Material or article handling – Article reorienting device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2001-05-29
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 2167)
Material or article handling
Article reorienting device
C414S737000, C053S254000, C360S099060, C369S075210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238172
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for positioning a plastic case into which an information storing disk, hereinafter called an “optical disk”, such as a CD (i.e. compact disk), DVD (i.e. digital video disk) or the like is loaded.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Generally, a case used for an optical disk has a foldable, rectangular box-shape. A round, recessed portion for receiving an optical disk is provided on one side of the case. A push button is formed on the center of the recessed portion of the case. On the other side of the case there is a claw-shaped, holding member for holding a description sheet etc. with visual information on the contents of the optical disk.
When loading an optical disk into such a conventional case, it is necessary for the push button of the case to be inserted into the central hole of the optical disk. Therefore, before loading the optical disk into the case, the case must be positioned, as precisely as possible, relative to the optical disk to be loaded. Conventionally, positioning of the case is carried out by positioning the outer circumference of the case.
However, the dimensional accuracy of the outer circumference of a case is not such that the push button is precisely positioned, when the case is positioned using the outer circumference of the case. A not precisely positioned push button of the case cannot be inserted properly into the central hole of the optical disk at the time of loading of the optical disk into the case. As a result, the optical disk cannot be securely loaded into the case.
The present invention is directed to solving the above-described problem in the conventional case positioning method, and offers an apparatus for positioning a case that can accurately and securely load an optical disk into a case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, the inventor has discovered that the ridge surrounding a recess in a case for receiving an optical disk, is more accurate in its dimensions than the outer circumference of the case. By utilizing the ridge that surrounds the disk receiving recess in the case, the optical disk can be precisely and securely loaded into the case.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a device or mechanism for positioning a case is constructed for accurately positioning or locating a case relative to an optical disk prior to loading the optical disk into the case. The case includes a ridge portion which surrounds a round, recess in the case for receiving an optical disk. The apparatus for positioning a case includes at least one positioning device or mechanism that contacts the outer circumference of the recess surrounding ridge.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, a case positioning device or mechanism is adapted to take a withdrawn or recessed position where the positioning device withdraws or recedes from the case placed at a case positioning station, and from the locating position of the positioning device where the positioning device comes in contact with the outer circumference of the recess surrounding ridge of the case.
In a third embodiment, the positioning device comprises a pair of positioning members placed apart and facing each other wherein each of the positioning members is adapted to take up the withdrawn position or the locating position.
A fourth embodiment further comprises a pair of slide plates movable in opposite, horizontal directions. Each positioning member is rotatably connected to each end portion of the slide plates. A cam follower is provided at each positioning member and a cam corresponding to each cam follower is provided at the case positioning station. When the slide plates move, each cam follower moves along an inclined surface of the corresponding cam, whereby each positioning member is moved between the withdrawn position and the locating position.
As described above, a preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes the recess surrounding ridge of a case, which is more accurate in its dimensions which surround a round recess for receiving an optical disk. The case is positioned in place by the case positioning device or mechanism coming in contact with the outer circumference of the ridge of the recess in the case. Thus, the recess in the case can be precisely positioned in relation to the optical disk to be loaded into the recess of the case. Thereby, the optical disk can be accurately and securely loaded into the case.
In another embodiment of the present invention, as each slide plate of a pair of slide plates slides in an opposite, horizontal direction and each positioning member corresponding to each slide plate moves in the same direction for taking the withdrawn position or the locating position in response to the action of a cam and cam follower as described above.
When each of the slide plates moves in the separating direction, each positioning member moves with the corresponding slide plate. At this time, each cam follower moving along with each positioning member moves along the inclined surface of a cam provided at the case positioning station. Thereby, each cam follower, and thus each positioning member rotates upwardly. As a result, each positioning member moves into the withdrawn position.
When each of the slide plates moves in the approaching direction, each positioning member moves with the corresponding slide plate. At this time, each cam follower moving along with each positioning member moves along the inclined surface of a cam at the case positioning station. Thereby, each cam follower, and thus each positioning member rotates downwardly and into the locating position, where the positioning members come in contact with the outer circumference of the recess surrounding ridge of a case. Thus, the case is positioned centered relative to the optical disk to be loaded. In such a way, a case positioning apparatus that can accurately and securely load an optical disk into a case has been realized with a simple construction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4852327 (1989-08-01), Kurkowski et al.
patent: 5142523 (1992-08-01), Kamoshita
patent: 5341624 (1994-08-01), Kaye
patent: 5586651 (1996-12-01), Krummenacher
patent: 5664405 (1997-09-01), Perego
patent: 5816028 (1998-10-01), Zaniboni
patent: 6048158 (2000-04-01), Zaniboni
patent: 41 15 389 (1992-11-01), None
Fasse W. F.
Fasse W. G.
Kyoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
O'Connor Gerald J.
Olszewski Robert P.
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