Abstract: A lens driving device includes: a fixed member; a lens-retaining member; a guide mechanism; a piezoelectric driving portion; and a pressing member. The lens-retaining member, the guide mechanism, the piezoelectric driving portion, and the pressing member are each configured as described in the specification. The pressing member is formed of a leaf spring member. The pressing member includes: a fixed portion to be fixed to the fixed member; a support portion configured to support the piezoelectric driving portion; and an elastically deformable portion that is provided between the fixed portion and the support portion and is elastically deformable. The support portion includes a plate-shaped base portion that is continuous with the elastically deformable portion, and a folded portion that is folded from the base portion in an L shape and projects toward the lens-retaining member. The piezoelectric driving portion is fixed to the folded portion.

Abstract: When a medium casing is properly inserted, a first pair of projections and a second pair of projections are passed through between a first bottom surface and a second bottom surface of a chassis in the moving direction and are thus prevented from coming into contact with the first and second bottom surfaces, thereby allowing for smooth insertion of the medium casing. In contrast, when the medium casing is inserted improperly from its wrong end, one of the projections on the lower surface of the medium casing comes into abutment with the second bottom surface of the chassis near the opening. Accordingly, an improperly inserted medium casing can be prevented from being inserted any further at an early stage of the insertion process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording medium loading and unloading apparatus for loading and unloading a recording medium that is housed in a case and forms a cartridge and on which information is optically recorded. This recording medium loading and unloading apparatus 1 includes a housing that has an insertion slot 10 into which the cartridge C is inserted and that forms a closed space shielded from outside light in cooperation with a door 12 that openably closes the insertion slot 10, and a shutter opening mechanism 90 that is provided in the housing and that opens a shutter 83 openably provided in the case of the cartridge C to expose part of the recording medium from the case. The shutter opening mechanism 90 opens the shutter 83 only when the insertion slot 10 is closed by the door 12.

Abstract: When a medium casing is properly inserted, a first pair of projections and a second pair of projections are passed through between a first bottom surface and a second bottom surface of a chassis in the moving direction and are thus prevented from coming into contact with the first and second bottom surfaces, thereby allowing for smooth insertion of the medium casing. In contrast, when the medium casing is inserted improperly from its wrong end, one of the projections on the lower surface of the medium casing comes into abutment with the second bottom surface of the chassis near the opening. Accordingly, an improperly inserted medium casing can be prevented from being inserted any further at an early stage of the insertion process.

Abstract: When a medium casing is moved deep into a device, a reference guide pin with a greater length provided in a driving-device body is first inserted into a first positioning hole of the medium casing and a subsidiary guide pin is subsequently inserted into a second positioning hole. This implies that the medium casing is guided deep into the device on the basis of the reference guide pin having a greater diameter. Therefore, even when the medium casing is inserted in a displaced state in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction, such displacement can be compensated for gradually with the movement of the medium casing. This ensures proper connection between a plurality of external terminals of the medium casing and a plurality of connector pins of the driving-device body.

Abstract: When a recording medium is inserted into an insertion part, a locking part of a pull-in member locks a concave part of the recording medium because a pressed part is pressed to move a moving member. Simultaneously, a first switching member is switched, and a cam member rotates to move a power transmission means into the inside of an apparatus (Y1-direction). Thereby, since the moving member having the pull-in member mounted thereon also moves, the recording medium can be carried into the inside of the apparatus. If the recording medium is abnormally orientated, the locking part can lock the concave part. Therefore, the recording medium can be prevented from being carried into the inside of the apparatus.

Abstract: When a recording medium is inserted into an insertion part, a locking part of a pull-in member locks a concave part of the recording medium because a pressed part is pressed to move a moving member. Simultaneously, a first switching member is switched, and a cam member rotates to move a power transmission means into the inside of an apparatus (Y1-direction). Thereby, since the moving member having the pull-in member mounted thereon also moves, the recording medium can be carried into the inside of the apparatus. If the recording medium is abnormally orientated, the locking part can lock the concave part. Therefore, the recording medium can be prevented from being carried into the inside of the apparatus.

Abstract: A head base supporting device in an auto-reversal tape player for movably supporting a head base including a slide hole extending in a moving direction of the head base and an open end formed at an end of the slide hole opening in the retract direction of the head base; a guide projection formed on the chassis and adapted to engage the slide hole, the guide projection having a neck portion adapted to engage the slide hole in a slidable manner and a head portion formed at an end of the neck portion and having a width greater than a width of the slide hole, whereby the engagement portion of the head base is slidably engaged with the neck portion of the guide projection to movably support the head base; and a pair of disengagement preventing portions formed in the head base at positions such that when the head base is moved in the advance direction, either of the disenagement preventing portions is brought into opposition to a restriction pin abutting against a roller selection restricting portion of a selector