Optical disk cartridge

Details Optical disk cartridge Optical disk cartridge

2000-01-06

2002-07-23

Hudspeth, David (Department: 2652)

Dynamic information storage or retrieval

Storage medium structure

Adjuncts or adapters

Reexamination Certificate

active

06424617

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk cartridge into which an optical disk can be inserted and removed.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 30
shows a conventional optical disk cartridge. Referring to
FIG. 30
, a casing
21
for accommodating therein an optical disk D has an accommodating section
21
a
and an opening provided in one side face thereof for inserting and removing the disk D into and from the cartridge.
A lid
22
having tongues
22
a
is attached to the opening
21
b
so as to be opened and closed.
In the insertion and removal of the disk D, top and bottom faces of the disk D are sandwiched by the tongues
22
a
so that the disk D is inserted and removed into and from the accommodating section
21
a
. This prevents the disk D from being contaminated by fingerprints and the like.
In general, after formatting the disk D, the disk D is checked again to determine whether or not it has been satisfactorily formatted. When a defective region is detected on the disk D, the region is registered in a control table.
In a conventional optical disk cartridge, if the disk D can be inserted and removed, there is a risk that that an unacceptable disk D will be inserted by a user. For example, writable disks D, such as DVD-RAMs (digital versatile disk RAMs), are generally subjected to checking for defective regions at the time of factory shipment in order to improve reliability of data to be written thereon. Some of the disks D, however, are not subjected to checking for defective regions, and such disks D may be accommodated in the casing
21
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disk cartridge in which optical disks can be replaced and in which information on a replaced disk can be discriminated.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an optical disk cartridge including: a casing having an accommodating section formed by a pair of top and bottom walls; a discrimination hole formed in one of the walls; a holder accommodated in the accommodating section of the casing and capable of insertion and removal of a disk into and from the accommodating section; an operation element accommodated in the accommodating section; and a breakable blocking part for blocking movement of the operation element and insertion and removal of the holder; wherein, when the blocking part is broken, the operation element is slidable, and sliding of the operation element allows the discrimination hole to be opened and closed and enables insertion and removal of the holder into and from the accommodating section.
In the optical disk cartridge of the present invention, the discrimination hole may be for determining whether or not checking for defective regions of the disk has been completed.
In the optical disk cartridge of the present invention, the discrimination hole may be provided in the pair of top and bottom walls, respectively. The discrimination hole provided in one of the walls and the discrimination hole provided in the other of the walls may be provided at opposing top and bottom positions across the widthwise central part of the casing.
In the optical disk cartridge of the present invention, the holder may have a receiving part for receiving the operation element, and the operation element received in the receiving part may be insertable and removable into and from said accommodating section in accordance with the insertion and removal of the holder.
The holder may be provided with a guide part around the receiving part for guiding the sliding movement of the operation element.
In the optical disk cartridge of the present invention, one of the walls opposing the other of the walls provided with the discrimination hole may be formed with a slot partially opposing the discrimination hole.
The operation element may be formed with a hole adjacent to the slot for receiving an operation tool.
In the optical disk cartridge of the present invention, the blocking part may be integrally formed with one or both of the walls.
A base portion of the blocking part may be formed by a thin-walled part.


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