Abstract: A disc drive apparatus has a fixed unit and a collapsible unit which is supported to be expansible and contractible to the fixed unit. A disc drive section is arranged on the fixed unit. The collapsible unit is driven by an expansion/contraction mechanism to expand and contract relative to the fixed unit. An outer housing is fixed to the fixed unit. The outer housing covers the fixed unit and the collapsible unit moved to the contracted position, and has a window capable of passing the collapsible unit. The collapsible unit includes an outer surface exposed to the outside of the outer housing when moved to the expanded position, and an operation panel for setting operation states, which is provided on the outer surface of the collapsible unit and operable from the outside of the outer housing.

Abstract: An optical head apparatus comprises a head unit for irradiating an optical disk with a light beam for recording or reproducing data, a holder for fixing the head unit thereto, a support unit for movably supporting the holder in a radial direction of the optical disk, a support member fixed to the holder, a rack unit movably engageable with the support member within a predetermined range and having a rack along a moving direction of the holder, a gear meshing with the rack of the rack unit, so as to transmit rotating force of a drive source to the rack, and an urging unit for urging the rack unit against the support member in such a manner that the rack meshes with the gear by a predetermined resilient force.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disc drive apparatus includes a collapsible portion that performs an extending operation in response to insertion of a disc into a disc insertion port. A disc detecting mechanism has a detecting portion detecting insertion of a recording medium, a disc detecting stopper, a first disc detecting lever, and a second disc detecting lever on the first disc detecting lever. In response to insertion of the recording medium, the first and second disc detecting levers are rotated to cause a second abutting portion of the second disc detecting lever abuts against the disc detecting stopper and moves the medium detecting member from a first position to an intermediate position. With further insertion of the recording medium, the second disc detecting lever rotates to rotate the first disc detecting lever to move the medium detecting member from the intermediate position to a second position.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disc drive apparatus comprises a disc drive having a drive base, a disc drive motor, and a pickup unit which records and playbacks information with respect to the recording medium. The pickup unit includes a pickup movably provided on the drive base, a flexible cable which extends from the pickup in the moving direction of the pickup and transmits a signal to the pickup, and a holding member which extends from the pickup in the moving direction of the pickup and opposes to a recording medium side of the flexible cable. The holding member has an extended part which extends toward the outer peripheral portion of the recording medium in the moving direction of the pickup, and at least partially extends over a contour of the drive base, when the pickup moves to the outer peripheral position.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus has a fixed unit and a collapsible unit which is supported to be expansible and contractible to the fixed unit. A disc drive section is arranged on the fixed unit. The collapsible unit is driven by an expansion/contraction mechanism to expand and contract relative to the fixed unit. A disc insertion opening is formed at a distal end in the expanding/contracting direction of the collapsible unit. When a disc is inserted into the disc insertion opening, the collapsible unit is expanded.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus has a fixed unit and a collapsible unit which is supported to be expansible and contractible to the fixed unit. A disc drive section is arranged on the fixed unit. The collapsible unit is driven by an expansion/contraction mechanism to expand and contract relative to the fixed unit. A disc insertion opening is formed at a distal end in the expanding/contracting direction of the collapsible unit. When a disc is inserted into the disc insertion opening, the collapsible unit is expanded. There is provided a drive section driving mechanism which moves the disc drive section to the expanding direction, when the collapsible unit moves from the contracted position to the expanded position.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus has a fixed unit and a collapsible unit which is supported to be expansible and contractible to the fixed unit. A disc drive section is arranged on the fixed unit. The collapsible unit is driven by an expansion/contraction mechanism to expand and contract relative to the fixed unit. An outer housing is fixed to the fixed unit. The outer housing covers the fixed unit and the collapsible unit moved to the contracted position, and has a window capable of passing the collapsible unit. The collapsible unit includes an outer surface exposed to the outside of the outer housing when moved to the expanded position, and an operation panel for setting operation states, which is provided on the outer surface of the collapsible unit and operable from the outside of the outer housing.

Abstract: An optical head apparatus comprises a head unit for irradiating an optical disk with a light beam for recording or reproducing data, a holder for fixing the head unit thereto, a support unit for movably supporting the holder in a radial direction of the optical disk, a support member fixed to the holder, a rack unit movably engageable with the support member within a predetermined range and having a rack along a moving direction of the holder, a gear meshing with the rack of the rack unit, so as to transmit rotating force of a drive source to the rack, and an urging unit for urging the rack unit against the support member in such a manner that the rack meshes with the gear by a predetermined resilient force.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a controlling mechanism for selectively providing the driving force from the same driving source to a tray driving mechanism, a disk driving section driving mechanism and a head driving mechanism for successively moving a tray, a disk driving section and a head in this order or in the opposite order, and a switch driving mechanism for controlling the switch in either of the on and off states at the time the tray reaches at the pulling out reference position from the cabinet, and controlling the same in the other state of the on and off states at the time the head reaches at the reference position for recording or reproducing with respect to the disk according to the contract with the member interlocked with the operation of the controlling mechanism.