Patent ID: 6313968
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A recording medium recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising:a recording medium conveying mechanism for conveying a recording medium from an insertion/eject position to a loading position, the recording medium being inserted or ejected at said insertion/eject position, the recording medium being loaded for a recording or reproducing operation at said loading position;a head for writing information on the recording medium or reading information recorded on the recording medium; anda head moving mechanism for moving said head from an uppermost position to a recording and reproducing position and to a waiting position located between said uppermost position and said recording and reproducing position, said head being located at said uppermost position when said recording head does not perform a recording or reproducing operation, and being located at said recording and reproducing position when said head performs a recording or reproducing operation, said head being moved in association with conveyance of the recording medium by said recording medium conveying mechanism with said head being stopped at said waiting position and with said recording medium being in said loading position when the head is at the waiting position and before moving said head to said recording and reproducing position,wherein the distance between the recording medium at the loading position and the waiting position is smaller than the distance between the recording medium at the loading position and the uppermost position; andwherein said head moving mechanism stepwisely moves said head from said uppermost position to said recording and reproducing position so that said head stops at said waiting position between said uppermost position and said recording and reproducing position.