Information recording-reproducing apparatus

Abstract

An information recording-reproducing apparatus includes carrier rollers 1 a, 2 a arranged in a carriage path having a width almost equal to a diameter of a large diameter disc, and a mechanical side switch PSW at one peripheral end of the carriage path. First and second optical detectors P 1 , P 2 are arranged in the carriage path at an interval smaller than a diameter of the small diameter disc. The first optical detector P 1 and the side switch PSW are arranged at an interval larger than the diameter of the small diameter disc, while the second optical detector P 2 and the side switch PSW are arranged at an interval smaller than the diameter of the small diameter disc. The type of the disc as well as difference between the disc and an object other than the disc are determined based on the detection signals from the optical detectors P 1 , P 2 and the side switch PSW. As a result, the information recording-reproducing apparatus can be applicable to discs having different formats, and prevent an unexpected accident caused by insertion of a foreign matter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A carrying apparatus for carrying an information recording medium as an object to,be carried in an information recording-reproducing apparatus, comprising: 
 a carrying mechanism for carrying a carried medium;    a determining unit for determining whether or hot said carried medium carried by said carrying mechanism is the recording medium as the object to be carried; and    a controller for outputting an ejection signal to said carrying mechanism when said carried medium is not the recording medium to be carried, based on a result of determination by said determining unit,    wherein said carrying mechanism ejects said carried medium in accordance with said ejection signal.    
     
     
         2 . A carrying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said determining unit determines which said carried medium carried by said carrying mechanism is, a large diameter disc of recording medium or a small diameter disc of recording medium; and    said controller outputs said ejection signal when said determining unit determines that said carried medium is the small diameter disc.    
     
     
         3 . A carrying apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a bearing section for bearing said recording medium;    a retaining section for retaining said recording medium in cooperation with said bearing section;    a rotating mechanism for driving said bearing section with rotation; and    a driving unit for applying a driving force onto said rotating mechanism,    wherein said driving unit determines said driving force to be applied on said rotating mechanism, based on said result of determination by said determining unit.    
     
     
         4 . A method for carrying an information recording medium as an object to be carried in an information recording-reproducing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: 
 carrying a carried medium from an insertion port;    determining whether or not said carried medium is the recording medium as the object to be carried;    outputting an ejection signal when said carried medium is not the recording medium to be carried, based on a result of said determination, and    ejecting said carried medium in accordance with said output of said ejection signal.    
     
     
         5 . An information recording-reproducing apparatus comprising: 
 a carrying mechanism for carrying a carried medium;    detectors for detecting said carried medium;    a determining section for determining a kind of said carried medium based on detection signals output from said detectors; and    a controller for controlling said carrying mechanism,    wherein said controller outputs a control signal for instructing an ejecting operation to said carrying mechanism when said determining section determines that said carried object is not said object to be installed, said carrying mechanism performing said ejecting operation or a stopping operation in response to said control signal.