Cartridge transporting apparatus

A cartridge transporting apparatus in which a disk cartridge inserted from an insertion opening in an x-direction in a three-dimensional coordinate is loaded into a cartridge holder and the cartridge holder is transported to a reproducing position in a z-direction perpendicular to the x-direction, comprising:

• a driving roller in contact with a lower surface of the cartridge for transporting said cartridge into said cartridge holder;
• a holder transporting mechanism for transporting said cartridge holder in the z-direction between a loading position where the cartridge is loaded and said reproducing position;
• and
• a cartridge moving mechanism for moving said cartridge in the x-direction so as to be brought into contact with the said driving roller when the said cartridge holder has been transported from said reproducing position to said loading position.

A cartridge transporting apparatus for transporting a cartridge with an information recording medium housed therein to a recording/reproducing position, comprising:

• a cartridge holder in which said cartridge is loaded from an insertion opening in an x-direction;
• a driving roller in contact with a lower surface of the cartridge for transporting said cartridge into said cartridge holder;
• and
• a cartridge holder transporting mechanism for transporting said cartridge holder in a z-direction perpendicular to the x-direction;
• wherein said holder transporting mechanism has a rack member, and said rack member has a contact portion which is located behind said driving roller, said contact portion being movable in the x-direction in contact with a front end of said cartridge, and transports said cartridge holder downward in the z-direction when said contact portion is moved by a prescribed distance.