and the cleaning mechanism for cleaning will be described with reference toFIGS. 22 to 25. In addition,FIG. 22shows a perspective view depicting the configuration of the cap mechanism and the cleaning mechanism of the print head250according to the embodiment,FIG. 23shows a perspective view depicting the print head250, the cap mechanism and the cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment seen from the under surface side of the optical disk apparatus,FIG. 24Ashows a plan view depicting the configuration of the cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment,FIG. 24Bshows a perspective view depicting the configuration of the cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment, andFIGS. 25ato25C show a perspective view depicting the configuration of the print head250and the cap272according to the embodiment.

As shown inFIGS. 22 and 23, under the print head250, the ink cap272and a wiper280which is an exemplary cleaning mechanism are disposed. In addition, the configurations of the print head250, the print head holder252, the head support substrate254, the head drive bearing member256, and the bearing256aare described above, omitting the detailed descriptions here.

As described above, through the print head holder252, the two head elevating shafts252aare inserted which are arranged in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, in which the upper part is fit into the two through holes254aformed in the head support substrate254, and is fixed to the head support substrate254by a fastening screw (not shown). The two linear ball bearings252dare fit into the through hole (not shown) into which the head elevating shaft252aof the print head holder252is inserted, in which the movement in the horizontal direction is restricted by the head elevating shaft252a, and the movement is allowed only in the vertical direction. In addition, on the side surface of the print head holder252, a guide pin252bis disposed. In moving the print head250, the guide pin252bis moved on a guide rail276which is extended on the side surface side of the print head250in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, whereby the movement of the print head250is guided.

In addition, at the end part of the guide rail276on the rear surface side of the optical disk apparatus200, an inclined surface276ais formed. In capping the print head250, first, the guide pin252bis moved along the top surface of the guide rail276to the rear surface side of the apparatus in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, whereby the print head250held by the print head holder252is also moved to the rear surface side of the apparatus in the direction in parallel with the radial direction. Then, the guide pin252bis moved downward in a slanting direction along the inclined surface276aof the guide rail276, whereby the print head250held by the print head holder252is also moved downward in a slanting direction, and the ink discharge part250ais capped with the cap272. Here, in moving the guide pin252balong the inclined surface276aof the guide rail276, the movement of the print head is guided by the head drive shaft257in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, and the movement in the vertical direction is guided by the head elevating shaft252a.

In addition, the print head holder252is formed with a long hole252cwhose longitudinal direction is in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, and through the long hole252c, an ink tube278is penetrated which supplies ink to the print head250. The ink tube278is connected to the ink tank part251in a free form (seeFIGS. 15A and 15B).

Here, the structures of the print head250and the cap272will be described with reference toFIGS. 25A to 25C. As shown inFIG. 25A, on the top surface side of the print head250, ink supply holes250bare provided. The number of the ink supply holes250bis one because the example is a monochrome example in the embodiment, but in the case of color, the number is three, cyan, magenta and yellow, or four as black added to them. In addition, as shown inFIG. 25C, on the under surface side of the print head250, an ink discharge part250ais formed along the longitudinal direction of the print head250(in the embodiment, the direction in parallel with the radial direction) so as to communicate with the ink supply hole250b. The ink discharge part250ahas a nozzle (ink discharge port) arranged in the direction in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5. The cap272caps the print head250so as to cover the ink discharge part250ain order to prevent the ink discharge part250afrom drying ink. In addition, as shown inFIG. 25B, the cap272is formed nearly in a rectangular parallelepiped, having a head accommodating part272aon the top surface side thereof (the print head250side) which is a recessed part to accommodate the ink discharge part. In addition, as shown inFIG. 23, in the cap272according to the embodiment, there is a cavity on the back surface side of the bottom part of the head accommodating part272a, and the bottom surface of the cap272is opened. In addition, it is necessary to arrange the cap272at the position greatly distant from the optical pickup240to the rear side in order to avoid the interference of the print head250with the optical pickup240. However, in the optical disk apparatus200according to the embodiment, since the print head250can be moved at the position offset from the radial axis R, it is unnecessary to arrange the cap272at the position greatly distant from the optical pickup240to the rear side. Therefore, the size of the optical disk apparatus200on the rear side can be reduced.

Next, the configuration of the cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 24A and 24B, in addition toFIGS. 22 and 23. The cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment is configured of a wiper280which is moved in the direction vertical to the radial direction, and a drive mechanism thereof.

The wiper280has a wiper head280aat the tip end part thereof. For example, the wiper head280ahas a structure in which an elastic member like rubber is laminated in two layers. In addition, the wiper280is driven by a wiper drive motor281, and they are joined to each other through a wiper arm282and a wiper joining part284.

The wiper280is disposed on the under surface side of the wiper part supporting plate287, and the wiper joining part284disposed on the top surface side of the wiper part supporting plate287is joined to the wiper280so as to penetrate through a through hole or a notch (both are not shown) formed in the wiper part supporting plate287. The wiper drive motor281is fixed on the wiper part supporting plate287. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 24A and 24B, a wiper drive shaft281ais disposed so as to penetrate through the wiper drive motor281, and a pressing part281bis disposed at one end of the wiper drive shaft281a(at the end part on the wiper arm282side). A pin283penetrates through one end of the wiper arm282, and one end of the pin283is fixed to the wiper part supporting plate287. In addition, the other end of the wiper arm282is joined to the wiper joining part284through a hinge part284a.

In addition, in the wiper joining part284, two through holes285are formed in the vertical direction, for example, and two wiper drive shafts286are inserted through the through holes285. The two wiper drive shafts286are extended in the direction vertical to the radial direction, and arranged in parallel with each other. Although not shown inFIGS. 22,23and24A for the convenience of descriptions, as shown inFIG. 24B, the wiper drive shaft286is mounted on a wiper holding member288nearly in a U-shape, and a pin283is also held by the wiper holding member288.

The operation of the cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment having this configuration will be described below. First, the wiper drive motor281is rotated to move the wiper drive shaft281ain the direction toward the wiper arm282, and then the pressing part281bat the tip end part of the wiper drive shaft281apresses the wiper arm282in the direction of moving the wiper drive shaft281a. With the pressing force, the wiper arm282is rotated counterclockwise, for example, as the pin283is used as the fulcrum. Subsequently, in association with the rotation of the wiper arm282, the wiper joining part284joined to the wiper arm282through the hinge part284ais linearly moved along the shaft286in the direction vertical to the radial direction while it is guided by the wiper drive shaft286. The wiper280is linearly moved toward the print head250side in the direction vertical to the radial direction in association with the movement of the wiper joining part284.

On the other hand, in the case in which the wiper arm282is rotated clockwise, for example, it can be rotated by using the force of an elastic member such as a spring (not shown) that is elastically restored. In other words, for example, when the wiper drive motor281is rotated reversely to move the wiper drive shaft281atoward the opposite side of the wiper arm282, the pressing part281bis separated from the wiper arm282and the pressing force caused by the pressing part281bis not applied to the wiper arm282. Therefore, for example, the wiper arm282can be rotated clockwise due to the restoration force of the elastic member described above. Then, the wiper280is moved toward the reverse direction before (toward the opposite side of the print head250side). By repeating the rotation and the reverse rotation of the drive motor281, the wiper280can clean the ink discharge part of the print head250(not shown) with the wiper head280a.

The Configuration and Operation of an Optical Disk Apparatus300According to a Third Embodiment

Next, the configuration and operation of the optical disk apparatus300according to the third embodiment of an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 26 to 30. In addition,FIG. 26shows an illustration depicting a method of replacing the print head750of the optical disk apparatus700before,FIG. 27shows an illustration depicting a method of replacing a print head350of the optical disk apparatus300according to the embodiment,FIG. 28shows a perspective view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus300according to the embodiment,FIG. 29shows a plan view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus300according to the embodiment, andFIG. 30shows a perspective view depicting the configuration of a tray320as a loading unit of the optical disk apparatus300according to the embodiment.

First, as shown inFIG. 26, in the optical disk apparatus700before, since the print head750is moved on the radial axis, it can be moved before the member placed on the radial axis such as the chucking plate (not shown) and the optical pickup (not shown) toward the front surface side of the apparatus. Then, in order to replace the print head750it is necessary that the top cover712of the housing710of the optical disk apparatus700is removed, an old print head750is removed from above the optical disk apparatus700, and a new print head750′ is mounted to replace the print head.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a space for replacing the print head on the top surface side of the optical disk apparatus700. In addition, in the case in which there is no room for this space, it can be considered to draw the optical disk apparatus700frontward, but this is not so preferable because a power source cable, a USB cable for signals and other cables are usually wired on the rear part of the apparatus and it can be considered that cables might be disconnected in drawing the optical disk apparatus700.

In addition, the discussions of the configuration of the optical disk apparatus700before are described above, which are omitted.

On the other hand, as shown inFIGS. 27 to 29, in the optical disk apparatus300according to the embodiment, the print head350can be moved at the position offset from the radial axis R. Therefore, since the print head350does not interfere with the members arranged on the radial axis R such as a chucking plate330and an optical pickup340, the print head350can be moved to near a front panel314of the optical disk apparatus300. Then, on the front panel314, an opening (not shown) is disposed at the position corresponding to the axis P of moving the print head350, and an openable print head replace cover319is provided on the opening, whereby the print head350can be replaced from the front surface side of the apparatus without removing a top cover312of the optical disk apparatus300.

In other words, after the print head350is moved before the front panel314by a print head drive mechanism having a head drive motor360, as shown inFIG. 27, the print head replace cover319is opened to remove an old print head350and a new print head350′ is mounted, whereby the print head350can be easily replaced from the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus300. Therefore, it is unnecessary to provide a space for replacing the print head in the upper part of the optical disk apparatus300as the manner before, and even though there is no room for this space, it is unnecessary to draw the optical disk apparatus300frontward. Particularly, in the print head of the ink jet system, since it is inevitable to replace a print head in association with the maintenance of a clogged head and consumption of ink, it is significantly effective that a print head can be replaced from the front surface side of the apparatus.

In addition, in the configuration of the optical disk apparatus300according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 27 to 29, the configurations other than that of the print head replace cover319disposed on the front surface of the apparatus are the same as the configurations of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment described above, omitting the descriptions.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 30, in the optical disk apparatus300according to the embodiment, for example, members used for maintenance such as a cap372and an ink reservoir374are detachably disposed with respect to the tray320on the rear side of the tray320(on the rear panel316side).

As described above, the members used for maintenance such as the cap372and the ink reservoir374are disposed on the tray320, whereby the cleaning and maintenance of ink can be performed easily at the same time in drawing the tray320for taking out the optical disk5. Therefore, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus can be simplified as well as the maintenance of the optical disk apparatus can be facilitated to enhance the convenience for users.

Moreover, the members for maintenance such as the cap372and the ink reservoir374are detachably disposed with respect to the tray320, whereby the cap372and the ink reservoir374can be removed for cleaning in drawing the tray320, and thus such an advantage can be also obtained that the inside of the optical disk apparatus tends to be more protected from contamination than before.

The Configuration and Operation of an Optical Disk Apparatus400According to a Fourth Embodiment

Next, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus400according to the fourth embodiment of an embodiment of the invention as an information recording apparatus will be described with reference toFIGS. 31 to 35. In addition,FIG. 31shows a perspective view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus400according to the fourth embodiment of an embodiment of the invention,FIG. 32shows an enlarged perspective view depicting the configuration of the essential part of the optical disk apparatus400shown inFIG. 31,FIG. 33shows a plan view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus400according to the same embodiment, andFIG. 34shows a perspective view depicting the optical disk apparatus400according to the same embodiment seen from the under surface side.

Here, the optical disk apparatus700before and the optical disk apparatus100,200and300according to the first to third embodiments described above have problems below that are caused because the longitudinal direction of the print head (the ink discharge part) is matched with the movable direction of the print head (that is, the radial axis R or the direction in parallel with the radial axis R).

In other words, when the longitudinal direction of the print head is matched with the radial axis R on which the print head is movable or in the direction in parallel with the radial axis R, it is possible to effectively use the print width in printing at one step, but areas for the print area are different in printing the outer radial side and in printing the inner radial side, and an area for the print area on the inner radial side is smaller than that on the outer radial side, causing a problem that the dot densities are varied unless otherwise print correction is performed.

In addition, when the print head is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the print head is matched with the radial axis R or in the direction in parallel with the radial axis R, the longitudinal direction of the print head is in parallel with the movable direction of the print head. Thus, in the case in which a label is printed, it is always necessary to print while the optical disk is being rotated. On this account, since the optical disk is rotated in printing a label, it takes long time in simple printing in the case in which only text information about the descriptions of recorded data is printed on the optical disk, causing a problem that the convenience of the information recording apparatus for users is impaired.

Moreover, in the case in which the longitudinal direction of the print head is matched with the movable direction of the print head, ink discharged from the print head is dried to increase the viscosity for thickening the ink concentration when starting ink discharge because of the influence of a blow generated due to the rotation of the optical disk, which tends to cause streaks along the line along which the print head is moved at the place to start printing to raise a problem that the place becomes more conspicuous than the portions around the place to start printing.

Then, in the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment, in order to solve the problems above, the print head is moved at the position shifted and offset from the rotational center of the optical disk in the direction in parallel with the radial axis, and the print head is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the print head is the direction vertical to the radial axis. Hereinafter, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus400will be described in detail.

The optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment is an apparatus in which an optical disk5as an information recording medium is loaded to print a label on the label surface of the loaded optical disk5, and the apparatus mainly has a drive part D4which uses the optical disk5to record and reproduce data, and a label printing part L4which is disposed on the label surface (the printing surface) side on the opposite side of the data recording surface of the optical disk5, that is, disposed above the drive part D4and prints a label.

The drive part D4is placed in the area surrounded by a front panel414, a rear panel416, and two side panels418and418, and mainly has a tray420which is movably disposed by a predetermined loading mechanism, a chucking plate430which is disposed above the center part of a disk mounting part (not shown) of a tray220, and an optical pickup440as an information recording unit disposed below the tray420(on the side of the data recording surface of the optical disk5which is loaded into the optical disk apparatus400). In addition, the configuration and operation of the drive part D4of the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment are the same as those of the configuration and operation of the drive part D1of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment, omitting the detailed descriptions here.

The label printing part L4has a print head450, a print head moving unit which moves the print head450in parallel with the radial direction of the optical disk5at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5, and a print head maintenance unit which caps and cleans the print head450.

The print head450is disposed on the opposite side of the optical pickup440and the optical disk5(the label surface side of the optical disk5), which is configured to move in parallel with the radial direction (the P-axis inFIG. 33) at the position shifted (offset) from a radial axis R. In addition, on the under surface side of the print head450(the label surface side of the optical disk5), an ink discharge part450ais disposed, in which ink is discharged from an ink discharge part450aonto the rotating optical disk5while the print head450is moving on the P-axis in parallel with the radial direction shifted (offset) from the radial axis R, whereby a label can be printed on the label surface of the optical disk5. In addition, it is the same as the embodiments described above in that preferably, between two areas that are obtained by splitting the area including the optical disk5along the direction of moving the optical pickup440(that is, in the embodiment, the radial axis R), the print head450is placed in the area positioned on the downstream side more than the optical pickup440is positioned with respect to the direction of rotating the optical disk5.

Here, the configuration of the print head450according to the embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 35. In addition,FIG. 35shows a perspective view depicting the configuration of the print head450according to the same embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 35, for example, the print head450is formed of an ink discharge part450awhich discharges ink toward the label surface of the optical disk5, an ink supply tube450bwhich supplies ink supplied from an ink tank part451through an ink tube451a, described later, to the print head450, a joining part450cwhich joins the ink supply tube450bto a print head main body part450d, and a flexible cable450ewhich is disposed on the opposite side of the joining part450cof the print head main body part450d.

The ink discharge part450ais formed as a plurality of nozzles (ink discharge port) in a predetermined direction, for example, on the under surface side of the joining part450c(on the side opposite to the label surface of the optical disk5). In the embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the ink discharge part450aformed as a plurality of the nozzles arranged in this predetermined direction (a predetermined direction in which a plurality of the nozzles is arranged) is matched with the direction vertical to the direction of moving the print head450(the direction in parallel with the radial direction). In addition, one end of the ink supply tube450bcommunicates with the ink tube451a, and the other end thereof communicates with the top surface side of the joining part450c(on the opposite side of the ink discharge part450a). In addition, at least a part of the inside of the joining part450cis a hollow to form a passage through which ink passes. The print head main body part450dis a member nearly in a rectangular plate, in which as described above, one side is joined to the ink supply tube450bthrough the joining part450c, and the other side is joined to the flexible cable450ethrough which signals are inputted.

In addition, in the embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 32 and 34, for example, the print head450is disposed so that the longitudinal direction of the ink discharge part450aformed as a plurality of the nozzles arranged in the direction vertical to the radial direction of the optical disk5on the under surface side of the print head450is vertical to the direction of moving the print head450on the P-axis in parallel with the radial axis. Thus, as described later, since areas for the print area can be the same in printing the outer radial side and in printing the inner radial side, it is unnecessary to perform print correction. In addition, since it is unnecessary to associate the rotation of the optical disk5in printing a label, the print speed is significantly improved in the case of simple printing of text. Moreover, since the portion at which starts printing is a sheet shape, not lines, streaks at the portion at which starts printing become inconspicuous.

In addition, as similar to the case of the optical disk apparatus200according to the second embodiment described above, the print head450according to the embodiment is disposed as detachable from the ink tank part451, in which only the print head450is movable at the position shifted from the rotational center of the optical disk5in parallel with the radial direction while the position of the ink tank part451remains fixed to the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus400. In the embodiment, the ink tank part451has the structure in which ink cartridges having ink of four colors, Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), are arranged side by side, and each of the ink cartridges is joined to ink tubes451a(four tubes in total). Ink is supplied from the ink tubes451ato the print head450in printing a label.

In addition, the print head450is held from above by a print head holder452nearly in a rectangular parallelepiped. The print head holder452has two head elevating shafts452a, in which the two head elevating shafts452aare fit into two through holes454aformed in a head supporting plate454nearly in a T-shape, and the upper part is fixed by a fastening screw (not shown). The head elevating shaft452aguides the movement of the print head450in the vertical direction. On the under surface side of the head supporting plate454, a head drive bearing member456is disposed which is extended laterally (in the direction vertical to the radial direction), and a bearing (linear bearing)456ais provided to each of the both lateral ends of the head drive bearing member456. The bearing456apenetrates through in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, and two head drive shafts457are disposed which are arranged almost in parallel with each other (in parallel with the radial direction) so as to penetrate through the inner radius of the bearing456a. The both ends of the two head drive shafts457are supported by identical shaft support members458. In addition, the detailed configuration of the print head holder452is the same as the case of the second embodiment described above, omitting the descriptions.

The print head moving unit is mainly configured of a head drive motor460, a ball screw462which is joined to the head drive motor460, a ball screw nut464through which the ball screw462is inserted, a joining member466which joins the ball screw nut464to a head drive bearing member456, a ball screw support member468which is disposed in the midway part of the ball screw464, and limit sensors491and494.

The head drive motor460rotates the ball screw462with its power. The ball screw462is extended in the direction in parallel with the radial direction, and the ball screw nut464is configured to move in the direction in parallel with the radial direction by the rotation of the ball screw462. The joining member466joins the ball screw nut464to the head drive bearing member456to move the head drive bearing member456in the direction in parallel with the radial direction at the position shifted (offset) from the rotational center of the optical disk5in association with the movement of the ball screw nut464.

The ball screw support member468is a member which supports the ball screw462, formed of a ball screw supporting plate468A, and ball screw support units468B and468C in which a bearing (not shown) is incorporated. In the embodiment, the ball screw support units468B and468C are configured in one piece. After the ball screw462is fit into the ball screw support units468B and468C through the bearing, it is clamped by a nut, not shown.

In addition, in the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment, for example, the movement of the print head450in the radial direction can be controlled by the limit sensor491. More specifically, for example, the limit sensor491is configured as an optical sensor nearly in a U-shape, having a light emitting device and a light receiving device (not shown). The light emitting device and the light receiving device are disposed as facing to each other, in which the light emitted from the light emitting device passes through a recessed part491avertically, and received by the light receiving device. On the other hand, on the joining member466of the print head moving unit, a limit sensor light shielding plate492is disposed through a light shielding plate support member493nearly in an L-shape. In addition, for the position at which the limit sensor491is arranged, it is the same as that in the embodiments described above, omitting the detailed descriptions here.

Although not shown inFIG. 31, as shown inFIGS. 32 to 34, the print head maintenance unit has a cap accommodating part470which accommodates a cap472and an ink reservoir474. The cap472is used not to dry the print head, and the ink discharge part450aof the print head450is capped by the cap472during the standby for printing. In addition, for example, in order to prevent such a print error that the ink discharge part450ais clogged and ink is not discharged, the ink reservoir474is a place at which ink is discharged on purpose so that air does not enter the print head450(ink is discharged from the ink discharge part450awithout printing a label). The cap accommodating part470which accommodates the cap472and the ink reservoir474is disposed on the rear side (the rear panel416side) of the optical disk apparatus400on the opposite side of the eject side (the side of taking out the disk) of the optical disk5.

Here, since the print head450is not arranged on the radial axis, the cap accommodating part470including the cap472and the ink reservoir474is also placed at the position shifted (offset) from the radial axis. Thus, the optical disk apparatus400can be reduced in size, as similar to the case of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 34, the optical disk apparatus400has a wiper480which is supported by a wiper part supporting plate487, as an exemplary cleaning mechanism for the ink discharge part450aof the print head450, and as shown inFIG. 32, a wiper head480ais disposed at the tip end part of the wiper480. The other configurations and operations of the wiper480are the same as the case of the second embodiment described above, omitting the detailed descriptions here.

As described above, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus400has been described. Next, the operation of the label printing part L4of the optical disk apparatus400having this configuration will be described with reference toFIGS. 36A to 36C,37A and37B. Here,FIGS. 36A to 36Cshow an illustration depicting exemplary movements of the print head in the case in which a label is printed,FIG. 36Ashows the case in which a label is printed by the print head750before,FIG. 36Bshows the case in which a label is printed by the print head150according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 36Cshows the case in which a label is printed by the print head450according to the embodiment. In addition,FIGS. 37A and 37Bshow an illustration depicting that areas for the print area become the same in printing the outer radial side of the optical disk5and in printing the inner radial side. In addition, in the discussion below, the overlapping descriptions of the same operations as those described above in the optical disk apparatus100,200and300according to the first to third embodiments are omitted. In addition, in the discussion below, as an exemplary optical disk apparatus in which the print head is moved at the position offset from the rotational center of the disk, the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment is taken and described as an example, and the cases of the second and third embodiments are the same.

As described above, in the optical disk apparatus700before described above and the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment, when the longitudinal direction of the ink discharge parts750aand150aof the print heads750and150is matched with the radial axis or the direction in parallel with the radial axis in which the print heads750and150are moved, areas for the print area are different in printing the outer radial side and in printing the inner radial side, and an area for the print area on the inner radial side is smaller than that on the outer radial side.

First, as shown inFIG. 36A, in the optical disk apparatus700before, since the print head750is moved on the radial axis, suppose the print width for a single time is the same (in the embodiment, the width in the radial direction in the print area for a single step), an area to be printed by a single step (in the case of the embodiment, a single discharge of ink) becomes smaller as the head more goes to the inner radial side of the optical disk5. Therefore, in the case in which the timing for ink discharge is the same, the print density becomes higher in the inner radial side of the optical disk5, and the print density becomes denser near the inner radius of the optical disk5, but a print is made in thinner print density near the outer radius. Then, in this case, it is necessary that such print correction is performed that the print density is more roughened near the inner radius than that of the outer radius to make the dot density equal. In other words, in the configuration of the optical disk apparatus700before, it is difficult to fully exploit the performance of the print head750.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 36B, in the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention, the print head150is moved at the position offset from the rotational center of the optical disk5in the direction in parallel with the radial axis. In this case, as similar to the optical disk apparatus700before, an area to be printed by a single step becomes smaller as the head more goes to the inner radial side of the optical disk5. Moreover, since the print width for a single time becomes narrower as the head goes to the inner radial side, the degree of shrinkage of the area is more noticeable than the case of the optical disk apparatus700before. Therefore, also in this case, it is necessary that such print correction is performed that the print density is more roughened near the inner radius than that of the outer radius to make the dot density equal.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 36C, in the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment, the print head450is moved at the position offset from the rotational center of the optical disk5in the direction in parallel with the radial axis, and the longitudinal direction of the ink discharge part450aof the print head450is vertical to the radial axis (the direction of moving the print head450). Thus, in this case, the print width for a single time becomes wider as the head more goes to the inner radial side, and the area to be printed by a single step is equal on the inner radial side of the optical disk5and on the outer radial side.

Here, the reason why the areas to be printed by a single step are equal in the optical disk apparatus400will be described with reference toFIGS. 37A and 37B. Before the discussion for the reason, Table 1 shows exemplary computations by the inventors for the area to be printed by a single step below.

In Table 1, Case 1 is an example corresponding to the case of the optical disk apparatus700before (seeFIG. 36A), Case 2 is an example corresponding to the case of the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention (seeFIG. 36B), and Cases 3 to 5 are examples corresponding to the case of the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment (seeFIG. 36Cfor Case 3). In Cases 3 to 5, as described in Table 1, the width (mm) of the print head450in the longitudinal direction is varied, and the ink discharge part is that having about 300 to 400 ink discharge nozzles arranged in a line. In addition, for the offset amount, in Cases 1 and 2, it is the distance (mm) in the tangential direction from the radial axis of the optical disk5to the center of the print head450, and in Cases 3 to 5, it is the distance (mm) in the tangential direction from the radial axis of the optical disk5to the left end of the ink discharge part450a(the end part close to the radial axis).

As shown in Table 1, in Case 1, the area ratio of the print area is Area1:Area2:Area3=45.4%:33.3%:21.3%, and in Case 2, it is Area1:Area2:Area3:Area4=43.8%:31.2%:18.7%:6.2%. As described above, in Cases 1 and 2, an area for the print area becomes smaller as the head more goes to the inner radial side of the optical disk5. Particularly, in Case 2, the reduced amount of an area for the print area is noticeable. On the other hand, in Cases 3 to 5, although the number of times of print (the number of the print areas) is different because the width of the print head450is varied, in any of the cases, it is revealed that an area for the print area is not different on the inner radial side of the optical disk5and on the outer radial side, and the area is the same in all the print areas. Therefore, in Cases 3 to 5, it is revealed that suppose the timing for ink discharge is the same, uniform print density can be obtained with no dot correction.

For theoretical confirmation, first, as shown inFIG. 37A, suppose the area printed by a first time print is A1, and the area printed by a second time print is A2(a thick solid line shown inFIG. 37Adenotes the position of the print head450to start the second time print). As shown inFIG. 37A, suppose the offset amount of the print head450is a, the width of the print head450is b, the print width at the second time print is c, and the position of the print head450in the radial direction to start the second time print is k, the space SA1of the print area A1is:
SA1=π×(a+b)2−π×a2
and, the space SA2of the print area A2is:
SA2=π×(a+b+c)2−π×(a+b)2(1)
Moreover, from the Pythagorean theorem, the following is held:
a2+k2=(a+b)2(2)
(a+b)2+k2=(a+b+c)2(3)
Equations (2) and (3) are substituted into Equation (1), and then the following is obtained:

Similarly, as shown inFIG. 37B, suppose the area printed by a third time print is A3, the print width of the third time print is d, and the position of the print head450in the radial direction to start the third time print is z, the space SA3of the print area A3is:
SA3=π×(a+b+c+d)2−π×(a+b+c)2(4)
and, from the Pythagorean theorem, the following is held:
a2+z2=(a+b+c)2(5)
(a+b)2+z2=(a+b+c+d)2(6)
Equations (5) and (6) are substituted into Equation (4), and then the following is obtained:

SA⁢⁢3=π×(a+b+c+d)2-π×(a+b+c)2=π×((a+b)2+z2)-π×(a2+z2)=π×(a+b)2-π×a2=SA⁢⁢1
Similarly, suppose the area printed by an n-th time print is An, the following is obtained:
SA1=SA2=SA3= . . . =SAn

As described above, the longitudinal direction of the ink discharge part450aof the print head450is the direction vertical to the direction of moving the print head450, whereby the space of all the areas to be printed by a single step is identical. Then, suppose an area for the print area is identical and the timing for ink discharge is the same, the print density is also the same. In other words, in the case of the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment, as different from the apparatus before and the embodiments described above, a uniform print can be made with no dot correction. Therefore, in the embodiment, the performance of the print head450can be fully exploited.

In addition, when the timing for ink discharge is adjusted depending on the area ratio of the print area, that is, in the optical disk apparatus700before (FIG. 36A) and the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention (FIG. 36B), when the discharge on the outer radial side of the optical disk5is delayed depending on the print space, a uniform print can be made with no dot correction (concentration correction). However, in order to fully exploit the performance of the print head, it is necessary to set the fastest timing for ink discharge. From the viewpoint, the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment (FIG. 36C) is most preferable.

Next, the effect of reducing streaks at the place to start printing in the case in which a label is printed by the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 38A and 38B. In addition,FIGS. 38A and 38Bshow photographs comparing an exemplary state of the label surface after a label is printed in the embodiment (FIG. 38B) with an exemplary state of the label surface after a label is printed in the first embodiment of an embodiment of the invention (FIG. 38A).

As shown inFIG. 38A, in the case in which a label is printed by using the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment in which the longitudinal direction of the print head is matched with the direction of moving the print head, it is shown that streaks occur at the place to start printing along the line on which the print head150is moved. This is because ink discharged from the ink discharge part150aof the print head150is dried to increase the viscosity to thicken the concentration of ink when ink discharge is started due to the influence of a blow caused by the rotation of the optical disk5. On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 38B, in the case in which a label is printed by using the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment in which the longitudinal direction of the print head is vertical to the direction of moving the print head, it is shown that streaks at the place to start printing are inconspicuous. It can be considered that this is because since the longitudinal direction of the print head450is vertical to the direction of moving the print head450, the portion to start printing is not formed in a linear shape different from the case shown inFIG. 38Aand is in a sheet shape, which causes ink with an increased viscosity to be more dispersed.

In addition, in the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment, a label may be printed by using the eject operation of the optical disk5by means of the tray420as a loading unit which loads the optical disk5into or ejects the disk out of the optical disk apparatus400. For example, as shown inFIG. 39, in the case in which only text information about the descriptions of recorded data is printed on the optical disk5, the print head450is controlled to discharge ink so that text information is printed in the eject operation in which the optical disk5is ejected from the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus400(FIG. 39shows the direction of loading the optical disk5), whereby the printed result shown inFIG. 39can be obtained easily at high speed.

In other words, in the embodiment, since the print head450is arranged at the position offset from the center of the optical disk5, the tray420moves the optical disk5in the outer radial direction in order to eject the optical disk5out of the optical disk apparatus400, whereby the print head450can be relatively moved with respect to the optical disk5. Therefore, for information of text or images that can be printed in passing the print head450over the optical disk5at one time, the eject operation of the optical disk5can be used to print a label. In addition, although it is irrelevant whether to operate the print head450in the eject operation of the optical disk5, when the print head450is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of ejecting the optical disk5, a print can be made at higher speed than the case in which the print head450is not operated. In other words, in the case in which a print is made throughout the label surface of the optical disk5, it is necessary to convert print data for printing. For example, in the case in which only text data is printed, the discharge of the print head450is controlled at the timing of ejecting the optical disk5out of the optical disk apparatus400, whereby the printed result shown inFIG. 39can be obtained easily at high speed.

As described above, in accordance with the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment, since the print head450does not pass through the rotational center of the optical disk5and the longitudinal direction of the print head450is arranged vertical to the movable axis, the print area at each step can be made uniform or nearly uniform. Therefore, the following advantages can be obtained: (1) when the timing of ink discharge from the print head is the same, the print density in each print area becomes the same, (2) a label can be printed uniformly or nearly uniformly with no concentration correction, and (3) the performance of the print head can be fully exploited.

In addition, in accordance with the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the ink discharge part450aof the print head450is vertical to the movable axis of the print head450. Thus, such advantages can be obtained that (1) streaks in a linear shape at the place to start printing are eliminated and the place becomes more inconspicuous than the other portions.

Moreover, since the longitudinal direction of the ink discharge part450aof the print head450is vertical to the direction of moving the optical disk5for loading, the operation of ejecting the disk can be used to print simple data such as text. Thus, in the case in which there is a little print data, such advantages can be obtained that the time for printing can be reduced greatly and the convenience for users is increased.

In addition, the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment is not restricted to the examples described above. For example, various modifications can be considered such as the case in which the shape of the print head450is different from those described above, or in the case in which the cap472and the ink reservoir474have different shapes.

The Configuration and Operation of an Optical Disk Apparatus500According to a Fifth Embodiment

Next, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus500according to the fifth embodiment of an embodiment of the invention as an information recording apparatus will be described with reference toFIG. 40. In addition,FIG. 40shows a block diagram depicting the configuration of the optical disk apparatus500according to the fifth embodiment of an embodiment of the invention having the function of printing a label. In addition, in the discussion below, the other structures of the optical disk apparatus500are the same as the case of the embodiments described above, omitting the detailed descriptions here.

Here, the optical disk apparatus700before and the optical disk apparatus100,200and300according to the first to third embodiments described above have the problem below.

In other words, for example, it is effective that the print width of the print head is made greater (the width of the ink discharge part of the print head), but when the length of the ink discharge part of the print head in the longitudinal direction is made greater in order to increase the print width, the difference in the performance of the individual ink discharge nozzles configuring the print head appears noticeably. In other words, in the case in which the print width of the print head is great, the image quality of a printed image is inevitably degraded, whereas in the case in which the print width of the print head is small, it is difficult to print at high speed, which causes tradeoffs.

Then, in order to solve the problem above, the optical disk apparatus500according to the embodiment has a head control part which controls a print head moving unit so that the distance of a single movement of the print head can be changed, in which the head control part changes the distance of a single movement of the print head, whereby the modes can be selectively set: a single print mode in which the same region on the information recording medium is printed for one time; and a multiprint mode in which the same region on the information recording medium is printed for a plurality of times. Hereinafter, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus500will be described in detail.

As shown inFIG. 40, the optical disk apparatus500mainly has a recording and reproducing unit500A which records information on an optical disk5or reproduces information recorded on the optical disk5, and a print unit500B which prints a label on the optical disk5.

For example, the recording and reproducing unit500A has a recording and reproducing control part510, a spindle motor controller512, a video and audio processing part514, a D/A converting part516, an interface518, a matrix amplifier/synchronization detection/ECC part520, a sled control part522, a servo control part524, a laser control part526, a buffer memory528, a spindle motor536, an optical pickup540, and a pickup moving mechanism544.

The recording and reproducing control part510generally controls the individual control parts overall including the spindle motor controller512which inputs and outputs various signals, described later, the matrix amplifier/synchronization detection/ECC part520, the sled control part522, the servo control part524, and the laser control part526.

The spindle motor536functions as a rotation drive mechanism which rotates the optical disk5. For example, the spindle motor536is controlled to have a proper number of revolutions by the spindle motor controller512into which a signal is inputted from the recording and reproducing control part510.

The optical pickup540has a laser source, an objective lens which collects the laser beam emitted from the laser source onto the disk, and a photo detector (PD) which detects the light reflected and returned from the disk (they are not shown). For example, a semiconductor laser, particularly a laser diode (LD) is used as the laser source, which is not restricted thereto. In addition to this, the optical pickup540has an optical system (not shown) which guides the laser beam emitted from the laser source to the objective lens.

The matrix amplifier in the matrix amplifier/synchronization detection/ECC part520computes and generates a focus error signal, a tracking error signal, and an RF signal based on various signals outputted from PD of the optical pickup540. Similarly, an actuator (not shown) mounted on the optical pickup540is mounted with an objective lens, which moves the objective lens in the tracking direction, the focusing direction and the tilt direction. In addition, the synchronization detecting part (and an A/D converter, not shown) generates clocks based on synchronization signals recorded on the optical disk5at predetermined intervals, and converts analog signals to digital signals. Moreover, the ECC part (and a signal modulator/demodulator) performs signal modulation and demodulation, ECC addition, and an error correcting process based on ECC (Error Correcting Code: error correcting signal).

The sled control part522outputs a signal that controls the movement of the optical pickup540in the radial direction of the optical disk5to control the position for recording and reproduction (the sled servo). More specifically, the signal outputted from the sled control part522is inputted to the sled motor546, the sled motor546moves the pickup moving mechanism544based on the inputted signal, and the pickup moving mechanism544moves the optical pickup540to the position for recording and reproduction.

The servo control part524outputs various servo signals to the actuator mounted on the optical pickup540described above to properly control the attitude of the objective lens based on the focus error signal, the tracking error signal and the RF signal. In addition, the servo control part524may output the control signal for the sled servo described above and the control signal for the number of revolutions of the spindle motor536.

The laser control part526receives the modulation signal from the matrix amplifier and the ECC part (and a signal modulator/demodulator, not shown) in the matrix amplifier/synchronization detection/ECC part520to modulate the laser power of the laser source for writing signals on the optical disk5, and to control the laser power based on the RF signal.

The buffer memory528temporarily stores data processed in the signal modulator/demodulator and the ECC part. The video and audio processing part514performs necessary video and audio processing, and outputs video and sounds in an analog manner through the D/A converting part516(for example, outputs video/sounds). The interface518is an interface that connects an external computer and video and sound sources, not shown.

For example, the print unit500B has a print head550, a head drive motor560, a print head moving mechanism562, a head moving circuit564, a print controller570, and a memory580.

The print head550and the head drive motor560are the same as those described in the embodiments, omitting the detailed descriptions. The print head moving mechanism562is driven by the head drive motor560, and moves the print head550at the position offset from the center axis of the optical disk5in the direction in parallel with the radial direction. Generally, the head moving circuit564is formed in one piece with the print head550, which controls ink discharge from the print head550.

The print controller570receives signals from the recording and reproducing control part510, and outputs signals to the recording and reproducing control part510. In addition, the print controller570controls the print head moving mechanism562and the head drive motor560which drives the print head moving mechanism.

The memory580stores data of print information that is information about print descriptions (hereinafter, referred to as print data). For example, the memory580temporarily stores print data from a personal computer, a memory card and the other external devices.

Hereinafter, the operation of the optical disk apparatus500having this configuration will be described. In recording data, digital data inputted from an external computer, not shown, to the interface is added with error correcting codes (ECC) and modulated in the signal modulator/demodulator and the ECC part. Based on the modulated digital data, pulses are generated by the laser control part526, and a laser beam is applied onto the optical disk5through the optical pickup540, whereby digital data is recorded. In recording data, the servo is controlled properly by the servo control part524, the spindle motor controller512, and the sled control part522for laser control.

On the other hand, in reproducing data, when a laser beam is applied onto the optical disk5, the light reflected and returned is detected by the PD of the optical pickup540. For the reflected light detected by the PD, amplification and waveform equalization are computed by the matrix amplifier to reproduce the RF signal, and the synchronization detecting part and the A/D converter generate bit strings that the RF signal is binarized. The generated bit strings are subjected to signal demodulation and error correction by the signal modulator/demodulator and the ECC part. The video and audio processing part514separates video data and audio data from the demodulated signal, and the D/A converting part516subjects the data to D/A conversion for analog output. Also in reproducing data, the servo is properly controlled by the servo control part524, the spindle motor controller512, and the sled control part522for laser control.

Generally, for printing a label, the spindle motor536is controlled based on the signal from the disk surface of the optical disk5as well as printing is controlled as similar to data reproduction, and a label is printed while the optical disk5is being rotated at a certain number of revolutions. In addition, a label may be printed while data is being recorded, or a print is made while the number of revolutions of the optical disk5is varied, not restricted thereto. In this case, for example, the print controller570can control the print head moving unit so that a single movement of the distance of the print head550is the maximum print width of the print head550, in the embodiment, it is 1/n of the width of the ink discharge part (n is a natural number).

As described above, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus500has been discussed. Next, the operation of the optical disk apparatus500having this configuration in printing a label will be described with reference toFIGS. 41A to 41C,FIGS. 42A to 42CandFIGS. 43A and 43B. In addition,FIGS. 41A to 41Cshow an illustration depicting the operation in which a print is made in the single print mode,FIG. 41Ashows the case of using the optical disk apparatus700before, andFIG. 41Bshows the case of using the optical disk apparatus500according to the embodiment.FIGS. 42A to 42Cshow an illustration depicting the operation in which a print is made in the multiprint mode,FIG. 42Ashows the case of using the optical disk apparatus700before, andFIG. 42Bshows the case of using the optical disk apparatus500according to the embodiment.FIGS. 43A and 43Bshow photographs comparing an exemplary state of the label surface after a label is printed by single printing with an exemplary state of the label surface after a label is printed by multiprint. In addition, in the discussion below, the overlapping descriptions of the same operations as those described above in the optical disk apparatus100,200and300according to the first to third embodiments are omitted.

First, the case in which a label is printed by the single print mode will be described. As described above, the single print mode is that the same region on the information recording medium such as the optical disk5is printed for one time. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 41C, the print controller570moves the print head by the same distance (the advance amount) as the print width (the width of the ink discharge part) by a single print step for printing (in the drawing, (1) to (3) denote the first step to the third step). Therefore, a single dot is printed for a single time.

FIG. 41Ashows the case in which the print head is moved on the radial axis, andFIG. 41Bshows the case in which the print head is moved at position shifted and offset from the rotational center of the optical disk5in the direction in parallel with the radial axis. In the ink discharge part, for example, 300 to 400 ink discharge nozzles are arranged, and the arrangement of the individual nozzles becomes nonuniform due to variations in fabrication, which leads to color irregularity. Therefore, in the case of single printing, in both cases shown inFIGS. 41A and 41B, the difference in the performance of nozzles directly affects image quality, and as shown inFIG. 43A, concentric streaks tend to occur on the optical disk5. Moreover, a print with a great influence of the difference in the performance of nozzles is repeated at every step, and then concentric streaks become more conspicuous.

Next, the case in which a label is printed by the multiprint mode will be described. The multiprint mode is that as described above, the same region on the information recording medium such as the optical disk5is printed for a plurality of times (two times or grater). More specifically, as shown inFIG. 42C, the print controller570moves the print head by the same distance as 1/n (n is a natural number of two or greater) of the print width (the width of the ink discharge part) at a single print step for printing (in the drawing, (1) to (6) denote the first step to the sixth step). Therefore, a single dot is printed for two times or above. In addition,FIG. 42Cshows the case in which the print head is moved by n=2, that is, ½ of the width of the ink discharge part at a single step.

FIG. 42Ashows the case in which the print head is moved on the radial axis, andFIG. 42Bshows the case in which the print head is moved at position shifted and offset from the rotational center of the optical disk5in the direction in parallel with the radial axis. It is the same as the case of single printing that the arrangement of the individual nozzles becomes nonuniform due to variations in fabrication, which leads to color irregularity. However, in the case of multiprint, since the print head is moved at a single step by every 1/n of the case of single printing (for example, in the embodiment, by every ½), the same region on the optical disk5(for example, a single pixel) is printed with two or more nozzles (in the embodiment, two nozzles). Therefore, the influence of the difference in the performance of nozzles is more difficult to appear than the case of single printing, and as shown inFIG. 43B, and concentric variations become inconspicuous on the optical disk5(variations are averaged). In other words, a label is printed by multiprint, whereby an image of higher image quality can be printed. Moreover, when the movement of the print head for a single step is made smaller and smaller such as ¼, ⅛ and so on in the case of single printing, the number of nozzles to print the same region on the optical disk5(for example, a single pixel) grows to four, eight and so on. Thus, the influence of the difference in the performance of nozzles is much more difficult to appear (the allowance of the difference in the performance of nozzles is widened), and an image of higher image quality can be printed. Moreover, the image quality of a printed image can be improved as well as the improvement of yields and a reduction in costs can be intended.

However, as shown inFIG. 42A, in the case in which the print head is moved on the radial axis, since the print head interferes with the member such as the chucking plate, it is difficult to perform sufficient multiprint up to the inner radial side of the optical disk5. Therefore, for example, as shown in an enlarged photograph inFIG. 42A, on the outer radial side, the multiprint area is formed in which multiprint is possible, and on the inner side thereof, a single print area is formed in which only single printing is possible (that is, a print can be made only for a single time) because of the interference with the member such as the chucking plate, and a no-label area is formed in which no print can be made. On the other hand, in the case in which the print head is moved at the position shifted and offset from the rotational center of the optical disk5in the direction in parallel with the radial axis, the print head can be moved as it avoids the member such as the chucking plate. Thus, as shown inFIG. 42B, multiprint can be made to near the center of the optical disk5on the inner radial side.

As described above, in accordance with the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment, the print head does not pass through the rotational center of the disk, and multiprint is performed in which the movement of the print head is smaller than the width of the ink discharge part, whereby such advantages can be obtained that the printable area is increased more than before, and a print is made easily to near the inner radius of the disk as well as the image quality of a printed image can be improved.

In addition, as described above, in the case of the single print mode before, streaks occur to degrade the image quality of a printed image. In addition to such streaks, for example, suppose the case in which a particular pattern is repeatedly printed, in the case of single print mode, a nozzle to be used is the same all the time, which tends to degrade the nozzle. Contrary to this, there is a problem that for nozzles not used, ink is dried to cause errors such as clogs. Particularly, in the ink jet system using heat, it is thought that nozzles tend to degrade. In contrast to this, in the multiprint mode, since nozzles are used evenly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of these problems.

Moreover, in the case in which a label is printed on a disk, since the moving speed of (the label of) the disk to be printed is faster than a print for a normal paper sheet, a relative print load against nozzles is high, and a blow caused by the disk is affected as well, which lead to a problem that ink is dried to cause nozzles to easily clog. In contrast to this, in the case of the multiprint mode, since the frequency in use of the individual nozzles can be lowered, advantages are significant that reduce a print load and that prevent nozzles from clogging due to dried ink.

In addition, in the case of a normal ink jet printer, since a paper sheet to be printed is fixed in printing and only a print head is reciprocated, the relative speed of the print head to the print target can be increased only to some extend. However, in the case in which a label is printed on a disk, an encoder is sometimes used to drop the rotating speed. For example, in the case in which a print is made while data is being read as in the embodiment, since the speed is increased to 10 to 15 times, it is thought that the advantages of the multiprint mode are significant.

In addition, the optical disk apparatus400according to the embodiment is not restricted to the examples described above. For example, in the case in which the movement of the print head by a single step is set differently from the examples described above, various modifications can be considered such as the case in which only the multiprint mode is used with no single print mode.

The Configuration and Operation of an Optical Disk Apparatus600According to a Sixth Embodiment

Next, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus600according to the sixth embodiment of an embodiment of the invention as an information recording apparatus will be described with reference toFIGS. 44 to 47. In addition,FIG. 44shows a perspective view depicting the internal configuration of the optical disk apparatus600according to the sixth embodiment of an embodiment of the invention,FIG. 45shows a perspective view depicting the optical disk apparatus600according to the same embodiment seen from the under surface side,FIG. 46shows an enlarged perspective view depicting the configuration of the essential part of the optical disk apparatus600shown inFIG. 44, andFIG. 47shows an enlarged perspective view depicting the key members further extracted fromFIG. 46. In addition, in the discussion below, the detailed descriptions of the same configuration and operation as those of the optical disk apparatus100,200,300,400and500according to the first to fifth embodiments described above will be omitted.

Here, the optical disk apparatus700before and the optical disk apparatus100,200,300,400and500according to the first to fifth embodiments described above have problems below that occur because a label is printed by using a print head of the ink jet system.

In other words, when the print head of the ink jet system is used to print a label, since ink discharged from the print head smears the inside of the information recording apparatus such as an optical disk apparatus, in the information recording unit of the information recording apparatus, for example, in the optical disk apparatus, there is a problem that an optical part, particularly, a lens of the optical pickup is smeared with ink.

In addition, in contrast to this, in order to provide a cleaner exclusively used for an information recording unit such as an optical pickup, it is necessary to mount a complex mechanism, which leads to a factor of increasing costs.

Moreover, for example, in the case of using the print head of the ink jet system, such a mechanism is necessary that a cleaning mechanism such as a wiper is used to clean (for example, wipe off) ink attached to the ink discharge part of the print head. Therefore, there is also a problem that a complex mechanism is necessary in the rear part of the information recording apparatus (on the opposite side of the loading port of the information recording medium), and a space is reduced.

Then, in order to solve the problems above, in the optical disk apparatus600according to the embodiment, for example, a cleaning mechanism such as a wiper part which cleans the print head is formed in one piece with a cleaning mechanism for an information recording unit such as an optical pickup, and these mechanisms have a unit formed in one piece therewith which caps the print head so as not to dry ink, as necessary. Hereinafter, the configuration of the optical disk apparatus600will be described in detail.

As shown inFIGS. 44 to 47, in addition to the configuration provided to the optical disk apparatus100,200,300,400and500according to the first to fifth embodiments described above, the optical disk apparatus600according to the embodiment has a wiper680as an exemplary head cleaning mechanism which cleans a print head650, and a lens cleaner690as an exemplary recording unit cleaning mechanism which cleans an optical pickup640, in which a cap672and an ink reservoir674are formed in one piece with these mechanisms. In addition, the cap672and the ink reservoir674are not necessarily formed in one piece. The wiper680and the lens cleaner690may be formed in one piece, and the cap672and the ink reservoir674may be formed separately. However, in this case, preferably, the cap672and the ink reservoir674are disposed at the position at which the wiper680does not come into contact with the cap672.

As shown inFIGS. 44 and 45, as similar to the cases of the embodiments described above, in the optical disk apparatus600, an optical disk5is loaded into a drive part surrounded by side panels618, and the optical disk5loaded into the apparatus is clamped by a chucking plate630supported by a chucking plate mounting board632together with a hub. Hereinafter, the feature configuration of the embodiment will be described in detail.

The optical disk apparatus600has a cap672in order to prevent ink discharged from a print head (not shown) from drying, and the cap672is accommodated in a cap accommodating part670. For example, the cap672is formed with a hole672anearly at the center part of the bottom part. As described above, the cap672is not a fully sealed cap, which has the hole672a, whereby it can adjust the degree of drying ink. The hole672alike this can be formed in the optical disk apparatus according to the embodiments described above. In addition, in addition to the cap672, the cap accommodating part670is provided with an ink reservoir674which is a place at which ink is discharged on purpose so that air does not enter in order to prevent print errors. The other configurations of the cap672and the ink reservoir674are the same as those described in the embodiments.

In addition, as described above, the optical disk apparatus600has the head cleaning mechanism which cleans the print head, and the head cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment is configured of the wiper680which is moved in the direction vertical to the radial direction and a drive mechanism therefor.

The wiper680has a wiper head680aat the tip end part thereof. For example, the wiper head680ahas a structure in which an elastic member like rubber is laminated in two layers. In addition, the wiper680is driven by a wiper drive motor681, and they are joined to each other through a wiper arm682and a wiper joining part684.

The wiper680is disposed on the under surface side of the wiper part supporting plate687, and the wiper joining part684disposed on the top surface side of the wiper part supporting plate687is joined to the wiper680so as to penetrate through a through hole or a notch (both are not shown) formed in the wiper part supporting plate687. The wiper drive motor681is fixed on the wiper part supporting plate687. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 44,46and47, a wiper drive shaft681ais disposed so as to penetrate through the wiper drive motor681, and a pressing part (not shown) is disposed at one end of the wiper drive shaft681a(at the end part on the wiper arm682side). A pin683penetrates through one end of the wiper arm682, and one end of the pin683is fixed to the wiper part supporting plate687. In addition, the other end of the wiper arm682is joined to the wiper joining part684through a hinge part684a.

In the wiper joining part684, two through holes (not shown) are formed in the vertical direction, for example, and two wiper drive shafts686are inserted through the through holes. The two wiper drive shafts686are extended in the direction vertical to the radial direction, and arranged in parallel with each other. As shown inFIGS. 44 and 46, the wiper drive shaft686is mounted on a wiper holding member689in an L-shape in cross section, and a pin683is also held by the wiper holding member689.

In addition, the optical disk apparatus600has the lens cleaner690which cleans a lens642of the optical pickup640. The lens cleaner690is formed in one piece with the main body part of the wiper680, for example, which is formed to extend from the main body part of the wiper680toward the front surface side of the optical disk apparatus600. The lens cleaner690has a wiping member having a function of wiping the lens642. For example, as shown inFIGS. 44 to 47, the optical disk apparatus600according to the embodiment has a brush wiping member692as the wiping member like this which is detachably disposed at the tip end part of the lens cleaner690.

Here, the brush wiping member692will be described with reference toFIG. 47andFIG. 48A. For example, the brush wiping member692is formed of a brush part694which removes ink attached to the lens642, and a brush support part696which supports the brush part694. The brush support part696is detachably disposed on the main body part of the lens cleaner690with a screw (not shown), in which the brush wiping member692can be easily replaced in the case in which the brush wiping member692is used to degrade the brush part694due to abrasion. In the embodiment, since the lens cleaner690is formed in one piece with the wiper680, the embodiment is significantly excellent in view of costs because when the brush wiping member692is formed in one piece with the lens cleaner690, the wiper680unnecessary to be replaced has to be changed together due to the abrasion of the brush part694. However, with no consideration of these points, the brush wiping member692may be formed in one piece with the lens cleaner690.

In addition, as a modification of the wiping member according to the embodiment, for example, as shown inFIG. 48B, the wiping member may be a rotating wiping member697which is formed of a material that hardly causes lint such as a nonwoven fabric formed of acrylic or PET (lint free) nearly in a cylindrical shape for rotation to remove ink attached to the lens642. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 48C, a paper wiping member698in which the tip end part of the lens cleaner690is covered with a material such as paper may remove ink attached to the lens642.

The operations of the cap672, the wiper680, and the lens cleaner690according to the embodiment having this configuration will be described below. In the discussion below, for the convenience of descriptions, the motion of the wiper680will be mainly described. First, the wiper drive motor681is rotated to move the wiper drive shaft681ain the direction toward the wiper arm682, and then the pressing part (not shown) at the tip end part of the wiper drive shaft681apresses the wiper arm682in the direction of moving the wiper drive shaft681a. With the pressing force, the wiper arm682is rotated counterclockwise, for example, as the pin683is used as the fulcrum. Subsequently, in association with the rotation of the wiper arm682, the wiper joining part684joined to the wiper arm682through the hinge part684ais linearly moved along the shaft686in the direction vertical to the radial direction while it is guided by the wiper drive shaft686. The wiper680is linearly moved toward the print head (not shown) side in the direction vertical to the radial direction as interlocking with the movement of the wiper joining part684.

On the other hand, in the case in which the wiper arm682is rotated clockwise, for example, it can be rotated by using the force of an elastic member such as a spring (not shown) that is elastically restored. In other words, for example, when the wiper drive motor281is reversely rotated to move the wiper drive shaft681atoward the opposite side of the wiper arm682, the pressing part (not shown) is separated from the wiper arm682and the pressing force caused by the pressing part is not applied to the wiper arm682. Therefore, for example, the wiper arm682can be rotated clockwise due to the restoration force of the elastic member described above. Then, the wiper680is moved toward the reverse direction before (toward the opposite side of the print head side). By repeating the rotation and the reverse rotation of the drive motor281, the wiper680can clean the ink discharge part of the print head (not shown) with the wiper head680a.

In addition, at this time, in the embodiment, since the cap672and the lens cleaner690are formed in one piece with the wiper680, they reciprocate in the direction vertical to the radial direction in association with the operation of the wiper680described above. The lens cleaner690passes through the upper part of the lens642in moving like this, and it cleans the lens642when passing through the lens642.

Here, preferably, in the optical disk apparatus600, the wiper680as the head cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment is further provided with a maintenance control part (not shown) which controls the lens cleaner690as a recording unit cleaning mechanism according to the embodiment to clean the lens642after the print head is cleaned. This is because when the wiper680cleans the print head, ink attached to the print head sometimes splatters to the lens642due to the wiping operation of the wiper680. Even in this case, the maintenance control part is provided to eliminate such an event that the lens642is smeared again by cleaning the print head after the lens642is cleaned.

As described above, in the optical disk apparatus with the function of printing a label using the print head of the ink jet system, excessive ink (mist) that is discharged from the print head and does not reach the printing surface smears the inside of the apparatus in printing a label. At this time, the optical pickup, particularly the lens part is smeared, and data read and write becomes unstable as well as write failure sometimes occurs. Like the optical disk apparatus600according to the embodiment, the wiper680, the cap672, and the ink reservoir674as well as the lens cleaner690are disposed, and the wiper680, the cap672, the ink reservoir674and the lens cleaner690are formed in one piece, whereby an effective maintenance mechanism is implemented with a simple structure more than the case of separately providing the lens cleaner690.

Therefore, in accordance with the optical disk apparatus600according to the embodiment, since the wiper680, the cap672, the ink reservoir674, and the lens cleaner690can be moved in an integrated manner, as compared with the manner before, an effective maintenance mechanism can be implemented with a simple configuration, which allows low costs and a reduction in size, and such an advantage can be obtained that failure hardly occurs because of a simple mechanism.

In addition, the optical disk apparatus600according to the embodiment is not restricted to the examples described above. For example, various modifications can be considered such as the case in which the cap and the ink reservoir have different shapes, the case in which the lens cleaner has a different shape other than the brush shape, the rotation type, and cleaning paper, the case in which a mechanism that forms the wiper680, the cap672, the ink reservoir674, and the lens cleaner690in one piece has a different structure, the case in which the motion of the wiper680, the cap672, the ink reservoir674, and the lens cleaner690is the direction different from that in the embodiment (for example, the direction vertical to the direction of moving in the embodiment), and the case in which a print can be made on the label surface of a cartridge of a disk having the cartridge.

Among the cases, for example, for a modification of the shape of the cap, a shape of a cap672′ shown inFIG. 49is named. For example, the cap672′ is formed of rubber overall (synthetic rubber such as latex), in which a base672aand an ink absorbing part672bin which an ink absorber (not shown) is accommodated are formed in one piece. The ink absorbing part672bis formed of a bottom part nearly in a rectangular shape and wall parts formed on the outer radius thereof, in which a pair of holding members672cis extended on the wall parts facing to each other. The holding members672cclamp the ink absorber so as not to be removed.

As described above, the preferred embodiments according to an embodiment of the invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is needless to say that an embodiment of the invention is not restricted to the examples above. It should be apparent for those skilled in the art that various modifications or revisions can be contemplated within the scope of the claims, which are of course included in the technical scope of an embodiment of the invention.

For example, in the embodiments described above, as the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, the optical disk apparatus100,200,300,400,500,600which record and reproduce the optical disk are taken and described as examples. For the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, it is not restricted to the optical disk apparatus, for example, which may be a magnetic disk apparatus and a magneto-optical disk apparatus.

For example, in the embodiments described above, for the optical disk apparatus having the print head replace cover, the case of the optical disk apparatus300is described in which the optical disk apparatus100according to the first embodiment is further provided with the print head replace cover319. The optical disk apparatus200,400,500and600according to the second, fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments may be further provided with the print head replace cover.

In addition, in the embodiments described above, the detailed descriptions of the cap mechanism and the cleaning mechanism are discussed as the optical disk apparatus200according to the second embodiment is taken as an example. The optical disk apparatus100,300,400,500and600according to the first, third, fourth, fifth and the sixth embodiments are the same.

In addition, in the third embodiment described above, an example is described in which the cap372and the ink reservoir374are detachably disposed with respect to the tray320. The cap372and the ink reservoir374may be formed in one piece with the tray320.

In addition, the cleaning mechanism and the cap mechanism according to the sixth embodiment may be adapted to the optical disk apparatus400and500according to the fourth and fifth embodiments.