Patent ID: 6359854
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A disk loading mechanism for storing a plurality of disk cartridges each containing a disk and loading a disk cartridge in a disk reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on the disk, comprising:a plurality of independent cartridge holders, each cartridge holder adapted to store a single disk cartridge therein and provided, on the opposite sides thereof, with grip pins which are gripped when transferring the cartridge holder; a disk cartridge storage unit adapted to store the plurality of cartridge holders therein in a stack so that back end surfaces of disk cartridges held within the cartridge holders can be seen from outside, said disk cartridge storage unit being provided with a plurality of insertion slots through which the disk cartridges are inserted in the cartridge holders held behind the insertion slots within the disk cartridge storage unit; and a cartridge holder transfer unit adapted to transfer the cartridge holder holding a desired disk cartridge in a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the disk cartridge held in the cartridge holder in the disk cartridge storage unit from the disk cartridge storage unit to the disk reproducing apparatus by gripping the grip pins of the cartridge holder, wherein each of the cartridge holders is a U-shaped frame when viewed from a direction along a rotating axis of the stored disk and provided at least at two positions on the inner side thereof with lugs that engage grooves formed in the disk cartridge to hold the disk cartridge without using a top wall and a bottom wall so that the cartridge holders can be stacked in a height smaller than that in which the same number of cartridge holders having the bottom wall are stacked.