Printing – Special article machines
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-11-27
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Special article machines
C101S004000, C206S307000, C206S308100, C369S034010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321649
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a compact disc handler, and more particulaautomatically transferring a blank compact disc from a supply hopper into a label printer and thereafter transferring the labeled compact disc to an output hopper.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
Compact discs are frequently used to record high quality audio and video information. Such discs are also used to record information, including computer software and data of various types. The discs are characterized by a construction which is formed of a plurality of layers, including a reflective inner layer and a protective top layer upon which characters and graphics can be printed using an appropriate printing mechanism. Such discs are commonly referred to as CD's or DVD's.
There currently exists a number of devices for labeling compact discs and for recording information on them. Typically, such equipment is very expensive, consumes much space and is designed for mass production of compact discs. Factories incorporating such equipment generally have separate work stations and utilize a variety of methods for loading and unloading the discs with respect to the individual work stations and for transferring the discs from work station to work station.
As is further pointed out in a U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,216 to Hollerich, the prior art apparatus for picking and placing compact discs have serious drawbacks. While the mechanism described in the Hollerich '216 patent constitutes an improvement over the then prior art, the present invention constitutes yet a further improvement in disc handling equipment that obviates a need for translating the input hopper and output hopper relative to a path of linear vertical travel of a picker arm. This typically required separate motors for the elevator mechanism and for the input and output hopper translating mechanism. The present invention does away with the need for multiple motors and, accordingly, results in a significantly lower priced CD publishing/labeling machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a compact disc handler for use in compact disc publishing systems where the handler comprises a base member that is adapted to rest on a horizontal surface. A tower is affixed to the base and projects vertically therefrom. Journaled for rotation about a vertical axis within the tower is a helically threaded lead screw having a traveling nut disposed thereon and which is adapted to move in a vertical direction determined by the direction in which the lead screw is driven. Affixed to the traveling nut and extending laterally therefrom is a compact disc picker arm, including solenoid-operated disc grasping fingers that cooperate with the central aperture in CDS and which are movable between a first gripping position and a second non-gripping position. Further in accordance with the invention, means are disposed within the tower for allowing rotation of the picker arm with the lead screw only when the traveling nut reaches a predetermined vertical elevation on the lead screw.
Because of the ability of the picker arm to not only move up and down vertically but also to rotate when at a certain level of elevation, the input and output hoppers can be stationary and are located beneath the path of rotation of the gripping fingers on the picker arm.
The lead screw is adapted to be driven by a stepper motor that is controlled by a microprocessor-based controller. As such, the position of the picker arm along the lead screw relative to a predetermined home position is known at all times. Thus, the compact disc handler of the present invention is capable of first selecting a blank CD from an input hopper, elevating it to a location above the slide drawer of a label printer, releasing the blank into the slide drawer when extended, again picking the labeled CD from the extended slide drawer upon completion of the labeling operation and transferring the labeled CD into a stationary output hopper by rotating the picker arm carrying the disc through a predetermined angle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5734629 (1998-03-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5914918 (1999-06-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5946216 (1999-08-01), Hollerich
patent: 6111847 (2000-08-01), Assadian
patent: 6141298 (2000-10-01), Miller
Byrne John
Vangen William L.
Chau Minh H.
Fogg Slifer & Polglaze, P.A.
Hilten John S.
Rimage Corporation
Slifer Russell D.
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