JPH1055649A - Magnetic disk cartridge and recording/reproducing device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a shutter member and its opening/closing mechanism made to be thinner so as to be capable of mounting on a PC card slot together with a disk drive device by providing an actuating piece and a connecting member connecting the actuating piece and shutter member. SOLUTION: The shutter member 3 is provided with an upper plate part 3 putting along the upper surface of a case 2, a lower plate part 32 putting along the lower surface, an end surface part 33 for connecting the plate parts 31, 32 of both surfaces, a window part 34 for opening/closing an opening 21 for inserting a head, and the flexible connecting member 35 successively in contact with the end surface part 33 in the opening/closing direction. Then, a tip of the connecting member 35 is connected to the actuating piece 7 moving along the inserting direction of the case 2. Thus, when the magnetic disk cartridge is inserted to the disk drive device, the actuating piece 7 is moved and the shutter member 3 is slid through the connecting member 35 to perform the opening operation. The magnetic disk cartridge 1 is formed to be thinner accordingly, and also the workability and commercial reliability are improved since the assembling of the case 2 is carried out in the state the actuating piece 2 and the shutter member 3 are excluded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic disk cartridge provided with a shutter member for accommodating a disk-shaped magnetic disk medium in a case and opening and closing a magnetic head insertion opening, and a recording and reproducing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, magnetic layers are formed on both sides of a disk-shaped base made of a flexible polyester sheet or the like, and magnetic recording is performed on the magnetic layers by a magnetic head while being rotated. A magnetic disk cartridge in which a so-called floppy disk is accommodated in a flat case is provided, and is mainly used as a recording medium for a computer because of its advantages such as easy handling and low cost.

In addition, the magnetic disk cartridge has a magnetic head insertion opening through which a magnetic head for magnetic recording and reproduction contacts or approaches from one side or both sides of the magnetic disk medium from the outside. Is provided with an open / close shutter member for preventing intrusion of dust and the like when not in use.

[0004] By the way, the miniaturization of computers using the above-mentioned magnetic disk cartridge has been rapidly progressing, and notebook personal computers have become widespread. Of these notebook computers, especially small ones are large,
Some devices do not have a built-in drive device for a magnetic disk cartridge due to restrictions such as weight. Therefore, in such a small personal computer, when recording and reproducing data and the like on a magnetic disk cartridge, the drive device is mounted as a so-called external system each time.

The adoption of the external system is excellent in terms of portability of a small personal computer, but, for example, it is impossible to record and reproduce a large amount of data because a magnetic disk cartridge cannot be used in a portable computer. This causes a problem and a problem that data cannot be recorded on a plurality of magnetic disk cartridges.

[0006] In view of the above, some small personal computers are provided with a PC card slot (compliant with the PCMCIA specification) for an external interface and additional memory, and are used by mounting a PC card using an electronic circuit such as a memory card. ing. Therefore, a magnetic disk cartridge and a disk drive using the PC card slot have been proposed.

A PC that can be inserted into the PC card slot
The specifications of the card are type II, the thickness is 5.0 mm, and the thickness of the magnetic disk cartridge and the disk drive device is to be configured within this thickness. It must be made ultra-thin.

Due to such thickness restrictions, in the disk drive device, the magnetic head is the same as the conventional disk drive device for a 3.5-inch magnetic disk cartridge having a recording capacity of 1 to 2 MB. Since it is not possible to secure a space to move up and down, this magnetic head is fixed, and at least one of the upper and lower surfaces is opened from the front of the magnetic disk cartridge case and the insertion of the shutter member, which is inserted into the space between the fixed magnetic heads. It is conceivable to configure so that

[0009]

However, when the above-described ultra-thin magnetic disk cartridge is constructed,
The shutter member opening / closing mechanism also rotates in conjunction with the insertion of the magnetic disk cartridge and rotates at the end of the shutter member, like the shutter opening / closing mechanism of a conventional 3.5-inch magnetic disk cartridge disk drive. A space for installing a lever member for engaging and opening the lever cannot be secured, and it is necessary to change the structure of the magnetic disk cartridge so that the shutter can be opened and closed by another method.

In the case of forming the above-described ultra-thin magnetic disk cartridge, it is necessary to consider the ease of assembling and manufacturing the case. In addition, combining all the parts, including the mechanism necessary for opening and closing the shutter member, on one shell and putting it on the other shell so as to cover the other shell, is a complicated assembly and poses a problem in terms of productivity. May have. In other words, each component set in the shell is small and difficult to set in a stable state.For example, after a magnetic disk medium is inserted into upper and lower shells provided with a liner to form a case,
It is preferable to manufacture the shutter member and its opening / closing mechanism parts so that the reliability of the product is ensured and the productivity is improved.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a magnetic disk cartridge and a recording / reproducing method for the magnetic disk cartridge which can constitute a shutter member and its opening / closing mechanism so thin that it can be loaded into a PC card slot together with a disk drive device. It is.

[0012]

According to a magnetic disk cartridge of the present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems, a disk-shaped magnetic disk medium is rotatably housed in a flat case, and a magnetic head has a disk-shaped magnetic disk. A shutter member is provided for opening and closing the magnetic head insertion opening provided in the case so as to be inserted into the cartridge in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion into the disk drive device. An actuating piece that moves in conjunction with the removal operation is provided,
The shutter member includes an upper surface plate along the upper surface of the case, a lower surface plate along the lower surface of the case, an end surface connecting the double-sided plate, and a window that can communicate with the head insertion opening of the case. In addition, a flexible connecting member is integrally formed on the end face portion by extending in a shutter opening / closing direction, and a distal end of the connecting member is connected to the operating piece.

Preferably, the operating piece is urged by a pressing spring in a closing direction of the shutter member. Further, it is preferable that the operating piece is connected to the distal end of the connecting member of the shutter member inserted into the case, and then set on the case. In particular, it is preferable that the operating piece has a retaining structure, and is pushed into a groove provided in the case to be slidably held.

On the other hand, in the recording / reproducing method of the magnetic disk cartridge according to the present invention, while the magnetic disk cartridge is being inserted into the disk drive device to a predetermined position, the operating piece of the magnetic disk cartridge and the shutter opening member in the disk drive device are connected. When the shutter member starts to open and the magnetic disk cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position, the magnetic disk medium is exposed at a position facing the magnetic head installed in the disk drive, and the magnetic head causes the magnetic disk medium to be exposed to the magnetic disk medium. It performs magnetic recording and reproduction.

[0015]

According to the magnetic disk cartridge of the present invention as described above, the end surface of the shutter member formed by the upper plate, the lower plate, and the end connecting the double-sided plate has flexibility. Extend the connecting member in the shutter opening and closing direction,
When the magnetic disk cartridge is inserted into the disk drive device by connecting the distal end of the connecting member to the operating piece that moves along the insertion direction of the case, the operating piece moves in conjunction with the insertion operation, and the connecting member The shutter member is slid to open via the opening, so that the magnetic disk cartridge can be made thin and the shutter opening / closing mechanism in the disk drive device can be secured in a thin structure.

A case is provided in which a case accommodating a magnetic disk cartridge is formed, and a connecting member of a shutter member is inserted into the case, an operating piece is connected to the end thereof, and then the case is set in the case. The assembling can be performed without the operating piece and the shutter member, and it is possible to manufacture each process separately instead of continuous production, thereby improving the workability and the reliability of the product.

Further, according to the shutter member, an end face portion connecting the upper surface plate portion, the lower face plate portion, and the double-sided plate portion and a connecting member extended to the end face portion are integrally formed, so that a connection required for opening and closing is provided. By integrating the members, the cost can be reduced and the assemblability can be improved.

On the other hand, according to the recording / reproducing method of the present invention, when the magnetic disk cartridge is inserted into or removed from the disk drive device, the magnetic head is opposed to the magnetic head by the contact between the shutter opening member of the disk drive device and the operating piece. The shutter member can be opened and closed at the set position, and magnetic recording and reproduction can be reliably performed on the exposed magnetic disk medium with a compact structure using a magnetic head.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 is an external perspective view of an example of a magnetic disk cartridge, FIG. 2 is the same perspective view with a shutter member opened, FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view, FIG. 4 is a front end view of a case, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shutter member. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an assembling process. In addition, in each figure, in order to clarify the structure, the thickness and the like of each part are shown in a ratio different from the actual size.

The magnetic disk cartridge 1 includes a disk-shaped magnetic disk held by a center core 5 in a flat case 2 (hard case) made of a synthetic resin such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer. The media 6 is rotatably accommodated. The magnetic disk medium 6 is formed by forming a magnetic layer on one or both sides of a disk-shaped base made of a flexible polyester sheet or the like.

The case 2 has two shell halves in which the inner surfaces are fixed in a lid-like manner. The case 2 communicates with the front end surface 2c to the upper surface 2a and the lower surface 2b to form an opening 21 for inserting a magnetic head. It is provided in a rectangular shape.
The center core 5 is provided at the center of the case lower surface 2b.
Hub hole 22 for driving magnetic disk media with exposed
(See FIG. 3) is opened in a circular shape.

Although not shown in detail, the case 2 has an outer peripheral rib formed in a wall shape around each shell half and an inner rib obliquely formed at the center side of each corner portion. The magnetic disk medium 6 is accommodated in the space via liners 9, 9 (see FIG. 3) vertically.

The left side end face 2d with respect to the insertion direction C
A concave guide groove 23 is formed from the front end,
A vertical groove 24 in which an operation piece 7 to be described later is slidably mounted is opened in a part thereof, and a spring accommodating portion 25 containing the pressing spring 8 is provided in a rear portion thereof.

Further, a shutter member 3 which is slidable in an opening / closing direction d orthogonal to the insertion direction C is mounted on the case 2 to open and close the magnetic head insertion opening 22. A shallow sliding groove 26 is formed on the surface of the case 2.

The shutter member 3 is made of metal, for example, is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section from a stainless steel plate or an aluminum plate. As shown in FIG. An upper surface plate portion 31 that covers the upper surface 2a and a lower surface plate portion 32 that covers the case lower surface 2b are connected by an end surface portion 33 that covers the case front end surface 2c. Further, a window portion 34 which is opened from the end surface portion 33 of the shutter member 3 in communication with the upper surface plate portion 31 and the lower surface plate portion 32.
And can communicate with the magnetic head insertion opening 21 of the case 2. The window 34 is provided at a position offset from the center of the shutter member 3.

Further, a flexible connecting member 35 is formed integrally with the shutter member 3 so as to extend in the opening / closing direction d at the end face portion 33. The connecting member 35 extends in a tape shape narrower than the width of the end face portion 33, and the distal end locking portion 36 is provided in a locking structure such as a hook shape. The connecting member 35 extends from a side end of the end surface 33 opposite to the window 34, and is formed by stamping and stamping from a metal plate.

In the vicinity of the front portion of the upper surface plate portion 31 (or the lower surface plate portion 32) on the side opposite to the connecting member 35, a locking claw 37 is provided which is bent inward for retaining. . A guide groove 28 extending in the lateral direction is opened in the upper surface 2a of the case 2 corresponding to the locking claw 37.

On the other hand, the connecting member 3 of the shutter member 3
5 is formed on the front end face 2c of the case 2 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, an insertion groove 27 extending in the lateral direction is opened, and the insertion groove 27 is provided so as to communicate with the vertical groove 24 of the case-side end face 2d. The connecting member 35 inserted into the insertion groove 27 is curved and deformed into a substantially circular arc shape, and its tip is connected to the operating piece 7 attached to the vertical groove 24, and the connecting member is moved in accordance with the movement of the operating piece 7. The shutter member 3 is provided so as to slide open and close via 35.

A pressing spring 8 is provided behind the operating piece 7 to press the operating piece 7 forward by the urging force thereof.
This urges the shutter member 3 in the closing direction via the connecting member 35.

Although not shown, an inner rib is provided inside the insertion groove 27 of the front end face 2c of the case 2 as described above, and the inside of the vertical groove 24 of the side end face 2d is also the same. Ribs are provided to prevent dust from entering the magnetic disk medium 6 inside.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operating piece 7 has a front-side operating portion 7 inserted into the guide groove 23 of the case-side end face 2d.
1, a shaft portion 72 inserted into the vertical groove 24 inside the operation portion 71, and an engaging portion 73 having a retaining structure that is pushed into the vertical groove 24 at the tip of the shaft portion 72, The engaging portion 73 is provided at the distal end locking portion 36 of the connecting member 35 of the shutter member 3.
And the connection structure.

As this connection structure, for example, FIG.
As shown in (a), a notch is provided in the surface of the engaging portion 73 of the operating piece 7, and the notch is filled with a synthetic resin, and the leading end locking portion 36 of the connecting member 35 is inserted and formed. As shown in FIG. 7 (b), a so-called insert molding method or a similar shape provided on the operation piece 7 is formed by bending the distal end locking portion 36 of the connecting member 35 into a U-shape, for example, so as not to fall off. A known structure, such as a method of fitting by inserting into the cut groove 75 and the like, can be arbitrarily selected.

Further, after the engaging portion 73 of the operating piece 7 is pushed into the vertical groove 24 of the case 2 and locked, the retaining structure that makes it difficult to come off is a structure in which the tip portion is thin and the shaft portion side is large. It is provided in a groove structure or the like.

In assembling the magnetic disk cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the liner 9, 9 (see FIG. 3) is fixed to the inner surface with the magnetic disk medium 6 and the pressing spring 8 housed therein. The upper and lower shell halves are joined together and joined by ultrasonic welding or the like to form the case 2, and thereafter, the connecting member 35 of the shutter member 3 is obliquely inserted from the insertion groove 27 of the case front end surface 2 c.
Then, the engaging portion 73 of the operating piece 7 is engaged and fixed to the distal end locking portion 36 of the connecting member 35 protruding from the vertical groove 24. Subsequently, the distal end engaging portion 73 of the operating piece 7 is pushed into the vertical groove 24 while compressing the pressing spring 8, and the shutter member 3 is attached to the sliding groove 26 of the case 2, and the locking claw 37 is set. It is locked in the guide groove 28 of the case 2.

On the other hand, although not shown, the disk drive device into which the magnetic disk cartridge 1 is inserted has an insertion passage through which the magnetic disk cartridge 1 is inserted. A shutter opening member 10 (see FIG. 1) is provided which can contact the operating piece 7 provided on the end face 2d. The shutter opening member 10 is engaged with the guide groove 23 of the case side end face 2d, and a magnetic disk cartridge. The operation piece 7 is moved in the rearward direction against the pressing spring 8 by the relative movement according to the insertion of 1, the connecting member 35 is pulled, and the shutter member 3 is opened.

When the magnetic disk cartridge 1 is taken out, the operating piece 7 is moved forward by the urging force of the pressing spring 8 with the retreat, and the magnetic disk cartridge 1 is also pushed by the connecting member 35 and closed. To close the head insertion opening 21.

Further, the above-mentioned disk drive device is provided with a magnetic head 1 which does not open and close as described above.
1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), performs a magnetic recording / reproducing on the exposed magnetic disk medium 6, and a drive unit is provided below the magnetic disk medium 6 so as to be able to move up and down. The spindle is locked to the center core 5 of the disk medium 6 and is driven to rotate.

With the structure of the shutter member 3 as described above, the thickness of the magnetic disk cartridge 1 can be reduced, and a mechanism for opening and closing the shutter member 3 can be provided in a thin disk drive device.
An external storage device that can be mounted in the C card slot can be configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a magnetic disk cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shutter member of FIG. 1 in an opened state;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a magnetic disk cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a front end view of the case.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shutter member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a process of assembling the magnetic disk cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a connection structure between an operation piece and a connection member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 magnetic disk cartridge 2 case 2a upper surface 2b lower surface 2c front end surface 2d side end surface 3 shutter member 6 magnetic disk medium 7 operating piece 8 pressing spring 10 shutter opening member 11 magnetic head 21 head insertion opening 23 guide groove 24 vertical groove 27 insertion groove DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 Upper surface plate part 32 Lower surface plate part 33 End surface part 34 Window part 35 Connecting member 36 Locking part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A disk-shaped magnetic disk medium is rotatably accommodated in a flat case, and a magnetic head insertion opening formed in the case is slid in a direction perpendicular to a direction of insertion into a disk drive to open and close. In the magnetic disk cartridge provided with a shutter member, the case is provided with an operation piece that moves in conjunction with an insertion and removal operation with respect to a disk drive device, and the shutter member has an upper surface plate portion along an upper surface of the case. A lower surface plate portion along the lower surface of the case, an end surface portion connecting the two-sided plate portions, and a window portion that can communicate with the head insertion opening of the case, and a flexible connection to the end surface portion. A member extending in a shutter opening / closing direction and integrally formed, and a tip of the connecting member is connected to the operating piece; Qi disk cartridge. 2. The operating piece is urged by a pressing spring in a closing direction of a shutter member.
A magnetic disk cartridge according to claim 1. 3. The magnetic disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the operation piece is set on the case after being connected to a tip of a connection member of a shutter member inserted into the case. 4. The magnetic disk cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the operating piece has a retaining structure and is slidably held by being pushed into a groove provided in the case. 5. When the magnetic disk cartridge according to claim 1 is inserted into a disk drive device up to a predetermined position, an operating piece of the magnetic disk cartridge comes into contact with a shutter opening member in the disk drive device. When the shutter member starts to open and the magnetic disk cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position, the magnetic disk medium is exposed at a position facing the magnetic head installed in the disk drive device, and the magnetic head magnetically records and reproduces data on the magnetic disk medium. Recording / reproducing method for a magnetic disk cartridge.