Recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 2

A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a turntable engaged with a disk for supporting said disk on a recording and reproducing position, a pickup for moving on the surface of said disk to record a signal in said disk or to reproduce a signal from said disk, and a flat tray for transferring between an engagement position with said turntable and a disk exchange position, said disk exchange position capable of placing said disk in a substantially vertical position, said tray having a holding surface comprising a cartridge mounting portion for detachably holding a cartridge, said tray having a first side and a second side which are opposite one another and which extend substantially parallel to a tray transfer direction, wherein said tray comprises a first disk engaging portion freely movable in the tray transfer direction and being biased in a disk exchange position of the tray, said first disk engaging portion operative for detachably supporting a peripheral edge of said disk or one side of said cartridge, and a second disk engaging portion comprising a first retaining member and a second retaining member, said first retaining member and said second retaining member each having a first position for retaining said disk in said tray in which an upper surface of said disk is disposed beneath said retaining member, and a second position in which said second disk engaging portion is displaced in a recess formed in said holding surface, said first retaining member and said second retaining member positioned on said first side and said second side, respectively, of said tray such that one of said retaining members retains an upper portion of said disk and the other retaining member retains a lower portion of said disk when said tray is set in the vertical direction.

Claim 3

A recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said holding surface possesses a disk mounting portion for positioning and mounting the disk when the tray is set in a horizontal position.

Claim 4

A recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disk holding surface of said tray is inclined from a horizontal surface so that the inner side may be higher to avoid abutting of the disk against the turntable, when the disk mounting portion for positioning and mounting the disk, with the tray in horizontal position, moves the tray from said disk exchange position to said recording and reproducing position of disk.

Claim 5

A recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the disk holding surface of tray is inclined from the horizontal surface so that the inner side may be higher to avoid abutting of the disk against the turntable, when the disk mounting portion for positioning and mounting the disk, with the tray in horizontal position, moves the tray from said disk exchange position to said recording and reproducing position of disk.

Claim 6

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is aligned along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the tray transfer direction.

Claim 7

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is disposed outside of the disk mounting portion.

Claim 8

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is disposed in the cartridge mounting portion so as to be free to move in and out.

Claim 9

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is thrust in the projecting direction.

Claim 10

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is disposed in the cartridge mounting portion so as to be free to move in and out, and is thrust in the projecting direction.

Claim 11

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is detachably disposed in the cartridge mounting portion.

Claim 12

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is selectively changed over between the projecting position and sinking position.

Claim 13

A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a turntable engaged with a disk for supporting said disk on a recording and reproducing position, a pickup for moving on the surface of said disk to record a signal in said disk or to reproduce a signal from said disk, a flat tray for transferring between an engagement position with said turntable and a disk exchange position, said disk exchange position capable of placing said disk in either a horizontal position or vertical position, said tray having a holding surface comprising a cartridge mounting portion for detachably holding a cartridge, said tray having a first side and a second side which are opposite one another and which extend substantially parallel to a tray transfer direction, position specifying means for issuing a signal indicating either horizontal position or vertical position of said tray, and driving means driven by the signal issued by said position specifying means for controlling the position a first retaining member and a second retaining member in accordance with the physical orientation of the tray, wherein said tray comprises a first disk engaging portion freely movable in a tray transfer direction and being biased in a disk exchange position direction of the tray, said first disk engaging portion operative for detachably supporting a peripheral edge of said disk, and a second disk engaging portion comprising said first retaining member and said second retaining member, said first retaining member and said second retaining member each having a first position for retaining said disk in said tray in which an upper surface of said disk is disposed beneath said retaining member, said first retaining member and said second retaining member each being projected from the holding surface by the driving means when the vertical position of the tray is detected by the position specifying means, and a second position in which said first retaining member and said second retaining member are each displaced in a recess formed in said holding surface by said driving means when the horizontal position of the tray is detected by the specifying means, said first retaining member and said second retaining member positioned on said first side and said second side, respectively, of said tray such that one of said retaining members retains an upper portion of said disk and the other retaining member retains a lower portion of said disk when said tray is set in the vertical direction.

Claim 14

A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a turntable engaged with a disk for supporting said disk on a recording and reproducing position, a pickup for moving on the surface of said disk to record a signal in said disk or to reproduce a signal from said disk, a flat tray for transferring between an engagement position with said turntable and a disk exchange position, said disk exchange position capable of placing said disk in either a horizontal position or vertical position, said tray having a holding surface comprising a cartridge mounting portion for detachably holding a cartridge, said tray having a first side and a second side which are opposite one another and which extend substantially parallel to a tray transfer direction, position specifying means for issuing a signal indicating either horizontal position or vertical position of said tray, and driving means driven by the signal issued by said position specifying means for controlling the position a first retaining member and a second retaining member in accordance with the physical orientation of the tray, wherein said tray comprises a first disk engaging portion freely movable in a tray transfer direction and being biased in a disk exchange position direction of the tray, said first disk engaging portion operative for detachably supporting a peripheral edge of said disk, and a second disk engaging portion comprising said first retaining member and said second retaining member, said first retaining member and said second retaining member each having a first position for retaining said disk in said tray in which an upper surface of said disk is disposed beneath said retaining member, said first retaining member and said second retaining member each being projected from the holding surface by the driving means when the vertical position of the tray is detected by the position specifying means, and a second position in which said first retaining member and said second retaining member are each displaced in a recess formed in said holding surface by said driving means when the horizontal position of the tray is detected by the specifying means, said first retaining member and said second retaining member positioned on said first side and said second side, respectively, of said tray such that one of said retaining members retains an upper portion of said disk and the other retaining member retains a lower portion of said disk when said tray is set in the vertical direction.

Claim 15

A recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said holding surface possesses a disk mounting portion for positioning and mounting the disk when the tray is set in horizontal position.

Claim 16

A recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the disk holding surface of tray is inclined from the horizontal surface so that the inner side may be higher to avoid abutting of the disk against the turntable, when the disk mounting portion for positioning and mounting the disk, with the tray in horizontal position, moves the tray from said disk exchange position to said recording and reproducing position of disk.

Claim 17

A recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the disk holding surface of tray is inclined from the horizontal surface so that the inner side may be higher to avoid abutting of the disk against the turntable, when the disk mounting portion for positioning and mounting the disk, with the tray in horizontal position, moves the tray from said disk exchange position to said recording and reproducing position of disk.

Claim 18

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is aligned along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the tray transfer direction.

Claim 19

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is disposed outside of the disk mounting portion.

Claim 20

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is disposed in the cartridge mounting portion so as to be free to move in and out.

Claim 21

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is thrust in the projecting direction.

Claim 22

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is disposed in the cartridge mounting portion so as to be free to move in and out, and is thrust in the projecting direction.

Claim 23

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is detachably disposed in the cartridge mounting portion.

Claim 24

A recording and reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member is selectively changed over between the projecting position and sinking position.