Patent ID: 6941571

Claim:
A reproducing apparatus, comprising: a reproduction means for reproducing signals recorded on a disc recording medium which is rotatably housed in a disc cartridge; a support means for movably supporting the reproduction means along a radial direction of the disc recording medium, the support means having a support base which supports the reproduction means; and a drive means having a movable portion arranged at the support base, a drive shaft for slidably supporting the movable portion along the radial direction of the disc recording medium, and an electromechanical-transduction element installed to one end of the drive shaft, which lengthens and shortens along a shaft direction of the drive shaft corresponding to driving pulses, the drive means causing the electromechanical-transduction element to lengthen and shorten corresponding to the driving pulses to shift the drive shaft along the shaft direction thereof so as to cause the movable portion to slide along the shaft direction of the drive shaft; wherein the reproduction means and the electromechanical-transduction element of the drive means are arranged within a projection area of openings of the disc cartridge for exposing a part of the disc recording medium to an outside from an inner to an outer circumference thereof.