Eastman-kodak Company

Eric M Leonard

Frederick F Geyer

George M Myers

Michael Edgar Long

James A White

James R Pledger

Robert V Fister

William W Knight

Michael A Howey

Stacks (16) of sheet material are moved on a conveyor (12, 14) between air manifolds (18, 20) and guide pins (19, 21); so that, drying gas is directed between the sheets of the stacks to cause the stacks to expand to form fluffed stacks 28 through which air moves readily to dry the sheets. A compression roller (26) is used to expel air from the fluffed stack and return the stack essentially to its original height. A reduction in tendency to curl is achieved in low relative humidity environments for sheets of photographic film.

Apparatus and method for drying stacks of sheet material

A process for making at least a single-faced, write and/or read optical disk having a sub-layer with a smooth or high-resolution featured surface and the opaque, substantially flat substrate includes the steps of interjecting between the opaque, substantially flat substrate and a transparent, highly polished or featured master mold, a thin layer of viscous composition which is radiation-curable to a solid plastic without undergoing significant shrinkage. The layer of viscous composition is irradiated through the transparent mold to cure the composition to a solid plastic sub-layer having the desired smooth or high-resolution featured surface. After irradiation of the composition, the master mold is removed, leaving the cured plastic sub-layer adhered to the substrate. The substrate is preferably metal, such as aluminum, and the master is preferably glass with an etched featured surface thereon.

Fabricating optical record media

This disclosure relates to means for receiving disk assemblies in a manner to impart constant tension to the support and cover sheet, while assuring easy and quick loading and unloading of the disk assemblies. An optical disk assembly includes a web assembly including a flexible disk-shaped support and an opposed cover sheet. An annular retaining ring engages the web assembly around its periphery. The support carries a record layer with an information storage region. Cooperating optical disk write/read apparatus has an annular, rotatable locating surface against which the web assembly abuts. Detent means releasably secure the disk assembly retaining ring in an active position, with firm contact between the web assembly and the rotatable locating surface. The detent means is releasable when subjected to a predetermined force from the retaining ring, whereby the retaining ring is movable into and out of its active position by mere application of sufficient force thereto. The write/read apparatus includes a selectively inflatable tube positioned to bear against the ring when inflated for applying a force to move the ring from its active position.

Optical disk mounting means for write/read apparatus

An optical disc assembly includes a flexible disc-shaped support. An annular retaining ring engages the support around its periphery. The support carries a record layer with an information storage region of the record layer located between the retaining ring and a central hub. In use on cooperating optical disc write/read apparatus having disc assembly receiving structure, the central hub positions an annular area of the support, which area is radially inward of the storage region, against a locating surface of the receiving structure with a predetermined abutting force, whereby firm contact is assured between the support and the location surface radially inwardly of the storage region of the record layer. The disc assembly includes a flexible, transparent cover sheet which is coextensive with the support. Annular spacing means are provided between the support and the cover sheet both radially inwardly and outwardly of the information storage region to provide an axial space between the record layer and the cover sheet.

Optical disc assemblies for optical disc write/read apparatus

An optical disc assembly includes a flexible disc-shaped support. An annular retaining ring engages the support around its periphery. The support carries a record layer with an information storage region of the record layer located between the retaining ring and a central hub. In use on cooperating optical disc write/read apparatus having disc assembly receiving structure, the cental hub positions an annular area of the support, which area is radially inward of the storage region, against a locating surface of the receiving structure with a predetermined abutting force, whereby firm contact is assured between the support and the location surface radially inwardly of the storage region of the record layer. The disc assembly includes a flexible, transparent cover sheet which is coextensive with the support. Annular spacing means are provided between the support and the cover sheet both radially inwardly and outwardly of the information storage region to provide an axial space between the record layer and the cover sheet.

Optical disc write/read apparatus

An optical disc-unit including (i) a flexible, disc-shaped support bearing a record layer, (ii) a flexible disc-shaped cover sheet which is transparent to write/read light and (iii) annular retaining means which engage the support and sheet, in spaced relation, substantially continuously around peripheral regions. In preferred embodiments the retaining means symmetrically tension the sheet and support into substantially flat dispositions. Cooperative optical disc write/read apparatus and optical disc-unit fabrication methods are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Eric M Leonard