Disk cartridge device operative with disk cartridges of different sizes and height

A disk cartridge device includes first and second disk cartridges of different sizes for housing therein disks of different disk diameters and a cassette compartment onto which the first and second disk cartridges are selectively loaded, the cassette compartment including a pair of positioning pins having height-deciding bases for properly placing the first disk cartridge and a pair of positioning pins having height-deciding bases for properly placing the second disk cartridge, wherein the first disk cartridge has stepped escape holes formed on its lower surface to enable itself to escape from the positioning pins by which the second disk cartridge is properly positioned in the loading state when positioning holes of the first disk cartridge are properly fitted into positioning pins and the height is properly decided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disk cartridge device for recording an information signal on a signal recording layer or reproducing a recorded information signal from the signal recording layer with irradiation of optical beams on the signal recording layer of an optical disk, for example. More particularly, the present invention relates to a so-called compatible type disk cartridge device for selectively loading a plurality of disk cartridges having cartridge housings different in sizes to store disks of different diameters onto a recording and reproducing device by which disk cartridges of different sizes can be properly positioned at and held by positioning pins of the recording and reproducing device without a hitch.

2. Description of the Related Art

As media for recording a variety of information such as audio information or video information, there have hitherto been proposed optical disks for reproducing recorded information from the recording medium or recording information on the recording medium by optical beams. This kind of optical disk can be comprised of a single plate-like disk, and hence it is easy to handle. In addition, since such optical disks are large in recording capacity as compared with recording media such as magnetic tapes, they are now widely applied to recording media of audio information, video information and data processed by computers.

On the other hand, a demand of smaller recording and/or reproducing device using optical recording media such as optical disks is increasing because information processors such as computers do not have a sufficient space to incorporate recording and/or reproducing device.

Furthermore, recording media themselves have to be miniaturized and also have to increase their capacity in order to make the recording and/or reproducing device become small. To fulfill such requirements, there are proposed a plurality of types of disk cartridges including cartridge housings of different sizes to store disks of different diameters as recording media. The assignee of the present application has previously proposed these disk cartridges by as Japanese patent application No. 11-176029.

The above-mentioned disk cartridges are designed to be inserted into their own cartridge insertion slots, and hence recording and reproducing device should be designed in accordance with respective disk cartridges.

For this reason, disk cartridges, which are different in size, cannot be selectively loaded onto a compatible recording and reproducing device.

That is, the height reference position to determine the position in the height direction is not always the same in disk cartridges of different sizes. In particular, in most cases of recording and reproducing device which uses a single spindle motor, it is very difficult to make height reference planes of disk cartridges of different sizes become coincident with each other.

For example, pins of the recording and reproducing device to determine the height when they are brought in contact with the height reference plane often become obstacles against disk cartridges of different sizes in use. That is, pins to determine the height of the disk cartridge of small diameter are not required when the disk cartridge of large diameter is inserted, and hence the disk cartridge of large diameter has to escape from the pins which determine the height. Disk cartridges such as floppy disk, MD (mini disc) and MO (magnetooptical disk) are not provided with a means for avoiding such pins assumed when disk cartridges of different sizes are used by a single recording and reproducing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in order to provide a disk cartridge device by which a plurality of kinds of disk cartridges of different sizes can be located at their respective proper positions in the height direction and selectively loaded onto a single recording and reproducing device.

In order to attain the above-mentioned object, a disk cartridge device according to the present invention includes pairs of positioning pins having bases to determine the height at which disk cartridges of different sizes are respectively properly placed to a recording and reproducing device and positioning holes on one surface of disk cartridges of different sizes, the positioning holes being engaged wth pairs of positioning pins and properly positioned, wherein a disk cartridge of large disk diameter includes escape holes formed on its lower surface to enable it to escape from positioning pins at which the disk cartridge of small disk diameter is properly positioned, under such loading state that the positioning holes of the disk cartridge of large disk diameter are located at said positioning pins at a proper position in the height direction.

With the above-mentioned arrangement, when the disk cartridge of large diameter is located at a proper position in the height direction and thereby loaded onto the recording and reproducing device, the disk cartridge of large diameter can escape from the positioning pins, to which the positioning holes of the small-diameter disk cartridge are fitted, by escape holes. Thus, the disk cartridges, which are different in size, can be located at their own proper positions in the height direction and thereby loaded onto the recording and reproducing device without a hitch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A disk cartridge device according to an embodiment of the present invention and which is applicable to two kinds of large and small disk cartridges having different disk diameters will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1is a top perspective view of a disk cartridge of a large disk diameter while a shutter is being opened (hereinafter referred to as a “first disk cartridge”).FIG. 2is a bottom perspective view of the like disk cartridge with its shutter being opened.FIG. 3is a top perspective view of a disk cartridge of a small disk diameter while a shutter is being opened (hereinafter referred to as a “second disk cartridge”).FIG. 4is a bottom perspective view of the like disk cartridge with its shutter being opened.

A first disk cartridge is generally designated by reference numeral1, and a cartridge housing2is comprised of an upper shell3and a lower shell4joined at their joint surfaces by high-frequency welding. A disk5stored in the first disk cartridge1is an optical disk, for example, and its outer diameter is (64.8 mm, by way of example. According to the standardization, the disk housing2has dimensions such that a length W1of one side perpendicular to the insertion direction (shown by an arrow-like marker6) of the disk cartridge1is 72 mm, a length W2of the other side perpendicular to this side is 68 mm and a thickness D1is 5 mm.

The above-described first disk cartridge1includes a shutter7which can slide so as to open and close both surfaces of the cartridge housing2. While the shutter7is being opened, a part of the upper surface of the disk5along the direction of diameter is exposed on the upper surface side of the disk cartridge1from a window2adefined on the upper shell2and a part of the lower surface (recording layer) of the disk5along the direction of diameter also is exposed on the lower surface side of the disk cartridge1from a window3adefined on the lower shell3. While the shutter7is being opened, a chucking plate8of the disk5is exposed on the lower surface side of the disk cartridge1.

The first disk cartridge1has a positioning hole9of an oblong shape bored at one side of the front of the lower shell3along the insertion direction and also has a positioning hole10of a circular shape bored at the rear of the lower shell in the opposite side of the positioning hole9. Further, the first disk cartridge1has relatively large slanting recessed surfaces11,11formed at respective corner portions of its front in the insertion direction by cutting both of the corner portions obliquely.

A second disk cartridge is generally designated by reference numeral12. In this case, a cartridge housing13also is comprised of an upper shell14and a lower shell15joined at their joint surfaces by high-frequency welding. A disk16stored in the second disk cartridge12is an optical disk, and its outer diameter is (50 mm, by way of example. According to the standardization, the disk housing13has dimensions such that a length W3of one side perpendicular to the insertion direction (shown by an arrow-like marker17) of the disk cartridge1is 58 mm, a length W4of the other side perpendicular to this side is 53 mm and a thickness D2is 4 mm.

The above-described second disk cartridge12includes a shutter18which can slide so as to open and close both surfaces of the cartridge housing13. While the shutter18is being opened, a part of the upper surface of the disk16along the direction of the diameter is exposed on the upper surface side of the disk cartridge12from a window14adefined on the upper shell14and a part of the lower surface (recording layer) of the disk16along the direction of the diameter also is exposed on the lower surface side of the disk cartridge12from a window15adefined on the lower shell15. While the shutter18is being opened, a chucking plate19of the disk16is exposed on the lower surface side of the disk cartridge12.

The second disk cartridge12has a positioning hole20of an oblong shape bored at one side of the front of the lower shell15along the insertion direction and also has a positioning hole21of a circular shape bored at the rear of the lower shell on the opposite side of the positioning hole20. Further, the second disk cartridge12has relatively large slanting recess surfaces22,22formed at respective corner portions of its front in the insertion direction by cutting both of the corner portions obliquely.

FIG. 5is a plan view of a chassis23of a cassette compartment (hereinafter referred to as a “cassette compartment”) of the recording and reproducing device onto which the above-described disk cartridge is loaded. A phantom line shows the state in which the first disk cartridge1is loaded onto the chassis23.FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the first disk cartridge1is properly positioned on the chassis23.

The first disk cartridge1is inserted into a pop-up (pop-up type) holder25, which can swing about a hinge24as a fulcrum, from the direction shown by an arrow and is brought to the loading position as the holder25swings in the chassis23side.

The chassis23has a pair of bases26,27for deciding the height of the first disk cartridge1formed at one side of the side of the hinge24and the other side (right-hand side) of the opposite side of the hinge24. The two bases26,27includes protruded positioning pins28,29into which the positioning holes9,10for the first disk cartridg1may be fitted, respectively.

A pair of bases30,31for deciding the height of the second disk cartridge12are formed adjacent to the inside of these positioning pins28,29on the chassis23. The two bases30,31includes protruded positioning pins32,33into which the positioning holes20,21of the second disk cartridge12may be fitted, respectively.

Bases34,35of the same height as that of the bases26,27for deciding the height of the first disk cartridge1are formed on the chassis23symmetrically to the pair of bases26,27of the first disk cartridge1. Bases36,37of the same height as that of the bases30,31for deciding the height of the second disk cartridge12are formed on the chassis23at the position adjacent to the inside of the two bases34,35. The bases30,31and36,37for deciding the height of the second disk cartridge12are higher than the bases26,27and34,35for deciding the height of the first disk cartridge1.

In the above-described chassis23, there are disposed a turntable38for chucking and rotating the disk5and an optical pickup device39for reproducing recorded information from the disk5or recording recorded information on the disk.

When the pair of the positioning holes9,10of the first disk cartridge1loaded onto the above-described chassis23are fitted into the pair of positioning pins28,29on the chassis23, the first disk cartridge can be properly positioned. At the same time, the height of the lower surface of the first disk cartridge1is decided by the respective bases26,27,34,35, and hence the first disk cartridge1can be retained in the horizontal state.

According to the present invention, the first disk cartridge1includes stepped escape holes40,41formed thereon to prevent it from being disturbed by the pair of positioning pins32,33and the bases30,31of the second cartridge12. The first disk cartridge further includes escape holes42,43(seeFIG. 2) to enable it to escape from the bases36,37of the second cartridge12. Thus, in the loading state of the disk cartridge1, the height of the first disk cartridge can be properly decided and hence the first disk cartridge can be properly located without being hindered by the positioning pins32,33and the bases30,31,36,37of the second disk cartridge12.

InFIG. 7, a phantom line shows the state in which the second disk cartridge12is loaded onto the chassis23.FIG. 8is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the second disk cartridge12is properly positioned on the chassis23.

When the pair of positioning holes20,21of the second disk cartridge12loaded on the chassis23are fitted into the pair of positioning pins32,33of the chassis23, the second disk cartridge can be properly positioned. At the same time, the height of the lower surface of the second disk cartridge12is determined by the respective bases30,31,36,37, and hence the second disk cartridge12can be retained in the horizontal state.

While the second disk cartridge12is being loaded on the chassis23, since the positioning pins28,29and the bases34,35of the first disk cartridge1are located at the position at which they may not hinder the second disk cartridge12, special escape holes are not required. Therefore, when the positioning holes20,21are fitted into the positioning pins32,33, the second disk cartridge12can be properly positioned and its height can be properly decided by the bases30,31. It is important that the positioning pins32,33of the second disk cartridge12should be located outside the circumference of the disk5so as not to hinder the disk5when the first disk cartridge1is loaded onto the chassis23. Thus, the second disk cartridge can be loaded on the chassis without hindering the first disk cartridge1.

The bases for deciding the height of the second disk cartridge12are higher than the bases for deciding the height of the first disk cartridge1. The reason for this is that, since the thickness (4 mm) of the housing13of the second disk cartridge12is thinner than the thickness (5 mm) of the housing2of the first disk cartridge1, the optical beam from the optical pickup device39is adjusted by the height of the bases in such a manner that the optical beam can be focused on the recording layers of the disk5and16with a highly accurate spot.

As described above, the disk cartridge device according to the present invention can selectively load two kinds of disk cartridges of different sizes into the cassette compartment so that the disks can be recorded or reproduced.

Since the first disk cartridge1includes the escape holes to prevent it from being hindered by the positioning pins32,33of the second disk cartridge12when the first disk cartridge1is loaded and since the positioning pins32,33of the second disk cartridge12are located outside the circumference of the disk5so as not to hinder the disk5when the first disk cartridge1is loaded on the chassis23, the two kinds of disk cartridges of different sizes can be inserted into the disk cartridge device, and hence the disk cartridge device becomes highly reliable.

Since the both disk cartridges1,12have the recess surfaces11,22formed at their respective corner portions in the insertion side, a user can easily recognize the insertion direction of the disk cartridge, and hence the user can be prevented from inserting the disk cartridge in the wrong direction. Even when the user inserts the disk cartridge into the holder25in the slanting direction, the recess surfaces11,22can function to guide the disk cartridge in the correct insertion, and hence the disk cartridge can be inserted into the holder25.

When the large first disk cartridge1is inserted into the disk cartridge holder25, since the left and right side surfaces of the disk cartridge are guided by the holder25, the first disk cartridge can be inserted into the holder at the accurate position without a special guide mechanism. When on the other hand the small second disk cartridge12is inserted into the holder, the holder25needs a guide mechanism. This guide mechanism can be easily realized by a mechanism which enables the small second disk cartridge to be evacuated when the large first disk cartridge1is inserted into the holder25.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment illustrated in the sheets of drawings and can be variously modified without departing from its gist.

While the pair of positioning pins are disposed at the front and rear of the disk cartridge along the insertion direction of the disk cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the pair of positioning pins may be disposed at the left and right of the rear end of the disk cartridge with similar action and effects being achieved. In that case, the pair of positioning pins may be circular positioning pins.

While the present invention is applied to the two kinds of disk cartridges of different sizes in the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be easily applied to more than two kinds of disk cartridges of different sizes by disposing escape holes of positioning pins at the position at which the disk cartridge hinders the positioning pins or by disposing positioning pins at the position at which the positioning pins can be escaped from the disk.

The bases of the first and second disk cartridges may have the same height.

As set forth above, in the disk cartridge device according to the present invention, under the loading state in which the height of the disk cartridge is decided when the positioning holes of the disk cartridge of large disk diameter are fitted into the positioning pins and thereby properly positioned, since the disk cartridge of large disk diameter has the escape holes by which the disk cartridge of large disk diameter can be prevented from hindering the positioning pins by which the disk cartridge of small disk diameter is properly positioned, the recording and reproducing device does not require a complicated mechanism. In addition, the large disk cartridge can be loaded on the disk cartridge device under the condition that the large disk cartridge is not hindered by the positioning pins of the small disk cartridge, the height of the large disk cartridge can be properly decided and the large disk. cartridge can be properly located at the predetermined position. Therefore, the disk cartridge device becomes highly reliable.

Since the height of the bases of the disk cartridge of small disk diameter is set to be slightly higher than that of the bases of the disk cartridge of large disk diameter, even when disk cartridges are different in thickness, the optical beam from the optical pickup device can be focused on the recording layer of the disk with an accurate beam spot by a simple mechanism.

Having described preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.