Cartridge for an information recording medium

Details Cartridge for an information recording medium Cartridge for an information recording medium

2001-09-28

2002-08-20

Klimowicz, William (Department: 2652)

Dynamic information storage or retrieval

Storage medium structure

Adjuncts or adapters

Reexamination Certificate

active

06438099

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cartridge for accommodating and protecting an information recording medium such as an optical disc so that information is recordable/reproducible on/from the optical disc. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cartridge which has an information recording medium holding means that enables a user to replace the information recording medium without directly touching the same, and prevents the information recording medium from separating from the cartridge while the user replaces the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As it is generally known, a disc cartridge protects a disc such as an optical disc from dust, fingerprints, scratches, etc., so that information may be recorded/reproduced on/from the disc without an error. Such a cartridge includes a case which is generally made from a synthetic resin, and an opening cover which selectively opens/closes a disc entry opening of the case.
One example of a conventional disc cartridge is shown in FIG.
1
. In
FIG. 1
, a reference numeral
10
refers to a cartridge case, which has an upper shell and a lower shell that are coupled with each other to define a space therebetween. A disc d is accommodated in the space defined by the upper and lower shells. A spindle opening
10
a
and an extended opening
10
b
are formed in the upper and lower shells. Thus, a turntable and a chucking clamper of an optical recording/reproducing device (not shown) are advanced through the spindle opening
10
a
, and a recordable side of the disc d is exposed to an optical pickup through the extended opening
10
b
. A shutter
12
is slidably disposed on the cartridge case
10
, to selectively open/close the spindle opening
10
a
and the extended opening
10
b
. The shutter
12
is automatically opened/closed in response to the inserting and withdrawing actions of the disc cartridge with respect to the optical recording/reproducing device.
Further, a plurality of sensing holes
10
c
,
10
d
,
10
e
, and
10
f
are formed in the cartridge case
10
, corresponding to a plurality of sensing switches of the optical recording/reproducing device which are to be selectively inserted thereinto. Accordingly, the states of the disc d are detected. The sensing holes
10
c
,
10
d
,
10
e
, and
10
f
are divided into an A
1
hole
10
c
for detecting whether or not the disc d has been withdrawn from the cartridge case
10
, an A
2
hole
10
d
for detecting whether the disc d is a single-sided or a double-sided, a spare hole
10
e
which is available for use for an additional function, and a protection hole
10
f
for preventing information from being recorded on the disc d. In addition to the sensing holes
10
c
,
10
d
,
10
e
, and
10
f
, additional holes such as a position hole are formed in the cartridge case
10
, albeit they are not shown in the drawings.
Further, an opening cover
14
is hinged to a rear side of the cartridge case
10
to permit the disc d to be inserted or withdrawn with respect to the cartridge case
10
. A plurality of holes
14
a
are formed in the opening cover
14
to correspond to the sensing holes
10
c
,
10
d
,
10
e
, and
10
f
, respectively. A lock lever
14
b
is disposed on the opening cover
14
to be locked into a lock hole
10
g
of the cartridge case
10
, and a protector arm as well as a protector rib (not shown) are integrally formed on the cartridge case
10
by injection molding. The protector arm is positioned in the protection hole
10
f
, and the rib is to be locked with the protector arm.
Initially, the A
1
hole
10
c
is closed by the protector rib. Then, if the disc d is withdrawn from the cartridge case
10
, the rib is eliminated so that the A
1
hole
10
c
is opened. Accordingly, the sensing switch of the optical recording/reproducing device is inserted into the A
1
hole
10
c
when the disc cartridge is inserted into the optical recording/reproducing device, so that it is determined that the disc d has been exchanged. As a result, the verification process on the disc d is carried out. The A
2
hole
10
d
is excluded if the disc d accommodated in the cartridge case
10
is single-sided, or when the disc cartridge is one that does not allow the disc d to be exchanged.
Thus, when the conventional disc cartridge constructed as above is inserted into the optical recording/reproducing device, the shutter
12
of the cartridge case
10
is moved in a predetermined direction (upper left in
FIG. 1
) by a shutter opening/closing device (not shown), and accordingly, the spindle opening
10
a
and the extended opening
10
b
of the cartridge case
10
are opened. Simultaneously, the turntable and the chucking damper of the optical recording/reproducing device are advanced through the spindle opening
10
a
so that the disc d is positioned and chucked.
Further, a position pin (not shown) of the optical recording/reproducing device is inserted into the position hole so that the position of the disc cartridge with respect to the optical recording/reproducing device is determined. Continuously, the sensing switches of the optical recording/reproducing device are selectively inserted into the sensing holes
10
c
,
10
d
,
10
e
, and
10
f
and their respective corresponding holes
14
a
of the opening cover
14
, so that the states of the disc d are determined. When the sensing switch corresponding with the A
1
sensing hole
10
c
is not inserted into the A
1
sensing hole
10
c
, then it is determined that the disc d has never been exchanged, so that information can be directly recorded on the disc d without the verification process. When the corresponding sensing switch is inserted into the A
1
hole
10
c
, then it is determined that the disc d has been exchanged, so that the verification process is carried out and then the information is recorded on the disc d. Further, when the corresponding sensing switch corresponding with the A
2
hole
10
d
is inserted into the A
2
hole
10
d
, it is determined that the disc d is double-sided, and if not, it is determined that the disc d is single-sided. When the corresponding sensing switch is inserted into the protection hole
10
f
, it is determined that the function for preventing information recording/elimination is selected.
Meanwhile, in the above-described disc cartridge, the disc d accommodated within the cartridge case is exchangeable. When exchanging the disc d, first, the user opens the opening cover
14
which is hinged at the rear side of the cartridge case
10
. Then, the user tilts the cartridge case
10
and pulls out the disc d manually so as to slide the disc d out of the cartridge case
10
. The user has to hold the disc d with his/her hand, too, when placing the disc d into the cartridge case
10
.
Accordingly, after opening the opening cover
14
in order to exchange the disc, the user holds the recordable side of the disc by his/her hand while he/she takes out or inserts the disc with respect to the cartridge case. Accordingly, a problem arises in that the recordable side of the disc may be damaged due to scratches, fingerprints, etc., which are made by the user while he/she exchanges the disc.
Further, in the event that the cartridge case and the opening cover are deformed in the manufacturing process, a gap is formed between the cartridge case and the opening cover so that foreign substances such as dust may reach the disc through the gap. Accordingly, an error may occur in recording/reproducing the information on/from the disc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described problems of the related art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for attaching/detaching an opening cover with respect to a cartridge case so as to place/withdraw the disc in/from the cartridge case automatically, so that damage to the disc which is caused by a manual exchange is prevented.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for preventing foreign

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