Patent ID: 6874153

Claim:
A recording medium loading apparatus capable of loading a disc-shaped recording medium, comprising: a carrier for transferring the disc-shaped recording medium between a first position to insert/remove the disc-shaped recording medium and a second position to perform a reproducing and/or recording process; and a holding device installed on the carrier for holding an outer circumference of the disc-shaped recording medium; wherein the holding device is in contact with top and bottom portions of the outer circumference of the disc-shaped recording medium by clamping the outer circumference of the disc-shaped recording medium from the top and the bottom, and clamps a portion in an insertion direction from a central-front portion of the disc-shaped recording medium with respect to the insertion direction, and wherein at least when the carrier starts moving from the first position to the second position, the holding device holds the portion in the insertion direction from the central-front portion of the disc-shaped recording medium, and does not hold a portion of the disc-shaped recording medium in an eject direction.