Disk holding device

Abstract

A disk holding device of a thin design is provided which can positively hold disks of different thicknesses, and also can automatically align the disk. The disk holding device includes a plurality of claw-like members, a center hub receiving the claw-like members therein, resilient members which are received in the center hub, and respectively urge the claw-like members in a radial direction of a disk, a turntable for supporting the disk thereon, a cone ring which is provided at a lower side of the center hub, and is movable along an axis of a spindle shaft and an urging member urging the cone ring in a disk-unloading direction away from an upper surface of the turntable. The cone ring has a slanting portion for engagement with a center hole portion of the disk, and each claw-like member is received in the center hub in such a manner that the claw-like member is slidable in the radial direction of the disk, and is angularly movable in the disk-unloading direction. With this construction, a force, required for loading and unloading the disk, is small, and therefore the deformation and strain of the disk can be kept to a minimum. And, the disk holding mechanism and the disk alignment mechanism can be combined into an integral construction, thereby achieving a thin design of the disk holding device.