Apparatus for playing back rotating recording mediums

摘要

A rotating recording medium such as a video disc placed on a turntable is played back by a signal pickup head movable radially over and across the disc. Before and after the disc is played back, it is supported by a disc support over the turntable, the disc support being movable vertically between elevated and lowered positions. A switching mechanism has a single motor for selectively moving the signal pickup head and the disc support. While the disc support is actuated by the switching mechanism, the signal pickup head is locked against movement by a locking mechanism. Since the signal pickup head and the disc support are selectively actuated by the single motor, the overall construction is relatively simple and can be manufactured inexpensively. When the signal pickup head remains inactivated, it is locked in a standby position against undesired movement even when the apparatus is tilted or subjected to an impact.