Catalina sees External CD/DVD but won't read contents

Did the screenshot you provided show the very bottom of the USB section of the System Information? My optical drive was at the very bottom of the list. Because if the screenshot is everything in the USB section of the report the drive is not supported by the Mac.

Were you ever able to use that drive with your Mac?

Also make sure it's turned on.

The Cancan is for a Canon scanner.

Were you ever able to use that drive with your Mac?

What happens when you insert a disc in the optical drive and mount it on the desktop. Can you see the disc icon? If so what happens when you double click on it?

In the Finder/General preference babe do you have CDs.DVDs, and iPods checked?

What make and model of optical drive is it?

This may sound like a stupid question but if it's an Apple Super Drive it is turned the right side up? Another user recently had it upside down and couldn't get it to work. Also are the disks being inserted the right side up?

If you go into System Information (hold down the Option key and selectthe  ➙ System Information option Once into the System Information go to the Hardware ➙ USB section and see if the optical drive is recognized.

I got mine from OWC (MacSales.com). I got a self powered, drawer loading model. I do a lot of audiobook ripping so got one with a fast read capability, i.e. fast USB connection.

Mine is somewhat like this one but several years older: OWC Mercury Pro 24X Super-Multi DVD/CD Burner/Reader External Optical Drive with M-DISC Support. Also didn't need Blu-Ray.

OWC is considered by many as the premier Mac 3rd party hardware provider.

Just glad to be of help. Good luck.