Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining whether a same disc is loaded in an optical drive. The method comprises the steps of measuring a time interval between a disc insertion event resulting from a disc insertion command and a disc ejection event resulting from a disc ejection command, comparing the time interval with a predefined value, and indicating that the same disc is loaded in the optical disc if the time interval is smaller than the predefined value.

Abstract: A CD player, which comprises a conveying roller, a first sensing rod, a second sensing rod, a linkage member, a first switch and a second switch; wherein the linkage member is used for transmitting the rotation of the first sensing rod to the second sensing rod and provided with a first retaining part, a first clamping part, a second retaining part, a second clamping part; the two retaining parts are respectively arranged on both sides of a centerline of a CD conveying path; when the first sensing rod is prevented from rotating by the first retaining part, the second sensing rod is used for releasing the behavior; and when the second sensing rod is prevented from rotating by the second retaining part, the first sensing rod is used for releasing the behavior. The player can avoid the malfunction of a major-diameter CD detection switch and has a very simple structure.

Abstract: An optical disc drive comprises a flash memory, an optical pick-up head, a spindle motor and a control unit. The control unit generates a determination result according to whether the optical disc drive has a disc loaded therein, and stores the determination result into the flash memory when the optical disc drive receives a power. The control unit reads the determination result from the flash memory after receiving the power again, and determines whether to control the optical pick-up head and the spindle motor to execute the disc detection procedure according to the determination result. If the determination result is negative, whether the optical disc drive has a disc loaded therein is determined according to a rotation speed of the spindle motor. If the rotation speed is larger than a threshold value, the control unit determines that no disc is loaded in the optical disc drive.

Abstract: An optical disc device of the present invention comprises an insertion detection optical sensor which detects insertion of an optical disc based on light emitted from a first light emitting element to a first light receiving element being blocked, and an ejection detection optical sensor provided on the downstream side in the carry-in direction to the insertion detection optical sensor to detect ejection of the optical disc based on light emitted from a second light emitting element to a second light receiving element being blocked. The optical disc device is structured such that, in a state that the optical disc is attached onto the turntable, when the light of the first light emitting element is blocked and the light of the second light emitting element is not blocked, the optical disc device recognizes that a lens cleaner is attached onto the turntable as the optical disc, and the optical disc device performs a cleaning operation.

Abstract: A medium processing device includes a processor, the processor emits light to a medium by a light source and calculates spherical aberration information relevant to spherical aberration related to the medium based on a detection result of reflected light, determines an installation direction of the medium processing device based on the spherical aberration information, and sets configuration information relevant to an operation for the medium based on a determination result.

Abstract: A compact disc centering apparatus of a compact disc player includes carrying rollers which are disposed within a compact disc entry on the opposite sides thereof and a compact disc guiding; a pair of detection rods capable of synchronized rotating, which is disposed between a support plate and the compact disc entry. The apparatus also includes a control device and a trigger device, wherein, an engaging portion is disposed on the control device and extends along the direction in which the control device moves, and an engaged portion is disposed on the trigger device and engages with the engaging portion. When the engaged portion is located in the engaging portion, the contact between the engaging portion and the engaged portion makes the trigger device rotate and stop at a position such that the center of the compact disc is coincident with the center of the support plate.

Abstract: An emergency ejection protecting module is disclosed to protect the emergency ejection device in an optical disc drive. When the optical disc drive reads/writes a disc, moving a protection door at the case to reveal an ejection hole causes an abnormal operation of the emergency ejection. The contact end protruded from the protection door activates a sensor to transmit an ejection signal to the optical disc drive, and the optical disc drive starts the ejection operation to protect the disc.

Abstract: A slot-in optical disc drive is provided to comprise a driving element moveably disposed in the optical disc and capable of moving toward a disc loading direction and a disc unloading direction, wherein the driving element has a loading drive groove; a disc loading element pivoted in the optical disc drive, wherein the disc loading element has a loading driven pin for operating with the loading drive groove; a disc unloading element pivoted in the optical disc drive; and an elastic element used for providing an elastic force on the disc unloading element.

Abstract: A carrying section of a disk apparatus includes a pair of arms disposed in a substantially symmetrical relationship with respect to the carrying direction of a disk in the proximity of the opposite ends of an opening formed in a housing such that the arms pivot around end portions thereof adjacent the opening in synchronism with each other in directions toward and away from each other, and a biasing element which biases the arms in a direction in which ends of the arms remote from the opening approach each other. The arms individually have rollers provided thereon which grip and carry the disk to a predetermined position. At least one of the rollers is rotated by the driving member to carry the disk.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus includes: a disk table on which a disk recording medium inserted into a disk insertion port for loading is mounted; an eject lever rotatably supported by a chassis, and having a disk holding part that holds the inserted medium; and a support lever rotatably supported by the chassis and having a disk holding part, wherein these levers are rotated between a waiting position at which the disk holding part waits for the inserted medium and a drawing position at which the medium held by the disk holding part is drawn, wherein when the eject lever and the support lever are at the waiting positions, the disk holding parts are each positioned at a position which is located more on the disk insertion port side than a centering projecting part of the disk table and is not overlapped with the insertion direction of the medium.

Abstract: To provide a “disk device” that does not waste a power during waiting for disk insertion and thus can save power consumption. The disk device includes: a casing equipped with an insertion port to which a disk is inserted; a conveying mechanism for conveying a disk, which is provided inside the insertion port; a switching type detecting switch that is switched to a detection state in accordance with a movement force of a disk inserted from the insertion port in an insertion direction; and an optical detecting member that is switched to a detection state when a disk inserted from the insertion port blocks an optical path, wherein when the detecting switch is switched to a detection state, power supply to the optical detecting member is started.

Abstract: A disc apparatus includes: a housing; a recording/reproducing unit provided in the housing for recording and/or reproducing information in and/or from a disc-shaped recording medium; an insertion/ejection port provided on the housing through which the disc-shaped recording medium is inserted and ejected, the insertion/ejection port having a width greater than the diameter of the disc-shaped recording medium; a disc transport mechanism provided in the housing to transport the disc-shaped recording medium between the insertion/ejection port and the recording/reproducing unit; and an identification mechanism to identify the disc-shaped recording medium as a first disc-shaped recording medium having a first diameter or a second disc-shaped recording medium having a diameter smaller than the first diameter The identification mechanism includes a pair of levers, a pair of gear members, urging means, a stopper, first detection means, and control means.

Abstract: An optical disk transport device for an optical disk playing device includes a delivery roll and an optical disk guiding device located at the optical disk insertion inlet, a pair of detection bars provided with detection parts contacting the periphery of the optical disk inserted from the optical disk insertion inlet, and the detection bars being capable of freely rotating around respective rotary pivots. The device further includes a linkage plate for controlling the pair of detection bars to move together, an elastic part making the detection bars rotate according to the direction that makes the detection parts contact the periphery of the optical disk, and an optical disk baffle for stopping the transport of the small diameter optical disk as the center of the small diameter optical disk passes the center of the plummer.

Abstract: A disk device is capable of quickly identifying an inserted optical disk. A reading portion obtains disk surface information from an optical disk that is passing, and stores the obtained disk surface information in a storing portion provided in a disk playing device. An identifying portion decides whether or not the disk playing device is able to play the optical disk, based on the surface information.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus includes a disk detecting lever that has a switch abutting section and a light intercepting section and rotates according to the loading operation and the ejecting operation of a disk caused by abutment of the outer edge of the disk against a detecting pin; a single switch that is switched by the switch abutting section and thereby detects the loading start position, and also the inserting position of the disk; and a single photosensor that detects the inserting position of the disk with keeping the light intercepting condition thereof by either the light intercepting section or the disk and also detects the ejection end position when the light intercepting condition brought about by the disk has been released and then the light intercepting condition brought about by the light intercepting section is released.

Abstract: A recording medium drive device includes: a holding unit configured to hold a recording medium inserted from a slot; a link mechanism including a plurality of arms turnably connected to each other; an eject lever activated in response to the turning motions of the link mechanism for pushing the recording medium to eject the recording medium from the slot; a drive source configured to supply a drive force for the turning operations of the link mechanism; an urging spring disposed in the link mechanism for applying an urging force in the ejecting direction to the recording medium when the recording medium is inserted from the slot; and position regulating means disposed at a position to suppress the urging spring for the recording medium, for regulating the arms of the link mechanism at the ejecting time.

Abstract: A method and device for protecting slot-in optical disc drive are provided. A first sensing switch is for detecting the action of an unloading unit, a second sensing switch is for detecting the action of a receiving unit, and a third sensing switch is for detecting the action of a positioning bar. A disc is inserted as the optical disc drive is at the initial state, and the states of the first, second and third sensing switches are detected. The transmission unit is activated to automatically load the disc as all sensing switches are turned on, and whether the state of the third sensing switch changes is checked. When the state of the third sensing switch changes, the extraction of the disc is detected, so the transmission unit is immediately reversed to execute the unloading of the disc, so as to protect the optical disc drive.

Abstract: A disk storage medium processing apparatus includes a disk conveying device for conveying a disk between a disk loading/unloading slot of an apparatus body and a centering position of a traverse unit. The disk conveying device includes a pair of first and second disk guide arms which are pivotably disposed on the apparatus body and which can hold the periphery of the disk to convey the disk. Therefore, the disk storage medium processing apparatus can easily and flexibly conduct the control for conveyance of the disk no matter whether the disk has a small diameter or a large diameter, with keeping protection of the recording surface of the disk and can be formed more compactly.

Abstract: A disk storage medium processing apparatus includes at least an apparatus body having a disk loading/unloading slot, a traverse unit which is disposed in the apparatus body to conduct at least one of recording, deletion, and reproduction of information onto or from a disk, and a clamper supporting device for supporting a clamper which clamps the disk to the traverse unit. A disk conveying device conveys the disk into the apparatus body when a part of the disk is inserted through the disk loading/unloading slot and ejects a part of the disk through the disk loading/unloading slot from the state that the disk is housed in the apparatus body. A control device controls the disk conveying device.

Abstract: A slot-in type disc drive is provided by comprising a disc entrance slot for loading a disc into the disc drive along a first direction; a bottom casing; a crossing driving member; and a disc loading device. The crossing driving member has at least a disc driving groove and is moved along a second direction vertical to the first direction. The disc loading device comprises two disc loading levers and two connecting levers. Each of the disc loading levers has a first end close to the disc entrance slot and a second end pivoted on a rotating shaft. Each of the connecting lever having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third ends are respectively pivoted on the disc loading levers, and the fourth ends are pivoted together on a vertical guiding pin. When the crossing driving member moves along the second direction, the vertical guiding pin is moved along the first direction and moved related to the crossing driving member in the disc driving groove.

Abstract: A recording medium drive includes a disc ejecting mechanism that ejects an optical disc disposed on a turntable to a slot. The disc ejecting mechanism is provided with a first disc feeding mechanism disposed on a rear side in a drive unit body and a second disc feeding mechanism (a disc guide mechanism) that is disposed on a slot side relative to the first disc feeding mechanism and continuously feeding the optical disc fed by the first disc feeding mechanism in a direction toward the slot. The optical disc having a small diameter can be transferred from the turntable to the slot by the first disc feeding mechanism and the second disc feeding mechanism which are respectively disposed on the rear side and a front side of the slot, thereby ejecting the optical disc to the outside.

Abstract: A disk apparatus for preventing a disk from being dropped while being inserted or removed therein, including a housing on which an opening through which a disk is inserted into and extracted from is formed; a carrying unit for performing carrying-in and carrying-out of the disk into the housing; first and second motors for driving the carrying means, and for rotating the disk; an optical unit for reading and recording information to/from the disk; and a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus; the carrying unit including a pair of arms disposed in a substantially symmetrical relationship with respect to the carrying direction of the disk in the proximity of the ends of the opening such that the arms pivot around end portions thereof adjacent to the opening in synchronism with each other in directions toward and away from each other.

Abstract: When a normal disk having the diameter of 12 cm is inserted into the disk device, first and second optical detecting elements detect the insertion, and transitions to a first detection state, which initiates transfer operation of first and second transfer rollers. If the disk is further moved to an inner portion of the device, thus pressing first and second detecting pins, first and second detecting switches are turned OFF, and the detecting elements enter a second detection state. Before the transition from the first detection state to the second detection state occurs, a rotating speed of the first and second transfer rollers is set low. After transition to the second detection state, the rotating speed is increased. As a result, a card or other such foreign objects can be removed and a monitoring period can be increased until detection of a normal disk is detected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc loading apparatus that has the capability of simplifying the assembly while improving thinning and reducing the number of components. With a disc loading apparatus according to the present invention, a portion of a top panel of the frame is designed to be a second mounting unit and another portion of the top panel to be a first mounting unit, the upper surface of the second mounting unit is sagged downward more than the lower surface of the first mounting unit, notches are provided appropriately at the steeped unit between the first and the second mounting units, the second mounting unit is a portion of the disc guide, the interlocking mechanism is mounted on the upper surface of the second mounting unit, and the pair of disc detection members is mounted on the lower surface of the first mounting unit, and these detection members are arranged throughout the lower surface of the first mounting unit and the upper surface of the second mounting unit through the notches.

Abstract: A disk playing device includes: a body portion having a disk insertion slot for; a disk playing unit that plays a disk inserted through the disk insertion slot; a slot-in type disk insertion unit that draws in the disk inserted in the disk insertion slot toward the disk playing unit; a sub control unit that drives the disk insertion unit and plays the disk with the disk playing unit; a main control unit; and a disk insertion detection unit that detects a disk and output an insertion detection signal to the main control unit when the disk is inserted in the disk insertion slot, The main control unit determines whether or not the sub control unit is turned OFF when a disk insertion signal is received from the disk insertion detection unit, and drives the disk insertion unit if the sub control unit is OFF.

Abstract: Two positioning levers for positioning a disk and two detecting levers are provided outside an area in a disk loading device where the disk is to be mounted. A large-diameter disk is positioned when both of the two detecting levers come in contact with the disk. At the time of insertion of a small-diameter disk when one of the detecting levers comes in contact with the disk, the two positioning levers do not move and the small-diameter disk is positioned.

Abstract: A disk carrying device including a transporting roller for carrying a disk, a turntable and a clamper for holding the disk, a trigger plate moved by carrying of the disk to a chucking position for changing a transmission route of driving force from the transporting roller to a cam plate, a first biasing means for urging the trigger plate to a position before moving, a guide base for pressing the disk on the transporting roller, an arm roller disposed on an opposite side of the guide base with respect to the transporting roller so as to move the guide base apart from the transporting roller, and a second biasing means disposed between the guide base and the arm roller. The second biasing means is extended when the disk is present between the guide base and the transporting roller and generates urging force pulling the guide base to the transporting roller.

Abstract: A disk drive device includes a device main body in which a disk slot for inserting and removing a disk-like recording medium is provided, a disk holding unit that rotatably holds the disk-like recording medium, a main chassis that supports the disk holding unit and a base unit, an arm unit rotatably supported on one or the other side in a plane parallel to the disk-like recording medium, an urging arm that urges the disk-like recording medium, a first centering member that supports the side of the disk-like recording medium, and a second centering member that supports the side of the disk-like recording medium. The first centering member and the second centering member are regulated in positions to support the side of the disk-like recording medium. The first centering member and the second centering member support the disk-like recording medium in a centering position.

Abstract: A disk storage medium processing apparatus includes an apparatus body having a disk loading/unloading slot, a traverse unit disposed in the apparatus body, a disk conveying device which conveys the disk into or from the apparatus body, and a control device for controlling the disk conveying device. The disk conveying device includes first through third disk conveying arms pivotably attached to the apparatus body to hold a periphery of the disk to convey. The control device includes a trigger setting device for setting trigger for starting control of the disk conveying device according to a diameter of the disk. The trigger setting device moves in a vertical direction according to an amount of pivotal movement of at least one of the first through third disk conveying arms, and sets the trigger.

Abstract: A disc device is for electrically identifying and determining the number of discs inserted into the disc device. Roller members for coming in contact with a disc inserted into the device, transporting the disc, and inserting and ejecting the disc are provided in the vicinity of a disc insertion slot of a cabinet. A lever member for engaging a lever engagement part of a roller member and capable of rotating with a stem member as a supporting point and a push switch for detecting displacement of the lever member are provided. If the disc is inserted into the device, the roller member displaces in the up direction of the disc (A direction in a figure), the lever member displaces in an H direction in the figure, and the displacement of the lever member is detected by the push switch, whereby the thickness of the disc inserted into the device is detected.

Abstract: A disk unit wherein a disk is inserted by a plurality of arms, the arms being able to convey two types of disks different in diameter while supporting an outer periphery edge of each of the disks. A disk is loaded to the interior of the disk unit by automatic loading, and a disk accommodated in the interior of the disk unit is unloaded to the exterior of the disk unit. The disk unit comprises a limit switch, the limit switch being actuated by an arm that is pressed by an outer periphery edge of a large diameter disk or a small diameter disk upon insertion of the disk from a slot of a bezel. The insertion of the large diameter disk or the small diameter disk is determined on the basis of the state of operation of the limit switch.

Abstract: A disk unit comprising a limit switch, the limit switch being adapted to operate when a tip of a guide arm pivots to excess in a centripetal direction relative to a predetermined position at which it should stop while supporting a side portion of a small-diameter disk, the guide arm functioning to conduct a large- or small-diameter disk being conveyed to a predetermined position while supporting a side portion of the disk, a disk unloading operation being started upon operation of the limit switch to permit discharge of a disk of a deformed shape. The disk unit is a slot-in type disk unit permitting automatic loading and drive of two types of disks different in diameter, wherein a disk of a deformed shape inserted by mistake is discharged automatically to prevent damage of a recording surface of the disk and a mechanical damage of the disk unit.

Abstract: In the loading of a disc in a slot-in type of disc apparatus, time lag occurs at the time of shift from an operation that manually inserts the disc to an operation that automatically swallows the disc. In order to solve this problem, a switch for detecting the position of a disc at the beginning of insertion thereof and a switch for detecting a position where the loading of the disc has been completed are provided respectively. The modification of control is made so that the disc support arm is driven with a weak electric power from the beginning of the insertion of the disc, and an error caused by time-out is further detected. If the error has been detected, the disc is ejected.

Abstract: A recording-medium driving apparatus includes a loading unit in which a removable recording medium is loaded, an access unit that accesses the recording medium loaded in the loading unit, a detector that detects the relationship between the recording medium and the loading unit, an air-direction adjustment controller that determines to which of the loading unit and the access unit air is sent, on the basis of the detection performed by the detector, and a blower that sends the air to one of the loading unit and the access unit on the basis of the determination made by the air-direction adjustment controller.

Abstract: A disc transport apparatus for detecting a disc-shaped recording medium with specified diameter, transporting the disc-shaped recording medium to a chucking position, but not transporting a disc-shaped recording medium with different diameter, when detected, to the chucking position includes a recording medium mount section capable of mounting a first disc having a first diameter and a second disc having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, an optical detection unit that uses a light receiving section for receiving reflected light from a detection target in response to light emitted from a light emitting section and that is provided at a position opposite a disc having the first diameter when the disc is mounted on the recording medium mount section and at a position not opposite a disc having the second diameter when the disc is mounted on the recording medium mount section, and a control section for determining whether a disc is mounted based on a detection result of the optical detect

Abstract: In the course of the loading of a disc in a slot-in type of disc apparatus, if a user intends to forcefully pull out the disc, there is a possibility that it is wrongly recognized that the disc has been normally loaded, and then a clamping head of a spindle motor collides against a surface of the disc to damage it. In order to solve this problem, during the loading operation of the disc, a safety mechanism for allowing a clamping operation in response to what the disc has reached a normally clamped position. The safety mechanism may be a mechanical stopper or an electrical detector.

Abstract: A disc device is for electrically identifying and determining the number of discs inserted into the disc device. Roller members for coming in contact with a disc inserted into the device, transporting the disc, and inserting and ejecting the disc are provided in the vicinity of a disc insertion slot of a cabinet. A lever member for engaging a lever engagement part of a roller member and capable of rotating with a stem member as a supporting point and a push switch for detecting displacement of the lever member are provided. If the disc is inserted into the device, the roller member displaces in the up direction of the disc (A direction in a figure), the lever member displaces in an H direction in the figure, and the displacement of the lever member is detected by the push switch, whereby the thickness of the disc inserted into the device is detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining whether a same disc is loaded in an optical drive. The method comprises a step of measuring a time interval between a disc insertion event resulting from a disc insertion command and a disc ejection event resulting from a disc ejection command. It further comprises a step of comparing said time interval with a predefined value. The disc is meant as still loaded in said optical drive if said time interval is smaller than said predefined value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preventing interchange of a first optical information carrier (1) with a second optical information carrier in an optical drive. Initially, the light (5) is focused at the first optical information carrier (1) in the optical apparatus followed by the steps of detecting reflected light (8) from the first optical information carrier (1) and generating a plurality of signals (CA, RF, FE) from the detected light (8), such as a focus error signal (FE). Upon obtaining an indication of a signal, e.g. the focus error signal (FE), is absent or reduced below a certain level, there is a step of assessing if the first optical information carrier (1) has been removed from the optical drive. If removed, reproduction of information by the optical drive is made impossible until some pre-determined measures have been taken, e.g. restart of the optical drive or other measures.

Abstract: The disk carrying apparatus includes a lifting portion which carries a disk onto a turntable, a chuck which holds the carried disk on the turntable, and a third switch which detects an intermediate position between a holding operation start position where the chuck starts a disk holding operation and a holding operation end position where the chuck finishes the disk holding operation. After completion of an initial disk holding operation, the chuck returns to the intermediate position detected by the third switch and retries the disk holding operation.

Abstract: A disk guide device for use with different diameter disks is disclosed. The disk guide device may include a transporting roller for transporting a disk to a chucking position, a pair of detection arms capable of abutting with a periphery of an inserted disk, a biasing member that urges the detection arms in a closing direction, a guide lever have a stopper part an turnable around an axis that is parallel to a face of the inserted disk and perpendicular to a transport direction of the disk; a stopper retreating mechanism which turns the guide lever, and a lock part for maintaining the guide lever in a state where the stopper part is protruded in the disk playing space.

Abstract: A method for ejecting a disc includes the steps of conveying a disc back to a disc-holding position on a rotator by conveyor pulleys if an error occurs in an ejecting process of the disc, and subsequently performing a retry operation of the ejecting process. Specifically, the disc conveyed back to the disc-holding position is rotated by the rotator before restarting the ejecting process.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus according to the present invention has a tray formed of an optically transparent material and has disc receiving portions. The tray is movable in an ejection and a retraction direction with respect to a casing. A light source is mounted inside the tray at the ejection direction side thereof. The light source emits light toward the ejection direction of the tray to cause the light to propagate within the optically transparent material from the retraction direction side through the ejection direction side of the tray with respect to the disc receiving portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discriminating discs includes a loading mechanism transporting discs at an entrance of a disc drive. A sensor unit close to the loading mechanism starts or stops the loading mechanism according to the detection. The center of the receptor disposes a limiting pin to limit the moving distance of the receptor based on the disc size discriminated by the sensor unit. Two ends of a receptor dispose two symmetric positioning posts for positioning automatically. The disc size can be discriminated by counting sensors on for judging increases or decreases, and counting loading time for comparing with the predetermined time.

Abstract: An optical disc player includes a disc determining device for determined the size of an optical disc loaded into the optical disc player, a disc chucking device for the optical disc loaded into the optical disc player, and a disc chucking lever device for associating the disc determining device with the disc chucking device. The disc determining device is guided to the chucking position by the pins and members for locking the pins and positions of the pins for driving the chucking device are changed according to the size of the optical disc so that the optical disc player can be slim. Since the chucking plate, the chucking plate holder, and the plate springs of the disc chucking device for horizontally chucking the optical disc inserted into the optical disc player are thin, the optical disc player can be slim.

Abstract: A carrying section of a disk apparatus includes a pair of arms disposed in a substantially symmetrical relationship with respect to the carrying direction of a disk in the proximity of the opposite ends of an opening formed in a housing such that the arms pivot around end portions thereof adjacent the opening in synchronism with each other in directions toward and away from each other, and a biasing element which biases the arms in a direction in which ends of the arms remote from the opening approach each other. The arms individually have rollers provided thereon which grip and carry the disk to a predetermined position. At least one of the rollers is rotated by the driving member to carry the disk. A controller includes a state decision section which decides a carrying state of the disk and a driving control section which stops, if it is decided that part of the disk is carried out to the outside of the housing, the driving of the driving means in a state wherein the rollers grip the disk.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus according to the present invention has a tray formed of an optically transparent material and has disc receiving portions. The tray is movable in an ejection and a retraction direction with respect to a casing. A light source is mounted inside the tray at the ejection direction side thereof. The light source emits light toward the ejection direction of the tray to cause the light to propagate within the optically transparent material from the retraction direction side through the ejection direction side of the tray with respect to the disc receiving portion.

Abstract: A plurality of switches are pressed by a single switch operating member. A disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus has a switch mechanism operable when a pair of turn arms is turned so as to be spread away from each other by a disk inserted from a disk slot. The switch mechanism includes a plurality of switches, a rotary cam rotatable in ganged relation to angular movement of the turn arms, and a switch operating lever interposed between the rotary cam and the switches for successively pressing the switches in response to rotation of the rotary cam.

Abstract: An optical disk player including: a disk insertion assembly which is positioned on an upper portion of the front face of the player main body and has a disk insertion/ejection opening into which an optical disk is inserted, a disk conveying device which holds the inserted optical disk and is moved in a forward-rearward direction of the player main body so as to convey the optical disk to a disk reproducing device, a moving device which moves the disk conveying device in a vertical direction of the player main body, a disk recognition device that determines whether or not an optical disk is being held in the disk conveying device, and a controller device that controls an operation timing of the disk insertion assembly and the disk conveying device by disk recognition signals supplied from the disk recognition device.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an optical disc driving apparatus 100, 200 for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in the optical disc, the optical disc having an outer peripheral surface, comprising: a housing 101 formed with an loading slot having the optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means 102 for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing 101; and second detecting means 103 for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing 101 after the detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc is performed by the first detecting means 102; and judging means 104 for judging whether one optical disc or partially overlapped optical discs are passed through the loading slot 101a of the housing 101 based on results detected by the first and second detecting means 102 and 103.