Disc loading/unloading apparatus

A disc loading/unloading apparatus for a disc player having a loading/unloading opening therein, comprising:

• (a) positioning means for contacting the outer perimeter of the disc at spaced locations on the perimeter upon insertion of the disc into the opening, the positioning means including at least first and second positioning members;
• (b) biasing means for urging the positioning members against the outer perimeter of the disc for holding the disc in a loaded position;
• and
• (c) means for ejecting the disc from the loaded position, including unloading means for pushing the discs toward the opening, and rotatable cam means for counteracting the biasing force of the biasing means and moving the positioning members to a released position out of contact with the disc until the disc moves toward the opening beyond a predetermined position, the cam means including:
• first and second cam follower pins respectively mounted on said first and second positioning member;
• and
• a cam having a generally circular outer surface, a first cam portion for engaging the cam follower pins and moving the positioning members against the biasing means and to the released position, and a second cam portion for engaging the cam follower pins and maintaining the positioning members in the released position until at least one half of the disc has moved beyond the positioning members toward the opening, the first and second cam portions comprising symmetrically arranged depressed portions have a generally sector-shaped configuration, each of the depressed portions including a first gradually curved wall extending from a point near the center of the cam outward toward the outer surface and a second gradually curved wall intersecting the first wall, the surface of the depressed portion being sloped between the first and second walls, and the second wall defining a step for supporting the cam follower pins.