Optical-disc apparatus

Claim 1

An optical-disc apparatus for playing back and/or recording information on a rotary optical disc (7), which apparatus comprises: - a spindle (14) with a free end (15), which spindle is rotatable about an axis of rotation (13), and - a clamping device for clamping an optical disc onto the spindle (14), which device comprises: - a disc loader (21) comprising a thrust portion (32) on a first side, which thrust portion, during operation, exerts pressure on an optical disc placed on the spindle and thereby presses said disc against the spindle, a second portion (33) on a second side, and a central portion (34) between the first and second sides, which central portion has a maximum transverse dimension which is smaller than that of the thrust portion and that of the second portion, - permanent-magnetic means (35A, B) for magnetically urging the disc loader against the disc during operation, and - a support (3) for the disc loader (21), which support is movable between a rest position and an operating position and has an opening (36) through which the central portion (34) of the disc loader extends with clearance and which opening has a maximum transverse dimension which is smaller than that of the second portion (33) of the disc loader, and which support allows the disc loader ro rotate freely with a disc when said snpport is in the operating position, carries the disc loader when said support is in the rest position, and co-operates with the second portion (33) of the disc loader (21) to move said disc loader away from the optical disc and thereby release the clamping of the disc on the spindle when the support is moved from the operating position to the rest position, characterized in that said permanent-magnetic means comprise means (35A, B) which exert a magnetic force which acts between the support and the disc loader and which magnetically clamp the disc loader against the support in the rest position (Figures 1-6).