Patent ID: 7299479

Claim:
An optical disk drive capable of preventing occurrence of breakup of an optical disk therewithin, the device comprising: a disk compartment having an entrance-and-exit opening; a disk-carrying tray mounted within an interior of said disk compartment, said disk carrying tray being movable between an opening position and a closing position, in which said disk-carrying tray is withdrawn into said disk compartment to permit reading and writing of the optical disk; a shielding member attached to said disk-carrying tray in such a manner that said shielding member covers said opening and flushes with an outer surface of said disk compartment when said disk-carrying tray is disposed at said closing position; and a buffer member mounted on said disk-carrying tray, disposed rearwardly of said shielding member in such a manner that said buffer member blocks said opening so as to stop and absorb impact of broken pieces in case a breakup of the optical disk occurs when said disk-carrying tray is disposed at said closing position.