Disc drive arrangement for CD player and the like capable of loading different size discs

In a disc drive for discs of first and second diameters;

• a loading slot through which the disc is introduced into the drive;
• first and second movable disc guides;
• a slide arrangement on which the first and second movable disc guides are mounted;
• a lock arrangement for selectively locking the first and second movable disc guides in first and second predetermined positions, the first position being suited to guiding discs having a first diameter and the second position suited to guiding discs having a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter;
• a sensor arrangement responsive to the diameter of the disc being inserted, the sensor arrangement being operatively connected with the lock arrangement for releasing the same from a position suited for discs having a first diameter and permitting the disc guides to be moved to a new second position suited for discs having a second diameter;
• a loading roller, the loading roller being disposed in the loading slot, the roller having a central portion and two tapered axial end portions, the central portion having a diameter which is less than that of the axial ends of the roller, the two tapered axial end portions tapering outwardly from the central portion to the ends of the roller;
• and
• a guide plate, the guide plate being disposed in the loading slot and having a concave surface which is juxtaposed to the loading roller, the guide plate being arranged with respect to the loading roller in a manner wherein the disc which is being loaded into the drive is contacted on a first surface by the guide plate and contacted on a second, opposite surface by the loading roller, the arrangement of the guide plate and the loading roller being that the disc is contacted only at the peripheral edge portions thereof.