Disk device

A disk device including a guide, formed in a housing, having an inclined guide portion and a straight-line guide portion. A moving member moves along the guide. The moving member is affixed to a wire, and the wire is wound upon a biasing pulley. A small-diameter pulley is formed integrally with the biasing pulley, and a spring is provided at a biasing wire wound upon the small-diameter pulley. When the moving member is pushed into the disk device by a cartridge, the shutter is opened. The moving member is also used to eject the cartridge. Even when the resilient force of the spring is large, the reaction force, produced as a result of cartridge insertion, is small, and the ejection stroke of the cartridge is large. In a conventional disk device for loading a cartridge therein, both a mechanism for opening the shutter of the cartridge, and a mechanism for ejecting the cartridge are required. When these mechanisms are formed into a single mechanism, the reaction force, produced when inserting the cartridge, is large, and a sufficiently long ejection stroke cannot be obtained. The disk device of the invention makes it possible to overcome these problems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention broadly relates to a disk device for inserting a 
disk-containing cartridge therein, and, more particularly, to a disk 
device allowing a shutter of a cartridge, inserted by a simple mechanism, 
to be opened, and the cartridge to be ejected. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
There are recording media to which data can be recorded, using an optical 
recording method, a magneto-optical recording method, or a phase-change 
recording method. An example of such recording media is a disk Da 
contained in a cartridge C, which is shown in FIG. 7A. 
The cartridge C has a shutter S at a side portion at an X1 side, with the 
shutter S being slidable in the Y1-Y2 directions and being biased in the 
Y2 direction by a spring. When the shutter S slides in the Y2 direction, 
the window of the cartridge C is closed, whereas when the shutter S moves 
in the Y1 direction, the window is opened. 
The disk device for inserting the cartridge C therein requires a shutter 
opening mechanism for opening the shutter S by making it slide in the Y1 
direction, as well as an ejection mechanism for pushing out the cartridge 
C from the opening, after reproduction. 
However, separately providing the aforementioned shutter opening mechanism 
and the aforementioned ejection mechanism makes the structure of the drive 
device very complicated. 
To overcome such a problem, as shown in FIG. 7A, a rotary lever 61, serving 
as both a shutter opening mechanism and an ejection mechanism, may be 
provided in the device in the direction of insertion of the cartridge (X1 
direction). The base end of the rotary lever 61 is rotatably supported by 
a supporting shaft 62 as fulcrum, with a biasing pin 63 provided at an end 
of the rotary lever 61. The rotary lever 61 is biased in the .alpha.1 
direction by a spring. 
When the cartridge C is inserted in the X1 direction, the biasing pin 63 is 
retained by an end S1 of the shutter S. Further insertion of the cartridge 
C in the X1 direction causes the rotary lever 61 to rotate in the .alpha.2 
direction, during which rotation the biasing pin 63 pushes the shutter S 
in the Y1 direction to open it. 
After reproduction of data on the disk Da in the cartridge, the rotary 
lever 61 is rotated in the Y2 direction by the spring in order to eject 
the cartridge C. 
However, as shown in FIG. 7A, the rotary lever 61 is provided at the back 
side of the disk device, so that there is a limit as to how long the 
rotary lever 61 can be made. Therefore, when ejecting the cartridge C, the 
ejection stroke of the cartridge C, during rotation of the rotary lever 61 
in the .alpha.1 direction, is short, making it difficult to ensure 
ejection of the cartridge C out the disk device. 
At the moment the cartridge C is inserted in the X1 direction, and the 
biasing pin 63 strikes the end S1 of the shutter S, the rotary lever 61 
extends in the X1 direction. Therefore, immediately after the biasing pin 
63 has struck the end S1 of the shutter S, the reaction force, produced 
during rotation of the biasing pin 63 in the .alpha.2 direction, is large, 
so that there is a large force that opposes the insertion of the cartridge 
C. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To overcome the above-described conventional problems, it is an object of 
the present invention to provided a disk device capable of reliably 
opening the shutter, in which the force opposing cartridge insertion is 
small, and the push-out stroke, during ejection of the cartridge, is long. 
To this end, according to the present invention, there is provided a disk 
device for inserting a cartridge (C), including a shutter (S) for opening 
and closing a window to expose the inner portion of a disk (Da), into an 
opening (4), with a side portion of the disk device with the shutter (S) 
set facing the inner portion of the disk device, and an opening direction 
of the shutter (S) set in the widthwise direction of the disk device, the 
disk device comprising: a guide (6) having a guide portion (6a) and a 
guide portion (6b), the guide portion (6a) extending from the opening (4) 
towards the back side (or in an X1 direction) of the disk device, and in 
the opening direction (or in a Y1 direction) of the shutter (S), and the 
guide portion (6b) extending continuously from the guide portion (6a) 
towards the back side (or in the X1 direction) of the disk device; a 
moving member (7) which moves along the guide (6); a biasing member (13) 
for biasing the moving member (7) in the direction of the opening (4); and 
positioning members (53, 54) for positioning the cartridge (C), inserted 
by pushing the cartridge (C) by the moving member (7), to a position where 
the disk (Da) is drivable, wherein when the moving member (7) is moving to 
the opening (4) side end of the guide (6), an end (S1) at the shutter (S) 
closing side of the cartridge (C) to be inserted is retained by the moving 
member (7). 
Although not exclusive, the disk device may further comprise a wire (14) 
which moves along the guide (6), the wire (14) having the moving member 
(7) affixed thereto, and the wire (14) being biased in a direction that 
allows the moving member (7) to move towards the opening (4) side. 
Although not exclusive, the disk device may further comprise a biasing 
pulley (10) having the wire (14) wound thereupon, and a small-diameter 
pulley (11) which rotates with the biasing pulley, and having a biasing 
torque, produced by a biasing force of the biasing member (13), exerted 
thereto. 
According to the present invention, when the cartridge (C) is inserted, the 
movable member (7), pushed by the cartridge (C), moves along the guide (6) 
towards the back side of the drive device. When the moving member (7) 
moves along the first guide portion (6a) extending obliquely, the shutter 
(S) is opened by the force produced by the movement of the moving member 
(7). After the shutter (S) has been opened, the moving member (7) moves 
along the second guide portion (6b) extending in a straight line towards 
the back side of the disk drive (or in a direction parallel to the 
direction of insertion of the cartridge), during which the shutter S is 
kept open. 
Thus, the movement stroke of the shutter (S) is long, so that the cartridge 
(C) can be ejected out of the device with a sufficiently long ejection 
stroke. Consequently, after ejection, the cartridge can be easily pulled 
out. 
In addition, the moving member (7) is always guided along the guide (6), 
allowing smooth movement of the moving member (7). 
Further, when the moving member (7), affixed to the wire (14), moves along 
with the wire, a stable biasing force is exerted to the moving member (7) 
in the direction of the opening. In particular, a stable and proper amount 
of biasing force can be exerted to the moving member (7), using a short 
biasing member (coil spring) (13), by providing a biasing pulley (10), 
with the wire (14) wound thereupon, and a small-diameter pulley (11) 
having a smaller diameter than that of the biasing pulley (10). Further, a 
short spring, or the like, may be used for the biasing member, thereby 
simplifying the structure in the device, and providing a structure 
suitable for size reduction. 
Still further, although in the illustrated example the small-diameter 
pulley (11) is integrally provided with the biasing pulley (10) upon which 
the wire (14) is wound, in the present invention the resilient force of 
the spring, serving as the biasing member (13), may be applied to the 
moving member (7) either through the wire or directly thereto, by means of 
a speed-increasing means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a disk device in accordance with 
the present invention. FIG. 2A is a plan view primarily showing the 
structure of the upper half B of the disk device, while FIG. 2B is a side 
elevational view of the disk device. FIG. 3A is a plan view primarily 
showing the structure of the lower half A of the disk device, while FIG. 
3B is a side elevational view of the disk device. FIGS. 4 to 6 are partial 
views each illustrating the operation of the disk device. 
Either a cartridge C containing a disk Da, such as that shown in FIG. 7A, 
or a disk Db not contained in a cartridge, such as that shown in FIG. 7B, 
can be loaded into the disk device of the present invention. Examples of 
the disk Da, contained in the cartridge C, and the disk Db, not contained 
in a cartridge, include a power disk (PD), a digital video disk (DVD), and 
a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM). 
As shown in FIG. 1, the disk device comprises a lower half A and an upper 
half B. The disk device, formed by combining the lower half A and the 
upper half B, is a thin device, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B. 
The housing 1 of the disk device is divided into a lower housing portion 2 
of the lower half A, and an upper housing portion 3 of the upper half B. 
Combining the lower housing portion 2 and the upper housing portion 3 
forms a thin, box-shaped housing 1, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3B, with an 
opening 4 formed in the left side of the housing 1 in the figures. Either 
the cartridge C of FIG. 7A or the disk Db of FIG. 7B is inserted into the 
housing 1 in the X1 direction from the opening 4. 
As shown in FIG. 1, at a top plate 3a of the upper housing portion 3, a 
clamper 5 is rotatably supported by a shaft 5a, and the shaft 5a and the 
clamper 5 are resiliently pushed towards the lower housing portion 2 by 
means of a plate spring (not shown). 
A guide 6 is formed in the top plate 3a of the upper housing portion 3 of 
the upper half B. The guide 6, which is slot-shaped, has, at the opening 4 
side, an oblique guide portion 6a that extends in the X1 direction (or in 
the direction of insertion of the cartridge C or the like) and obliquely 
in the Y1 direction (or in a direction perpendicular to the direction of 
insertion); and a straight-line guide portion 6b that extends continuously 
with the oblique guide portion 6a and parallel to the X1 direction. A 
pin-shaped moving member 7, being an opening/ejecting member, is inserted 
into the guide 6, so as to be movable in the slot of the guide 6. 
As shown in FIG. 2A, small pulleys 9a, 9b, and 9c are rotatably supported 
at the lower surface of the top plate 3a of the upper housing portion 3. A 
biasing pulley 10 is rotatably supported at a corner at the X1 and Y2 
sides of the upper housing portion 3. A wire 14 is placed upon the small 
pulleys 9a, 9b, and 9c, and is also wound upon the biasing pulley 10 so 
that the wire 14 moves in response to the rotation of the biasing pulley 
10. The moving member 7 is affixed to a portion of the wire 14. 
A small-diameter pulley 11 is integrally formed with the biasing pulley 10, 
with an end of a biasing wire 12 affixed to the small-diameter pulley 11, 
and the biasing wire 12 wound upon the small-diameter pulley 11. An 
ejection spring 13, serving as a biasing member, is placed between the 
other end of the biasing wire 12 and the upper housing portion 3. The 
biasing wire 12 is pulled by the contraction force of the ejection spring 
13, so that the small-diameter pulley 11 and the biasing pulley 10 formed 
integrally therewith are biased clockwise. This biases the wire 14 so as 
to move in the clockwise direction. The moving member 7, affixed to the 
wire 14, is pushed against an end at the opening 4 side of the guide 6. 
A biasing torque is exerted onto the small-diameter pulley 11 in the 
clockwise direction by the pulling resilient force of the ejection spring 
13. The wire 14 is also wound upon the large-diameter biasing pulley 10. 
Thus, since there is a difference between the diameters of the biasing 
pulley 10 and the small-diameter pulley 11, the dimension in the direction 
of expansion and contraction of the ejection spring 13 is short, while the 
distance through which the moving member 7 moves along the guide 6 is 
long. Therefore, it is possible to use an ejection spring 13 which is 
short compared to the distance of movement of the moving member 7, and, as 
shown in FIG. 2A, the ejection spring 13 can be disposed so as to extend 
in the widthwise direction (or Y direction) of the upper housing 3. In 
addition, tension T2, exerted onto the wire 14 by the biasing pulley 10, 
is less than tension T1, exerted onto the biasing wire 12 by the ejection 
spring 13, so that when either the cartridge C or the disk Db is inserted 
from the opening 4, causing the moving member 7 to be pushed in the X1 
direction, the opposing force, applied to the cartridge C or the disk Db 
by the moving member 7, is small. Thus, the cartridge C or the disk Db can 
be pushed into the housing 1 from the opening 4 lightly with a small 
force. 
As shown in FIG. 1, guide members 15 are affixed to both of the inner sides 
of side plates 2b of the lower housing portion 2 of the lower half A. It 
is to be noted than only the guide member 15, affixed to one of the side 
plates 2b, is shown in FIG. 1. Each guide member 15 is made of a synthetic 
resin material with a small coefficient of friction, and has a lower guide 
wall 15a which supports the lower surface of the cartridge C or the disk 
Db, and a side guide wall 15b which guides a side portion of the cartridge 
C or the disk Db and which is integrally formed with the lower guide wall 
15a. Each lower guide wall 15a is located at about the center of its 
associated guide member 15, as viewed in the direction of the height of 
its associated side plate 2b of the lower housing portion 2. As shown in 
FIG. 2B, the cartridge C or the disk Db, inserted from the opening 4, is 
guided to an upper area in the housing 1 by the guide member 15. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a unit chassis 21 for a disk drive unit 20 is provided 
on a bottom plate 2a of the lower housing portion 2. As shown in FIG. 3B, 
the unit chassis 21 is formed by molding and bending a sheet metal 
material into a C shape. A thin spindle motor 22, shown in FIG. 3B, is 
affixed to an end at the opening 4 side, with a turntable 23 affixed to a 
rotary shaft 22a of the spindle motor 22. The clamper 5, disposed below 
the top plate 3a of the upper housing portion 3, is located directly above 
the turntable 23. An optical head 24 is supported at the unit chassis 21 
so as to be movable in the X1 and X2 directions, and has an objective lens 
24a. A sled motor (not shown) for moving the optical head 24 in the X1-X2 
directions is disposed on the unit chassis 21. 
Supporting shafts 25 are inserted into both side plates 21b of the unit 
chassis 21 at the back side (X1 side) of the device. Supporting pieces 2c 
are cut up from the bottom plate 2a of the lower housing portion 2, with 
the supporting shafts 25 affixed to the supporting pieces 2c. This allows 
the unit chassis 21 for the disk drive unit 20 to rotate freely on the 
supporting shafts 25, as fulcra, at the back side of the device. 
A pair of plate-shaped control members 31 and 32 are formed on the bottom 
plate 2a of the lower housing portion 2 so as to be slidable in the X1-X2 
directions. A coil spring 33, serving as a biasing member, is placed 
between the control member 31 and a spring-placing piece 2d cut up from 
the bottom plate 2a of the lower housing portion 2. The coil spring 33 
biases the control member 31 in the X2 direction. Similarly, a coil spring 
34, serving as a biasing member, is placed between the control member 32 
and a spring placing piece 2e cut up from the bottom plate 2a of the lower 
housing portion 2. The coil spring 34 biases the control member 32 in the 
X2 direction. 
A vertically-rising bent piece 31a is formed integrally with the control 
member 31, with a rack 31b formed at an end of the bent piece 31a at the 
X1 side. Similarly, a vertically-rising bent piece 32a is formed 
integrally with the control member 32, with a rack 32b formed at an end of 
the bent piece 32a at the X1 side. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a shaft 37, extending in the Y direction, is rotatably 
supported at the X1 side end in the lower housing portion 2. The shaft 37 
is supported by the lower housing portion 2 by means of a supporting 
mechanism (not shown). A gear 35 is affixed to one end of the shaft 37, 
while a gear 36 is affixed to the other end of the shaft 37. The gear 35 
engages the rack 31b of the control member 31, while the gear 36 engages 
the rack 32b of the control member 32. The pair of control members 31 and 
32 are coupled together by the gears 35 and 36, and the shaft 37, such 
that they can move in synchronism together in the X1-X2 directions. 
A restoring motor 38 is disposed at the back side, or X1 side, of the lower 
housing portion 2. A gear is formed in the output shaft of the restoring 
motor 38, and engages the gear 36. When electrical power is not applied to 
the restoring motor 38, the pair of control members 31 and 32 can move in 
the X2 direction by the resilient force of the coil springs 33 and 34, 
respectively, regardless of the load of the restoring motor 38. On the 
other hand, when electrical power is applied to the restoring motor 38, 
the gears 35 and 36 are driven, and the driving power is transmitted to 
the racks 31b and 32b, thereby drawing in each of the control members 31 
and 32 in the X1 direction. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3B, a crank-shaped drive hole 31c, serving as a 
drive portion for allowing operation of the disk drive unit 20 in the 
clamping direction, is formed in the bent piece 31a of the control member 
31. Similarly, a crank-shaped drive hole 32c, serving also as a drive 
portion, is formed in the bent piece 32a of the control member 32. Pins 39 
are affixed to both of the side plates 21b of the unit chassis 21, and 
inserted into their respective drive holes 31c and 32c. As shown in FIGS. 
1 and 3B, when the control members 31 and 32 move in the X1 direction, 
drive holes 31c and 32c allow the corresponding pins 39 to move downward, 
causing the unit chassis 21 to rotate downward upon the supporting shafts 
25 as fulcra, so that the turntable 23 is located downwardly of the area 
for guiding the insertion of either the cartridge C or the disk Db. On the 
other hand, when the control members 31 and 32 move in the X2 direction, 
the crank-shaped drive holes 31c and 32 allow the pins 39 to move upward, 
so that, as shown in FIG. 2B, the unit chassis 21 rotates upward, allowing 
the disk to be clamped by the turntable 23 and the clamper 5. 
A lock releasing member (arm) 41 is provided at the corner at the X1 and Y1 
sides of the lower housing portion 2. The base end of the lock releasing 
member 41 is rotatably supported by a supporting shaft 42. A torsional 
lock spring 43 is provided on the outer periphery of the supporting shaft 
42. By the lock spring 43, the lock releasing member 41 is biased in the 
counterclockwise direction in the plan view of FIG. 3A, so as to occupy 
position a (indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3A). 
A groove 41a for receiving the moving member 7 is formed in an end of the 
lock releasing member 41, and, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the moving member 
7 slides along the guide 6 towards the back side of the device, it can 
slide into the groove 41a. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a bent portion 41b, which bends towards the bottom 
plate 2a, is formed at the base end of the lock releasing member 41, and a 
lock portion 41c, which bends in a direction parallel to the bottom plate 
2a, is formed at the lower end of the bent portion 41b. A lock pin 44, 
serving as a lock member extending in the direction of the bottom plate 
2a, is affixed to an end of the lock portion 41c. 
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIG. 5, a retainer portion 31d is formed at 
the X1 side end of the control member 31, and comprises a first retainer 
portion step 31d1 and a second retainer portion step 31d2 which is an 
inclined side. 
When the lock releasing member 41 is rotated to position a, as indicated by 
the solid line in FIG. 3A, the lock pin 44 is retained by the first 
retainer portion step 31d1, causing the control member 31, which has moved 
towards the X1 side, to become locked at that position. When the cartridge 
C or the disk Db, which is inserted from the opening 4, pushes the moving 
member 7 towards the back side (or in the X1 direction) of the device, the 
moving member 7 starts to move into the groove 41a of the lock releasing 
member 41 at position a. When the moving member 7 is pushed further 
towards the back side (or in the X1 direction) of the device, the moving 
member 7 rotates the lock releasing member 41 in the clockwise direction. 
When the lock releasing member 41 is rotated to position b of FIG. 3A, the 
lock pin 44 is retained by the second retainer portion step 31d2, as shown 
in FIG. 4B. Thereafter, when the control member 31 moves in the X2 
direction by the resilient force of the coil spring 33, the lock pin 44 is 
guided to the inclined second retainer portion step 31d2, as a result of 
which the lock releasing member 41 moves slightly in the clockwise 
direction from position b. 
As mentioned above, when the disk Db is inserted into the device, the lock 
releasing member 41 rotates to position b, and rotates slightly clockwise 
from position b, whereas when the cartridge C is inserted into the device, 
the moving member 7 is pushed to the terminal end of the guide 6 at the X1 
side thereof, as a result of which the lock releasing member 41 rotates to 
position c. FIG. 5 shows the lock releasing member 41 rotated to position 
c. 
At the opening 4 side of the lower housing portion 2, a pair of positioning 
arms 51 and 52 are provided at both side portions at the Y1 and Y2 sides. 
Upwardly-extending positioning pins (members) 53 and 54 are affixed to the 
ends of their respective positioning arms 51 and 52. The base ends of each 
of the positioning arms 51 and 52 are rotatably supported by their 
respective supporting shafts 55 and 56 affixed to the bottom plate 2a of 
the lower housing portion 2. 
An interlock lever 57, extending in the Y1-Y2 directions and supported so 
as to be slidable in the Y1-Y2 directions, is provided between the 
positioning arms 51 and 52. An interlock spring 59, being a coil spring, 
is provided between the interlock lever 57 and a supporting piece 2f cut 
up from the bottom plate 2a. The interlock spring 59 biases the interlock 
lever 57 in the Y2 direction. 
As shown in FIG. 3A, a square hole 57a is formed in the Y1 side end of the 
interlock lever 57. The supporting shaft 55 that supports the base end of 
the positioning arm 51 is positioned in the square hole 57a. A rack 57b is 
formed in the X2 side edge of the square hole 57a, and, a gear 51a and the 
rack 57b engage each other, with the gear 51a integrally affixed to the 
base end of the positioning arm 51 with the supporting shaft 55 as center. 
A square hole 57c is also formed in the Y2 side end of the interlock lever 
57. The supporting shaft 56 that supports the base end of the positioning 
arm 52 is positioned in the square hole 57c. A rack 57d is formed at the 
X1 side end of the square hole 57c, so that the rack 57d and the rack 57b 
are formed on opposite sides of their corresponding square holes. A gear 
52a is integrally affixed to the base of the positioning arm 52, with the 
supporting shaft 56 as center, and engages the rack 57d. 
When the interlock lever 57 moves in the Y1 direction, engagement of the 
rack 57b and the gear 51a as well as engagement of the rack 57d and the 
gear 52a cause the positioning arm 51 to rotate counterclockwise, and the 
positioning arm 52 to rotate clockwise, so that the positioning pins 53 
and 54 move away from each other. On the other hand, when the interlock 
lever 57 moves in the Y2 direction, the positioning arm 51 rotates 
clockwise, whereas the positioning arm 52 rotates counterclockwise, 
causing the positioning pins 53 and 54 to move closer to each other. 
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a restricting portion 57e is formed at the Y 
side end of the interlock lever 57. The restricting portion 57e comprises 
a V-shaped valley 57e1, an inclined portion 57e2, and a straight-line 
portion 57e3 extending in the X1-X2 directions. A restricting pin 58, 
extending in the direction of the bottom plate 2a, is provided at the X2 
side end of the control member 31, and can engage the restricting portion 
57e. 
FIG. 6A shows the control member 31 moved in the X1 direction by the 
largest amount. In this state, the restricting pin 58 slides into the 
valley 57e1 of the restricting portion 57e, and the interlock lever 57 is 
moved in the Y1 direction and retained there. At this time, the 
positioning arms 51 and 52 are rotated at position d. When the control 
member 31 moves in the X2 direction, the restricting pin 58 slides along 
the inclined portion 57e2 and arrives at a point on the boundary between 
the inclined portion 57e2 and the straight-line portion 57e3, as shown in 
FIG. 6B. At this time, the interlock lever 57 moves in the Y2 direction by 
the biasing force of the interlock spring 59. Here, the positioning arms 
51 and 52 are rotated to their respective positions e. When the control 
member 31 moves further in the X2 direction from the position of FIG. 6B, 
the interlock lever 57 and each of the positioning arms 51 and 52 remain 
at the positions indicated in FIG. 6B. 
A description will now be given of the operation of the above-described 
disk device. 
A disk Da-containing cartridge C (such as that shown in FIG. 7A), or a disk 
Db (such as than shown in FIG. 7B) can be loaded into the disk device. The 
disks Da and Db have the same diameter, and their center holes D1 have the 
same inside diameter. 
The cartridge, shown in 7A, has a shutter, which can slide in the Y1 
direction, at the X1 side end thereof (or at the side towards which the 
cartridge C is inserted). The shutter S is biased in the closing direction 
(or Y2 direction) by a spring. When the shutter S slides in the Y1 
direction, the window in the cartridge C opens, allowing a center hole D1 
and a disk surface of the disk D to appear through the window. 
Waiting State 
In the waiting state, the moving member 7, provided at the upper housing 
portion 3, is at position g, or at the X2 side end of the guide 6. The 
moving member 7 is biased in the X2 direction by the resilient force of 
the ejection spring 13. 
The control members 31 and 32 are coupled together by means of the gears 35 
and 36 and the shaft 37 so as to operate in synchronism with respect to 
each other. In the initial state, both of the control members 31 and 32 
move in the X1 direction. The lock releasing member 41 is biased 
counterclockwise by the lock spring 43 at position a. As shown in FIG. 4A, 
the lock pin 44, formed at the base end of the lock releasing member 41, 
is retained by the first retainer portion step 31d1 of the retainer 
portion 31d of the control member 31, and locked at a position where the 
control member 31 has reached as a result of moving in the X1 direction. 
At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, the restricting pin 58, provided at the 
X2 side end of the control member 31, moves into the valley 57e1 of the 
restricting portion 57e of the interlock lever 57. The interlock lever 57 
goes against the pulling force of the interlock spring 59, and is retained 
at a position to where it has been pulled in the Y1 direction. This causes 
the positioning arm 51 to rotate counterclockwise by means of the rack 57b 
disposed at the Y1 side of the interlock lever 57, and the positioning arm 
52 to rotate clockwise by means of the rack 57d disposed at the Y2 side of 
the interlock lever 57, as a result of which both of the positioning arms 
51 and 52 are rotated to position d, causing the positioning pins 53 and 
54 to move away from each other. Thus, the positioning pins 53 and 54 do 
not prevent insertion of the disk Db or the cartridge C. 
In the disk device, the disk Db or the cartridge C is inserted from the 
opening 4 in the X1 direction by the manual slot-in method. In this 
method, the operator pushes the disk Db or the cartridge C into the device 
with his or her hand, when inserting either the disk Db or the cartridge 
C, without applying any electrical power to the restoring motor 38. 
Disk Db Loading Operation 
A description will first be given of the insertion of the disk Db. 
The disk Db is inserted into the housing 1 from the opening 4, and then 
guided onto the lower guide walls 15a of the guide members 15 provided at 
both side plates 2b of the lower housing portion 2. 
When the disk Db is inserted into the opening 4, an end of the disk Db 
bumps into the movable member 7 at position g. When the operator pushes 
the disk Db further into the device with his or her hand, the moving 
member 7 is pushed by an edge at the X1 side of the disk Db. As the disk 
Db is inserted into the disk, the moving member 7 slides along the guide 6 
in the X1 direction. During this time, the wire 14 moves counterclockwise, 
causing the biasing pulley 10 to rotate counterclockwise. The 
small-diameter pulley 11, formed integrally with the biasing pulley 10, 
winds up the biasing wire 12, which stretches the ejection spring 13. 
When the edge at the X1 side of the disk Db pushes the moving member 7 to 
position h of FIG. 3A, the moving member 7 starts to slide into the groove 
41a of the lock releasing member 41 at position a. During the time in 
which the disk Db pushes the moving member 7 to position i, centering and 
clamping of the disk Db are performed successively. 
When the moving member 7 is pushed in the X1 direction from position h, the 
lock releasing member 41, with the moving member 7 inserted in the groove 
41a thereof, rotates clockwise by the force produced by pushing the disk 
Db. When the moving member 7 reaches position i, the lock releasing member 
41 is rotated to position b. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrating the 
rotation of the lock releasing member from position a to position b, the 
lock pin 44, provided at the base of the lock releasing member 41, moves 
away from the first retainer portion step 31d1 of the retainer portion 31d 
of the control member 31, and arrives at the second retainer portion step 
31d2. Thus, the control member 31 is pulled by the coil spring 33 and 
moves only a short distance in the X2 direction. At this time, electrical 
power is not applied to the restoring motor 38, so that a light load is 
exerted on the gears 35 and 36. When the control member 31 moves in the X2 
direction, the gear 35 is driven by means of the rack 31b, and the other 
gear 36 is driven to move the control member 32 along with the control 
member 31 in the X2 direction by the biasing force of the coil spring 34. 
When the control member 31 moves through a short distance in the X2 
direction from the position of FIG. 4A to the position of 4B, the 
restricting pin 58, affixed to the X2 side end of the control member 31, 
moves out of the valley 57e1 of the restricting portion 57e, as shown in 
FIGS. 6A and 6B. This causes the interlock lever 57 to move in the Y2 
direction as a result of being pulled by the interlock spring 59. The 
control member 31 occupies the position of FIG. 6B, when the lock 
releasing member 41 is rotated to position b of FIG. 4B. In FIG. 6B, the 
restricting pin 57e is positioned at the boundary between the inclined 
portion 57e2 and the straight-line portion 57e3 of the restricting portion 
57e. During the time in which the positioning arm 51 rotates from the 
position of FIG. 6A to the position of FIG. 6B, the interlock lever 57 is 
pulled in the Y2 direction by the interlock spring 59, so that the rack 
57b allows the positioning arm 51 to rotate clockwise, and the rack 57d 
allows the positioning arm 52 to rotate counterclockwise, whereby the 
positioning arms 51 and 52 move from their respective positions d to their 
respective positions e. 
When both of the positioning arms 51 and 52 rotate towards their respective 
positions e, the positioning pins 53 and 54, affixed to their respective 
positioning arms 51 and 52, move closer to each other, which produces a 
force that pulls in the disk Db in the X1 direction. As shown in FIG. 2A, 
the disk Db is centered by three component parts, that is the positioning 
pins 53 and 54 at their respective positions e and the moving member 7 at 
position i, so that the center hole D1 in the disk Db virtually matches 
the centers of the turntable 23 and the clamper 5. 
Just before completion of the centering of the disk, the crank-shaped drive 
hole 31c in the control member 31 moving in the X2 direction, and the 
crank-shaped drive hole 32c in the control member 32 allow the 
corresponding pins 39 to be lifted upward, causing the unit chassis 21 to 
rotate upward on the supporting shafts 25 as fulcra. At about the time of 
or just after completion of the centering of the disk Db, the center hole 
D1 in the disk Db is clamped by the turntable 23 and the clamper 5. 
Accordingly, during the time in which the lock releasing member 41 rotates 
from the position of FIG. 4A to the position of FIG. 4B, and during the 
time in which the positioning pins rotate from their respective positions 
of FIG. 6A to their respective positions of FIG. 6B, the disk Db is 
centered by the positioning pins 53 and 54, and the moving member 7, and 
clamped by the turntable 23 and the clamper 5. It is to be noted that when 
the lock releasing member 41 is at the position of FIG. 4B after 
completion of the centering and the clamping of the disk Db, the control 
member 31 moves further by a short distance in the X2 direction as a 
result of the pulling force of the coil spring 33. At this time, by the 
second restricting portion 31d2, being an inclined portion of the retainer 
portion 31d, shown in FIG. 4B, the lock releasing member 41 rotates 
slightly in the clockwise direction from the position b. Thus, the moving 
member 7, which is in the groove 41a of the lock releasing member 41, 
moves slightly in the X1 direction, and moves away from the clamped disk 
Db. 
During the time in which the control member 31 moves slightly in the X2 
direction from the position of FIG. 4B, the restricting pin 58, affixed to 
the control member 31, slides along the straight-line portion 57e3 of the 
restricting portion 57e, as shown in FIG. 6B. Therefore, the interlock 
lever 57 remains at the position of FIG. 6B. Consequently, the positioning 
arms 51 and 52 remain at their respective positions e. The disk Db is 
clamped as a result of being subjected to the centering force produced 
when the turntable 23 is rising. Since centering is performed during 
clamping of the disk Db, the center of the disk Db and the center of the 
turntable 23 match, and a peripheral edge of the centered disk Db moves 
slightly away from the positioning pins 53 and 54 and the moving member 7. 
Therefore, the disk Db is rotationally driven by the spindle motor 22, 
without bumping into the positioning pins 53 and 54 and the moving member 
7. Thereafter, signals, recorded on the disk Db, are read by the optical 
head 24. 
Loading of Cartridge C 
A description will now be given of the operations involved in inserting the 
cartridge C of FIG. 7A. 
Immediately after insertion of the cartridge C into the opening 4, the 
moving member 7, at the position g of FIG. 2A, is fitted to an end S1 of 
the shutter S. When the operator pushes the cartridge C further into the 
device with his or her hand, the moving member 7 is pushed and moves along 
the guide 6. When the moving member 7 moves along the oblique guide 
portion 6a of the guide 6, a component of force of movement in the Y1 
direction of the moving member 7 is exerted onto the shutter S, causing 
the shutter S to slide in the Y1 direction. At the moment the moving 
member 7 arrives at an inflection point 6c between the oblique guide 
portion 6a and the straight-line portion 6b of the guide 6, the shutter S 
is completely opened. Thereafter, when the cartridge C is further inserted 
into the device, the moving member 7 slides in the X1 direction along the 
straight-line guide portion 6b of the guide 6. 
When the moving member 7, moving along the straight-line guide portion 6b, 
arrives at position h of FIG. 3A, the moving member 7 slides into the 
groove 41a of the lock releasing member 41 at position a. As the moving 
member 7 moves in the X1 direction, the lock releasing member 41 rotates 
clockwise. When the cartridge C is completely inserted into the housing 1, 
the moving member 7 arrives at the X1 side terminal end of the guide 6, 
causing the lock releasing member 41 to rotate to position c. 
When the lock releasing member 41 rotates from position a to position c, as 
the cartridge C is inserted into the housing 1, the lock pin 44, at the 
base of the lock releasing member 41, separates from both the first 
retainer portion step 31d1 and the second retainer portion step 31d2 of 
the control member 31, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 5. Thus, the unlocked 
control member 31 moves in the X2 direction by the resilient force of the 
coil spring 33, and the control member 32, in synchronism therewith 
through the gears 35 and 36 and the shaft 37, also moves in the X2 
direction by the resilient force of the coil spring 34. 
When the control members 31 and 32 move in the X2 directions, the 
crank-shaped drive holes 31c and 32c in their respective control members 
31 and 32 allow the unit chassis 21 to be lifted up, and the center hole 
D1 in the disk Da in the cartridge C can be clamped by the turntable 23 
and the clamper 5. 
When the control member 31 moves in the X2 direction, the restricting pin 
58, provided at the X2 side end of the control member 31, moves out of the 
valley 57e1 of the restricting portion 57e of the interlock lever 57, 
causing the interlock lever 57 to move in the Y2 direction by the biasing 
force of the interlock spring 59. Therefore, the rack 57b of the interlock 
lever 57 allows the positioning arm 51 to rotate clockwise, and the rack 
57d allows the positioning arm 52 to rotate counterclockwise, so that the 
positioning pins 53 and 54 strike both sides of the cartridge C. At this 
time, the positioning pins 53 and 54 are resiliently pressed against the 
cartridge C due to the resilient force of the interlock spring 59. 
When the cartridge C is completely inserted into the housing 1, as shown in 
FIG. 2A, the positioning arms 51 and 52 rotate to their respective 
positions f, and the positioning pins 53 and 54 move into their respective 
recesses C1 at both sides of the cartridge C, thereby positioning and 
retaining the cartridge C. 
As described above, at the moment the cartridge C is positioned and 
retained in the housing 1, the shutter S already has been opened by the 
moving member 7, so that the center hole D1 of the disk Da, exposed as a 
result of opening the shutter S, is clamped by the turntable 23 and the 
clamper 5. Thereafter, reproduction is performed by means of the optical 
head 24. 
Ejection Operation 
In the disk device, as mentioned above, the disk Db or the cartridge C is 
inserted into the housing 1 by hand. The ejection, however, is performed 
by utilizing the power of the restoring motor 38. 
Pressing an ejection button (not shown) causes electrical power to be 
applied to the restoring motor 38. The rotational output from the 
restoring motor 38 causes the gears 35 and 36 to start moving, and the 
rotational force of the gears 35 and 36 to be transmitted to the racks 31b 
and 32b, respectively, whereby the control members 31 and 32 are driven in 
the X1 direction. 
When the control member 31 is driven in the X1 direction, the restricting 
pin 58, provided at the X2 side end of the control member 31, slides in 
the X1 direction along the inclined portion 57e2 of the restricting 
portion 57e of FIG. 6A, causing the interlock lever 57 to move back in the 
Y1 direction, and the restricting pin 58 moves into the valley 57e1 in 
order to retain the interlock lever 57. 
When the interlock lever 57 moves in the Y1 direction, the positioning arm 
51 rotates counterclockwise, and the positioning arm 52 rotates clockwise, 
so that the positioning pins 53 and 54 move away from the disk Db or the 
cartridge C, as a result of which the disk Db or the cartridge C is no 
longer positioned and retained. On the other hand, the drive holes 31c and 
32c allow the unit chassis 21 to be lowered, so that the disk is unclamped 
from the turntable 23 and the clamper 5. 
Thus, the disk Db or the cartridge C is pushed out from the opening 4 by 
the biasing force on the moving member 7 in the X2 direction caused by the 
pulling resilient force of the spring 13 of FIG. 2(A). During the time in 
which the moving member 7 moves to position h from the X1 side terminal 
end, the lock releasing member 41 rotates counterclockwise. During the 
time in which the lock releasing member 41 rotates to position a, the 
control member 31 returns back to its original position in the X1 
direction, so that, as shown in FIG. 4A, the lock pin 44, at the base of 
the lock releasing member 41 rotated to position a, is fitted to the first 
retainer portion step 31d1 to lock the control member 31 at the initial 
position reached by the control member 31 as a result of moving in the X1 
direction. At this time, the restoring motor 38 stops operating. 
At the moment the cartridge C is ejected from the opening 4, the moving 
member 7 is back to position g, as a result of which the shutter S is 
closed. 
As can be understood from the foregoing description, since the movement 
stroke of the moving member can be made long, and the moving member can be 
stably moved by guiding it along a guide, the shutter can be reliably 
opened, and ejected with a sufficiently long ejection stroke. 
In particular, affixing the moving member to a wire, and subjecting this 
wire to an increasing biasing force output of the biasing member allows a 
proper amount of biasing force to be applied to the moving member, and a 
reduction in the amount of reaction force produced when the cartridge is 
being inserted into the device, allowing smooth insertion. 
A cartridge as well as a disk, not contained in a cartridge, may be 
inserted into the device.