U.S. patent application number 09/244758 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-22 for cartridge for accommodating a disc.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to CHEONG, YOUNG-MIN, CHOI, HAN-KOOK, PARK, IN - SIK, PARK, JONG-PIL, SEO, YOUNG-SUN.
Application Number | 20010043556 09/244758 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36710008 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010043556 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SEO, YOUNG-SUN ; et
al. |
November 22, 2001 |
CARTRIDGE FOR ACCOMMODATING A DISC
Abstract
A cartridge for accommodating a disc. The cartridge has a case
for accommodating the disc, the case having a receiving opening and
a longitudinal opening extending from the receiving opening through
which an information reproducing apparatus chucks and accesses the
disc, a shutter movably mounted on the case, the shutter for
opening/closing the longitudinal opening and a part of the
receiving opening, and a covering part moved by the movement of the
shutter so as to completely close the open part of the receiving
opening which is not closed by the shutter. When the cartridge is
not in use, the receiving opening and the longitudinal opening are
not exposed, while the same are open when the cartridge is in use
so that the information is recorded/reproduced on/from the disc
accommodated therein. In addition, the cartridge can be
compact-sized.
Inventors: |
SEO, YOUNG-SUN;
(SUNGNAM-CITY, KR) ; CHOI, HAN-KOOK; (SUWON-CITY,
KR) ; PARK, JONG-PIL; (SUWON-CITY, KR) ;
CHEONG, YOUNG-MIN; (SEOUL, KR) ; PARK, IN - SIK;
(SUWON-CITY, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
700 11TH STREET, NW
SUITE 500
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-City
KR
|
Family ID: |
36710008 |
Appl. No.: |
09/244758 |
Filed: |
February 5, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
720/739 ;
G9B/23.033 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 23/0308
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/291 |
International
Class: |
G11B 023/03 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 1998 |
KR |
98-3865 |
May 2, 1998 |
KR |
98-15882 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cartridge for accommodating a disc, comprising: a case to
accommodate the disc, the case including a receiving opening and a
longitudinal opening through which an information reproducing
device chucks and accesses the disc; a shutter, mounted on the case
and movable with respect to the case, to open and close the
longitudinal opening and to partially open and close the receiving
opening; and a closing device to completely close a part of the
receiving opening not closed by the shutter, the closing device
being operated by a movement of the shutter.
2. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lateral length of
the case is less than or equal to three times a diameter of the
receiving opening.
3. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case is
symmetrical and accommodates a double-sided disc.
4. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case includes a
cover hinged to a side of the case to prevent the disc accommodated
in the case from separating from the case.
5. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case comprises
a first escaping depression into which the shutter is moved when
the shutter moves in a first direction and a second escaping
depression into which the shutter is moved when the shutter moves
in a second direction opposite the first direction.
6. The cartridge as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first escaping
depression and the second escaping depression respectively have a
width equal to or greater than a width of the shutter, wherein a
side of the shutter does not cover the receiving opening while the
receiving opening is opened by the shutter.
7. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case further
comprises a returning device to return the shutter to an initial
position.
8. The cartridge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the returning
device comprises a torsion spring having ends respectively
connected to the case and to the shutter.
9. The cartridge as claimed in clam 7, wherein the returning device
comprises: a movable piece which is moved along a slide groove of
the case in a lateral direction; and a torsion coil spring having
ends respectively connected to the case and to the movable
piece.
10. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal
opening of the case has a width less than a diameter of the
receiving opening.
11. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case includes
a first hooking protrusion and a second hooking protrusion formed
at a position where the receiving opening and the longitudinal
opening meet each other, to rotate the closing device.
12. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving
opening has a diameter of approximately of 29.5-31.5 mm.
13. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing device
comprises a curved side having a radius of curvature which is the
same as a radius of curvature of the receiving opening, the curved
side not extending toward the receiving opening when the shutter
opens the receiving opening.
14. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shutter
comprises: a curved member at a position corresponding to the
receiving opening, the curved member protruding from an upper
surface of the shutter and including a projecting portion having
slanted sides; and a guide part extending from a rear end of the
curved member.
15. The cartridge as claimed in claim 14, wherein the projecting
portion comprises hooking protrusions formed at inner ends of the
respective slanted sides.
16. The cartridge as claimed in claim 14, wherein the curved member
comprises curved sides having a radius of curvature which is the
same as a radius of the curvature of the receiving opening.
17. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing device
comprises a rotary plate rotated by linear movement of the
shutter.
18. The cartridge as claimed in clam 1, wherein the closing device
comprises plates fixed by a hinge to a pair of inserting holes
formed in the case, the plates being rotated symmetrically in
opposite directions while the receiving opening is opened and
closed.
19. The cartridge as claimed in claim 18, wherein an outer side and
an inner side of the respective plates are respectively are shaped
and have a radius of curvature which is the same as the radius of
curvature of the receiving opening and a curved side of the
shutter.
20. The cartridge as claimed in claim 18, wherein the respective
plates comprise: a gear part formed at an end thereof; protrusions
formed near the gear part, the protrusions being inserted into the
inserting holes; and a receiving recess to receive one end of a
torsion coil spring whose other end is supported by the case to
return the plate to an initial position.
21. A device for accommodating a disc, comprising: a case to
accommodate the disc, the case having an opening through which the
disc is accessed; a shutter to open the opening and to partially
close the opening; and a closing device to close the part of the
opening not closed by the shutter.
22. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the closing device
comprises: a rotary plate attached to the shutter, the rotary plate
covering the part of the opening not closed by the shutter.
23. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the opening
comprises a portion having a diameter which is greater than a width
of the shutter, and the rotary plate has a radius of curvature
equal to a radius of curvature of the opening.
24. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the rotary plate is
rotated by a linear movement of the shutter.
25. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rotary plate
includes an outer side and an inner side which are respectively arc
shaped and have a radius of curvature which is the same as a radius
of curvature of the opening.
26. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the case includes a
depression into which the shutter is moved to open the opening,
wherein a width of the depression is equal to or greater than a
width of the shutter.
27. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the opening
comprises a longitudinal opening and a circular opening, the
shutter completely closes the longitudinal opening and partially
closes the circular opening, and the rotary plate closes the
portion of the circular opening not closed by the shutter.
28. The device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the shutter includes
a curved portion at a location corresponding to the circular
opening, the shutter does not close the circular opening at the
location of the curved portion, and the rotary plate closes the
circular opening at the location of the curved portion.
29. The device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the curved portion
has a radius of curvature which is the same as a radius of
curvature of the circular opening such that the curved portion is
not extended toward the circular opening when the shutter opens the
opening.
30. A device for accommodating a disc, comprising: means for
holding the disc, the means for holding having an opening through
which the disc is accessed; means for partially closing the
opening; and means for closing a part of the opening not closed by
the means for partially closing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority of Korean
Patent Applications Nos. 98-3865 filed Feb. 10, 1998 and 98-15882
filed May 2, 1998, the contents being incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a cartridge for
accommodating and protecting a disc, such as a CD-ROM, DVD, or the
like, so that information can be recorded/reproduced on/from the
disc.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A conventional cartridge for accommodating a disc
accommodates and protects a disc from dust, fingerprints,
scratching, etc., so that information is recorded/reproduced
on/from the disc without an error. The cartridge is received by an
information recording/reproducing device (hereinafter referred to
as an information recording device) where the information is
recorded/reproduced on/from the disc. The cartridge has a receiving
opening for exposing the disc, and a longitudinal opening extending
from the receiving opening. The receiving opening and the
longitudinal opening are opened/closed by a shutter.
[0006] The information recording device has a means for
opening/closing the shutter of the cartridge, a turn table on which
the disc is placed through the receiving opening, a means for
rotating the turn table, and an optical pick-up device for
recording/reproducing the information on/from the disc.
[0007] The cartridge is seated on a tray of the information
recording device, and accommodated/withdrawn into/from the
information recording device. The shutter opening/closing means of
the information recording device opens the shutter installed on the
cartridge in one direction. While the receiving opening and the
longitudinal opening of the cartridge are open, the disc is seated
on the turn table having a diameter of approximately 28-30 mm,
which is advanced into the receiving opening, and fastened by a
chucking member disposed above. In this situation, the disc, the
turn table, and the chucking member are rotated together by a
spindle motor. While the disc is rotated, the optical pick-up
device is linearly advanced in a radial direction of the disc,
irradiating optical signals so as to record/reproduce the
information on/from the disc.
[0008] However, since the conventional cartridge for accommodating
the disc requires a shutter that is large enough to cover the
receiving opening and the longitudinal opening, the cartridge has
been inevitably voluminous. That is, since the receiving opening
has a diameter of more than 28-30 mm to receive the turn table
having a diameter of 28-30 mm, the receiving opening is larger than
the longitudinal opening. Therefore, the shutter has to be larger
than the receiving opening as well as the longitudinal opening in
order to prevent the exposure of the receiving opening and the
longitudinal opening when the cartridge is not in use. Accordingly,
since the cartridge has to be large enough to accommodate the
shutter moving laterally, the conventional cartridge is
unnecessarily larger than the volume of the disc accommodated
therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
overcome above-described problems of the conventional cartridge,
and to provide a cartridge for completely opening/closing a
receiving opening and a longitudinal opening thereof with a shutter
having less width, thereby minimizing the size of the
cartridge.
[0010] Additional objects and advantages of the present invention
will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in
part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
[0011] Objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved
with a cartridge for accommodating a disc, comprising: a case to
accommodate the disc therein, the case having a receiving opening
and a longitudinal opening through which an information reproducing
device chucks and accesses the disc; a shutter, mounted on the case
and movable with respect to the case, to open and close the
longitudinal opening and a part of the receiving opening; and a
closing device to completely close a part of the receiving opening
which is not closed by the shutter, the closing device being
operated by movement of the shutter.
[0012] Thus, in accordance with the present invention, when the
cartridge is not in use, the receiving opening and the longitudinal
opening are not exposed, while when the cartridge is in use, the
receiving opening and the longitudinal opening are open so that
information can be recorded/reproduced on/from the disc.
Furthermore, unnecessary bulky volume of the cartridge is
prevented, so that compact-sized products are produced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings of which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge for
accommodating a disc according to a first preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge for
accommodating a disc according to the first preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge for
accommodating a disc and a drive for receiving and/or withdrawing
the cartridge according to the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0017] FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional views taken along the line
IV-IV shown in FIG. 2 according to the first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a top view of the cartridge for accommodating a
disc according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIGS. 6A and 6B are top views of a shutter, which is opened
by a shutter opening/closing device, when the cartridge is received
by a drive according to the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 7A and 7B are exploded perspective views of a
cartridge for accommodating a disc according to a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cartridge for
accommodating a disc according to the second preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0022] FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views taken along the line
IX-IX shown in FIG. 8 according to the second preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a top view of the cartridge for accommodating a
disc according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0024] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an operation of the cartridge
for accommodating a disc in which the shutter mounted on the
cartridge is opened by a shutter opening/closing device according
to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like
reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
[0026] The first preferred embodiment of the invention will now be
described below with reference to FIGS. 1-6B, which are views
illustrating a cartridge for accommodating a disc according to the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] According to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the cartridge comprises a case 10 for accommodating a
disc D', a shutter 30 mounted on a front surface of the case 10 so
as to be capable of moving to the left and the right with respect
to the front surface of the case 10, and a hinged cover 40 coupled
by a hinge to a rear surface of the case 10 in order to prevent the
disc D' from separating from the case 10.
[0028] The case 10 includes an upper plate 12, a lower plate 14
coupled with the upper plate 12, and a disc accommodation space 10a
defined between the upper and the lower plates 12 and 14 in a
symmetric manner so as to accommodate a double-sided disc as well
as an one-sided disc.
[0029] A disc supporting means for supporting the disc D' is
provided on the case 10 and the cover 40. The disc supporting means
includes first arc ribs 20 for supporting the disc D' from a front
section thereof, which are integrally formed on the respective
inner surfaces of the upper and lower plates 12 and 14, and a
second arc rib 42 integrally molded with the cover 40 to support
the disc D' from a rear section thereof. The first and second arc
ribs 20 and 42 have a diameter larger than that of the disc D' to
allow the disc D' accommodated in the disc accommodation space 10a
to be smoothly rotated therein.
[0030] Slide grooves 12a and 14a having a concave shape are formed
at the front side of the case 10 defined by the upper plate 12 and
the lower plate 14, and the shutter 30 is guided along the slide
grooves 12a and 14a. A plurality of sensing holes 12b and 14b are
formed near the rear side corners of the upper and lower plates 12
and 14, respectively. A plurality of sensing switches (not shown)
are inserted into the sensing holes 12b and 14b and detect whether
the disc D' is double-sided, formatted, etc.
[0031] Receiving openings 12c and 14c are respectively formed in
the upper plate 12 and the lower plate 14. The receiving openings
12c and 14c preferably have a diameter of approximately 29.5-31.5
mm to allow a turn table (not shown) having a diameter of
approximately 28-30 mm to be disposed therethrough, or to allow the
disc D' to be directly seated onto the turn table, and to allow a
chucking clamp 58 (FIG. 3) to be advanced thereto in order to chuck
the disc D'. Longitudinal openings 12d and 14d each having a
predetermined width W are extended from the receiving openings 12c
and 14c, respectively, so that the longitudinal openings 12d and
14d serve as a route to an optical pick-up device (not shown).
[0032] A first hooking protrusion 16a and a second hooking
protrusion 18a are formed on the upper plate 12 at the position
where the receiving opening 12c and the longitudinal opening 12d
meet each other, and a first hooking protrusion 16b and a second
hooking protrusion 18b are formed on the lower plate 14 at the
position where the receiving opening 14c and the longitudinal
opening 14d meet each other. First and second escaping depressions
12e and 12e' are defined at an upper surface of the upper plate 12
and a lower surface of the lower plate 14. The shutter 30 is moved
left or right toward the escaping depressions 12e and 12e'.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, to prevent sides of the shutter 30 from
being extended from the case 10, the first and second escaping
depressions 12e and 12e' have widths W' and W", respectively, equal
to or greater than the width W of the shutter 30. The lateral
length L of the case 10 is less than or equal to a value three
times the diameter D of the receiving openings 12c and 14c. The
width W of the shutter 30 is less than the diameter D of the
receiving openings 12c and 14c.
[0034] The shutter 30 has a shape which is substantially that of a
folder, in order to cover the longitudinal openings 12d and 14d and
a part of the receiving openings 12c and 14c. A shutter returning
means is provided on the shutter 30 and the case 10 to return the
shutter 30 to its initial position. The shutter returning means
comprises a torsion spring 32 whose ends are respectively connected
to the case 10 and the shutter 30. Inserting holes 30a are formed
in the shutter 30. The inserting holes 30a are aligned with each
other, and the respective centers of the inserting holes 30a are
aligned with the center of the disc D' accommodated in the disc
accommodation space 10a of the case 10.
[0035] The shutter 30 includes curved portions 30b. The curved
portions 30b are aligned with a part of the receiving openings 12c
and 14c which are not covered by the shutter 30. The curved
portions 30b are respectively formed at each of upper and lower
sides of the shutter 30. It is preferable that the curved portions
30b have the same radius of curvature as the radius R of curvature
of the receiving openings 12c and 14c. As a result of the curved
portions 30b, when the shutter 30 is moved either into the first
escaping depression 12e or the second escaping depression 12e', the
shutter 30 does not cover the receiving openings 12c and 14c.
[0036] A closing means is rotatably inserted from each inner face
of the shutter 30 into the inserting holes 30a. The closing means
comprises rotary plates 34 respectively having a pair of guide
grooves 34a. When the shutter 30 is moved, the closing means is
rotatably guided by one of the first hooking protrusions 16a and
16b which is inserted into one of the guide grooves 34a. When the
shutter 30 covers the longitudinal openings 12d and 14d and a
portion of the receiving openings 12c and 14c, the closing means
closes the open portions of the receiving openings 12c and 14c
which are not closed by the shutter 30 due to the curved portions
30b of the shutter 30.
[0037] The rotary plates 34 include curved sides 34b having a
radius of curvature R as great as the radius of curvature of the
receiving openings 12c and 14c. The curved sides 34b are curved in
order not to be extended toward the receiving openings 12c and 14c
when the rotary plates 34 are moved along with the shutter 30
toward the first or the second escaping depressions 12e or 12e'.
When the shutter 30 covers the longitudinal openings 14c and 14d
and a part of the receiving openings 12c and 14c, since both sides
of the rotary plates 34 have a radius of curvature R which is the
same as that of the receiving openings 12c and 14c, the sides of
the rotary plates 34 completely close the open part of the
receiving openings 12c and 14c.
[0038] A shutter opening/closing means comprises an upper cover 52,
a link 54, an opening protrusion 56, and a torsion spring (not
shown) to pull the shutter 30 in one direction so as to open the
receiving openings 12c and 14c and the longitudinal openings 12d
and 14d. The upper cover 52 is coupled to an upper portion of a
drive 50 which loads/unloads the disc D', and the link 54 is
slidably coupled to a lower surface of the upper cover 52. The
opening protrusion 56 is projected from an end of the link 54 to
open the shutter 30. The torsion spring (not shown) returns the
shutter 30 to its initial position when a tray 60 is withdrawn from
the drive 50.
[0039] The operation of the cartridge for accommodating the disc
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with
reference to FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B.
[0040] First, as shown in FIG. 5, the one-sided or double-sided
disc D' is accommodated in the case 10. In other words, the disc
D', as shown in FIG. 1, is accommodated in the case 10 while the
cover 40 hingedly coupled to the rear surface of the case 10 is
open. As shown in FIG. 1, the disc D' accommodated in the disc
accommodation space 10a is supported by the first and the second
arc ribs 20 and 42 so that the disc D' is smoothly rotated therein.
The first arc ribs 20 are formed at the upper and the lower plates
12 and 14 by an injection molding, while the second arc rib 42 is
projected from the front surface of the cover 40.
[0041] In order to record/reproduce the information on/from the
disc D' which is accommodated in the cartridge, the case 10 is
disposed into an adaptor, such as an adaptor for accommodating a
compact-sized cartridge as disclosed, for example, in Korean Patent
Application No. 97-68987 or an adaptor for accommodating discs of
different sizes as disclosed, for example, in Korean Patent
Application No. 97-80284, or the like. The case 10 is seated onto
the tray 60, and the case 10 and tray 60 are received/withdrawn
into/from the information reproducing apparatus before the adaptor
is received to the inner portion of the drive 50.
[0042] Then, the shutter 30 which is closing the receiving openings
12c and 14c and the longitudinal openings 12d and 14d formed at the
upper and the lower plates 12 and 14, contacts the opening
protrusion 56 projected from the end of the link 54 so that the
shutter 30 is moved toward the second escaping depression 12e'
along the slide grooves 12a and 14a.
[0043] Upon movement of the shutter 30, the receiving openings 12c
and 14c and the longitudinal openings 12d and 14d are opened, so
that the turn table and the chucking clamp 58 are advanced through
the receiving openings 12c and 14c. Consequently, the disc D' is
seated and chucked, and the optical pick-up device is linearly
moved in a radial direction of the disc D' to record/reproduce the
information thereon/therefrom.
[0044] With the disc D' seated and chucked, as described above, the
torsion spring 32, whose ends are respectively connected to the
case 10 and the shutter 30, is in a distorted state, as shown in
FIG. 6B. The rotary plates 34 are rotated by the shutter 30, which
is advancing to the second escaping depression 12e' from zero to
ninety degrees (0-90.degree.), so that the rotary plates 34 open
the receiving openings 12c and 14c. More particularly, when the
rotary plates 34 are moved to the second escaping depression 12e',
respective surfaces thereof are placed in contact with the first
hooking protrusions 16a and 16b, and simultaneously, the first
hooking protrusions 16a, 16b are inserted into the guide grooves
34a of the rotary plates 34.
[0045] As the shutter 30 is completely moved to the second escaping
depression 12e' , one curved portion 30b of the shutter 30 and the
curved sides 34b of the rotary plates 34 are aligned with each
other, so that the receiving openings 12c and 14c and the
longitudinal openings 12d and 14d are completely opened.
[0046] When the tray 60 is withdrawn from the drive 50 in order to
replace the disc D' with a new one, or to record/reproduce the
information on/from the other side of the disc D', the link 54 is
returned to its initial position by the torsion spring 32. Also,
the shutter 30 is returned to its initial position by the
recovering force of the torsion spring 32. Then, the longitudinal
openings 12d and 14d and the part of the receiving openings 12c and
14c are simultaneously closed.
[0047] When the shutter 30 is moved to the first escaping
depression 12e, the rotary plates 34 inserted into the inserting
holes 30a of the shutter 30 reverse the above-described operation
thereof. That is, the rotary plates 34 are rotated toward right
direction while the guide grooves 34a thereof are inserted, thereby
guided by the second hooking protrusions 18a, 18b. Thus, the
receiving openings 12c and 14c are completely opened.
[0048] FIGS. 7A to FIG. 11 are the views showing a cartridge for
accommodating the disc D' according to the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] According to the second preferred embodiment, the cartridge
for accommodating a one-sided, or double-sided disc D' includes a
case 120 having an upper plate 70 and a lower plate 110. The upper
plate 70 and the lower plate 110 include receiving openings 70a and
1 10a and longitudinal openings 70b and 110b, respectively. A
shutter 80 for opening/closing the longitudinal openings 70b and
100b and a part of the receiving openings 70a and 100a is mounted
on the case 120. A cover 90 is hingedly coupled to a rear surface
of the case 120 in order to prevent the disc D' from separating
from the case 120.
[0050] A first escaping depression 70c and a second escaping
depression 70c' are formed at opposite sides of the receiving
openings 70a and 110a in the upper surface of the upper plate 70
and the lower surface of the lower plate 110 of the case 120. The
shutter 80 is moved toward the first or the second escaping
depression 70c or 70c'. A plurality of sensing holes 70d and 110d
are formed near the rear corners of the case 120, and a plurality
of sensing switches (not shown) for detecting the conditions of the
disc D' accommodated in the case 120 are inserted into the sensing
holes 70d, 100d.
[0051] The receiving openings 70a and 110a have a diameter of
29-31.5 mm in order to receive a turn table on which the disc D' is
placed. The respective widths W2 and W3 of the first and the second
escaping depressions 70c and 70c' are equal to or greater than the
width W1 of the shutter 80 so that the sides of the shutter 80 do
not extend out of the case 120. The lateral length L of the case
120 is less than or equal to a value three times the diameter D of
the receiving openings 70a and 110a. The width W1 of the shutter 80
is less than the diameter D of the receiving openings 70a and
110a.
[0052] A shutter returning means is provided on a front side of the
case 120. The shutter returning means returns the shutter 80 to its
initial position. The shutter returning means comprises movable
pieces 72 and torsion coil springs 74. The movable pieces 72 are
reciprocally moved in a lateral direction along slide grooves 70e
and 110e of the case 120. The ends of the torsion coil springs 74
are respectively connected to the case 120 and the movable pieces
72.
[0053] The shutter 80 can completely cover the longitudinal
openings 70b, 110b while it can close a part of the receiving
openings 70a and 110a. Contact pieces 82 project from inside both
ends of the front of the shutter 80, and are in contact with the
movable pieces 72 and move the movable pieces 72.
[0054] Curved members 84 are provided to a rear side of the shutter
80. The curved members 84 correspond to the receiving openings 70a
and 110a and have projecting portions 84a respectively projecting
from a top and a bottom surface thereof. Slant sides 84b are formed
on the projecting portions 84a. Guide parts 86 are integrally
formed on the shutter 80 at its rear end. The guide parts 86 are
moved along guide rail 76 formed at the upper and the lower plates
70 and 110 of the case 120.
[0055] The curved members 84 have curved sides 84c at both sides
thereof. The curved sides 84c have a radius of curvature which is
the same as that of the receiving openings 70a and 110a so as to
prevent the shutter 80 from being extended toward the receiving
openings 70a and 110a when the shutter 80 is moved into the first
escaping depression 70c or the second escaping depression 70c'. As
a result of the presence of the curved sides 84c, the width W1 of
the shutter 80 is minimized, so the lateral length L of the case
120, and widths W2 and W3 of the first and the second escaping
depressions 70c and 70c' are minimized.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 7A, in order to completely close the
receiving openings 70a and 110a, a part of which is open because of
the curved sides 84c of the shutter, closing means for closing the
receiving openings 70a and 110a are respectively provided on the
upper surface of the upper plate 70 and the lower surface of the
lower plate 110 of the case 120. The closing means comprises rotary
plates 100 respectively inserted into a pair of inserting holes 70f
formed in the case 120. The rotary plates 100 are rotated in a
clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction while the
shutter 80 is moved. Arc sides 100a are formed at outer and inner
portions of the rotary plates 100. The arc sides 100a have a radius
of curvature which is the same as the radius of curvature of the
receiving openings 70a and 110a, and which is the same as the
radius of curvature of the curved sides 84c of the shutter 80.
[0057] Gear parts 102 engaged with each other are formed at ends of
the rotary plates 100, and inserting protrusions 104 inserted into
the inserting holes 70f are projected from a lower surface of the
rotary plate 100. The torsion coil springs 106 are disposed at the
inserting protrusions 104 in order to return the rotary plates 100
to their initial positions. Respective ends of the torsion coil
springs 106 are connected to the case 120 and the rotary plate 100.
Receiving recesses 100b having a predetermined depth are formed in
the rotary plates 100. The receiving recesses 100b receive a part
of the torsion coil springs 106.
[0058] The other ends of the rotary plates 100 come in contact with
the slant sides 84b formed at both sides of the curved members 84
when the shutter 80 is moved. Preferably, when the shutter 80 is
moved, in order to prevent a release of the rotary plates 100 from
the projecting portions 84a, hooking protrusions 84d are formed
between the slant sides 84b of the curved members 84 (FIGS. 10 and
11). Alternatively, the projecting portions 84a can be
lengthened.
[0059] The operation of the cartridge for accommodating the disc
according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow with
reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.
[0060] First, the one-sided, or double-sided disc D' is
accommodated in the case 120. Next, the case 120 is seated onto the
adapter described hereinabove. The case 120 is then inserted into
the inner portion of the drive 50 of the aforementioned information
reproducing device (See FIG. 3). Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the
shutter 80 disposed in the case 120 is moved to one of the first
and the second escaping depressions 70c and 70c' along the sliding
grooves 70e and 110e, while contacting the opening protrusion 56
projected from the end of the link 54.
[0061] In such a situation, the movable pieces 72 inserted into the
sliding grooves 70e and 110e of the case 120 come in contact with
the contacting pieces 82. Accordingly, the movable pieces 72 are
pushed in a direction which is the same as that of the shutter 80
so that the movable pieces 72 compress the torsion coil springs 74.
The rotary plates 100 inserted into the inserting holes 70f of the
case 120 keep rotating until the shutter 80 is completely moved to
its destination. While the rotary plates 100 are rotated, the
rotary plates 100 slide over one hooking protrusion 84d of the
projecting portions 84a and are hooked by the other hooking
protrusion 84d, and thereby, the rotary plates 100 completely open
the receiving openings 70a and 110a.
[0062] Since both arms of the rotary plates 100 have the gear parts
102 engaged with each other, the arms of the rotary plates 100 are
always rotated toward opposite directions no matter which direction
the shutter 80 is moved toward. Thus, the rotary plates 100 are
capable of opening the receiving openings 70a and 110a completely.
In this situation, the torsion coil springs 106 disposed at the
outer side of the inserting protrusions 104 of the rotary plates
100 remain distorted.
[0063] More specifically, while the shutter 80 is moved into one of
the escaping depressions 70c and 70c' of the shutter 80, the rotary
plates 100 slide along the slanted sides 84b of the projecting
portions 84a, so that the arc sides 100a of the rotary plates 100
are separated from each other. The arc sides 100a of the rotary
plates 100 are then accommodated in the lower portion of the curved
members 84 of the shutter 80.
[0064] Consequently, the receiving openings 70a and 110a and the
longitudinal openings 70b and 110b are completely opened by the
shutter 80, so that the turn table for positioning the disc D' and
the chucking clamp 58 for chucking the disc D' are advanced into
the receiving openings 70a and 110a. Also, the optical pick-up
device is linearly moved along the longitudinal openings 70b and
110b in a radial direction of the disc D' while
recording/reproducing the information on/from the disc D'.
[0065] In order to replace the disc D', or to record/reproduce the
information on/from the other side of the disc D', the tray 60 is
withdrawn from the drive 50, and the shutter 80 is returned to its
initial position by the torsion coil springs 74, as described
hereinabove. Accordingly, the longitudinal openings 70b and 110b
and a part of the receiving openings 70a and 10a are simultaneously
closed. Also, the rotary plates 100 are rotated in a reverse
direction toward the curved sides 84c of the curved members 84 of
the shutter 80. As a result, the part of the receiving openings 70a
and 110a, which were open because of the curved portions 84c of the
shutter 80, are completely closed.
[0066] As described above, in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention, the receiving openings and the longitudinal
openings extended from the receiving openings are not exposed
outward when the cartridge is not in use. Then, when the cartridge
is in use, the receiving openings and the longitudinal openings are
simultaneously opened so that the information is
recorded/reproduced on/from the disc accommodated therein. In
addition, the cartridge can be compact-sized.
[0067] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these
embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the
invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *