Patent ID: 6118751
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A disk changer apparatus using a plurality of disk cartridges each comprising: an inner case for holding an optical disk; an outer case for accommodating the inner case, having an opening allowing the inner case to come in and out; lock means for locking the inner case in the outer case, provided in a vicinity of the opening; and coupling means for coupling the disk cartridge with another disk cartridge, the disk changer apparatus comprising:a disk stacker for containing a plurality of the disk cartridges;a disk drive device for driving the optical disk; andmeans for moving the disk drive device to a selected disk cartridge among the plurality of the disk cartridges,wherein the disk drive includes:means for pulling out the inner case to a pulled-out position from the outer case of the selected disk cartridge by more than a half of the inner case but not by entirety thereof;means for holding the inner case at the pulled-out position and rotating the optical disk; andmeans for reading/writing data on the optical disk.