JPH05144058A - Lens cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a lens cleaner for optical disk device which especially prevents the degradation of performance due to dust and dirt stuck and accumulated on the lens of an optical head. CONSTITUTION:A transparent cover 6 is provided above an objective lens 3, and a lens cleaner 7 which cleans the transparent cover 6 is provided on an objective lens cover 2 of an optical head 1, and the cleaning operation is inter- locked with the optical head drive operation. Since the cleaning operation of this lens cleaner is interlocked with the drive operation of the optical head which can be periodically moved, the lens is periodically cleaned independently of the inserting operation of an optical disk. The device is miniaturized because the lens cleaner is easily constituted on the optical head.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical disk device, and more particularly to a lens cleaner for preventing performance deterioration due to dust and dirt attached to and accumulated on a lens of an optical head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical disk device has an optical head equipped with an objective lens for focusing a light beam. Usually, the light beam is emitted from the lower side to the upper side of the optical disc, so that dust and dust in the device are easily accumulated on the surface of the objective lens. Since such dirt of the objective lens deteriorates the recording and reproducing characteristics of information, conventionally, the objective lens is covered with a transparent cover and the transparent cover is covered, as in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-184932. There was a way to clean. Further, as another method, there is a method in which a mechanism interlocking with an optical disk loading table is provided and the objective lens is directly cleaned by a cleaning member.

[0003]

The above-mentioned prior art does not take into consideration the downsizing of the apparatus and the operating environment of the cleaner, and there is a problem in that the size of the components is increased and the mounting is increased. .. Further, in the case where the cleaner operation interval is indefinite, for example, in the case of a cleaner device that works in conjunction with an optical disk loading table, if the device is used continuously for a long period of time, the cleaner will not operate, and there will be problems such as dust and dirt adhering and accumulating. It was An object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized cleaner that can be regularly cleaned in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transparent cover above the objective lens and a member for cleaning the transparent cover on the objective lens cover of the optical head to perform the cleaning operation. This is linked with the head drive operation.

[0005]

When the optical head is moved to a predetermined position, the transparent cover or the cleaning member contacts the fixing member on the base and rotates. In conjunction with this operation, the transparent cover comes into contact with the cleaning member on the optical head to be cleaned. When the optical head is moved from the predetermined position, the transparent cover or the cleaning member returns to the position before the contact by the biasing member. As for the operation of the optical head to a predetermined position, the cleaning operation can be performed periodically even when the optical disk is loaded in the apparatus for a long time.
Since the transparent cover is always on the objective lens, there is no dust or dust accumulated on the surface of the objective lens.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lens cleaner according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an optical head on which optical components such as an objective lens cover 2 and a laser element (not shown) are mounted. The laser light generated from these optical components is focused by the objective lens 3 stored in the objective lens cover 2, and pit information is recorded or read on the optical disc 4. The optical head 1 is moved in the radial direction of the optical disc 4 by a driving device (not shown). The optical disk 4 is rotated by the spindle motor 5. Transparent cover 6
Is rotatably supported on the objective lens cover 2.
The cleaner 7 is mounted on the objective lens cover 2 so as to wipe off dust and dirt attached and accumulated on the transparent cover 6.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the objective lens cover.
The transparent cover 6 is axially supported by the rotary shaft 2a of the objective lens cover 2, and is biased by the spring 8 toward the spindle motor 5 side. The transparent cover 6 is locked by bringing the stopper portion 6a shown in FIG. 1 into contact with the objective lens cover 2. The cleaner 7 comprises a cleaning member 7a such as felt adhered to a thin plate 7b, and a holding member 7c for rotating the objective shaft 2a of the objective lens cover 2.
Is stretched over the objective lens cover 2 and is in contact with the transparent cover 6. Since the objective lens 3 is always covered with the objective lens cover 2 and the transparent cover 6, dust and dust will not be attached and accumulated on the objective lens 3.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lens cleaner for explaining the operation of the lens cleaner. When the optical head 1 is moved to a predetermined position on the spindle motor 5 side, the end portion 6a of the transparent cover 6 and the housing 5a of the spindle motor 5 come into contact with each other, and the transparent cover 6 is opposed to the urging force of the spring 8 by the arrow. Rotate in the A direction. At that time, the cleaner 7 wipes off dust and dirt attached and accumulated on the transparent cover 6. When the optical head 1 moves from a predetermined position, the transparent cover 6 is rotated by the biasing force of the spring 8 to a position before the contact with the spindle motor 5.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lens cleaner showing another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the transparent cover 6 may be fixed, the end 7d of the lens cleaner 7 and the housing 5a of the spindle motor 5 may be brought into contact with each other, and the lens cleaner 7 may be rotated.

FIG. 5 is also a perspective view of a lens cleaner showing another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning operation as the lens cleaner may be sliding instead of rotating. That is, the holding member 9 that holds the transparent cover 6 is
It is held by a slider shaft 10 so as to be movable parallel to the moving direction of the optical head 1, and is biased by a spring 8. When the optical head 1 is moved, the housing 5a of the spindle motor 5 and the holding member 9 are brought into contact with each other, and the lens cleaner 7 cleans the transparent cover 6.

Although the housing of the spindle motor is used as the locking member for operating the lens cleaner in this embodiment, another member may be used.

[0013]

According to the present invention, in the lens cleaner, the cleaning operation can be interlocked with the driving operation of the optical head capable of moving the position periodically, so that the cleaning can be performed regularly regardless of the insertion operation of the optical disk into the apparatus. Can be done. Further, since the lens cleaner can be easily realized on the optical head, the device can be downsized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lens cleaner showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an objective lens cover of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lens cleaner of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lens cleaner of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lens cleaner of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Optical head, 2 ... Objective lens cover, 3 ... Objective lens, 6 ... Transparent cover, 7 ... Lens cleaner

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical head driven in the radial direction of an optical disk, which has an objective lens for focusing a light beam for recording or reproducing optical information, and an opening for storing the objective lens and opening it upward. In an optical disc device having a transparent cover that closes the opening of the optical head, a cleaner that cleans the transparent cover, and a locking member that operates the cleaning of the transparent cover, A lens cleaner characterized in that a cleaning operation is interlocked with a driving operation of the optical head. 2. The optical disk device according to claim 1, wherein
A lens cleaner in which the transparent cover and the cleaner are mounted on the optical head.