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[0001] This is a continuation of my application of the same title, Serial No 60/382,402, filed May 22, 2002, now abandoned.
[0002] It is in general an object of the invention to overcome the limitations and disadvantages of the methods and devices whether employed in a specific field. Also, it is a general object to provide a new way, a new method and device in such fields to improve the specific process.
[0003] The present invention pertains generally to provide a method and device for firm picking and placing of disc-shaped objects with a concentrically disposed hole. More particularly, this relates to compact disc multiplication machines transferring a blank disc from a supply bin into a writing/reading device and thereafter transferring the written/read disc to an output bin.
[0004] Compact discs, which can be either audio compact disc or CD, a computer CD-ROM, a video disc, a laser disc or DVD containing digital information on one or both sides. For the sake of convenience, the discs will be called CD thereafter. Picker means the apparatus or part of the apparatus comprises the necessary elements and concludes the process of removing a CD from a stack and placing it to an other location like reading and/or writing device and vice versa.
[0005] CD pickers are well known. They are designed to pick-up the top disc from a stack and place it in the other wanted location, more specifically in burner/reader tray and after completion of writing/reading session from that device tray, to an output bin and vice versa.
[0006] This invention's meaning is to accomplish a firm picking apparatus and method of the disc from a stack of discs so the device will always pick up only one disc, even when they are slightly misaligned. It will then hold it strongly in the placing process so the placing process in an automated environment can be completed on a much higher traveling speed and more accurately. This eliminates the unwanted situation when the picker device loads two CD's into the devices tray. More particularly, this kind of machine works remotely or under limited human supervision. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device suitable to carrying out the above tasks.
[0007] This object is achieved in an apparatus for firmly picking disc shaped objects with concentric hole, like CD's, when stacked one top of the other, in such a way that the concentric hole of each CD will form an opening on the stack, so called stack bore. The picking part of the apparatus having a conic ended rod shaped body in which a finger-like gripper is housed, and a semi groove is provided on the rod-shaped part, opposite to the finger-like gripper housing. A spring continuously urges the finger-like gripper in its housing, having its position defined means the associated circumference circle of the rod is not intersected by the gripping part of the finger-like gripper, also the limiter part of the finger-like griper is outstanding from rod shaped body. Inserting the conic ended rod body in stack bore, the conic end will shift the slightly misaligned CD in stack, moving them in a position around the rod, permitting the rod to be inserted until the limiter of the fin type lever touches the topmost CD surface, meaning the semi groove on the rod, the gripping part of the fin type lever and the topmost CD on the stack are aligned in such a way that the gripping part of the lever acted by a solenoid through a connecting element, will move outward from rod the finger-like gripper, engaging the inner surface of the concentric hole of the topmost CD sliding it in horizontal plan, respecting to the stack, and sliding it in the semi-groove, holding it in until the placing mechanism places the picked CD in the wanted location, where the solenoid releases the finger-like gripper and is urged by spring, in its housing in conic-ended rod.
[0008]
[0009]
[0010]
[0011] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating of preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for purpose of limiting the same.
[0012] In
[0013] The finger-like gripper
[0014] Is desirable, but not necessary, that the discs in the stack be exactly aligned. Also, it is desirable that the discs in the stack be placed parallel to each other and their concentric bore to be at least interfered, if not on the same axis. The conic part
[0015] In
[0016] On a given situation where the concentric bore
[0017] Also, it is desirable that the dimension of the semi-groove
[0018] In
[0019] Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various alterations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.