JPWO1997047005A1 - Disk cartridge loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] A loading device for loading a disk cartridge having a groove formed on a side surface along the insertion direction and a shutter movably disposed along the grooved side. The loading device includes a holder that is movable between a first position where the disk cartridge is inserted and where the disk cartridge is inserted or ejected, and a second position lower than the first position, and an ejection lever that is moved by the disk cartridge inserted into the holder, and is partially inserted into the groove of the disk cartridge when the insertion of the disk cartridge into the holder is complete, and is biased in a direction to eject the inserted disk cartridge from the holder. The holder is provided with a retention mechanism that retains the ejection lever at a position where the insertion of the disk cartridge into the holder is complete, and releases the retention of the ejection lever when the holder moves from the second position to the first position.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Disk Cartridge Loading Device Technical Field The present invention relates to a loading device for loading a disk cartridge containing a disk, such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk, which serves as a recording medium for information signals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a disk cartridge loading device that loads a disk cartridge using a holder into which the disk cartridge is inserted and held.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, disc recording and/or playback devices have been used that use optical discs, magneto-optical discs, and other discs housed in disc cartridges as recording media for information signals.

A disk recording and/or playback device using an optical disk or magneto-optical disk as a recording medium includes a disk rotation mechanism that rotates the disk, and a disk drive unit equipped with an optical pickup device and a magnetic head that records and plays back information signals on the disk rotated by the disk rotation mechanism.

The disk recording and/or reproducing device is provided with a loading device for loading and unloading a disk cartridge into and from the disk drive unit.

Some loading devices for disk recording and/or playback devices use a holder into which a disk cartridge is inserted and held. The holder constituting the loading device is rotatably supported on a base to which a disk drive unit is attached. The holder is rotated about a support shaft that supports the base. When the holder is rotated to a first position away from the disk drive unit, a disk cartridge is inserted or ejected from the holder. When the holder is rotated about the support shaft to a second position close to the disk drive unit, the disk cartridge held in the holder is positioned and attached to a cartridge mounting portion formed on the base, and the disk stored in the disk cartridge is clamped in a rotatable state integrally with the disk rotation mechanism. The disk rotation mechanism is then driven to rotate the disk, and the optical pickup device and magnetic head are moved radially of the disk, thereby recording and/or reproducing information signals.

A disc recording and/or reproducing device equipped with a loading device having a holder is provided with an ejection mechanism that ejects a disc cartridge held in the holder from the holder when the holder is rotated from the second position toward the first position. The ejection mechanism includes an ejection lever rotatably supported on a base and a tension spring that rotates the ejection lever. The ejection lever is rotated against the biasing force of the tension spring by the disc cartridge inserted into the holder, and is held in a position where it does not apply a biasing force to the disc cartridge when the disc cartridge is fully inserted into the holder. A holding mechanism that holds the ejection lever is provided on the base.

When the holder is rotated from the second position toward the first position, the eject lever is released from the holding mechanism and rotates under the biasing force of the tension spring, pressing against the disc cartridge held in the holder and ejecting the disc cartridge from the holder.

As described above, an ejection mechanism with an ejection lever rotatably supported on a base makes it difficult to further reduce the thickness of the loading device because the ejection lever rotates within a cartridge mounting section formed on the base.

In particular, when the ejector lever is configured to press against the front end surface of the disk cartridge inserted into the holder, it is necessary to provide a pressing portion with a width slightly smaller than the thickness of the disk cartridge to ensure reliable pressing against the disk cartridge. This increases the size of the ejector lever itself, making it even more difficult to further reduce the thickness of the loading device.

Furthermore, when a disc cartridge is inserted into the cartridge loading section, it is necessary to provide a mechanism on the base for holding the eject lever so as not to apply pressure to the disc cartridge, and a mechanism for releasing the eject lever held by the holding mechanism. This complicates the loading device configuration and makes it difficult to further reduce the size of the loading device and the disc recording and/or playback device incorporating this loading device.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a novel loading device that can overcome the problems inherent in the above-mentioned loading devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a loading device that can reliably load and eject disk cartridges.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a loading device that can contribute to further reducing the thickness and size of disk recording and/or playback devices.

The loading device of the present invention loads a disk cartridge having a groove formed on one side surface along the insertion direction and a shutter movably disposed along the side surface along which the groove is formed. The loading device includes a holder into which a disk cartridge is inserted and which holds the inserted disk cartridge. The holder is movable between a first position where the disk cartridge is inserted or ejected and a second position lowered from the first position. The holder is also provided with a movably mounted ejector lever that is at least partially inserted into the groove of the disk cartridge when the disk cartridge is completely inserted into the holder. The ejector lever is biased in a direction to eject the inserted disk cartridge from the holder. The loading device further includes a retention mechanism that retains the ejector lever when the disk cartridge is completely inserted into the holder and releases its retention when the holder moves from the second position to the first position.

The eject lever, which is movably attached to the holder, has an insertion portion that is inserted into the groove of the disk cartridge inserted into the holder and an abutment portion that abuts against the disk cartridge inserted into the holder. When the abutment portion abuts against the disk cartridge, it is pressed by the disk cartridge and also presses the disk cartridge. This abutment portion is formed at the tip of the insertion portion and approximately perpendicular to the insertion portion so that it abuts against the front surface of the disk cartridge inserted into the holder in the insertion direction.

The loading device according to the present invention further includes a biasing member that biases the eject lever in a direction that ejects the disk cartridge inserted in the holder from the holder.

The holding mechanism, which holds the eject lever in the position where the disc cartridge has been inserted into the holder, includes a holding portion that engages with the eject lever moved by the disc cartridge inserted into the holder and holds the eject lever, and a locking mechanism that holds the holder in the second position.

The holding mechanism further includes a holding member having a holding portion that holds the eject lever, and the locking mechanism includes a locking member that engages with the holding member when the holder is in the second position. This locking mechanism releases the holding portion from holding the eject lever when the holder is moved from the second position to the first position. When the locking mechanism releases the holding of the eject lever, the eject lever presses the disk cartridge held in the holder in a direction that ejects the disk cartridge from the holder.

Furthermore, a loading device according to the present invention is for loading a disk cartridge having a groove formed on one side surface along the insertion direction and a shutter movably disposed along the side surface along which the groove is formed. This loading device includes a holder into which a disk cartridge is inserted and which holds the inserted disk cartridge. The holder has a generally rectangular plate-like portion, a pair of side walls formed on each of the pair of sides of the plate-like portion, and multiple holding pieces formed on the tip of each of the pair of side walls. The holder is movably disposed between a first position where the disk cartridge is inserted or ejected and a second position lower than the first position. A movably disposed eject lever is provided on the holder. The eject lever is moved by the disk cartridge inserted into the holder, and when the insertion of the disk cartridge into the holder is complete, at least a portion of the eject lever is inserted into the groove of the disk cartridge and is biased in a direction to eject the inserted disk cartridge from the holder. This loading device includes a holding mechanism disposed on one of a pair of side walls of the holder, which holds the eject lever at a position where the disk cartridge has been completely inserted into the holder, and which releases the hold on the eject lever when the holder moves from the second position to the first position.

The eject lever used in this loading device is movably disposed on one side wall of the holder and includes a plate-like movable portion that moves along the side wall, an insertion portion formed approximately perpendicular to the movable portion and inserted into a groove in the disk cartridge inserted into the holder, and an abutment portion that abuts against the disk cartridge inserted into the holder.

Further objects of the present invention and specific advantages obtained by the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first disc cartridge loaded by the disc cartridge loading device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first disk cartridge as seen from the bottom side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, seen from above, of a second-disk cartridge to be loaded by the disk cartridge loading device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second disk cartridge as seen from the bottom side.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a disc recording/playback device to which the disc cartridge loading device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a loading device for a disk cartridge according to the present invention and a disk drive unit of a disk recording/playback device to which this loading device is applied.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the disk drive section of the disk recording/reproducing device.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the holder and holding mechanism constituting the loading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view showing the state in which the disk cartridge is inserted into the holder.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the holder rotated to the second position without holding a disc cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state in which the holder is rotated to the first position.

12(A) and 12(B) are side views showing the state in which the disc cartridge is inserted into the holder.

Figures 13(A) and 13(B) are side views showing the state in which the disc cartridge has been inserted into the holder to the full insertion position and the eject lever is held by the holding mechanism.

14(A) and 14(B) are side views showing the state in which the holder holding the disc cartridge has been rotated to the second position and the disc cartridge has been loaded.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing the holder in the middle of rotating from the second position to the first position.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The following describes an example in which the disk cartridge loading device according to the present invention is applied to a disk recording/playback device that uses a magneto-optical disk as the recording medium, allowing for re-recording of information signals.

Before describing the loading device of the present invention, a description will be given of the disk cartridge to be loaded by this loading device.

The disk cartridges loaded by the loading device of the present invention include a first disk cartridge 100 configured as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which contains a magneto-optical disk 101 on which information signals can be rewritten, and a second disk cartridge 200 configured as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which contains a read-only optical disk 201 on which information signals are pre-recorded and on which information signals cannot be rewritten.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first disk cartridge 100 containing the magneto-optical disk 101 has a cartridge body 104 formed by butt-joining an upper half 102 and a lower half 103, and the magneto-optical disk 101 is rotatably housed within this cartridge body 104. The magneto-optical disk 101 has a center hole 105 in its center, and a clamping plate 106 made of a magnetic material such as a metal plate is attached to close this center hole 105.

The cartridge body 104 is provided with a central opening 107 through which a disk table constituting a disk rotation mechanism disposed on the disk recording/playback device enters, a recording/playback opening 108 through which an optical pickup device faces, and a recording opening 109 through which a magnetic head enters. As shown in FIG. 2, the central opening 107 is provided in the center of the underside of the cartridge body 104, exposing the center hole 105 and the periphery of the center hole 105 of the magneto-optical disk 101 housed in the cartridge body 104 to the outside. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording/playback opening 108 is provided on the underside of the cartridge body 104, and the recording opening 109 is provided on the top side of the cartridge body 104. These openings 108, 109 are formed in a rectangular shape facing each other, extending from a position close to the center hole 105 to one side surface 104a of the cartridge body 104, and positioned in the center of the cartridge body 104 in the left-right direction.

A shutter member 110 that opens and closes the recording/reproducing opening 108 and the recording opening 109 is movably attached to the cartridge body 104. The shutter 110 includes opposing first and second shutter plates 111 and 112 that open and close the recording/reproducing opening 108 and the recording opening 109, respectively, and a connecting plate 113 that connects the base portions of the first and second shutter plates 111 and 112, and has an overall U-shaped cross section. The shutter 110 is attached to the cartridge body 104 by fitting from one side surface 104a so that the first and second shutter plates 111 and 112 cover the recording opening 109 and the recording/reproducing opening 108 from the outside. The connecting plate 113 of the shutter 110 is formed with a guide piece 114 that is formed by cutting and raising a portion of the connecting plate 113. The guide piece 114 is engaged with a groove 115 provided on one side surface 104a of the cartridge body 104. The shutter 110 is guided by the guide piece 114 in the groove 115 and moves along the one side surface 104a of the cartridge body 104 in the directions indicated by arrows A and B in FIGS. 1 and 2 to open and close the openings 108 and 109. When the shutter 110 is in a position to close the openings 108 and 109, it is locked by a locking member (not shown) provided within the cartridge body 104, thereby maintaining the openings 108 and 109 in a closed state.

The first-disk cartridge 100 is loaded into the disk recording/playback device with the movement of the shutter 110 serving as the insertion/removal direction. That is, the first-disk cartridge 100 is inserted into the disk recording/playback device in the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the shutter 110 opens the openings 108 and 109. Therefore, as will be described later, the first-disk cartridge 100 is inserted into the holder of the disk loading device with the front surface 104b, which is the surface perpendicular to the side surface 104a along which the shutter 110 moves, serving as the insertion end.

When the first-disk cartridge 100 is inserted into the holder of the disk loading device, the shutter 110 is released from the locking member by the shutter release member entering a groove 115 formed in one side surface 104a of the cartridge body 104, and is moved in the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2 to open the openings 108 and 109.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the groove 115 is formed on one side surface 104a of the cartridge body 104, leaving the front surface 104b of the cartridge body 104 open, to allow insertion of a shutter opening member in connection with the insertion operation of the first disk cartridge 100 into the holder.

The connecting plate 113 of the shutter 110 is provided with an engagement hole 116 that engages with an opening retainer piece that holds the shutter 110 in the open position when the first-disk cartridge 100 is inserted into the holder and the shutter 110 is moved to a position that opens the openings 108 and 109.

Additionally, the underside of the cartridge body 104 is provided with positioning holes 117, 118 that engage with positioning pins provided in a cartridge mounting portion of the disc recording/playback device. These positioning holes 117, 118 are provided on both sides of the recording/playback opening 108.

Furthermore, an identification portion 119 is provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge body 104 to identify the type and specifications of the disc stored in the cartridge body 104.

On the other hand, the second disk cartridge 200, which houses a read-only optical disk 201, has a basic configuration common to the first disk cartridge 100. Therefore, parts common to the first disk cartridge 100 are designated by common reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

Because the second-disk cartridge 200 is used exclusively for playback, it does not need to have a recording opening accessible to a magnetic head used to record information signals. Therefore, the upper half 202, which forms the top surface of the cartridge body 204 formed by butt-joining the upper and lower halves 202 and 203, is formed as a flat plate without any openings, as shown in Figure 3. Meanwhile, the lower half 203, like the first-disk cartridge 100, has a central opening 107 and a playback opening 208 accessible to the optical pickup device.

Because the second-disk cartridge 200 has an opening 208 only on the bottom surface of the cartridge body 204, the shutter 210 movably attached to the cartridge body 204 also comprises only a shutter plate 211 that opens and closes the playback opening 208 located on the bottom surface of the cartridge body 204, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The shutter 210 is movably attached to the cartridge body 204 by inserting a movement guide portion 212 with a U-shaped cross section formed at the base end of the shutter plate 211 into a groove 115 formed on one side surface of the cartridge body 204, and by clamping one side surface 204a of the cartridge body 204 between the movement guide portion 212.

Like the first-disk cartridge 100, the second-disk cartridge 200 is inserted into the holder of the disk loading device with the front surface 204b, which is perpendicular to the side surface 204a along which the shutter 210 moves, as the insertion end.

The loading device according to the present invention loads the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200, which is inserted into the holder in an insertion direction parallel to the direction in which the shutter 110, 210 moves, as described above.

Next, an example in which the disk cartridge loading device according to the present invention is applied to a disk recording/playback device will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, a disk recording/playback device to which the loading device of the present invention is applicable includes a housing 1 constituting the device body. Within the housing 1 is a base 2 to which is attached a disk drive unit consisting of a disk rotation mechanism and an optical pickup device and a magnetic head device constituting information signal recording and/or playback means, as described below. A cartridge mounting section 3 into which a first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is mounted is formed on the upper surface of the base 2. A lid 4 is attached to the housing 1, opening and closing the upper surface of the base 2. The lid 4 is rotatably attached to the housing 1 by supporting both ends of its base end on both sides of the rear side of the housing 1 via support shafts 5. A holder 6 is disposed on the inner surface of the lid 4, facing the base 2, into which the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 to be mounted in the cartridge mounting section 3 is inserted and held. This holder 6 constitutes the loading device of the present invention and is rotatably attached to the base 2 so as to rotate in synchronization with the lid 4.

Also located within housing 1 is a printed circuit board (not shown) containing a control circuit for controlling the operation of the disk drive unit, a recording/playback circuit for processing information signals recorded on magneto-optical disk 101, and information signals read from magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201. Cover 4 is provided with a record button, a play button, a forward track jump button, a reverse track jump button, a pause button, a stop button, a volume control button, and other buttons for selecting the operating mode of the disk recording/playback device. Cover 1 also has a display unit using a liquid crystal display device. This display unit displays various information related to the operating mode of the disk recording/playback device.

Next, we will explain in detail the disk drive unit attached to the base 2 and the loading device that loads the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 into the cartridge mounting portion 3 formed on the base 2 and enables recording and/or playback of information signals on the magneto-optical disk 101 or 201 housed in the disk cartridge 100, 200.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the base 2, to which the disk drive unit is attached and which is disposed within the housing 1, is formed into a rectangular shape using a metal plate. A disk rotation mechanism 7 is disposed in the center of the base 2, which rotates the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 housed in the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 loaded in the cartridge loading section 3. The disk rotation mechanism 7 includes a spindle motor 8 and a disk table 9 rotated by the spindle motor 8. The spindle motor 8 is attached to the underside of the base 2, with its spindle shaft 10 protruding above the upper surface of the base 2 where the cartridge loading section 3 is formed. The disk table 9 is attached to the tip of the spindle shaft 10 so as to rotate integrally with the spindle shaft 10. The center of the disc table 9 is provided with a centering member 11 that engages with a center hole 105 of the magneto-optical disc 101 or optical disc 201 so that the magneto-optical disc 101 or optical disc 201 is centered and loaded onto the disc table 9. The disc table 9 also has a magnet that magnetically attracts a clamping plate 106 to clamp the magneto-optical disc 101 or optical disc 201 so that it rotates integrally with the disc table 9.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , an optical pickup device 12 is attached to the base 2 and constitutes a recording/reproducing means for recording or reproducing information signals on the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 clamped to the disk table 9 and rotated by the disk rotation mechanism 7.

The optical pickup device 12 is composed of the following main components: a semiconductor laser that emits a light beam; an objective lens 13 that converges and irradiates the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser onto the magneto-optical disk 101 or the optical disk 201; and a photodetector that detects the return light reflected from the magneto-optical disk 101 or the optical disk 201 to detect information signals and control signals.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the optical pickup device 12 is supported at both ends by a pair of guide shafts 14, 15 attached parallel to each other to the underside of the base 2, and is supported so as to be movable in the radial direction of the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 placed on the disk table 9. At this time, the objective lens 13 faces the upper surface of the base 2 through the cutout portion 16 and faces the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 on the disk table 9. The optical pickup device 12 is guided by the guide shafts 14, 15 and fed in the radial direction of the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 on the disk table 9 by a feed screw 18 rotated by a feed motor 17 attached to the underside of the base 2. The feed screw 18 is attached to the base 2 parallel to the guide shafts 14, 15, and is connected to the feed motor 17 via a drive gear 19, a reduction gear mechanism 20, and a connecting gear 21 attached to the output shaft 17a of the feed motor 17.

An initial position detection switch 22 is provided on the base 2 to detect when the optical pickup device 12, which is fed by the feed motor 17, has reached its initial position. When the optical pickup device 12 is fed to the initial position on the innermost side of the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 on the disk table 9, the initial position detection switch 22 temporarily stops the drive of the feed motor 17 and then controls the drive of the feed motor 17 to feed the optical pickup device 12 from the innermost side toward the outermost side of the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 according to the operating mode of the disk recording/playback device. The initial position detection switch 22 is provided in a position close to the spindle motor 8, as shown in FIG. 7, to detect when the optical pickup device 12 has been fed to the initial position on the innermost side of the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 on the disk table 9.

A magnetic head 23 is connected to the optical pickup device 12, which is operated by the feed motor 17, and which cooperates with the optical pickup device 12 to record information signals on the magneto-optical disk 101. As shown in FIG. 6, the magnetic head 23 is attached to the tip of a head support arm 26, which is rotatably supported via a support shaft 25 at the tip of a connecting arm 24 connected to the optical pickup device 12, so that the magnetic head 23 moves in synchronization with the optical pickup device 12.

The connecting arm 24 is formed in a generally L-shape, with its distal end projecting above the upper surface of the base 2 and its proximal end fixed to the optical pickup device 12. The head support arm 26 has its proximal end supported by the distal end of the connecting arm 24 via a support shaft 25 and extends above the upper surface of the base 2, with the magnetic head 23 attached to the distal end of the head support arm 26 facing the objective lens 13 of the optical pickup device 12. The magnetic head 23 is moved toward or away from the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 clamped on the disk table 9 by rotating the head support arm 26 about the support shaft 25. The head support arm 26 also rotates about the support shaft 25 in conjunction with the rotation of the cover 4, and moves the magnetic head 23 to a position spaced apart from the base 2 when the cover 4 is opened.

As described above, the disk drive unit, which incorporates the disk rotation mechanism 7, optical pickup device 12, and magnetic head 23 into the base 2, clamps and rotates the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 on the disk table 9, and reproduces information signals recorded on the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 by scanning the signal recording surface of the rotating magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 with a light beam emitted from the optical pickup device 12, which is fed by the feed motor 17. At this time, the magnetic head 23 is held at a position spaced apart from the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 as the head support arm 26 rotates about the support shaft 25.

An optical beam is irradiated from the optical pickup device 12 onto the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201, which is clamped to the disk table 9 and rotated, and the magnetic head 23 is rotated by the head support arm 26 about the support shaft 25 to bring the magnetic head 23 close to the magneto-optical disk 101. An external magnetic field corresponding to the information signal to be recorded is applied via the magnetic head 23, thereby recording the information signal on the magneto-optical disk 101.

The upper surface of the base 2, which incorporates the disk drive unit, is provided with a cartridge loading section 3 into which a first disk cartridge 100 containing a magneto-optical disk 101 or a second disk cartridge 200 containing an optical disk 201 is loaded. The first disk cartridge 100 or the second disk cartridge 200 is clamped to a disk table 9 and rotated by a disk rotation mechanism 7. As shown in FIG. 6 , the cartridge loading section 3 is provided with a pair of positioning pins 27 and height positioning protrusions 28 that determine the loading position of the first or second disk cartridge 100 or 200 loaded into the disk recording/playback device. The first or second disk cartridge 100 or 200 is positioned horizontally and vertically when loaded into the cartridge loading section 3 by the positioning pins 27 engaging with the positioning holes 117 and the height positioning protrusions 28 supporting the underside of the cartridge.

A cartridge detection switch 30 is provided at the center of one of the positioning protrusions 28 to detect the installation of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 in the cartridge mounting portion 3. When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 3, the cartridge detection switch 30 detects the installation of the disk cartridge 100, 200 by pressing an operating element with the underside of the cartridge body 104, 204. Also provided on the upper surface of the base 2 near the cartridge detection switch 30 are disk cartridge type determination switches 31, 32, as shown in FIG. 7, that detect the identifier 119 on the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 installed in the cartridge mounting portion 3 and determine the type of disk cartridge and the specifications of the disk contained therein.

Next, a loading device according to the present invention will be described, which loads the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 into the cartridge loading section 3 formed on the upper surface of the base 2.

The loading device according to the present invention includes a holder 6 into which a first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted and held to be loaded into the cartridge loading section 3. As shown in Fig. 5, the holder 6 is disposed on the inner surface of the lid 4, facing the base 2. As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the holder 6 has a generally rectangular plate-like portion 33. Opposing sides of the plate-like portion 33 are provided with a pair of cartridge supports 34, 35 that support opposing sides of the inserted first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200. The cartridge supports 34, 35 are comprised of side walls 36, 37 that extend down from both sides of the plate-like portion 33, and cartridge support pieces 38, 39 that are formed by bending the leading ends of the side walls 36, 37 approximately parallel to the plate-like portion 33, forming an overall U-shaped cross section. The holder 6 has an open front side, which is the side of the plate-like portion 33 perpendicular to the side on which the cartridge support portions 34, 35 are provided, as a cartridge insertion/removal opening 40.

The holder 6 is formed by punching and bending a metal plate.

The first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted between the pair of cartridge support members 34, 35 through the cartridge insertion/removal slot 40, with the front face 104b, 204b serving as the insertion end. When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6 to the complete insertion position and held there, the central opening 107, the recording/playback opening 108 or playback opening 208, the positioning holes 117, 118, and the identifier 119 on the underside of the cartridge body 104, 204 face the cartridge loading section 3 through the space between the pair of cartridge support members 34, 35.

A shutter-opening operation piece 41 protrudes toward the inside of the holder 6 from the middle of one side wall 36 of the holder 6 into which the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted. When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6, the shutter-opening operation piece 41 enters a groove 115 formed in one side surface 104a, 204a of the cartridge body 104, 204, and presses the locking member to unlock the shutter 110, 210. The shutter 110, 210 then abuts against the shutter, moving it relative to the cartridge body 104, 204 being inserted, thereby opening the openings 108, 109, 208.

do.

Furthermore, a shutter holding member 42 is attached to one side wall 36. The shutter holding member 42 engages with an engagement hole 116 formed in the shutter 110, 210 of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted into the holder 6, thereby holding the shutter 110, 210 in the open position. The shutter holding member 42 is formed of a resiliently deformable leaf spring, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, has an engagement protrusion 42a at its tip end that engages with the engagement hole 116 formed in the shutter 110, 210. The engagement protrusion 42a protrudes inward from the holder 6, and the base end is fixedly attached to one side wall 36. The shutter holding member 42 is attached to one side wall 36 with the engagement protrusion 42a positioned closer to the cartridge insertion/ejection opening 40 than the shutter release lever 41.

The shutter holding member 42 holds the shutter 110, 210 of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted into the holder 6 in an open position, so that when the disk cartridge 100 or 200 is ejected from the holder 6, the shutter 110, 210 moves relative to the cartridge body 104, 204, moving each opening 108, 109, 208 to a closed position.

A pair of pressure springs 43, 44 are attached to the plate-shaped portion 33 of the holder 6 to press and support the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted into the holder 6 and hold it within the holder 6. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, these pressure springs 43, 44 are attached to both sides of the base end of the plate-shaped portion 33, which faces the front side where the cartridge insertion/removal slot 40 is provided. Each pressure spring 43, 44 is attached to the upper surface of the plate-shaped portion 33, with protrusions 43a, 44a formed on the tip end thereof protruding into the holder 6 through notches 45, 46 formed in the plate-shaped portion 33.

These pressure springs 43, 44 press the upper surface of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted into the holder 6, causing the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 to come into pressure contact with the positioning pins 27, 27 and height positioning pins 28, 28 provided in the cassette loading section 3.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 , a support shaft 47 and a support shaft insertion hole 48 are provided on both sides of the base end of the holder 6, opposite the front side where the cartridge insertion/removal opening 40 is provided, for rotatably supporting the holder 6 on the base 2. The support shaft insertion hole 48 is formed on the base end side of one side wall portion 36, and the support shaft 47 is located on the base end side of the other side wall portion 37 and protrudes inward of the holder 6. The holder 6 is rotatably supported about the support shafts 47, 50 by inserting the support shaft 50, which is provided on a first rotation support plate 49, provided on one side of the rear side of the base 2, through the shaft insertion hole 48, and by inserting the support shaft 47 through a shaft insertion hole 52, which is provided on a second rotation support plate 51, provided on the other side. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 , the holder 6 is supported rotatably in the directions of arrows C and D about support shafts 47 and 50 between a first position, which is spaced from the cartridge mounting portion 3 and allows the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 to be inserted or ejected, and a second position, which is lowered from the first position and allows the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted and held in the holder 6 to be inserted into the cassette mounting portion 3.

The holder 6, which is disposed on the inner surface of the lid 4, rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the lid 4 by engaging engagement pieces 53, 54, which are provided on both sides of the front side where the cartridge insertion/removal opening 40 is formed, with an engagement support piece 55 provided on the lid 4. In other words, when the lid 4 is rotated in the direction of arrow C or arrow D in FIG. 5, the holder 6 rotates together with the lid 4 between the first position and the second position.

The plate-like portion 33 of the holder 6 is provided with an opening 56 through which the magnetic head 23 attached to the tip of the head support arm 26 extending above the holder 6 can enter the holder 6. The head support arm 26 extends above the holder 6, and thus rotates about the support shaft 25 in conjunction with the rotation of the holder 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the holder 6 is provided with an eject lever 62 for ejecting the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted and held in the holder 6.

A holding mechanism 63 is provided between the holder 6 and the base 2. The holding mechanism 63 holds the eject lever 62 when the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6 and locks the holder 6 in the second position after the holder 6 has been rotated to the second position where the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 3. The holding mechanism 63 unlocks the holder 6 and releases the eject lever 62 when the holder 6 is rotated around the support shafts 47, 50 in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 5 from the second position toward the first position. That is, the holding mechanism 63 includes a holding member 64 that holds the eject lever 62 and a locking member 65 that engages with the holding member 64 when the holder 6 is in the second position and locks the holder 6 in the second position. The holding member 64 is attached to the holder 6 as shown in FIG. 6, and the locking member 65 is attached to the base 2 as shown in FIG.

The eject lever 62, which ejects the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted and held in the holder 6, includes, as shown in FIG. 6 , an insertion piece 66 that is inserted into a groove 115 formed in one side surface 104a, 204a of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted into the holder 6, and an abutment piece 67 that abuts against the front surface 104b, 204b, which is the insertion end of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted into the holder 6. The insertion piece 66 is formed by folding back one side of the lever body 68 in an L-shape, and the abutment piece 67 is formed by folding back the tip end of the lever body 68 in an L-shape. As shown in Fig. 9, the eject lever 62 is disposed on the outer surface of one of the side walls 36 of the holder 6 by inserting the insertion piece 66 and the abutment piece 67 into the holder 6 through a notched hole (not shown) provided in the one of the side walls 36. At this time, as shown in Fig. 10, the eject lever 62 is attached so that it can move in the directions of arrows E and F in Fig. 10, guided by the support pins 70 within the range of the elongated holes 69, by inserting a pair of support pins 70 protruding from the outer surface of the one of the side walls 36 into a pair of elongated holes 69, with the major axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the lever body 68.

The eject lever 62 is biased toward the cartridge insertion/removal opening 40 of the holder 6 in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 10 by a tension spring 73 stretched between a spring locking piece 71 provided midway on the lever body 68 and a spring locking piece 72 provided on one side wall 36 of the holder 6. At this time, the insertion piece 66 provided on the eject lever 62 is positioned rearward of the shutter release operation piece 41 provided on the holder 6. The insertion piece 66 protrudes inward into the holder 6 by a distance approximately equal to the protrusion of the shutter release operation piece 41.

Furthermore, the lever body 68 of the eject lever 62 is provided with an engagement piece 75 that engages with a holding piece 74, which serves as a holding portion, provided on the holding member 64.

When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6 through the cartridge insertion/ejection slot 40, the front surface 104b, 204b of the disk cartridge 100, 200 presses the abutment piece 67 of the eject lever 62 attached to the holder 6, moving the eject lever 62 toward the rear of the holder 6 in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 10 against the biasing force of the tension spring 73. When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted to the full insertion position into the holder 6, the engagement piece 75 of the eject lever 62 engages with the holding piece 74 of the holding member 64, and the eject lever 62 is held in a state where the biasing force of the tension spring 73 is not applied to the disk cartridge 100, 200.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the holding member 64, which holds the eject lever 62 when it is moved by the first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted into the holder 6, is attached to the plate-like portion 33 of the holder 6 and is connected to one of the pressure springs 43 that presses and supports the first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted and held in the holder 6. In other words, the holding member 64 is formed integrally with the pressure spring 43 using a plate spring.

As shown in Figures 6 and 10, the holding member 64 has an attachment piece 76 bent perpendicular to the compression spring 43 on the connecting side with the compression spring 43, and an elastic displacement piece 77 bent perpendicular to the attachment piece 76. As shown in Figure 10, the tip of the elastic displacement piece 77 has a holding piece 74 that engages with an engagement piece 75 provided on the eject lever 62, and an engagement piece 79 that hangs down from one end of the holding piece 74 and engages with a locking claw 78 provided on the locking member 65 attached to the base 2.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the holding member 64 is attached to the holder 6 by fixing the attachment piece 76 to the outside of one side wall 36 of the holder 6 so that the elastic displacement piece 77 is elastically displaceable in the directions of arrows G and H in FIG. 10 , which are perpendicular to the direction in which the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted or removed from the holder 6.

Incidentally, an inclined surface 74a is formed on the tip side of the holding piece 74. When the engaging piece 75 of the eject lever 62 engages with the holding piece 74, the engaging piece 75 rides up onto it, causing the elastic displacement piece 77 to elastically displace in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 10.

Furthermore, one side wall portion 36 of the holder 6 is provided with a restricting piece 81 that abuts against the tip end of the retaining piece 74 of the retaining member 64 and restricts elastic displacement of the retaining member 64 in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 10 .

The locking member 65, which constitutes the locking mechanism for locking the holder 6 in the second position, has a resilient displacement portion 82 bent into a generally U-shape, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 . The resilient displacement portion 82 is comprised of a pair of opposing pieces 82a, 82b. One piece 82a has an attachment piece 83 at its base end, and the other piece 82b has an engagement piece 84 for connecting to the base 2 at its tip end. A locking claw 78 is formed at the middle of the other piece 82b, pointing outward. This locking claw 78 is formed by cutting and bending the middle portion of the other piece 82b into a triangular cross section. The locking member 65 is disposed on the upper surface of the base 2 so that the locking claw 78 faces the retaining member 64 attached to the holder 6, and the engagement piece 84 is inserted into an engagement hole 85 drilled in the base 2 and engages with the underside of the base 2. The locking member 65 is attached to the base 2 by fastening the attachment piece 83 with a fixing screw 86.

The locking member 65 attached to the base 2 in this manner holds the holder 6 in the second position when the holder 6 is rotated to the second position adjacent to the cartridge mounting portion 3 as shown in FIG. 10 or 14 by engaging the engaging piece 79 provided on the holding member 64 with the locking claw 78.

The loading of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 into a disk recording/playback device equipped with the disk cartridge loading device configured as described above will now be described.

In a disk recording/playback device to which the present invention is applied, when the cover 4 is rotated in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 5 without either the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 being inserted into the holder 6, and the holder 6 together with the cover 4 are rotated to the second position shown in FIG. 10 close to the cartridge loading section 3, the cartridge loading detection switch 30 will not detect the disk cartridge 100, 200, and operation of the disk drive section will be restricted.

That is, even if the cover 4 is closed without the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 being inserted into the holder 6, this disk recording/playback device is prevented from entering the operation mode for recording and/or playing back information signals.

When neither the first nor the second second-disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6, the eject lever 62 is moved in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 10 by the biasing force of the tension spring 73, and is positioned closer to the cartridge insertion/removal opening 40. When the holder 6 is rotated to the second position, as described above, the engagement piece 79 on the holding member 64 engages with the locking claw 78, thereby holding the holder 6 in the second position. Therefore, inadvertent rotation of the holder 6 is restricted.

To mount the holder 6 in the cartridge mounting portion 3 on the base 2, the holder 6 together with the cover 4 is rotated about the support shafts 47, 50 in the direction of arrow D in Figures 5 and 10 to the first position shown in Figure 11 away from the cartridge mounting portion 3 so that the cartridge insertion/removal opening 40 faces outward. When the holder 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow D in Figure 10, the engaging piece 79 on the holding member 64, which is engaged with the locking claw 78, elastically displaces the elastically displaceable portion 82 of the locking member 65 in the direction of arrow J in Figure 11, and the locking member 65 releases the holder 6.

With the cartridge insertion/ejection slot 40 facing outward, the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6 through the cartridge insertion/ejection slot 40, with the front surface 104b, 204b serving as the insertion end. The first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6 by elastically displacing the shutter holding member 42 in the direction of arrow K in FIG. 9 toward the outside of the holder 6. As the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is further inserted into the holder 6, the shutter release piece 41 enters the groove 115 provided on one side surface 104b, 204b of the cartridge body 104, 204, pressing the locking member to unlock the shutter 110, 210. At this time, the shutter holding member 42 engages with the engagement hole 116, restricting movement of the shutter 110, 210. As the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is further inserted into the holder 6, the shutters 110, 210 are moved in the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 relative to the cartridge bodies 104, 204 to positions that open the openings 108, 109, 208, respectively.

When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6 to the point where the shutters 110, 210 open the respective openings 108, 109, 208, the insertion piece 66 on the eject lever 62 enters the groove 115 on the cartridge body 104, 204. When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is further inserted into the holder 6, the front surface 104b, 204b of the cartridge body 104, 204 abuts against the abutment piece 67 on the tip of the eject lever 62, as shown in Figures 12(A) and 12(B).

If the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is further inserted into the holder 6 in the direction of arrow L in FIG. 12B, the abutment piece 67 of the eject lever 62 is pressed by the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200, and the elongated holes 69, 69 are guided by the support pins 70, 70 embedded in the side wall 36 of the holder 6, causing the eject lever 62 to move in the direction of arrow L in FIG. 12B against the biasing force of the tension spring 73.

Then, when the first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 is further inserted into the holder 6 with the contact piece 67 in contact with the front surface 104b, 204b of the cartridge body 104, 204, the eject lever 62 moves together with the first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 in the direction of arrow L in FIG. 12B against the biasing force of the tension spring 73, causing the engagement piece 75 to ride up onto the inclined surface 74a of the holding piece 74, elastically displacing the elastic displacement piece 77 and displacing the holding piece 74 in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 12A. When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6 until it reaches the insertion-completed position, the engagement piece 75 and the holding piece 74 are released from contact, the elastically deformable piece 77 elastically returns, and the holding piece 74 moves in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 13(A), thereby engaging the engagement piece 75 and the holding piece 74 relative to each other.

When the eject lever 62 is pressed and moved by the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200, the insertion piece 66 is inserted into the groove 115, so that the eject lever 62 is reliably moved together with the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 against the biasing force of the tension spring 73 in the direction of insertion of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 into the holder 6 without being rotated or displaced.

When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is fully inserted into the holder 6 as shown in FIG. 13(B), the engagement piece 75 of the eject lever 62 engages with the holding piece 74 of the holding member 64, and the tension spring 73 is held in an extended state without applying a load to the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 inserted in the holder 6.

Next, the first or second disk cartridge 100 or 200 inserted and held in the holder 6 is loaded into the cartridge loading section 3 on the base 2.

To load the first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 into the cartridge loading section 3, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 is inserted into the holder 6 to the fully inserted position, the eject lever 62 is held by the holding member 64, and then the holder 6 together with the cover 4 is rotated around the support shafts 47, 50 in the direction of arrow C in FIGS. 5 and 13A. As the holder 6 is rotated toward the second position where the cartridge approaches the loading section 3, the engaging piece 79 on the holding member 64 presses the locking claw 78 of the locking member 65, elastically displacing the elastic displacement portion 82 in the direction of arrow J in FIG. 13A. When the holder 6 is further rotated in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 13(A) to the second position shown in FIG. 14(A) where it approaches the cartridge loading portion 3 and is parallel to it, the elastically deformable portion 82 elastically returns in the direction of arrow M in FIG. 14(A), causing the engagement piece 79 to engage with the locking claw 78. The holder 6 is then locked in the second position by the locking member 65. At this time, the eject lever 62 is held by the retaining piece 74 of the holding member 64, as shown in FIG. 14(B), and the abutment piece 67 is held facing the front surface 104b, 204b of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 held in the holder 6, with the elastic return force stored in the tension spring 73.

When the holder 6 is rotated to the second position, the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 held by the holder 6 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 3 with the positioning holes 117, 118 engaging with the positioning pins 27, 27 provided on the cartridge mounting portion 3, and the lower surface is supported by the height positioning pins 28, 28, thereby positioning the cartridge horizontally and vertically. At this time, the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 housed in the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is centered on the disk table 9 and clamped to rotate integrally with the disk table 9, completing the loading of the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200.

After the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is loaded into the cartridge loading section 3, the disk drive section is driven to record or reproduce information signals on the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 clamped on the disk table 9.

To remove the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 held in the holder 6 after recording or reproduction of information signals on the magneto-optical disk 101 or optical disk 201 is completed, the holder 6, which is locked in the second position as shown in FIG. 14A, is rotated together with the cover 4 around the support shafts 47, 50 in the direction of arrow D in FIGS. 5 and 14A. When the holder 6 is rotated from the second position in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 14A, the engaging piece 79 of the holding member 64 engages with the locking claw 78 of the locking member 65, causing the elastic displacement piece 77 to elastically displace in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 15. At this time, the elastic displacement portion 82 of the locking member 65 is also elastically displaced in the direction of arrow J in FIG. 15. When the elastic displacement piece 77 is elastically displaced in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 15, the holding piece 74 provided at the tip of the elastic displacement piece 77 also displaces in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 15. Then, when the holder 6 reaches a point halfway in its rotation from the second position toward the first position, the retaining piece 74 is largely displaced in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 15, and the engagement piece 75 of the eject lever 62 is released from the engagement piece 74. When the retention member 64 releases the retention of the eject lever 62, the eject lever 62 is biased by the tension spring 73 and moves in the direction of arrow M in FIG. 13, and the abutment piece 67 presses against the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 held in the holder 6, pushing it toward the cartridge insertion/removal opening 40 so as to eject it from the holder 6.

The first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 is removed from the holder 6 by grasping and pulling out the portion of the cartridge that protrudes outward from the holder 6 through the cartridge insertion/removal opening 40.

When the first or second disk cartridge 100, 200 held in the holder 6 is moved by the eject lever 62 in the direction of ejection from the holder 6, the cartridge body 104, 204 and the shutter 110, 210 move relative to each other. That is, the shutter 110, 210 moves in the direction of arrow B in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to close the respective openings 108, 109, 208.

Even when the first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 is ejected from the holder 6, the insertion piece 66 is inserted into the groove 115, so the eject lever 62 can reliably press the first or second-disk cartridge 100, 200 in the direction of ejection from the holder 6.

Furthermore, when the holder 6 is rotated from the second position toward the first position and the engagement between the engagement piece 79 of the holding member 64 and the locking claw 78 is released, the elastic displacement piece 77 may suddenly elastically return in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 14. At this time, the holding piece 74 abuts against a restriction piece 81 provided on the holder 6, thereby restricting the holder 6 from protruding upward and quickly restricting the vibration of the elastic displacement piece 77.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the disk cartridge loading device of the present invention includes a retention mechanism that retains the eject lever when the disk cartridge is fully inserted into the holder and releases the retention of the eject lever when the holder moves from the second position where the disk cartridge is loaded to the first position where the disk cartridge is inserted or ejected. Therefore, the disk cartridge can be ejected from the holder in conjunction with the holder movement, ensuring reliable ejection of the disk cartridge from the holder. Furthermore, because the holder and eject lever are held and locked by a common retention mechanism, the mechanism can be simplified, allowing for a more compact device.

───────────────────────────────────────────────────── (Note) This publication is based on the publication published internationally by the International Bureau of Patents (WIPO). The effect of the international publication of the Japanese patent application (Japanese utility model registration application) related to this publication arises pursuant to Article 184-10, Paragraph 1 of the Patent Act (Article 48-13, Paragraph 2 of the Utility Model Act) and is unrelated to this publication.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A disk cartridge loading device for loading a disk cartridge having a groove formed on one side surface along the insertion direction and a shutter movably disposed along the side surface along which the groove is formed, comprising: a holder into which the disk cartridge is inserted, which holds the inserted disk cartridge, and which is disposed so as to be movable between a first position where the disk cartridge is inserted or ejected and a second position lowered from the first position; an ejection lever movably disposed on the holder, which is at least partially inserted into the groove of the disk cartridge when the insertion of the disk cartridge into the holder is complete and is biased in a direction to eject the inserted disk cartridge from the holder; and a retention mechanism which holds the ejection lever at a position where the insertion of the disk cartridge into the holder is complete and releases the retention of the ejection lever when the holder moves from the second position to the first position. 2. The disk cartridge loading device according to claim 1, wherein the eject lever has an insertion portion that is inserted into a groove of the disk cartridge inserted into the holder and an abutment portion that abuts against the disk cartridge inserted into the holder. 3. The disk cartridge loading device of claim 2, wherein the abutment portion is formed at the tip of the insertion portion and substantially perpendicular to the insertion portion so as to abut against the front surface of the disk cartridge inserted into the holder in the insertion direction. 4. The disk cartridge loading device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member for biasing the eject lever in a direction to eject the disk cartridge inserted in the holder from the holder. 5. The disk cartridge loading device of claim 1, wherein the holding mechanism includes a holding portion that engages with and holds an eject lever moved by a disk cartridge inserted into the holder, and a locking mechanism that holds the holder in the second position. 6. The disk cartridge loading device of claim 5, wherein the holding mechanism includes a holding member provided with the holding portion, and the locking mechanism includes a locking member that engages with the holding member when the holder is in the second position. 7. The disk cartridge loading device according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism releases the holding portion from holding the eject lever when the holder is moved from the second position to the first position. 8. A disk cartridge loading device for loading a disk cartridge having a groove formed on one side surface along the insertion direction and a shutter movably disposed along the side surface on which the groove is formed, comprising: a holder having a substantially rectangular plate-shaped portion, a pair of side walls formed on each of a pair of sides of the plate-shaped portion, and multiple holding pieces formed on the tip of each of the pair of side walls; the holder having a disk cartridge inserted therein, holding the inserted disk cartridge, and movable between a first position where the disk cartridge is inserted or ejected and a second position lower than the first position; an eject lever movably disposed on the holder, moved by the disk cartridge inserted into the holder, at least a portion of which is inserted into the groove of the disk cartridge when the insertion of the disk cartridge into the holder is complete, and biased in a direction to eject the inserted disk cartridge from the holder; and a holding mechanism disposed on one of the pair of side walls of the holder, for holding the eject lever at a position where the disk cartridge has been completely inserted into the holder, and for releasing the hold of the eject lever when the holder moves from the second position to the first position. 9. The disk cartridge loading device of claim 8, wherein the eject lever is movably disposed on one side wall of the holder and includes a plate-shaped movable portion that moves along the one side wall, an insertion portion formed substantially perpendicular to the movable portion and inserted into a groove of the disk cartridge inserted into the holder, and an abutment portion that abuts against the disk cartridge inserted into the holder. 10. The disk cartridge loading device according to claim 9, wherein the abutment portion is formed at the tip end of the insertion portion and substantially perpendicular to the insertion portion so as to abut against the front surface of the disk cartridge inserted into the holder in the insertion direction. 11. The disk cartridge loading device of claim 10, wherein the abutment portion is located at the front edge of the holder in the disk cartridge insertion direction when the disk cartridge insertion into the holder is complete. 12. The disk cartridge loading device according to claim 9, further comprising a biasing member disposed between the one side wall of the holder and the movable portion, for biasing the eject lever in a direction to eject the disk cartridge inserted into the holder from the holder.