Manufacturing apparatus for disc cartridge

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a disc cartridge including a cartridge case (1) accommodating the disc and having apertures (5) for receiving a head, and a shutter (7) of U-shaped cross-sectionslidably fitted to the cartridge case. On the way of a convey path (15) for conveying the shutter, there is provided an opening jig (22) which opens the open end (A) of the shutter and maintains the open end of the shutter in an open condition, until the shutter is fitted to the cartridge case.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a disc cartridge, for example, a magnetic disc cartridge or an optical disc cartridge, which rotatably accommodates a disc for recording information therein in a cartridge case, and more specifically, to an apparatus for producing a disc cartridge provided with a shutter, made of a synthetic resin, for opening and closing aperture formed in the cartridge case for inserting a head there through. A disc cartridge of this kind is already known, an example which is shown in Fig. 5 in the form of a disassembled perspective view of the cartridge. Fig. 5 shows a magnetic disc cartridge, in which a flexible magnetic disc 2 is rotatably accommodated in a cartridge case 1 constructed by connecting an upper case 1a and a lower case 1b both made of synthetic resin. The magnetic disc 2 is formed with a hub 3 at the central portion thereof, which is exposed to the outside through a hole 4 formed at the center of the cartridge case 1. Through this hub 3, the magnetic disc 2 is rotated at a predetermined speed by a driving device. The above-mentioned cartridge case 1 is formed with rectangular apertures 5, for allowing an access of a magnetic head to the disk 2, on the upper and lower surfaces thereof at predetermined positions. At the peripheral region of each of the apertures 5 is formed a shallow recess 6 of a rectangular shape, to which a shutter 7 having a U-shaped cross-section is slidably fitted. The shutter 7 comprises two flat plate portions 9a, 9b opposing to each other and an end plate portion 10 connecting the flat plate portions 9a, 9b with each other at respective one edges thereof, and is formed with rectangular windows 8 having almost the same size and shape as the apertures 5. The shutter 7 is kept elastically urged by means of a built-in spring not shown towards a position where the apertures 5 are closed. When the shutter 7 is moved against the elastic force of the spring, and is stopped by the stepped portion of the recess 6, the aperture 5 and the window 8 is registered or alligned with each other and the aperture 5 is opened, thereby making it possible to insert a magnetic head for access to the disk 2. The shutter 7 is made from metal or synthetic resin. In case of metal, the sliding surface of the recess 6 may be scratched by the edges of the shutter 7 when the shutter slides over the recess 6, and there may be produced scratched chips of synthetic resin, which may the deposited on or adhered to the magnetic disc and is apt to cause errors in recording or in reproducing. When, for preventing this trouble, a large clearance is arranged between the cartridge case 1 and the shutter 7, dusts may easily intrude from the outer circumferent through the peripheral region of the shutter 7 and may be adhered to or deposited on the magnetic disc 2, thereby also causing errors in recording and reproducing. On the other hand, in case the shutter is made from synthetic resin, there is not a problem relating to the scratching on the surface of the recess 6 in contrast to the case where the shutter is made from metal. Therefore, the shutter 7 can be elastically pressed to be in close contact with the surface of the cartridge case 1 (recess 6), and the intrusion of dust from the peripheral region of the shutter 7 can be effectively prevented. However, there is another problem. The motion of the shutter 7 is limited by stepped portions of the recess 6 of the cartridge case 1. However, when the shutter 7 is so shaped that the flat plate portions 9a, 9b extend as diverging outwards as shown in Fig. 6A showing a side view of the shutter 7, the open end A is widely opened, and the flat plate portions 9a, 9b may ride over the stepped portions, thus allowing the shutter 7 to be moved beyond the limited movable range thereof. AS a result, there occurs a problem that a positional deviation is produced between the opening portion or aperture 5 and the window 8, and it become impossible to insert a magnetic head in a suitable manner. The same problem occurs when the flat plate portions 9a, 9b, which were parallel to each other at the time of fabrication, suffer deformations due to repeated use, and the open end A opens widely as shown in Fig. 6A. Further, when the shutter is so shaped that the flat plate portions 9a, 9b converge towards the open end A as shown in Fig. 6B showing a side view of the shutter 7, there occurs a problem that the open end A become extremely narrow, and the sliding resistance between the shutter 7 and the recess 6 of the cartridge case 1 unfavourably increases. Therefore, it is desired from a view point relating to the functional features such as movable range-controllability or slide resistance that the flat plate portions slightly contact or are convergent to be close to each other with a slight gap therebetween at the free ends, i.e. open end A of the shutter 7. However, it is not easy to fit the shutter 7 having a contacted open end A mentioned above to the recess 6 of the cartridge case 1. Therefore, there is required a fitting process. In one of the known processes, such as described in JP-A-62-159390 on which the precharacterising portion of appended claim 1 is based, opening jigs were inserted through the open lateral sides B and moved towards the open end A relative to the shutter 7 to open the end A relatively widely and then, the shutter 7 was fitted to the recess 6 of the cartridge case 1 with the open end A maintained in a relatively widely opened condition. However, the jig was situated such, that the shutter could not be completely advanced to the recess in the cartridge unless the jig was first retracted. In an other conventional process, the flat plate portions 9a, 9b were both pulled outwards by sucking forces of a vacuum suction device, and the shutter 7 was fitted to the recess 6 of the cartridge case 1 with the shutter maintained in a relatively widely opened condition. In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, in order to fit a shutter 7 having an open end A slightly contacting or slightly opened to the cartridge case 1, the work for mounting or fitting the shutter using opening jigs or a vacuum suction device was complex and required a long time, thereby deteriorating the efficiency of the work. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing a disc cartridge in which a shutter having free ends of flat plate portions in with each other can be easily fitted to a cartridge case. According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for producing a disc cartridge including a cartridge case rotatably accommodating a disc therein and formed with apertures for allowing access of a head to the disc, and a shutter made of a synthetic resin and mounted to said cartridge case, said shutter having a pair of flat plate portions joined at first ends thereof to form a joined portion and open at second ends thereof to form free ends thereof, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge case conveying path means for conveying said cartridge case; a shutter conveying path means, joined with said cartridge case conveying path means at a downstream end thereof, for conveying the shutter, an opening jig for opening said shutter at said free ends of said flat plate portions thereof, opposite to said joined ends and maintaining said free ends in an open condition; and fitting means, disposed at said joined portion of said cartridge case conveying path means and said shutter conveying path means, for fitting said shutter to said cartridge case, said shutter being fitted to said cartridge case, said free ends of said shutter being maintained in an open condition as said shutter is passed over said opening jig; characterised in that said shutter conveying path means is inclined relative to said cartridge case conveying path means and in use translationally conveys the shutter with the lateral side in the conveying direction, the opening jig being disposed along said shutter conveying path means and being adapted to be inserted between said flat plate portions of said shutter through a lateral side of said shutter as said shutter is conveyed along the shutter conveying path means and over said opening jig. When the shutter passes over the opening jig, the free ends of the flat plate portions contacting or adjacent to each other is opened and maintained in an open condition to be fitted to the cartridge case. The above-mentioned and other objects, advantages as well as features of the invention will be made clearer from explanation of preferred embodiments with reference to drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a manufacturing apparatus for a disc cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an opening jig portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the opening jig of Fig. 2; Figs. 4A, 4B, and 4C are illustrations showing conveying stages of the shutter; Fig. 5 is a disassembled perspective view of a disc cartridge; and Figs. 6A and 6B are side views of the shutter. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 1 shows a manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a cartridge case 11 rotatably accommodating therein a disc not shown, a convey path means 12 for conveying the cartridge case 11 one by one; a conveyer 13 constituting the convey path 12; a shutter 14; a convey path means 15 for conveying the shutter 14 one by one extending in a direction inclined relative to the convey path 12 for the cartridge case 11; fitting means 16 disposed on a side wall of the convey path 12 for the cartridge case at a connecting portion between the convey path 12 for the cartridge case and the convey path 15 for the shutter and composed of a convey guide for the cartridge case 11 and a rotary plate 16a for fitting the the shutter 14 to the recess 17 of the cartridge case 11, the rotary plate 16a being rotatably supported around a fulculum point 16b by means of a rotary bearing (not shown) mounted on a base or frame of the apparatus; pressing means 18 disposed downstream of the convey path 12 for the cartridge case 11 and composed of a plunger for pressing the shutter 14 and surely fitting the same to the recess 17 of the cartridge case 11; an guide shaft 19; a transfer body 20 of crank shape movable in parallel to the conveying direction of the shutter convey path 15 under the guidance of the guide shaft 19 and provided with a pair of claws 20a, 20b at the lower portion thereof; a vertically movable stopper 21; an opening jig 22 disposed on the way of the shutter convey path 15; and a stopper body 23 retractably projecting from the lower side of the shutter convey path 15. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an opening jig portion 22 along line II-II of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a side view of the opening jig 22. In the figures, there are shown a guide groove 24 for passing thereon the claws 20a, 20b of the transfer body 20, a tapered edge portion 25 (in Fig. 3) directed towards the upstream of the convey path 15 for the shutter 14 and so slanted as to have a gradually increasing hight toward the upstream. The opening jig 22 is so located that the bottom wall 22a of the opening jig 22 is spaced apart from the bottom surface 15a of the shutter convey path 15, thereby making it possible for one of the flat plate portions 26a, 26b of the shutter 14 to pass therethrough. The opening jig 22 is tapered towards a free end 22c opposite to a fixed end 22b. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the cartridge case 11 is conveyed one by one by the conveyor 13, and stands by at a position c near the fitting device 16. On the other hand, on the shutter convey path 15, the claws 20a, 20b of the transfer body 20 intrude into the window 27 of the preceding two shutters 14a, 14b, respectively. The shutters 14a, 14b are transferred or conveyed when the transfer body 20 is moved in the conveying direction of the convey path 12 for the cartridge case. The shutter 14a at the head is opened (as shown in Fig. 2), when the tapered edge 25 of the opening jig 22 intrudes between the flat plate portions 26a, 26b having contacted with each other at the open end A or free ends, and is shifted to the fitting device 16 with the open condition maintained. The opened leading edge 14f of the shutter 14a is obliquely fitted over the recess 17 of the cartridge case 11 at the position C according to the advance of the shutter 14a along the shutter path. The guide portion 12a is not provided at a region where the convey paths 12, 15 join with each other to allow the above-mentioned fitting of the shutter to the cartridge case at the position C. The fitting device 16 are so rotated as to fit the the shutter 14 opened at the open end A to the recess 17 of the standing-by cartridge case 11, and the shutter 14 is reached to a position or posture in parallel to the convey guide portion 12a of the cartridge convey path 12. The cartridge case 11 fitted with the shutter 14 is then conveyed to the pressing device 18 under the guidance of the fitting device 16 and the convey path 12, and then, pressed by the pressing device 18, thereby surely fitted to the recess 17. Through the above-mentioned operations, the process of fitting a shutter 14 to a cartridge case 11 is completed. Figs. 4A to 4C are illustratings for explaining the operation of conveying the shutter 14 in detail. Reference characters 14a to 14d denote shutters, and numerals 27a to 27d denote the windows of the shutters 14a to 14d. In Fig. 4A, the claws 20a, 20b of the transfer body 20 intrude into the windows 27a, 27b of the first shutter 14a and the second shutter 14b, respectively, while the claw 21a of the vertically (in perpendicular to plane of sheet of Figs. 4A to 4C) movable stopper 21 intrudes into the window 27c of the third shutter 14c. After the first shutter 14a and the second shutter 14b have simultaneously been transferred toward the fitting device 16 as shown in Fig. 4B, the transfer body 20 is moved upwards to be disengaged from the shutters 14a, 14b and an operation for fitting the first shutter 14a to the above-mentioned cartridge case 11 is conducted. Then, the transfer body 20 is moved back toward an upstream position and moved downwards so that the claws 20a, 20b may intrude into the windows 27b, 27c of the second shutter 14b and the third shutter 14c, respectively. When the first shutter 14a and the second shutter 14b are transferred as mentioned above, the third shutter 14c is released from an engagement with the rotary stopper 21 and is also transferred. This is because a conveyer velt 15a provided at an upstream side of the stopper 23 constantly urges the shutters thereon toward downstream, and transfers the shutter(s) when the engagement thereof with the stopper is released. However, the stopper body 23 projects in synchronism with the transfer of the third shutter 14c under the control of a controller (not shown) and stops the third shutter 14c at the stand-by position, thereby making it possible for the claws 20a, 20b to intrude into the windows 27b, 27c of the second and third shutters 14b, 14c, respectively when they are moved down again. When the claws 20a, 20b have intruded into the windows 27b, 27c, the stopper body 23 is retracted from the shutter convey path 15. During a period of time when the shutter 14a is being fitted to the cartridge case 11 by the fitting device 16, the second and third shutters 14b, 14c are holded by the transfer body 20. The claw 21a of the vertically movable stopper 21 intrudes into the window 27d of the fourth shutter 14d for holding the fourth shutter. As mentioned above, according to the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing apparatus for a disc cartridge capable of automatically fitting a shutter to a cartridge case, even in case the shutter has a contracting or nearly contacting free ends of the flat plate portions, and having an improved operability.

Claims: An apparatus for producing a disc cartridge including a cartridge case (11) rotatably accommodating a disc therein and formed with apertures for allowing access of a head to the disc, and a shutter (14) made of a synthetic resin and slidably fitted to said cartridge case (11), said shutter (14) having a pair of flat plate portions (26a,26b) joined at first ends thereof to form a joined portion and open at second ends thereof to form free ends thereof, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge case conveying path means (12) for conveying said cartridge case (11); a shutter conveying path means (15), joined with said cartridge case conveying path means (12) at a downstream end thereof (15), for conveying the shutter (14), an opening jig (22) for opening said shutter (14) at said free ends of said flat plate portions (26a,26b) thereof, opposite to said joined ends and maintaining said free ends in an open condition; and fitting means (16), disposed at said joined portion of said cartridge case conveying path means (12) and said shutter conveying path means (15), for fitting said shutter (14) to said cartridge case (11), said shutter (14) being fitted to said cartridge case (11), said free ends of said shutter (14) being maintained in an open condition as said shutter (14) is passed over said opening jig (22); characterised in that said shutter conveying path means is inclined relative to said cartridge case conveying path means (12) and in use translationally conveys the shutter (14) with the lateral side in the conveying direction, the opening jig (22) being disposed along said shutter conveying path means (15) and being adapted to be inserted between said flat plate portions (26a,26b) of said shutter (14) through a lateral side of said shutter (14) as said shutter (14) is conveyed along the shutter conveying path means and over said opening jig (22). The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fitting means (16) includes a convey guide provided at a side wall of said cartridge case convey path means (12), and a rotary plate adapted to be rotationally displaced for pressing said shutter (14) to be fitted over the recess of said case (11). The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said opening jig (22) includes a tapered portion extended to be thinner toward upstream of said shutter convey path means (15). The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said opening jig (22) is fixed at one end thereof to said shutter convey path means (15) such that a bottom face of said jig (22) is spaced from a bottom surface of said shutter convey path means (15), so as to allow one of the two flat plate portions (26a,26b) of the shutter (14) to be passed therebetween, said jig (22) being thinner toward a free end thereof opposite to the fixed end thereof. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said shutter convey path means (15) includes a transfer means in the form of a crank movable in a direction parallel to a shutter convey direction by said shutter convey path means (15), said transfer means having a pair of claws (20a,20b) protruded downwardly to be engaged with windows of the shutters (14) so as to transfer the shutters (14) along a convey path of said shutter convey path means (15). The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said opening jig (22) is provided on a way of a convey path of said shutter convey path means (15).

Inventors: ODA SHINICHIRO, ODA, SHINICHIRO
Applicants: HITACHI MAXELL, HITACHI MAXELL LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G11B23
IPC codes: G11B23