Optical disk adapter for optical disk label printers

Details Optical disk adapter for optical disk label printers Optical disk adapter for optical disk label printers

2002-02-13

2004-07-27

Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2854)

Typewriting machines

Sheet or web

C400S719000, C400S048000, C400S023000, C101S035000, C369S077110, C369S289100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06767148

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk adapter to be attached to an optical disk label printer, and more particularly, to an optical disk adapter which is detachably attached to an optical disk label printer so that the printer can perform the printing on an optical disk smaller than and/or different from an optical disk to which the printer can be originally applied.
2. Description of Related Art
Among optical disks which have recently became indispensable information recording medium, the so-called compact disk is widely used. In this specification, the language of “CD” is used as a general term of a CD-DA (for musical use), a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW and the like.
For example, a CD-ROM as a read only memory compact disk is manufactured by: creating the so-called metal master; creating a metal mother as a spare of the metal master; forming a stamper; forming by using the stamper; creating a reflective layer; creating a protective layer; and performing label printing.
The aforementioned manufacturing process is advantageous in manufacturing cost in cases where a large number of CD-ROMs are manufactured at once. However, in cases where several tens of or several hundreds of CD-ROMs are manufactured, it becomes rather expensive.
Therefore, in cases where a relatively small number of CD-ROMs are manufactured a method of copying the information stored in the personal computer to a raw CD-R (compact disk recordable) in employed. In order to perform the label printing to the CD-R to which the information was copied a label printer is used.
This label printer is connected to the aforementioned copying machine. This copying machine is equipped with a hand arm, and performs the following operations continuously and automatically: transferring a CD-R to a copying machine: taking out of the recorded CD-R (which is a substantial CD-ROM) from the copying machine; transferring the recorded CD-R to the label printer; taking out of the printed CD-R from the printer, and stacking the taken-out CD-Rs (hereinafter this machine is referred to as “automatic machine”).
The schematic structure of the label printer will be explained with referring to
FIGS. 16 and 17
.
This label printer
51
is equipped with a printer main body
52
and a disk tray
53
provided to the printer main body
52
so that the disk tray
53
can be ejected from and inserted into the printer main body
52
. In the printer main body
52
, an ink head, etc. (not shown) are provided.
FIG. 16
is a plane view showing the state where the disk tray
53
is ejected from the printer main body
52
.
FIG. 17
is a plane view showing the state where the disk tray
53
with the disk D disposed thereon is stored in the printer main body
52
.
The disk tray
53
is provided with a disk-placing dented portion
54
at the longitudinal central portion thereof, i.e., at around the central portion thereof in the front-and-back direction of the printer main body
52
. The disk-placing dented portion
54
has a size capable of accepting a 12 cm-CD with a little space therearound. When the disk tray
53
with the disk D placed in the disk-placing dented portion
54
is inserted into the printer main body
52
, the disk pushing member
55
provided to the disk tray
53
moves forward. As a result, the tip protrusion
55
a
of the disk pushing member
55
moves forward along the guiding slot
56
formed at the back end portion of the disk-placing dented portion
54
, and urges the disk D forward. Accordingly, the front peripheral portion of the disk D is pressed against the front inner end of the disk-placing dented portion
54
. More concretely, the front peripheral portion of the disk D is pressed against the lower portions of a pair of right and left ledges
60
and
60
formed at the front end portion o
0
f the disk-placing dented portion
54
in such a manner that the front peripheral portion of the disk D is located below the ledges.
Accordingly, the disk D is immovably held in the disk-placing dented portion
54
, whereby printing of the disk D can be correctly performed by an ink head in the printer main body
52
. After the completion of the printing, the disk tray
53
is ejected from the printer main body
52
automatically. In the case of the aforementioned automatic machine, the disk D is automatically picked out from the ejected disk tray
53
by a hand arm. In the case of manual operation, the disk D can be taken out by pushing up the disk D by a finger upwardly inserted in the finger insertion aperture
59
formed in the central portion of the disk-placing dented portion
54
.
In
FIG. 16
, the reference numeral
58
denotes a sensor aperture formed in the printer main body
52
for discriminating whether a disk D is loaded at the time of inserting the disk tray
53
. The reference numeral
57
denotes a die-releasing hole formed at the time of forming the ledge
60
.
By the way, the aforementioned label printer
51
is designed for performing label printing of a 12 cm-CD. Accordingly, the label printer
51
cannot be used for performing label printing of an 8 cm-CD smaller than the 12 cm-CD or a non-circular CD includinga card shaped CD.
Of course, it is possible to use a disk adapter as disclosed by Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-11573 for performing label printing of the aforementioned CDs. However, in order to attach the aforementioned CD to such a disk adapter, it is required to operate engaging means such as engaging ledges provided to the disk adapter. Although the operation itself is generally simple, in cases where dozens of or hundreds of label printing have to be carried out, the attaching and detaching operation should be repeated, resulting in nuisance jobs. Furthermore, such an adapter cannot be used in an automatic machine that automatically performs from copying of CDs to label printing thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk adapter for label printers which can simply and assuredly perform attaching and detaching operation of an optical disk smaller than a predetermined optical disk for which the label printer is designed or an optical disk having a configuration different from that of the predetermined optical disk. It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk adapter for label printers capable of automatically holding and releasing an optical disk when a disk tray is inserted into and ejected from a printer main body.
According to the present invention, a disk adapter to be attached to an optical disk label printer, wherein the optical disk label printer is equipped with a disk tray with a disk-placing dented portion, the disk tray being mounted to a printer main body in such a manner that the disk tray can be ejected from and inserted into the printer main body, and a disk pushing member for holding an optical disk in the disk-placing dented portion, the disk pushing member being movably provided to the disk tray, the disk adapter includes:
a first adapter half to be detachably placed in a front portion of the disk-placing dented portion; and
a second adapter half to be detachably placed in a rear portion of the disk-placing dented portion,
wherein one of the adapter halves is movable relative to the other adapter half in accordance with a movement of the disk pushing member,
wherein, in a state where the disk tray is ejected from the printer main body, the one of the adapter halves is moved by the disk pushing member in a direction that the one of the adapter halves goes away from the other adapter half, whereby a disk-disposing space is formed between the adapter halves, and
wherein, in a state where the disk tray is inserted into the printer main body, the one of adapter halves is moved by the disk pushing member in a direction that the one of adapter halves approaches the other adapter half whereby the optical disk is held by and between the adapter halves.
According to the present inventions in a state where the disk tray is inserted into the p

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