Apparatus and method for assembling compact disc or media package

• US 5,207,050 A
• Filed: 01/15/1992
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thiele Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Thiele Engineering Company
• Inventors: Fulkerson, Greg, Kaye, Stephen, Pan, Peter N. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coan, James F.
• Application Number:
  US07/820,846
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 53/474, 53/468, 53/157, 53/155, 53/254, 53/238, 53/240, 53/251, 53/250, 53/249, 53/234, 53/169, 206/313, 206/312, 206/309, 29/775, 29/773
• US Class Current: 53/474
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/002 packaging of information carriers, e.g. records, CD, DVD

Abstract

Process and apparatus for assembly of an ecologically compact disc or media package where a trayed rotating table advances to process a packaging sleeve and place a compact disc or media package on a processed packaging sleeve. A packaging sleeve is placed in a tray on one rotating table and subsequently a pamphlet is glued to the packaging sleeve. A one-piece compact disc or media base on another rotating table is placed on the awaiting packaging sleeve. An end cap can then be separated from the base. The packaging sleeve is secured by glue to the compact disc or media base and end cap. The end cap is either cut away or manually separated from the media base.

Claims

1. Process for assembling an ecologically compact disc or media package comprising the steps of:

a. rotating a table with a plurality of spaced trays through predetermined positions;

b. placing a cardboard with a plurality of panels into a tray at a first position;

c. rotating the table to a second position, in which the cardboard is properly aligned and positioned;

c. applying glue and placing a pamphlet on the cardboard at a third position;

e. rotating the table to a further position;

f. applying glue to the cardboard and placing a compact disc base with an end cap on the glue;

g. cutting the end cap from the compact disc base; and

,

h. lifting the cardboard with the compact disc base and end cap off the table.

2. Apparatus for assembling a compact disc package, comprising:

a. a generally circular rotatable table;

b. a plurality of sleeve trays mounted on said table, each of said trays being aligned generally on a radius of said table, and said trays being generally equally radial spaced around said table;

c. means for rotating said table to move said trays to a series of predetermined positions;

d. means for loading an album sleeve onto one of said trays at a first position;

e. means for applying glue to the album sleeve before said sleeve reaches a second position;

f. a second generally circular rotatable table;

g. a plurality of media trays mounted on the table, each tray being mounted on a radius of said table and spaced equally radially around said table;

h. means for rotating the second table through a series of predetermined positions, one of the predetermined positions aligning with said media placement position of said first table;

i. a placer for moving media bases from said media base trays on said second table to the album sleeve on said first table; and

,

j. means for removing said assembled sleeve and media base from the tray.