U.S. patent application number 09/931139 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-28 for high-density flexible disk drive having a function of facilitating correct insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk thereinto without an insertion error.
Invention is credited to Okano, Yoshihiro, Tangi, Yoshinori, Uwabo, Tsuneo, Yoneyama, Eiichi.
Application Number | 20020024761 09/931139 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27281263 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020024761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uwabo, Tsuneo ; et
al. |
February 28, 2002 |
High-density flexible disk drive having a function of facilitating
correct insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk thereinto
without an insertion error
Abstract
In a high-density flexible disk drive, a color of at least a
surface of a cover (22) (in addition, a color of at least a surface
of an eject button (30)) is different from that of at least a
surface of a body of a front panel (20). A user can visually
distinguish the high-density flexible disk drive from a
normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive in which a color of a
surface of a cover is identical with that of a surface of a body of
a front panel. Thus, a large-capacity flexible disk can be
correctly inserted into the high-density flexible disk drive
without being erroneously inserted into the normal-density
dedicated flexible disk drive.
Inventors: |
Uwabo, Tsuneo; ( Atsugi-shi,
JP) ; Okano, Yoshihiro; (Atsugi-shi, JP) ;
Yoneyama, Eiichi; (Atsugi-shi, JP) ; Tangi,
Yoshinori; (Atsugi-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYNAMIC AIR INC.
1125 WILLOW LAKE BLVD
ST. PAUL
MN
55110
|
Family ID: |
27281263 |
Appl. No.: |
09/931139 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09931139 |
Aug 16, 2001 |
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09217563 |
Dec 21, 1998 |
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09217563 |
Dec 21, 1998 |
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08792433 |
Jan 30, 1997 |
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5953187 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
360/99.02 ;
G9B/23.022; G9B/23.035; G9B/23.039; G9B/25.003 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 23/0332 20130101;
G11B 23/0316 20130101; G11B 25/043 20130101; G11B 23/0311 20130101;
G11B 17/043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
360/99.02 |
International
Class: |
G11B 017/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 31, 1996 |
JP |
16140/1996 |
Feb 6, 1996 |
JP |
19621/1996 |
May 24, 1996 |
JP |
130392/1996 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A high-density flexible disk drive which is for use in driving a
large-capacity flexible disk and which comprises a front panel
arranged at a front side of said high-density flexible disk drive,
said front panel comprising a panel body, a slot formed in said
panel body for insertion of said large-capacity flexible disk, and
a cover attached to said panel body for closing and opening said
slot, wherein: said front panel further comprises identifying means
enabling visual distinguishment of said high-density flexible disk
drive from a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive for
exclusively driving a normal-capacity flexible disk.
2. A high-density flexible disk drive as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said identifying means is realized by differing a color of
at least a surface of said cover from that of at least a surface of
said panel body to enable visual distinguishment of said
high-density flexible disk drive from said normal-density dedicated
flexible disk drive.
3. A high-density flexible disk drive as claimed in claim 1, said
front panel further comprising an eject button for ejecting said
large-capacity flexible disk inserted in said high-density flexible
disk drive, wherein: said identifying means is realized by
differing both a color of at least a surface of said cover and a
color of at least a surface of said eject button from that of at
least a surface of said panel body to enable visual distinguishment
of said high-density flexible disk drive from said normal-density
dedicated flexible disk drive.
4. A high-density flexible disk drive as claimed in claim 3,
wherein the color of at least the surface of said cover is same as
that of at least the surface of said eject button.
5. A high-density flexible disk drive as claimed in claim 3,
wherein the color of at least the surface of said cover is
different from that of at least the surface of said eject
button.
6. A large-capacity flexible disk adapted to be inserted into a
high-density flexible disk drive and comprising a case containing a
magnetic disk medium, wherein said case has a pair of projecting
portions which are formed at a rear portion of said case in an
insertion direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk
into said high-density flexible disk drive and which laterally
outwardly extend from both lateral sides of said case.
7. A high-density flexible disk drive for insertion of a
large-capacity flexible disk comprising a case containing a
magnetic disk medium, said case having a pair of projecting
portions which are formed at a rear portion of said case in an
insertion direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk
into said high-density flexible disk drive and which laterally
outwardly extend from both lateral sides of said case, wherein said
high-density flexible disk drive has a front panel arranged at a
front side thereof, said front panel having a slot of a width
sufficient to insert said large-capacity flexible disk having said
case provided with said projecting portions.
8. A large-capacity flexible disk adapted to be inserted into a
high-density dedicated flexible disk drive and comprising a case
containing a magnetic disk medium, wherein said case has a first
notch formed on a forward side of said case in an insertion
direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk into said
high-density dedicated flexible disk drive.
9. A large-capacity flexible disk as claimed in claim 8, wherein
said case further has a second notch formed on a lateral side
provided with a chamfered portion for preventing reverse insertion
of said large-capacity flexible disk, said second notch having a
particular shape and formed at a particular position so that said
second notch is engaged by a reverse insertion preventing lever of
a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.
10. A large-capacity flexible disk as claimed in claim 8, wherein
said first notch is formed in an upper surface of said case on the
forward side in said insertion direction.
11. A large-capacity flexible disk as claimed in claim 10, wherein
said case further has a second notch formed on a lateral side
provided with a chamfered portion for preventing reverse insertion
of said large-capacity flexible disk, said second notch having a
particular shape and formed at a particular position so that said
second notch is engaged by a reverse insertion preventing lever of
a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.
12. A high-density dedicated flexible disk drive for insertion of a
large-capacity flexible disk, said large-capacity flexible disk
comprising a case containing a magnetic disk medium, said case
having a notch formed on a forward side of said case in an
insertion direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk
into said high-density dedicated flexible disk drive, wherein said
high-density dedicated flexible disk drive comprises a disk holder
unit for holding said large-capacity flexible disk when it is
inserted into said high-density dedicated flexible disk drive, said
disk holder unit having a protrusion formed at a position
corresponding to said notch of the large-capacity flexible disk
held by said disk holder unit.
13. A high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive for insertion
of a large-capacity flexible disk, said large-capacity flexible
disk comprising a case containing a magnetic disk medium, said case
having a notch formed on a lateral side provided with a chamfered
portion for preventing reverse insertion of said large-capacity
flexible disk, said notch having a particular shape and formed at a
particular position so that said notch is engaged by a reverse
insertion preventing lever of a normal-density dedicated flexible
disk drive, wherein said high-density/normal-density flexible disk
drive comprises a disk holder unit for holding said large-capacity
flexible disk when it is inserted into said
high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive, said disk holder
unit having a recess formed at a position corresponding to said
notch and extending in a direction perpendicular to an insertion
direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk, and a
reverse insertion preventing lever formed at said recess to be
movable in an escaping direction of escaping from said recess upon
collision by said chamfered portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a flexible disk drive for driving
a flexible disk and, in particular, to a high-density flexible disk
drive capable of driving a large-capacity flexible disk. This
invention also relates to a large-capacity flexible disk to be
inserted into the high-density flexible disk drive.
[0002] As well known, a flexible disk drive is a device for
carrying out data recording and reproducing operations to and from
a flexible disk inserted therein. In recent years, the flexible
disk is more and more improved to have a greater capacity.
Specifically, development is made of a large-capacity flexible disk
having a storage capacity as large as 128 Mbytes in contrast with a
normal-capacity flexible disk having a storage capacity between 1
Mbyte and 2 Mbytes. Following such development, the flexible disk
drive is also improved to accept the large-capacity flexible disk
for data recording and reproducing operations to and from the
large-capacity flexible disk.
[0003] Throughout the present specification, a flexible disk drive
capable of carrying out data recording and reproducing operations
to and from the large-capacity flexible disk alone will be referred
to as a high-density dedicated flexible disk drive. On the other
hand, a flexible disk drive capable of carrying out data recording
and reproducing operations to and from the normal-capacity flexible
disk alone will be called a normal-density dedicated flexible disk
drive. A flexible disk drive capable of carrying out data recording
and reproducing operations to and from both the large-capacity and
the normal-capacity flexible disks will be called a
high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive. The high-density
dedicated flexible disk drive and the high-density/normal-density
flexible disk drive will collectively be called a high-density
flexible disk drive.
[0004] The normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive and the
high-density flexible disk drive are different in mechanism from
each other in several respects, one of which will presently be
described. In either flexible disk drive, a magnetic head is
supported by a carriage which is driven by a drive unit to move in
a predetermined radial direction with respect to the flexible disk
inserted into the flexible disk drive. The difference resides in
the structure of the drive unit. Specifically, the normal-density
dedicated flexible disk drive uses a stepping motor as the drive
unit. On the other hand, the high-density flexible disk drive uses
a linear motor such as a voice coil motor (VCM) as the drive
unit.
[0005] Now, description will be made in detail as regards the voice
coil motor used as the drive unit in the high-density flexible disk
drive. The voice coil motor comprises a voice coil arranged at a
rear side of the carriage and wound around a drive shaft extending
in parallel to the predetermined radial direction, and a magnetic
circuit for producing a magnetic field in a direction intersecting
that of an electric current flowing through the voice coil. With
this structure, when the electric current is made to flow through
the voice coil in a direction intersecting that of the magnetic
field produced by the magnetic circuit, a drive force is generated
in an extending direction of the drive shaft as a result of an
interaction between the electric current and the magnetic field. By
the use of the drive force, the voice coil motor makes the carriage
move in the predetermined radial direction.
[0006] In the meanwhile, the large-capacity flexible disk generally
has an external configuration identical with that of the
normal-capacity flexible disk. Specifically, both of the
large-capacity and the normal-capacity flexible disks have a flat
rectangular shape of a width of 90 mm, a length of 94 mm, and a
thickness of 3.3 mm in case of a 3.5-inch type.
[0007] It is therefore possible to insert the large-capacity
flexible disk into the normal-density dedicated flexible disk
drive. Even if the large-capacity flexible disk is erroneously
inserted into the normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive, a
data writing operation is impossible because a write protect
function is activated in a circuit operation.
[0008] In such an event, however, the magnetic head of the
normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive carries out a loading
operation with the magnetic head brought into contact with a
magnetic medium of the large-capacity flexible disk although the
data writing operation is inhibited as described above. At this
time, dust is unavoidably adhered onto the magnetic disk medium of
the large-capacity flexible disk from the magnetic head. When the
large-capacity flexible disk with the dust adhered to the magnetic
disk medium is removed from the normal-density dedicated flexible
disk drive and inserted into the high-density flexible disk drive,
the magnetic head of the high-density flexible disk drive and the
magnetic disk medium may possibly be damaged.
[0009] On the contrary, the normal-capacity flexible disk can be
inserted into the high-density dedicated flexible disk drive. The
high-density dedicated flexible disk drive can not judge whether or
not a flexible disk inserted therein is the normal-capacity
flexible disk or the large-capacity flexible disk until the
flexible disk is accessed. When it is judged that the flexible disk
is the normal-capacity flexible disk, the normal-capacity flexible
disk must be removed from the high-density dedicated flexible disk
drive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore a first object of this invention to provide
a high-density flexible disk drive which can be easily
distinguished from a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive
so that a large-capacity flexible disk is correctly inserted into
the high-density flexible disk drive without being erroneously
inserted into the normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.
[0011] It is a second object of this invention to provide a
large-capacity flexible disk which has an insertion error inhibit
structure inhibiting erroneous insertion into a normal-density
dedicated flexible disk drive.
[0012] It is a third object of this invention to provide a
high-density flexible disk drive which allows insertion of a
large-capacity flexible disk having an insertion error inhibit
structure.
[0013] It is a fourth object of this invention to provide a
large-capacity flexible disk which can be inserted into a
high-density dedicated flexible disk drive having an insertion
error inhibit structure inhibiting erroneous insertion of a
normal-capacity flexible disk.
[0014] It is a fifth object of this invention to provide a
high-density dedicated flexible disk drive which has an insertion
error inhibit structure inhibiting erroneous insertion of a
normal-capacity flexible disk.
[0015] It is a sixth object of this invention to provide a
high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive which allows
insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk having an insertion
error inhibit structure inhibiting erroneous insertion into a
normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.
[0016] A high-density flexible disk drive to which this invention
is applicable is for use in driving a large-capacity flexible disk
and comprises a front panel arranged at a front side of the
high-density flexible disk drive. The front panel comprises a panel
body, a slot formed in the panel body for insertion of the
large-capacity flexible disk, and a cover attached to the panel
body for closing and opening the slot. According to a first aspect
of this invention, the front panel further comprises identifying
means enabling visual distinguishment of the high-density flexible
disk drive from a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive for
exclusively driving a normal-capacity flexible disk.
[0017] A large-capacity flexible disk to which this invention is
applicable is adapted to be inserted into a high-density flexible
disk drive and comprises a case containing a magnetic disk medium.
According to a second aspect of this invention, the case has a pair
of projecting portions which are formed at a rear portion of the
case in an insertion direction of inserting the large-capacity
flexible disk into the high-density flexible disk drive and which
laterally outwardly extend from both lateral sides of the case.
[0018] A high-density flexible disk drive to which this invention
is applicable is for insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk
comprising a case containing a magnetic disk medium. The case has a
pair of projecting portions which are formed at a rear portion of
the case in an insertion direction of inserting the large-capacity
flexible disk into the high-density flexible disk drive and which
laterally outwardly extend from both lateral sides of the case.
According to a third aspect of this invention, the high-density
flexible disk drive has a front panel arranged at a front side
thereof. The front panel has a slot of a width sufficient to insert
the large-capacity flexible disk having the case provided with the
projecting portions.
[0019] A large-capacity flexible disk to which this invention is
applicable is adapted to be inserted into a high-density dedicated
flexible disk drive and comprises a case containing a magnetic disk
medium. According to a fourth aspect of this invention, the case
has a first notch formed on a forward side of the case in an
insertion direction of inserting the large-capacity flexible disk
into the high-density dedicated flexible disk drive.
[0020] A high-density dedicated flexible disk drive to which this
invention is applicable is for insertion of a large-capacity
flexible disk. The large-capacity flexible disk comprises a case
containing a magnetic disk medium. The case has a notch formed on a
forward side of the case in an insertion direction of inserting the
large-capacity flexible disk into the high-density dedicated
flexible disk drive. According to a fifth aspect of this invention,
the high-density dedicated flexible disk drive comprises a disk
holder unit for holding the large-capacity flexible disk when it is
inserted into the high-density dedicated flexible disk drive. The
disk holder unit has a protrusion formed at a position
corresponding to the notch of the large-capacity flexible disk held
by the disk holder unit.
[0021] A high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive to which
this invention is applicable is for insertion of a large-capacity
flexible disk. The large-capacity flexible disk comprises a case
containing a magnetic disk medium. The case has a notch formed on a
lateral side provided with a chamfered portion for preventing
reverse insertion of the large-capacity flexible disk. The notch
has a particular shape and is formed at a particular position so
that the notch is engaged by a reverse insertion preventing lever
of a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive. According to a
sixth aspect of this invention, the high-density/normal-density
flexible disk drive comprises a disk holder unit for holding the
large-capacity flexible disk when it is inserted into the
high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive. The disk holder
unit has a recess formed at a position corresponding to the notch
and extending in a direction perpendicular to an insertion
direction of inserting the large-capacity flexible disk, and a
reverse insertion preventing lever formed at the recess to be
movable in a releasing direction of being released from the recess
upon collision by the chamfered portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main portion of a
high-density flexible disk drive according to a first embodiment of
this invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a large-capacity flexible disk to
be inserted into the high-density flexible disk drive illustrated
in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a large-capacity flexible disk
according to a second embodiment of this invention;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main portion of a
high-density flexible disk drive capable of inserting the
large-capacity flexible disk illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a large-capacity flexible disk
according to a third embodiment of this invention;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a high-density dedicated flexible
disk drive capable of inserting the large-capacity flexible disk
illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a large-capacity flexible disk
according to a fourth embodiment of this invention;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line B-B in FIG. 7;
and
[0030] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a high-density/normal-density
flexible disk drive capable of inserting the large-capacity
flexible disk illustrated in each of FIGS. 5 and 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, a high-density flexible disk drive
according to a first embodiment of this invention has a front panel
20 arranged at a front side of the high-density flexible disk
drive. The front panel 20 comprises a panel body, a slot 21 formed
in the panel body for insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk
into the high-density flexible disk drive, a cover 22 attached to
the panel body for closing and opening the slot 21, and an eject
button 30 for ejecting the large-capacity flexible disk from the
high-density flexible disk drive. The high-density flexible disk
drive is for driving the large-capacity flexible disk inserted
therein.
[0032] The eject button 30 protrudes from the front panel 20 to be
depressible. When the eject button 30 is pushed, the large-capacity
flexible disk received in the high-density flexible disk drive is
ejected by an eject mechanism which is not shown in the figure.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, the large-capacity flexible disk is
represented by a reference numeral 10. The large-capacity flexible
disk 10 illustrated in the figure shows a state when it is inserted
into the high-density flexible disk drive in FIG. 1.
[0034] The large-capacity flexible disk 10 comprises a disk-shaped
magnetic disk medium 11, a case 12 covering the magnetic disk
medium 11, and a shutter 13 slidable in a direction depicted at A
in the figure. The shutter 13 is provided with a window 13a. The
shutter 13 is urged by a spring member (not shown) in a direction
opposite to the direction A. When the shutter 13 is slid in the
direction A, the window 13a of the shutter 13 is positioned at an
opening 12a of the case 12. In this event, the magnetic disk medium
11 can be accessed through the opening 12a by a magnetic head (not
shown) of the high-density flexible disk drive in FIG. 1.
[0035] As mentioned in the preamble of the specification, the case
12 of the large-capacity flexible disk 10 has a flat rectangular
shape of a width of 90 mm, a length of 94 mm, and a thickness of
3.3 mm. The above-mentioned size of the case 12 of the
large-capacity flexible disk 10 is generally equal to that of a
case of a normal-capacity flexible disk.
[0036] Referring back to FIG. 1, the slot 21 of the high-density
flexible disk drive has a dimension sufficient to insert the
large-capacity flexible disk 10. In the meanwhile, a slot of a
normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive also has a dimension
substantially equal to that of the slot 21 of the high-density
flexible disk drive in order to insert the normal-capacity flexible
disk equal in size to the large-capacity flexible disk 10.
[0037] In the high-density flexible disk drive, the cover 22 has a
surface different in color from a surface of the panel body of the
front panel 20. Therefore, it is possible for a user to visually
distinguish the high-density flexible disk drive from the
normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive in which a surface of
a cover is same in color as that of the panel body of the front
panel. For example, when the surface of the panel body of the front
panel 20 is gray, the surface of the cover 22 may be green, red, or
any other color different from gray.
[0038] In addition to the color of the surface of the cover 22, a
surface of the eject button 30 may be different in color from that
of the panel body of the front panel 20. In this case, the surface
of the eject button 30 may have a color different from or identical
with that of the surface of the cover 22.
[0039] It is essential that at least the surface of the cover 22 or
the eject button 30 is different in color from at least the surface
of the panel body of the front panel 20. For example, the whole of
the cover 22 or the eject button 30 may be different in color from
the whole of the front panel 20.
[0040] As will be clear from the foregoing description, the
high-density flexible disk drive according to the first embodiment
of this invention has, at the front panel, identifying means for
enabling visual distinguishment of the high-density flexible disk
drive from the normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.
Accordingly, it is possible for a user to correctly insert the
large-capacity flexible disk into the high-density flexible disk
drive. In particular, the high-density flexible disk drive can be
easily identified because at least the surface of the cover
(additionally, at least the surface of the eject button) is
different in color from at least the surface of the panel body of
the front panel. Thus, the user can correctly insert the
large-capacity flexible disk into the high-density flexible disk
drive.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 3, a large-capacity flexible disk 10'
according to a second embodiment of this invention is illustrated
in a state when it is inserted into a high-density flexible disk
drive which will later be described in conjunction with FIG. 4.
[0042] The large-capacity flexible disk 10' is different from the
large-capacity flexible disk 10 in FIG. 2 and a conventional
large-capacity flexible disk in the following respect.
Specifically, the case 12 of the large-capacity flexible disk 10'
has a pair of projecting portions 14 which are formed at a rear
portion of the case 12 in an insertion direction of inserting the
large-capacity flexible disk 10' into the high-density flexible
disk drive and which laterally outwardly extend from both lateral
sides of the case 12. In other words, a case of the conventional
large-capacity flexible disk does not have such projecting portions
14, as depicted by broken lines in FIG. 3. The case 12 has a width
of 91 mm or more, including the projecting portions 14. The
projecting portions 14 serve as an insertion error inhibit
structure.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, the high-density flexible disk drive
illustrated in the figure is adapted to insert the large-capacity
flexible disk illustrated in FIG. 3. In the high-density flexible
disk drive, a slot 21' of the front panel 20 has a width sufficient
to insert the large-capacity flexible disk in FIG. 3 having a width
of 91 mm or more. Thus, in order to insert the large-capacity
flexible disk in FIG. 3, the slot 21' of the high-density flexible
disk drive is wider than that of a conventional high-density
flexible disk drive and the slot 21 (depicted by broken lines in
FIG. 4) of the high-density flexible disk drive in FIG. 2.
[0044] The normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive also has
the slot of a width allowing insertion of those flexible disks
having a width of 90 mm, as depicted by the broken lines in FIG. 4.
Accordingly, the flexible disks without the projecting portions 14
as depicted by the broken lines in FIG. 3 can be inserted while the
large-capacity flexible disk 10' of this invention (FIG. 3) can not
be inserted. This is because the projecting portions 14 can not
pass through the slot of the normal-density dedicated flexible disk
drive. As a result, the large-capacity flexible disk 10' can not be
inserted inward any further.
[0045] As mentioned above, the large-capacity flexible disk 10' is
inhibited from insertion into the normal-density dedicated flexible
disk drive. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the magnetic
head of the high-density flexible disk drive or the magnetic disk
medium 11 of the large-capacity flexible disk 10' from being
damaged by dust adhered to the magnetic disk medium 11 as a result
of erroneous insertion into the normal-density dedicated flexible
disk drive.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 5, a large-capacity flexible disk 10"
according to a third embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
a state when it is inserted into a high-density dedicated flexible
disk drive or a high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive
which will later be described. The large-capacity flexible disk 10"
comprises similar parts designated by like reference numerals.
[0047] The large-capacity flexible disk 10" has a case 12 different
from that of the conventional large-capacity flexible disk in the
following respects. Specifically, the case 12 has a first notch 34
formed on a forward side of the case 12 in the insertion direction,
and a second notch 16 formed on a lateral side provided with a
chamfered portion 15 for preventing reverse insertion (wrong
insertion in a vertical direction or in the insertion direction).
The second notch 16 has a particular shape and is formed at a
particular position so that the second notch 16 is engaged by a
reverse insertion preventing lever of the normal-density dedicated
flexible disk drive. In other words, the case of the conventional
large-capacity flexible disk does not have the first and the second
notches 34 and 16.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 6, the high-density dedicated flexible
disk drive is adapted to insert the large-capacity flexible disk
10" illustrated in FIG. 5. The high-density dedicated flexible disk
drive has a disk holder unit 40 for holding the large-capacity
flexible disk 10". The disk holder unit 40 has a protrusion
(stopper) 41 formed at a position corresponding to the first notch
34 (FIG. 5).
[0049] Since the normal-capacity flexible disk does not have the
first notch 34 illustrated in FIG. 5, the normal-capacity flexible
disk can not be inserted into the high-density dedicated flexible
disk drive illustrated in FIG. 6. This is because the
normal-density flexible disk collides with the protrusion 41 and
can not be inserted inward any further.
[0050] As mentioned above, the normal-capacity flexible disk is
inhibited from insertion into the high-density dedicated flexible
disk drive. Therefore, it is unnecessary to eject the
normal-capacity flexible disk erroneously inserted into the
high-density dedicated flexible disk drive by pushing the eject
button 30.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a large-capacity flexible disk
10a according to a fourth embodiment of this invention is
substantially similar in structure to that of the large-capacity
flexible disk 10" in FIG. 5 except that the first notch 34a is
formed at an upper surface of the case 12 alone.
[0052] The large-capacity flexible disk 10a can also be inserted
into the high-density dedicated flexible disk drive illustrated in
FIG. 6.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 9, the high-density/normal-density
flexible disk drive is adapted to insert the large-capacity
flexible disk 10" or 10a illustrated in FIG. 5 or 7.
[0054] The high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive
illustrated in the figure has a disk holder unit 40a for holding
the large-capacity flexible disk 10" or 10a. The disk holder unit
40a has a recess 42 formed at a position corresponding to the
second notch 16 and extending in a direction perpendicular to the
insertion direction of inserting the large-capacity flexible disk
10" or 10a. The recess 42 is provided with a reverse insertion
preventing lever 43. The reverse insertion preventing lever 43 is
arranged to be movable in a releasing direction of being released
from the recess 22 upon collision by the chamfered portion 15. In
the illustrated example, the reverse insertion preventing lever 23
is moved rightward in the figure when the chamfered portion 15
collides with the reverse insertion preventing lever 23.
[0055] Accordingly, both the large-capacity flexible disk 10" or
10a illustrated in FIG. 5 or 7 and the normal-capacity flexible
disk can be inserted into the high-density/normal-density flexible
disk drive of the above-mentioned structure.
[0056] In FIG. 9, the reverse insertion preventing lever of the
normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive is depicted at 43' by
a broken line. Because of presence of the reverse insertion
preventing lever 43' at a position illustrated in the figure, the
large-capacity flexible disk 10" or 10a can not be inserted into
the normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive. This is because
the reverse insertion preventing lever 43' is engaged in the second
notch 16 so that the large-capacity flexible disk 10" or 10a can
not be inserted inward any further.
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