Rimage Corporation

International Data Engineering, Inc.

Other

501 International Data Engineering, Inc.

David J Rother

John S Lee

Timothy P Fitzgerald

Donald Hollerich

Roger E Haro

Richard H Nelson

Robert E Takala

Darryl T Wrolson

Robert L Skubic

Phillip Charles Salisbury

Terence J Schmidt

Eric Laveen

A printer and method for monitoring consumption of a print ribbon of a thermal printer is provided. The method includes pressing the print ribbon against a medium located on a drawer of the thermal printer using a thermal print head of the thermal printer. The method includes moving the drawer and the print ribbon simultaneously and at substantially the same rate past the thermal print head so as to deposit a transferable coating of the print ribbon on the medium whereby printing an image on the medium. Measuring a distance moved by the drawer while pressing the print ribbon against the medium and equating the distance moved by the drawer to an amount of print ribbon consumed are also included in the method.

Monitoring consumption of print ribbon for printers

A thermal transfer printer has been described that includes a print head integrity tester. The tester measures a resistance of each thermal element of the print head to determine if an element is defective. In one embodiment, the resistance is measured by monitoring a current through the element and comparing to a reference. The printer can also include a power strobe adjustment that automatically adjusts the power applied to the print head elements as the thermal elements age.

Thermal printer element tester

A compact disc transporter is described for transporting a compact disc between multiple process stations. These stations may include a printer, a recorder, a verifier, and a compact disc supply station. Methods have been described for pre-positioning a compact disc prior to printing so that an image located on the compact disc can be positioned for subsequent printing operations. A camera may be used in conjunction with a processor to rotatably position a compact disc into a preferred position prior to a printing operation. An optical sensor is also described for detecting a mark, index mark or other image for positioning a compact disc to a preferred rotational position.

Compact disc printing system and method

An optical disc cartridge handling apparatus, which has a removable cartridge magazine for loading and unloading groups of cartridges into the apparatus, for storing, handling, reading and writing of the optical discs stored within the cartridges. A flipper mechanism is provided to receive one of the cartridges from either of the magazine or an optical disc drive within the apparatus. Means are included for rotating the flipper mechanism about a common center line for inverting the cartridge within the flipper mechanism. A picker mechanism is included for moving the cartridge into and out of the flipper mechanism from either the magazine or the optical disc drive. A traverse mechanism is provided for supporting and moving the flipper mechanism along an axis of motion to locate the flipper mechanism adjacent either a particular slot of the magazine or the cartridge slot of the optical disc drive.

Optical disc cartridge handling apparatus with removable magazine

An apparatus for recording and verifying information recorded on compact disks and for printing label information on the disks, and a method of operating the apparatus, wherein the respective recorders, verifiers, and printers are vertically stacked in a housing, and a vertically movable carriage is arranged to transport compact disks to each of the stacked devices. A rotatable carousel is mounted to the housing beneath the carriage; the carousel having multiple bins for receiving and holding compact disks. A computer processor controls the actuation of the respective devices, the carriage, and the carousel, to sequentially process unrecorded compact disks through the steps of recording, verifying and printing, and to reject compact disks which have failed the verification tests. A camera may be connected to the housing and uses in conjunction with the computer processor to rotatably position a compact disk into a preferred position prior to the printing step.

Compact disc transporter having a carriage for transporting compact

An apparatus for recording and verifying information recorded on compact disks and for printing label information on the disks, and a method of operating the apparatus, wherein the respective recorders, verifiers, and printers are vertically stacked in a housing, and a vertically movable carriage is arranged to transport compact disks to each of the stacked devices. A rotatable carousel is mounted to the housing beneath the carriage; the carousel having multiple bins for receiving and holding compact disks. A computer processor controls the actuation of the respective devices, the carriage, and the carousel, to sequentially process unrecorded compact disks through the steps of recording, verifying and printing, and to reject compact disks which have failed the verification tests. A camera may be connected to the housing and used in conjunction with the computer processor to rotatably position a compact disk into a preferred position prior to the printing step.

CD transporter

A printer for printing graphic and alphanumeric information on plastic disks utilizing a printhead having a line array of print pixels. The printhead is pivotally mounted and has an adjustable force mechanism to urge the line array of print pixels into contact with a plastic disk; the plastic disk is mounted on a movable carriage which linearly passes beneath the printhead and the adjustable force mechanism exerts a variable force which is a function of the position of the disk beneath the printhead.

Apparatus for printing on plastic disk

An optical disk cartridge handling apparatus for storing, handling, reading and writing of optical disks contained in cartridges which store data for a host computer. The apparatus comprises an import/export element for loading and unloading cartridges into the apparatus. A cartridge store or library with slots therein stores the cartridges. The topmost slot initially receives the cartridges from the import/export element. A flipper mechanism is adapted to receive one of the cartridges from either the cartridge store or an optical disk drive. The flipper mechanism is adapted to invert or flip the cartridge and locate the cartridge adjacent the front of either the cartridge store or the optical disk drive. A picker mechanism moves the cartridge into and out of the flipper mechanism from either the cartridge store or the optical disk drive. Locating mechanisms are also provided for moving or locating the flipper and picker mechanisms. A drive loader mechanism is located in front of the optical disk drive for mechanically inserting the cartridge into the drive from the flipper mechanism. Optical sensors provide the apparatus with information as to the locations and orientations of the cartridges and the flipper, picker and drive loader mechanisms.

Optical disk cartridge handling apparatus

An optical disk cartridge handling apparatus for storing, handling, reading and writing of optical disks contained in cartridges which store data for a host computer. The apparatus comprises an import/export element for loading and unloading cartridges into the apparatus. A cartridge store or library with vertical slots therein stores the cartridges. The leftmost slot initially receives the cartridges from the import/export element. A flipper mechanism is adapted to receive one of the cartridges from either the cartridge store or one of preferably two optical disk drives suitably mounted below the cartridge store. A picker mechanism is mounted on the flipper mechanaism and moves the cartridge into and out of the flipper mechanism. The flipper mechanism is adapted to invert or flip the cartridge. A traverse mechanism is also provided for moving the flipper mechanism along two axes of motion to move and/or pivot the flipper and picker mechanisms adjacent any of the slots of the cartridge store or the slots of either optical disc drive. Drive loader mechanisms may also be provided and are located in front of the optical disk drives for mechanically inserting the cartridge into either of the drives from the flipper mechanism. Optical sensors provide the apparatus with information as to the locations and orientations of the cartridges and the flipper, picker, traverse and drive loader mechanisms.

Growing community of inventors

Hastings, MN, United States of America

David J Rother