Reproducing/recording apparatus

A reproducing/recording apparatus comprising a first disk tray for mounting a first disk thereon and a second disk tray for mounting a second disk that is of a type different from the type of the first disk thereon, the first disk tray being adapted to be moved into and away from the apparatus through a single disk inlet/outlet port with the second disk tray laid thereon,

• wherein a first reproducing/recording mechanism for reproducing data from and/or recording data onto the first disk and a second reproducing/recording mechanism for reproducing data from and/or recording data onto the second disk are arranged respectively at fore and back positions relative to the disk inlet/outlet port;
• and
• a 4-position shifting mechanism to be used for shifting the position of each of the first reproducing/recording mechanism and the second reproducing/recording mechanism to one of the predetermined four positions,
• said 4-position shifting mechanism having a drive source, a pinion linked to the drive source, a first rack to be engaged with the pinion, a first cam mechanism linking the first rack and the second reproducing/recording mechanism and driving said second reproducing/recording mechanism to move between the first position and the second position in response to the movement of the first rack, a second rack to be engaged with the pinion, a second cam mechanism linking the second rack and the first reproducing/recording mechanism and driving said first reproducing/recording mechanism to move between a first position and a second position in response to the movement of the second rack, a third rack to be engaged with said pinion and arranged oppositely relative to said first rack with said pinion interposed between them, a third cam mechanism linking the third rack and the second reproducing/recording mechanism and driving said second reproducing/recording mechanism to move between the second position and the first position in response to the movement of the third rack, a first switching mechanism for switching the engagement of the first rack and the pinion to the engagement of the second rack and the pinion and a second switching mechanism for switching the engagement of the second rack and the pinion to the engagement of the third rack and the pinion.