Compact apparatus having bidirectional motion for loading/unloading an information recording medium

An information recording medium loading/unloading apparatus in an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on an information recording medium contained in a casing, for loading the information recording medium to, and unloading the casing from, a predetermined loading position in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus, said information recording medium loading/unloading apparatus comprising:

• a holder for detachably holding the casing containing the information recording medium;
• a pair of first rotational center members projecting outward from each of both opposed side surfaces of the holder at two locations spaced apart from each other along a movement locus of the casing when the casing is mounted in and removed from the holder;
• a pair of rocking members associated with the pair of first rotational center members provided on each of both side surfaces of the holder, the associated first rotational center members being passed through the rocking members, the rocking members being rotatably coupled to the associated first rotational center members;
• a second rotational center member projecting from each of the rocking members in the same direction as that in which the associated first rotational center member projects, at a position spaced apart from the first rotational center member;
• two guide members provided to face both side surfaces of the holder, and each guide member including first linear guide means and second linear guide means, the first linear guide means linearly guiding one of the pair of first rotational center members provided on the associated side surface of the holder and the second rotational center member provided on one of the paired rocking members associated with the one of the pair of first rotational center members associated with the first linear guide means, and the second linear guide means linearly guiding the other of the pair of first rotational center members provided on the associated side surface of the holder and the second rotational center member provided on the other of the paired rocking members associated with the other of the pair of first rotational center members being associated with the second linear guide means, each of the first and second linear guide means having a first guide portion extending along the movement locus of the casing when the casing is mounted in and removed from the holder and a second guide portion extending from an end of the first guide portion in a direction crossing the first guide portion, an intersection region between the first guide portion and the second guide portion changes a direction of its extension gradually from the extending direction of the first guide portion to the extending direction of the second guide portion, and the first rotational center member and the second rotational center member both to be linearly guided by each of the first and second linear guide means are arranged such that the first rotational center member is located closer to the second guide portion than the second rotational center member in the first guide portion of the associated one of the first and second linear guide means;
• and
• driving means associated with at least one of the side surfaces of the holder for moving the second rotational center members provided on the side of the one of the side surfaces of the holder, along the first guide portions of the first and second linear guide means,
• the first guide portion of each of the first and second linear guide means extending substantially horizontally, the second guide portion of each of the first and second linear guide means extending substantially vertically, and an intersection region between a lower edge of the first guide portion and a front edge of the second guide portion being constituted by a curved edge changing a direction of its extension gradually from the extending direction of the lower edge of the first guide portion to the extending direction of the front edge of the second guide portion, said curved edge having a radius substantially equal to a distance between the associated first rotational center member and the associated second rotational center member.