Patent ID: 7100177

Claim:
A reproducing/recording apparatus comprising a first disk tray for mounting a first disk thereon and a second disk tray for mounting a second disk that is of a type different from the type of the first disk thereon, the first disk tray being adapted to be moved into and away from the apparatus through a single disk inlet/outlet port with the second disk tray laid thereon, wherein a first reproducing/recording mechanism for reproducing data from and/or recording data onto the first disk and a second reproducing/recording mechanism for reproducing data from and/or recording data onto the second disk are arranged respectively at fore and back positions relative to the disk inlet/outlet port, and a second tray driving mechanism to be used for driving the second disk tray to move to the side of the disk inlet/outlet port and a first tray driving mechanism to be used for driving the first disk tray in a state of carrying thereon the second disk tray to move to the side of the disk inlet/outlet port, said first tray driving mechanism having a drive source, a first gear unit linked to the drive source and a first tray rack held in engagement with the first gear unit and arranged at the first disk tray, said second tray driving mechanism having a drive source, a second gear unit linked to the drive source and a second tray rack held in engagement with the second gear unit and arranged at the second disk tray, said second gear unit having a loosing mechanism to be used for separating the drive force of the second tray rack from the second gear unit without load when moving the first disk tray to the disk inlet/outlet port with the second disk tray laid thereon.