Loading mechanism, drive unit, and information processing apparatus

A loading mechanism for loading an information recording medium in a predetermined position and unloading the information recording medium therefrom, the loading mechanism comprising:

• a tray on which the information recording medium is placeable in a predetermined position, the tray including at least three projections arranged along first and second opposite directions, the projections including first and second projections forming first and second ends of the arrangement of the projections;
• and
• a frame including a guide groove that guides the projections of said tray, the guide groove extending along the first and second opposite directions,
• wherein:
• the tray is movable in the first and second opposite directions between a first position where the information recording medium is contained completely inside said frame and a second position where the information recording medium is exposed completely outside said frame;
• and
• the first and second projections come into substantially point or linear contact with the groove part of said tray when said tray is in the second position.

A loading mechanism, comprising:

• a tray for transporting an optical disk, the tray including a rail groove and a disk placement surface on which the optical disk is placeable;
• a frame including a rail engaging the rail groove of said tray, and a drive mechanism for driving said tray in first and second opposite directions, the drive mechanism driving said tray so that said tray slides on the rail so as to be ejected in the first direction at a time of unloading said tray;
• and
• a rib provided on at least one of first and second opposite surfaces of a rear part of said tray, the rear part including a portion of said tray which portion remains inside said frame when said tray is ejected, the first and second opposite surfaces of the rear part being parallel to the disk placement surface of said tray.

A loading mechanism, comprising:

• a tray for transporting an optical disk, the tray including a rail groove and a disk placement surface on which the optical disk is placeable;
• and
• a frame including a rail engaging the rail groove of said tray, and a drive mechanism for driving said tray in first and second opposite directions, the drive mechanism driving said tray so that said tray slides on the rail so as to be ejected in the first direction at a time of unloading said tray,
• wherein:
• the rail groove includes first and second linear projections each extending along the first and second opposite directions, the second linear projection being closer to a center of said tray than the first linear projection is;
• and
• a dimension of the first linear projection in a direction perpendicular to the disk placement surface of said tray is maximized within a range that prevents the first linear projection from interfering with said frame so that an overlap between the rail and the first linear projection increases.

A loading mechanism, comprising:

• a tray for transporting an optical disk, the tray including a rail groove and a disk placement surface on which the optical disk is placeable;
• and
• a frame including a rail engaging the rail groove of said tray, and a drive mechanism for driving said tray in first and second opposite directions, the drive mechanism driving said tray so that said tray slides on the rail so as to be ejected in the first direction at a time of unloading said tray, the frame further including a plurality of tray holding parts for preventing said tray from being lifted in a direction away from said frame,
• wherein a projection in a direction away from said frame and perpendicular to the disk placement surface of said tray is provided to said tray in at least a region that opposes any of the tray holding parts when said tray is ejected.

A loading mechanism, comprising:

• a tray for transporting an optical disk, the tray including a rail groove including a linear projection to which a rack is provided;
• a frame including a rail engaging the rail groove of said tray, and a drive mechanism for driving said tray in first and second opposite directions, the drive mechanism including a loading motor and a loading gear engaging the rack of said tray, the drive mechanism driving said tray so that said tray slides on the rail so as to be ejected in the first direction at a time of unloading said tray;
• and
• an auxiliary rack provided to an end part in the second direction of the linear projection of the rail groove of said tray.