Patent ID: 7128851
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: B29C,B29L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A system for removing scratches and other imperfections from the optical surface formed in the top layer of an optically read disc, comprising: a support table, said support table including a disc cavity sized to receive and encircle the outer circumference of the disc in a clearance fit and position the optical surface of said disc to face upwardly, said disc cavity being the sole means for mounting the disc, a convection heater for heating the top layer and optical surface of said disc to a predetermined temperature, the temperature being greater than the annealing temperature of said top layer and sufficient to cause the material to reflow so that said scratches and other imperfections of said optical surface refill with material of said top layer, means for positioning the optical surface and the convection heater in fixed axially spaced relation to one another, means for rotating the support table, and the disc therein, means for moving the convection heater alone a radius of the disc, a controller for substantially simultaneously rotating the support table and the disc therein relative to the convection heater and to a predetermined rotational speed, raising the temperature of the heater to a temperature above the annealing temperature of said top layer, controlling the duration of time that the optical surface is exposed to the heat, and moving the convection heater back and forth relative to a radius of the support table and across the optical surface of the disc.