Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a light source, and an elliptical or ellipsoid shaped mirror mounted for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. The elliptical mirror can be positioned on an ellipse, the moveable arm can pivot about an axis passing through a first focus of the ellipse, and the light source can direct light from a point on a second axis passing through a second focus of the ellipse to the elliptical minor. The light source can include a fixed laser and a moveable mirror mounted to pivot about the second axis or a moveable laser mounted to pivot about the second axis. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: When a disk tray stops beyond or before a predetermined rotational position, there has heretofore been a likelihood of the disk tray being unable to be inhibited its rotation. As an arm portion 261b is displaced counterclockwise, a shaft portion 262b of a rotary stopper 262 moves toward an engaging groove 223, so that a sharp portion 262a1 is inserted into the engaging groove 223. At this time, slant faces formed on both sides of the tip of the sharp portion are guided along slant faces of the engaging groove 223 and are inserted to an inner part of the engaging groove. Thus, even when a rotary tray 220 stops at a position deviated from the predetermined rotational position, it is possible to surely inhibit the rotation of the rotary tray 220.

Abstract: In a disk identifying device, when a slanting reflecting face is irradiated with light emitted from a light emitting element while a rotary tray is rotating, most of the light reflected from the slanting reflecting face is not incident on a light receiving element, whereas when a flat reflecting face is irradiated with the light emitted from the light emitting element, most of the reflected light is incident on the light receiving element. Since the receiving element receives the reflected light in a pattern corresponding to an assigned number of a pertinent disk placing portion, the rotary position of the rotary tray is detected. Where a disk detecting hole is irradiated with the light emitted from the light emitting element, the presence or absence of a disk on the pertinent disk placing portion is detected by the presence or absence of the reflected light received by the light receiving element.

Abstract: A disc changer for storing disc-shaped information carriers and transporting the information carriers into and out of a scanning position in an information disc player includes a closed stationary guiding track which is bounded, viewed in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction, by a stationary rolling track and a driving member. The guiding track has a width which substantially corresponds to a diameter of the information carriers, so that the information carriers stored in the guiding track are rolled along the rolling track by cooperation of the driving member with a circumferential part of the information carriers. The guiding track is annular and is bounded by a circular cylindrical rolling surface of the rolling track and a roller of the driving member, the roller being rotatable about an axis of rotation coinciding with a common central axis of the guiding track and the rolling track.

Abstract: A disk device has a slide tray, rotary tray and chucking mechanism. A motive gear attached to the slide tray has an engaging pin. On the rotary tray, a Geneva gear operating in cooperation with the engaging pin is provided. In a motive gear, a cam groove and a cam member for controlling ON and OFF of chucking operation are provided. In a device body, there are provided a rack for taking in and out and a guide groove. There are provided a central gear driven by motor and an idler gear meshed with the central gear. According to a rotation direction of the motor, the idler gear is selectively meshed with the motive gear or the rack.

Abstract: When a disk tray stops beyond or before a predetermined rotational position, there has heretofore been a likelihood of the disk tray being unable to be inhibited its rotation. As an arm portion 261b is displaced counterclockwise, a shaft portion 262b of a rotary stopper 262 moves toward an engaging groove 223, so that a sharp portion 262a1 is inserted into the engaging groove 223. At this time, slant faces formed on both sides of the tip of the sharp portion are guided along slant faces of the engaging groove 223 and are inserted to an inner part of the engaging groove. Thus, even when a rotary tray 220 stops at a position deviated from the predetermined rotational position, it is possible to surely inhibit the rotation of the rotary tray 220.