JP2003217206A - Method and device for recording medium loading in information recording and/or information reproducing device and method and device for ejection - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a drive capable of loading/ejecting a card-like and disciform optical disks. <P>SOLUTION: The opening shape of an inserting and removing port 60 is formed by integrating respective opening portions (inserting portions) of an inserting and removing port 60a for inserting and removing a card type CD 46a and 8-cm CD 46b and an inserting and removing port 60b for inserting and removing a 12-cm CD 46c. The opening width B1 of the inserting and removing port 60a is slightly wider than the width, 85 mm, of the long side portion of the card type CD 46a. The opening width B2 of the inserting and removing port 60b for the 12-cm CD 46c is slightly wider than the maximum width, 120 mm, of the 12-cm CD 46c. In the interior of the drive, a pair of transport guides 62a, 62b for guiding a transport system path used in transporting a recording medium 46 as far as a prescribed rotation position are provided on a housing (not shown) in such a way that the recording medium 46 is sandwiched by the opposite sides of the transport system path. The transport guides 62a, 62b constantly retain the directions of four sides in transporting the card type CD 46a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium loading and ejecting (unloading) method in an information recording and / or information reproducing apparatus capable of handling both a card-shaped recording medium and a disc-shaped recording medium. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, optical information recording media include CDs (compact discs) that can only be played back, write-once optical discs that can be played and additionally written, and electronic file systems using these recording media. Research and development and commercialization of information processing systems are being actively conducted.

Conventionally, these information recording media have been disk-shaped (disk-shaped). For example, a large number of optical discs having a diameter of 12 cm (nominal value) such as CDs (compact discs), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), and video CDs, and optical discs having a diameter of 8 cm (nominal values) such as electronic books are on the market. ing.

In recent years, for example, CD-R (Record
write-once optical discs such as able) and CD-RW (Rewr
It is not limited to rewritable optical discs such as itables) and CD-type optical discs, but DVDs (Digital Vide
o or Versatile Disk) or DVD-ROM D
VD type optical disks and the like are also becoming popular.

On the other hand, recently, an information processing system using a card-shaped recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as a card medium), which is more portable than a disk-shaped recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as a disk medium), has attracted attention. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-264458 proposes an optical recording medium in which a concentric or spiral information track is formed on the surface of a rectangular card.

[0006] And, such as disk-shaped or card-shaped,
It is expected that demand for an apparatus capable of reproducing and / or recording recording media having different shapes will increase.
For example, with the spread of CD-Rs in recent years, so-called card-type CDs (R / RW) in which the circumscribing of the CD-R is reduced and the CD-R is cut into a card shape are being used.

[0007]

However, the loading mechanism for the card medium (mechanism for loading or ejecting) is compatible with the loading mechanism for disk medium such as circular CD and CD-R / RW. It was difficult.

For example, in an apparatus for recording / reproducing information by rotating a card medium, as a card medium load / eject mechanism, the card medium is fixed to a tray for a disk medium such as a CD for manual loading, or a tray or the like is used. There are two possible methods of adopting an auto-loading mechanism utilizing

However, in the former method, for example, when a card-type CD is to be mounted on a conventional CD-related device, it is possible to manually mount it on the center hub of the spindle and then rotate it, but at the time of ejecting. Since the card medium remains fixed to the center hub, the operation of removing the card medium from the drive device becomes complicated.

In the latter method, for example, when a disc tray of a CD is used, the card type CD may be dropped from an opening provided in the tray at the time of insertion, and the card type CD may be bitten into the device, which may cause a loading operation. Problems often arise.

Further, since the card medium does not have a uniform orientation when the rotation is stopped (becomes mixed), a transport error is likely to occur at the time of ejection (when the tray is ejected), and a transport error does not occur. In addition, there is a risk of damaging the card medium such as the card popping out.

Further, in recent years, there has been a strong demand for a drive device of a so-called half-height size, which is an industry standard for personal computers, and which can be used vertically so that it does not occupy a space next to a monitor, and a loading mechanism for a disk medium is required. As such, a device that meets this demand has been proposed, but it has not necessarily been able to cope with card media. Therefore, it is the actual situation that the pamphlet and the instruction manual of the card medium announce that the use in the vertical drive is prohibited.

As a method of preventing damage to the card medium, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2810932 has been proposed. However, this method is provided on both sides of the card medium transport path, and each of them is provided with a guide means that can be independently separated from the contact position with the recording medium, and at the time of ejection, one of the guide means is separated from the card medium. To orient the posture when ejecting. Therefore, a dedicated movable member (guide means) is required for attitude control, and its mechanism and operation are complicated. In addition, this device is a vertical drive,
It cannot support card media.

As described above, the conventional apparatus does not sufficiently support the card medium, and as a result, it is an obstacle to the popularization of the card medium.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a method and an apparatus capable of reliably loading and ejecting a card-shaped recording medium without damaging it even though it has a simple structure. The purpose is to do.

The present invention is capable of reproducing and / or recording a card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium, and does not damage the recording medium in either horizontal or vertical orientation, and ensures loading and ejecting. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device that can be used.

[0017]

That is, in the loading method and device according to the present invention, a card-shaped recording medium can be inserted, but at least one of width and height can be handled by the drive device. It is assumed that a card-shaped recording medium is inserted from a first insertion / removal opening that is set to a dimension that cannot be inserted / removed with respect to at least one of the disk-shaped recording media.

Then, the card-shaped recording medium inserted through the first insertion / removal opening is pulled into the drive device by the conveying member. At this time, the conveyance member moves the inside of the drive device along the conveyance guides, which are arranged so as to correspond to the opening of the first insertion / removal opening and which keep the directions of the four sides during conveyance of the card-shaped recording medium constant. (Preferably to record / playback position)
Try to pull in.

On the other hand, for a disc-shaped recording medium that cannot be inserted into the first insertion / removal port, the disc-shaped recording medium is drawn into the drive device through the second insertion / removal port provided for the disc-shaped recording medium.

When each recording medium reaches a predetermined retracted position, the spindle is moved toward the recording medium so that the recording medium is sandwiched between the chucking member and the spindle.

In the process of chucking each recording medium drawn in the drive device to the spindle, first, when the recording medium reaches a predetermined drawing position, the spindle is moved toward the recording medium and the chucking member. The recording medium is lightly clamped between the recording medium and the recording medium, the recording medium is released from the recording medium by the conveying member, and the spindle is moved toward the chucking member. It is desirable to completely pinch.

In the ejecting method and apparatus according to the present invention, a card-shaped recording medium can be ejected, but at least one of the width and the height is a disk-shaped recording medium that can be handled by the drive device. It is assumed that the card-shaped recording medium is ejected from the first insertion / removal opening that is set to a size that cannot be inserted / removed with respect to at least one of the above.

On the other hand, a disc-shaped recording medium that cannot be ejected through the first insertion / removal port is ejected through the second insertion / removal port provided for the disc-shaped recording medium.

Further, a conveyance guide for keeping the four side directions constant during the conveyance of the card-shaped recording medium is provided near the first insertion / removal opening. Then, the attitude of the recording medium is controlled so that the side (short side or long side) of the card-shaped recording medium whose rotation is substantially stopped faces substantially parallel to the transport direction, and after the attitude is controlled in a predetermined direction. The card-shaped recording medium is conveyed to the first insertion / removal opening along the conveyance guide and ejected.

The inclination (rotation stop direction) of the side edge of the card-shaped recording medium with respect to the conveying direction is preferably detected optically at the edge. If the rotation stop direction is equal to or larger than the predetermined range, the spindle is controlled to rotate the spindle so as to be within the predetermined range, and then the chucking is released to start the conveyance in the eject direction.

[0026]

In the above structure, at the time of loading, the card-shaped recording medium is inserted from the first insertion / removal opening provided for the card-shaped recording medium, and further along the conveyance guide for holding the posture during conveyance in a certain direction. By pulling the card-shaped recording medium in the chucking process, the transporting posture of the card-shaped recording medium is maintained constant. On the other hand, a disc-shaped recording medium that cannot be inserted into the first insertion / removal port is inserted from the second insertion / removal port provided for the disc-shaped recording medium, and chucked as in the conventional device.

At the time of ejection, the attitude of the recording medium is controlled so that the side of the card-shaped recording medium faces substantially parallel to the conveying direction, and then the attitude of the card-shaped recording medium during conveyance is kept constant. The sheet is conveyed and discharged to the first insertion / removal opening along the conveyance guide held in the direction. On the other hand, a disc-shaped recording medium that cannot be ejected through the first insertion / removal port is ejected from the second insertion / removal port provided for the disc-shaped recording medium as in the conventional device.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an example of a disk-shaped recording medium, and has a diameter of 12 cm.
Optical disc and 8 cm diameter optical disc (thickness 1.
2 mm) and long side 85 mm x short side 54 mm x
It is applied to a loading mechanism in a drive device capable of reproducing a card-shaped recording medium having a thickness of about 0.8 mm.

1 to 6 show an example (first embodiment) in which the loading device and the ejecting device according to the present invention are applied to a conventional optical disk reproducing device. Hereinafter, this device is referred to as a drive device. Here, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the housing is removed, and FIG. 2 shows an enlarged main part in a state in which the top plate is removed in FIG. Further, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an essential part in a state of centering an 8 cm CD, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an essential part in a state of centering a 12 cm CD together with FIG. 5, and FIG.
The state of being separated from the CD is shown.

Further, FIG. 6 shows the opening shape of the insertion / removal opening which functions as an insertion opening at the time of loading or an ejection opening at the time of ejection and the arrangement position of the regulating member, and the recording medium conveyed to a predetermined rotation position (3 types). ) Are shown side by side for comparison. Note that FIG. 6D also shows the initial state of the movable member.

In this drive device 1, the main part of its loading and ejecting mechanism is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-3724.
Although it is the same as the one described in No. 1, it is different in that it is provided with a member that regulates (guides) the opening shape of the insertion / removal opening and the transport direction. That is, first, the frame 2 is arranged in the housing (not shown) of the drive device 1. A retracting member 3 is arranged above the front end of the frame 2. The retraction member 3 includes a medium guide (insertion / removal guide) 4 and a retraction roller 5.

The medium guide 4 is made of a material having a good slipperiness, for example, a certain kind of synthetic resin, and is a slightly thick plate which is long in the left and right directions.
The ridges 6 and 6'of the ridge are formed to project. The ridge 6,
6'is curved so that its lower surface is convex downward in a cross section, and further, the height of the central portion is the highest and the height gradually decreases toward both ends. .

The draw-in roller 5 is formed such that its diameter is the smallest at the center and gradually becomes thicker toward both ends, and both ends have the same diameter. The surface of the pull-in roller 5 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. Both ends of the pull-in roller 5 are rotatably supported on both sides of the frame 2, and are normally and reversely rotated by a roller driving unit (not shown).

The guide support member 7 is formed by processing a sheet metal material, and comprises a plate-shaped support portion 8 which is long in the left-right direction, and arm portions 9 and 9'extending rearward from both ends of the support portion 8, and the arm portion 9 ，
9 ′ has a plane in which the left and right sides face each other, and both ends of the support portion 8 are continuous with the upper edge of the front end portion thereof. Also, the arm portion 9,
The rear end of 9'is supported on both left and right sides of the frame 2 so as to be vertically rotatable. Further, spring hooking pins 10 and 10 'are provided so as to project below the positions of the arms 9 and 9'close to the front ends. The medium guide 4 is fixed to the lower surface of the supporting portion 8 of the guide supporting member 7 as described above, and the lower surface of the medium guide 4 faces the drawing roller 5.

The torsion coil springs 11 and 11 'are the frame 2
Is supported at a position closer to the front end of the side portion of the guide support member 7, and one of the arm pieces 11a and 11'a is supported by the arm portion 9 of the guide support member 7.
It is elastically contacted from above with spring hooking pins 10 and 10 'which are provided on 9', and the other arm pieces 11b and 11'b are below the spring hooks 12 and 12 'which are provided on the side of the frame 2. Has been hit by. As a result, the spring hook pins 10,
A downward moving force is urged on the guide support member 10 ′, and therefore a turning force in a direction in which the front end of the guide support member 7 is moved downward is urged, whereby the support portion 8 of the guide support member 7 is urged. The medium guide 4 fixed to the above is elastically contacted with the pull-in roller 5 from above.

The drive device 1 also includes a centering section 13. The centering portion 13 includes two left and right centering levers 14 and 14 '. Frame 2
Is provided between the upper ends of the left and right side parts of the top plate 15, and the two centering levers 14 and 14 'are separately rotatable on the lower surface side of the top plate 2 at the rearward position. Supported by.

A long hole 16 is formed in the inner end portion of the right centering lever 14, and the left centering lever 1 is formed.
A connecting pin 17 protruding from the inner end of 4'is slidably engaged with the elongated hole 16 so that the two centering levers 14 and 14 'rotate in synchronization. . Rotation fulcrum 14 'of the left centering lever 14'
A coil spring 18 is stretched between a portion closer to the outer end than a and the top plate 15. This causes the centering lever 14 'to be biased by a turning force in a direction in which the outer end moves forward. ing. Therefore, the two centering levers 14 and 14 'are urged by the turning force in the direction in which their outer ends always move forward.

Further, the two centering levers 14 and 1
The guide pins 19 and 1 having a short cylindrical shape are provided at the outer end of 4 '.
9'is projected downwardly. Further, V-shaped lock levers 20 and 20 'are rotatably supported on the outer ends of the centering levers 14 and 14'. The lock levers 20 and 20 'have one V-shaped end, that is, an inner end rotatably supported by the centering levers 14 and 14', and the other V-shaped end, that is, an outer end. The lock pins 21 and 21 'protruding upward and the release pins 22 and 22' protruding downward are formed.

Then, these lock levers 20 and 20 '
The torsion coil springs 23 and 23 'having a small spring force are inserted between the centering levers 14 and 14',
As a result, the right lock lever 20 is urged in the clockwise direction, and the left lock lever 20 'is urged in the counterclockwise direction.

The left centering lever 14 'is formed with an arm 14'b protruding leftward, and the front end of the left end of the arm 14'b is a slanted edge which is displaced rearward as it goes leftward. 14'c.

The top plate 15 has openings 24, 2 spaced apart from each other on the left and right.
4'is formed, the lock pins 21,21 'of the lock levers 20,20' are located in the openings 24,24 ',
In addition, it is elastically contacted with the outer edge of each opening. Engagement notches 25, 25 'are formed at positions near the front ends of the opening edges outside the openings 24, 24'.

1 and 2 show a centering lever 1
4, the outer ends of 14 'and 14' are located in the frontmost position (the positions of the centering levers 14 and 14 'are referred to as "origin positions").
1, 21 'are respectively engaged with the engaging notches 25, 25' of the top plate 15, and in this state, the lock levers 20, 2 '
By engaging with stoppers (not shown) provided on the centering levers 14 and 14 ', 0'reaches the rotational limit in the rotational direction by the torsion coil springs 23 and 23'.

Therefore, in this state, even if a force is applied to the guide pins 19, 19 'of the centering levers 14, 14' in the direction of pushing them backward, the lock pin 2
1, 21 'are engaged with the engagement notches 25, 25', so that the centering levers 14, 14 'cannot rotate in the direction in which their outer ends move rearward.

Further, as described above, the centering lever 1
When the release pins 22, 22 ′ of the lock levers 20, 20 ′ are pushed rearward in a state in which the reference levers 4, 14 ′ are at the origin position, the coil springs 18 that urge the turning force to the centering levers 14, 14 ′. And lock lever 20, 20 '
Due to the difference in spring force between the torsion coil springs 23 and 23 ′ that bias the turning force, the lock levers 20 and 20 ′ resist the centering levers 14 and 14 ′ against the spring force of the torsion coil springs 23 and 23 ′. Rotate against. That is, the lock lever 20 on the right side rotates counterclockwise and the lock lever 20 'on the left side rotates clockwise.

Therefore, by this rotation, the lock pins 21 and 21 'are disengaged from the engagement notches 25 and 25', and thereby the centering levers 14 and 14 'are disengaged. In this state, the guide pins 19 and 19' are released. '
When is pressed substantially rearward, the centering levers 14 and 14 ′ rotate in the direction in which their outer ends move substantially rearward against the spring force of the coil spring 18.

A substantially middle portion of the sensor lever 26 is rotatably supported by the right centering lever 14. The inner end of the sensor lever 26 has two centering levers 1.
The sensor pin 26a is located on the right side of the connection point between the connection points 4 and 14 'and has a sensor pin 26a protruding from its inner end. Further, a connecting pin 26b is provided on the outer end of the sensor lever 26 so as to project therefrom.

A sensor slider 27 is supported at a position on the right side of the top plate 15 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The sensor slider 27 has a connection cutout 27a extending in the left-right direction.
Is formed, and the sensor lever 26 is formed in the connecting cutout 27a.
Connecting pin 26b is slidably engaged. Also,
A spring hooking piece 27b is projected from the rear end portion of the sensor slider 27, and a coil spring 28 is stretched between the spring hooking piece 27b and the top plate 15, whereby the sensor slider 27 is rearwardly moved. The movement power to is energized. Further, the sensor slider 27 is formed with a pressed piece 27c protruding rightward.

Further, a photo interrupter 29 is supported on the right side portion of the frame 2 of the drive device 1, and the photo interrupter 29 detects the position of the sensor slider 27 so that the control described later can be performed.

A chucking member 30 is rotatably supported on the lower surface of the central portion of the top plate 15 near the front end thereof. The rear end of the mechanical deck 31 is rotatably supported on the rear end of the frame 2 by a shaft 31a. A spindle 33 rotated by a spindle motor 32 is supported on the upper surface of the front end of the mechanical deck 31. The spindle 33 has a disk-shaped disk mounting surface 33.
a and a centering protrusion 33b protruding upward from the center of the disc mounting surface 33a, and the upper end of the centering protrusion 33b is a tapered taper portion 33c. Guide pins 34, 34 'are provided on the side surface of the mechanical deck 31 near the front end so as to project.

Plate-shaped sliders 35, 35 'are supported on the left and right sides of the frame 2 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The sliders 35, 35 'are moved in the front-rear direction in synchronization by a drive unit (not shown). Guide slits 36, 36 'are formed in each slider 35, 35', and each guide slit 36, 36 'has three horizontal portions 36a, 36b, 36c, 36'a, 36 having different heights. 'b, 36'
c, each of these horizontal portions 36a, 36b, 36c, 3
Between the 6'a, 36'b and 36'c is the backward slope 3
It is continued by 6d, 36e, 36'd, and 36'e.

Then, these guide slits 36, 36 '
Guided pins 34 and 34 'of the mechanical deck 31 are slidably engaged with each other. As the sliders 35, 35 'move back and forth, the positions of the guided pins 34, 34' of the mechanical deck 31 with respect to the guide slits 36, 36 'change, whereby the front end of the mechanical deck 31 moves vertically. It will rotate so as to change its position. In this way, the mechanical deck 31 and the slider 3
5, 35'constitute a spindle moving unit.

The upper edges of the front end portions of the sliders 35 and 35 'are cam edges 37 and 37'.
7, 37 ′ are horizontal edges 37 that are horizontally continuous at the rear end of the slanted edges 37 a, 37 ′ a and the rear ends of the slanted edges 37 a, 37 ′.
b, 37'b.

A notch 38 that is long in the front-rear direction is formed at the lower edge of the center of the left slider 35 'in the front-rear direction, and light-shielding pieces 38a, 38b are formed in front of and behind the notch 38. A photo interrupter 39 for detecting the positions of the light shielding pieces 38a and 38b is supported on the left side of the frame 2.

A release plate 40 is slidably supported in the left-right direction on the left side of the rear side of the top plate 15. A coil spring 41 is stretched between the release plate 40 and the top plate 15.
The release plate 40 is urged to move leftward. The release plate 42 is formed with a release slit 42 that opens to the right and extends in the left-right direction, and the right end portion of the front side edge of the release slit 42 is formed as a beveled edge that is displaced forward as it goes to the right.
The slanted edge is a call-in edge 42a.

The left edge of the release plate 40 is a pressed edge 43 which is inclined so as to be displaced rightward as it goes rearward. And the slider 3 on the left side
A pressing edge 44 is formed on 5 ′ so as to cross the pressed edge 43 of the release plate 40 by its forward movement. A pressing edge 45 is also formed on the slider 35 on the right side, and the pressing edge 45 is positioned so as to cross the pressed edge 27c of the sensor slider 27 by the forward movement.

A card type CD 46a which is an example of a card-shaped recording medium and 8 cm which is an example of a disk-shaped recording medium.
There are three types of recording media (hereinafter collectively referred to as the recording medium 46) such as the CD 46b and the 12 cm CD 46c at the reproduction position A-.
In the process of inserting up to the line A ′, the edges contact the guide pins 19 and 19 ′ of the centering levers 14 and 14 ′, and eventually the stop positions of the recording medium 46 respectively correspond to FIGS. 6B to 6. It is defined as shown in (D).

For example, the centering levers 14 and 1
4'is connected by a connecting pin 17 and is rotatable.
The centering levers 14 and 14 ′ are given a force in the direction of ejecting the recording medium 46 through the insertion / removal opening 60 by the coil spring 18. When the recording medium 46 is inserted,
The guide pins 19, 19 'added to the centering levers 14, 14' act to keep the position of the recording medium 46 until the recording medium 46 is chucked by the hub.

On the other hand, the opening shape of the insertion / removal opening 60 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), first, card type CDs 46a and 8
The insertion / removal opening 60a for inserting / removing the cmCD 46b, 12
The respective opening portions (insertion portions) with the insertion / removal opening 60b for inserting / removing the cmCD 46c are integrated, and the sectional shape of the entire opening portion is convex.

Here, a card type CD 46a and 8 cm
The width of the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60a for the CD 46b (hereinafter referred to as the opening width) is formed to be slightly wider than the width of the cross section of the card-type CD 46a that is orthogonal to the transport direction in the device. Further, in the present embodiment, the short side direction of the card type CD 46a is set as the transport direction (that is, the long side is the front end).
And the insertion / removal opening 60 for the card-type CD 46a.
The opening width B1 of a is 85 at the long side of the card-type CD 46a.
It is formed to be slightly wider than, for example, about 86 to 90 mm.

On the other hand, the width B2 of the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60b for the 12 cm CD 46c is slightly wider than the maximum width 120 mm of the 12 cm CD 46c (for example, 125 to 130).
mm). The height h of the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60b (excluding the portion of the insertion / removal opening 60a) is 12 cm.
It is formed to be slightly wider than the thickness of the CD 46c.

Therefore, the card-type CD 46a can be inserted and removed through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60a. Again 8
The maximum width (ie diameter) of cmCD46b is of course approximately 80
Since it is mm, the 8 cm CD46b also has this insertion / removal opening 6
It can be inserted and removed through the opening 0a. On the other hand, since the maximum width (that is, the diameter) of the 12 cm CD 46c is of course about 120 mm, it can be inserted and removed through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60b, but it cannot be inserted through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60a for the card-type CD 46a. It cannot be removed.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (B1) and 6 (B2), inside the apparatus, a pair of conveyance guides 62a for guiding the conveyance system path when the recording medium 46 is conveyed to a predetermined rotation position. 62b is provided on a casing (not shown) so as to sandwich the recording medium 46 from both sides of the transport system path. By the transport guides 62a and 62b, the directions of the four sides when transporting the card type CD 46a are maintained constant.
In this embodiment, the transport guides 62a are provided on both sides of the transport path.
Although 62b is provided, only one of them may be provided. Further, in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the transport guides 62a and 62b are omitted.

The transport guides 62a and 62b are shown in FIG.
The cross section is shown in 2), which is L-shaped. Here, the transport guides 62a and 62b are arranged such that the first inner space C1 is substantially the same as the length of the long side portion of the card type CD 46a. Then, the transport guides 62a, 6
2b is formed in an L shape so that the second inner space C2 is substantially the same as the maximum width of the 12 cm CD 46c. As long as this is the case, the transport guides 62a and 62b do not have to have a bilaterally symmetric shape (indicated by symmetry in the figure).

Then, the transport guide 62 having such a shape.
Insert and remove the C1 part of a and 62b 60a (B1 part)
Then, the C2 portion is arranged so as to correspond to the insertion / removal opening 60b (B2 portion). That is, it is arranged so as to correspond to the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60a for the card type CD 46a. As a result, a card-type CD inserted through the insertion / removal opening 60a
46a and 8 cm CD 46b are conveyance guides 62a and 62b
12 cm CD46c inserted through the insertion / removal opening 60b between the C1 parts of the conveyance guides 62a and 62b.
It will be smoothly introduced between the two parts.

The lengths of the respective transport guides 62a and 62b in the transport direction (X direction in the drawing) are arbitrary, but preferably, the position AA at which the information of the recording medium 46 is reproduced from the vicinity of the insertion / removal opening 60. It is preferable to extend to a predetermined position on the depth side in the transport direction from the position AA 'as shown in FIG. 6 (B1). Alternatively, the insertion / removal opening 60 and the transport guides 62a and 62b may be integrated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (B1), the insertion / removal opening 6
A pair of sensors 64a and 64b for detecting the width of the recording medium 46 inserted from 0 are in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction in the immediate vicinity of the insertion / removal opening 60 inside the apparatus, that is, a card-type CD.
It is provided at a symmetrical position with respect to the center of the conveyance path in the width (longitudinal) direction of 46a. Further, the sensor 64c is provided at the center of the transport path on the position AA 'side, which is further on the depth side in the transport direction than the position where the sensors 64a and 64b are arranged. These sensors 64a, 64b, 64c are composed of photoreflectors, photointerrupters, or the like, and determine whether or not the recording medium 46 is normally inserted into the insertion / removal opening 60.

For example, two sensors 64a and 64b
Is arranged at a position where the distance from the transport center C / L is slightly shorter than half the diameter of the 8 cm CD 46b. That is, the sensors 64a and 64b are arranged at positions corresponding to the longitudinal width of the card type CD 46a and the maximum width of the 8 cm CD 46b.
When the cmCD 46b, the 12cm CD 46c, or the card type CD 46a is inserted into the insertion / removal opening 60a in the lateral direction, the sensors 64a and 64b can detect the card type CD 46a, while the sensors 64a and 64b detect when the card type CD 46a is inserted into the insertion / removal opening 60a in the longitudinal direction. 64a and 64b are arranged so that the card type CD 46a cannot be detected.

As a result, when the card-type CD 46a is inserted into the insertion / removal opening 60a in the proper direction, that is, in the lateral direction, the sensors 64a and 64b detect the longitudinal end of the card-type CD 46a, for example, by detecting the size. A detection signal is obtained and this size detection signal is sent to a chucking control unit (not shown). Further, the recording medium 46 such as the card type CD 46a is inserted, and the leading end portion in the transport direction is the sensor 64c.
When it reaches, the sensor 64c optically detects the leading end of the recording medium 46 to obtain a leading end detection signal, and sends the leading end detection signal to the chucking controller.

On the other hand, the card-type CD 46a has an insertion / removal opening 60a.
Even if it is inserted in the wrong direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction, the sensors 64a and 64b do not detect this. And
When the leading end portion in the transport direction reaches the sensor 64c by being inserted further in that direction, the sensor 64c optically detects the leading end of the recording medium 46 to obtain a leading end detection signal, and the leading end detection signal is chucked. Send to control unit.

That is, when each recording medium 46 is normally inserted into the insertion / removal opening 60, the three sensors 64
While the information indicating that the recording medium 46 is detected is sent from the a, 64b, and 64c to the chucking control unit, when the card-type CD 46a is inserted into the insertion / removal opening 60a in an incorrect direction, the recording is performed only from the sensor 64c. Information indicating that the medium 46 (card type CD 46a) is detected is sent to the chucking controller.

The direction of the card-type CD 46a when the rotation of the chucking mechanism is stopped at the position AA 'where the information of the card-type CD 46a is reproduced, that is, the card-type CD
A pair of sensors 64 for detecting the stop position of 46a.
d and 64e are card type C distances from the transport center C / L
It is installed at a position slightly shorter than half of the long side of D46a. The sensors 64d and 64e are composed of, for example, an encoder, a photo reflector or a photo interrupter.

The position of the sensors 64d and 64e in the carrying direction is set, for example, when the short side of the card-type CD 46a is stopped so as to be parallel to the carrying direction (hereinafter referred to as the normal stop position). Has two sensors 64
The information indicating that the card-type CD 46a is detected (hereinafter referred to as normal stop information) is obtained from the positions d and 64e.
Further, when the card type CD 46a is inclined and does not stop at the normal stop position (including the case where the long side is parallel to the transport center C / L), that is, when the short side is stopped so as not to be parallel to the transport direction. Two sensors 64d, 64e
The position is set such that normal stop information cannot be obtained from at least one of them.

For example, a little inside the card type CD 46a at the normal stop position of the card type CD 46a,
For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (B1), the vicinity of the long side edge on the back side in the transport direction or the vicinity of the long side edge on the insertion / removal opening 60 side is preferable. Alternatively, it may be near the short side edge.

The detection results of the sensors 64d and 64e are sent to a posture control unit (not shown). The attitude control unit, based on whether or not the card-type CD 46a exists on the sensors 64d and 64e, the center of conveyance of the card-type CD 46a when the rotation of the card-type CD 46a chucked by the chucking mechanism is stopped. The inclination with respect to C / L can be determined. And the attitude control unit
If the rotation stop direction is greater than or equal to the predetermined range, the spindle is controlled and rotated so that the inclination is within the predetermined range.

The sensors 64d and 64e are not limited to the above-mentioned structure, and the center of conveyance C / L of the card-type CD 46a is not limited thereto.
Other configurations (for example, Japanese Patent No. 281093) can be applied as long as the technique of detecting the stop angle with respect to the card type CD 46a and adjusting the angle to a predetermined angle (short direction = eject direction in the above example) when ejecting the card type CD 46a can be applied.
The configuration disclosed in No. 2) can also be adopted.

Next, referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, the loading and ejecting of the recording medium 46 in the drive device 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, that is, the optical disc or the card medium of two kinds of diameters is passed through the insertion / removal port 60. The drawing into the apparatus and the mounting on the spindle 33 or the discharging through the insertion / removal port 60 will be described. Here, FIG. 7 corresponds to FIGS.
A state in which the recording medium 46 is chucked together with 0 is shown in an enlarged manner by extracting only the main member, and particularly, a state in which the recording medium 46 is centered and the spindle starts to rise.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the recording medium 46 is temporarily chucked and the medium guide 4 starts to separate from the recording medium 46. Further, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the medium guide 4 is completely separated from the recording medium 46, the spindle further starts to rise, and a full-scale chucking operation of the recording medium 46 is started, and FIG. 10 shows chucking of the recording medium 46. Indicates the completed state. Further, FIG. 11 shows a rotation stopped state of the card type CD 46a.

First, loading of an optical disc having a diameter of 8 cm, for example, 8 cm CD46b will be described. First, in the state in which the optical disc is received, that is, in the initial state, each part is as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 or FIG. 6 (C).

When the 8 cm CD 46b is inserted into the housing through the front opening (insertion / removal opening 60b) of the housing, the sensor 64
The fact that the disc-shaped recording medium is inserted into the housing is detected by a, 64b, and 64c, and the fact is notified to the chucking control unit. Thereby, the chucking control unit causes the pull-in roller 5 to start rotating in the pull-in direction, that is, in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7. This allows
The 8 cm CD 46b is drawn between the medium guide 4 and the draw-in roller 5, and further between the conveyance guide 62 (see FIG. 6).
It is drawn into the first inner space C1 portion shown in (B).

The 8 cm CD 46b is the medium guide 4
It is sent to the inner side by the retracting roller 5 while being sandwiched between the retracting roller 5 and the retracting roller 5, and along the conveyance guide 62. At this time, since the pull-in roller 5 is formed such that the central portion thereof has a small diameter and the diameter gradually increases toward both ends, the signal reading surface of the 8 cm CD 46b, that is, the surface facing downward in the figure, is the peripheral edge. Only the part touches the pull-in roller 5, and the signal reading surface does not directly touch the pull-in roller 5.

When the 8 cm CD 46b is pulled inward, the outer peripheral edge of the 8 cm CD 46b eventually becomes the centering levers 14, 1.
The guide pins 19 and 19 'of 4'are brought into contact with each other, and their positions are regulated, that is, centered. That is, the centering levers 14 and 14 'are locked because the lock pins 21 and 21' of the lock levers 20 and 20 'supported thereby are engaged with the engagement notches 25 and 25', respectively.
Its position is not moved. Therefore, the outer peripheral edge of the 8 cm CD 46b is guided by the guide pins 19,1.
8 cm even when it comes in contact with either 9 '
The CD 46b is displaced toward the other guide pin side as the CD 46b is sent to the back by the drawing roller 5, and finally comes into contact with both guide pins 19 and 19 'to be centered.

During this centering process, the outer peripheral edge of the 8 cm CD 46b pushes the sensor pin 26a of the sensor lever 26 rearward, whereby the sensor lever 26 pivots clockwise as viewed from above, and its connecting pin. 26b is a connecting notch 27 of the sensor slider 27.
Since the front edge of a is pressed forward, the sensor slider 27
Will be moved forward.

Then, the outer peripheral edge of the 8 cm CD 46b is in full contact with the two guide pins 19 and 19 ',
That is, before the 8 cm CD 46 b is positioned in the left-right direction, the relative positional relationship of the sensor slider 27 with respect to the photo interrupter 29 is as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
After rotating the pull-in roller 5 for a time sufficient for the outer peripheral edge of b to completely contact the two guide pins 19, 19 ',
Reverse the pull-in roller 5.

As a result, the 8 cm CD 46b is returned, but the photo interrupter 2 of the sensor slider 27 is again returned.
The rotation of the pull-in roller 5 is stopped when the relative positional relationship with respect to 9 becomes the state shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. The position of the 8 cm CD 46b at this time is the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3 or the position shown in FIG. 6C, and the center thereof is in a state of being coincident with the center of the chucking member 30.

It should be noted that the drawing roller 5 is not stopped when the relative positional relationship of the sensor slider 27 with respect to the photo interrupter 29 first becomes the state shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. It may be biased to either side, then 8cmCD
This is because the center of 46b may deviate from the center of the chucking member 30.

When the rotation of the pull-in roller 5 is stopped, the sliders 35, 35 'then start moving forward by a drive unit (not shown). As a result, the guided pins 34, 34 ′ of the mechanical deck 31 move the sliders 35, 3
The guide slits 36, 36 'of 5'are relatively moved backward. Then, when the guided pins 34, 34 'start to engage with the first oblique side portions 36d, 36'd of the guide slits 36, 36', the mechanical deck 31 starts to rotate so that its front end moves upward. (See Figure 7).

When the guided pins 34, 34 'reach the front ends of the second horizontal portions 36b, 36'b, the centering protrusion 33b of the spindle 33 is inserted into the center hole of the 8 cm CD 46b. Accordingly, the cam edges 37 of the sliders 35 and 35 'and the slanted edges 37 of the 37'
a, 37'a are spring hook pins 10 of the guide support member 7,
10 'starts to contact and thereby guide support member 7
Starts to rotate upward, so that the medium guide 4 starts to move away from the drawing roller 5 (see FIG. 8).

The distance between the two conveyance guides 62a and 62b (first inner distance C1 shown in FIG. 6B) is 8c.
It is wider than the maximum width (that is, the diameter) of the mCD46b. Therefore, during loading, a slight deviation may occur between the center of the 8 cm CD 46b and the center of the spindle 33. However, even if there is such a deviation, since the upper end of the centering protrusion 33b of the spindle 33 is the tapered portion 33c, the center of the 8 cm CD 46b can be brought into the center of the spindle 33 by the tapered portion 33c.

Then, by the time the guided pins 34, 34 'reach the rear ends of the second horizontal portions 36b, 36'b, the spring hooking pins 10, 10' of the guide supporting member 7 are moved to the slider 3.
Climbing the slanted edges 37a, 37'a of 5, 35 'to reach the horizontal edges 37b, 37'b, whereby the guide support member 7 pivots largely upward, and the medium guide 4 supported thereby is moved. Completely separated from the 8 cm CD46b upward (see FIG. 9).

Then, the guided pins 34, 34 'are in the second position.
By relatively sliding the oblique sides 36e, 36'e of the mechanical deck 31, the mechanical deck 31 rotates so that its front end further rises, and reaches the third horizontal portions 36c, 36'c, The mechanical deck 31 has finished rotating upwards, and the spindle 33 completely holds the 8 cm CD 46b between the disk mounting surface 33a and the chucking member 30,
That is, the chucking of the 8 cm CD 46b is completed (see FIG. 10).

The sliders 35 and 35 'are shown in FIG.
When the chucking of the 8 cm CD 46b is completed at the position shown in (4), the rear light blocking piece 38b provided on the left slider 35 'blocks light between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the photo interrupter 39. The forward movement of the sliders 35, 35 'is stopped by the output signal. In addition, the slider 35,
When 35 ′ comes to the position shown in FIG. 10, the pressing edge 45 of the slider 35 on the right side presses the pressed piece 27c of the sensor slider 27 forward.

When the pressed piece 27c of the sensor slider 27 is pressed forward by the pressing edge 45,
The sensor lever 26, which is moved forward against the pulling force of the coil spring 28 and thus the connecting cutout 27a and the connecting pin 26b are engaged, is slightly rotated clockwise in a plan view, and the sensor pin 26 is rotated. 26a is 8cm CD46b
It is separated from the peripheral edge to the rear.

Then, the reproduction of the 8 cm CD 46b is shown in FIG.
It is performed at the position AA 'shown in (C). And 8c
When the reproduction of the mCD 46b is completed and an eject button is pressed to eject the 8cm CD 46b (eject) command, the sliders 35, 35 'are moved rearward, and the front end of the mechanical deck 31 is moved downward. Is rotated so that In addition, the guide support member 7
The front end is rotated by the turning force given by the torsion coil springs 11 and 11 'so that the front end moves downward, the spindle 33 releases the chucking of the 8 cm CD 46b, and the 8 cm CD 46b causes the medium guide 4 and the drawing roller. It is pinched again with the 5.

When the sliders 35, 35 'reach the rear end of the moving range, the light blocking piece 38a on the front side of the left slider 35' blocks light between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the photointerrupter 39, whereby the photointerrupter 39a. The rearward movement of the sliders 35, 35 'is stopped by the signal output from 39. When the rearward movement of the sliders 35, 35 'is stopped, the retracting roller 5 is rotated in the opposite direction to the retracting direction, and the 8 cm CD 46b moves the conveyance guides 62a, 62b (the first inner space shown in FIG. 6B). It is conveyed to the insertion / removal opening 60 side along the (C1 portion) and discharged from the device through the insertion / removal opening 60a.

Next, loading of an optical disk having a diameter of 12 cm, for example, a 12 cm CD 46c will be described. First, in the state in which the optical disc is received, that is, in the initial state, each part is as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 or FIG.
This is almost the same as the case of the CD 46b.

When the 12 cm CD 46c is inserted into the housing through the front opening (insertion / removal opening 60a) of the housing, the sensors 64a, 64b, 64c detect that the disk-shaped recording medium is inserted in the housing. The fact is notified to the chucking control unit. Thereby, the chucking control unit causes the retracting roller 5 to move in the retracting direction, that is, as shown in FIG.
Start rotating in the clockwise direction at. As a result, the 12 cm CD 46c is drawn between the medium guide 4 and the drawing roller 5, and further drawn between the conveyance guides 62 (the portion of the second inner space C2 shown in FIG. 6B).

Then, the 12 cm CD 46c is sent between the medium guide 4 and the pull-in roller 5 by the pull-in roller 5 so as to be deep in the state of being sandwiched between the medium guide 4 and the pull-in roller 5. At this time, the pull-in roller 5 is formed such that the central portion thereof has a small diameter and the diameter gradually increases toward both ends. Therefore, the signal reading surface of the 12 cm CD 46c, that is, the surface facing downward in the drawing is the peripheral edge thereof. Only the part touches the pull-in roller 5, and the signal reading surface does not touch the pull-in roller 5 directly.
This is almost the same as in the case of 46b.

When the 12 cm CD 46c is pulled inward, the outer peripheral edge of the 12 cm CD 46c eventually becomes centering levers 14 and 1.
The guide pins 19 and 19 'of 4'are brought into contact with each other, and their positions are regulated, that is, centered. That is, 12 cmC
When D46c is pulled inward, the outer peripheral edge first comes into contact with the release pins 22, 22 'of the lock levers 20, 20' and presses them backward. As a result, the lock lever 2
0 and 20 ′ are rotated so that the portions where the lock pins 21 and 21 ′ are supported move rearward, and the top plate 15
Out of engagement with the engagement notches 25, 25 '. This allows the centering levers 14 and 14 'to rotate in the direction in which their outer ends move rearward.

The interval between the two transport guides 62a and 62b (the second inner interval C2 shown in FIG. 6B) is 12
It is wider than the maximum width (that is, the diameter) of the cmCD 46c. Therefore, at the time of loading, the 12 cmCD 46c is pulled in while being biased to the left or right,
A slight misalignment may occur between the center of c and the center of the spindle 33. However, even with such a deviation, the center of the 12 cm CD 46c can be called into the center of the spindle 33.

For example, when it is pulled in in a state of being biased to the right, its outer peripheral edge first presses the release pin 22 of the right lock lever 20 to release the lock of the right centering lever 14, and then It contacts the guide pin 19 on the right side. In this state, the left side centering lever 14 'is still locked and the right side centering lever 14 cannot rotate rearward.
2 cm CD46c has a guide pin 19 whose outer peripheral edge is on the right side.
When it is sent to the back while being in contact with, it is displaced to the left. Then, the outer periphery of the lock lever 2 is leftward.
The release pin 22 ′ of 0 ′ is also pushed rearward to release the lock of the left centering lever 14 ′, and also comes into contact with the left guide pin 19 ′.

The 12 cm CD 46c is centered in the left-right direction by contacting its outer peripheral edge with the two guide pins 19, 19 '. 12 more from there
The cmCD 46c is sent to the inside while pushing the guide pins 19 and 19 'to the inside. Then, the outer peripheral edge of the sensor lever 26 abuts against the sensor pin 26a of the sensor lever 26 and pushes the sensor pin 26a rearward.
Since b presses the front edge of the connecting notch 27a of the sensor slider 27 forward, the sensor slider 27 is moved forward.

The relative positional relationship of the sensor slider 27 with respect to the photo interrupter 29 is as shown in FIG. 4, and the drawing roller 5 is rotated for a certain period from this point, and then the drawing roller 5 is reversed. As a result, the 12 cm CD 46c is returned, but when the relative positional relationship between the sensor slider 27 and the photo interrupter 29 becomes the state shown in FIG.
Stop rotating.

The position of the 12 cm CD 46c at this time is the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the center of the 12 cm CD 46c coincides with the center of the chucking member 30. It is to be noted that the retracting roller 5 is not stopped when the relative positional relationship of the sensor slider 27 to the photo interrupter 29 is first in the state shown in FIG.
12 cm CD as described for CD46b
This is to ensure that 46c is centered.

When the rotation of the pull-in roller 5 is stopped, the sliders 35 and 35 'then start to move forward by a driving unit (not shown), and the 12 cm CD 46c is chucked in the same manner as the 8 cm CD 46b. Then, when the sliders 35, 35 'come to the position shown in FIG. 10 and the chucking of the 12 cm CD 46c is completed, the rear light blocking piece 38b provided on the left slider 35' is placed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the photo interrupter 39. Is blocked, and the forward movement of the sliders 35, 35 'is stopped by the signal output from the photo interrupter 39.

Further, the sliders 35 and 35 'are shown in FIG.
By moving to the position shown in
The pressing edge 45 of the pressed piece 27c of the sensor slider 27.
Push forward. When the pressed piece 27c is pressed forward by the pressing edge 45, the sensor slider 27 is moved forward against the tensile force of the coil spring 28, and therefore, the connecting cutout 27a and the connecting pin 26b.
The sensor lever 26 engaged with is rotated clockwise in a plan view, and its sensor pin 26a is moved to 12 cm.
It is separated from the peripheral edge of the CD 46c to the rear.

Further, the pressed edge 4 of the release plate 40 is
When 3 is pressed by the pressing edge 44 of the left slider 35 ', the pressed edge 43 is inclined so as to be displaced rightward as it goes rearward, so that the pressing edge 44 is released by moving forward. The plate 40 will be moved to the right. Then, when the release plate 40 moves to the right, the leading edge 42a of the release slit 42 causes the arm 14 'of the left centering lever 14'.
engages beveled edge 14'c of b.

When the release plate 40 further moves to the right from there, the beveled edge 14'c is pulled in by the lead-in edge 42a, and the arm 14'b engages in the release slit 42. During this time, the left end of the arm 14'b is moved backward. Therefore, the left centering lever 14 'rotates in a direction in which its outer end moves rearward, and accordingly, the right centering lever 14 also rotates in a direction in which its outer end moves rearward. Move. As a result, the guide pins 19 and 19 'are 12 cm CD46c
The 12 cm CD 46c is separated from the outer peripheral edge thereof and is in a state where it does not hinder the rotation of the 12 cm CD 46c.

Then, the reproduction of the 12 cm CD 46c is performed at the position AA 'shown in FIG. 6 (D). And 1
When the reproduction (eject) command for ejecting the 12 cm CD 46c is issued after the reproduction of the 2 cm CD 46c is completed and the eject button is pressed, for example, the sliders 35, 3
5'is moved rearward, and the mechanical deck 31 is rotated so that its front end moves downward. Further, the guide support member 7 is also rotated so that its front end moves downward,
While the spindle 33 releases the chucking of the 12 cm CD 46c, the 12 cm CD 46c is pinched again between the medium guide 4 and the drawing roller 5.

When the sliders 35, 35 'reach the rear end of the moving range, the light blocking piece 38a on the front side of the left slider 35' shields the light between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the photo interrupter 39, whereby the photo interrupter. The rearward movement of the sliders 35, 35 'is stopped by the signal output from 39. When the rearward movement of the sliders 35, 35 'is stopped, the pull-in roller 5 is rotated in the direction opposite to the pull-in direction, and the 12 cm CD 46c moves the conveyance guides 62a, 62b (the second inner space shown in FIG. 6B). It is conveyed to the insertion / removal opening 60 side along the (C2 portion) and discharged from the device through the insertion / removal opening 60b.

The rearward movement of the left slider 35 'causes the release slit 42 of the release plate 40 and the arm 14'b of the left centering lever 14'.
Since the engagement with the centering lever 14,
14 'rotates in the direction in which the outer end of the coil spring 18 moves forward by the elastic force of the coil spring 18, and the lock pins 21, 21' of the lock levers 20, 20 'move to the top plate 15.
The engagement notches 25 and 25 'are engaged and locked.

Next, a card type C which is an example of a card medium
The loading of D46a will be described. First, in the state in which the card medium is received, that is, in the initial state, each unit is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 or FIG.
The points shown in are the above 8 cm CD46b and 1
This is almost the same as in the case of 2 cm CD46c.

When the card type CD 46a is inserted into the housing from the front opening (insertion / removal opening 60a) of the housing with the short side direction being the insertion direction (that is, in the normal direction), the sensors 64a, 64b, 64c detects that the disc-shaped recording medium has been inserted into the housing, and notifies the chucking control unit of that fact. Thereby, the chucking control unit causes the retracting roller 5 to move in the retracting direction, that is, as shown in FIG.
Start rotating in the clockwise direction at. As a result, the card-type CD 46a is drawn between the medium guide 4 and the drawing roller 5, and is drawn into the space between the conveyance guides 62 (the portion of the first inner space C1 shown in FIG. 6B) like the 8 cm CD 46b. Be done.

On the other hand, when the card-type CD 46a is inserted into the insertion / removal opening 60a in the wrong direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction, the sensors 64a and 64b do not detect this.
Therefore, even if the sensor 64c is used,
Even if the chucking control unit is notified that a has been detected,
The chucking controller does not cause the pull-in roller 5 to start rotating in the pull-in direction.

Instead, the pull-in roller 5 starts rotating in the direction opposite to the pull-in direction, that is, in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. As a result, the card-type CD 46a
Is discharged from the device through the insertion / removal port 60a. Further, the chucking control unit causes a message indicating that the chucking control unit has not been inserted in a normal direction to be displayed on a predetermined display device (for example, an operation panel), or generates a warning sound.

When the card-type CD 46a is inserted in the normal direction, the card-type CD 46a is continuously sandwiched between the medium guide 4 and the pull-in roller 5 in the same manner as in the case of the 8 cm CD 46b, and is guided by the conveyance guide 62. It is sent to the back by the retracting roller 5 so as to follow. At this time, the pull-in roller 5 is formed such that the central part thereof has a small diameter and the diameter gradually increases toward both ends, so that the signal reading surface of the card type CD 46a, that is, the surface facing downward in the drawing, is Only the peripheral portion of the pull-in roller 5 touches the pull-in roller 5, and the signal reading surface is directly in contact with the pull-in roller 5.
Never touch.

When the card-type CD 46a is pulled inward, its tip side (long side portion in this example) comes into contact with the guide pins 19, 19 'of the centering levers 14, 14', and its stop position is defined. To be done. That is, in the centering levers 14 and 14 ', the lock pins 21 and 21' of the lock levers 20 and 20 'supported by the centering levers 14 and 14' engage with the engagement notches 2
By being locked by engaging with 5, 25 ', the position is prevented from moving.

Therefore, even when a part of the long side portion of the card type CD 46a comes into contact with either one of the guide pins 19 and 19 ', as the card type CD 46a is sent to the back by the drawing roller 5, the other side of the guide pin 19 or 19' is conveyed. Displaced to the guide pin side, and finally both guide pins 1
9, 19 'and the long side contact. In addition, the transport guide 6
Since the first inner space C1 of 2 is set to be substantially the same as the long side portion of the card type CD 46a, the conveyance guide 6
By carrying along 2, the centering action is also performed.

During the centering process, the long side portion of the card type CD 46a pushes the sensor pin 26a of the sensor lever 26 rearward, whereby the sensor lever 26 rotates clockwise as viewed from above, The connecting pin 26b is the connecting notch 2 of the sensor slider 27.
Since the front edge of 7a is pushed forward, the sensor slider 2
7 will be moved forward.

Then, before the card type CD 46a is in a state where its outer peripheral edge is in full contact with the two guide pins 19 and 19 ', that is, before the card type CD 46a is positioned in the left-right direction, the sensor slider 27
FIG. 3 shows the relative positional relationship between the photo interrupter 29 and the photo interrupter 29.
In the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, from this point on, the long side portion of the card type CD 46a is rotated for a sufficient time so that the long side portion of the card type CD 46a completely abuts on the two guide pins 19 and 19 '. Reverse 5

As a result, the card-type CD 46a is returned, but the rotation of the pull-in roller 5 is stopped when the relative positional relationship of the sensor slider 27 with respect to the photo interrupter 29 again becomes the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. To do.
The position of the card-type CD 46a at this time is the position shown in FIG. 6 (B), and the center thereof coincides with the center of the chucking member 30.

The relative positional relationship of the sensor slider 27 and the photo interrupter 29 is first shown in FIG. 6 (B).
It is possible that the card-type CD 46a may be biased to the left or right at this point in time when the drawing roller 5 is not stopped when the state shown in FIG. This is because the center of the card type CD 46a may deviate from the center of the chucking member 30 (although the amount of displacement is very small).

When the rotation of the pull-in roller 5 is stopped, the card-type CD 4 is reproduced in the same manner as in the case of the 8 cm CD 46b.
The chucking operation for 6a is performed. The state where the chucking is completed is the same as in FIG.

Then, the reproduction of the card type CD 46a is performed at the position AA 'shown in FIG. 6 (B). When the reproduction of the card-type CD 46a is finished and a command to eject (eject) the card-type CD 46a is issued, for example, by pressing an eject button, the chucking controller first stops the rotation of the spindle motor.

At this time, if the rotation is simply stopped, the short side portion of the card type CD 46a is not always in the direction parallel to the carrying direction, and in most cases, as shown by the dotted line (B) in FIG. Is directed obliquely to the transport center C / L, and is left as it is between the transport guides 62a and 62b (see FIG. 6).
It cannot pass through the first inner space C1 portion shown in (B). Alternatively, as shown by the dotted line (C) in FIG. 11, when the long side of the card type CD 46a is stopped so as to be substantially parallel to the center C / L of the conveyance, the conveyance guide 62
Even if a card-type CD 46a can be introduced between a and 62b,
A large gap is formed between the short side and the conveyance guides 62a and 62b, and the conveyance posture cannot be maintained constant.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the stop posture of the card type CD 46a is controlled as follows. That is, the card type CD4 when the spindle motor is stopped
6a is detected by the sensors 64d and 64e, and if the card type CD 46a is not above the two sensors 64d and 64e, that is, the two sensors 64d and 6e.
If normal stop information cannot be obtained from at least one of the 4e, the spindle motor is rotated little by little so that the normal stop information can be obtained from both of the two sensors 64d and 64e. Stop completely. As a result, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 10, the short sides of the card-type CD 46a are oriented parallel to the transport direction, and the card-type CD 46a is guided by the transport guides 62a and 62b.
Can be introduced during

It should be noted that, instead of temporarily stopping the rotation of the spindle motor as described above and then determining the orientation of the card-type CD 46a, the detection status of the two sensors 64d and 64e in the process of completely stopping the rotation of the spindle motor. While confirming, the rotation of the spindle motor may be completely stopped at a position where normal stop information can be obtained from both of the two sensors 64d and 64e.

After the short side portion of the card type CD 46a is oriented parallel to the carrying direction, the sliders 35, 35 '
Is moved rearward, and the mechanical deck 31 is rotated so that its front end moves downward. Further, the guide support member 7 is also rotated so that the front end thereof is moved downward by the turning force given by the torsion coil springs 11 and 11 ', and the spindle 33 releases the chucking of the card type CD 46a. The card type CD 46a is again held between the medium guide 4 and the drawing roller 5.

When the sliders 35, 35 'reach the rear end of the moving range, the light blocking piece 38a on the front side of the left slider 35' shields the light between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the photo interrupter 39, whereby the photo interrupter. The rearward movement of the sliders 35, 35 'is stopped by the signal output from 39. When the rearward movement of the sliders 35, 35 'is stopped, the pull-in roller 5 is rotated in the direction opposite to the pull-in direction, and the card type CD 46a is introduced between the transport guides 62a, 62b.
2a, 62b (first inner space C1 shown in FIG. 6B)
(Part of) and is conveyed to the insertion / removal opening 60 side,
0a is discharged out of the apparatus.

As described above, according to the drive device 1 of the first embodiment, the 8 cm CDs 46b and 12 are used.
While using the loading mechanism of the cmCD46c, the short side of the card type CD46a is set as the normal direction and the card type C is used.
Since the guide pins 19 for centering function sufficiently, the card is carried so as to be chucked by being carried along the carrying guides 62a and 62b for holding the carrying attitude in a certain direction like inserting the D46a. The model CD 46a does not fall into the device when it is loaded. In addition, since the chucking mechanism is common to both the card medium and the disk medium, compatibility (compatibility) can be ensured.

Further, the drive device 1 of the first embodiment described above.
According to this, the disk medium and the card medium can be front-loaded, and the card medium is inserted in the lateral direction, so that the space efficiency is good.

Further, since the transport guide 62 is provided at the insertion / removal opening 60 which is the card load eject portion, the card type CD 46a comes out in the lateral direction at a predetermined angle, so that a transport error occurs at the time of eject, Alternatively, there is no fear that the card-type CD 46a will pop out in an unexpected direction and be damaged.

Further, for example, in some recent optical cards, the operator can visually determine the contents of the optical card.
Many proposals have printed marks such as letters and photographs. When using such a card, as an operator, the characters or photographs printed on the optical card should be directed in the direction that is easy for them to read, and then inserted into the drive unit in that state and ejected in the same state. It is a natural operation and convenient for operation. The drive device 1 described above can sufficiently meet such a demand.

Further, since the rotation stop direction of the card type CD 46a is optically detected by the sensors 64d and 64e, the detecting mechanism is simple. Also, if the rotation stop direction is more than the predetermined range, the spindle is controlled to rotate so that it is within the predetermined range, so that a dedicated movable member is not required for posture control, and its mechanism and operation are It will be easy.

In the above description, the loading of the disk medium or the card medium in the state where the drive device 1 is placed horizontally is explained, but the drive device 1 can be used even if it is placed vertically. That is, since the chucking of the recording medium is performed in two steps, and the chucking of the recording medium by the medium guide 4 and the pull-in roller 5 is released after the chucking in the first step, that is, the temporary chucking is performed, Even when the recording medium is placed vertically, the centered state of the recording medium does not change and the recording medium can be reliably chucked.

In particular, when a recording medium having a small size, such as the 8 cm CD 46b or the card medium in the above example, is used, when the recording medium is placed vertically, the recording medium is likely to be displaced downward from the centered position, but the drive device of the above embodiment is used. In No. 1, since the recording medium is held between the medium guide 4 and the pull-in roller 5 until the temporary chucking, the centered state of the recording medium does not change.

12 and 13 show a second embodiment of the drive device to which the loading device and the eject device according to the present invention are applied. In particular, it is a schematic diagram focusing on a portion of the drive device 1 of the second embodiment configured to correspond to a disk medium and a card medium.

Here, FIG. 12A shows an insertion / removal portion for inserting the recording medium into the drive device 1 at the time of loading, or conversely for ejecting the recording medium to the outside of the drive device 1 at the time of ejecting. The figure shown, FIG. 12 (B),
FIG. 12C is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where the recording medium is conveyed to the reproduction position through the insertion / removal port. Further, FIG. 13 shows a rotation stopped state of the card type CD 46a.

The opening shape of the insertion / removal opening 60 is, as shown in FIG. 12 (A), the insertion / removal opening 60c for inserting / removing the card type CD 46a, and the 8cmCD 46b and 12cmCD.
An insertion / removal opening 60d for inserting / removing 46c is formed independently (separately).

The insertion / removal opening 60c for the card type CD 46a is
The width of the card-type CD 46a is formed to be slightly wider than the width of the cross section of the card-type CD 46a which is orthogonal to the conveying direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the short side direction of the card type CD 46a is set as the transport direction (that is, the long side is the front end).
The width B3 of the opening (insertion / removal opening 60c) for the card type CD 46a is slightly wider (for example, about 86 to 90 mm) than the width 85 mm of the long side of the card type CD 46a.

The height of the opening (insertion / removal opening 60c) for the card-type CD 46a is slightly wider than the thickness of the card-type CD 46a (when the thickness differs depending on the location, the maximum thickness is selected). Formed, but 8 cm CD
It is formed narrower than the thickness of 46b or 12 cm CD46c. For example, it is about 0.9 to 1.0 mm (in the figure, the dimensional relationship is not properly represented for convenience of description). Therefore, the card type CD 46a can be inserted and removed through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60c, but the 8 cm CD 46b and the 12 cm CD 46c cannot be inserted / removed through the insertion / removal opening 60c.

On the other hand, 8 cm CD46b and 12 cm
The width B4 of the opening (insertion / extraction opening 60d) for the CD 46c is 12
The width is slightly wider (for example, about 125 to 130 mm) than the maximum width 120 cm of the cmCD 46c. The height of the insertion / removal opening 60d is 8 cm CD46b or 12 cm.
It is formed to be slightly wider than the thickness of the CD 46c (the dimensional relationship is not properly shown in the figure for convenience of description).

Therefore, 8 cm CD46b and 12 cm C
The D46c can be inserted / removed through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60d. From the above dimensional relationship, it is physically possible to insert the card type CD 46a into the device through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60d. However, since it is not preferable that such an irregular insertion is performed, it is desirable to detect the type of the inserted recording medium 46, and eject or issue a warning when it is inappropriate.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, the insertion / removal opening 60c for the card type CD 46a is formed in a slit shape extending in the carrying direction. As a result, card type CD
When 46a is inserted / removed through the insertion / removal opening 60c, the directions of the four sides are kept constant. That is, the insertion / removal opening 60c has a function of a conveyance guide that keeps the directions of the four sides of the card-type CD 46a constant during conveyance.

As shown in FIG. 12C, a spindle motor 80 for rotationally driving the recording medium 46 is attached to the position of the reproducing position AA 'line of the base 70. A chucking member 82a is attached to the rotation support shaft of the spindle motor 80. A clamp unit 84 is movably attached to the base 70 up and down in FIG. And the clamp unit 84
Of the chucking member 82a on the spindle motor 80 side
A chucking member 82b is attached to a position opposed to.

The outer diameters of the chucking members 82a and 82b are smaller than the short sides of the card-type CD 46a, and the card-type CD 46a is positioned so that the center position of the card-type CD 46a is located on the axis of the central axis of the chucking member 82a. The CD 46a is mounted and then fixed from above by a chucking member 82b having a clamper function.

A reflection type sensor 72a for optically detecting the insertion of the recording medium 46 from the lower portion of the recording medium 46 is provided at the transport center C / L inside the apparatus near the insertion / removal openings 60c and 60d. It is attached to 70. Further, drive rollers 74a and 74b are provided so as to form pairs at symmetrical positions on the inner side of the reflection type sensor 72a in the conveyance direction with the center of conveyance therebetween. Drive roller 74a,
The rotation axis of 74b is the depth direction in the figure. The drive rollers 74a and 74b are internally applied with a force (see arrows in the drawing) by a spring or the like (not shown).

Ejection drive rollers 76a and 76b are provided at the position of the reproduction position AA 'line so as to form a pair at symmetrical positions with the center of conveyance therebetween. The rotation axes of the drive rollers 76a and 76b are in the depth direction in the figure. Further, a pair of limit switches 78a, 7 for detecting that the card type CD 46a has completely entered the device.
8b is attached. This limit switch 78
The a and 78b are arranged at positions where they can come into contact with the long sides when the card type CD 46a is loaded to the reproduction position (the center is up to the line AA ') in a normal posture.

Further, a card-type CD 46a is provided at the center C / L of the conveyance on the far side in the conveyance direction from the line AA 'at the reproduction position.
A reflection type sensor 72b for optically detecting the edge of the long side of the recording medium 46 from the lower portion is attached to the base 70. This reflective sensor 72b is a card type C
When D46a deviates from the prescribed position at the time of ejecting, the light returns to the reflective sensor 72b.

In such a structure, when the card-type CD 46a is inserted through the insertion / removal opening 60c or through the insertion / removal opening 60d, the 8 cm CD 46b or the 12 cm CD 4 is inserted.
When 6c is inserted, the reflective sensor 72a detects that. As a result, the drive rollers 74a and 74b, to which a force such as a spring is applied inside, start to move under the control of a chucking control unit (not shown), and the card-type CD 46
a or 8 cm CD46b or 12 cm CD46c is loaded into the apparatus.

For example, when the reflection type sensor 72a detects that the card type CD 46a has been inserted, the driving rollers 74a and 74b first move inward so as to sandwich the short side portion of the card type CD 46a from the outside. Then, when the pinching is almost completed, the card-type CD 46a is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing, and the card-type CD 46a is moved to the reproduction position AA '.
Transport in the direction of the line. At this time, the drive rollers 74a, 74
b touches only the short side portion of the card type CD 46a, and its signal reading surface does not directly touch the driving rollers 74a and 74b. In addition, a card type C is formed by the drive rollers 74a and 74b.
Since the D46a is sandwiched and conveyed, the direction (conveyance posture) of the four sides of the card type CD 46a during conveyance is kept constant.

Also, 8 cm CD46b and 12 cm CD46
When the reflective sensor 72a detects that c has been inserted, the drive rollers 74a and 74b first move the 8 cmCD
The inner edge of the 46b or the 12 cm CD 46c is moved inward so as to sandwich the peripheral edge from the outside. Then, by rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, the 8 cmCD46b or 12 cmCD46
c is conveyed in the direction of the reproduction position AA 'line. At this time, the drive rollers 74a and 74b are 8 cm CD46b and 12 cm.
Only the peripheral edge of the CD 46c is touched, and the signal reading surface does not directly touch the drive rollers 74a and 74b.

The loading operation which is subsequently performed can be realized by utilizing the existing optical disk drive or the like. For example, it may be similar to the first embodiment.

For example, in this configuration, a card type CD 46a
When the limit switches 78a and 78b are detected, the rotation of the drive rollers 74a and 74b is stopped. When the card type CD46a is completely inserted, it can be moved up and down to the base 7
The clamp unit 84 attached to 0 is lowered (details omitted), and the chucking member 82a attached to the spindle motor 80 and the chucking member 82b attached to the clamp unit 84 are vertically attached to the card type CD.
The card type CD 46a is fixed (chucked) to the spindle motor 80 by sandwiching 46a.

As a result, the reproduction of the card type CD 46a becomes possible at the position AA 'shown in the figure. When reproduction of the card-type CD 46a is completed and an eject button is pressed to eject the card-type CD 46a (eject) command, for example, the chucking control unit (not shown) first stops the rotation of the spindle motor 80. Let

At this time, when the rotation is simply stopped, the short side portion of the card type CD 46a is not always in the direction parallel to the carrying direction, and in most cases, as shown by the dotted line (B) in FIG. In addition, since it is directed obliquely to the transport center C / L, it cannot be introduced as it is between the drive rollers 74a and 74b to pass through the insertion / removal opening 60c. Alternatively, as shown by the dotted line (C) in FIG. 13, when the long side of the card type CD 46a is stopped so as to be substantially parallel to the transport center C / L, it can be introduced between the drive rollers 74a and 74b. The short side and the drive rollers 74a and 74b
Since a large gap is created between and, it is not possible to maintain the transporting posture constant.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the stop attitude of the card type CD 46a is controlled as follows. That is, the card type C when the spindle motor 80 is stopped
The direction of D46a is detected by the reflection type sensor 72b, and if the light is returned to the reflection type sensor 72b, the spindle motor 80 is rotated little by little and the reflection type sensor 72b is rotated.
The light is not returned to the spindle motor 80 and the spindle motor 80 is completely stopped. As a result, as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The short side portion of the card type CD 46a is oriented parallel to the transport direction, and the card type CD 46a is driven by the drive rollers 74a, 74.
It can be introduced between b and into the insertion / removal opening 60c.

As described above, the spindle motor 80
The light is not transmitted to the reflective sensor 72b while confirming the detection status of the reflective sensor 72b in the process of completely stopping the rotation of the spindle motor 80, rather than once stopping the rotation of the card type CD 46a. The rotation of the spindle motor 80 may be completely stopped at a position where it does not return.

After the short side portion of the card type CD 46a is oriented parallel to the carrying direction, the fixed state of the card type CD 46a is released from the spindle motor 80 in the reverse order of the chucking. After that, the drive rollers 76a, 76
The eject operation is performed by b. That is, first, the card-type CD 46a is introduced between the drive rollers 74a and 74b by the drive rollers 76a and 76b, and then the card-type CD 46a is moved to the insertion / removal opening 60 side in the reverse procedure of the loading by the drive rollers 74a and 74b. And the card type CD 46a is ejected from the insertion / removal opening 60c to the outside of the apparatus.

The 8 cm CD46b and the 12 cm CD4
Even when 6c is inserted through the insertion / removal opening 60d, it is conveyed to the spindle motor 80 side and chucked in the same procedure as when loading the card type CD 46a.
Then, at the time of ejecting, the rotation of the 8 cm CD 46 b or the 12 cm CD 46 is stopped without controlling the stop posture.
Immediately eject c.

As described above, also in the drive device 1 of the second embodiment, the card medium and the disk medium can be used by the same loading mechanism, and compatibility (compatibility) can be secured. Further, the disk medium and the card medium can be front-loaded, and the card medium is inserted in the lateral direction, so that space efficiency is good.

Further, driving rollers 74a and 74b are provided in the vicinity of the insertion / removal opening 60 so that the card-type CD 46a can be introduced into the insertion / removal opening 60c. Posture (4
Since it is formed in a slit shape so that the direction of the side) can be kept constant, the card-type CD 46a comes out in the lateral direction at a predetermined angle, so the card-type CD 46a pops out in an unexpected direction. Never.

Also in the second embodiment, the first
Similar to the embodiment, a mechanism for detecting the insertion direction (either the short side direction or the long side direction) of the card type CD 46a and prohibiting the loading at the time of insertion in the long side direction may be incorporated.

FIG. 14 shows a third embodiment of a drive device to which the loading device and the eject device according to the present invention are applied. In particular, the drive device 1 of the third embodiment
Of the insertion / removal opening.

The opening shape of the insertion / removal opening 60 is similar to that of the second embodiment, and the insertion / removal opening 60e for the card type CD 46a and 8c are used.
An insertion / removal opening 60f for inserting / removing the mCD46b and the 12cmCD46c is made independently (separately).

On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the card type C
The longitudinal direction of D46a is set as the transport direction (that is, the short side is the end), and the card type CD46 is used.
The width B5 of the insertion / removal opening 60e for a is slightly wider than the width 55 mm of the short side portion of the card type CD 46a (for example, 56 to 60).
mm). Therefore, a card-type CD
46a can be inserted / removed through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60e, but the insertion / removal opening 6 can be used for the 8cmCD46b and the 12cmCD46c.
It cannot be inserted or removed through 0e.

On the other hand, 8 cm CD46b and 12 cm
The width B6 of the opening (insertion / removal opening 60f) for the CD 46c is 1
It is formed to be slightly wider (for example, about 125 to 130 mm) than the maximum width 120 mm of the 2 cm CD 46c. Therefore, 8cmCD46b and 12cmCD46c
Can be inserted and removed through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60f.

From the above-mentioned dimensional relationship, it is physically possible to insert the card type CD 46a into the apparatus through the opening of the insertion / removal opening 60f. However, since it is not preferable that such an irregular insertion is performed, it is desirable to have a mechanism that detects the type of the inserted recording medium 46 and ejects or issues a warning if inappropriate.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14B, the insertion / removal opening 60e for the card type CD 46a is formed in a slit shape extending in the carrying direction. As a result, as in the second embodiment, when the card type CD 46a is inserted / removed through the insertion / removal opening 60e, the directions of the four sides are kept constant. That is, the insertion / removal opening 60e has a function of a conveyance guide that keeps the directions of the four sides of the card type CD 46a constant during conveyance.

The other basic structure of the base 70, the reflection type sensor 72a, etc. is the same as that of the second embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. The positions of the members related to the card-type CD 46a may be different from those in the second embodiment depending on the longitudinal direction being the transport direction.
For example, the limit switches 78a and 78b are arranged at positions where they can contact the short side when the card-type CD 46a is loaded to the reproduction position (the center is up to the line AA ') in a normal posture.

The operations of loading and ejecting various recording media 46 in the drive device 1 of the third embodiment are the same as those of the second embodiment. Therefore, also in the drive device 1 of the third embodiment, the compatibility (compatibility) of the loading mechanism can be ensured as in the second embodiment, and the card type C can be longitudinally formed at a predetermined angle.
Since the D46a comes out, the card-type CD 46a does not jump out in an unexpected direction.

Although the present invention has been described using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment, and a mode in which such changes or improvements are added is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Also,
The above embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

For example, in the second embodiment, the direction of the card type CD 46a when the rotation is stopped is determined by the reflection type sensor 72.
The normal rotation stop position is the state in which light is not returned to the reflective sensor 72b as detected by the reflective sensor 72b.
Instead of the two sensors 64, as in the first embodiment.
It is also possible that d and 64e are provided at predetermined positions and the normal rotation stop position is when the normal stop information is obtained from both.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the invention of the present application is applied to the mechanism described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-3724 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It can also be applied to the mechanism described in No. 11 and other mechanisms.

[0174]

As described above, according to the present invention, at the time of loading, the card medium is first inserted through the card medium insertion / removal opening, and then the card medium is conveyed along the conveyance guide for holding the posture in a constant direction during conveyance. Since the chucking is performed by the chucking, the transporting attitude of the card medium inside the apparatus is maintained constant. Therefore, the card medium is not conveyed in an improper direction, and there is no fear that it will fall into the device during loading.

A disk medium that cannot be inserted into the first insertion / removal port is inserted from the second insertion / removal port provided for the medium and chucked as in the conventional device. Since the chucking mechanism is also used at the time of loading the card medium, compatibility with the loading mechanism for the card medium can be ensured.

At the time of ejecting, the attitude of the recording medium is first controlled so that the side of the card-shaped recording medium is oriented substantially parallel to the conveying direction, and then the attitude of the recording medium is conveyed. Since it is configured to be conveyed and discharged to the first insertion / removal opening along a conveyance guide that holds it in a fixed direction,
Since the card medium comes out in the determined direction, there is no fear that a transport error will occur at the time of ejection or that the card medium will pop out in an unexpected direction and be damaged.

For a disk medium which cannot be ejected through the first insertion / removal opening, the disk is ejected from the second insertion / removal opening provided for the medium as in the conventional apparatus. Since it is also used at the time of ejecting for the card medium, it is possible to ensure compatibility with the eject mechanism for the card medium.

Further, if the above structure is applied to a mechanism in which the basic mechanism of chucking or ejection of the inserted recording medium can be placed vertically, it is possible to make the device vertically compatible while ensuring compatibility. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a drive device to which a loading device and an ejecting device according to the present invention are applied together with FIGS. 2 to 10. FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway showing a state in which a housing is removed. It is a top view.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part with a top plate removed in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part showing a state of centering an 8 cm CD.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part showing a state of centering a 12 cm CD together with FIG. 5, and this figure is a diagram showing a state of being centered.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where the guide pin is separated from the 12 cm CD after centering.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an opening shape of an insertion / removal opening, an arrangement position of a regulation member, and states of recording media (three types) conveyed to a predetermined rotation position.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view showing a state in which the recording medium is chucked together with FIGS. 8 to 10 by extracting only the main member. This figure shows a state in which the recording medium is centered and the spindle starts to move up. is there.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where the recording medium is provisionally chucked and the medium guide starts to separate from the recording medium.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the medium guide is completely separated from the recording medium, the spindle further starts to rise, and the full-scale chucking operation of the recording medium 46 is started.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where chucking of the recording medium 46 is completed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a rotation stopped state of the card type CD in the drive device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of a drive device to which the loading device and the eject device according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a rotation stopped state of a card type CD in the drive device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of a drive device to which a loading device and an ejecting device according to the present invention are applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Drive device, 3 ... Retracting member, 4 ... Medium guide, 5
... retracting roller, 30 ... chucking member, 31 ... mechanical deck, 33 ... spindle, 35, 35 '... slider, 31, 35, 35' ... spindle moving means, 46a
… Card media (card-shaped recording media), 46b… 8 cm
CD (disc-shaped recording medium), 46c ... 12 cm CD (disc-shaped recording medium)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G11B 17/04 G11B 17/04 313W F term (reference) 5D046 AA04 AA12 CA16 CA18 CB03 CD03 CD08 EA04 EA06 EA15 EB02 GA02 GA03 GA04 GA15 HA08

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A method of loading a card-shaped recording medium in a drive device for information recording and / or information reproduction capable of handling both a card-shaped recording medium and a disk-shaped recording medium, said card-shaped recording An insertion / removal opening for inserting a medium into the drive device, wherein at least one of the width and the height of the insertion / removal opening is at least one of the disk-shaped recording media that can be handled by the drive device. The card-shaped recording medium inserted through the first insertion / removal opening, which is set to a size that cannot be inserted / removed with respect to the first insertion / removal opening, is arranged so as to correspond to the opening of the first insertion / removal opening. The disk-shaped recording that is not insertable into the first insertion / removal port by being drawn into the drive device by the conveyance member along a conveyance guide that keeps the four sides constant when the recording medium is conveyed. The body, first provided for the disc-shaped recording medium 2
When the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium reaches a predetermined retracted position, the spindle is moved toward the recording medium so that the recording medium is placed facing the spindle. A loading method characterized in that the recording medium is sandwiched between a king member. 2. When the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium inserted from the insertion / removal opening reaches a predetermined insertion position, the conveying member holds the recording medium in the thickness direction and further pulls in the recording medium. The loading method according to claim 1, wherein the loading method is retracted to a position. 3. When the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium reaches the retracted position, the spindle is moved toward the recording medium to lightly clamp the recording medium between the recording medium and the chucking member. Then, the holding of the recording medium by the conveying member is released, and further, the spindle is moved toward the chucking member to completely remove the recording medium between the spindle and the chucking member. The loading method according to claim 1, wherein the loading method is such that the loading method is used. 4. A loading device for a card-shaped recording medium in an information recording and / or information reproducing apparatus capable of handling both a card-shaped recording medium and a disk-shaped recording medium, wherein the card-shaped recording medium is An insertion / removal opening for insertion into the drive device, wherein at least one of the width and the height of the insertion / removal opening is at least one of the disk-shaped recording media that can be handled by the drive device. A first insertion / removal opening set to a size that cannot be inserted / removed; a second insertion / removal opening provided for the disc-shaped recording medium that cannot be inserted into the first insertion / removal opening; Maintain the direction of the four sides of the recording medium inserted into the drive device through the insertion / removal port at a constant direction,
A conveyance guide arranged to correspond to the opening of the first insertion / removal opening, a conveyance member for drawing the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium inserted through the insertion / removal opening into the drive device, A spindle for holding and rotating the card-shaped or disc-shaped recording medium drawn to a predetermined rotation position by a conveying member; and the card-shaped or disc-shaped recording medium drawn by the conveying member, A chucking member, which is arranged to face the spindle and is configured to be detachable from and in contact with the spindle, for sandwiching between the spindle, and the card-shaped or disc-shaped recording inserted through the insertion / removal opening. A chucking controller that holds the medium between the spindle and the chucking member; When the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium drawn in by the conveying member reaches a predetermined drawing-in position, the section moves the spindle toward the recording medium to move between the chucking member and the recording member. A loading device, characterized in that the recording medium is controlled so as to be sandwiched. 5. The first insertion / removal opening for the card-shaped recording medium is provided independently of the second insertion / removal opening for the disk-shaped recording medium. 4. The loading device according to 4. 6. The chucking control unit moves the spindle toward the recording medium when the card-shaped or disc-shaped recording medium drawn by the conveying member reaches the predetermined drawing position. Then, the recording medium is lightly sandwiched between the chucking member, and then the sandwiching of the recording medium by the transport member is released, and further, the spindle is moved toward the chucking member, The loading device according to claim 4, wherein the recording medium is completely sandwiched between the spindle and the chucking member. 7. A method of ejecting a card-shaped recording medium in a drive device for information recording and / or information reproduction capable of handling both a card-shaped recording medium and a disk-shaped recording medium, wherein rotation is substantially stopped. The attitude of the recording medium is controlled so that the sides of the recording medium are oriented substantially parallel to the conveying direction of the recording medium in the drive device, and the recording medium is pulled out of the drive device. At least one of the width and the height of the insertion / removal opening is a dimension that cannot be inserted / removed with respect to at least one of the disk-shaped recording media that can be handled by the drive device. To the first insertion / removal opening that is set to, the conveyance of the card-shaped recording medium in which the posture is controlled in a predetermined direction is started, and the opening of the first insertion / removal opening faces the first insertion / removal opening. Arranged to respond,
Regarding the disk-shaped recording medium that cannot be ejected through the first insertion / removal opening, the recording medium is ejected along a conveyance guide that maintains the four sides of the card-shaped recording medium in a constant direction. The ejecting method is characterized in that the ejecting is performed from a second insertion / removal opening provided for the disc-shaped recording medium. 8. The ejecting method according to claim 7, wherein the attitude of the recording medium is controlled so that the short side of the recording medium is oriented substantially parallel to the transport direction. 9. The rotation of the recording medium is stopped so that the side edge of the recording medium faces substantially parallel to the carrying direction while the card-shaped recording medium is held between the spindle and the chucking member. 9. The recording medium is held by the conveying member when the rotation of the recording medium is substantially stopped.
The eject method described in. 10. The recording medium is clamped by the conveying member when the rotation of the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium is substantially stopped, and then the spindle and the chucking member are clamped with respect to the recording medium. 9. Then, the recording medium is conveyed in the direction of the corresponding insertion / removal opening while maintaining the state of being held by the conveying member with respect to the recording medium until a predetermined take-out position is reached. Eject method described. 11. An ejecting device for a card-shaped recording medium in an information recording and / or information reproducing apparatus capable of handling both a card-shaped recording medium and a disc-shaped recording medium, wherein the card-shaped recording medium is a device. At least one of the width and height of the insertion / removal opening for pulling out the insertion / removal opening to / from the disk-shaped recording medium that can be handled by the drive device. A first insertion / removal opening that is set to a possible size; a second insertion / removal opening provided for the disk-shaped recording medium that cannot be ejected through the first insertion / removal opening; An attitude control unit that controls the attitude of the recording medium so that the side of the card-shaped recording medium faces substantially parallel to the transport direction at the time of ejection, and the card-shaped recording medium whose attitude is controlled by the attitude control unit. A conveying member for conveying the recording medium or the disc-shaped recording medium in the direction of the corresponding insertion slot, arranged so as to correspond to the opening of the first insertion slot,
An ejecting device, comprising: a conveyance guide that keeps the four sides of the recording medium in a constant direction when the recording medium is ejected through the first insertion / removal opening. 12. The first insertion / removal opening is formed such that the width thereof is slightly wider than the width of the long side portion of the card-shaped recording medium, and the attitude control unit controls the card-shaped recording. 12. The rotation of the card-shaped recording medium is stopped so that the short side portion of the medium faces substantially parallel to the transport direction.
The eject device according to 1. 13. The first for the card-shaped recording medium
12. The insertion / removal opening of the disk is provided independently of the second insertion / removal opening for the disk-shaped recording medium.
The eject device according to 1. 14. A spindle for holding and rotating the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium; and a spindle for sandwiching the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium between the spindle and the spindle. A chucking member that is arranged so as to face each other and is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the spindle, and a chucking control unit that holds the card-shaped or disk-shaped recording medium between the spindle and the chucking member. Is the inclination of the side of the recording medium sandwiched between the chucking member and the spindle with respect to the transport direction when the recording medium stops rotating within a predetermined range? A detection unit for optically detecting whether or not the posture control unit detects that the inclination exceeds the predetermined range. On the condition that a known result indicates, the card-shaped recording medium is rotated by controlling the spindle so that the inclination is within the predetermined range, and the chucking control unit is the Releasing the clamping of the card-shaped recording medium between the chucking member and the spindle, provided that the attitude is controlled to fall within the predetermined range by the attitude control unit, The carrying member starts carrying the recording medium in the first insertion / removal direction on condition that the holding of the card-shaped recording medium is released by the chucking control unit. The eject device according to claim 11.