Abstract: A disk driving apparatus includes: a head base unit which supports a head for recording data into and reproducing data from a storage medium, the head base unit being able to travel between a first position where the head is close to the storage medium for recording data thereto and reproducing data therefrom and a second position where the head is apart from the storage medium; a tray provided with a tray rack extending in a predetermined direction, the tray being slidable along the tray rack between a third position at which the head performs recording and reproduction on the storage medium and a fourth position at which an operator can place the storage medium; a driving power source; a tray gear which is driven by the driving power source; a rotation body gear which is driven by the driving power source; a partial gear which partially engages with the rotation body gear at a predetermined angle; and a rotation body which, in accordance with the rotation of the partial gear, reciprocally rotates so that th

Abstract: A tray is supported movably relative to a case to enable a second disk to be loaded into and unloaded from a second-disk holding recess. Positioning is performed by using second positioning holes formed through the case and tray. A turntable and a head are inserted through two second opening holes. A second-disk cartridge of thin construction, capable of holding therein the second disk in removable fashion, can be mounted in a recording/reproducing apparatus capable of mounting therein a first-disk cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge adaptor accommodates a second cartridge which is smaller than a first cartridge so as to allow the second cartridge to be mounted in a disk apparatus designed to receive the first cartridge. The cartridge adaptor includes a shutter opener engageable with a shutter opener of the disk apparatus to open and close a shutter of the second cartridge, a projection engageable with a recess of the second cartridge to restrict insertion direction of the second cartridge into the disk apparatus, and a conveying member which is too be inserted into a transmission aperture formed in correspondence with an identification hole formed in the second cartridge, thereby opening and closing a detection hole of the cartridge adaptor formed at a corresponding position to an identification hole of the first cartridge.

Abstract: A tray is supported movably relative to a case to enable a second disk to be loaded into and unloaded from a second-disk holding recess. Positioning is performed by using second positioning holes formed through the case and tray. A turntable and a head are inserted through two second opening holes. A second-disk cartridge of thin construction, capable of holding therein the second disk in removable fashion, can be mounted in a recording/reproducing apparatus capable of mounting therein a first-disk cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge adaptor accommodates a second cartridge which is smaller than a first cartridge so as to allow the second cartridge to be mounted in a disk apparatus designed to receive the first cartridge. The cartridge adaptor includes a shutter opener engageable with a shutter opener of the disk apparatus to open and close a shutter of the second cartridge, a projection engageable with a recess of the second cartridge to restrict insertion direction of the second cartridge into the disk apparatus, and a conveying member which is inserted into a transmission aperture formed in correspondence with an identification hole formed in the second cartridge, thereby opening and closing a detection hole of the cartridge adaptor formed at a corresponding position to an identification hole of the first cartridge.

Abstract: A disc device accommodates a disc rotatably mounted therein, a plurality of first heads movable in a first direction radially of the disc, and a plurality of second heads movable in a second direction radially of the disc and perpendicular to the first direction. The disc has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, with an information area defined on at least one of the first and second surfaces. The information area is divided into an outer information region and an inner information region lying radially inwardly of the outer information region. The first heads are allowed to move within a limited distance across the outer information region so as to record or reproduce information on or from the outer information region, while the second heads are allowed to move within a limited distance across the inner information region so as to record or reproduce information on or from the inner information region.

Abstract: A cartridge adaptor accommodates a second cartridge which is smaller than a first cartridge so as to allow the second cartridge to be mounted in a disk apparatus designed to receive the first cartridge. The cartridge adaptor includes a shutter opener engageable with a shutter opener of the disk apparatus to open and close a shutter of the second cartridge, a projection engageable with a recess of the second cartridge to restrict insertion direction of the second cartridge into the disk apparatus, and a conveying member which is inserted into a transmission aperture formed in correspondence with an identification hole formed in the second cartridge, thereby opening and closing a detection hole of the cartridge adaptor formed at a corresponding position to an identification hole of the first cartridge.

Abstract: A disc cartridge has a casing having first and second apertures and first and second shutters slidably mounted to the casing for selectively opening and closing the first and second apertures. First and second shutter openers are respectively connected to the first and second shutters. Only the first aperture is opened using the first shutter opener when the disc cartridge is loaded in a standard specifications or existing recording and/or reproducing apparatus. When the disc cartridge is loaded in an optional specifications apparatus, both the first and second shutter openers are used to open the first and second apertures, respectively. A disc cartridge compatible with both new plural head recording and reproducing apparatuses and existing single head recording and reproducing apparatuses is thus provided while offering improved resistance to penetration of dust and other foreign matter into the casing by opening only the aperture(s) required for head insertion.

Abstract: A disc device accommodates a disc rotatably mounted therein, a plurality of first heads movable in a first direction radially of the disc, and a plurality of second heads movable in a second direction radially of the disc and perpendicular to the first direction. The disc has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, with an information area defined on at least one of the first and second surfaces. The information area is divided into an outer information region and an inner information region lying radially inwardly of the outer information region. The first heads are allowed to move within a limited distance across the outer information region so as to record or reproduce information on or from the outer information region, while the second heads are allowed to move within a limited distance across the inner information region so as to record or reproduce information on or from the inner information region.

Abstract: A disc cartridge for rotatably accommodating an information carrier disc, which includes a first casing having a first cavity defined therein for accommodating a portion of the information carrier disc, and a second casing having a second cavity defined therein for accommodating a remaining portion of the information carrier disc and operatively coupled with the first casing for movement relative to the first casing between extended and retracted positions to bring the disc cartridge into opened and closed positions, respectively. Springs are provided for urging the second casing to the first position. When the second casing is moved against the springs, the disc cartridge is brought to the opened position, allowing one or more access openings to be exposed to the outside of the disc cartridge. A disc retainer is also provided for avoiding any arbitrary motion of the information carrier disc within a disc chamber defined by the first and second cavities in the first and second casings.

Abstract: A carriage which is provided with a light beam focusing lens for focusing the light beam on an optical disc is made of light transmissible material, a light reflection part is formed at one end part in one body of the carriage, and a carriage holding mechanism is disposed on both sides in one body thereof so as to be movable in the radial direction of the optical disc, the light beam is applied to the carriage at the other end part thereof.

Abstract: An optical head which includes a movable bobbin having an objective lens and tracking coils for tracking operation, a carriage guided in such a manner to be able to move in the tracking direction and a state transformation mechanism for transforming the state of the bobbin and carriage between a first state, in which the objective lens can move in the tracking direction but the carriage does not move in the tracking direction, and a second state, in which the movable bobbin and the carriage moves in the tracking direction as one body. When effecting a tracking operation, the state transformation mechanism transforms the state of the bobbin and the carriage into the first state, in which the objective lens can move in the tracking direction but the carriage does not move in the tracking direction, and a tracking drive current is then made to flow through the tracking coils to perform the tracking operation.

Abstract: A head transfer apparatus includes a magnetic substance disposed on a movable unit assembly driven by a magnetic circuit in a tracking direction. The magnetic substance is operative, under the force of a leakage flux of the magnetic circuit, to produce a magnetic force to urge a bearing of the movable unit assembly against a guide, thereby controlling a clearance between the bearing and the guide or lowering a bearing pressure imposed on the bearing by the weight of the movable unit assembly.

Abstract: A cartridge loading device comprising a cartridge holder for receiving therein a cartridge; a base provided with guide grooves through which pins formed on side walls of the cartridge holder are received for guiding the cartridge holder; a loading plate supported movably to the base for causing the cartridge holder to reciprocatingly move along the guide grooves of the base between a first position where the cartridge is loaded/unloaded and a second position where a disc received in the cartridge is rotated; an eject plate supported movably to the base for unloading the cartridge received in the cartridge holder at the first position and for allowing, when the cartridge is loaded, the cartridge holder to the second position; a sub-eject plate supported movably to the base coming into contact with the loading plate; at least one first resilient member connected at one end to the loading plate and at the other end to the sub-eject plate for resiliently engaging the loading plate and the sub-eject plate with eac