Abstract: A high-durability storage case is provided in which a disc can be smoothly inserted into and taken out from the storage case, and in which attachment and detachment operations of the disc can be stably performed. According to the storage case (2), a case body (3), a case cover (4), and a supporting plate (5) supporting a disc (1) are pivotally supported in a mutually openable/closeable manner by a four-link mechanism (16) defined by first, second, third, and fourth hinges (11), (12), (14), (15) and an arm segment (13). When the case cover (4) is opened or closed with respect to the case body (3), the supporting plate (5) is drawn into or drawn away from the case body (3) together with the case cover (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disk cartridge in which a disk-like recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk and a magnetic disk is accommodated within a disk compartment of a cartridge housing, a disk recording medium device in which the disk-like recording medium is accommodated in advance within the disk compartment so as to become freely rotatable and a disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information by using this disk recording medium device.

Abstract: A disc cartridge includes a cartridge body, a first shutter, a second shutter, and a rotational member. The cartridge body includes a disc storage portion, a chucking opening and a head opening. The disc storage portion has a disc window and a bottom and stores a disc, having first and second sides, therein so that the disc is rotatable in the disc storage portion and that the disc exposes the first side inside the disc window. The first and second shutters are provided on the bottom of the disc storage portion to expose or cover the head opening. The rotational member is provided over the first and second shutters inside the disc storage portion and is engaged with the first and second shutters in such a manner as to open or close the first and second shutters when rotates inside the disc storage portion.

Abstract: In a disc cartridge, the shutter opening/closing operation is to be performed reliably. To this end, the distal ends of a first engagement member 75 and a second engagement member 79 provided to a base 66 are pivotally movable in a direction along a lateral surface of a housing 51, in addition to being movable in a direction perpendicular to the lateral surface of the housing 51. The state of engagement of the first engagement member 75 and the second engagement member 79, provided to the base, with a first mating engagement section 110 and with a second mating engagement section 108, provided to an inner rotor 101, facing outwards from one lateral surface of the housing 51, when the base 66 performs relative movement along the lateral surface of the housing 51, may be maintained for prolonged time, while the load applied to the distal ends during engagement and disengagement may be reduced.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus includes a casing having an upper plate; and a tray. The upper plate includes an arm having an attracted member fixed thereto. When the tray moves from a protruding position to a recording-and-playback position, since engagements of the arm and the tray are engaged with each other, the main body of the arm swings, and the attracted member serves as a chucking position facing a chucked portion of the disk-shaped recording medium placed on the tray. When the tray moves from the recording-and-playback position to the protruding position, since the engagement of the arm is detached from the engagement of the tray, the main body of the arm swings, and the attracted member serves as a retracting position retracting above the chucked portion of the disk-shaped recording medium.

Abstract: A high-durability storage case is provided in which a disc can be smoothly inserted into and taken out from the storage case, and in which attachment and detachment operations of the disc can be stably performed. According to the storage case (2), a case body (3), a case cover (4), and a supporting plate (5) supporting a disc (1) are pivotally supported in a mutually openable/closeable manner by a four-link mechanism (16) defined by first, second, third, and fourth hinges (11), (12), (14), (15) and an arm segment (13). When the case cover (4) is opened or closed with respect to the case body (3), the supporting plate (5) is drawn into or drawn away from the case body (3) together with the case cover (4).

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk recording and reproduction apparatus for recording and/or reproduction of optical disks of multiple different formats impossible to record or reproduce with a single pickup. A disk recording and reproduction apparatus containing a base unit (25) with two separate optical pickups (31) and (32) corresponding to two different format types and installed around the center of a turntable (27) for rotating a disk.

Abstract: A disc cartridge includes a cartridge body, a first shutter, a second shutter, and a rotational member. The cartridge body includes a disc storage portion, a chucking opening and a head opening. The disc storage portion has a disc window and a bottom and stores a disc, having first and second sides, therein so that the disc is rotatable in the disc storage portion and that the disc exposes the first side inside the disc window. The first and second shutters are provided on the bottom of the disc storage portion to expose or cover the head opening. The rotational member is provided over the first and second shutters inside the disc storage portion and is engaged with the first and second shutters in such a manner as to open or close the first and second shutters when rotates inside the disc storage portion.

Abstract: A disk cartridge which allows for the user to know what contents are recorded in which disk cartridge without the need of reproducing the disk cartridge, a method of manufacturing the same and a recording/reproducing system using the same have been provided, in which the disk cartridge is accomplished by incorporating the optical disk in a case, a recording surface of the optical disk is comprised of an annular inner area, a clamping area, a transition area, an information recording area and a rim area, which are arranged from inside to outside in radial directions of the optical disk, and disk cartridge identification information is recorded in the transition area of the optical disk, and also the disk cartridge identification information recorded in the optical disk is provided discernibly from outside the case.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus includes a casing having an upper plate; and a tray. The upper plate includes an arm having an attracted member fixed thereto. When the tray moves from a protruding position to a recording-and-playback position, since engagements of the arm and the tray are engaged with each other, the main body of the arm swings, and the attracted member serves as a chucking position facing a chucked portion of the disk-shaped recording medium placed on the tray. When the tray moves from the recording-and-playback position to the protruding position, since the engagement of the arm is detached from the engagement of the tray, the main body of the arm swings, and the attracted member serves as a retracting position retracting above the chucked portion of the disk-shaped recording medium.

Abstract: In a disc cartridge, the shutter opening/closing operation is to be performed reliably. To this end, the distal ends of a first engagement member 75 and a second engagement member 79 provided to a base 66 are pivotally movable in a direction along a lateral surface of a housing 51, in addition to being movable in a direction perpendicular to the lateral surface of the housing 51. The state of engagement of the first engagement member 75 and the second engagement member 79, provided to the base, with a first mating engagement section 110 and with a second mating engagement section 108, provided to an inner rotor 101, facing outwards from one lateral surface of the housing 51, when the base 66 performs relative movement along the lateral surface of the housing 51, may be maintained for prolonged time, while the load applied to the distal ends during engagement and disengagement may be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disk cartridge in which a disk-like recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk and a magnetic disk is accommodated within a disk compartment of a cartridge housing, a disk recording medium device in which the disk-like recording medium is accommodated in advance within the disk compartment so as to become freely rotatable and a disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information by using this disk recording medium device.

Abstract: It is a disc in which it is possible to know with ease what contents are recorded on which disc without reproducing the contents of the disc, and a fabrication method as well as a recording reproducing system thereof. A recording surface (110) of an optical disc (100) is formed as an inner area (111A), a clamping area (111B), a transition area (113), an information recording area (114), and a rim area (115), each of an annular shape and aligned from the inner side to the outer side of the radial direction. Disc identification information is recorded in the transition area (113) of the optical disc (100) as a format for recording information in the transition area (113) mentioned above. Further, the disc identification information recorded on the optical disc (100) is provided in a spot on the optical disc (100) so as to be visible from outside.

Abstract: In a disk cartridge including a cartridge housing (22), an optical disk (21) and a shutter mechanism (28), a butt portion (71a) of at least one shutter member of a pair of shutter members (50), (51) includes a recess portion (75) into which the other butt portion (72a) is inserted. A space produced between the shutter members (50), (51) of the shutter mechanism (28) comprising the first shutter member (50) and the second shutter member (51) can be reduced as much as possible. The disk cartridge is made dustproof by suppressing dusts or the like from entering a disk compartment in which a disk-like recording medium is accommodated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk recording and reproduction apparatus for recording and/or reproduction of optical disks of multiple different formats impossible to record or reproduce with a single pickup. A disk recording and reproduction apparatus containing a base unit (25) with two separate optical pickups (31) and (32) corresponding to two different format types and installed around the center of a turntable (27) for rotating a disk.

Abstract: A disk cartridge which allows for the user to know what contents are recorded in which disk cartridge without the need of reproducing the disk cartridge, a method of manufacturing the same and a recording/reproducing system using the same have been provided, in which the disk cartridge is accomplished by incorporating the optical disk in a case, a recording surface of the optical disk is comprised of an annular inner area, a clamping area, a transition area, an information recording area and a rim area, which are arranged from inside to outside in radial directions of the optical disk, and disk cartridge identification information is recorded in the transition area of the optical disk, and also the disk cartridge identification information recorded in the optical disk is provided discernibly from outside the case.

Abstract: In a disk cartridge including a cartridge housing (22), an optical disk (21) and a shutter mechanism (28), a butt portion (71a) of at least one shutter member of a pair of shutter members (50), (51) includes a recess portion (75) into which the other butt portion (72a ) is inserted. A space produced between the shutter members (50), (51) of the shutter mechanism (28) comprising the first shutter member (50) and the second shutter member (51) can be reduced as much as possible. The disk cartridge is made dustproof by suppressing dusts or the like from entering a disk compartment in which a disk-like recording medium is accommodated.

Abstract: A system for providing stable tape-travel in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a tape travel-direction switching mechanism and a tape tension regulating mechanism. The tape travel-direction switching mechanism forces a pendulum gear to engage one of a supply or take-up reel table when the traveling direction of tape is switched between forward and reverse directions while a capstan motor is turned off and a pinch roller presses the tape against the capstan so as to prevent the occurrence of slack in the tape. The tape tension regulating mechanism takes up the slack in the tape before a capstan axle causes the tape to travel in the reverse direction, so as to prevent the tape from being loosened when the traveling direction of the tape is switched from the forward direction to the reverse direction.

Abstract: A tape guide system includes a rotary head drum inclined by a predetermined angle relative to a mechanical chassis of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus on which the head drum is mounted. A guide roller extends essentially vertically relative to the mechanical chassis on a side of the rotary head drum. An inclined guide post is arranged between the rotary head drum and the guide roller along a tape path. The inclined guide post is inclined at a first angle relative to the mechanical chassis. The first angle is a theoretical angle plus an additional offset angle. The offset angle lies in a direction parallel to a tape surface in contact with the side of the rotary head drum. The theoretical angle is derived from predetermined parameters including an inclination angle of the rotary head drum relative to the mechanical chassis and a tape-wrap angle at which tape is wound onto the rotary head drum.

Abstract: A system for providing stable tape-travel in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a tape travel-direction switching mechanism and a tape tension regulating mechanism. The tape travel-direction switching mechanism forces a pendulum gear to engage one of a supply or take-up reel table when the traveling direction of tape is switched between forward and reverse directions while a capstan motor is turned off and a pinch roller presses the tape against the capstan so as to prevent the occurrence of slack in the tape. The tape tension regulating mechanism takes up the slack in the tape before a capstan axle causes the tape to travel in the reverse direction, so as to prevent the tape from being loosened when the traveling direction of the tape is switched from the forward direction to the reverse direction.