Disk loading device having a drive mechanism to move a disk retaining member adjacent to a disk insertion slot

A disk drive unit comprising:

• a slot into which a recording medium in the form of a disk is inserted;
• a retaining member that retains the recording medium inserted from the slot;
• a moving member that moves the retaining member so as to retract the recording medium in a disk insert direction during insertion and expel the recording medium in a disk eject direction during ejection;
• a turntable that clamps and rotates the inserted recording medium;
• and
• a pick-up that reads information recorded on the recording medium rotated by the turntable,
• detection means for detecting, after the recording medium has moved to an eject position, that the recording medium has been ejected through said slot with said detection means including means for generating an electrical signal that indicates the ejection of the recording medium;
• and
• a disk drive unit including motor means for controlling said moving member and a drive mechanism with said motor means being responsive to said electrical signal such that, after the recording medium has been ejected said motor m y continues to drive the moving member further in the eject direction so as to bring the retaining member adjacent to the slot thereby placing the disk loading device in a disk insertion standby state with the motor means temporarily turned off.