Disk presser mechanism for use in magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 1

A disk presser mechanism for a recording/reproducing apparatus of the type comprising a housing having a front portion with an opening therein for insertion of a magnetic recording disk, means in said housing defining a horizontal path for insertion of the disk, a base in the housing supporting a rotatably driven turntable on which the disk is clamped, and a clamp member mounted on a pivotable clamp arm in said housing in an upward direction above said turntable so as to be movable in a downward direction toward said turntable, said disk presser mechanism comprising: a pivotable drive lever coupled to a movable end of said clamp arm for moving it downwardly toward said turntable, said drive lever being biased by biasing means toward an upward position; an actuator including an operation portion extending from said front portion of said housing and a rotatable cam portion positioned in said housing so as to engage said drive lever and pivot it downward upon rotation of said operation portion; a pad holder mounted in said housing separately from said clamp lever, said drive lever and said actuator and having a pad for pressing against a portion of a disk when it is clamped on said turntable; urging means mounted in said housing separately from said clamp lever and said drive lever for urging said pad holder in an downward direction toward a disk on said turntable; said pad holder including an engagement member which is disposed above a portion of said drive lever such that said pad holder is raised by the engagement member in an upward position when said drive lever is moved to an upward position, and said drive lever becomes spaced by a small distance from the engagement member when said drive lever is moved to a downward position to clamp a disk on the turntable, thereby allowing said pad holder to be urged downwardly to press said pad on the disk only by said urging means when said drive lever is in the downward position; whereby said pad holder presses said pad against the disk only by the force of said urging means so that a relatively even pressure can be obtained and a loading pressure of said clamp arm or of said drive lever is not applied on said pad holder.