Recording and/or reproducing apparatus

Claim 2

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: a holder movable between a first position for receiving a record bearing medium and a second position for placing the received medium at a predetermined loading position; a recording and/or reproducing head; a head moving mechanism for moving said head relative to the medium to change the recording or reproducing position on the medium; a drive source for said head moving mechanism; a loading mechanism for moving said holder between said first and second positions; and clutch means for selectively connecting said loading mechanism with said driving source; said loading mechanism including at least one movable member which is movable in a first direction for moving said holder from said first to said second positions and in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, for moving the holder from said second to said first positions, said clutch means being arranged to selectively connect said movable member with said driving source; said clutch means including a pinion gear connected with said driving source, a rack member operatively connected with said movable member in said loading mechanism, said rack member having a first and a second rack portions and being arranged to move the movable member in said first direction when engaged with said pinion gear at said first rack portion and to move the movable member in said second direction when engaged with the pinion gear at said second rack portion, and control means for engaging said rack member with said pinion gear at said first and second rack portions selectively and for retaining the rack member at a disengaged condition relative to the pinion gear.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving source includes: an electrical motor; and a control circuit for said motor, said control circuit being arranged to cause said motor to rotate in a predetermined direction for moving said movable member in said loading mechanism between said first and second positions through said clutch means, said pinion gear in said clutch means and said head moving mechanism being connected with said motor.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said head moving mechanism includes: a screw member connected with said motor; a head carrier for carrying said head, said carrier having an engaging portion engaged with said screw member; and guide means for linearly guiding said head carrier.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said motor is of step drive type.

Claim 6

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped record bearing medium housed in a container which is provided with an opening, said apparatus comprising: a holder movable between a first position for receiving the container and a second position for placing the received container at a predetermined loading position; a recording and/or reproducing head arranged to face with the medium through the opening of the container placed at said predetermined loading position; rotating means for rotating the medium relative to said head; a head moving mechanism for moving said head relative to the medium to change the recording or reproducing position on the medium; a driving source for said head moving mechanism; a loading mechanism for movign said holder between said first and second positions; and clutch means for selectively connecting said loading mechanism with said driving source; said loading mechanism including at least one movable member which is movable in a first direction for moving said holder from said first to said second positions and in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, for moving the holder from said second to said first positions, said clutch means being arranged to selectively connect said movable member with said driving source, said clutch means including a pinion gear connected with said driving source, a rack member operatively connected with said movable member in said loading mechanism, said rack member having a first and a second rack portions and being arranged to move the movable member in said first direction when engaged with said pinion gear at said first rack portion and to move the movable member in said second direction when engaged with the pinion gear at said second rack portion, and control means for engaging said rack member with said pinion gear at said first and second rack portions selectively and for retaining the rack member at a disengaged condition relative to the pinion gear.

Claim 7

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a disc-shaped record bearing medium housed in a container which is provided with an opening, said apparatus comprising: a holder movable between a first position for receiving the container and a second position for placing the received container at a predetermined loading position; a recording and/or reproducing head arranged to face with the medium through the opening of the container placed at said predetermined loading position; rotating means for rotating the medium relative to said head; a head moving mechanism for moving said head relative to the medium to change the recording or reproducing position on the medium; a driving source for said head moving mechanism; a loading mechanism for movign said holder between said first and second positions; and clutch means for selectively connecting said loading mechanism with said driving source; said loading mechanism including at least one movable member which is movable in a first direction for moving said holder from said first to said second positions and in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, for moving the holder from said second to said first positions, said clutch means being arranged to selectively connect said movable member with said driving source, said clutch means including a pinion gear connected with said driving source, a rack member operatively connected with said movable member in said loading mechanism, said rack member having a first and a second rack portions and being arranged to move the movable member in said first direction when engaged with said pinion gear at said first rack portion and to move the movable member in said second direction when engaged with the pinion gear at said second rack portion, and control means for engaging said rack member with said pinion gear at said first and second rack portions selectively and for retaining the rack member at a disengaged condition relative to the pinion gear.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said driving source includes: an electrical motor; and a control circuit for said motor, said control circuit being arranged to cause said motor to rotate in a predetermined direction for moving said movable member in said loading mechanism between said first and second positions through said clutch means, said pinion gear in said clutch means and said head moving mechanism being connected with said motor.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said head moving mechanism includes: a screw member connected with said motor; a head carrier for carrying said head, said carrier having an engaging portion engaged with said screw member; and guide means for linearly guiding said head carrier.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said motor is of step drive type.