Abstract:
An optical disk device including a tray in which recording mediums having differing outer diameters can be selectively mounted. The tray carries the recording media into the main body of the optical disk device wherein it is, chucked by a turntable. Holding members for holding the recording medium at a predetermined position relative to a mounting face of the tray are provided in a front portion and a rear portion respectively relative to the transport direction of the tray. At least one of the holding members is movable between a first holding position for holding a small diameter recording medium, and a second holding position for holding a large diameter recording medium. The holding member is biased toward the first holding position by a biasing member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No. 2004-270219 filed in Japan on Sep. 16, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to an optical disk device provided with a tray in which recording mediums with differing forms can be mounted such as a bare disk and a cartridge housing a disk. 
   2. Conventional Art 
   Conventionally, there is an optical disk device that includes a tray in which a cartridge housing a disk or a naked disk (a bare disk) can be selectively mounted. This tray mounts a bare disk or a cartridge and is loaded into the main body of the optical disk device. In approximately the center portion of this tray, a recess is formed for the purpose of mounting a bare disk. When using a bare disk, the bare disk is mounted on the bottom face of the recess of the tray. When mounting a cartridge, the cartridge is mounted on a cartridge mounting face that is formed on a circumferential face of the recess (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 3017723). 
   A conventional tray is transported between an installation/removal position where it is possible to exchange disks outside of the main body of the device, and a recording/playback position where recording and playback of a disk completely inserted into the main body of the device are possible. In this recording/playback position, chucking is performed by fitting a turntable  108  that is rotated by a motor  107  to a center hole  103   a  of a disk  103  inside a cartridge  102  that has been mounted on a cartridge mounting face  101  of a tray  100  as shown in  FIG. 10B , or a center hole  106   a  of a bare disk  106  that has been mounted on a recess  105  of the tray  100  as shown in  FIG. 10C , and the respective disks are rotated. 
   Specifically, in order to hold the bare disk  106  such that positional shift of the bare disk  106  in the insertion direction of the tray  100  due to the transport operation is prevented, some amount of depth is necessary in the recess  105 . However, in the tray  100  which can mount either the bare disk  106  or the cartridge  102 , the difference in the heightwise position of the cartridge mounting face  101  and a bottom face  105   a  of the recess  105 , which is the mounting face for the bare disk, is increased when the recess  105  is deepened (see  FIG. 10A ). Thus, there is an increase in the difference in height between the disk  103  in the cartridge  102  and the bare disk  106  when they are mounted in the tray  100 , and there is a risk of a chucking error occurring when chucking each disk to the turntable  108 . 
   Also, when increasing the depth of the recess  105 , there is the problem that the entire device becomes thicker because the tray  100  must be manufactured with a thick size. 
   Moreover, when a recess has been provided in the tray as in the conventional technology, it is possible for the user to place the bare disk on a cartridge mounting face other than the recess, and when the disk has not been accurately placed on the recess, there is a risk of damaging the disk or the device due to a chucking error. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to prevent chucking errors of recording mediums that have different forms such as a cartridge and a bare disk, and to make it possible to make the tray and the entire device thinner. 
   The present invention adopts a configuration as described below. 
   The optical disk device of the present invention includes a tray in which any of recording mediums with differing outer diameters such as a cartridge housing a disk and a bare disk can be selectively mounted, the device being configured such that by transporting the tray into the main body of the optical disk device, the recording medium mounted in the tray is made to be chucked by a turntable. Holding means that hold the recording medium at a predetermined position of a mounting face of the tray are provided in a front portion and a rear portion respectively in the transport direction of the tray, at least one of the holding means is configured so that a holding member can move to a first holding position where it is possible to hold a small diameter recording medium, and to a second holding position where it is possible to hold a large diameter recording medium, and the holding member is biased to the first holding position by a biasing means. 
   With an optical disk device having this sort of configuration, it is possible to hold desired forms of recording mediums that have different outer diameters at a predetermined position of the tray with the holding means. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a deep recess in the tray for a specific recording medium, and it becomes possible to make the tray and the device thinner. Also, because a positional shift does not occur during the operation of the tray, it is possible to accurately chuck the recording medium and good operability can be obtained. 
   Being able to hold a recording medium at a predetermined position in the tray refers to positioning the recording medium at a position where chucking is possible with the holding means. 
   Also, the optical disk device of the present invention, in which either one of a bare disk or a cartridge housing a disk, which are recording mediums with differing outer diameters, is mounted, may adopt a configuration in which holding means that hold the bare disk or the cartridge at a predetermined position of a mounting face of the tray are provided in a front portion and a rear portion respectively in the transport direction of the tray, at least one of the holding means is configured so that a holding member can move to a bare disk holding position where it is possible to hold a bare disk and to a cartridge holding position where it is possible to hold a cartridge, and the holding member is biased to the bare disk holding position by a biasing means. 
   With an optical disk device having this sort of configuration, it is possible to hold a bare disk or a cartridge at a chucking center with the holding means. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a deep recess in the tray for holding a bare disk, and it is possible to make the tray and the entire device thinner because the mounting face of the bare disk and the cartridge can be made flush. 
   Also, in the optical disk device, a configuration may be adopted in which the holding member can rotate along the bottom wall of the tray, and in addition, the holding member has a bare disk guide face with an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the bare disk, and an inclined face that is contacted by a rear angular portion of the cartridge when the holding member is in the bare disk holding position. 
   With an optical disk device having this sort of configuration, the holding member rotates, and because the holding member escapes in the direction of the face of the bottom wall of the tray by rotating, it is possible to prevent the tray and the entire device from increasing in thickness with the holding means. 
   Also, in the above optical disk device, it is preferable that the biasing force of the biasing means (the elastic force of an elastic member) is set to be a force such that when the rear portion of the bare disk has been placed on the inclined face of the holding member, the bare disk can slide along the inclined face due to the weight of the bare disk, and when the rear portion of the cartridge has been placed on the inclined face, the holding member can move in reverse due to the weight of the cartridge. In this case, even if the bare disk is placed in a position somewhat shifted from a predetermined position, the bare disk can be placed in the predetermined position by the bare disk shifting due to its own weight. Also, because the cartridge rotates the holding member to the cartridge holding position due to the weight of the cartridge, the cartridge can be mounted to a predetermined position, and it is possible to prevent damage to the disk or the device due to chucking errors. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a tray in which a bare disk has been mounted that shows an embodiment of an optical disk device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the same tray in which a cartridge has been mounted. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the same tray in which a bare disk has been mounted. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the same tray in which a cartridge will be mounted. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of an optical disk device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of a tray in the midst of being mounted with a bare disk that shows an embodiment of an optical disk device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional diagram showing the same tray in a state in which a cartridge has been mounted into the tray. 
       FIGS. 8A to 8C  show cases in which a bare disk is mounted in the tray of an optical disk device according to the present invention.  FIG. 8A  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a case in which an attempt has been made to mount the bare disk so that it is shifted.  FIG. 8B  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram that shows a state in which the rear portion of the bare disk has been mounted on a holding means.  FIG. 8C  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram that shows a state in which the bare disk will be chucked. 
       FIGS. 9A to 9C  show cases in which a cartridge is mounted in the tray of an optical disk device according to the present invention.  FIG. 9A  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram that shows the cartridge in the midst of installation.  FIG. 9B  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram that shows the cartridge when it is mounted. FIG. C is a schematic cross-sectional diagram that shows a state in which the cartridge will be chucked. 
       FIGS. 10A to 10C  show a conventional example.  FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional diagram that shows the mounting position of the cartridge and the bare disk in the tray  FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional diagram that shows how the cartridge is chucked.  FIG. 10C  is a cross-sectional diagram that shows how the bare disk is chucked. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIGS. 1 to 9C  show an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a plan view of a tray in which a bare disk has been mounted,  FIG. 2  is a plan view of the tray in which a cartridge has been mounted,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tray in which a bare disk has been mounted,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the tray in a state in which a cartridge will be mounted, and  FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of an optical disk device. 
   An optical disk device  1  for recording and playback of information to and from a disk is provided with an optical disk device main body  10  and a tray  20 . As shown in  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 9C , a turntable  5  that is rotated by a motor  3  is housed in a casing  6  in the optical disk device main body  10 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , a cartridge  30  rotatably housed a disk  31   a  in a casing  35  that is constituted by upper and lower walls  32  and  33 , and a circumferential side wall  34 . 
   In the tray  20 , a recording medium of either the cartridge  30  housing the disk  31   a  or a naked disk (a bare disk)  31   b  can be selectively mounted. The disk  31   a  of the cartridge  30  and the bare disk  31   b  are set to have the same diameter and the same thickness. Accordingly, the outer diameter of the cartridge  30  is larger than the outer diameter of the bare disk  31   b.    
   The tray  20  is configured such that it can be transported to a position where recording and playback is possible by loading the cartridge  30  or the bare disk  31   b  in the optical disk device main body  10  (a recording/playback position), and a position where installation and removal of a recording medium is possible by unloading the tray  20  out of the optical disk device  1  (an installation/removal position). Also, the tray  20  is provided with a bottom wall  22  that has a face (recording medium mounting face)  21  on which the cartridge  30  or the bare disk  31   b  is mounted. A shallow circular recess  24  that has a slightly smaller diameter than the bare disk  31   b  is provided in this recording medium mounting face  21 . This circular recess  24  is provided in order to prevent scratches on the signal recording face of the bare disk  31   b  when the bare disk  31   b  is mounted. 
   A pair of holding means  40  are provided in the front portion of the bottom wall  22  of the tray  20 . Each holding means  40  is provided with a rotating body  43  as a holding member that can rotate around a support shaft  41  that is provided standing on the bottom wall  22 , and a biasing means  44  that biases this rotating body  43  in a predetermined position. An elastic member can be given as an example of the biasing means  44 , which here is constituted by a bar-shaped spring, one end of which is linked to the rotating body  43 , and the other end of which is linked to the bottom wall  22 . 
   The rotating body  43  includes a guide portion  45  that has a bare disk guide face  45   a  that positions the bare disk  31   b , and a contact portion  46  that makes contact with the cartridge  30 . The bare disk guide face  45   a  is formed as a recessed face along the outer periphery of the bare disk  31   b , with an inner diameter that is somewhat larger than the diameter of the bare disk  31   b.    
   Also, the rotating body  43  is made rotatable to a bare disk holding position (first holding position) where it is possible for the guide portion  45  to hold the bare disk  31   b , and a cartridge holding position (second holding position) where it is possible for the contact portion  46  to hold the cartridge  30 . The spring  44  biases the rotating body  43  so as to maintain the bare disk holding position. 
   A pair of holding means  50  are provided in the rear portion of the bottom wall  22  of the tray  20 . Each holding means  50  includes a rotating lever  53  as a holding member that can rotate along the bottom wall  22  around a support shaft  51  that is provided standing on the bottom wall  22 , and a biasing means  54  that biases this rotating lever  53  to a predetermined position. An elastic member can be given as an example of the biasing means  54 , which here is constituted by a bar-shaped spring, one end of which is linked to the rotating lever  53 , and the other end of which is linked to a rear wall  23  of the tray  20 . 
   A holding portion  56  is provided in the leading edge of the rotating lever  53 . A bare disk guide face  55  and a cartridge contact face  57  are provided in the holding portion  56 . The bare disk guide face  55  is formed as a recessed face along the outer periphery of the bare disk  31   b , with an inner diameter that is somewhat larger than the diameter of the bare disk  31   b . The rotating lever  53  is made rotatable to a bare disk holding position where it is possible for the bare disk guide face  55  to hold the bare disk  31   b , and to a cartridge holding position where it is possible for the cartridge contact face  57  to hold the cartridge  30 . The spring  54  biases the rotating lever  53  so as to maintain the bare disk holding position. 
   Here, in the bare disk holding positions of the holding means  40  and the holding means  50 , the bare disk guide face  45   a  of the guide portion  45  of the holding means  40  and the bare disk guide face  55  of the holding portion  56  of the holding means  50  are on the circumference of a circle whose center is a center of rotation O when chucking the bare disk  31   b  and that has a diameter that is somewhat larger than the diameter of the bare disk  31   b.    
   An inclined face  58  that becomes lower towards the front side is formed in the top face of the holding portion  56  of the holding means  50 . Also, the deformation load of the spring  54  is made larger than the weight of the bare disk  31   b  that acts on the inclined face  58  during mounting, and is made less than the weight of the cartridge  30 . That is, the deformation load of the spring  54  is set such that with the rotating lever  53  in the bare disk holding position, when the rear portion the bare disk  31   b  has been placed on the inclined face  58  during mounting, the bare disk  31   b  can slide along the inclined face  58  and slip off due to its own weight, and with the rear portion of the cartridge  30  placed on the inclined face  58  during mounting, the cartridge  30  slides along the inclined face  58 , and the cartridge  30  can be mounted by rotating the rotating lever  53  in the direction that the holding portion  56  moves in reverse. 
   The optical disk device  1  according to this embodiment is configured as described above. Following is a description of a usage example of the optical disk device  1 . 
   First, when mounting the bare disk  31   b  in the tray  20 , the tray  20  is positioned in the installation/removal position, and the bare disk  31   b  is placed on the recording medium mounting face  21  of the bottom wall  22  of the tray  20 . When the bare disk  31   b  has been placed such that it is shifted a small amount to the rear of a predetermined position, the rear portion of the bare disk  31   b  is placed on the inclined face  58  of the holding portion  56  of the holding means  50  in the bare disk holding position (see  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 8A , and  FIG. 8B ). After the rear portion of the bare disk  31   b  has made contact with the inclined face  58 , the bare disk  31   b  slips off of the inclined face due to its own weight and settles into a predetermined position. Even in the case that it is temporarily difficult for the bare disk  31   b  to slip off, it is possible to easily slip off the bare disk  31   b  by lightly pushing it by hand. 
   Further, as shown in  FIG. 8C , after loading the tray  20  and transporting it to the recording/playback position, the bare disk  31   b  is reliably chucked to the turntable  5  (the turntable  5  is fitted to a hole  37   a  formed in the center of the bare disk  31   b , and separates the bare disk  31   b  from the tray  20  in order to rotate the bare disk  31   b ). 
   When loading the tray  20 , the holding means  40  and the holding means  50  hold the bare disk  31   b  without shifting it because they are in the bare disk holding positions. 
   When mounting the cartridge  30  in the tray  20 , the tray  20  is positioned in the installation/removal position, and the cartridge  30  is pushed in forward in a state in which the leading edge of the cartridge  30  has been allowed to make contact with the holding means  40 . Because the rotating body  43  of the holding means  40  is rotated around the support shaft  26  against the spring  44  to the cartridge holding position, the contact portion  46  makes contact with the leading edge of the cartridge  30 , and when the near side of the cartridge  30  (the rear portion in the direction of insertion) moves downward, the rear angled portion of the cartridge  30  makes contact with the inclined face  58  of the holding portion  56  (see  FIG. 9A ). 
   With its own weight, the cartridge  30  rotates the rotating lever  53  against the spring  54 , of the holding means  50  to the cartridge holding position. As a result, it is possible to mount the cartridge  30  on the cartridge mounting face  21  of the bottom wall  22  of the tray  20 , the front face of the cartridge  30  is held by the contact portion  46  of the holding means  40 , and the rear face is held by the holding portion  56  of the holding means  50  (see  FIG. 9B ). Even in the case that it is temporarily difficult to rotate the rotating lever  53  due to the weight of the cartridge  30 , it is possible to easily rotate the rotating lever  53  and mount the cartridge  30  by lightly pushing the rear portion of the cartridge  30  downward by hand. 
   Further, by loading the tray  20 , the housed disk  31   a  is chucked from below by the turntable  5  (see  FIG. 9C ). At this time the turntable  5  is fitted to a hole  37   b  formed in the center of the disk  31   a , and separates the disk  31   a  from the casing  35  in order to rotate the disk  31   a    
   When removing the cartridge  30  from the tray  20 , the tray  20  is unloaded and transported to the installation/removal position. When lifting up the rear portion of the cartridge  30 , the cartridge  30  can be easily removed. Because the rotating body  43  of the holding means  40  and the rotating lever  53  of the holding means  50  are biased by the respective springs  44  and  54 , they return to the original bare disk holding positions when the cartridge  30  is removed. 
   As described above, in the present embodiment, because the bare disk  31   b  and the cartridge  30  are mounted on the same recording medium mounting face  21  of the tray  20 , it is possible to make the difference in the placement positions of the bare disk  31   b  and the disk  31   a  smaller than in the conventional technology, and the bare disk  31   b  and the cartridge  30  can each be accurately chucked. 
   Also, because the rotating body  43  of the holding means  40  and the rotating lever  53  of the holding means  50  each rotate along the bottom wall  22  of the tray  20 , there is no risk that the tray  20  and the entire device will become thick. 
   The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above. For example, in the above embodiment, an example was disclosed in which the rotating body  43  of the holding means  40  and the rotating lever  53  of the holding means  50  were rotatably configured, but a configuration may also be adopted in which only either one of the holding members is rotated, and the other holding member is fixed. 
   Also, the bare disk  31   b  and the cartridge  30  were given as examples of recording mediums, but a configuration may also be adopted in which a plurality of cartridges  30  that house disks with different diameters are mounted on the tray, without mounting the bare disk  31   b . In the case of such cartridges  30 , in addition to using two types of cartridge, it is also possible to use a plurality of three or more types of cartridge. 
   The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the purport or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed in this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not limiting. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.