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United States Patent6215761
Goto , ; et al.April 10, 2001
Title
Disk cartridge
Abstract
A disk cartridge of the present invention comprises a case body (101) having a disk-storage portion and an opening/closing cover (201) having a pair of disk holding members (202) that hold a disk (10) in its inplane direction. The accommodated disk (10) is loaded together with the opening/closing cover (201) into an adapter having compatibility with a large disk cartridge. Thus, information can be, for example, reproduced from the disk (10) in a drive unit designed for a large disk cartridge via the adapter. Moreover, a series of operations can be conducted without touching the disk directly.
Inventors:Goto; Yoshikazu (Hirakata, JP), Nishino; Yukio  (Ikoma-gun, JP), Nakata; Kuniko  (Kadoma, JP), Ueno; Shigeto  (Toyonaka, JP)
Assignee:Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Osaka, JP)
Appl. No.:373465
Filed:August 12, 1999
Foreign Application Priority Data
Dec 16, 1997 [JP] 9-346053
Dec 17, 1997 [JP] 9-347472
Dec 17, 1997 [JP] 9-348328
Feb 25, 1998 [JP] 10-43227
Jun 12, 1998 [JP] 10-164902
Current U.S. Class:720/720 
Field of Search:369/291 360/133
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5140489August 1992Barnard
5331627July 1994Childers et al.
5724332March 1998Ogusu
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Other References
European search report dated May 11, 1999 for application No. 98959221.7-2210-JP9805667 (Ref. No. Mo/990157). .
European search report dated May 11, 1999 for application No. 99115101.0-2210-(Ref. No. ph/990734). .
European search report dated May 11, 1999 for application No. 9915103.6-2210-(Ref. No. ph/990736). .
European search report dated May 11, 1999 for application No. 99115102.8-2210-(Ref. No. PH/990735)..~
Primary Examiner: Cao; Allen T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:Merchant & Gould P.C.
Parent Case Text


"This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 09/269,352, filed Mar. 25, 1999, which is a 371 of PCT/JP98/05667, filed Dec. 15, 1998, which application(s) are incorporated herein by reference."
Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A disk cartridge comprising:
a case body having an opening for ejecting a disk and a disk-storage portion provided continuously to the opening;
an opening/closing cover having a pair of disk holding members that maintain the disk and having positioning parts armged with a predetermined distance from both surfaces of the disk for adjusting a position of the disk in a thickness direction of the disk; and
locking means for fixing and holding the opening/closing cover to the case body at a position where the opening/closing cover closes the opening, the locking means including a locking hole formed in the case body and a locking projection provided in the opening/closing cover so as to engage with the locking hole when the opening/closing cover closes the opening, and the engagement between the locking hole and the locking projection is able to be released irreversibly by a predetermined external force,
wherein the opening/closing cover is accommodated in the disk-storage portion in a withdrawable manner, and the pair of disk holding members hold the disk in an inplane orientation when the opening/closing cover is withdrawn from the disk-storage portion.

2. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, further including means for confirming the fixing and holding of the opening/closing cover to the case body by said locking means.

3. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the disk holding members have free ends and the positioning parts are positioned in the vicinity of the free ends, the opening/closing cover further comprising a grip and second positioning parts in the vicinity of the grip.

4. The disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the disk holding members have a finger-like shape.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

First Invention

The present first invention relates to a disk cartridge accommodating a disc-shaped recording medium and to a cartridge adapter capable of recording information on and reproducing information from the disc-shaped recording medium accommodated in the disk cartridge using a drive unit designed for a larger disk cartridge than the disk cartridge.

Second Invention

The present second invention relates to a disk cartridge for double-sided recording that accommodates a disk as a disc-like recording and reproducing medium such as an optical disk. Particularly, the present second invention is suitable for providing a smaller and thinner disk cartridge.

Third Invention

The present third invention relates to a disk cartridge accommodating a disk for recording and reproducing information. Particularly, the present third invention relates to a disk cartridge comprising a shutter for exposing a disk surface in order to drive a disk for recording, reproduction and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

First Invention

With the rapid progress of computer techniques, disc-shaped recording media have been used widely as means for recording, reproducing, and erasing various information. With respect to disc-shaped recording media, there are a plurality of standards that differ in recording density, size, recording and reproducing system, and the like respectively. Corresponding to the respective disc-shaped recording media according to the plurality of standards, there are also a plurality of drive units for recording information on and reproducing and erasing information from the respective disc-shaped recording media.

Under such circumstances, it is convenient for users when disc-shaped recording media according to a plurality of standards can be driven for recording, reproducing, and erasing information with one drive unit. Therefore, various systems have been proposed.

As a method for driving a plurality of disc-shaped recording media having different sizes for recording, reproducing, and erasing information with one drive unit, for example, a method in which a user inserts a bare disc-shaped recording medium into an adapter and then sets it into a drive unit has been proposed. Partially, this method has come into practical use for driving both a compact disc (CD) with a diameter of 12 cm and a single compact disc with a diameter of 8 cm.

As a method of recording information on and reproducing and erasing information from disc-shaped recording media with various sizes accommodated in cartridges with one drive unit, for example, as shown in FIG. 51, a method of recording, reproducing, and erasing information in a drive unit 1921 designed for a large disk cartridge by inserting a small-size disk cartridge 1901 into a cartridge adapter 1911 having the same size and the same external shape as those of the large disk cartridge has been studied (for instance, Publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Hei 2-121174). In FIG. 51, numerals 1912 and 1913 indicate a head access opening and a shutter of the cartridge adapter 1911, respectively. The head access opening 1912 and the shutter 1913 are formed so as to have the same shapes and sizes as those of the cartridge for a large disc. Numerals 1902 and 1903 indicate a head access opening and a shutter of the small disk cartridge 1901, respectively. A numeral 1914 indicates an insertion portion into which the small disk cartridge 1901 is inserted, and a numeral 1924 indicates an insertion portion into which the large disk cartridge is inserted.

However, the method in which a user inserts a bare disc-shaped recording medium into an adapter and sets it into a drive unit is not suitable for the use that requires high reliability and high durability, since the user can put dirt and scratches on the disc-shaped recording medium easily.

Further, in the method of recording, reproducing, and erasing information in a drive unit designed for a large disk cartridge by inserting a small disk cartridge into a cartridge adapter having the same size and the same external shape as those of the large disk cartridge as shown in FIG. 51, for example, the following problems occur. The small disk cartridge is different from the large cartridge in shapes and sizes of the head access opening and the shutter that are provided in a disk cartridge, and in the opening/closing mechanisms of the shutter. Therefore, some problems occur, for example, a head of the drive unit comes into contact with the shutter 1903 and the exterior members around the head access opening 1902 of the small disk cartridge 1901 accommodated in the cartridge adapter 1911, and the mechanism for opening and closing the shutter is complicated. As a result, in disk cartridges with different sizes, it is difficult to record, reproduce, and erase information without any problems using such an adapter. Considering such use, it has been necessary to review the design of the drive unit itself in some cases.

Second Invention

Recently, disk drive units for optical disks or the like used as recording units of computers have been required to be smaller and thinner, as portable computers have become widespread. At the same time, disks for recording and reproduction have become smaller, and therefore the disks with high recording-density have been required. Such a disk is accommodated in a cartridge case so that fingerprints and dust, which are obstacles for recording and reproducing information at a high density, do not adhere to the disk.

An example of a conventional double-sided disk cartridge and a mechanism of opening and closing its shutter will be explained with reference to the drawings as follows.

FIG. 61 is a perspective structural view of a disk cartridge in conformity with the International Standard for a 130-mm optical disk. FIG. 62 is a perspective view showing a state in which a shutter of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 61 is opened. FIG. 63 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a configuration around the shutter of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 61. In this conventional disk cartridge, an optical disk 2104 is accommodated in a case body 2103 having a substantially rectangular shape formed of an upper half 2101 and a lower half 2102. An opening 2105 into which a disk motor and an optical pickup can be inserted is provided in the upper and lower surfaces of the case body 2103. A U-shaped shutter 2106
for covering and uncovering the opening 2105 is slidably provided on the case body 2103. The shutter 2106 is formed in a manner such that a metal plate is folded in two. The shutter 2106 comprises two opposed shielding plates 2107 and a connecting plate 2108 interconnecting the two opposed shielding plates. The connecting plate 2108 fixes and holds a thin and long slider 2109 so as to cover the slider 2109. A receiving hole 2110 into which a shutter opener P1 is inserted is provided to a tail portion of the connecting plate 2108. The shutter opener P1 is provided in a loading mechanism of a recording and reproducing unit. Corresponding to the receiving hole 2110, a receiving hole 2111 is provided in the slider 2109. A roller R1 of the shutter opener P1 shown in FIG. 63 is engaged with the receiving hole 2111. A torsion coil spring 2114 is housed in the left side of the leading end of the case body 2103. This torsion coil spring 2114 urges the shutter 2106 in the direction in which the shutter 2106 covers the opening 2105.

At an end of the slider 2109, a slope 2115 is provided so that a roller R2 of a shutter opener P2 provided in the loading mechanism of the recording and reproducing unit as shown in FIG. 63 can pass over the slope 2115 smoothly.

When this conventional disk cartridge is inserted into the recording and reproducing unit, one shutter opener P1 is inserted into the receiving hole 2110 of the shutter 2106 and the receiving hole 2111 of the slider 2109. When the shutter opener P1 moves the shutter 2106 to the left to uncover the opening 2105 as shown in FIG. 62, the other shutter opener P2 crosses over and along the slope 2115 of the slider 2109. As a result, the shutter openers P1 and P2 cross each other.

Guide grooves 2116 for preventing erroneous insertion of a cartridge are formed at the leading ends of both side faces of the case body 2103. When the disk cartridge is inserted into a unit normally, auto-loading hooks (not shown in the figures) that are a loading means of the recording and reproducing unit are inserted into the guide grooves 2116, thus pulling the disk cartridge into the unit. On the other hand, when the disk cartridge is inserted into the recording and reproducing unit from its back, the auto-loading hooks come into contact with the back corners of the case body 2103. Therefore, the disk cartridge cannot be inserted any further, thus preventing the erroneous insertion. Consequently, damage to an optical head that is an information writing and reading means of the recording and reproducing unit and other mechanisms can be avoided.

At the rear of the both side faces of the case body 2103, grooves 2117 for engaging with a chucking (cramping) mechanism (not show in the figures) of a changer unit are formed. As widely known, one of a plurality of disk cartridges accommodated in a changer unit is selected and the chucking mechanism engages with grooves 2117 of the selected disk cartridge to hold and load it, thus enabling automatic selection and automatic recording/reproduction.

However, there have been the following problems in the double-sided disk cartridge having the above-mentioned conventional structure.

During the operation of opening and closing a shutter, the rollers at the ends of two shutter openers cross each other on the connecting plate 2108. Therefore, when a space is provided in order to avoid the contact between the two rollers, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the cartridge, which, as a result, goes against the trend to a thinner unit. Further, in order to obtain a thin unit, there is a cartridge in which the front-end center of the case body 2103 is formed of a bridge portion that is recessed from the two case faces so as to allow an optical head (not shown in the figure) of the unit and a cramp mechanism (not shown in the figure) for the disk to pass through. However, since such a bridge portion is further thinner than the cartridge, the rollers of the shutter openers cannot come into contact with the thinner bridge portion. Even if the rollers can come into contact with the bridge portion, the rollers are in contact with the bridge portion merely slightly. Consequently, in view of reliability, it has been difficult to apply such a cartridge to the double-sided disk cartridge.

Next, a conventional disk cartridge has a configuration in which one of the shutter openers (the shutter opener P2 in FIG. 63) shifts from the front end of the case body 2103 to the connecting plate 2108 of the shutter 2106. In the conventional disk cartridge, consideration is given to a smooth shift by providing the slope 2115 to the slider 2109. However, there has been a problem in that design errors and the like cause difference in level and therefore shift load resistance increases during the shift, resulting in bad operational feeling.

Since guide grooves 2116 for preventing erroneous insertion are provided at the leading ends of the both side faces of the case body, the space inside the case body becomes smaller. Therefore, the space in which the torsion coil spring 2114 that provides force to the shutter 2106 is moved and the moving distance of the slider 2109 are smaller and shorter than those in the case where no guide groove 2116 is provided. On the other hand, when the space required for the movement of the torsion coil spring 2114 is provided, the disk cartridge becomes bigger. Thus, it is not suitable for obtaining a smaller disk cartridge.

Further, since grooves 2117 for a changer unit are provided at the rear of the both side faces of the case body 2103, there is a possibility of damaging the peripheral surface of the disk 2104 through the contact with edges of the grooves 2117
during ejection of the disk 2104, when the disk 2104 is applied to a cartridge in which the disk 2104 is ejected from the back of the case body 2103. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to make the disk cartridge bigger so as to have an extra space at least for the grooves 2117, resulting in a bigger disk cartridge.

Thus, the configuration of the conventional double-sided disk cartridge does not enable the disk cartridge to be smaller and thinner. Therefore, there has been a problem in that it is difficult to obtain a smaller drive unit.

Third Invention

Recently, in view of large recording capacity, excellence in information search, easy handling, and the like, disks of disc-shaped recording media and disk recording and reproducing units that drive the disks have received much attention.

Such a disk is accommodated in a cartridge with a shutter so that the cartridge prevents a recording surface of the disk from being damaged or from being touched easily and keeps the recording surface away from dirt.

A configuration of a conventional disk cartridge will be explained with reference to the drawing as follows.

FIG. 68 shows plan views showing a structure of a conventional disk cartridge. FIG. 68(A) and (B) show the conventional disk cartridge with its shutter being closed and being opened, respectively.

In FIG. 68, a numeral 3101 indicates a cartridge body, which is made of synthetic resin. The cartridge body 3101 accommodates a disk 3103 of a recording medium rotatably. A numeral 3101a indicates an opening provided on both sides of the cartridge body 3101. The openings 3101a are used for exposing surfaces of the disk 3103 so that light can be irradiated onto the disk 3103 across its inner and outer peripheries for recording and reproduction. The cartridge body 3101 shown in FIG. 68
is provided so that a center hole is completely exposed through the openings 3101a, since it is necessary that a disk recording and reproducing unit holds the center hole to rotate the disk 3103. A numeral 3102 indicates a shutter that is formed of a thin plate made of metal such as aluminum, or a synthetic resin plate. The shutter 3102 is maintained by the cartridge body 3101 slidably so as to cover the openings 3101a completely to shield the disk 3103 or so as to uncover the openings 3101a to expose the disk 3103.

The operation of such a conventional disk cartridge will be explained.

When the cartridge body 3101 having the shutter 3102 is loaded in a disk recording and reproducing unit, a concave part 3102a provided in the shutter 3102 engages with an opener lever OL of the disk recording and reproducing unit as shown in FIG.
68(A) and the shutter 3102 slides to the right (in the direction indicated with an arrow O in FIG. 68). Thus, the openings 3101a are uncovered. On the other hand, when the cartridge body 3101 is drawn out from the recording and reproducing unit, the shutter 3102 slides to the left (in the direction indicated with an arrow S in FIG. 68) by a shutter return spring 3104 inside the cartridge as shown in FIG. 68(B) to return to the initial position. Thus, the shutter covers the openings 3101a and thus the disk surfaces are not exposed. The cartridge body 3101 has the above-mentioned configuration.

As shown in FIG. 68(B), the conventional disk cartridge had a configuration in which the shutter 3102 that has been moved to the side is not positioned outside the cartridge body 3101 beyond its peripheral end when the shutter 3102 is opened to expose the openings 3101a completely.

That is to say, as shown in FIG. 70, the conventional disk cartridge had a configuration in which L3=L2>L1.gtoreq.L0 is satisfied, wherein with a closed shutter, L represents the width of the disk cartridge (cartridge body) in the sliding direction of the shutter, L0 represents the width of the opening, L1 is the width of the shutter, L2 is the distance between the leading end of the shutter in its sliding direction and the peripheral end of the cartridge body that is nearer to the above-mentioned leading end (the width of a region where the shutter is positioned when being moved to the side), and L3 represents the distance between the rear end of the shutter in its sliding direction and the peripheral end of the cartridge body that is nearer to the above-mentioned rear end (generally L3=L2). In this case, the width L of the whole cartridge had to be set to satisfy L3+L1+L2>3.times.L1 inevitably.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional disk cartridge, when the openings 3101a become larger, the shutter 3102 covering the openings 3101a also becomes larger. At the same time, the required space for positioning the shutter when the shutter is moved to the side becomes larger. Consequently, there has been a problem in that the cartridge itself comes to have a large size.

Especially, as shown in FIG. 69, in a disk cartridge for a small-diameter disk 3003 in which only its capacity is reduced by decreasing the disk diameter without changing its recording and reproducing system and drive system and in which its small size, light weight, and portability are considered as important, the size of an opening 3111a, especially its width in the sliding direction is fixed. Therefore, the width of a shutter 3112 and the width of the region where the shutter 3112 is positioned when being moved to the side are increased. As a result, only the cartridge size is larger than needed for the small-diameter disk 3003, which has been a disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

First Invention

The present first invention aims to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is an object of the present first invention to provide a disk cartridge and an adapter. The disk cartridge and the adapter can secure reliability of information and durability of a disk by enabling that information is recorded on and reproduced and erased from a disc-shaped recording medium accommodated in a disk cartridge in a drive unit designed for a disk cartridge having a larger size than that of the disk cartridge via an adapter. At the same time great modification in a drive unit design is not required, and the disc-shaped recording medium is loaded to the adapter without being touched directly.

The present first invention employs the following configuration in order to attain the above-mentioned object.

A disk cartridge of the first present invention comprises a case body having an opening for ejecting a disk and a disk-storage portion provided continuously to the opening, and an opening/closing cover having a pair of disk holding members that hold the disk. The opening/closing cover is accommodated in the disk-storage portion in a withdrawal condition. When the opening/closing cover is withdrawn from the disk-storage portion, the pair of the disk holding members maintain the disk in its inplane direction According to the disk cartridge with the above-mentioned configuration, information can be recorded, reproduced, and erased by loading the disk cartridge to a drive unit designed for a disk cartridge having compatibility with the disk cartridge without any modification. At the same time, by providing a predetermined adapter as an intermediate, information can be recorded, reproduced, and erased even in a drive unit designed for a larger disk cartridge than the disk cartridge with the above-mentioned configuration. Furthermore, great design modification in the drive unit designed for a larger disk cartridge is not required, and the reliability of the information and the durability of the disk can be secured, since a user does not touch the disc-shaped recording medium directly.

The adapter of the present first invention comprises: an insertion portion into or from which a disk cartridge can be loaded or ejected; a first unlocking means that unlocks a first locking means that fixes and holds the opening/closing cover of the disk cartridge to the case body when the disk cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in the insertion portion; an opening/closing-cover holding means that retains the opening/closing cover in a state in which the first locking means has been unlocked and holds the opening/closing cover at the predetermined position in the insertion portion after the case body is drawn out from the insertion portion; and a means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means that allows the opening/closing cover to be withdrawn from the insertion portion by releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means.

According to the adapter having the above-mentioned configuration, information can be recorded on and reproduced and erased from a smaller size disk in a drive unit designed for a larger disk cartridge having compatibility with the adapter described above. Moreover, great design modification in the drive unit designed for a larger disk cartridge is not required, and a user does not touch the disc-shaped recording medium directly, thus securing the reliability of information and the durability of the disk.

Second Invention

It is an object of the present second invention to provide a disk cartridge for double-sided recording and reproduction with a smaller and thinner size so as to obtain a small and thin drive unit.

In order to attain the above-mentioned object, the disk cartridge of the present second invention has the following configuration.

A disk cartridge according to a first configuration of the present second invention is a double-sided disk cartridge that can be used reversibly. The disk cartridge comprises a case body and a U-shaped shutter. The case body comprises a disk-storage portion for accommodating a disk inside the disk cartridge and openings formed on two case faces opposing the disk. The U-shaped shutter comprises two shielding plates that cover and uncover the two openings and a connecting portion. The connecting portion interconnects the two shielding plates and is positioned so as to face the front end of the case body. The U-shaped shutter is guided movably along the front end of the case body. The shutter has an engagement portion formed continuously to the two shielding plates so as to cross the connecting portion. The engagement portion is capable of engaging with one of two shutter openers provided in a unit when the disk cartridge is loaded into the unit. A guide portion is provided at the front end of the case body and guides the shutter by coming into contact with the other shutter opener when the one shutter opener engages with the engagement portion to open and close the shutter. The engagement portion and the guide portion are arranged so that a region where the engagement portion is moved and the guide portion do not overlap each other. According to the first configuration, the disk cartridge can be formed so that rollers of the two shutter openers do not cross each other during the opening/closing operation of the shutter. Therefore, while the disk cartridge enables a smooth opening/closing operation, at the same time the cartridge can be made thin without decreasing the size of the disk-storage portion in which the disk is stored. This also enables the size and thickness of a drive unit to be decreased.

In the first configuration, it is preferable that the disk cartridge has a bridge portion that is recessed from the two case faces at the front-end side of the openings of the case body and the engagement portion is positioned movably along the front end of the case body including the bridge portion. According to such a preferable configuration, the thickness of a recording and reproducing unit can be decreased by forming the unit so that an optical head of the unit and a cramp mechanism of a disk pass over the bridge portion region that is recessed from the case faces.

In the first configuration, it is preferable that a notch is provided to the connecting portion, an engagement portion capable of engaging with the notch is formed in the guide portion, and the guide portion is at substantially the same level as that of the surface of the connecting portion or projects from the surface. According to such a preferable configuration, the shutter openers are guided only on the guide portion including the engagement portion, and therefore the difference in level in the region where the shutter openers are guided is avoided. Consequently, the shutter openers can be moved smoothly and moving load resistance does not increase, thus obtaining excellent operational feeling.

A disk cartridge according to a second configuration of the present second invention is a double-sided disk cartridge that can be used reversibly. The disk cartridge comprises a case body and a U-shaped shutter. The case body comprises a disk-storage portion for accommodating a disk inside the disk cartridge and openings formed in two case faces opposing the disk. The U-shaped shutter comprises two shielding plates that cover and uncover the two openings, and a connecting portion. The connecting portion interconnects the two shielding plates and is positioned so as to face the front end of the case body. The U-shaped shutter is guided movably along the front end of the case body. The shutter has an engagement portion formed continuously to the two shielding plates so as to cross the connecting portion The engagement portion is capable of engaging with one of two shutter openers provided in a unit when the disk cartridge is loaded into the unit. The disk cartridge has a second guide portion capable of coming into contact with the shutter openers that is provided at the rear end side of the case body and a retaining portion that is formed continuously to the second guide portion and that retains the shutter openers. The second guide portion and the retaining portion are provided within the moving range of the shutter opener. According to such a second configuration, in the case of erroneous insertion of the disk cartridge into a drive unit, the shutter openers come into contact with and are guided by the second guide portion to be retained by the retaining portion, thus regulating the insertion of the cartridge. Therefore, guide grooves for preventing erroneous insertion that are formed at the ends of both sides of a conventional case body can be omitted. Thus, the space where a torsion coil spring providing force to the shutter moves and the moving distance of a slider can be increased compared to those in the case where the guide grooves are provided. As a result, a smaller cartridge can be obtained.

In the second configuration, it is preferable that a pair of retaining portions are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line of the case body. According to such a preferable configuration, erroneous insertion can be regulated by the shutter openers regardless of the side of the disk cartridge, and the bias of the load that is applied to only one of the two shutter openers at the time of the regulation can be avoided.

In the second configuration, it is preferable that the retaining portion has a hook-shaped part formed in a hook shape when it is seen from the case face side. According to such a preferable configuration, the hook-shaped part can engage with a chucking mechanism of a changer unit. Consequently, conventional grooves at the rear of the both sides of the case body can be omitted. As a result, a smaller disk cartridge can be obtained. Further, when such a disk cartridge is applied to a cartridge in which a disk is ejected from the back face of the case body, the damage to the disk caused by the contact of the peripheral side surface of the disk with edges of the grooves when the disk is ejected is avoided.

In addition, in the first and second configurations, it is preferable to form an opening/closing cover for ejecting a disk at the rear end of the case body. According to such a configuration, a disk can be ejected.

Third Invention

The present third invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present third invention to provide disk cartridges having respective sizes conforming to disks having large and small diameters.

In order to attain the above-mentioned object, the disk cartridge of the present third invention is formed without increasing the width of a region where a shutter is positioned after being moved to the side, thus preventing the cartridge size from being increased.

The disk cartridge of the present third invention comprises a disk, a substantially rectangular cartridge body and a shutter. The disk is a disc-shaped recording medium. The cartridge body accommodates the disk rotatably and has an opening for exposing the disk. The shutter is slidably held along one side of the cartridge body and covers at least the opening completely. The opening is formed so as to be positioned substantially perpendicular toward one side of the periphery of the cartridge body from substantially the center of the disk with a predetermined width. In the disk cartridge of the present third invention, L0.gtoreq.L2 is satisfied, wherein L0 indicates the width of the opening in a sliding direction of the shutter and L2
indicates the distance between the leading end of the shutter in its sliding direction and the peripheral end of the cartridge body that is nearer to the above-mentioned leading end when the shutter is closed. According to such a configuration, the width of the region where the shutter is positioned when being moved to the side is designed so as to be the same as or narrower than the width L0 of the opening. Therefore, when the disk cartridge accommodates a small-diameter disk, a small disk cartridge corresponding to the disk size can be obtained.

In the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferable that the disk cartridge accommodates a disk having the same recording and reproducing system as that of and a different outer diameter from that of a disk of a disc-shaped recording medium that is rotatably accommodated in an arbitrary disk having an opening for exposing the disk accommodated therein, and the disk cartridge has substantially the same opening width as that of the arbitrary disk cartridge. According to such a preferable configuration, a small disk cartridge corresponding to the size of an accommodated disk can be obtained while having a required opening size.

In the above-mentioned configuration, the cartridge can be designed so that at least a part of the shutter is positioned outside the cartridge body beyond its peripheral end when the shutter slides and the opening is completely uncovered. According to such a configuration, since the cartridge can have a size corresponding to the size of the accommodated disk regardless of the opening width, a disk cartridge having a small size in its width direction can be provided.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned configuration, the shutter can be formed of shutter members divided into at least two parts substantially perpendicularly to the sliding direction. The shutter members divided into at least two parts can be formed so that each part slides in the same direction and is positioned one upon another, thus exposing the opening. Further, the shutter can be formed of a first shutter member and a second shutter member that are formed by dividing the shutter into two parts substantially perpendicularly to its sliding direction. The first shutter member and the second shutter member also can be formed so as to slide in the different direction from each other. According to these configurations, not only the disk can be accommodated without increasing the size of the cartridge body in its width direction, but also the shutter is not positioned outside the cartridge beyond its peripheral end even when the opening is in an uncovered state where the shutter is opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an example of a disk cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present first invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing schematic shapes of the main components of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 1 during its assembly or the disk cartridge with an opening/closing cover being withdrawn.

FIG. 4 shows schematic views illustrating the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment with its movement in the withdrawal direction of the opening/closing cover being limited by a second locking means. FIGS. 4(a) and (b) are a plan view and a side view showing the same, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged part of a third locking means of the opening/closing cover according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows partial cross-sectional perspective views illustrating an enlarged part of the third locking means of the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6(a) shows the same in a locked state, and FIG. 6(b) shows the same in an unlocked state.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the third locking means of the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment in an unlocked state and when the opening/closing cover is withdrawn.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment with a case body being inserted upside down with respect to the opening/closing cover.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an example of a disk cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present first invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing schematic shapes of the main components of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 9 during its assembly or the disk cartridge with an opening/closing cover being withdrawn.

FIG. 12 is an entire perspective view showing the appearance of an example of an adapter according to a third embodiment of the present first invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view showing the internal structure after removing an upper case and a shutter of the adapter shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing components (except for the upper case and the shutter) of the adapter shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a door of the adapter according to the third embodiment is opened and the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment is inserted into an insertion portion (wherein the upper case and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the opening/closing cover of the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment is held by an opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter according to the third embodiment (wherein the upper case and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway schematic plan view showing a state in which a case body is drawn out after the opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter according to the third embodiment was operated, or the case body is inserted into the adapter while the opening/closing-cover holding means is operated (wherein the upper case and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 18 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the opening/closing cover of the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment is held by the opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter according to the third embodiment and the case body is removed (wherein the upper case and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 19 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the door is closed in the state shown in FIG. 18 (wherein the upper case and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 20 shows partially enlarged views for explaining an operating state of a third unlocking means of the adapter according to the third embodiment. FIG. 20(a) is a partial cross-sectional view taken on a plane that is perpendicular to a disk surface and passes through the center of a third unlocking projection 607. FIG. 20(b) is a cross-sectional view taken on line I--I in the arrow direction of FIG. 20(a). FIG. 20(c) is a cross-sectional view taken on line II--II in the arrow direction of FIG. 20(a).

FIG. 21 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the door is about to be closed while the case body is left inside the insertion portion in the adapter according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a schematic plan view showing an operating state of a means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter according to the third embodiment (wherein the upper case and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 23 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a disk-positioning member with a door being opened in the adapter according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a partially enlarged plan view showing the disk-positioning member with the door being opened in the adapter according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a schematic plan view showing an operating state of a means for locking the means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter according to the third embodiment (wherein the upper case and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 26 is a partially enlarged schematic perspective view showing an operating state of the means for locking the means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the disk-positioning member with the door being closed in the adapter according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a partially enlarged plan view showing the disk-positioning member with the door being closed in the adapter according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the opening/closing cover and a disk are accommodated in the adapter according to the third embodiment and the shutter is opened.

FIG. 30 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line III--III in the arrow direction of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of a disk cartridge according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view showing schematic shapes of the main components of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of an opening/closing cover that is one of the components of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 34 is a schematic plan view showing the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31 with a disk being held by a disk holding member during withdrawing its opening/closing cover.

FIG. 35 is a schematic plan view showing the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31 with its opening/closing cover being drawn out and with the disk being about to be removed from a case body.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of a movable piece of the case body of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 37 shows cross-sectional perspective views illustrating a third locking means of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31. FIG. 37(a) shows the same in a locked state, and FIG. 37(b) shows the same in an unlocked state.

FIG. 38 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a grip portion of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 39 is an entire perspective view showing the appearance of an adapter according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a schematic plan view showing an internal structure of the adapter shown in FIG. 39 by removing an upper half and a shutter.

FIG. 41 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the adapter shown in FIG. 39.

FIG. 42 is a schematic plan view showing the adapter shown in FIG. 39 with its door being opened and with the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31 being inserted into an insertion portion (wherein the upper half and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 43 is a schematic plan view showing the adapter illustrated in FIG. 39 with its door being opened and the disk cartridge illustrated in FIG. 31 that is inserted into the insertion portion in a state in which a first unlocking means, a third unlocking means and a first opening/closing-cover holding means can be operated by operating an operating member (wherein the upper half and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 44 is a partial plan view showing the operating member, an opening/closing cover, and a gear when the operating member of the adapter shown in FIG. 39 is operated and the first unlocking means, the third unlocking means, and the first opening/closing-cover holding means are operated.

FIG. 45 is a schematic plan view showing the adapter shown in FIG. 39 when a case body is drawn out after an operation of a second opening/closing-cover holding means, or when the case body is inserted into the adapter while the second opening/closing-cover holding means is operated (wherein the upper half and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 46 is a schematic plan view showing the adapter shown in FIG. 39 when the opening/closing cover of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 31 is held by the second opening/closing-cover holding means and the case body is removed (wherein the upper half and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 47 is a schematic plan view showing the adapter shown in FIG. 39 when the door is closed in the state shown FIG. 46 (wherein the upper half and the shutter are removed so that the internal structure can be seen).

FIG. 48 shows partially enlarged views for explaining an operating state of the third unlocking means of the adapter shown in FIG. 39. FIG. 48(a) is a schematic perspective view showing a state before an unlocking operation. FIG. 48(b) is a plan view showing the state before the unlocking operation. FIG. 48(c) is a plan view showing a state during the unlocking operation.

FIG. 49 is a schematic perspective view showing a disk-positioning member that is one of the components of the adapter shown in FIG. 39.

FIG. 50 is a side view of the disk-positioning member of FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a conventional method of recording, reproducing and erasing information in a smaller-size disk cartridge using a drive unit designed for a larger-size disk cartridge via an adapter.

FIG. 52 is a perspective structural view showing an example of a disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present second invention.

FIG. 53 is a perspective structural view showing the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 52 when a shutter is opened.

FIG. 54 shows plan views illustrating an opening/closing operation of the shutter of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 52 by a shutter opener. FIG. 54(a) shows a state before the disk cartridge comes into contact with the shutter opener. FIG.
54(b) shows a state at the moment the disk cartridge comes into contact with the shutter opener. FIG. 54(c) shows a state during opening of the shutter. FIG. 54(d) shows a state when the shutter is opened completely.

FIG. 55 is an enlarged perspective structural view of a connecting portion of a shutter and a guide portion of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 52.

FIG. 56 shows plan views illustrating an operation of the disk cartridge and the shutter opener when the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 52 is inserted into a drive unit with its front side back. FIG. 56(a) shows a state before the shutter opener comes into contact with the cartridge. FIG. 56(b) shows a state in which the shutter opener is in contact with the cartridge.

FIG. 56(c) shows a state in which the shutter opener engages with a retaining portion.

FIG. 57 shows plan views illustrating an operation of the engagement between the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 52 and a disk cartridge chucking mechanism in a changer. FIGS. 57(a) and (b) show a state before the chucking and a state in which the chucking mechanism is operated, respectively.

FIG. 58 is a perspective structural view showing an opened state (when a disk is about to be ejected) of a cover for ejecting a disk of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 52.

FIG. 59 is a perspective structural view showing a disk cartridge according to another embodiment of the present second invention.

FIG. 60 is a perspective structural view showing a disk cartridge according to further embodiment of the present second invention.

FIG. 61 is a perspective structural view showing a conventional disk cartridge.

FIG. 62 is a perspective structural view illustrating a state in which a shutter of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 61 is opened.

FIG. 63 is an enlarged perspective structural view showing the vicinity of the shutter of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 61.

FIG. 64 shows front views illustrating a configuration of a disk cartridge according to a seventh embodiment of the present third invention.

FIG. 65 shows front views illustrating a configuration of a disk cartridge according to an eighth embodiment of the present third invention.

FIG. 66 shows front views illustrating another configuration of the disk cartridge according to the eighth embodiment of the present third invention.

FIG. 67 shows front views illustrating a configuration of a disk cartridge according to a ninth embodiment of the present third invention.

FIG. 68 shows front views illustrating a configuration of a conventional disk cartridge.

FIG. 69 shows front views illustrating a configuration of a conventional disk cartridge for a small-diameter disk.

FIG. 70 is a view showing components for explaining factors that determine a size of a cartridge in its width direction.

BEST EMBODIMENTS FOR ENABLING THE INVENTION

First Invention

A disk cartridge and an adapter of the present first invention will be explained with reference to the drawings as follows.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an example of a disk cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing schematic shapes of the main components of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 1 during the assembly or when an opening/closing cover is withdrawn.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a disk cartridge 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a case body 101 and an opening/closing cover 201 that is accommodated in the case body 101 in a withdrawable state.

The case body 101 is provided with an opening 102 into or from which a disc-shaped recording medium (hereafter also referred to simply as a "disk") 10 is inserted or ejected and a disk-storage portion 103 forming a space where the disk 10 is accommodated. The disk-storage portion 103 is provided adjoining the opening 102.

The opening/closing cover 201 has a pair of disk holding members 202 that adjust the position of the disk 10 in its inplane direction and maintain the disk 10. The disk holding members 202 have shapes in which portions 202a corresponding to the vicinity of the maximum width (diameter) portions of the disk 10 are curved outwards and their ends are curved inwards respectively as shown in FIG. 3. On the other hand, inner walls 104, opposed in a disk-diameter direction of a disk-storage portion
103 of the case body 101, are formed so that a space between the inner walls 104 is slightly widened in a back portion and a space between them in the vicinity of the opening 102 is narrowed as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, in the case of trying to withdraw the opening/closing cover 201 when the opening/closing cover 201 covers the opening 102 of the case body 101 completely, the portions 202a that are curved outwards in the disk holding members 202 of the opening/closing cover 201
come into contact with the inner walls 104 of the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body 101. Then, the portions 202a are elastically deformed so as to move toward each other, i.e. so as to hold the disk 10 in its inplane direction. Consequently, the ends of the disk holding members 202 hold the accommodated disk 10 without fail. Thus, the disk 10 can be ejected together with the opening/closing cover 201 in the state shown in FIG. 3.

The case body 101 has a head access opening 180 so that a head for recording information on the disk 10 or reproducing or erasing information recorded on the disk 10 can scan a disk surface. Further, the case body 101 comprises a shutter 181 for covering the head access opening 180 and an elastic spring 182 for maintaining the state in which the shutter 181 is closed when the disk cartridge is not loaded in a drive unit. In addition, the case body 101 has a belt opener 183 that is operated together with the shutter 181, and an opener hook 184 that is provided at an end of the belt opener 183 and that is held by the drive unit when the drive unit opens and closes the shutter 181. Moreover, the case body 101 has a positioning hole 185 for positioning the disk cartridge when the disk cartridge is loaded in the drive unit.

The external shape and size of the disk cartridge 100 including the case body 101, the head access opening 180, the shutter 181, and the like are designed so as to secure the perfect compatibility with a disk cartridge standardized for the accommodated disk 10. Therefore, the disk cartridge 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be loaded in a conventional disk drive unit prepared for a disk cartridge accommodating the disk 10 without any modification, and then information can be recorded, reproduced, and erased.

When the opening/closing cover 201 is accommodated in the case body 101 completely (FIG. 1), the portions 202a of the disk holding members 202 that are curved outwards come into contact with the portions of the inner walls 104 where the space between the opposed inner walls 104 of the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body is widened. Consequently, the disk 10 does not come into contact with the disk holding members 202 even when the disk 10 is rotated in a drive unit.

Further, the disk holding members 202 are not formed in a continuous shape (a circle) surrounding the whole periphery of the disk but with two components by cutting an end away. Thus, the disk holding members 202 are not present inside the head access opening 180, and therefore a head and the disk holding members do not bump together.

As described above, the disk cartridge of the present invention maintains the compatibility with a conventional disk cartridge standardized for an accommodated disk. On the other hand, the disk cartridge has a configuration in which the accommodated disk can be ejected together with the opening/closing cover 201. By loading the disk into the adapter to be described later, information can be recorded, reproduced, and erased in a drive unit designed for a larger-size disk cartridge.

In the disk cartridge of the present invention, it is preferable that a first locking means is formed for holding and fixing the opening/closing cover 201 to the case body 101 at a position where the opening/closing cover 201 is accommodated in the case body 101 and covers the opening 102 completely,

The first locking means is provided for preventing the opening/closing cover 201 from being withdrawn from the case body 101 at an undesired time. The first locking means prevents the accommodated disk from being exposed accidentally and avoids scratches on the disk and adhesion of dirt onto the disk.

In the case of the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment, the first locking means comprises locking holes 105 and first locking projections 203. The respective locking holes 105 are formed in the vicinity of the opening 102 of the opposed inner walls 104 forming a part of the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body. The first locking projections 203 are formed in the opening/closing cover 201 so as to engage with the locking holes 105 respectively at the position where the opening/closing cover 201 is accommodated in the case body 101 and covers the opening 102 completely.

The case body 101 and the opening/closing cover 201 are locked by the first locking means as follows. The opening/closing cover 201 is inserted. into the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body 101 from the state shown in FIG. 3. When the first locking projections 203 reach the opening 102 of the case body 101, the first locking projections 203 come into contact with opening corners of the inner walls 104. Due to slopes formed in the contact portion side of the first locking projections
203, hinges 204 are elastically deformed inwards. Then, the opening/closing cover 201 is further inserted while the first locking projections 203 are in contact with the inner walls 104. When the first locking projections 203 reach the locking holes
105, the hinges 204 are elastically restored and the first locking projections 203 engage with the locking holes 105 to complete the lock (FIG. 1).

On the other hand, the first locking means is unlocked as follows.

When the disk cartridge locked as shown in FIG. 1 is inserted to a predetermined position inside an adapter of the present invention described later, first unlocking claws 205 that are elastically displaced together with the first locking projections 203 provided at the portions of hinges 204 come into contact with a first unlocking means (first unlocking bars 606) of the adapter described later. Then, the inclined surfaces formed at the ends of the first unlocking means with an acute angle provide external forces to both the first unlocking claws 205 in a direction of the inward displacement, and the hinges 204 are elastically deformed. As a result, the engagement between the first locking projections 203 and the locking holes 105
is released.

In the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment, the locking holes 105 are through holes leading to the outside of the case body 101. Therefore, it is possible to release the engagement between the first locking projections 203 and the locking holes 105 by inserting a pointed stick into the through holes from the outside of the case body.

Further, in the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment, first unlocking knobs 206 that are elastically displaced together with the first locking projections 203 provided at the portions of the hinges 204 are formed so as to be exposed to the outside of the case body in a locked state (see FIG. 1). Therefore, by holding both the first unlocking knobs 206 from the outside toward the inside so as to move toward each other, the hinges 204 are elastically deformed, thus releasing the engagement between the first locking projections 203 and the locking holes 105.

Thus, by allowing the first locking means to be unlocked even in the cases other than the case where the disk cartridge is inserted into the adapter described later, a user can eject an accommodated disk to check, clean or change it as required.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment comprises a second locking means for limiting the movement of the opening/closing cover 201 in its withdrawal direction at a position where the disk
10 can be ejected by withdrawing the opening/closing cover 201 from the case body 101.

As described above, in the disk cartridge in which a user can unlock the first locking means, withdraw the opening/closing cover 201, and eject the accommodated disk 10, it is desirable that a safety mechanism for preventing the opening/closing cover 201 and the disk 10 from being dropped accidentally is provided. The second locking means functions for this effectively.

In the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment, the second locking means comprises the locking holes 105 and second locking projections 207. The locking holes 105 are formed on the respective opposed inner walls 104 in the vicinity of the opening 102. The opposed inner walls form a part of the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body. The second locking projections 207 are formed at the ends of the disk holding members 202 of the opening/closing cover 201 so as to engage with the locking holes 105 respectively at the positions where the opening/closing cover 201 is withdrawn so that the accommodated disk 10 can be ejected.

The second locking means can lock the opening/closing cover 201 in its withdrawal direction as follows. When the opening/closing cover 201 is withdrawn from the case body 101 from the state shown in FIG. 1, as described above, the portions 202a that are curved outwards of the disk holding members 202 of the opening/closing cover 201 come into contact with the inner walls 104 of the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body 101, and the opening/closing cover 201 is withdrawn with the portions
202a being elastically deformed so as to move toward each other. However, after the portions 202a of the disk holding members 202 that are curved outwards are drawn out from the case body, the opening/closing cover 201 is withdrawn with the second locking projections 207 formed at the ends of the disk holding members 202 being in contact with the inner walls 104. When the second locking projections 207 reach the locking holes 105, the disk holding members 202 are elastically restored. Then, the second locking projections 207 engage with the locking holes 105, thus limiting the further withdrawal of the opening/closing cover 201 (FIG. 3). Thus, a user cannot draw out the opening/closing cover 201 by gathering momentum and therefore the opening/closing cover 201 and the disk 10 cannot be dropped accidentally.

On the other hand, the second locking means are unlocked as follows.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the second locking means functions, by holding both the disk holding members 202 from the outside toward the inside so as to move toward each other, the disk holding members 202 are elastically deformed, thus releasing the engagement between the second locking projections 207 and the locking holes 105.

The second locking projections 207 are provided with a slope so as to have an acute angle at their ends as shown in the figure. Therefore, when the opening/closing cover 201 is inserted into the opening 102 of the case body 101, or when the opening/closing cover 201 is further inserted from the state in which the second locking projections 207 and the locking holes 105 are engaged with each other as shown in FIG. 3, both the disk holding members 202 are easily deformed elastically in the direction moving toward each other due to the slope. Consequently, second locking projections 207 do not hinder the insertion of the opening/closing cover 201.

Further, in the disk cartridge of the present embodiment, the locking holes 105 are used as both the locking holes engaging with the first locking projections 203 and the locking holes engaging with the second locking projections 207 as common locking holes. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified. Needless to say, there will be no problem even when the respective locking holes are provided separately.

In the disk cartridge of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the opening/closing cover 201 can be elastically deformed in the direction substantially perpendicular to a disk surface when the movement of the opening/closing cover 201 is limited in its withdrawal direction due to the function of the second locking means. FIG. 4 shows schematic views illustrating the state in which the movement of the opening/closing cover is limited in its withdrawal direction by the second locking means in the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment having such a configuration as described above. FIG. 4(a) is a plan view and FIG. 4(b) is a side view thereof. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the disk holding members 202 can be elastically deformed in the direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the disk 10. Consequently, a user can eject the disk 10 easily.

In the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment, it is preferable that third locking means is provided for holding and fixing the opening/closing cover 201 to the case body 101 at the position where the opening/closing cover 201 is accommodated in the case body 101 completely and the opening 102 is covered. Further, it is preferable that the held and fixed state of the opening/closing cover 201 by the third locking means can be released by applying external force, but the state can be released only in an irreversible manner, i.e. once the state is released, it is not possible to recover the original state, which differs from the case of the first locking means.

Essentially, it is not desirable for a user to eject a disk accommodated in a disk cartridge in order to avoid adhesion of dirt and scratches, which is different from a disk having the premise that the disk is handled in a bare condition. The disk cartridge of the present embodiment is provided with a mechanism for unlocking the first locking means. Only a predetermined operation by a user enables the unlocking. However, it may be possible even for a user who does not intend to eject the disk to unlock the first locking means unintentionally during handling the disk cartridge. The third locking means provides a means for preventing the first locking means from being unlocked unintentionally. Therefore, the third locking mans must not have a configuration in which the third locking means can be unlocked unintentionally in an ordinal condition of use. In addition, only the application of external force enables the unlocking.

Further, it is preferable that the unlocking of the third locking means can be confirmed easily when the third locking means has been released. When the unlocking is confirmed in a disk cartridge, it means that a disk accommodated in the disk cartridge is exposed to the outside at least once by a user. Therefore, a user can surmise easily that the disk may have lower reliability of information than that in a disk cartridge in which a locking means has not been unlocked. The unlocking of the third locking means in this case does not include the unlocking in loading the opening/closing cover into the adapter described later. According to the present invention, a user can insert the opening/closing cover into the adapter without touching a disk at all. Consequently, the decrease in the reliability of information recorded on the disk due to the unlocking of the third locking means in this case is in an ignorable degree.

An example of a configuration of such a third locking means will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing an enlarged third locking means of the opening/closing cover according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows partial cross-sectional perspective views illustrating an enlarged third locking means of the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6(a), the third locking means according to the present embodiment comprises a third locking hole 106 and a third locking projection 209. The third locking hole 106 is formed in the vicinity of the opening 102 of the case body 101 so as to go through from an upper surface to a lower surface of the case body 101. The third locking projection 209 is formed in the opening/closing cover 201 so as to engage with the third locking hole 106 at the position where the opening/closing cover 201 is accommodated in the case body 101 to cover the opening 102 completely. More particularly, a lock key 208 is formed at a predetermined position in the opening/closing cover 201 via connecting portions 210 so as to be combined with the opening/closing cover 201 to be one component and so as to project from the upper surface and the lower surface of the opening/closing cover 201. The parts projecting from the opening/closing cover 201 of the lock key 208 form the third locking projection 209. The connecting portions 210 are formed so as to bridge between respective substantial centers of four surfaces of the lock key 208 and inner-wall faces of the opening/closing cover 208 surrounding the lock key 208 (see FIG. 20 described later).

The third locking means can be unlocked as follows.

In the state shown in FIG. 6(a), a predetermined external force (shown by an arrow F in FIG. 5) is applied so as to push the third locking projection 209 positioned within the locking hole 106. As a result, the connecting portions 210 are disconnected and therefore the lock key 208 is removed to the outside through the third locking hole 106 in the lower surface as shown in FIG. 6(b), thus unlocking the third locking means. In FIG. 6(b), a numeral 210' indicates disconnected surfaces of the connecting portions 210. Further, by unlocking the first locking means, it is possible to draw out the opening/closing cover 201 from the case body 101 as shown in FIG. 7.

When the third locking means is unlocked as described above, the lock key 208 is removed to the outside. Therefore, it is not possible to recover the state before the unlocking. In addition, when the opening/closing cover 201 is accommodated in the case body 101, the third locking projection is not present within the third locking hole 106 and therefore it is possible to see the opposite side through the third locking hole 106. Consequently, a user can easily confirm that the third locking means has been unlocked before.

The unlocking of the third locking projection is also possible in a reversible manner by fitting a convex part (a third unlocking projection 607) of the third unlocking means of the adapter according to the present invention described later into a concave part 213 formed in the vicinity of the third locking means without using the above-mentioned irreversible means in which the lock key 208 is removed.

It is preferable to provide an erroneous-insertion preventing means so that the opening/closing cover 201 is inserted into the case body 101 with the correct orientation when being inserted into the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body 101
again after having been drawn out from the case body 101 as described above. It is preferable that the erroneous-insertion preventing means is formed so that the opening/closing cover 201 cannot be inserted into the opening 102 of the case body 101 at all when the opening/closing cover 201 is inserted with wrong orientation or even if the opening/closing cover 201 can be inserted into the opening 102 to some extent, the opening/closing cover 201 cannot be inserted into the case body 101 completely, thus finding out the insertion with wrong orientation easily.

The means for preventing the erroneous insertion of the opening/closing cover into the case body in the disk cartridge according to the present embodiment is formed of engagement members comprising notches 107 and 108 provided on the end faces of the opening 102 of the case body 101 and erroneous-insertion preventing projections 211 and 212 provided at predetermined positions of the opening/closing cover 201 as shown in FIG. 2.

When the opening/closing cover 201 is inserted into the case body 101 with correct orientation, the notches 107 and 108 engage with the erroneous-insertion preventing projections 211 and 212, respectively. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the opening/closing cover 201 is accommodated in the case body 101 completely and covers the opening 102.

On the other hand, when the opening/closing cover 201 is inserted into the case body 101 upside down with respect to the opening/closing cover 201, the insertion of the opening/closing cover 201 is possible to some extent, but the opening/closing cover 201 cannot be accommodated in the case body 101 completely as shown in FIG. 8 due to the difference in depth between the notches 107 and 108. Thus, a user can easily notice the insertion with wrong orientation.

In the example described above, the engagement members are formed in asymmetrical shapes with respect to the center line of the case body in the insertion direction of the opening/closing cover 201 into the disk-storage portion. However, the erroneous-insertion preventing means is not limited to this. For instance, the engagement members may be formed at asymmetrical positions with respect to the center line.

The disk cartridge of the present invention is inserted into the adapter described later to be used. In this case, it is preferable to provide a means for preventing erroneous insertion of the disk cartridge into the adapter so that the disk cartridge can be inserted with correct orientation. It is preferable that such an erroneous-insertion preventing means is formed so that the cartridge cannot be inserted into the adapter at all when being inserted with wrong orientation, or even if the cartridge can be inserted into the adapter to some extent, the cartridge cannot be inserted to a predetermined position, thus easily finding out the insertion with wrong orientation.

The means for preventing erroneous insertion of the disk cartridge into the adapter according to the present embodiment comprises a concave part 213 formed on the leading end face of the disk cartridge in the insertion direction into the adapter as shown in FIG. 1 and at an asymmetrical position with respect to the center line in the insertion direction and a convex part (the erroneous-insertion preventing projection 607) formed inside the insertion portion of the adapter that engages with the concave part 213.

When the disk cartridge 100 is inserted into the adapter described later with correct orientation, the convex part formed inside the insertion portion of the adapter engages with the concave part 213 formed on the leading end face of the disk cartridge 100 in the insertion direction. Thus, the cartridge 100 can be inserted to a predetermined position in the adapter reliably.

On the other hand, when the disk cartridge 100 is inserted into the adapter upside down, the insertion of the disk cartridge 100 is possible to some extent, but the convex part formed inside the insertion portion of the adapter comes into contact with the leading end face of the disk cartridge 100 in the insertion direction and therefore further insertion of the disk cartridge 100 is not possible. Thus, a user can notice easily that the disk cartridge is inserted upside down.

In the example described above, the concave part is formed at the asymmetrical position with respect to the center line of the disk cartridge in the insertion direction. However, the erroneous-insertion preventing means is not limited to this. For example, in the erroneous-insertion preventing means, the concave part may be formed in an asymmetrical shape with respect to the center line in the insertion direction.

Further, it is preferable that the space between the ends of the pair of disk holding members 202 is smaller than a disk diameter in order to prevent the disk 10 from falling off from the opening of the insertion portion of the adapter accidentally when the opening/closing cover 201 and the disk 10 are loaded in the insertion portion of the adapter by the method described later and the door of the adapter is not closed (see FIG. 19).

Moreover, hooks 214 that engage with an opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter described later are formed in the opening/closing cover 201.

Second Embodiment

Next, a disk cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an example of the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing schematic shapes of the main components of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a state during the assembly of the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 9
or a state in which an opening/closing cover is withdrawn.

In FIGS. 9-11, a numeral 300 indicates a disk cartridge according to the present embodiment, and numerals 301 and 401 indicate a case body and an opening/closing cover, respectively. Other members having the same function as in the first embodiment are indicated with the same characters as in the first embodiment. The explanations for them are omitted here to avoid duplicate explanations.

The disk cartridge according to the second embodiment is different from the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment in that the former is designed assuming the case where a user ejects an accommodated disk by himself and on the other hand the latter is not designed assuming such a case. That is to say, in the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment, by avoiding the case where a user ejects an accommodated disk by himself, the possibility of scratching the disk or adhesion of foreign objects onto the disk is eliminated to the utmost, thus obtaining high reliability of recorded information and high durability of the disk.

Thus, in the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment, the components provided assuming the case where a user ejects the accommodated disk by himself are eliminated in the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment. Except for those components, the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment.

The components eliminated in the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment are those relating to the unlocking of the first locking means, those relating to the second locking means, and those relating to the third locking means in the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment. Those will be explained sequentially as follows.

The disk cartridge according to the second embodiment does not comprise some of the components relating to the unlocking of the first locking means of the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment. That is, the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment does not have first unlocking knobs (the first unlocking knobs 206 in the first embodiment) that are elastically deformed together with the first locking projections 203 provided at the portions of the hinges 204. In the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment, locking holes 105 are through holes leading to the outside of a case body. Consequently, it is possible to release the engagement between the first locking projections 203 and the locking holes 105 by inserting a pointed stick into the through holes from the outside of the case body in emergency.

The disk cartridge according to the second embodiment does not comprise the components relating to the second locking means included in the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment. That is, the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment does not have second locking projections (the second locking projections 207 in the first embodiment) engaging with the locking holes 105 provided at the ends of disk holding members 202 of an opening/closing cover 201. Since it is not assumed that a user draws out the opening/closing cover 201 by himself, it is not necessary to provide a safety mechanism for preventing the opening/closing cover 201 and an accommodated disk 10 from being dropped accidentally.

The disk cartridge according to the second embodiment does not comprise the components relating to the third locking means included in the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment. That is to say, the disk cartridge according to the second embodiment does not have the third locking hole 106, the third locking projection 209 engaging with the third locking hole 106, the lock key 208 forming the third locking projection 209, and the connecting portions 210 connecting the opening/closing cover 201 and the lock key 208 included in the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, since the first unlocking knobs 206 are not provided, it is not assumed that a user unlocks the first locking means accidentally in an ordinary condition of use.

The configurations other than those described above in the present embodiment are the same as those in the previously described first embodiment. Therefore, detailed explanation of the present embodiment is omitted except for those described above.

Third Embodiment

An adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The method of using the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows. When a user inserts the disk cartridge described in the first or second embodiment into the adapter according to the third embodiment, the disk is shifted into the adapter. The adapter has compatibility in external shape with a larger disk cartridge than the disk cartridge described in the first and second embodiments. Therefore, by loading the adapter accommodating the disk that has been shifted into the adapter into a drive unit that is suitable for the adapter, it is possible to record information on the disk or to read out or erase recorded information from the disk. That is, needless to say, when a user has a drive unit designed for the disk cartridge having compatibility in external shape with the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention, recording, reproduction and erasure of information are possible by loading a disk cartridge suitable for the drive unit into the drive unit. In addition, when using the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention, information can be recorded, reproduced, and erased by loading a disk accommodated in a smaller disk cartridge into the drive unit via the adapter.

Moreover, the disk can be shifted into the adapter without being touched directly by a user. Therefore, the possibility of adhesion of foreign objects onto the disk or scratching the disk can be avoided, thus securing the reliability of information and durability of the disk.

The adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings as follows.

FIG. 12 is an entire perspective view showing the appearance of an example of the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view showing the internal structure after removing an upper case and a shutter of the adapter shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is an exploded schematic perspective view showing components (except for the upper case and the shutter) of the adapter shown in FIG. 12.

An adapter 500 of the present embodiment is formed by engaging an upper case 501 and a lower case 601 with each other. The adapter 500 comprises an insertion portion 602 to be a space where a disk cartridge is inserted. The insertion portion
602 is surrounded by inner walls of the upper case 501 and the lower case 601, a pair of opposed guide walls 604, and a pair of contact walls 605 formed on the lower case. Further, a door 510 capable of being opened and closed is provided at the entrance of the insertion portion 602. Head access openings 502 and 603 are formed in the upper case 501 and the lower case 601 respectively in order to allow a disk surface to be scanned by a head for recording information on or reproducing or erasing recorded information from a disk accommodated in the adapter. The adapter 500 further comprises a shutter 503 for covering the head access openings and an elastic spring (not shown in the figures) for maintaining the shutter 503 in a closed state when the adapter is not loaded on the drive unit.

An outline of a method of loading a disk into the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 15-19 as follows. The disk cartridge shown in the figures is the one explained in the first embodiment. Needless to say, the adapter of the present embodiment also can be used for the disk cartridge described in the second embodiment.

The disk cartridge 100 described in the above embodiment is inserted into the insertion portion 602 with the entrance 102 of the case body 101 facing forward after the door 510 is opened (FIG. 15).

The disk cartridge 100 is guided by the opposed guide walls 604 and the respective inner walls of the upper case 501 and the lower case 601 and is inserted to the vicinity of a position where its end face comes into contact with the contact walls
605 (FIG. 16). Then, a first unlocking means operates for unlocking the first locking means that holds and fixes the opening/closing cover 201 of the disk cartridge to the case body 101, resulting in the state in which the opening/closing cover 201 can be withdrawn from the case body 101. In the case of the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment having the third locking means, the third locking means is unlocked in a reversible manner by a third unlocking means provided in the adapter 500. Further, the opening/closing cover 201 under such a state is retained in the adapter by an opening/closing-cover holding means provided in the adapter 500. The opening/closing-cover holding means maintains the opening/closing cover 201 at a predetermined position in the insertion portion 602 even after the case body 101 has been drawn out. In this case, the disk 10 accommodated in the disk cartridge 100 is drawn out from the case body 101 together with the opening/closing cover 201 by the pair of disk holding members 202 provided in the opening/closing cover 201, thus remaining inside the insertion portion 602 of the adapter.

Then, the case body 101 is drawn out from the insertion portion 602. In the case of the disk cartridge according to the first embodiment having the second locking means, the second locking means is unlocked by a second unlocking means provided in the adapter 500 (FIG. 17). Consequently, it is possible to separate the case body 101 and the opening/closing cover 201 completely.

The opening/closing cover 201 and the disk 10 held by the opening/closing cover 201 are left in the insertion portion 602, and the case body 101 is drawn out from the insertion portion 602 completely (FIG. 18). Then, the door 510 is closed (FIG.
19).

Thus, when the adapter 500 is loaded in a drive unit designed for a disk cartridge having compatibility in external shape with the adapter, it is possible to record information on or reproduce or erase recorded information from the disk accommodated in the adapter.

The configuration and function of the above will be explained sequentially as follows.

The first unlocking means of the present invention comprises a pair of first unlocking bars 606 formed on the contact walls 605 as shown in FIG. 13. The first unlocking bars 606 are provided at the positions coming into contact with the pair of first unlocking claws 205 (see FIG. 3) formed on the end face of the opening/closing cover 201 when the disk cartridge is inserted into the insertion portion 602. The points of the first unlocking bars 606 have a slope with an acute angle. Therefore, the slopes with an acute angle provided at the points of the first unlocking bars 606 come into contact with the slopes with an acute angle provided at the points of the first unlocking claws 205, which generates external force so as to displace the pair of first unlocking claws 205 inwards. As a result, the portions of hinges 204 are elastically deformed (see FIG. 17), and then the first locking projections 203 are displaced together with the first unlocking claws 205, thus releasing the respective engagement between the first locking projections 203 and the locking holes 105.

The first unlocking means of the present invention is a required element for separating the opening/closing cover from the case body by unlocking the lock in a disk cartridge having the first locking means as in the first and second embodiments.

Next, the third unlocking means of the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The third unlocking means is a required element for separating the opening/closing cover from the case body by unlocking the lock in the disk cartridge having the third locking means according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is necessary to unlock the third locking means by the third unlocking means in a reversible manner, which is different from the irreversible method of removing the lock key 208 described above.

The third unlocking means of the present invention is formed of a third unlocking projection 607 formed on the contact wall 605 as shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 shows partially enlarged views for explaining an operating state of the third unlocking means of the present invention. FIG. 20(a) is a partial cross-sectional view taken on a plane that is perpendicular to a disk surface and passes through the center of the third unlocking projection 607.

FIG. 20(b) is a cross-sectional view taken on line I--I in the arrow direction of FIG. 20(a). FIG. 20(c) is a cross-sectional view taken on line II--II in the arrow direction of FIG. 20(a).

The third unlocking projection 607 is positioned on the contact wall 605 and at the position where the third unlocking projection 607 fits into a concave part 213 formed in the vicinity of the third locking means on the end face of the opening/closing cover 201 when a disk cartridge is inserted into the insertion portion 602. The third unlocking projection 607 has a slope formed so that its point is narrower than its bottom as shown in FIG. 20(a). More particularly, the third unlocking projection 607 is formed so that a width d1 of the point in the direction perpendicular to the disk surface is narrower than the distance between the inner walls of the case body 101, and a width d2 of the bottom is wider than a length of the lock key 208. Therefore, when the disk cartridge is inserted into the insertion portion 602, the point of the third unlocking projection 607 is inserted into the concave part 213. When the disk cartridge is further inserted, the inner walls of the case body of the disk cartridge are elastically deformed by the bottom of the third unlocking projection 607 so as to increase the distance between the inner walls. In this case, the distance between the pair of locking holes 106 formed in the vicinity of the concave part 213 of the case body 101 also is increased and exceeds the length of the lock key 208 at last. Consequently, the engagement between the locking holes 106 and the lock key 208 is released, thus unlocking the third locking means (see FIGS. 20(a) and (c)).

As described above, the third locking means is unlocked by the third unlocking means utilizing the elastic deformation of the case body 101. Therefore, the unlocking does not cause disconnection of the connecting portions 210 connecting the lock key 208 and the opening/closing cover 201, resulting in the unlocking in a reversible manner.

Next, a means for preventing erroneous insertion of the disk cartridge according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

It is preferable that a means for preventing erroneous insertion of the disk cartridge is provided for the adapter of the present invention. When the means is provided for the adapter, a user cannot insert the disk cartridge with wrong orientation at all or the disk cartridge cannot be inserted to a predetermined position even when being inserted to some extent. Thus, the insertion with wrong orientation can be found easily.

The means for preventing erroneous insertion of the disk cartridge into the adapter according to the present embodiment is formed of an erroneous-insertion preventing projection 607 and the concave part 213. The projection 607 is formed on the contact wall 605 at an asymmetrical position with respect to the center line of the disk cartridge in the insertion direction into the adapter. The concave part 213 is formed on the leading end face in the insertion direction of the disk cartridge so that the projection 607 fits into the concave part 213 when the disk cartridge is inserted with correct orientation.

In the present embodiment, the erroneous-insertion preventing projection 607 also has a function as the third unlocking projection 607 described above. However, needless to say, those may be provided separately.

When the disk cartridge is inserted into the insertion portion 602 with correct orientation, the erroneous-insertion preventing projection 607 formed inside the insertion portion of the adapter is engaged with the concave part 213 formed on the leading end face of the disk cartridge in its insertion direction, thus securing the insertion of the disk cartridge to the predetermined position in the adapter (FIG. 16).

On the other hand, when the disk cartridge is inserted into the adapter upside down, the insertion of the disk cartridge is possible to some extent. However, the erroneous-insertion preventing projection 607 formed inside the insertion portion of the adapter comes into contact with the leading end face of the disk cartridge in its insertion direction. Therefore, the disk cartridge cannot be inserted any further. Thus, a user can easily recognize the insertion with wrong orientation.

In the example described above, the erroneous-insertion preventing projection is formed at an asymmetrical position with respect to the center line of the disk cartridge in its insertion direction. However, the erroneous-insertion preventing means is not limited to this. For example, the erroneous-insertion preventing projection may be formed in an asymmetrical shape with respect to the center line in the insertion direction.

Next, an opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The opening/closing-cover holding means of the present invention has a function of retaining the opening/closing cover 201 inside the insertion portion 602 of the adapter after the release of the engagement with the case body 101 by the first unlocking means and the third unlocking means described above and maintaining the opening/closing cover 201 at the predetermined position inside the insertion portion 602 even after the case body 101 has been drawn out.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the opening/closing-cover holding means comprises an opening/closing cover holding plate 701 that has holding hooks 702 and is maintained in the lower case 601 movably to the right and left on the paper showing FIG.
13 via guide pins 608, and a tensile spring 703 that provides force to the plate 701 in one direction (in the right direction on the paper showing FIG. 13) by its elasticity. The holding hooks 702 are provided at positions corresponding to the hooks 214
(see FIG. 3) formed on the end face of the opening/closing cover 201 when the disk cartridge is inserted into the insertion portion 602. As shown in FIG. 13, the point of each holding hook 702 has a slope formed with an acute angle. Therefore, when the disk cartridge is inserted into the insertion portion 602, first the slopes of the points of the holding hooks 702 come into contact with the ends of the hooks 214 of the opening/closing cover 201. When the disk cartridge is further inserted, the slopes of the points of the holding hooks 702 move the plate 701 to the left on the paper showing FIG. 13. Then the plate 701 is pulled back by the tensile spring 703, and thus the holding hooks 702 and the hooks 214 engage with each other. Concurrently with this, both the first locking means and the third locking means are unlocked. Therefore, even if the case body 101 is withdrawn from the insertion portion 602 after that, the opening/closing cover 201 is retained inside the insertion portion 602 (FIG.
17).

It is desirable that the opening/closing cover 201 held by the above-mentioned plate 701 is maintained at a predetermined position inside the insertion portion 602 stably. In the case where the opening/closing cover 201 is freely movable inside the insertion portion 602, the opening/closing cover 201 comes into contact with the disk in some cases when the adapter is loaded in a drive unit and the disk is rotated. It also is desirable to maintain the relative position of the opening/closing cover 201 and the lower case 601 invariably and constantly in order to secure the function of the second unlocking means described later. In order to realize this, the adapter according to the third embodiment has a means for holding the opening/closing cover stably.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the means for holding the opening/closing cover stably comprises a press-rotating member 711 that is held on the lower case 601 rotatably around a guide pin 608 as its rotation center, and a tensile spring 713
providing force to the press-rotating member 711 in one direction by its elasticity. Two pairs of each member are provided. The press-rotating member 711 has a press portion 712 at an end. When the disk cartridge is inserted into the insertion portion
602, the press portion 712 comes into contact with the end face of the opening/closing cover-201 and presses the opening/closing cover 201 with the tensile elasticity of the tensile spring 713 in the direction (in the upper direction on the paper showing FIG. 13) of removing the opening/closing cover 201 from the insertion portion 602 The opening/closing cover 201 is maintained stably at the predetermined position inside the insertion portion 602 by the pressure provided by the press portion 712 and the opening/closing-cover holding means (see FIGS. 17-19).

When the opening/closing cover 201 is drawn out together with the case body as described later, the means for holding the opening/closing cover stably, which will be explained in detail later, provides the effects that the unlocked state of the opening/closing-cover holding means can be recognized clearly and that the opening/closing cover 201 can be drawn out easily.

Next, the second unlocking means of the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The second unlocking means is a required element for separating the opening/closing cover from the case body completely by preventing the second locking means from functioning in the disk cartridge of the first embodiment of the present invention having the second locking means.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the second unlocking means of the present invention comprise elastic bars 610 and second unlocking projections 609. The elastic bars 610 are formed continuously to the guide walls 604 and are connected to the lower case 601 indirectly via the guide walls 604. The second unlocking projections 609 are formed at the points of the elastic bars 610 so as to have a projection toward the insertion portion 602.

Since the second unlocking projections 609 project toward the insertion portion 602, the second unlocking projections 609 come into contact with side walls of the case body 101 of a disk cartridge when the disk cartridge is inserted. Thus, the elastic bars 610 are elastically deformed so as to move away from the insertion portion 602. As shown in FIG. 16, the second unlocking projections 609 are formed at positions opposing the second locking projections 207 formed in the opening/closing cover 201 via the side walls of the case body 101 when the opening/closing cover 201 is stably maintained by the opening/closing-cover holding means.

After that, when the case body 101 is withdrawn from the insertion portion 602 in the state in which the opening/closing cover 201 is maintained by the opening/closing-cover holding means, the second unlocking projections 609 fit into the locking holes 105 that are formed in the side walls of the case body 101 (FIG. 17). At the same time, the second locking projections 207 formed in the opening/closing cover 201 also are apt to fit into the locking holes 105. However, it is designed so that the elastic restoring moment of the elastic bars 610 is stronger than that of the disk holding members 202 of the opening/closing cover. Therefore, since the second locking projections 207 are pushed by the second unlocking projections 609, the second locking projections 207 cannot fit into the locking holes 105. Each second unlocking projection 609 has slopes on both sides in the moving direction of the locking holes 105 as shown in the figure. Therefore, when the case body 101 is further pulled from the insertion portion 602 in this state, the slopes of the second unlocking projections 609 come into contact with the edges of the locking holes 105. Thus, the elastic bars 610 are elastically deformed, and the second unlocking projections 609 are moved so as to escape to the outside of the insertion portion 602. Therefore, the case body 101 can be drawn out from the insertion portion 602 successively.

As described above, the second unlocking means acts so as to prevent the second locking means from functioning.

Next, the door 510 provided for the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

It is preferred to provide the door 510 that closes the opening of the insertion portion 602 to prevent the ingress of dust and to prevent the accommodated disk from falling off accidentally after loading the disk 10 into the adapter 500 and drawing out the case body 101 as described above.

In this case, when the door 510 can be closed even if a user forgets to draw out the case body 101 after inserting the disk cartridge into the insertion portion 602, i.e. even in the state shown in FIG. 16, it is possible for the user to load the adapter into a drive unit without drawing out the case body accidentally. In this case, it is possible that a head of the drive unit, a disk drive unit, and the like bump into the case body 101 and a shutter 181 that are left in the insertion portion, thus damaging the drive unit, the adapter, the case body, the disk, and the like.

Therefore, it is preferable that the door 510 has a configuration in which the door 510 cannot be closed when the case body 101 is inserted in the insertion portion 602. Further, it is more preferable that the door 510 is provided so that the external shape of the adapter 500 has compatibility with a corresponding disk cartridge in the state in which the door 510 is closed completely and so that the adapter 500 cannot be loaded into the drive unit when the door 510 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 14, the door 510 according to the present embodiment is provided pivotably upon a pivot 513 as the pivot center that is supported by the upper case 501 (not shown in FIG. 14) and the lower case 601. The door 510 comprises a door hook 511 and a contact surface 512. The door hook 511 is formed so as to hold the door 510 to the upper case 501 (not shown in FIG. 14) and the lower case 601 when the door 510 is completely closed. The contact surface 512 is formed so as to come into contact with a side face of the case body when the case body is inserted in the insertion portion 602.

As shown in FIG. 19, after the disk 10 is accommodated in the adapter 500 and the case body is drawn out, the door 510 can be closed completely and the door hook 511 retains the door 510 to the upper case 501 (not shown in FIG. 19) and the lower case 601. Thus, the ingress of dust into the insertion portion 602 and accidental falling of the accommodated disk 10 can be avoided.

On the other hand, when the door 510 is closed while the case body 101 is left inside the insertion portion 602, the contact surface 512 comes into contact with one side face of the case body 101 and therefore the door 510 cannot be closed as shown in FIG. 21. Thus, a user can notice that he has forgotten to draw out the case body 101. Further, when the door 510 cannot be closed completely, the compatibility in external shape with a corresponding disk cartridge cannot be secured. Therefore, under this state the adapter cannot be loaded in some drive units. Thus, the possibility of accidentally damaging the drive unit, the adapter, the case body, the disk, and the like can be avoided.

Moreover, it is preferable that the adapter of the present invention is formed so that the state inside the insertion portion 602, particularly at least a part can be identified from the outside. In this case, the existence of a disk inside the insertion portion 602, the type of the disk, and the like can be identified. As such an identification means, an identification window may be provided at a suitable position in the upper case 501 and/or the lower case 601, and a part of or the whole part of the upper case 501 and/or the lower case 601 may be formed of a transparent member.

Next, an outline of a method of ejecting a disk accommodated in the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The case body 101 is inserted into the insertion portion 602 (FIG. 17) after opening the door 510 (FIG. 18) from the state shown in FIG. 19. The disk 10 and the opening/closing cover 201 are inserted into the disks-storage portion 103 of the case body 101 sequentially. The case body 101 is inserted into the insertion portion 602 until the disk 10 and the opening/closing cover 201 are accommodated in the disk-storage portion 103 completely (FIG. 16).

When the opening/closing cover 103 is accommodated in the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body 101 completely, the first locking means of the disk cartridge is ready for functioning. That is to say, the locking holes 105 oppose the first locking projections 203 as described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. In the disk cartridge of the first embodiment having the third locking means, the third locking hole 106 opposes the third locking projection 209, thus making the third locking means ready for functioning.

In this condition, the engagement between the opening/closing cover 201 and the opening/closing-cover holding means is released by a means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means.

Thus, the first locking means and the third locking means operate, and the opening/closing cover 201 and the disk 10 can be removed to the outside together with the case body 101 (FIG. 15).

The configuration and function of the above will be explained sequentially as follows.

First, a means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means of the adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means is used for releasing the engagement between the opening/closing cover 201 and the opening/closing-cover holding means, i.e. the engagement between the hooks 214 of the opening/closing cover 201 and the holding hooks 702 of the opening/closing cover holding plate 701. The means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means is used for drawing out the opening/closing cover from the adapter of the present invention having the opening/closing-cover holding means and is a required element in the adapter of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means comprises a bar 731 releasing the opening/closing cover holding means, a compression coil spring 735, and a release pin 704. The bar 731 is held to the lower cover 601 by two guide pins 611 fixed to the lower cover 601 and two fixing rings 612 so as to be movable up and down on the paper showing FIG. 13. The compression coil spring 735 provides force to the bar 731 in one direction (upward on the paper showing FIG. 13) by its elasticity. The release pin 704 is provided at an end of the plate 701.

At one end of the bar 731, an operating lever 732 is provided. When the door 510 is closed, the operating lever 732 is housed in the inside surrounded by the door 510, the upper case 501, and the lower case 601 (FIG. 19). Therefore, a user cannot touch the operating lever 732. On the other hand, when the door 510 is opened, the operating lever 732 is exposed through the opening of the insertion portion 602. Therefore, a user can operate the operating lever (FIG. 18). Further, in a normal condition a part of the operating lever 732 is in contact with a part of the inner wall of the lower cover 601 with the bar 731 being pressed and fixed by the elasticity of the compression coil spring 735.

At the other end of the bar 731, a slope guide 733 is formed. The slope guide 733 is formed so as to come into contact with the release pin 704 provided at an end of the opening/closing cover holding plate 701 when a user operates the operating lever 732 to push the bar 731 in a longitudinal direction (downward on the paper showing FIG. 13).

The means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means is operated as follows.

The operating lever 732 of the bar 731 is operated so as to be forced downward on the paper showing FIG. 16 when the opening/closing cover 201 is inserted into the disk-storage portion 103 of the case body 101 completely and the first locking means of the disk cartridge functions (FIG. 16). Then, as shown in FIG. 22, the slope guide 733 formed at the other end of the bar 731 comes into contact with the release pin 704 provided at an end of the plate 701, and the release pin 704 and the plate
701 combined with the release pin 704 are moved to the left on the paper showing FIG. 22. As a result, the engagement between the hooks 214 of the opening/closing cover 201 and the holding hooks 702 of the plate 701 is released.

In the adapter of the present embodiment, due to the above-mentioned means for holding the opening/closing cover stably, a user can clearly notice the above-mentioned operation of the means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means, and the disk cartridge can be drawn out further easily.

Before the release of the opening/closing-cover holding means, the opening/closing cover 201 is pressed and fixed by the press portion 712 of the press-rotating member 711 by the tensile elasticity of the tensile spring 713 with the opening/closing cover 201 being engaged with the holding hooks 702 of the opening/closing cover holding plate 701 (FIG. 16). Therefore, when the engagement between the hooks 214 of the opening/closing cover 201 and the holding hooks 702 of the plate 701
(FIG. 22) is released, the opening/closing cover 201 is pushed out from the insertion portion 602 in the ejection direction by the tensile elasticity of the tensile spring 713. Thus, the cartridge combined with the opening/closing cover 201 to be one component is moved to the ejection direction. Consequently, a user can notice the operation of the means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding means, and the disk cartridge can be drawn out more easily since one end of the disk cartridge is exposed through the opening of the insertion portion 602.

When the engagement between the hooks 214 of the opening/closing cover 201 and the holding hooks 702 of the plate 701 is released and then the opening/closing cover 201 is pushed out from the insertion portion 602 to the outside, the hinges 204
of the opening/closing cover 201 recover their elasticity at the same time. Thus, the first locking projections 203 are engaged with the locking holes 105. In the disk cartridge of the first embodiment, the elastic deformation of the case body 101
around the third locking hole 106 is recovered, and thus the third locking projection 209 is engaged with the third locking hole 106. As a result, the case body 101 is combined with the opening/closing cover 201 to be one component, and they can be drawn out from the adapter 500.

On the other hand, when a user operates the means for releasing the opening/closing-cover holding m