Method and apparatus for inserting a title sheet into an optical disk case

Abstract: A title sheet inserting machine comprises a rotatable turret (T) having a plurality of equally spaced copes (22). Each cope (22) has a corrugated contact face (22a) adapted to hold the title sheet (P). A drag (23) is provided approachably and retreatably relative to the cope (22) at the first station (A) of the turret (T). A space forming device is provided on the lateral side of the second station (B) of the turret (T) and adapted to form a title sheet insertion space (S) in the case (10). A pusher (7) as a case transferring device is to transfer the case (10) formed with the title sheet insertion space (S) therein toward the cope (22) placed at the second station (B) of the turret (T). A pusher (8) as a case retreating device is to retreat the case (10) having the title sheet (P) therein from the cope (22) placed at the third station (D) of the turret (T).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of automated packaging, and more specifically, to a method of inserting a title sheet or an apparatus for inserting same into a plastic case for an optical disk such as CD (i.e. Compact Disk), DVD (i.e. Digital Video Disk) or the like. A title sheet is a flexible sheet on which a title of the optical disk and other visual information are printed. A case for an optical disk generally has an openable case body. An optical disk is loaded into one side of the case body and a description sheet is inserted into the other side of the case body. On the front face of the case body is provided a transparent cover for inserting a title sheet. Conventionally, as there were no automated packaging machines to load an optical disk and insert a title sheet into a case, these loading and inserting operations were done by handwork, which was very troublesome. US-A-4685277 upon which the preamble of claim 11 is based, discloses an apparatus for loading optical disks and inserting title sheets into their cases, having a rotatable turret around which are located various stations for performing such tasks. As well as having means for conveying empty cases onto the turret there are provided means for removing completed cases. Another automated procedure is shown in Onishi, Japanese patent application No. 11-217277. As shown in Onishi, an automated optical disk loading machine is provided where loading of an optical disk and insertion of a title sheet can be automatically conducted. In operation, as a case conveyor conveys a plurality of cases, an optical disk loading device loads an optical disk into a case, a title sheet inserting device inserts a title sheet into the transparent cover of the case, and a description sheet inserting device inserts a description sheet into a claw portion of the case. In inserting a title sheet into the case, as a suction pad holding an open case moves downward, a case body is bent into a flat, reversed V-shape. Thus, the transparent cover is deformed into a general V-shape by its self-weight, which causes the formation of a title sheet insertion space in between the case and cover. Then, a cope proceeds into the title sheet insertion space of the case with a corrugated title sheet held on the corrugated contact face of the cope. When the title sheet is separated from the cope in the title sheet insertion space, the title sheet is placed in the title sheet insertion space. Thereafter, the cope retreats from the title sheet insertion space. In the process of title sheet insertion of the above-mentioned machine, after a cope holding the title sheet proceeds into the title sheet insertion space of the case, the cope must retreat from the title sheet insertion space. Otherwise, the case cannot proceed to the next process. As a result, it is impossible to further reduce the cycle time required by the abovementioned machine. The main object of the present invention is to reduce the cycle time of the title sheet inserting machine. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method of inserting a title sheet into a disk storage case including a foldable case body and a flexible transparent cover, the method comprising the following steps: a) at a first station, forming a title sheet into a corrugated shape and holding the title sheet on a corrugated surface of a cope; b) while still holding the title sheet on the corrugated surface of the cope, moving the cope along with the title sheet from the first station to a second station; c) forming a title sheet insertion space between a case body and a transparent cover of a disk storage case by deflecting the case body into a deflected condition in which the transparent cover is displaced away from the case body with the title sheet insertion space therebetween; d) while holding the disk storage case in the deflected condition, moving the disk storage case into the second station and onto the cope so that the cope and the title sheet held on the corrugated surface of the cope are inserted into the title sheet insertion space; e) after step d), moving the cope along with the title sheet and the disk storage case from the second station to a third station; and f) at the third station, separating the title sheet from the corrugated surface of the cope while leaving the title sheet in the title sheet insertion space, and then moving the disk storage case with the title sheet in the title sheet insertion space away from the cope. Advantageously the title sheet insertion space can be formed by bending the case body into a flat, reversed V-shape to deform the transparent cover into a general V-shape. The present invention further provides an apparatus for inserting a title sheet into a disk storage case including a foldable case body and a transparent cover, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable turret on which disk storage cases are movable between a plurality of stations a case transfering device for introducing disk storage cases to the turret, a case removing device for removing disk storage cases from the turret; characterised in that a plurality of copes are mounted on the turret at equal circumferential spacings from each other, each respectively having a first corrugated surface adapted to hold a title sheet thereon, and each movable by rotation of the turret successively to first, second and third stations around the turret; a drag is arranged at the first station adjacent to the turret, that has a second corrugated surface corresponding to an inverse of the first corrugated surface of each cope, and is arranged to be relatively movable toward and away from a respective one of the copes respectively located at the first station; a space forming device is arranged adjacent to the second station and is adapted to form a title sheet insertion space between a foldable case body and a transparent cover of a disk storage case; the case transferring device is arranged and adapted to transfer the disk storage case from the space forming device to the second station so that a respective one of the copes which is located at the second station and which is carrying a title sheet is inserted into the title sheet insertion space; and the case removing device is arranged and adapted to move the disk storage case away from the respective one of the copes after having moved to the third station, with the title sheet remaining in the title sheet insertion space. Advantageously, the space forming device can bend the case body into an inverted V-shape to deflect the transparent cover into a general V-shape. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention. In the drawings, which are not to scale: FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a title sheet inserting machine of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the title sheet inserting machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of the title sheet inserting machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a case in a developed condition. FIG. 5 is a side view of the case of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a schematic illustrating the process of deforming a title sheet into a corrugated form. FIG. 7 is a schematic illustrating a case formed with a title sheet inserting space. FIG. 8 is a schematic illustrating the process of inserting a corrugated title sheet into the title sheet inserting space of a case. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a title sheet inserting machine. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this machine 1 is located between a case conveyor 2 and 3. The case conveyor 2 conveys a case 10 prior to insertion of a title sheet P in the direction shown in an arrow a. The case conveyor 3 conveys a case 10 after insertion of a title sheet P in the direction shown in an arrow b. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a case 10 has a foldable or openable, box-shaped case body 11 and a transparent cover 12 provided on the front side of the case body 11. Both ends 12a and 12b of the transparent cover 12 are heat-sealed to the end portions of the front side of the case body 11. On one side 11a of the case body 11 is formed a plurality of ridge portions 13 extending circumferentially. These ridge portions 13 form a loading hole for an optical disk (not shown). On the other side 11b of the case body 11 are provided a pair of holding claws 14 to hold a description sheet of the optical disk. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a pair of base plates 4 are provided along the arrow direction a. A plurality of movable suction pads (not shown) are provided above the base plates 4 to hold the case body 11 of the case 10 placed on the base plates 4. When these suction pads hold the case body 11 and move upward, the case body 11 deforms into a flat, reversed V-shape, shown in FIG. 7 and as a result, the transparent cover 12 bends down into a flat, general V-shape through its self-weight. Thus, a generally rhombus-shaped insertion space S for the title sheet P can easily be formed between the case body 11 and transparent cover 12. In the middle of the base plates 4, a suction pad 6 is provided to maintain an insertion space S by holding the transparent cover 12 of a case 10 formed with the insertion space S. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a translatable pusher 7, or case transferring device, is provided between a case conveyor 2 and title sheet inserting machine 1 to introduce a case 10 on the case conveyor 2 into the title sheet inserting machine 1. The title sheet inserting machine 1, shown in FIGS. 1 - 3, has a turret T rotatable around a rotation shaft 20. The turret T includes four arms 21 disposed 90 degrees apart from each other and extending radially. A cope, or upper mold, 22 is attached to each of the arms 21. Regarding each position of the cope 22, the position facing the case conveyor 2 is a second station, or station B, of the turret T, and the position facing the case conveyor 3 is a third station, or station D, of the turret T. Also, between the stations B and D are placed a first station, or station A, where a title sheet P is introduced, and a waiting station, or station C, disposed opposite to the station A. These stations A, B, C, and D are spaced equally along the circle centered on the rotation shaft 20. The cope 22 has a corrugated contact face 22a on its bottom surface, as shown in FIG. 6. On the corrugated contact face 22a are formed a plurality of holes 22b for suction of air or ejection of compressed air to attach or detach the title sheet P. These holes 22b are switchably connected to the vacuum pump or the source of the compressed air (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, at the station A of the turret T is provided a drag 23, or lower mold, placed against the cope 22 and movable in the upward and downward direction by the actuator 24. The drag 23 has a corrugated contact face 23a, shown in FIG. 6, on its upper surface, which corresponds to the corrugated contact face 22a of the cope 22. A pusher 8, or case retreating device, shown in FIG. 2, is provided between the station D and the case conveyor 3 to push out the case 10 having the title sheet P therein toward the case conveyor 3. Next, the insertion method by the title sheet inserting machine will be described hereinafter. In order to insert the title sheet P into the case 10, first, the title sheet P is introduced between the cope 22 and drag 23 at the station A of the turret T (see FIGS. 1 and 6). Then, as the actuator 24 drives the drag 23 upward, the title sheet P is sandwiched between the cope 22 and drag 23 (see FIGS. 1 and 6). At this time, the corrugated contact faces 22a, 23a of the cope 22 and drag 23 contact tightly with each other, and the title sheet P is formed into corrugation corresponding to the corrugated contact faces 22a, 23a. Also, the air is drawn into a plurality of holes 22b on the contact face 22a, and the title sheet P is attached and held on the contact face 22a of the cope 22. Then, the actuator 24 drives the drag 23 downward to retreat it from the cope 22. At this time, because the air is still drawn into the holes 22b on the contact face 22a, the title sheet P is still attached on the contact face 22a of the cope 22 even after retreat of the drag 23 from the cope 22. The turret rotates 90 degrees and the cope 22 having the title sheet P thereunder is transferred to the station B. On the lateral side of the station B of the turret T, a developed case 10 conveyed in the arrow direction a by the case conveyor 2 is placed on the base plate 4. Then, by operating a suction pad (not shown), the case body 11 is deflected into a flat, reversed V-shape, and as a result, the transparent cover 12 bends downward and deforms into a flat, general V-shape through its self-weight. Thus, a general rhombus-shaped insertion space 5, shown in FIG. 7, is formed between the case body 11 and transparent cover 12. The title sheet insertion space S is maintained by the suction pad 6. Then, the pusher 7 transfers the case 10 formed with the insertion space S toward the station B of the turret T, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this way, as shown in FIG. 8, the cope 22 and the title sheet P attached thereon at the station B are inserted into the insertion space S of the case 10. In this case, after the cope 22 attaching the title sheet P is inserted into the title sheet insertion space S of the case 10, without the necessity of retreat of the cope 22 from the insertion space S, the turret T rotates with the cope 22 and case 10 integrally combined. In this way, the case 10 can proceed to the next process soon after the title sheet insertion, which can reduce the cycle time of the whole system. Then, by rotation of the turret T, the case 10 along with the cope 22 is transferred to the station D through the station C. At the station D, the compressed air is ejected from a plurality of holes 22b on the contact face 22a of the cope 22. By the pressure of the compressed air, the title sheet P attached on the contact face 22a of the cope 22 is separated from the contact face 22a and placed in the insertion space S. In this condition, the pusher 8 transfers the case 10 at the station D toward the case conveyor 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Then, the case 10 is separated from the cope 22 and delivered to the case conveyor 3. On the case conveyor 3, the case 10 is returned to the developed condition from the deflected one and transferred in the arrow direction b. In addition, separation of the title sheet P from the case 10 and delivery of the case 10 to the case conveyor 3 may be conducted at the station C. In this case, the case conveyor 3 is provided at the station C and in the direction perpendicular to the case conveyor 2, which can further improve the process rate of the system.

Claims: A method of inserting a title sheet (P) into a disk storage case (10) including a foldable case body (11) and a flexible transparent cover (12), the method comprising the following steps: a) at a first station (A), forming a title sheet (P) into a corrugated.shape and holding the title sheet (P) on a corrugated surface (22a) of a cope (22); b) while still holding the title sheet (P) on the corrugated surface (22a) of the cope (22), moving the cope (22) along with the title sheet (P) from the first station (A) to a second station (B); c) forming a title sheet insertion space (S) between a case body (11) and a transparent cover (12) of a disk storage case (10) by deflecting the case body (11) into a deflected condition in which the transparent cover (12) is displaced away from the case body (11) with the title sheet insertion space (S) therebetween; d) while holding the disk storage case (10) in the deflected condition, moving the disk storage case (10) into the second station (B) and onto the cope (22) so that the cope and the title sheet (P) held on the corrugated surface (22a) of the cope (22) are inserted into the title sheet insertion space (S); e) after step d), moving the cope (22) along with the title sheet (P) and the disk storage case (10) from the second station (B) to a third station (C or D); and f) at the third station (C or D), separating the title sheet (P) from the corrugated surface (22a) of the cope (22) while leaving the title sheet (P) in the title sheet insertion space (S), and then moving the disk storage case (10) with the title sheet (P) in the title sheet insertion space (S) away from the cope (22). The method according to claim 1, further comprising moving the cope (22) from the third station (C or D) again to the first station (A) and then repeating the steps a) to f) with another title sheet (P) and another disk storage case (10). The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cope (22) is mounted on a rotatable turret (T), and the steps of moving the cope (22) from the first station (A) to the second station (B) and from the second station (B) to the third station (C or D) are carried out by rotating the turret. The method according to claim 3, wherein the turret has a plurality of the copes (22) mounted thereon at equal circumferential spacings relative to each other, and wherein each of the steps is carried out successively for each of the copes (22). The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first station (A) and the second station (B) are rotationally offset by 90° from each other, and the second station (B) and the third station (D) are rotationally offset by 180° from each other, respectively about a rotation axis of the turret. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first station (A) and the second station (B) are rotationally offset by 90° from each other, and the second station (B) and the third station (C) are rotationally offset by 90° from each other, respectively about a rotation axis of the turret The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further employing a single drag (23) that has a corrugated surface (23a) corresponding to an inverse of the corrugated surface (22a) of the cope (22) and that remains at and adjacent to the first station (A), wherein step a) is carried out by sandwiching the title sheet (P) between the corrugated surface (23a) of the drag and the corrugated surface (22a) of the cope (22) so as to press the title sheet (P) against the corrugated surface (22a) of the cope (22). The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of holding the title sheet on the corrugated surface (22a) of the cope (22) comprises applying suction through suction holes (22b) in the corrugated surface (22a). The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein step c) is carried out laterally adjacent to the second station (B). The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein step c) is carried out by deflecting the case body (11) into the deflected condition, in which the case body (11) has an inverted V-shape while the transparent cover (12) is deflected into a general V-shape protruding away from the case body (11) with the title sheet insertion space (S) therebetween. An apparatus for inserting a title sheet (P) into a disk storage case (10) including a foldable case body (11) and a transparent cover (12), the apparatus comprising: a rotatable turret (T) on which disk storage cases (10) are movable between a plurality of stations (A, B, C, D), a case transfering device (7) for introducing disk storage cases (10) to the turret (T), a case removing device (8) for removing disk storage cases (10) from the turret (T); characterised in that a plurality of copes (22) are mounted on the turret (T) at equal circumferential spacings from each other, each respectively having a first corrugated surface (22a) adapted to hold a title sheet (P) thereon, and each movable by rotation of the turret (T) successively to first, second and third stations (A, B, C/D) around the turret; a drag (23) is arranged at the first station (A) adjacent to the turret (T), that has a second corrugated surface (23a) corresponding to an inverse of the first corrugated surface (22a) of each cope (22), and is arranged to be relatively movable toward and away from a respective one of the copes (22) respectively located at the first station (A); a space forming device is arranged adjacent to the second station (B) and is adapted to form a title sheet insertion space (S) between a foldable case body (11) and a transparent cover (12)of a disk storage case (10); the case transferring device (7)is arranged and adapted to transfer the disk storage case (10) from the space forming device to the second station (B) so that a respective one of the copes (22) which is located at the second station (B) and which is carrying a title sheet (P) is inserted into the title sheet insertion space (S); and the case removing device (8) is arranged and adapted to move the disk storage case (10) away fromthe respective one of the copes (22) after having moved to the third station (C or D), with the title sheet (P) remaining in the title sheet insertion space (S). The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a title sheet separating device adapted to separate the title sheet (P) from the first corrugated surface (22a) of the cope at the third station (C or D) to leave the title sheet (P) in the title sheet insertion space (S). The apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the space forming device includes case holders (4) adapted to hold the storage case (10) and to deflect the case body (11) into an inverted V-shape while the transparent cover (12) is deflected into a general V-shape protruding away from the case body (11). The apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the space forming device further includes a suction device (6) adapted to hold the transparent cover (12) away from the case body (11).

Inventors: KAORU YAMAMOTO, KAORU, YAMAMOTO, Kaoru, Yamamoto, c/o Kyoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
Applicants: KYOTO SEISAKUSHO, KYOTO SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65B25
IPC codes: B65B43, B65B5, B65B25