Disk drive comprising a holder unit and chassis unit

A disk drive comprising:

• a chassis having a support portion;
• a unit mounted on said chassis, said unit operable to at least record information on, or reproduce information from, a medium encased in a disk cartridge;
• a holder pivotally mounted on said support portion of said chassis, said holder operable to hold the disk cartridge;
• a transfer member mounted on said holder, said transfer member operable to transfer the disk cartridge in a first direction between a mounting position and an inserted position, the first direction having a directional component that is parallel to said chassis, said transfer member having a first engagement portion,
• a movement mechanism operable to guide the disk cartridge in a second direction between the mounting position and the inserted position, the second direction having a directional component that is perpendicular to said chassis;
• and
• a drive mechanism mounted on said chassis, said drive mechanism operable to drive said transfer member from the mounting position to the inserted position relative to said chassis, said drive mechanism comprising
• a first rack member slidably arranged on said chassis, said first rack member including a second engagement portion engaged with said first engagement portion of said transfer member, said first rack member further including a first toothed portion,
• a second rack member slidably arranged on said chassis, said second rack member including a second toothed portion,
• a drive gear between said first rack member and said second rack member, said drive gear being meshed with one of said first toothed portion and said second toothed portion, and
• a switch lever operable to engage with said first rack member and said second rack member, said switch lever operable to switch between a state of meshing of said first toothed portion with said drive gear and a state of meshing of said second toothed portion with said drive gear.

A disk drive comprising:

• a recording and reproducing unit for recording information on a recording and/or reproducing medium encased in a disk cartridge and/or reproducing the information recorded on the medium;
• a chassis having a support portion;
• a holder for guiding and holding the disk cartridge, said holder being pivotally mounted on said support portion;
• a transfer member for transferring the disk cartridge between a mounting and dismounting position where the disk cartridge can be mounted on and dismounted from said holder and an insertion completed position where the disk cartridge is completely inserted in said holder, said transfer member being mounted on said holder and having a first engagement portion;
• a vertical movement mechanism for moving the disk cartridge in a generally vertical direction, between the insertion completed position and a recording and reproducing position where information can be recorded on the medium and/or reproduced from the medium by said recording and reproducing unit;
• and
• a drive mechanism operable both to drive said transfer member to transfer the disk cartridge to the insertion completed position, and to drive said vertical movement mechanism to move the disk cartridge in a generally vertical direction, between the insertion completed position and the recording and reproducing position, said drive mechanism being driven by a motor and having a second engagement portion,
• wherein said first engagement portion is engaged with said second engagement portion such that said first engagement portion is arranged to be disengageable from said second engagement portion by moving said first engagement portion in a vertical direction.