Abstract: An information processing system has a scanning apparatus which includes a brake mechanism for braking a turntable, on which an optical disk is mounted when the motor for rotating the turntable is stopped. A lock mechanism for preventing the optical head from moving is also activated. The lock mechanism operates in interlock with the brake mechanism when the brake mechanism is activated. The brake and lock mechanism are driven by a common drive source.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an optical disk and a drive mechanism for rotating the disk. The disk comprises a disk-shaped body and an attractable portion at the central portion of the body. The attractable portion has an attractable member projecting from the body. A center hole, defining the center of rotation of the body, is cut in the attractable member. The drive mechanism includes a turntable which is rotated by a motor. A depression is formed in a support surface of the turntable. A magnetic attraction unit is arranged in the depression so as to magnetically attract the attractable portion, whereby the attractable member is housed in the depression and the surface of the body is in contact with the support surface.

Abstract: An automatic disk cassette changing apparatus employs a pair of cassette storage racks for holding a plurality of optical disk cassettes in an upright (vertical) position. A motor operated loading mechanism checks to see if an operator has properly loaded a cassette onto a transport slide and then moves the slide to place the cassette in a predetermined position inside the apparatus. A cassette handling mechanism including a tiltable carrying frame then picks up the cassette and delivers it either to a storage slot in one of the storage racks or to an optical read/write unit. To insert a cassette into the latter, the carrying frame is tilted 90 degrees so that the cassette is loaded into the read/write unit in approximately a horizontal position. The handling mechanism employs three separate motors for raising and lowering the carrying frame, for tilting the carrying frame, and for moving the frame from side-to-side in response to control commands.

Abstract: A cartridge for housing a disk-shaped information recording medium to be inserted in a recording and reproduction apparatus. The cartridge includes a first case for enclosing a first half of the disk and a second case for enclosing a second half of the disk. The first and second cases are movable into and out of contact with each other along a pair of disk support members. When the first and second cases are in contact with each other the disk is completely enclosed and protected from contamination. Upon insertion in the recording and reproduction apparatus, the first and second cases are automatically separated by a predetermined distance to expose a radial portion of the disk for recording and reproduction.

Abstract: An optical disk with a recording layer formed on the inner surface of a protective plate has data which is read out upon irradiation of a laser beam. A substrate supports the protective plate such that the recording layer opposes the substrate and a space is formed therebetween. The spacer is sandwiched between the protective plate and the substrate so as to couple them. The spacer is an elastically deformable member. Therefore, when the protective plate expands or contracts relative to the substrate, due to deformation of the spacer, excessive force does not affect the recording medium. Warp, wave or damage to the disk due to expansion/contraction of the protective plate or substrate can be prevented, thereby allowing stable data processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing a disk having a through hole formed in the center thereof, which comprises a rotatable shaft, a disk support which is fixed to the rotatable shaft and has a supporting surface for supporting the one side of the disk, and a disk holder which is detachably fitted to the rotatable shaft and presses the disk on its other side toward the supporting surface, thereby to cause the disk to be fixed between the disk holder and the disk support. The disk holder includes a holder body which is provided to be fitted onto the rotatable shaft and movable along the rotatable shaft, a pressure assembly which is disposed on the holder body to exert the disk on its other side an elastic pressure against the supporting surface, and a slip preventive mechanism for preventing the holder body from the rotatable shaft by engaging the holder body with the rotatable shaft through the fitting of the holder body onto the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: In the recording and/or reproducing device according to the present invention, a disc unit (i.e., recording member) is utilized which comprises upper and lower spaced centrally apertured recording portions. Each recording portion is provided with an annular recording layer on its inner surface and an aperture at its center for rotatably mounting on a turntable. Upon rotating the turntable with the disc unit, the recording and reproducing device records information signals on, and reads information signals from, the recording layer on each recording portion by using a light beam. The light beam is positioned to strike only the recording layer on the lower recording portion. When the disc unit is turned on its other side, the previously positioned upper unit is then positioned as the lower unit to receive the light beam. The turntable comprises a perpendicularly orientated centering member which engages the aperture of a recording portion. The centering member centers the disc unit on the turntable.

Abstract: An electronic printing apparatus including a single laser oscillator providing a laser beam reflected by a rocking mirror to selectively scan a manuscript for reading or a photoconductive drum for writing. When writing the laser beam is modulated by a binary signal corresponding to the intensity of light reflected from the manuscript during reading.