Abstract: Loading and unloading mechanism for slot type disc player apparatus incorporates a device for transferring a disc to the disc drive after it has been inserted through a slot and for transferring the disc from the disc drive and ejecting it through the slot after the playing operation has been completed. A disc carrier plate is mounted on the frame of the apparatus for helical movement between a first position adjacent the slot and a second position adjacent the disc drive. A spring or a motor provides power to rotate the carrier plate, which rotational movement is translated to helical movement by helical ramp members and cooperating bearing members. Control devices are included to provide automatic operation.

Abstract: An audio-visual cartridge containing two coplanar adjacent rotatable discs, a visual disc carrying a plurality of picture transparencies mounted in a ring for successive viewing and an audio disc having sound recording tracks on a face thereof for individual sound recordings corresponding to transparencies, the cartridge being in the form of a flat envelope having a first and second internal compartment disposed in coplanar relation for accommodating the discs. An apparatus for reproducing recordings while a user views transparencies on discs contained in an audio-visual cartridge is provided with a manual selector for rotating the visual disc and a motor drive for rotating the audio disc, an optical viewer for reading the transparencies, an audio device for reading sound tracks and reproducing recordings and a circuit and mechanism for coordinating the rotation of the discs so that individual recordings corresponding to transparencies are reproduced while the corresponding transparencies are being viewed.