Method and apparatus for printing labels on digital recording media

• US 6,270,176 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Rolf D. And Yvonne E. Kahle Trust
• Original Assignee: Compulog Corporation
• Inventors: Kahle, Rolf D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALLACHER, CRAIG ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/192,841
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 347/2, 347/4, 156/384, 361/86
• US Class Current: 347/2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4071 Printing on disk-shaped media, e.g. CDs
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/00 Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns printing apparatus or machines of special type or for particular purposes B41F17/00; special designs or pictures per se B44F; manufacturing printed circuits using printing techniques H05K3/12 ; manufacturing organic semiconductor devices using printing techniques H10K71/13
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/40 Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers

Abstract

The invention provides an exemplary label printer and methods for printing labels on optical media. According to one exemplary method, an optical medium is inserted into a printing device having a mechanism for rotating the optical medium. The optical medium is rotated with a rotation mechanism. Further, a print head is moved over the optical medium and ink is ejected onto the medium while the medium is rotating to create a label on the medium.

Claims

1. A method for printing labels on optical media, the method comprising:

inserting an optical medium into a printing device having a mechanism for rotating the optical medium;

rotating the optical medium about a hub with the rotation mechanism; and

moving a print head over the optical medium in a direction that is parallel to and offset from a radial axis of the optical medium sufficient to permit the print head to remain radially clear of the hub and ejecting ink onto the medium while the medium is rotating to create a label on the medium.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the medium is selected from the group of media consisting of compact disks, digital video disks and digital versatile disks.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the print head is mounted above the rotating medium on a linear track, and further comprising translating the print head along the track to move the print head over the medium.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising translating the print head to different locations along the track and ejecting ink at the different locations.

5. A method as in claim 3, wherein the print head spans a print area on the medium, and further comprising ejecting ink onto the print area while the print head is stationary.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising printing a second label on the medium, wherein the second label is rotationally aligned with the first label by sensing the location of an image on the medium and positioning the print head based on the location of the image.

7. A method for printing labels on optical media, the method comprising:

inserting an optical medium into a reading or recording device which reads data from or records data onto the medium as the medium rotates;

rotating the medium about a hub within the reading or recording device; and

moving a print head over the medium in a direction that is parallel to and offset from a radial axis of the optical medium sufficient to permit the print head to remain radially clear of the hub and ejecting ink onto the medium while the medium is rotating to create a label on the medium.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the medium is selected from the group of media consisting of compact disks, digital video disks and digital versatile disks.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the print head is mounted above the rotating medium on a linear track, and further comprising translating the print head along the track to move the print head over the medium.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the print head is moved by a motor, wherein the print head is operably connected to a controller having label information, and wherein the controller sends a signal the motor to move the print head and sends a signal to the print head to eject the ink onto the medium.

11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising entering the label information into the controller in an x,y coordinate print data format, and further comprising translating the label information with the controller to a polar coordinate format.

12. A method as in claim 7, wherein the ink comprises a variety of colors.

13. A circular optical medium having a label placed thereon according to the method of claim 7.

14. A label printing system for optical media, the system comprising:

a print head;

a track adapted to position the print head above a rotating optical medium that rotates about a hub, and to permit the print head to be moved in a direction that is parallel to and radially offset from a radial axis of the optical medium to permit the print head to remain radially clear of the hub; and

a controller which translates label information from an x,y coordinate print data format to a polar coordinate format and which sends signals to move the print head along the track and to eject ink from the print head onto the medium while the medium is rotating to produce a label on the medium.

15. A system as in claim 14, further comprising a housing for receiving the print head and the track.

16. A system as in claim 14, further comprising a rotation mechanism disposed to rotate the optical medium.

17. A system for transferring data to or from optical media, the system comprising:

a rotation mechanism disposed to rotate a circular optical medium about a hub;

a data transfer device to read data from or record data to the optical medium;

a track positioned above the rotation mechanism;

a print head operably attached to the track such that the print head may be moved along the track in a direction that is parallel to and radially offset from a radial axis of the optical medium to permit the print head to remain radially clear of the hub; and

a controller disposed to send signals to rotate the rotation mechanism, to move the print head along the track, and to eject ink from the print head onto the medium while the rotation mechanism is rotating the medium, and wherein the controller is configured to translate label information from an x,y coordinate print data format to a polar coordinate format.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein the data transfer device comprises a digital reader or recorder.

19. A system as in claim 17, wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a motor coupled to a capstan, wherein the capstan is adapted to be placed against an outer rim of the optical medium.

20. A system as in claim 19, wherein the capstan is operably attached to a pivotable mounting bracket, wherein a lever is operably attached to the mounting bracket such that movement of the print head toward a printing position operates the lever to move the capstan into engagement with the optical medium.