Recording medium loading and unloading apparatus that can prevent light from falling on recording medium

A recording medium loading and unloading apparatus for loading and unloading a recording medium that is housed in a case and forms a cartridge and on which information is optically recorded, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing that has an insertion slot into which the cartridge is inserted and that forms a closed space shielded from outside light, in cooperation with a door that openably closes the insertion slot;
• a loading mechanism that introduces the cartridge inserted through the insertion slot, into the housing;
• and
• a shutter opening mechanism that is provided in the housing and that opens a shutter provided in the case of the cartridge to expose part of the recording medium from the case during introduction of the cartridge into the housing by the loading mechanism,
• wherein the shutter opening mechanism opens the shutter only when the insertion slot is closed by the door.