Loading mechanism for a recording and reproducing apparatus wherein a switch mechanism and the loading mechanism are a single unit

Apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on/from an information carrier carried in a cartridge, said apparatus comprising:

• a chassis;
• a cartridge room for insertion of said cartridge through an opening in a wall of the apparatus;
• a loading mechanism for loading the cartridge into an operational position in the cartridge room;
• a drive mechanism including a first rotating member for driving the information carrier via a second rotating member, said first rotating member being in an operational position in which said first rotating member drives said second rotating member and in a stand-by position when the information carrier in the cartridge is in a state of rest,
• a switch mechanism for reciprocally moving the drive mechanism from the operational position to the stand-by position, wherein the switch mechanism and the loading mechanism are a single unit.