Optical parts driving mechanism in optical information reader

Claim 1

An optical parts driving mechanism in an optical information reader reading information contained in an information recording medium in the form of a disc having disc driving mechanism axially extending in the center thereof, said optical parts driving mechanism comprising a lens holder adapted to travel generally parallel to the disc and carrying an objective at a portion of said lens holder substantially closest to said disc driving mechanism, said objective having an axis being located substantially at an end of said optical parts driving mechanism located closest to said motor axis; focus direction drive means mounted to said lens holder to drive said lens in generally perpendicular directions toward and away from said disc; and track direction drive means mounted to said lens holder on an opposite side thereof with respect to said disc driving mechanism to drive said lens holder toward and away from the center of the disc, said track direction drive means including a track direction drive mechanism located substantially entirely at the opposite end of said optical parts driving mechanism, said track direction drive means thereby being mounted nonconcentrically with respect to said objective axis to thereby avoid placement of parts of said track direction drive mechanism between the objective axis and the motor axis to enable the objective to approach the center of said disc.