Orientation of drive mechanics to allow for disc loading in an off-axis position

Abstract

A means for receiving an optical disc to be transported to an optical drive is oriented off-axis to maintain an optical disc within such receiving means during loading/unloading of the disc to/from an optical drive. In a preferred embodiment, the optical drive comprises a receptacle operable to transport a disc to/from the optical drive, and such receptacle comprises a cavity that receives the disc. In a preferred embodiment, such cavity is oriented at an acute angle θ from the vertical axis. In a more preferred embodiment, such angle θ has a value selected from approximately 5 degrees to approximately 45 degrees from the vertical axis. In a most preferred embodiment, angle θ is has a value selected from approximately 5 degrees to approximately 15 degrees from the vertical axis. Angle θ is sufficient to maintain the disc within the receptacle. In a preferred embodiment, the optical drive itself is oriented at angle θ from the vertical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the drive can be oriented vertically, and the receptacle for transporting the disc to the drive is oriented at angle θ from the vertical axis. In yet a further alternative embodiment, the receptacle can be oriented vertically, and the cavity that receives a disc within such receptacle is oriented at an angle θ from the vertical axis. In a preferred embodiment, a user can easily place a disc into the off-axis oriented receiving means with little effort and little potential for damaging the disc.