Abstract: An optical recording medium drive allows a support body to define a hollow space having the inner end and the outer end defining an optical opening. The hollow space is surrounded by the inside surface of the support body. A shielding plate serves to screen or close the hollow space at a position distanced from the optical opening. The reflecting mirror is opposed to the inner end of the hollow space. Dust penetrates into the optical recording medium drive through any gap in the enclosure of the optical recording medium drive. Even if dust enters the hollow space, the shielding plate serves to prevent the dust to fly toward the reflecting mirror out of the hollow space. The dust is prevented from adhering to the reflecting mirror. Since the shielding plate is located at a position distanced from the optical opening, dust hardly reaches and adheres to the shielding plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disc storage unit that utilizes a voice coil motor to move an access arm. The voice coil motor includes a coil disposed on the side of the access arm parallel with the case bodies of the disc storage unit, a pair of upper and lower yokes, with the coil located therebetween, mounted in parallel to the case bodies, and magnets disposed on at least one of the upper and lower yokes with a cross flux to the coil. At least one of the upper or lower yokes extends through a through-hole provided in at least one of the case bodies. The space gained by the through-hole can be used to reduce the profile of the disc storage unit or permit larger magnets, yokes, etc. to be used in the voice coil motor. The larger magnets, yokes, etc., improve the output of the voice coil motor and speed up the seek time of the disc storage unit. Therefore, the advantages of a low-profile and a high speed seek time can be obtained, respectively.