Protecting a disc cartridge from inadvertent actuation during nonuse

摘要

A disc cartridge capable of effectively preventing opening of a shutter and damage of a disc therewithin, even when any unexpected shock is suddenly applied to the disc cartridge during non-use of the disc cartridge. The disc cartridge includes a connection mechanism for operatively connecting each of the actuators for releasably locking the shutter, to each of disc receivers, and which is constituted by a guide groove provided in the actuator and formed into a substantially sideways U-shape, and a guide pin provided on the disc receiver and movably positioned in the guide groove. The guide groove is formed with a depression at a distal end of a surface thereof, opposite to the guide pin and toward a forward side of the actuating direction of the actuator, the depression enlarging the guide groove to locate the surface thereof outside of a locus of pivotal movement of the guide pin during non-use of the disc cartridge, and carrying out delayed actuation with respect to the actuator at the time of starting of the disc cartridge.