1. An optical imaging unit comprising:
a lens barrel having a first lens housing barrel interior portion at a front side of the lens barrel and a second lens housing barrel interior portion at a rear side of the lens barrel, the second lens housing barrel interior portion having a larger diameter than the first lens housing barrel interior portion;
a first lens body mounted in the first lens housing barrel interior portion and having a first lens body front surface facing toward the front side of the lens barrel and a first lens body rear surface facing the rear side of the lens barrel, said first lens body rear surface including a first lens body outer peripheral edge at an outer periphery of said first lens body rear surface which is a rearmost surface of said first lens body;
a washer fitted in the second lens housing barrel interior portion, the washer having a washer front surface coming into contact with said first lens body outer peripheral edge of the first lens body;
a second lens body mounted in the second lens housing barrel interior portion behind the washer, said second lens body having a second lens body front surface facing toward the front side of the lens barrel and including a second lens body front surface outer peripheral edge which is at a forefront of the second lens body front surface; and
said washer having a washer rear surface having a washer outer peripheral edge portion which contacts the second lens body front surface outer peripheral edge;
wherein
at least one surface of said washer rear surface and said second lens body front surface has a recess radially inside of said washer outer peripheral edge portion and the second lens body front surface outer peripheral edge.
2. The optical imaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the first lens body has a diameter 3 to 5 mm, and the second lens has a diameter of 6 to 8 mm.
3. The optical imaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the recess defines a clearance, between the washer and the second lens body, the clearance being greater than a clearance defined between said washer front surface and a front lateral surface of the second lens housing barrel interior portion.
4. The imaging optical unit according to claim 1, wherein the first lens body is a glass lens.
5. The imaging optical unit according to claim 1, wherein the second lens body is a plastic lens.
6. An optical imaging unit comprising:
a first lens in member having a first lens member front surface, a first lens member rear surface, and a first lens member outer diameter;
a second lens member having a second lens member outer diameter greater than said first lens member outer diameter, said second lens member having a second lens member front surface including a second lens member front surface outer portion and a second lens member front surface inner portion;
a lens barrel having a front side, a rear side, and a front side aperture having a front aperture diameter less than said first lens member diameter;
said lens barrel having a first barrel portion defined by a first barrel interior wall having a first barrel interior wall diameter greater than said front aperture diameter and accepting said first lens member outer diameter, said first barrel portion being disposed rearwardly of said front aperture, said first lens member being disposed at least partially within said first barrel portion;
said lens barrel having second barrel portion defined by a second barrel interior wall having a second barrel interior wall diameter greater than said first barrel interior wall diameter and said first lens member outer diameter, said second barrel interior wall diameter accepting said second lens member outer diameter, said second lens member being disposed at least partially within said second barrel portion;
a washer member disposed in said second barrel portion and having a washer member aperture smaller in diameter than said first lens member diameter, and a washer member outer diameter greater than said first lens member diameter;
said washer member having a washer member rear surface facing toward said second lens member front surface, said washer member rear surface including a washer member rear surface outer portion and a washer member rear surface inner portion extending radially inward from said washer member rear surface outer portion, and said washer member rear surface outer portion receiving retaining force from said second lens member front surface outer portion;
said second lens member front surface inner portion being spaced apart from said washer member rear surface inner portion and thereby defining a first clearance distance therebetween; and
said washer member front surface inner portion facing toward said first lens member rear surface and applying said retaining force to said first lens member rear surface to fixedly position said first lens member in the lens barrel.
7. The optical imaging unit according to claim 6, wherein said second lens member is forcibly fitted into said second barrel portion so as to apply said retaining force to said washer member and to said first lens member via said washer member.
8. The optical imaging unit according to claim 7, wherein;
said lens barrel has a lateral surface portion extending from said first barrel interior wall to said second barrel interior wall;
said washer member has a washer member front surface outer portion extending radially outward from said washer member front surface inner portion; and
said washer member front surface outer portion is spaced apart from said lateral surface portion so as to define a second clearance distance.
9. The optical imaging unit according to claim 8, wherein said second lens member front surface inner portion is recessed to said second lens member front surface outer portion.
10. The optical imaging unit according to claim 9, wherein said first clearance distance is greater than said second clearance distance.
11. The optical imaging unit according to claim 10, wherein said second lens member front surface outer portion contacts said washer member rear surface outer portion.
12. The optical imaging unit according to claim 11, wherein said washer member front surface inner portion contacts said first lens member rear surface.
13. The optical imaging unit according to claim 10, wherein said washer member front surface inner portion contacts said first lens member rear surface.
14. The optical imaging unit according to claim 8, wherein said washer member rear surface inner portion is recessed relative said washer member rear surface outer portion.
15. The optical imaging unit according to claim 14, wherein said first clearance distance is greater than said second clearance distance.
16. The optical imaging unit according to claim 15, wherein said second lens member her front surface outer portion contacts said washer member rear surface outer portion.
17. The optical imaging unit according to claim 16, wherein said washer member front surface inner portion contacts said first lens member rear surface.
18. The optical imaging unit according to claim 15, wherein said washer member front surface inner portion contacts said first lens member rear surface.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A disk drive comprising:
a device housing having formed at the front side thereof a disk slot through which an optical disk is to be loaded and removed;
a base unit having provided integrally on a base thereof:
a disk mount on which the optical disk introduced into the device inside through the disk
\u2003slot is to be set;
a disk rotation driving mechanism that spins the optical disk placed on the disk mount;
an optical pickup that writes andor reads signals to andor from an optical disk being spun by the disk rotation driving mechanism; and
a pickup feeding mechanism that moves the optical pickup over the optical disk between the inner and outer circumference of the latter;
a disk transport mechanism including a plurality of pivoting members each having formed at the free end thereof an abutment that abuts the periphery of the optical disk introduced through the optical disk slot and pivotably supported at the base end thereof, the plurality of pivoting members loading the optical disk by bringing the optical disk introduced through the disk slot to a disk setting position where the optical disk is to be placed on the disk mount and ejecting the optical disk by bringing the optical disk to outside the device housing through the disk slot;
first and second sliding members made to slide in synchronization with each other to make loading and ejection of the optical disk by the plurality of pivoting members;
a sliding-member movement driving mechanism to move the first sliding member and have the second sliding member slide in synchronization with the sliding of the first sliding member; and
a shock absorbing mechanism interposed between the first and second sliding members,
the shock absorbing mechanism including either:
a first shock absorbing member to absorb a difference in movement between the first and second sliding members, caused by an external force applied to the optical disk brought into the housing through the disk slot in a direction opposite to the disk introducing direction when the first sliding member is moved by the sliding-member movement driving mechanism in one direction, or
a second shock absorbing member to absorb a difference in movement between the first and second sliding members, caused by an external force applied to the optical disk brought to outside the housing through the disk slot in a direction opposite to the disk ejecting direction when the first sliding member is moved by the sliding-member movement driving mechanism in the other direction.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one direction is a direction in which the optical disk is introduced and the other direction is a direction in which the optical disk is ejected.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sliding members are engaged on each other so that they slide in the same direction in a plane parallel to the optical disk set on the disk mount.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first shock absorbing member is a helical compression spring retained at the one-directional end thereof retained on the second sliding member and at the other-direction end retained on the first sliding member.
5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the second shock absorbing member is a helical compression spring retained at the one-directional end thereof retained on the first sliding member and at the other-direction end retained on the second sliding member.
6. The device according to claim 3, wherein:
each of the first and second shock absorbing members is a helical compression spring interposed between the first and second sliding members; and
the helical compression spring has the one- and other-direction ends thereof retained on the first sliding member and the intermediate portion between the one- and other-directional ends is retained on the second sliding member.
7. A disk drive comprising:
a device housing having formed at the front side thereof a disk slot through which an optical disk is to be loaded and removed;
a base unit having provided integrally on a base thereof:
a disk mount on which the optical disk introduced into the device inside through the disk
\u2003slot is to be set;
a disk rotation driving mechanism that spins the optical disk placed on the disk mount;
an optical pickup that writes andor reads signals to andor from an optical disk being spun by the disk rotation driving mechanism; and
a pickup feeding mechanism that moves the optical pickup over the optical disk between the inner and outer circumference of the latter;
a disk transport mechanism including a plurality of pivotable members each having formed at the free end thereof an abutment that abuts the periphery of the optical disk introduced through the optical disk slot and pivotably supported at the base end thereof, the plurality of pivotable members loading the optical disk by bringing the optical disk introduced through the disk slot to a disk setting position where the optical disk is to be placed on the disk mount and ejecting the optical disk by bringing the optical disk to outside the device housing through the disk slot; and
a base lifting mechanism that vertically moves the base between a disk chucking position where it will elevate the base to place the optical disk once set in the disk setting position onto the disk mount and a disk releasing position where it will lower the base to remove the optical disk from on the disk mount,
the housing including a lower housing portion formed generally like a flat box and a top plate that closes the upper opening in the lower housing portion, the top plate being screwed to a plurality of first stationary portions provided on the periphery of the housing as well as to a second stationary portion provided in a position inner than the plurality of first stationary portions and outer than the periphery of the optical disk placed in the disk setting position.
8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising:
a circuit board disposed on the bottom of the lower housing portion;
a connector fixed to the circuit board and accessible from an opening formed in the lateral side of the lower housing portion; and
a chassis disposed above the circuit board to vertically divide the lower housing portion,
the chassis having an enclosure around the connector.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the second stationary portion is provided on the chassis.
10. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a base lifting mechanism that vertically moves the base between a disk chucking position where it will elevate the base to place the optical disk once set in the disk setting position onto the disk mount and a disk releasing position where it will lower the base to remove the optical disk from on the disk mount,
the disk mount including a turn table which is rotated by the disk rotation driving mechanism, an engagement protrusion which is to be engaged in the central hole in the optical disk, and a plurality of engagement claws which rest on the periphery of the central hole in the optical disk, in which the engagement protrusion is engaged;
the top plate including an opening through which the engagement protrusion is accessible from outside when the optical disk is to be chucked, and an abutment projection being a periphery of the opening, projecting toward the disk mount; and
the base lifting mechanism chucking the optical disk onto the disk mount in such a manner that when the base is elevated to the chucking position, the engagement protrusion enters the central hole in the optical disk set placed in the disk setting position while the periphery of the central hole in the optical disk is being forced to the abutment projection of the top plate so that the optical disk is held on the turn table with the engagement protrusion being engaged in the central hole in the optical disk and the plurality of engagement claws resting on the periphery of the central hole in the optical disk.
11. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a push-up member provided on the bottom of the lower housing portion to project upward from near the disk mount,
the base lifting mechanism releasing the optical disk from on the disk mount while pushing up the optical disk by making the free end of the push-up member abut the non-signal recording area at the inner circumference of the optical disk placed on the disk mount.
12. A disk drive comprising:
a device housing having formed at the front side thereof a disk slot through which an optical disk is to be loaded and removed;
a base unit having provided integrally on a base thereof:
a disk mount on which the optical disk introduced into the device inside through the disk
\u2003slot is to be set;
a disk rotation driving mechanism that spins the optical disk placed on the disk mount;
an optical pickup that writes andor reads signals to andor from an optical disk being spun by the disk rotation driving mechanism; and
a pickup feeding mechanism that moves the optical pickup over the optical disk between the inner and outer circumference of the latter;
a disk transport mechanism including a plurality of pivoting members each having formed at the free end thereof an abutment that abuts the periphery of the optical disk introduced through the optical disk slot and pivotably supported at the base end thereof, the plurality of pivoting members loading the optical disk by bringing the optical disk introduced through the disk slot to a disk setting position where the optical disk is to be placed on the disk mount and ejecting the optical disk by bringing the optical disk to outside the device housing through the disk slot; and
a pair of guide members that guide the optical disk introduced from the disk slot while limiting the periphery of the optical disk from being directed vertically and horizontally,
each of the pair of guide members having formed therein a guide recess in which the periphery of the optical disk slides and of which the inner surface is shaped to have a point contact with the periphery of the optical disk.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the housing includes guide projections provided on the front side of the top plate opposite to the disk mount to guide the optical disk introduced from the disk slot while limiting the optical disk from being directed vertically
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the top plate includes a pair of guide protrusions generally symmetrical with respect to a center line extending along the direction in which the optical disk is introduced,
the pair of guide protrusions being convex to depict an arc in the direction in which the optical disk is introduced, the arc being continuously reduced in diameter from outside to inside in a direction generally perpendicular to the disk introducing direction.
15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the guide projections are convex toward a position where a part of the top plate is opposite to the optical disk.
16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the pivoting members and base unit are provided each with a protective member to prevent the contact with the signal recording layer of the optical disk.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the protective member is provided in a position corresponding to the periphery of the optical disk set on the disk mount.
18. A disk drive comprising:
a device housing having formed at the front side thereof a disk slot through which an optical disk is to be loaded and removed;
a base unit having provided integrally on a base thereof:
a disk mount on which the optical disk introduced into the device inside through the disk
\u2003slot is to be set;
a disk rotation driving mechanism that spins the optical disk placed on the disk mount;
an optical pickup that writes andor reads signals to andor from an optical disk being spun by the disk rotation driving mechanism; and
a pickup feeding mechanism that moves the optical pickup over the optical disk between the inner and outer circumference of the latter;
a disk transport mechanism including a plurality of pivotable members each having formed at the free end thereof an abutment that abuts the periphery of the optical disk introduced through the optical disk slot and pivotably supported at the base end thereof, the plurality of pivotable members loading the optical disk by bringing the optical disk introduced through the disk slot to a disk setting position where the optical disk is to be placed on the disk mount and ejecting the optical disk by bringing the optical disk to outside the device housing through the disk slot;
a base lifting mechanism that vertically moves the base between a disk chucking position where it will elevate the base to place the optical disk once set in the disk setting position onto the disk mount and a disk releasing position where it will lower the base to remove the optical disk from on the disk mount; and
a disk guide mechanism including disk insertion guide members which guide the optical disk introduced from the disk slot while limiting the angle in which the optical disk is introduced and which vertically moves the disk insertion guide members in synchronization with the vertical movement of the base by the base lifting mechanism.
19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the disk guide mechanism elevates the disk insertion guide members to a guide position where will limit the angle at which the optical disk introduced from the disk slot when the base is in the disk releasing position, and lowers the disk insertion guide members to a parking position where they will leave the optical disk placed on the disk mount.
20. The device according to claim 18, further comprising a shutter operating mechanism which prevents, while the optical disk is set on the disk mount, any other optical disk from being introduced into the housing through the disk slot,
the shutter operating mechanism includes a shutter member which is vertically moved between a closing position where it will close the path of the optical disk introduced from the disk slot and an opening position where it will open the path of the optical disk introduced from the disk slot, in synchronization with the vertical movement of the disk insertion guide members by the disk guide mechanism.
21. A disk drive comprising:
a device housing having formed at the front side thereof a disk slot through which an optical disk is to be loaded and removed;
a base unit having provided integrally on a base thereof:
a disk mount on which the optical disk introduced into the device inside through the disk
\u2003slot is to be set;
a disk rotation driving mechanism that spins the optical disk placed on the disk mount;
an optical pickup that writes andor reads signals to andor from an optical disk being spun by the disk rotation driving mechanism; and
a disk transport mechanism that transports the optical disk between a disk loadingejection position where the optical disk is loaded or ejected and a disk setting position where the optical disk is placed on the disk mount,
the disk transport mechanism including:
a first pivoting member disposed at one of the right and left across the disk mount in the housing, having the base end thereof supported pivotably, having, at the free end, a first abutment portion which is made to abut, from the rear, the periphery of the optical disk introduced from the disk slot, and pivotable in a plane parallel to the optical disk;
a second pivoting member disposed at the other of the right and left across the disk mount in the housing, having the base end thereof supported pivotably, having, at the free end, a second abutment portion which is made to abut, from the rear, the periphery of the optical disk introduced from the disk slot, and pivotable in a direction opposite to the first abutment portion in a plane parallel to the optical disk; and
a third pivoting member disposed in a position more forward than the first pivoting
\u2003member disposed at the one of the right and left across the disk mount in the housing, having the base end thereof supported pivotably, having, at the free end, a third abutment portion which is made to abut the periphery of the optical disk introduced from the disk slot, and pivotable in a direction opposite to the first abutment portion in a plane parallel to the optical disk,
the first to third pivoting members making, in cooperation with each other, a disk loading operation to bring the optical disk once brought into the housing from the disk slot to the disk setting position and a disk ejecting operation to bring the optical disk to outside the housing through the disk slot.
22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the optical disk is loaded by pivoting the first and second pivoting members rearward in opposite directions, respectively, after the first and second abutment portions being made to abut the periphery of the optical disk brought into the housing from the disk slot, and pivoting the third pivoting member rearward with the third abutment portion being made to abut, from the front, the periphery of the optical disk.
23. The device according to claim 21, wherein the optical disk is ejected by pivoting the first and second pivoting members forward in opposite directions, respectively, with the first and second abutment portions being made to abut, from the rear, the periphery of the optical disk placed in the disk setting position.
24. The device according to claim 21, wherein the first to third pivoting members center, in cooperation with each other, the optical disk in the disk setting position.
25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the optical disk is centered by making the third abutment portion of the third pivoting member pivoted rearward abut the front periphery of the optical disk and pressing the periphery of the optical disk brought to the disk setting position toward the first and second abutment portions of the first and second pivoting members, respectively, positioned correspondingly to the disk setting position.
26. The device according to claim 24, wherein after completion of the disk centering operation, the disk transport mechanism pivots the first to third pivoting members to a position where the first to third abutment portions will leave the periphery of the optical disk placed on the disk mount.
27. The device according to claim 21, wherein the disk transport mechanism includes:
first and second gears in mesh with each other;
a first coupling member that couples the first gear and first pivoting member to each other;
a first spring member that forces the first pivoting member in a direction in which it will be pivoted forward;
a second coupling member that couples the second gear and second pivoting member to each other; and
a second spring member that forces the second pivoting member in a direction in which it will be pivoted forward,
the first and second pivoting members being disposed generally symmetrical with respect to the disk mount and pivotable in opposite directions, respectively, in synchronization with each other.
28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the first and second pivoting members have initially the free end thereof placed in an inner and more forward position than the base end.
29. The device according to claim 27, wherein the second spring member changes the direction in which it forces the second pivoting member from a direction in which it forces the second pivoting member forward to a direction in which it will force the second pivoting member rearward as the second pivoting member is pivoted from the front to rear.
30. The device according to claim 21, wherein the disk transport mechanism includes a third spring member that forces the third pivoting member rearward,
the third pivoting member having the third abutment portion thereof made to abut the rear periphery of the optical disk as the optical disk is introduced into the housing from the disk slot, and also made to abut the front periphery of the optical disk after the third abutment portion is pivoted against the force of the third spring member so as to go forward along the periphery of the optical disk, so that it will be pivoted rearward under the force of the third spring member.
31. The device according to claim 21, wherein the disk transport mechanism includes:
first and second sliding members which are made to slide in synchronization with each other to load or eject the optical disk by means of the first to third pivoting members; and
a sliding-member movement driving mechanism which moves the first sliding member and has the second sliding member slide in synchronization with the sliding of the first sliding member.
32. The device according to claim 31, wherein the first and second pivoting members are pivoted in synchronization with each other to a position where the first and second abutment portions will leave rearward the periphery of the optical disk in the disk setting position when the second sliding member has been made to slide to the rear end in synchronization with the sliding of the first sliding member.
33. The device according to claim 31, wherein the third pivoting member is pivoted to a position where the third abutment portion will leave forward the periphery of the optical disk in the disk setting position when the second sliding member has been made to slide to the rear end in synchronization with the sliding of the first sliding member.
34. The device according to claim 31, wherein the third pivoting member is pivoted to a position where the third abutment portion will leave forward the periphery of the optical disk in the disk insertionejection position when the second sliding member has been made to slide to the front end in synchronization with the sliding of the first sliding member.
35. The device according to claim 31, further comprising a base lifting mechanism that works in synchronization with the sliding of the first sliding member to vertically move the base,
the base lifting mechanism elevating the base to chuck the optical disk placed in the disk setting position onto the disk mount.
36. The device according to claim 35, wherein the base unit positions the optical pickup at the periphery of the optical disk until the optical disk is completely chucked.
37. The device according to claim 35, wherein the disk transport mechanism pivots the first to third pivoting members to a position where the first to third abutment portions will leave the periphery of the optical disk placed in the disk setting position after completion of the disk chucking operation.
38. The device according to claim 35, wherein:
the base lifting mechanism includes a third sliding member which is made to slide along the rear side of the base in synchronization with the sliding of the first sliding member; and
the base includes:
a first spindle located at the disk mount side opposite to the first sliding member and supported being engaged in a cam slit formed in the first sliding member;
a second spindle located at the disk mount side opposite to the third sliding member and supported being engaged in a cam slit formed in the third sliding member;
a third spindle located at the front side opposite to the side opposite to the first sliding member and supported pivotably being engaged in a spindle hole formed in the housing; and
a stationary portion located at the front side opposite to the side opposite to the third sliding member and fixed to the bottom of the housing by an elastic member,
the disk mount being vertically moved in relation to he front of the base by making the first and second spindles slide in the cam slit in synchronization with the sliding of the first and second sliding members.
39. The device according to claim 35, further comprising a push-up member projecting upward from near the disk mount on the bottom of the housing,
the push-up member releasing, when the base lifting mechanism lowers the base, the optical disk from on the disk mount while pushing up the optical disk by making its free end abut the non-signal recording area at the inner circumference of the optical disk set on the disk mount.
40. The device according to claim 39, wherein the disk transport mechanism ejects the optical disk completely released from on the disk mount.
41. The device according to claim 31, further comprising a shutter operating mechanism provided to prevent, while the optical disk is set on the disk mount, any other optical disk from being introduced into the housing through the disk slot,
the shutter operating mechanism including a shutter member vertically moved, synchronously with the sliding of the first sliding member, between a closing position where it will close the path of the optical disk introduced from the disk slot and an opening position where it will open the path of the optical disk introduced from the disk slot.