High-density flexible disk drive having a function of facilitating correct insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk thereinto without an insertion error

Abstract

In a high-density flexible disk drive, a color of at least a surface of a cover ( 22 ) (in addition, a color of at least a surface of an eject button ( 30 )) is different from that of at least a surface of a body of a front panel ( 20 ). A user can visually distinguish the high-density flexible disk drive from a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive in which a color of a surface of a cover is identical with that of a surface of a body of a front panel. Thus, a large-capacity flexible disk can be correctly inserted into the high-density flexible disk drive without being erroneously inserted into the normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A high-density flexible disk drive which is for use in driving a large-capacity flexible disk and which comprises a front panel arranged at a front side of said high-density flexible disk drive, said front panel comprising a panel body, a slot formed in said panel body for insertion of said large-capacity flexible disk, and a cover attached to said panel body for closing and opening said slot, wherein: 
 said front panel further comprises identifying means enabling visual distinguishment of said high-density flexible disk drive from a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive for exclusively driving a normal-capacity flexible disk.    
     
     
         2 . A high-density flexible disk drive as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein said identifying means is realized by differing a color of at least a surface of said cover from that of at least a surface of said panel body to enable visual distinguishment of said high-density flexible disk drive from said normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.  
     
     
         3 . A high-density flexible disk drive as claimed in    claim 1   , said front panel further comprising an eject button for ejecting said large-capacity flexible disk inserted in said high-density flexible disk drive, wherein: 
 said identifying means is realized by differing both a color of at least a surface of said cover and a color of at least a surface of said eject button from that of at least a surface of said panel body to enable visual distinguishment of said high-density flexible disk drive from said normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.    
     
     
         4 . A high-density flexible disk drive as claimed in    claim 3   , wherein the color of at least the surface of said cover is same as that of at least the surface of said eject button.  
     
     
         5 . A high-density flexible disk drive as claimed in    claim 3   , wherein the color of at least the surface of said cover is different from that of at least the surface of said eject button.  
     
     
         6 . A large-capacity flexible disk adapted to be inserted into a high-density flexible disk drive and comprising a case containing a magnetic disk medium, wherein said case has a pair of projecting portions which are formed at a rear portion of said case in an insertion direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk into said high-density flexible disk drive and which laterally outwardly extend from both lateral sides of said case.  
     
     
         7 . A high-density flexible disk drive for insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk comprising a case containing a magnetic disk medium, said case having a pair of projecting portions which are formed at a rear portion of said case in an insertion direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk into said high-density flexible disk drive and which laterally outwardly extend from both lateral sides of said case, wherein said high-density flexible disk drive has a front panel arranged at a front side thereof, said front panel having a slot of a width sufficient to insert said large-capacity flexible disk having said case provided with said projecting portions.  
     
     
         8 . A large-capacity flexible disk adapted to be inserted into a high-density dedicated flexible disk drive and comprising a case containing a magnetic disk medium, wherein said case has a first notch formed on a forward side of said case in an insertion direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk into said high-density dedicated flexible disk drive.  
     
     
         9 . A large-capacity flexible disk as claimed in    claim 8   , wherein said case further has a second notch formed on a lateral side provided with a chamfered portion for preventing reverse insertion of said large-capacity flexible disk, said second notch having a particular shape and formed at a particular position so that said second notch is engaged by a reverse insertion preventing lever of a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.  
     
     
         10 . A large-capacity flexible disk as claimed in    claim 8   , wherein said first notch is formed in an upper surface of said case on the forward side in said insertion direction.  
     
     
         11 . A large-capacity flexible disk as claimed in    claim 10   , wherein said case further has a second notch formed on a lateral side provided with a chamfered portion for preventing reverse insertion of said large-capacity flexible disk, said second notch having a particular shape and formed at a particular position so that said second notch is engaged by a reverse insertion preventing lever of a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive.  
     
     
         12 . A high-density dedicated flexible disk drive for insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk, said large-capacity flexible disk comprising a case containing a magnetic disk medium, said case having a notch formed on a forward side of said case in an insertion direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk into said high-density dedicated flexible disk drive, wherein said high-density dedicated flexible disk drive comprises a disk holder unit for holding said large-capacity flexible disk when it is inserted into said high-density dedicated flexible disk drive, said disk holder unit having a protrusion formed at a position corresponding to said notch of the large-capacity flexible disk held by said disk holder unit.  
     
     
         13 . A high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive for insertion of a large-capacity flexible disk, said large-capacity flexible disk comprising a case containing a magnetic disk medium, said case having a notch formed on a lateral side provided with a chamfered portion for preventing reverse insertion of said large-capacity flexible disk, said notch having a particular shape and formed at a particular position so that said notch is engaged by a reverse insertion preventing lever of a normal-density dedicated flexible disk drive, wherein said high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive comprises a disk holder unit for holding said large-capacity flexible disk when it is inserted into said high-density/normal-density flexible disk drive, said disk holder unit having a recess formed at a position corresponding to said notch and extending in a direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of inserting said large-capacity flexible disk, and a reverse insertion preventing lever formed at said recess to be movable in an escaping direction of escaping from said recess upon collision by said chamfered portion.