Disc cartridge

Details Disc cartridge Disc cartridge

1999-04-27

2002-06-04

Davis, David (Department: 2652)

Dynamic information storage or retrieval

Storage medium structure

Adjuncts or adapters

Reexamination Certificate

active

06400678

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disc cartridge which receives a disc-like recording medium such as an optical disc, a photomagnetic disc and the like therewithin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, the discs such as the optical disc and the like are used for a disc-like recording medium. These discs are frequently used in a state of being received within the disc cartridge for the purpose of preventing a recording or reproducing error due to an attachment of oils and fats on a recording surface thereof.
In this case, the disc-like recording medium is structured such that in the case that a recording density is fixed, a recording capacity of course becomes greater as a diameter thereof becomes greater. On the contrary, in the case of using the disc-like recording medium mentioned above as a recording medium for a portable recording and reproducing apparatus, for example, a video camera and the like, a compact disc is excellent in portability. Accordingly, there is a case that the disc used for a portable apparatus has a different diameter from the disc used for a stationary apparatus. At this time, a small-sized disc cartridge is of course used for a disc cartridge used for the portable disc. In the case that a recording method is the same and only a shape of the disc is different, if it is possible to mount the disc to the recording and reproducing apparatus, it is possible to record or reproduce by means of recording and reproducing means provided in the recording and reproducing apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to record and reproduce the disc used for the portable apparatus in the stationary recording and reproducing apparatus by taking out only the disc from the compact disc cartridge and replacing in the disc cartridge having the same outer shape as that of the disc cartridge in the stationary apparatus.
Further, in an optical disc, a recording operation is sensitive to a dirt and a reproducing operation is relatively strong to a dirt, so that in the case of performing only a reproducing operation without again performing a recording operation in the once recorded disc, there exists a system in which a disc is taken out from the disc cartridge and only the disc can be treated.
Because of the reasons mentioned above, there is a requirement of inserting and removing the disc with respect to the disc cartridge. As a structure of taking out the disc from the disc cartridge, for example, there is a method of arranging a disc insertion and removal portion in a part of the disc cartridge as shown in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 5-242626.
A description will be given of a structure for taking out the disc from the disc cartridge in accordance with the conventional art with reference to
FIG. 9. A
disc insertion and removal port
12
is provided on a surface opposite to a surface on which a shutter
3
is arranged, and a disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
e
is arranged there. Normally, the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
e
is structured such that a locking hook
6
e
is fitted to a locking hole
7
e
arranged in the disc cartridge, and the disc insertion and removal port
12
is closed. At a time of taking out a disc
4
, the locking hook
6
e
is removed from the locking hole
7
e
and the disc insertion and removal port opening, closing member
10
e
is rotated around a rotational support point
8
e
and the disc insertion and removal port
12
is opened, so that the disc
4
is inserted and removed.
Further, another conventional embodiment is shown in FIG.
10
. In the conventional embodiment shown in
FIG. 10
, a disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
f
is structured such as to be capable of being taken out from the disc cartridge
1
. Further, at a time of attaching the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
f
, the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
f
is locked by a fitness between a locking hook
6
f
and a locking hole
7
f
, thereby preventing an erroneous falling off.
In the disc cartridge as mentioned above, in the case of using the disc cartridge receiving disc once taken out therewithin in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus corresponding to the cartridge, it is necessary that the apparatus detects the fact of being taken out. This is necessary for the purpose of inhibiting a recording operation of the disc which has been taken out to an outer portion or more frequently performing a recording check since a recording operation is sensitive to a dirt in the optical disc as mentioned above. A method of detecting a history of taking out the disc will be described below with reference to FIG.
11
.
FIG. 11
shows a structure of opening and closing the disc insertion and removal port
12
by a disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
i
in the same manner as that of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 9
, thereby inserting and removing the disc. A locking hook
6
i
and a locking hole
7
i
are fitted to each other and the locking member
11
is fitted to the locking hole
9
, whereby a locking of the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
i
is performed. When the locking hook
6
i
is removed from the locking hole
7
i
, the locking hook
6
i
is elastically deformed in an inner direction of the disc cartridge, so that a fitting can be again performed even after once removed. On the contrary, when removing the locking member
11
from the locking hole
9
, the locking member
11
is broken out from the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
i
. When opening the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
i
, it is necessary to release these two kinds of locking means, however, when opening the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
i
, the locking member
11
becomes in a broken state, so that it is possible to recognize a history of taking out the disc by detecting the broken state.
As mentioned above, in the conventional art, when taking out the disc from the disc cartridge, the disc take-out history is definitely left in the disc cartridge. However, as a purpose of taking out the disc, in addition to the case of using a simple disc exclusively for reproducing the disc, there is a case of using the disc with moving the disc between the disc cartridges. In this case, since a user does not positively handle the disc, there is a little possibility that a dirt is attached to the disc surface. Further, it can be avoided to be directly in contact with the disc by closely attaching the insertion and removal ports of the disc cartridge to each other and moving the disc, so that a dirt is not attached. Even in this case, when the disc take-out history is left, an impossible recording treatment or an excessive recording check is performed although no dirt is attached to the disc, so that a usability of the disc is deteriorated.
DISCLOSURE OF RELATED APPLICATION
U.S. application Ser. No. 09/233,205 discloses the use of a disc holder for holding the disc and which is insertable and removable from the disc cartridge together with the disc.
FIG. 12
shows a disc insertion and removal member in accordance with the copending application, wherein a disc insertion and removal opening and closing member
10
g
is structured such as to be capable of being taken out from the disc cartridge
1
. At a time of attaching the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
g
, the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
g
is locked by a fitness between a locking hook
6
g
and a locking hole
7
g
. It is structured such that the disc
4
can be taken out of the disc cartridge
1
by a disc auxiliary member
2
which changes and holds the disc as described in the copending application and is arranged in the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member
10
g
at a time of taking out the disc insertion and re

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