Abstract: An optical disc device comprising a tray (1) for carrying an optical disc, which tray (1) can move between a position inside the device and a position partly outside the device. The device also comprises a structure (13) for holding and driving the optical disc, which structure (13) is provided with a turntable (6) and an optical pickup unit (8) and guiding means for moving the optical pickup unit (8). The structure (13) can tilt around a horizontal tilt axis (14) behind the rotating optical disc. The tray (1) is provided with a catch member (9) and the optical pickup unit (8) is provided with a cooperating catch surface (20), whereby the catch member (9) may hit the catch surface (20) when the tray (1) moves, thereby displacing the optical pickup unit (8) into a save position.

Abstract: When a disc is loaded in or unloaded from a disc device, even if the disc is pushed in the direction opposite to the transmission direction by external force to return or is pulled to return, it is possible to prevent the mechanism that transmits the disc from being damaged and to improve the reliability of the disc device. In a disc device for loading the disc inserted by the pivoting of the arm mechanism therein and for unloading the disc accommodated therein to the outside thereof, a lock mechanism, by which a lock state in which driving force for pivoting the arm mechanism is transmitted from a driving mechanism is released when force more than a predetermined amount is applied to the arm mechanism in the loading direction of the disc or in the unloading direction of the disc, is formed.

Abstract: A system of shipping tape drives while they are mounted to a frame uses shipment brackets to retain the drives within the frame in retracted positions during shipment. The brackets allow the drives to be shipped inside the frame. The brackets hold the drives in the retracted position within the frame by clipping into the drives and the shelves above the drives. Tabs on each bracket snap into a drive such that the drive cannot move with respect to the bracket or the shelf. The drive is pushed into position until the bracket is fully engaged with the shelf above the drive and the tabs have prevented the drive from further insertion. Because the bracket is engaged, the drive no longer can move in or out of the shelf.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus, comprising a tray 2, attached to be insertable within housings 9 and 10, and within the housings are included a disc motor 3, an optical pickup 4 and a moving mechanism thereof, and also a unit mechanism chassis 5 for moving the optical pickup thereon and a controller substrate 71 disposed below the unit mechanism chassis for controlling the optical pickup, and further, a wide-width flexible cable 8 for electrical connection between the controller substrate and the optical pickup, wherein the optical pickup mounts laser units 41, 42 and 43 including three (3) pieces of elements, each emitting a laser light different in the wavelength thereof, a penetrating portion 2b and a wall portion 2e are provided in a part of left bottom surface of the tray, while forming a cutoff portion 55 in a part of the chassis, thereby guiding the airflow generated accompanying with rotation of the optical disc onto the optical pickup, with certainty.

Abstract: An optical disc device has a first optomechanical mechanism, a second optomechanical mechanism, and a sled mechanism. The first optomechanical mechanism is located under an optical disc insertable into the optical disc device to optically access a bottom surface of the optical disc. The second optomechanical mechanism is located over the optical disc insertable into the optical disc device to optically access a top surface of the optical disc. The first and the second optomechanical mechanism are disposed on the sled mechanism. Movement of the sled mechanism results in both the first and the second optomechanical mechanism moving radially in relation to the optical disc.

Abstract: A disk drive includes: a disk tray having a disk loading surface on the top; a moving mechanism that guides the disk tray between a disk-tray housing position in the casing and a disk loading position outside the casing; and a grounding support section having a grounding member that comes into contact with a grounding surface below the disk tray to support the disk tray when the disk tray is brought into the disk loading position by the moving mechanism.

Abstract: A main printed board having an electronic part contiguous to an apparatus main body at inside of a cabinet made of a synthetic resin is arranged to be proximate to other side walls of a ceiling plate portion and a bottom plate portion, a static electricity preventing plate having a width wider than that of the main printed board is hung from the ceiling plate portion to be proximate to the other side walls opposedly to the main printed board, a lower end of the static electricity preventing plate is extended to a vicinity of the main printed board, projected portions are integrally projected from the ceiling plate portion 1a to be proximate to a rear portion of a tray contained at inside of the cabinet, and lower ends of the projected portions are positioned downward from an upper face of the tray.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DVD mechanism system that is for adjusting an inclined state and mounted on a carrying mechanism of the DVD player and comprises: a spindle motor for loading and rotating a DVD; an optical read-write head for reading and writing the information of the DVD; two guiding rods for loading the optical read-write head; and at least two two-way adjustable positioning elements; wherein the two two-way adjustable positioning elements are to fasten the DVD mechanism on at least two positioning structures of the carrying mechanism in order to adjust the inclined state of the DVD mechanism.

Abstract: An optical disc drive includes an electro-conductive chassis, a tray, a bezel and an electro-conductive sheet. Wherein, the electro-conductive chassis has an opening portion. The tray is disposed inside the electro-conductive chassis for carrying an information storage medium and can move into and from the electro-conductive chassis, and the bezel is disposed at a front edge of the tray. In addition, the electro-conductive sheet is disposed between the front edge of the tray and the bezel, and substantively covers the opening portion of the electro-conductive chassis. As the tray stays inside the electro-conductive chassis, the electro-conductive sheet is in contact with the electro-conductive chassis. Consequently, the electro-conductive sheet is able to reduce the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated during the operating of the optical disc drive. Further, the electromagnetic wave leakage damaging human health is also prevented.

Abstract: An opening 142 into which a rod-like body 200 can be inserted is formed in a front surface of a chassis outer sheath, a temporary gear 202 is provided at a position opposed to the opening 142, a temporary gear 202 and a gear group 62 are connected to each other, and a discharge lever 100 is moved by operation of the rod-like body 200.

Abstract: According to the invention, a changer with a tray loading mechanism, wherein a tray holding a recording medium is transported from a storage position to a playback position and vice versa with a transport hook, which engages a recess of the tray, has a transport hook which is provided with a torsion spring for rotating the transport hook from a tray grabbing position into a tray transport position, wherein the transport hook can be rotated into the tray grabbing position in mid-travel.

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 tray ejecting mechanism includes a stationary bezel mounted to a front surface of an ejectable tray included in a medium drive device, and a movable bezel movably attached to the stationary bezel in a front-back direction while being biased in a front-surface direction. The movable bezel serves as an outer housing of the medium drive device contained in an electronic apparatus. The stationary bezel includes a detection component positionally shiftable in accordance with an open/close position of the tray, and a switch component having a pressing portion for pressing an ejection switch on the tray and being positionally shiftable in conjunction with the detection component. The movable bezel includes a pressing rib that applies a pressing force to the pressing portion to press the ejection switch.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a newly-designed computer case with an optical disk drive mounted on a chassis front, in which an optical disk drive such as a compact disk player (CDP), a digital video disk player (DVDP) and the like is mounted on a chassis front the computer case so as to reduce the front and rear width of the computer case to a size corresponding to the front and rear length of the optical disk drive, to facilitate the use of the optical disk drive, and to improve the image of the product with a unique design.

Abstract: A contactless power system for an automated data storage library having a plurality of storage shelves for storing data storage cartridges, at least one picker for accessing the data storage cartridges with respect to the storage shelves, and a transport system for guiding the picker(s) along at least one path with respect to the storage shelves. The contactless power system comprises a plurality of segmented coils arranged in parallel to the path(s), and in proximity to at least one induction receiver of the picker(s); and at least one power source supplying power to the segmented coils, for inductive transmission of power by the segmented coils to the induction receiver(s) of the picker(s). The power source(s) may switch the supplied power to selected segmented coils based on an indication of the position of the induction receiver(s) of the picker along the path.

Abstract: A disk recording-reproducing apparatus ensures a large transport distance of a tray which moves a disk-shaped recording medium between an ejecting position and a recording-reproducing position while decreasing a dimension in the transport direction. A drive section (47) is built into a tray (13) which can be extracted from and retracted into an external chassis (10) and moves a disk-shaped recording medium between the ejecting position and the recording-reproducing position. A pinion (56) comprises an output end of the drive section (47) and rolls on a rack (24) of a chucking slider (20) to self-propel the tray (13). After the tray (13) completely moves to the recording-reproducing apparatus side, an output from the drive section (47) of the tray (13) is used to move the chucking slider (20) to the ejecting direction of the tray (13). Then, a cam groove (23) provided on the chucking slider (20) is used to raise a base unit (30).

Abstract: To provide a disk drive having a mechanism to limit position of a tray while being transferred by a simple configuration, guiding parts each having a guide rib and a supporting portion are provided on at least one outer wall on the side facing inside the chassis, and a sliding part having a guide groove is provided on a sidewall of the tray corresponding to the guiding part. The guide rib of the guiding part is slidably fitted in the guide groove. A horizontal limiting-rib sliding face is formed on a connecting part connecting outer and inner walls of the chassis. The sliding part includes a position-limiting rib extending upward and downward from the leading edge of the tray sidewall with a guide groove formed between the position-limiting rib and the edge of the sidewall. The position-limiting rib is slidably held between the supporting portion and the limiting-rib sliding face.

Abstract: A disk recorder/player (1) including a skew adjusting means of a thin design is provided which includes a base (101), a disk rotation driving mechanism (102) for an optical disk (4), an optical pickup (103), first and second guide shafts (105, 106) to support the optical pickup (103) at opposite ends of the latter, an optical pickup moving means (104) guided by the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) in moving the optical pickup (103) radially of the optical disk (4), an elastic member (126) put in contact with the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) to force the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) in a direction generally perpendicular to the main side of the optical disk (4), an adjusting screw (127) put into contact with the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) from the opposite side of the elastic member (126) to move the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) in a direction opposite to the direction of forcing by the elastic member (126), and a skew adjusting means (109) which adjust

Abstract: A springing device including a moveable piece and an elastic object is provided. The moveable piece is disposed between the aperture and the tray and is able to swing. The first end of the moveable piece is pivotally connected to the internal of the casing and the pivotal connection is used as a supporting point of swinging, the second end of the moveable piece is pivotally connected to the baffler. The elastic object is connected to the moveable piece. When the tray is disposed within the optical disc drive, the elastic object sustains the moveable piece and the baffler, enabling the baffler to close the aperture. When the tray moves towards the aperture until touching the moveable piece, the moveable piece, which receives a force and swings, will apply a force onto the elastic object and move the baffler to slide, enabling the baffler to open the aperture.

Abstract: A disk recorder/player (1) including a skew adjusting means of a thin design is provided which includes a base (101), a disk rotation driving mechanism (102) for an optical disk (4), an optical pickup (103), first and second guide shafts (105, 106) to support the optical pickup (103) at opposite ends of the latter, an optical pickup moving means (104) guided by the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) in moving the optical pickup (103) radially of the optical disk (4), an elastic member (126) put in contact with the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) to force the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) in a direction generally perpendicular to the main side of the optical disk (4), an adjusting screw (127) put into contact with the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) from the opposite side of the elastic member (126) to move the first and second guide shafts (105, 106) in a direction opposite to the direction of forcing by the elastic member (126), and a skew adjusting means (109) which adjust

Abstract: A method for opening/closing a disk tray of a disk drive. The method includes the steps of when a first event occurs, sending a load/unload command to the disk drive, to which the disk drive responds with a second or third event, and resends the load/unload command to the disk drive when the disk drive responds to the previous load/unload command with the second event.

Abstract: A disk drive unit advantageously prevents dust from adhering to a pickup. The disk drive unit has a housing and a tray. The tray reciprocates between a retracted position and a projected position. A first pickup and a second pickup have a spindle motor located therebetween. The tray has a first cutout and a second cutout. A cover is provided to cover the top of the second pickup in its retreated position. The cover has a cover piece, which is disposed in a front portion of the cover that is positioned on the upstream side relative to the rotational direction of a disk-shaped recording medium such that it is movable in a direction parallel to the direction in which the second pickup moves, and urged in the projecting direction.

Abstract: An air flow generated during disk rotation is rectified to suppress disk vibrations and prevent the qualities of recorded and reproduced signals from being degraded. Notches 24 and 26 are formed on top edges of right and left side walls 22 and 22 of a frame 10. Opposite ends of a clamp holder 28 along its long side direction are fixedly mounted on the notches 24 and 26. Rectifiers of repetitive structures 32 and 34 having a wave shape as viewed in plan are formed on the clamper holder 28 on the plate portions 28a and 28b on both sides of a clamper 30 and at edges on the output side of an air flow generated during disk rotation.

Abstract: In a printer capable of performing recording on a recording medium such as an optical disk, a tray on which the recording medium is set is sent upstream or downstream by being nipped by a driving transfer roller rotatably driven by a motor and a driven transfer roller driven and rotated contacting it. When the tray is in a stillness state in a set position where the recording medium can be set, the assist control means generates rotation torque T1. When an external force F comes in effect on the tray, rotation torque T2 is generated by friction between the driving transfer roller and the tray, but the rotation torque T1 becomes an assist force, and the driving transfer roller rotates while any slip between the tray and the driving transfer roller does not occur.

Abstract: An optical disc drive with a positioning mechanism suitable for reading data from an optical disc is provided. The optical disc drive comprises a casing, a tray, a reading module and a rail. The tray is disposed inside the casing. The tray has a first positioning part and is suitable for withdrawing from the casing. The reading module is disposed on the tray and is suitable for reading data from an optical disc. The rail is disposed inside the casing and is suitable for withdrawing from the casing when driven by the tray. The rail has a second positioning part. When the tray is ejected from the casing, the location of the tray relative to the casing is maintained through the first positioning part and the second positioning part. Therefore, an optical disc can be put on the tray or removed from the tray with ease.

Abstract: An optical disk drive with an anti-tilt tray. The optical disk drive has a top protrusion, a fulcrum and a tray disposed on the main body of the optical disk drive along a track constrained by the top protrusion and the fulcrum. The tray is movable between a first position and a second position. Each track of the tray has a gradually thickened area. When the tray is in the second position, the top protrusion and the fulcrum contact the gradually thickened area, such that the gap between the track and the top protrusion is reduced, preventing the tray from vertical tilting.

Abstract: A media player facing has a device housing with a drawer and a facade. The outer surface of the facade and the outer surface of the device housing are aligned so that the facade outer surface and the device housing outer surface are substantially continuous when the drawer is closed.

Abstract: A flexible printed-wiring circuit board that connects a signal-processing circuit board and a pickup is prevented from coming into contact with the bottom (or the like) of a tray and thus becoming damaged. The flexible printed-wiring circuit board (FPC board) is disposed in a U-shaped folded state in a space sandwiched between a surface along which the tray moves, and a surface on which the signal-processing circuit board is mounted. An extension portion that restricts deformation of the FPC board toward the tray is provided at a connecting end of the pickup. Length D of the extension portion is set such that length S of the FPC board from a front end of the extension portion to a fold-back position of the FPC board is equal to or less than a required value.

Abstract: A disk device includes a frame defining a tray housing and a rail housing communicating with the tray housing; a tray releasably received in the tray housing in the frame; and a rail movably incorporated in the rail housing. The rail includes a slide for drawing the tray out of the frame, and a latching member for detachably engaging with the tray. The slide is movable along a first direction that exposes from the rail housing, the latching member is movable along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction between a first position where the latching member is engaged with the tray and a second position where the latching member is disengaged with the tray.

Abstract: Increases in the data transfer rates of optical disc drives have resulted in problems such as increases in optical disc vibrations due to higher rotation speeds or increases in heat generation due to increases in the output of motors for rotating the optical discs and in the output of laser diodes. To solve such problems, an optical pickup is provided with an air duct therein, and a space that is formed between the optical disc and a top case of a casing and that has negative pressure during rotation of the optical disc is connected to the air duct in the optical pickup via a tube, at least part of the tube being deformable. The optical pickup is cooled by the air flow through the air duct induced by pressure difference.

Abstract: A planar backplane is arranged in a horizontal orientation in a server configured for rack mounting. The planar backplane is configured to accept and mount a plurality of disk drives in a vertical orientation in a dense server arrangement.

Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a disk-carrying tray, a shielding member and buffer member disposed at adjoining position of the disk-carrying tray and the shielding member to absorb impact of broken pieces in case of breakup of an optical disk during the reading and writing operations.

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: An apparatus for reading an optical disc. The apparatus includes a housing and a spindle positioned to rotatably support the optical disc adjacent to the exterior of the housing. A light emitting scan head is aligned to read the optical disc as it rotates. A protective member, having a silhouette that is smaller than the area of the optical disc, is movably coupled to the housing between a first position that aligns the protective member to prevent extraneous emission of light from the scan head, and a second position that enables access to mount the optical disc on the spindle. The apparatus may be an audio CD player. The rotating optical disc may be positioned to extend beyond the surface of the housing. A spring disposed between the housing and the protective member, where the spring operates to close the protective member.

Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a spindle motor for rotating an optical disk, and an optical pickup head. On a base plate, a pickup moving motor moves the optical pickup head in a disk radial direction. A motor plate supports the spindle motor. A spacer holder has a small thickness, and is secured to the base plate. A spacer boss is disposed to project from the spacer holder toward the motor plate. A first hole is formed through the spacer boss. A retaining screw has first and second shaft portions. A screw hole is formed in the base plate, for engagement with the first shaft portion inserted through the first hole, to retain the retaining screw. A great diameter peripheral surface is positioned at the second shaft portion, for applying pressure to fit the spacer boss tightly on the motor plate. Further, the spacer is formed from plastic material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin optical disc drive whose impact resistance performance is improved. An under cover 19 is provided with a collision evasion hole 21 at a position corresponding to an end of an optical head housing 25. Moreover, a bottom cover 4 is provided with an impact force buffering member 22 at a position corresponding to the collision evasion hole. When an impact force acts on an optical disc drive 1, the impact force to the optical head housing 25 is buffered by the structure. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the optical head 8 from being damaged, and it is possible to improve the reliability of the optical disc drive 1.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical disk device in which heat generated from an optical head and circuit board is dissipated without introduction of outside air or use of a fan. A through portion is provided in part of the mechanical block or outside of the portion on which a tray is projected for carrying a disk for reproduction or write, such that it extends from a disk side portion with respect to the tray to a portion opposing the disk with respect to the tray, in order to introduce air flow generated by disk rotation to an optical head and circuit board and dissipate heat generated at the time of recording or reproduction.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for discriminating an optical recording medium and a method for discriminating an optical recording medium which can reliably discriminate the kind of an optical recording medium even in the case where the optical recording medium to be discriminated is formed with periodical undulation in the circumferential direction thereof. The apparatus for discriminating an optical recording medium according to the present invention includes a first electrode 11, a second electrode 12, an alternate current signal generation circuit 13 for applying an alternate current A to the first electrode 11, a detection circuit 14 for detecting a level of an alternate current B appearing at the second electrode 12, and a control circuit 15 for controlling the operations of the alternate current signal generation circuit 13 and the detection circuit 14.

Abstract: A load/unload control system for a tray, the load/unload control system includes a control module and a drive module. The control module is used for controlling a voltage, the control module includes a storage unit for storing instructions and an output unit constructed and arranged for reading the instructions from the storage unit and outputting the instructions. The drive module is coupled to the drive module for supplying the voltage adapted to move the tray based on the instructions, the instructions comprising at least one step-up voltage instruction for increasing the voltage during a load process and at least one step-down voltage instruction for decreasing the voltage during an unload process. A related control method for controlling a voltage to load/unload a tray is also provided.

Abstract: A tray is mounted in a framework for sliding between extended and retracted positions, and has a separate drive adjacent each of the opposite sides of the tray. The drives on the opposite sides of the tray are effected through friction clutches so that one of the drives can be stationary and slipping while the other drive continues to move the tray. Reference stops are provided to orient the tray against the stops each time the tray is retracted.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading disks and its method of orientating different disks includes housing, a print device, a drawer device, a base with multiple sets of sensor and a transport mechanism. The drawer device includes a disk tray, a driving mechanism, an attaching element, a swing element, an elastic element and a set of disk attachment. The transport mechanism is connected to the drawer device for moving disk tray upon the base. The transport mechanism through a controller automatically controls the various functions of the various components of the drawer device.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for holding a data storage device that defines a mounting hole in a side wall, includes a bracket for holding the data storage device therein, and an operating member movably attached to the sidewall of the bracket. The bracket includes a sidewall. A tab extends from the sidewall. A locking portion protrudes in from the tab near a free end of the tab for engaging in the mounting hole of the data storage device. The operating member includes an driving portion for engaging with the tab to retract the locking portion from the mounting hole of the data storage device.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing device includes a disc tray, a device body supporting the disc tray movably in an insertion-ejection direction, and a holding mechanism for holding the disc tray within the device body. The holding mechanism includes a bias member biasing the disc tray outward of the device body, an engagement pin extending through an opening of the device body near a sidewall thereof and engageable with the disc tray to hold the disc tray within the device body, and an engagement segment provided in the disc tray and engageable with the engagement pin. The engagement pin includes a flange portion fitted to a depressed portion of the opening, a pin body extending through the opening, and an engagement projection projected into the device body from the pin body and engageable with the engagement segment. The engagement projection is disposed on the pin body at a position biased towards the sidewall.

Abstract: A guide member (20) is disposed between a body chassis (2) of a disk driving apparatus (1) and an electric connection wire (15). The guide member (20) moves together with a tray (3) to prevent the body chassis (2) and the electric connection wire (15) from coming into contact with each other and moving. In a state in which the tray (3) is sufficiently pulled out from the body chassis (2), the guide member (20) projects from the tray (3) to prevent the electric connection wire (15) from coming into contact with the body chassis (2).

Abstract: In guide grooves formed at both side edges of a lower face of a tray and fitted to a pair of left and right guide members of a cabinet, the guide groove substantially in a U-like shape on one side is inserted with a front end portion of an elastic plate integrally projected at a front portion of the cabinet, a recess portion is formed at a portion of one side face of the guide groove 12 opposed to the elastic plate in a state of containing the tray into the cabinet, and formed such that by bringing the one side face of the guide groove 12 into elastic contact with the elastic plate opposed to the recess portion in moving the tray forward, other side face of the guide groove is brought into contact with reference guide faces of the guide member on one side to thereby prevent the tray from being inclined.

Abstract: In a disc cartridge, the shutter opening/closing operation is to be performed reliably. To this end, the distal ends of a first engagement member 75 and a second engagement member 79 provided to a base 66 are pivotally movable in a direction along a lateral surface of a housing 51, in addition to being movable in a direction perpendicular to the lateral surface of the housing 51. The state of engagement of the first engagement member 75 and the second engagement member 79, provided to the base, with a first mating engagement section 110 and with a second mating engagement section 108, provided to an inner rotor 101, facing outwards from one lateral surface of the housing 51, when the base 66 performs relative movement along the lateral surface of the housing 51, may be maintained for prolonged time, while the load applied to the distal ends during engagement and disengagement may be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a resin-made mechanical element for optical disk drives, comprising a filler reinforced resin composition obtained by blending from 5 to 150 parts by weight of an inorganic filler in a flake form to 100 parts by weight of a resin composition comprising from 30 to 90% by weight of a polyphenylene sulfide resin, from 70 to 10% by weight of a polyphenylene ether resin and a compatibilizing agent, or a resin-made mechanical element for optical disk drives, comprising a filler reinforced resin composition obtained by blending a combination of an inorganic filler in a flake form and a fibrous reinforcing filler in a total amount of 5 to 150 parts by weight with 100 parts by weight of a resin composition comprising from 30 to 90% by weight of a polyphenylene sulfide resin, from 70 to 10% by weight of a polyphenylene ether resin and a compatibilizing agent.

Abstract: A tray drive mechanism has a simple structure, and yet both an optical disc clamping operation and a tray opening and closing operation can be driven by one feed motor. The tray drive mechanism comprises: a feed gear and a tray drive gear that are rotated by a feed motor; a rack member to mesh with the feed gear so as to be driven in direction to inner circumference of the optical disc; a plate trigger driven by the rack member so as to slide; and a cam slider to slide in linkage with the plate trigger. When the cam slider is slided in linkage with plate trigger so as to be driven in direction by the tray drive gear meshing with a rack, a boss of the cam slider pushes a slope portion of each of cam grooves and provided in a tray, so that the tray slides to cause a rack of the tray to mesh with the tray drive gear. Thus, the tray is opened and closed by the feed motor.

Abstract: A recess (16a3) is provided to be continuous with the circumferential edge of a tray recess (16a2) of a disk tray (16) housing an optical disc (28) to allow a pickup (45) to move without contacting anything. A cover section (17c) having a substantially tongue-like shape adapted to the recess (16a3) is projected integrally from a rotor support member (17) covering the tray recess (16a2) from above and defining a substantially cylindrical housing space (18) for coaxially housing the optical disc (28), the cover section continuously covering the recess (16a3) of the disk tray (16) and the housing space (18). Even when the optical disc (28) is rotated at a high speed, flutter attributable to airflow or a difference between pressures on both sides of the optical disc (28) can be reduced to allow the optical disc (28) to rotate with stability.

Abstract: A drive for storage disc which permits a convenient means of loading and unloading the storage disc. The drive includes a loading device for transport of a storage disc into the drive, the loading device including a carrier for accommodating the storage disc. In a loading position, the carrier remains generally in the drive and, in the direction of an insertion opening of the drive, includes an opening for insertion of the storage disc.