Abstract:
An apparatus for the transport of discs for duplication of data onto the discs. The apparatus may include a transportation mechanism, control device, power module and optionally a disc recording mechanism and housing. The transportation mechanism may include an arm, and one or more gear assemblies. Further, the apparatus may also include a drawer device and a plurality of disc holders.

Description:
[0001]    The invention relates an apparatus for transportation of a disc in connection with recording data and apparatus for such recording, as specified in the independent claims. More particularly, the invention is directed toward an apparatus enabling automated or semi-automated reproduction of discs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    As is conventionally known Compact Discs (CDs), whether they be recordable or rewritable, are frequently used to record audio and video data. Such discs are also used to record data, including computer software and data of various types. Such discs, like Digital Video Discs (DVDs) and Blu-ray Discs and are characterized by a construction which is formed of a plurality of layers, including a reflective inner layer and a protective top layer upon which characters and graphics can be printed using an appropriate printing mechanism. Such discs are described throughout this application as discs. 
         [0003]    Conventionally, various devices are provided for recording discs in an automated manner to provide for disc duplication projects in manufacturing and other industrial and business settings. However, such devices are expensive, large in size and are generally designed for mass production of discs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,216 to Hollerich provides such an apparatus configured to pick up and place discs in such equipment. 
         [0004]    However, as such discs are used more often in industry, business and in our personal lives, it has been recognized that there is a need for smaller, more economical devices for recording a number of discs in an automated manner. Thus, U.S. Pat. Pub. 20070147191 for Liu et al. provides a recording system that uses a mechanical arm under a computer controlling system to retrieve an unrecorded disc from an unrecorded disc stack and release the unrecorded disc into the disc tray of the optical disc drive. Liu further recognizes that, by the computer controlling system and mechanical arm, the procedures of disc copying can be done automatically, thus faster and more efficiently than in the past. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description below. 
         [0006]    In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus is provided that is configured to perform disc transportation, for example, disc retrieval and release using an arm for retrieving discs from a disc store and releasing the discs into a disc tray of a disc recordation device, as specified in the independent claims. Accordingly, dependent claims prescribe further detailed implementations of the present invention. 
         [0007]    Thus, in operation, the apparatus is configured such that the arm moves in a single plane by performing retrieval of a disc and release of the disc in two dimensions only. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A more complete understanding of the present invention and the utility thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top plan view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates an enlarged side elevational view of a gripper arm head assembly for an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiments of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  8  and  14 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates a front elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates a side elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates a rear elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates a top plan view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 8  in an alternative position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  illustrates a side elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  illustrates a front elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  illustrates a side elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  illustrates a rear elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  illustrates a top plan view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  illustrates a side elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  illustrates a front elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  illustrates a side elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  illustrates a rear elevational view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 25  illustrates a top plan view of an apparatus provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 26  illustrates an expanded view of the dual arm linkage assembly provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 27  illustrates a perspective view of the blank disc cassette provided in accordance with at least the embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    In the following description of various invention embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Moreover, it should be understood that various connections are set forth between elements in the following description; however, these connections in general, and, unless otherwise specified, may be either direct or indirect, either permanent or transitory, and either dedicated or shared, and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. 
         [0038]    In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus is provided that is configured to perform disc transportation, for example, disc retrieval and release using a gripper arm for retrieving discs from a disc store and releasing the discs into a disc tray of a disc recordation device. In operation, the apparatus may be configured such that the gripper arm moves in a single plane by performing retrieval of a disc and release of the disc in two dimensions only. This disc transportation equipment and resulting functionality may be combined with equipment for performing disc recordation to provide a compact disc burner capable of performing recordation of a plurality of discs in an automated or semi-automated manner. 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one example of a disc a disc transportation apparatus may be combined with a disc recorder (e.g., duplicator or burner). 
         [0040]    As is conventionally understood, discs to be recorded (e.g., blank discs) are generally plastic with a hole located in the middle of the disc. Such discs are generally circular; however, they may have various shapes including, for example, rectilinear or with parallel sides and rounded or curved ends. The apparatus may include a housing  116 , which may include, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a conventionally known disc recorder  104 . For example, although not expressly illustrated, it should be understood that the housing may include components provided and operable to enable a write laser to move in a prescribed configuration while the disc to be recorded spins. As is conventionally understood, a blank disc such as a recordable disc has a smooth reflective metal layer, which rests on top of a layer of photosensitive dye. When the disc is blank, the dye is translucent. However, to write data to the disc, the dye layer is heated using a laser. Thus, when the dye layer is heated with a concentrated light, e.g., a laser, of a particular frequency and intensity, the dye turns opaque. 
         [0041]    By selectively darkening particular points along the disc track, and leaving other areas of dye translucent, a digital pattern is created that a standard disc player can read. The light from the player&#39;s laser beam only bounces back to the sensor when the dye is left translucent, in the same way that it will only bounce back from the flat areas of a conventional disc. 
         [0042]    Thus, conventional disc recorders record, or “burn” digital patterns onto blank discs. Therefore, a conventional disc recorder has a moving laser assembly. But in addition to the standard “read laser,” it has a “write laser.” The write laser is more powerful than the read laser, so it interacts with the disc differently: It alters the surface instead of just bouncing light off it. The write laser moves in exactly the same way as the read laser by moving outward while the disc spins. The bottom plastic layer has grooves pre-pressed into it, to guide the laser along the correct path. By calibrating the rate of spin with the movement of the laser assembly, the recorder keeps the laser running along the track at a constant rate of speed. To record the data, the recorder simply turns the laser writer on and off in synch with the pattern of 1s and 0s. The laser darkens the material to encode a 0 and leaves it translucent to encode a 1. Depending on whether a disc is recordable or rewritable, data recorded in a disc can be re-recorded. 
         [0043]    As illustrated in the FIGURES, e.g.,  FIG. 1 , the disc recorder  104  may be any one of a number of conventionally available disc recording apparatuses. All that is necessary for implementation of the apparatus  100  is a coordinated interaction between the disc recorder  104  and other components of the apparatus  100  provided in association with and functioning to transport both blank discs  108  and recorded discs  106  from/to respective storage stations/areas  118 ,  120 . 
         [0044]    To provide storage of a number of discs to be recorded  108 , a first disc store cassette  110  is provided in the blank disc storage station/area  118 . The cassette  110  may include one or more vertical supports that attach either to the bottom of the cassette or to the base plate. The curving nature of the disc store cassette  110  enables the gripper arm assembly  176  to more effectively interface with the discs stored in the cassette  10  based on the curvature of the path of the gripper arm  158 . That is, as the number of discs stored in the cassette reduces, the placement of the gripper arm  158  will alter because the gripper arm  158  is moved via the dual arm linkage assembly  114 . However, it should be appreciated that, in at least one implementation of the invention, the curved nature of the cassette  110  is not necessary. 
         [0045]    To provide storage of a number of recorded discs  106 , a second disc store cassette  112  may be provided in the recorded disc storage station/area  120 . It should be understood that the cassette  112  may be shaped as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  to provide a tapered diameter to facilitate collection of recorded discs  106  once those discs are released from the gripper arm assembly  176 . 
         [0046]    The disc recorder  104  may include a tray  102  that extends from the housing of the recorder  104  under a control program  9 , which may be implemented as machine executable instructions for a control module and/or power module for the recorder  104  (not shown but included in the housing of recorder  104 ). 
         [0047]    The disc support tray  102  may be configured to hold a disc following transport of the disc to the tray  102  via the gripper arm  158  and during recordation of data by the recorder  104 . When a disc is in the tray  102 , the tray  102  can be moved so that the tray  102  is moved inwardly and outwardly from housing of the recorder  104  to implement loading and unloading of the disc into the housing of the recorder  104 . Thus, the tray  102  may extend to a position where a blank disc  108  can be placed onto the respective tray  102 . Subsequently, under the direction of the control program, the tray  102  may recede back into the housing  104  for recordation of data on the disc (e.g., using conventionally understood disc writing technology). Following completion of operations performed for recording data on the recorded disc  106 , the tray  102  may be controlled by the control program to extend to a position where the recorded disc  106  can be retrieved from the tray  102  and deposited in the disc store  112  by the gripper arm  158 . 
         [0048]    Thus, after information is recorded on the recorded disc  106  located in tray  102 , the tray  102  may be moved back to the extended position where the disc is accessible for the disc gripper arm  158  to be moved in conjunction with operation of the disc gripper arm head assembly  176  to engage the disc hole and pick up the disc for transportation to a post recordation disc store station/area  120 . This results in the tray  102  being cleared for insertion of another blank disc  108  to be recorded, once the recorded disc  106  has been released in the post record disc store station  120  by the disc gripper arm head assembly  176 . 
         [0049]    Thus, operations of various components of the apparatus  100  can be controlled so as to provide a sequence of cooperative actions to facilitate transportation of a disc to be recorded to/from the tray  102  of the disc recorder  104 . For example, the disc to be recorded can be picked from the disc storage cassette  110  and moved to a position overlying the tray  102  for the disc recorder  104  when the tray  102  is extended, and then dropped in place by the gripper arm head assembly  176  releasing the disc (as explained in more detail with reference to the other figures). Subsequently, programmed control instructions provided in a control module of the apparatus  100  (not expressly illustrated but included in housing  116 ) may cause the disc tray  102  to move into the housing of disc recorder  104 . 
         [0050]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , discs to be recorded  108  (e.g., blank discs) may be stored in a first stack or storage area  118  that may be implemented in whole or in part by a disc cassette  110 . 
         [0051]    Individual discs may be lifted with the disc gripper arm head assembly  176  (illustrated in additional detail in  FIG. 7 ) mounted on disc gripper arm  158 . Thus, the gripper arm  158  may be configured such that a disc is moved in a single plane (i.e., along two axis of movement) between the pre-recorded disc storage station  118 , the disc recorder  104  and the post-record store station  120 . This single plane movement reduces the complexity and cost of the apparatus  100 , as well as providing rapid easily controlled operations. 
         [0052]    To provide this single plane movement, the gripper arm  158  may be attached to a dual arm linkage assembly  114 , which in turn is connected to a gear assembly via interaction with a pulley arm  124  and a slave drive arm  150  at a juncture plate  122  (see  FIG. 2 ). Thus, it should be appreciated that the dual arm linkage assembly  114  includes the pulley arm  124 , slave drive arm  150  and juncture plate  122 . The dual arm linkage assembly  114  couples the gripper arm  158  to the gear assembly (described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 3-6 ) to provide the single plane movement of the gripper arm  158 . 
         [0053]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the gear assembly included in the apparatus  100  may include various pulleys, belts and arms so as to translate movement force provided by a motor  154  included in the housing  116  of the apparatus  100  into the single plane movement of the gripper arm  158 . More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the gear assembly includes a timing belt  152  coupled to a motor  154  (providing rotational movement at the axis of rotation  130  and also to a major pulley  126  (also illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The major pulley  126  is also coupled to the pulley arm  125  included in the dual arm linkage assembly  114 , which is coupled to minor pulley  148 . Minor pulley  148  enables the gripper arm  158  to maintain a consistent relationship with the normal plane for the apparatus  100  (to ensure that the griper arm  158  maintains a parallel relationship with the orientation of the discs  108  and the tray  102 ). Also included in the gear assembly are a number of additional pulleys  132 ,  134 ,  136  and  138  that aid in operation of the timing belt  152 , e.g., to ensure that the timing belt remains in operational relationship with the major pulley  126 . 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the dual arm linkage assembly  114  may be configured to provide a bend in the pulley arm  125  so as to compensate for location of the major pulley  126  as the dual arm linkage assembly  114  is moved from the blank disc storage station  118  to the recorder tray  102 . As a result, it should be appreciated that the dual arm linkage assembly  114  provides movement among the blank disc storage station  118 , the recorded disc storage station  120  and the recorder tray  102  by movement force provided by the major pulley  126  via coupling  156  of that pulley to the dual arm linkage assembly  114 . 
         [0055]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , the gripper arm head assembly  176  is mounted on the gripper arm  158  and enables interaction with the central openings of discs to facilitate transportation of a disc to and from the recorder tray  102 . 
         [0056]    Further to the explanation of apparatus operation provided above, it should be understood that, in operation of the apparatus  100 , the gripper arm  158  may be moved downwardly so the gripper arm head assembly  176  engages a blank disc  108  from the disc storage cassette  110  located in storage station/area  118  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). The solenoid  160  may be activated so a blank disc  108  is gripped. The arm  158  may then be moved in a single plane of operation by operation of the gear assembly (described in association with  FIGS. 3-6 ) to enable placement of the blank disc  108  in the recorder tray  102 . 
         [0057]    Once the blank disc  108  is deposited in the tray  102  and released by the gripper arm head assembly  176 , the tray  102  may be retracted into the housing of the recorder  104  for the recording operation. That retraction and recording operation may be performed under control of the recorder  104  (more specifically, a controller included in the recorder  104 ; not shown). Thus, a recording sequence may be selected by machine instructions of the recorder  104 , which may be as provided by or specified in a recorder manufacturer. 
         [0058]    Once recording of the disc is complete, the tray  102  will be extended back out to the loading/unloading position. The recorded disc  106  may then be picked up with the gripper arm  158  using the gripper arm head assembly  176  in the same manner performed when picking up the disc prior to recordation. Subsequently, the gripper arm  158  may be moved to a position where the recorded disc  106  may be released into a post-record disc store station/area  120  (e.g., in cassette  112 ) in the same manner as when the disc to be recorded  106  was released into the tray  102  of the recorder  104 . 
         [0059]    Returning to description of components illustrated in  FIG. 4 , it should be understood that a number of photo transistors and photointeruptors may be used at various locations in the apparatus  100  to ensure that discs are correctly picked up and deposited in various locations during initial storage, pre-recordation transportation, recordation, transportation subsequent to recordation and storage. For example, phototransistors  140 ,  142  and  144  may be provided to detect various locations of discs and components of the apparatus to control operation of the apparatus. For example, phototransistor  140  may be provided in proximity to the disc storage stations/areas to indicate whether a disc has been engaged by the gripper arm head assembly  176 , deposited in a storage station/area, dropped, etc. Likewise, phototransistor  142  may be provided to generate information regarding the relative location of the dual arm linkage assembly  114 . Further, phototransistor  144  may be provided to indicate when a disc has been dropped improperly from the gripper arm  158 . Further, photointeruptor  146  may be located in proximity to indicate to the tray  102  to indicate when the tray is open, closed, or has malfunctioned. 
         [0060]    Likewise, photointeruptor assembly  162  illustrated in  FIG. 5  is provided to enable precise movement of the gripper arm  158  in relationship to the discs to enable picking up of individual discs. As a result, the photointeruptor assembly  162  may include a movable structural component that interacts with a disc prior to engaging of the disc such that movement of the structural component is registered by an photointeruptor in the assembly  162  to stop, slow or otherwise alter movement of the gripper arm  158  and/or gripper arm head assembly  176 . 
         [0061]    As is conventionally understood, discs have standard or standardized center openings; in order to handle the discs, the apparatus  100  includes a gripper arm  158  coupled via a dual arm linkage assembly  114  to the apparatus gear assembly and motor  154  under control of a control module included in but not shown in housing  116 . The control module may be configured to include components enabling control of various operations of the apparatus  100  and interacts with, is controlled by or cooperates/communicates with a recorder control module (included in the housing of the recorder  104  but not shown) configured to control the transportation and recording of discs. 
         [0062]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the disc gripper arm head assembly  176  can be of any desired form, but as shown in this example, the assembly  176  may have a plurality of fingers  166 ,  168  that may or may not have tapered ends. As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the fingers  166 ,  168  may be pressed together (via operation of a solenoid  160  and solenoid pull rod  164 ) providing movement of the fingers in relationship to pivot point  174 ) prior to interact with a central hole within a disc. Subsequent to the tapered ends passing through the hole of the disc, the plurality of fingers  166 ,  168  may be separated by operation of the solenoid  160  and solenoid pull rod  164  (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) mounted on the gripper arm  158  under the direction of the apparatus  100  control module. Thus, the solenoid  160  may be actuated to spread the tapered ends of the plurality of fingers  166 ,  168  to engage the inner surfaces of the opening in the center of a disc to be handled. 
         [0063]    In additional detail, the disc gripper arm head assembly  176  may include not only the gripper fingers  166 ,  168  but also a photointeruptor  160  provided to ?. It should also be appreciated that the gripper arm head assembly  176  may be designed so as to aid in the engagement of a single disc by, for example, including a cylindrical portion  170  that has a height equal to the height of a single disc; this portion  170  may be coupled to a stopper portion  172  having a width dimension such that, when a disc is engaged by the separated plurality of fingers  166 ,  168 , the disc is held in place parallel to the disc arm  158  so as to enable effective acquisition and transportation of the disc from/to stations  118 ,  120  and the disc recorder  104 . 
         [0064]      FIGS. 8-19  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the apparatus  100  which includes all the components of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7  but in an alternative configuration. As can be understood with reference to  FIG. 8 , the position of the disc recorder  104  may be located between the blank disc station (including the cassette  110 ) and the recorded disc station (including cassette  112 ). This alternative configuration also takes advantage of the single plane movement operation of the gripper arm  158  and its cooperation with the motor (not shown) and gear assembly as illustrated in  FIGS. 9-13 . It should be appreciated that the gripper arm head assembly  176  included in this embodiment may be identical or substantially similar to that illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 .  FIGS. 14-19  illustrate the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 8  but with the disc gripper arm  158  in a different operational position (i.e., over the recorder tray  102  as part of loading/unloading a disc from the tray  102 ). 
         [0065]      FIGS. 20-25  illustrate another alternative embodiment of the apparatus  100  which includes all the components of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7  and those of  8 - 19  but in an alternative configuration. As can be understood with reference to  FIG. 20 , the position of the disc recorder  104  may be located between the blank disc station (including the cassette  110 ) and the recorded disc station (including cassette  112 ). Moreover, a repository  178  for “bad” discs, e.g., those that could not be recorded, may be located on top of the disc recorder  104 . Therefore changes to the order of operation will need to be made in the application. 
         [0066]    This alternative configuration also takes advantage of the single plane movement operation of the gripper arm  158  and its cooperation with the motor (not shown) and gear assembly as illustrated in  FIGS. 9-13 . It should be appreciated that the gripper arm head assembly  176  included in this embodiment may be identical or substantially similar to that illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         [0067]    While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the various embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0068]    In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, and potentially all of the illustrated embodiments, the dual arm linkage assembly may include a built in stop  180  (see  FIG. 26 ) on the arms to prevent the linkages from becoming collinear. This stop  180  has utility because, if the linkages were to become collinear there is a possibility that the disc gripper arm head assembly  176  may be in a point of inflection; as a result, the disc gripper arm head assembly  176  may no longer be horizontally level. One possible consequence of this is that the disc gripper arm head assembly  176  may become unable to pick up discs in a level manner. Accordingly, by including the stop  180 , the arms of the dual arm linkage assembly are physically prevented from becoming collinear. 
         [0069]    Additionally, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, foam may be provided on the blank disc store cassette  110  as illustrated in  FIG. 27  to enable the stack to “float,” i.e., move in a variable way in response to various forces applied upon it in various directions, for example, as the tack cassette responds to forces from the gripper arm movement. This aids in the pick-up of the CD by allowing the stack to self level/adjust with respect to the gripper arm pick-up head assembly. 
         [0070]    It should be appreciated that the size and shape of the disc may vary in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the disc storage cassettes  110  and  112  need not be of a particular size or shape. Moreover, alternative removable disc store cassettes may be provided for an apparatus designed in accordance with the invention such that the apparatus may be used to process different types or sizes of discs. 
         [0071]    Further, it should be appreciated that the dimensions of the gripper arm  140  may be designed in accordance with the dimensions of the disc hole (e.g., radius, diameter) and thickness of a disc to be processed. Thus, it should be appreciated that, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, all or part of the gripper arm  140  may be removable and replaceable with components of different dimensions in the event that hole radius or diameter and/or disc thickness change. 
         [0072]    It should be appreciated that the particulars of the recording operation form no part of the invention. 
         [0073]    Further, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the components of the apparatus provided for disc transportation may be combined with both a disc recorder and a disc printer that may be configured to cooperate under control of a machine instructions such that a plurality of discs may be transported to/from a disc recorder and to/from a disc printer, while ensuring that movement of one or more of the disc transportation apparatuses is performed in a single plane of operation. Thus, in an implementation where two disc transportation apparatuses are provided, each apparatus may move a transported disc in a single plane of movement. Moreover, in accordance with at least one implementation, both such apparatuses may perform motion in the same plane of operation. Alternatively, various configurations of movement may be provided, e.g., planes of movement that are orthogonal. 
         [0074]    As a result, it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that the illustrative embodiments described are only examples and that various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.