Patent ID: 6345030
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A disc apparatus, comprising:a casing; a single insertion opening provided in said casing through which a disc is inserted into or ejected from said casing; a transfer member for transferring a second disc inserted through said insertion opening into said casing and for ejecting a first disc located in said casing out through said insertion opening; a turntable provided in said casing for rotationally driving said disc; a clamper for engaging said disc with said turntable; a pair of disc guides provided in said casing for supporting said first and second discs, said pair of disc guides being provided opposed to each other on both sides of an area above said turntable to which said disc is transferred, each of said disc guides having an upper rib and a lower rib extending in the direction of transfer and ejection of said disc; and a moving member for moving said pair of disc guides and said turntable in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which said first disc or said second disc is transferred by said transfer member, wherein said pair of disc guides are disposed so that one of said upper and lower ribs faces said insertion opening with said first disc supported by the other rib when said second disc is inserted; wherein said second disc to be inserted is transferred by said transfer member from said insertion opening and supported by one of said upper and lower ribs; wherein said pair of disc guides supporting said first and second discs are moved by said moving member so that said other rib supporting said first disc faces said insertion opening, and said first disc is ejected by said transfer member from said insertion opening; wherein after the ejection of said first disc, said turntable is moved by said moving member to the position of said second disc, and is driven in association with said clamper while holding said second disc; wherein said moving member moves along the direction of transfer and ejection of said disc so as to provide a space for moving said disc guides and said turntable, and said disc guides and said turntable are moved, respectively, following the movement of said moving member; and wherein said moving member comprises a pair of first guide slots that are engaged by pins on said disc guides and a pair of second guide slots that are engaged by pins on a chassis supporting said turntable, wherein said perpendicular movement of said disc guides and said turntable is caused by a sliding of the pins along the first and second guide slots during movement of the moving member.