Disc cartridge

#The present invention relates to a disc cartridge for containing therein a disc-like shaped recording medium for recording and reproducing data.

#A disc cartridge is used to contain a disc-like shaped recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a disc) such as optical discs or magnetic discs, for easy handling in mounting the disc in a recording/reproducing apparatus, and for dust control. The disc cartridge is provided with an opening so that in recording or reproducing data, the disc is accessible to a recording/reproducing head, such as a magnetic head, and a turn table for rotating the disc, of the recording/reproducing apparatus. For preventing dust and the like from coming inside of the cartridge through the opening to reach the disc, the opening is generally provided with a shutter capable of arbitrarily opening and closing.

#Specifically, when the disc cartridge is loaded in the recording/reproducing apparatus, the disc cartridge exposes part of the disc via the opening, so as to allow reproduction of data stored on the disc, and recording of data onto the disc. On the other hand, when the disc cartridge is not loaded in the recording/reproducing apparatus, the shutter is closed to cover the opening, thereby protecting the disc from dust and the like.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vicinity of an opening of a disc cartridge of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a disc cartridge of an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view showing the disc cartridge when a shutter is closed, and FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view showing the disc cartridge when shutter is opened.

#Described below are embodiments of the present invention, referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, and 13 to 15.

#A disc cartridge 1 of one of the embodiment, namely, the embodiment, is provided with a disc-like shaped magneto-optical disc (hereinafter, referred to as a disc) 2, a light protector 3, a substantially box-like shaped cartridge main body, which is structured by combining an upper half 10 and a lower half 20 (hereinafter referred to as upper and lower halves 10 and 20), and a shutter 30, as shown in FIG. 2. Further, a disc 2 is contained in disc containing sections provided respectively on the upper and lower halves 10 and 20. The disc containing sections have a round shape. The disc 2 is so contained that the disc 2 can freely rotate in a circumferential direction.

#The disc 2 is made mainly of polycarbonate for example. In the disc 2, which is a magneto-optical disc, a magnetic head and an optical head of a recording/reproducing apparatus are used for writing/reading a data signal in/out of a signal recording surface of the disc 2 (hereinafter, the writing/reading of a data signal are referred to as recording/reproducing of data).