Rimage Corporation

Micro Component Technology, Inc.

John S Lee

David J Rother

Donald Hollerich

Robert L Skubic

Phillip Charles Salisbury

Roger E Haro

Westin W Nelson

David J Suden

Timothy P Fitzgerald

Terence J Schmidt

David C Burns

Daniel L Lozinski

Ronald J Falk

Gerry A Lee

Douglas J Lenz

Eric Laveen

Darrin William Piekkola

Mark C Albu

David C Duncan

Apparatus and methods are provided. At least one clamping finger of a movable tray of a compact disc printer pushes against an outer periphery of a compact disc disposed on a surface of the tray to clamp the compact disc between the clamping finger and a pair of studs that protrude from the surface of the tray and engage a periphery of a hole passing through a center of the compact disc. A carriage of the printer for moving an ink jet cartridge attached thereto across the compact disc to deposit an image on the compact disc may include a sensor. The sensor can be used to determine the presence of a compact disc on the tray, whether the compact disc is clamped to the tray, and a dimension of the compact disc, and to perform a calibration method.

Apparatus and methods for sensing and clamping discs

A disc collator includes a series of collating trays for collating multiple discs. A disc can be deposited in any one of a number of trays according to where a user desires the disc to be placed, allowing prompt and timely retrieval of CDs. Motion of the disc collating system picker arm may be along only one axis.

Disc collator

A compact disc processing system allows for more efficient processing of compact discs. The system included a transporter mechanism that can grip and transport more than one compact disc at a time. As such, a second disc can be gripped while a first disc is being processed. This eliminates the need to wait for processing operations, such as recording or printing, to be completed prior to transporting the second disc. The system includes a gripping head with at least two vacuum controlled mechanisms for selectively gripping the discs. A disc organizer can be provided which includes trays that can be used to store discs for selective retrieval. The organizer eliminates the difficulty encountered in locating a processed disc from a large stack of discs.

Medium handler and organizer

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 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 apparatus as disclosed that receives, vertically stacks and directionally collates computer diskettes. The apparatus stacks the diskettes in the actual order in which they are received, with the first diskette received at the top of the stack and the most recently-received diskette at the bottom of the stack. A tray attached to a drive nut receives diskettes in a lowered position and, if appropriate, swivels the tray 90 degrees before raising the diskette into a bin opening located at the bottom of a vertical stacking bin. Retractable wedge-shaped finger members support the diskette stacked in the bin and retract as a diskette is raised. The tray and drive nut are raised and swiveled by way of a rotating shaft extending in the bore of the drive nut. The shaft has a double helical groove on its surface which is engaged by a pawl swivelably attached to the drive nut.

Upstacker and orientation collator

An apparatus which receives computer diskettes, sleeves the diskettes, and further conveys the diskettes. The apparatus has a receiving port into which computer diskettes are conveyed. A pair of friction rollers convey the diskettes toward the open end of the topmost sleeve in the stack. The open end is held open by a hold-down flap depressing the flap on the lower layer of the sleeve, an insert finger inserted from above the sleeve, and a suction means to uplift the top layer of the sleeve. The diskette is conveyed until it is fully within the sleeve at which point the sleeved diskette engages the curved top edge of a singulate gate slidably attached to the frame. The engagement of the sleeved diskette with the curved top edge of the gate overcomes the upward bias of the gate to slide the gate downwardly to allow the sleeved diskette to pass over the gate and be further conveyed. An additional pair of friction drive rollers located above the exit gate further convey the sleeved diskette out of the sleeve apparatus. The curved edge portion of the slidable gate contains microgrooves which run transverse the direction of travel of the sleeved diskettes. The microgrooves are effective to inhibit empty sleeves from being conveyed over the exit gate along with the sleeved diskette.

Sleever apparatus with singulate gate

A diskette sleever device having a hopper for supporting a stack of empty sleeves, and a feed mechanism for receiving unsleeved diskettes, wherein the topmost empty sleeve is held in a predetermined position along the diskette transport path, and a pair of oscillatory fingers are engageable into the empty sleeve to open it, and a blower assembly is positioned adjacent the upper side of the sleeve to develop a negative pressure to create a suction force to retain the upper side of the sleeve in an open position while the transport mechanism inserts the diskette into the open sleeve.

Sleever module for disk packaging unit

A system for automating the processing and packaging of prerecorded diskettes, including a label printer and applicator for applying the printed labels as the diskette moves along a conveyor, a diverter for rejecting faulty diskettes, a sleever for inserting collator cards into predetermined positions in an output bin where the sleeved diskettes are placed, all under automatic control of a control processor.

Diskette finishing unit

Apparatus (10) for centering an integrated circuit device (12) along X and Y axes (95, 97) with respect to a Z axis (39). First and second jaw pairs (98, 100), are actuated so that corresponding jaws of each pair are, at all times, disposed along their respective axis at equal distances from the Z axis (39). Corresponding jaws of each pair (98, 100) are, concurrently, moved toward and away from the Z axis, therefore. In a preferred embodiment, actuation is effected by means of linear extender rods, (70, 72) which, in turn, in effect rotation of discs (26, 28) and their corresponding turnstiles (106, 114). Turnstile (106, 114) rotation, in turn, effects linear movement of track riders (84, 86) to which the jaw pairs, (98, 100) are mounted.

Centering mechanism

A vacuum head (10) for pick-up and placement of integrated circuit devices (16, 16'). The apparatus includes an outer housing (18) enclosing therewithin an inner tip assembly (34). The inner tip assembly (34) is disposed for reciprocation through and past an orifice (24) formed in a fitting (26) closing one end of the casing (20) of the outer housing (18). The inner tip assembly (34) has formed therein a shoulder (76) which, when the assembly (34) is moved to an extended position, can engage a seat (78) formed in an inner surface of the fitting (26). An O-ring (80) can be interposed between the shoulder (76) and the seat (78) to preclude vacuum generated in vacuum chamber (30) from being directed other than through an orifice (68) formed in the inner tip assembly (34). An air cylinder (48) is provided to actuate the inner tip assembly (34) for movement between retracted and extended positions.

Growing community of inventors

Coon Rapids, MN, United States of America

John S Lee