Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a substantially box-shaped outer case that has an opening on one end face, and an inner case that is housed in the outer case such that the inner case can be pulled out and has a concave portion for an optical disk to be placed therein. In an end portion on a side of the opening of each of an upper side plate and a lower side plate of the outer case, a substantially V-shaped cutout formed by a substantially circular arc and an inclined substantially straight line is formed. In the inner case, a substantially U-shaped cutout formed by a substantially circular arc and two inclined substantially straight lines is formed. The substantially straight line forming the substantially V-shaped cutout and the two substantially straight lines forming the substantially U-shaped cutout are virtually parallel to each other.

Abstract: A disc drive device for driving a disc accommodated in a cartridge comprises: a magnetic head; a magnetic head supporting member for supporting the magnetic head to contact the disc and to be separated from the disc; a lifting plate configured to lift the magnetic head supporting member; and moving means for moving the lifting plate in a direction parallel to a surface of the disc, in which the moving means moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction until the lifting plate abuts the magnetic head supporting member, and further moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction with the lifting plate abutting the magnetic head supporting member so that the lifting plate lifts the magnetic head supporting member up to separate the magnetic head from the disc.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive has a problem that it is difficult to render it low-profile because there is a magnetic head elevating mechanism in an upper part of a cartridge.

Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a substantially box-shaped outer case that has an opening on one end face, and an inner case that is housed in the outer case such that the inner case can be pulled out and has a concave portion for an optical disk to be placed therein. In an end portion on a side of the opening of each of an upper side plate and a lower side plate of the outer case, a substantially V-shaped cutout formed by a substantially circular arc and an inclined substantially straight line is formed. In the inner case, a substantially U-shaped cutout formed by a substantially circular arc and two inclined substantially straight lines is formed. The substantially straight line forming the substantially V-shaped cutout and the two substantially straight lines forming the substantially U-shaped cutout are virtually parallel to each other.

Abstract: In a disk cartridge, a round portion with a circular arc shape whose center substantially coincides with that of a disk is formed at the forefront edge of the disk cartridge in the direction of insertion into a disk drive unit, and the remaining portion is a rectangular shape. The round portion preferably is formed so as to be decreased gradually in thickness toward its leading end. On the other hand, part of the components of the disk drive unit is arranged in an open space at corner portions at the forefront of the disk cartridge. A space in the disk drive unit thus can be utilized efficiently, whereby a small, thin disk drive unit having excellent operability and a disk cartridge permitting such a disk drive unit can be obtained.

Abstract: In a disk cartridge, a round portion with a circular arc shape whose center substantially coincides with that of a disk is formed at the forefront edge of the disk cartridge in the direction of insertion into a disk drive unit, and the remaining portion is a rectangular shape. The round portion preferably is formed so as to be decreased gradually in thickness toward its leading end. On the other hand, part of the components of the disk drive unit is arranged in an open space at corner portions at the forefront of the disk cartridge. A space in the disk drive unit thus can be utilized efficiently, whereby a small, thin disk drive unit having excellent operability and a disk cartridge permitting such a disk drive unit can be obtained.

Abstract: The disk loading device of this invention includes: a holder for removably holding a cartridge; a conveying member for conveying the holder; a shutter opening/closing member for opening a shutter of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the holder; and a rotational driving member having a holding portion for holding a center portion of a disk in the cartridge which has been conveyed to a predetermined position by the conveying member, the rotational driving member rotating the disk held by the holding portion, wherein, when the holder is conveyed by the conveying member, the shutter of the cartridge has been opened by the shutter opening/closing member and an opening of the cartridge which has been exposed by the opening of the shutter passes a position where the holding portion of the rotational driving member is located.

Abstract: In a disk cartridge, a round portion with a circular arc shape whose center substantially coincides with that of a disk is formed at the forefront edge of the disk cartridge in the direction of insertion into a disk drive unit, and the remaining portion is a rectangular shape. The round portion preferably is formed so as to be decreased gradually in thickness toward its leading end. On the other hand, part of the components of the disk drive unit is arranged in an open space at corner portions at the forefront of the disk cartridge. A space in the disk drive unit thus can be utilized efficiently, whereby a small, thin disk drive unit having excellent operability and a disk cartridge permitting such a disk drive unit can be obtained.

Abstract: A clamp plate retaining surface, a handling surface positioned outside the outer circumference of the clamp plate retaining surface, and an information surface outside the outer circumference of the handling surface are provided in a substrate. The handling surface is formed to be a slope with its outer circumferential side being inclined downward with respect to the information surface. The resin forming the inner circumferential side end of the handling surface is melted and deformed to form a projection part, so that a clamp plate can be retained. Since the top part of the slope is deformed, a large projection part can be formed. As a result, a thin small-diameter optical disk and substrate can be obtained.

Abstract: A disc drive device for driving a disc accommodated in a cartridge comprises: a magnetic head; a magnetic head supporting member for supporting the magnetic head to contact the disc and to be separated from the disc; a lifting plate configured to lift the magnetic head supporting member; and moving means for moving the lifting plate in a direction parallel to a surface of the disc, in which the moving means moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction until the lifting plate abuts the magnetic head supporting member, and further moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction with the lifting plate abutting the magnetic head supporting member so that the lifting plate lifts the magnetic head supporting member up to separate the magnetic head from the disc.

Abstract: A clamp plate retaining surface, a handling surface positioned outside the outer circumference of the clamp plate retaining surface, and an information surface outside the outer circumference of the handling surface are provided in a substrate. The handling surface is formed to be a slope with its outer circumferential side being inclined downward with respect to the information surface. The resin forming the inner circumferential side end of the handling surface is melted and deformed to form a projection part, so that a clamp plate can be retained. Since the top part of the slope is deformed, a large projection part can be formed. As a result, a thin small-diameter optical disk and substrate can be obtained.

Abstract: The disk loading device of this invention includes: a holder for removably holding a cartridge; a conveying member for conveying the holder; a shutter opening/closing member for opening a shutter of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the holder; and a rotational driving member having a holding portion for holding a center portion of a disk in the cartridge which has been conveyed to a predetermined position by the conveying member, the rotational driving member rotating the disk held by the holding portion, wherein, when the holder is conveyed by the conveying member, the shutter of the cartridge has been opened by the shutter opening/closing member and an opening of the cartridge which has been exposed by the opening of the shutter passes a position where the holding portion of the rotational driving member is located.

Abstract: A disk drive is provided which uses a disk cartridge having an inner case for holding an optical disk; an outer case for accommodating the inner case, having an opening allowing the inner case to come in and out; a locking mechanism for locking the inner case in the outer case, provided in a vicinity of the opening; and a coupling mechanism for coupling the disk cartridge with another disk cartridge. The disk drive includes a mechanism for pulling out the inner case to a pulled-out position from the outer case by more than a half of the inner case but not by entirety thereof; a mechanism for holding the inner case at the pulled-out position and rotating the optical disk; and a mechanism for reading/writing data on the optical disk.

Abstract: A disk cartridge comprising: an inner case for holing an optical disk; an outer case for accommodating the inner case, having an opening for allowing the inner case to come in and out; lock means for locking the inner case in the outer case, provided in a vicinity of the opening; and coupling means for coupling the disk cartridge with another disk cartridge. A disk drive using the disk cartridge comprising: a mechanism for pulling out the inner case from the outer case by more than a half of the inner case but not by entirety thereof; a mechanism for holding the inner case at a position of being pulled out and rotating the optical disk; and a mechanism for reading/writing data on the optical disk. A disk changer apparatus comprising: a disk stacker for containing a plurality of the disk cartridges; the disk drive; and a mechanism for moving the disk drive device to a selected disk cartridge among the plurality of the disk cartridges.

Abstract: A disk cartridge which includes an inner case for holding an optical disk, and an outer case for accommodating the inner case which has an opening for allowing the inner case to come in and out. The disk cartridge also includes lock means for locking the inner case in the outer case, provided in a vicinity of the opening; and coupling means for coupling the disk cartridge with another disk cartridge. A disk cartridge using the disk cartridge includes a mechanism for pulling out the inner case from the outer case by more than a half of the inner case but not by entirety thereof. The disk drive further includes a mechanism for holding the inner case at a position of being pulled out and rotating the optical disk. A disk changer apparatus includes a disk stacker for containing a plurality of the disk cartridges; the disk drive; and a mechanism for moving the disk drive device to a selected cartridge among the plurality of the disk cartridges.

Abstract: A tape cassette which can be recorded and played back on both sides or in opposite directions has a lid having a pair of side arms pivotally mounted on lateral sides of a cassette casing for opening and closing a front opening in the cassette casing. The lid is normally held in a closed position by means of springs which normally urge pivot pins on the side arms toward a rear side of the cassette casing. The tape cassette also has protective plates integrally projecting in a forward direction from the lateral sides of the cassette casing in covering relation to the side arms, respectively. The protective plate protects the side arms against intentional or accidental engagement with a finger or a cassette recorder, thereby preventing the lid from being easily opened. The cassette recorder for use with the tape cassette includes abutments for engaging distal ends of the protective plates for accurately positioning the tape casette as inserted in the cassette recorder.