Card loading apparatus having releasing means for releasing pressure to an optical card

A card loading apparatus for loading thereon an information recording card having two opposite surfaces and two opposite side edges and for moving the card relative to a head to read/write information from/on the card, comprising:

• a base;
• a first guide member coupled to the base and abutting against said one side edge of the card to guide the card;
• a second guide member coupled to the base and abutting against said one surface of the card to guide the card;
• a support member mounted to the base to be movable relative to the base, and abutting against the other surface of the card to support the card with the card being interposed between the support member and the second guide member;
• means for pressing the card against the first guide member by abutting against the other side edge of the card;
• first means for releasing the card from pressure of the pressing means when the supporting member moves with respect to the base;
• means for urging said support member to the second guide member to press the card against the second guide member;
• and
• second means for releasing the card from the pressure of the urging means when the support member moves with respect to the base;
• wherein said second means for releasing the card from the pressure of the urging means includes:
• a first projecting portion formed on the second guide member and projecting toward the base,
• a second protruding portion formed on the support member and projecting toward the second guide member, and
• said second projecting portion contacting said first projecting portion when the support member moves with respect to the base.