Programmable self-operating compact disk duplication system

• US 6,141,298 A
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wordtech Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wordtech Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Huber, Paul W.
• Application Number:
  US09/152,815
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 369/29, 369/30, 369/32, 369/33, 369/34, 369/36, 369/37, 369/38, 369/42, 369/75.2, 369/178, 369/197, 369/201, 369/202
• US Class Current: 369/30.33
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/08 from consecutive-access magazine of disc records
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/22 from random access magazine of disc records
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/228 Control systems for magazines G11B17/225 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for the duplication of binary data onto CD-R disks, the system including a copy unit, a host computer and computer software, the software being installed in the host computer to provide a user interface and to direct the transfer of data from the host computer to the copy unit, the copy unit including a set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives, a microprocessor electronically connected to the activating mechanism of a pivotal transport tower and to the set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives. A robotic disk pickup head on the pivotal transport tower is encompassed by a set of disk spindle members arranged in a symmetric semi-circular pattern around the central tower, the disk pickup head being connected to the pivotal transport tower with an elevator mechanism for lifting and transporting compact disks among the disk spindle members and any selected one of the stacked recordable disk drive members. The microprocessor concurrently directs the movement of the disk pickup head and the copying of data to the CD-R disks in the disk drive members. After a disk copy operation is completed, the computer software and microprocessor may direct the stacked recordable disk drive members to inspect the burned CD-R disks for copy errors and further direct the disk pickup head to remove and eject defective burned CD-R disks and place properly burned CD-R disks on a specified disk spindle member. The system allows for source data to be read from multiple master compact disks inserted in specified stacked recordable disk drive members to provide for random access copying from the multiple master compact disks.

Claims

1. A system for the duplication of data onto CD-R disks, the system comprising:

a vacuum pump; and

a copy unit, comprising;

at least one set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives;

a pivotal transport tower;

a set of disk spindle members, arranged in a symmetric circular pattern around the pivotal transport tower, maintaining the order and placement of the stacked compact disks during the copy operations;

an arm, connected to the pivotal transport tower and the vacuum pump, the arm transporting a CD-R disk located on the top of a stack held in place by one disk spindle member to any stacked recordable disk drive member, the arm capable of transporting a CD-R disk located in any stacked recordable disk drive member to the top of any stack held in place by one of the disk spindle members.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the number of multiple stacked recordable disk drives may be increased or decreased by the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the disk spindle members may be removed from or re-attached to the copy unit.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the copy unit has an air filtration unit, the air filtration unit comprising:

a set of electric fan members, the electric fan members drawing air into the inside of the copy unit;

an air filter, the air filter positioned along the inside vertical face of the copy unit and filtering the air drawn into the copy unit by the electric fan members;

a set of outflow vents located on the copy unit, the outflow vents allowing air drawn through the copy unit by the electric fan members to exit the copy unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a host computer containing computer software and memory is connected to the copy unit, the computer software providing a user interface for output diagnostic messages of the copy unit through peripherals connected to the host computer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a microprocessor located inside the copy unit controls movement of the pivotal transport tower and the arm.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is electrically connected to the host computer, the microprocessor sending electrical signals to the host computer and the microprocessor receiving electrical signal commands from the host computer, the computer software providing a user interface for control of the copy unit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the binary data to be copied is located on one or more master compact disks and is transferred to the memory of the host computer by at least one stacked recordable disk drive member.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer software and the microprocessor provide a user interface for user input copy instructions for the control of each master compact disk during the duplication of the data when each master compact disk is held by a disk spindle member on the copy unit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the copy unit has a disk reject area, the arm capable of transporting defective CD-R disks, the disk pickup head receiving electrical signal commands from the microprocessor, the microprocessor receiving an electrical signal indicating a CD-R disk located in a stacked recordable disk drive member is defective, the electrical signal sent to the microprocessor by the stacked recordable disk drive member after the stacked recordable disk drive member attempts to read the CD-R disk.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the copy unit has a print application area, the arm transporting CD-R disks to the print application area for application of symbols on the upper face of the CD-R disk, the arm then transporting the labeled disk to top of any stack held in place by one of the disk spindle members.

12. A compact disk recording system for the duplication of binary data onto CD-R disks, the system comprising:

lifting means for engaging and transporting a CD-R disk in a vertical direction;

a set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives;

rotating transport means for transporting the CD-R disk in a horizontal plane while the CD-R disk is engaged by the lifting means;

disk stacking means for holding CD-R disks in at least two stacks, the lifting means and rotating transport means transporting a CD-R disk located at the top of one of the stacks to any one of the multiple stacked recordable disk drives, the lifting means and rotating transport means transporting a CD-R disk located in any one of the multiple stacked recordable disk drives to the top of any one of the stacks.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the system has master disk data transfer means for reading master data located on one or more compact disks and then transferring the master data onto a CD-R disk.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system has user interface means for pre-programming the control of the duplication of data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system has defective CD-R disk detection means for detecting defective CD-R disks and ejection means for ejecting defective CD-R disks to an area away from the disk stacking means.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system has labeling means for the application of symbols on the upper face of the CD-R disks and transporting the labeled disk to the top of one of the stacks.

17. A system for the duplication of binary data onto CD-R disks having a recording side and a printing side, the system comprising:

a copy unit having

at least one set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives;

a pivotal transport tower;

a set of disk spindle members, arranged in a symmetric circular pattern around the pivotal transport tower, maintaining the order and placement of the stacked compact disks during the copy operations;

an arm, connected to the pivotal transport tower the arm transporting a CD-R disk located on the top of a stack held in place by one disk spindle member to any stacked recordable disk drive member, the arm capable of transporting a CD-R disk located in any stacked recordable disk drive member to the top of any stack held in place by one of the disk spindle members.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the number of multiple stacked recordable disk drives may be increased or decreased by the user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the disk spindle members may be removed from or re-attached to the copy unit.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein a host computer containing computer software and memory is connected to the copy unit, the computer software providing a user interface for output diagnostic messages of the copy unit through peripherals connected to the host computer.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein a microprocessor located inside the copy unit controls movement of the pivotal transport tower and the arm.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the microprocessor is electrically connected to the host computer, the microprocessor sending electrical signals to the host computer and the microprocessor receiving electrical signal commands from the host computer, the computer software providing a user interface for control of the copy unit.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the binary data to be copied is located on one or more master compact disks and is transferred to the memory of the host computer by at least one stacked recordable disk drive member.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the computer software and the microprocessor provide a user interface for user input copy instructions for the control of each master compact disk during the duplication of the data when each master compact disk is held by a disk spindle member on the copy unit.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the copy unit has a disk reject area, the arm capable of transporting defective burned CD-R disks, the disk pickup head receiving electrical signal commands from the microprocessor, the microprocessor receiving an electrical signal indicating a burned CD-R disk located in a stacked recordable disk drive member is defective, the electrical signal sent to the microprocessor by the stacked recordable disk drive member after the stacked recordable disk drive member attempts to read the burned CD-R disk.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the copy unit has a print application unit, the arm transporting a CD-R disk to the print application unit for printing on the printing side of the CD-R disk, the arm then transporting the printed disk to top of any stack held in place by one of the disk spindle members.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the print application unit includes means for drying a printed disk.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the copy unit has means for circulating air, and wherein the print application units has vent means located to optimize drying of a printed disk in the print application unit by air circulating means of the copy unit.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the drying means includes a thermal element.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the CD-R disks are preprinted and include a preprinted orientation mark, and wherein the print application unit includes means for detecting the preprinted orientation mark, computer program means for determining the angular location of the orientation mark, and computer program means for rotationally orienting a to-be-printed image in registration with the preprinted orientation mark.

31. In a compact disk copying system having at least one disk copying drive with a disk receiving device and at least one disk holding structure for storing compact disks in a disk stack, a disk transport mechanism comprising:

a base platform;

a transport tower on the base platform with a vertical axis;

a positioning arm connected to the transport tower, the positioning arm having a disk pickup mechanism positioned on the arm displaced from the central vertical axis of the transport tower;

a pivot mechanism operably connected to the transport tower and positioning arm wherein the disk pickup mechanism is moveable in a radial arc about the vertical axis of the transport tower;

a displacement mechanism operably connected to the positioning arm and transport tower wherein the positioning arm is vertically displaceable along a path adjacent to the vertical axis of the transport tower and vertically positionable at any selected position on the path;

wherein the disk holding structure and the disk receiving member are constructed and positioned relative to the transport tower to hold at least one compact disk oriented in a horizontal plane, with a disk center positioned on the radial arc of the disk pickup mechanism; and

an electronic controller operably connected to the pivot mechanism and displacement mechanism for independent operation of the pivot mechanism and displacement mechanism wherein the disk pickup mechanism is selectively transportable to one of the disk holding structure and disk receiving member for engaging one of the compact disks, and, transportable to the other of the disk holding structure and disk receiving member for release of the engaged disk.

32. The disk transport mechanism in the compact disk copying system of claim 31 wherein the disk pickup mechanism engages a compact disk proximate the center of the disk.

33. The disk transport mechanism in the compact disk copying system of claim 32 wherein the compact disk has a center and the disk pickup mechanism engages the compact disk proximate the center hole of the disk.

34. The disk transport mechanism in the compact disk copying system of claim 33 wherein the compact disk has a top surface and the disk pickup mechanism includes a suction device that contacts the top surface to the compact disk and engages the disk when suction is applied to the suction device.

35. The disk transport mechanism in the compact disk copying system of claim 34 wherein the suction device includes spaced suction members that contact the top surface of the disk.

36. The disk transport mechanism in the compact disk copying system of claim 35 wherein the positioning arm is substantially horizontally oriented relative to the vertical axis of the transport tower, the positioning arm having an underside wherein the disk pickup mechanism is mounted to the underside of the positioning arm.

37. The disk transport mechanism in the compact disk copying system of claim 31 wherein the displacement mechanism includes a tracking device for vertically displacing the pivoting arm along the vertical path adjacent the axis of the transport tower.

38. The disk transport mechanism in the compact disk copying system of claim 37 wherein the tracking device includes a belt and pully assembly with a belt drive, the positioning arm being connected to the belt.

39. In a compact disk copying system having at least one disk copying drive with a disk receiving device and at least one disk holding structure for storing compact disks in a disk stack, a disk transport mechanism comprising:

a base platform;

a transport tower on the base platform with a vertical axis;

a positioning arm connected to the transport tower, the positioning arm having a disk pickup mechanism positioned on the arm displaced from the central vertical axis of the transport tower;

a pivot mechanism operably connected to the transport tower and positioning arm wherein the disk pickup mechanism is moveable in a radial arc about the vertical axis of the transport tower on operation of the pivot mechanism;

a displacement mechanism operably connected to the positioning arm and transport tower wherein the positioning arm is vertically displaceable along a path adjacent to the vertical axis of the transport tower and vertically positionable at any selected position on the path;

wherein the disk holding structure and the disk receiving member are constructed and positioned relative to the transport tower to hold at least one compact disk oriented in a horizontal plane, with a disk center positioned on the radial arc of the disk pickup mechanism; and

an electronic controller operably connected to the pivot mechanism and displacement mechanism wherein the disk pickup mechanism is selectively transportable to one of the disk holding structure and disk receiving member by pivot of the positioning arm by the pivot mechanism, wherein one of the compact disks is engaged by the disk pickup mechanism and vertically displaced by the displacement mechanism, and, transportable to the other of the disk holding structure and disk receiving member by pivot of the positioning arm by the pivot mechanism and independent displacement of the displacement mechanism, wherein the engaged disk is released by the disk pickup mechanism.