Apparatus for changing optical disks

An apparatus for changing optical disks, mounted in an optical disk drive, provided for holding a plurality of trays or optical disks, the optical disk drive including a bottom plate, the apparatus for changing optical disks comprising at least:

• a plurality of driving shafts, vertically positioned on the bottom plate for clamping the trays or the optical disks, each of the driving shafts having a vertical axis and rotating synchronously around the vertical axis thereof to raise and lower the trays or the optical disks, the driving shafts comprising:
• an upright region, mounted on the bottom plate;
• and
• a thread region, located on the upright region, the thread region comprising threads for engaging with the trays or the optical disks, the thread region comprising a lower thread portion and an upper thread portion, wherein the pitch for threads in the lower thread portion is larger than that in the upper thread portion, and wherein a flat surface is formed between the upright region and the thread region;
• and
• a plurality of elastic devices, each of the elastic devices having one end fixed on the bottom plate and located near the corresponding driving shaft, and the other end provided together with the flat surface of the corresponding driving shaft for clamping the tray or the optical disk located in the range of the upright regions.

An apparatus for changing optical disks, mounted in an optical disk drive, provided for holding a plurality of trays or optical disks, the optical disk drive including a bottom plate and a top plate, the apparatus for changing optical disks comprising:

• a plurality of driving shafts, vertically mounted on the bottom plate for clamping the trays or the optical disks, each of the driving shafts having a vertical axis and rotating synchronously around the vertical axis thereof to raise and lower the trays or the optical disks, the driving shafts comprising:
• a lower upright region, mounted on the bottom plate;
• a thread region, mounted on the lower upright region, the thread region comprising threads for engaging with the trays or the optical disks, wherein a lower flat surface is formed between the thread region and the lower upright region;
• and
• an upper upright region, located on the thread region, wherein an upper flat surface is formed between the upper upright region and the thread region;
• a plurality of upper elastic devices, each of the upper elastic devices having one end fixed to a top end of the upper upright region of the corresponding driving shaft or fixed beneath the top plate, and the other end provided together with the upper flat surface for clamping the tray or the optical disk located in the range of the upper upright regions;
• and
• a plurality of lower elastic devices, each of the lower elastic devices having one end fixed on the bottom plate and located near the corresponding driving shaft, and the other end provided together with the lower flat surface of the corresponding driving shaft for clamping the tray or the optical disk located in the range of the lower upright regions.