Abstract: A motor (2) for rotating a disk; a head (3) for recording/reproducing information of the disk; a tray (1) on which a first cartridge and a second cartridge that accommodate the disk respectively and have different outside shapes can be mounted selectively; a transferer (7, 1k) for transferring the tray (1); a detector (4) for detecting an outside shape difference between the respective cartridges; a disk cartridge guide (1d) for positioning the respective cartridges such that, when mounting the respective cartridges on the tray (1), centers of the respective disks accommodated in the respective cartridges do not coincide with each other; and a transferring distance changer (5, 10a, 1g, 1h, 1i) that can change a transferring distance of the tray (1) of the transferer (7, 1k) based on a result of the detector (4), and can transfer the tray (1) to a position where the centers of the respective disks accommodated in the respective cartridges coincide with a substantial center of the motor (2) are provided.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a plurality of optical heads corresponding to a plurality kind of disks, and a disk distinction device for distinguishing whether a set disk is a first disk or a second disk when a disk is set on a disk tray, a first disk tray conveying mechanism for the first disk and/or the second disk tray conveying mechanism for the second disk conveys the disk tray to a first tray position in which recording and/or reproducing is performed on the first tray or the second tray position in which recording and/or reproducing is performed on the second tray, according to a result distinguished by the disk distinction device, thereby, an optical head corresponding to a disk set to the disk tray is selected correctly and a recording or reproducing operation is performed on the disk.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a plurality of optical heads corresponding to a plurality kind of disks, and a disk distinction device for distinguishing whether a set disk is a first disk or a second disk when a disk is set on a disk tray, a first disk tray conveying mechanism for the first disk and/or the second disk tray conveying mechanism for the second disk conveys the disk tray to a first tray position in which recording and/or reproducing is performed on the first tray or the second tray position in which recording and/or reproducing is performed on the second tray, according to a result distinguished by the disk distinction device, thereby, an optical head corresponding to a disk set to the disk tray is selected correctly and a recording or reproducing operation is performed on the disk.

Abstract: A tray for mounting a cartridge incorporating a flat information recording medium includes sliders sliding in a loading direction of the cartridge on a tray base in cooperation with the mounting action of the cartridge, and a slider moving mechanism for moving the slider between an initial position, and a plurality of stopping positions remote from the initial position by specific distances in the loading direction. The plurality of stopping positions are at least in two stopping positions, that is, a first stopping position remote from the initial position by a first distance in the loading direction, and a second stopping position remote from the initial position by a second distance longer than the first distance in the loading direction. Thereby, if a cartridge is mounted on a tray in a wrong direction, the user can easily recognize its wrong mounting.

Abstract: An automatic disk changer has a recording/reproducing device capable of operating a reproducing-only disk and a recording/reproducing possible disk, disk trays that can be placed on the recording/reproducing device, and each of which has a disk-type discriminating means able to discriminate as to whether the disk could be a reproducing-only disk or a recording/reproducing possible disk, a tray storage holding the disk trays, and a tray carrier able to pullout/insert the disk trays from/into the tray storage and able to transport the disk tray to/from the recording/reproducing device.

Abstract: A cleaning cartridge for use with an optical recording apparatus cleans from outside of the apparatus, an object lens of an optical disc recording apparatus or the like having a separation type optical system and glass covers for covering projection windows through which lasers are projected. A brush (28)for use on an object lens and a brush (26) for cleaning the glass covers (18)can be moved from outside. In order to effect operation of the cleaner, the transfer base (movable portion including the object lens of the head) is adapted to be transferred by the magnet, the inclined face or a transfer means within the apparatus.

Abstract: An optical disk drive of the type having a fixed optical unit having a light transmitting hole from which a laser beam is emitted, and a movable head having a light receiving hole from which the laser beam is received, wherein the respective outer edges of the light emitting and receiving holes are surrounded by a pair of annular projections. The annular projections are engageable with each other to provide a seal therebetween when the head is displaced toward the fixed optical unit. The annular projections are preferably made of a cushioning material in which instance they also serve as a cushioning or shock-absorbing member.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a bias magnetic field to a magneto-optical disk includes a movable magnet which serves to generate a bias magnetic field. A suitable device serves to generate a drive magnetic field to move the magnet. A stopper is engageable with the magnet to stop the magnet at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A shutter opening and device includes movable components such as a lever, an actuating pin and a spring all disposed in a guide channel of a cartridge holder into which a disk cartridge is inserted. The device of this construction is low in profile and compact in size and makes it possible to reduce the overall size of a disk drive in which the device is incorporated. With the combination of a straight guide groove and an oblique guide groove formed in the cartridge holder, the actuating pin is movable along a substantially straight path. This enables the user to insert the disk cartridge into the cartridge holder smoothly with a small muscular effort.