Patent ID: 7350217
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for loading and unloading a disk-shaped recording medium in a disk drive device, the disk drive device comprising: a pickup which falls below a level where the recording medium is placed when the recording medium is loaded and unloaded, so that the recording medium is loaded and unloaded in a plane direction thereof while avoiding a contact between the recording medium and the pickup; a mechanism block which has the pickup mounted thereon, the mechanism block having a free end section located on a turntable side and a base end section located upstream in an unloading direction of the recording medium, wherein when the recording medium is loaded and unloaded, the free end section moves at a distance about the base end section as a swing support point in a thickness direction of the recording medium, thereby realizing the falling; and a guide mechanism which guides the pickup substantially in a radial direction of the recording medium to realize recording/readout, the guide mechanism being provided on the mechanism block such that a path of the pickup is parallel to a loading/unloading direction of the recording medium and such that its outer end in the radial direction of the recording medium is provided to extend beyond a periphery of the recording medium, the method comprising: when the recording medium is loaded and unloaded, causing the pickup to withdraw to the outer end which is provided to extend.