Abstract:
An apparatus for applying labels on optical discs having a base capable of supporting a label. A plunger element capable of supporting and positioning an optical disc with respect to the label and movably coupled with the base so to be capable of affixing labels on the optical disc concentrically with the rotational axis of the optical disc. A biasing element in cooperative arrangement with the base and the plunger element so as to bias the plunger element toward a position above the base. A locking mechanism that locks the plunger element into a fixed position relative to the base. A foam element positioned on the base and adapted to keeping the label horizontally oriented. A nonskid surface positioned on the bottom of the base for limiting undesired movement of the base. A positioning element coupled with the plunger element and/or the bottom of the base for positioning the biasing element within the base. A means to equalize pressure is provided on the plunger element or the base to prevent pressure differentials.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuing application of application Ser. No. 60/026150 filed on Sep. 16, 1996 titled Optical Disc Adhesive Label Applicator and having inventors Michael Hummell and Joseph R. Pearce. This application is hereby incorporated into this continuing application by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The field of the present invention relates generally to an applicator apparatus for affixing labels onto objects, and more specifically to an applicator apparatus for accurately positioning and affixing annular labels onto electro-optical storage devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Electro-optical storage devices (optical discs) include compact discs for music and computer applications, video laser discs, CDE discs and DVD discs. They generally comprise of a plastic or glass substrate embossed with a pattern of pits that encode signals in digital format and are typically coated with a metallic layer to enhance reflectivity. They are usually read in a drive that spins the devices at high speeds while employing, a focused laser beam and monitoring fluctuations of the reflected intensity in order to detect the pits.  
           [0004]    In recent years, writeable optical discs have grown in consumer popularity. However, there is no apparent visual method for determining their contents. Therefore, an increasing need to label these optical discs exist.  
           [0005]    Labeling optical discs, however, is complicated by the fact that the capability of the optical disc to accurately represent and store data is dependent on its ability to be placed into a high speed, steady-state spin about its central axis. Thus, a label positioned in a manner that results in a physically unbalanced optical disc is not conducive with the accurate transfer of information.  
           [0006]    Consequently, a need exists for a mechanism that can label an optical disc without interfering with the balanced spinning of the disc or the transfer of data to and from the optical disc.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus for facilitating attachment of labels to objects. In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus affixes a label to an optical disc in a manner that does not interfere with the balanced spinning of the optical disc or the transfer of data to and from the optical disc.  
           [0008]    In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a base comprising a label supporting surface, a plunger element comprising an upper element and a lower element extending from an optical disc supporting surface in opposite directions. The upper element is dimensioned to fit within a center hole of an optical disc. The plunger element is slidably coupled to the base so that it can move from a first position in which the upper element and at least a portion of the lower element extend above the label supporting surface to a second position in which the optical disc supporting surface is substantially flush with the label supporting surface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the assembled apparatus of a first preferred embodiment with an optical disc and annular label positioned in ordered concentric alignment above the apparatus.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 while in its fully extended position  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 while in its fully compressed position.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is an exploded bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 absent the base bottom.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inside surface of the base bottom.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of the base absent the base bottom. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    Preferred embodiments will now be described with respect to the drawings. For clarity of description, any reference numeral representing an element in one figure shall represent the same element in any other figure.  
         [0018]    FIGS.  1 - 8  illustrate a label applicator  10 . The apparatus has a base  20  preferably shaped as a wide cylinder having a round, slightly recessed perimeter  23  that provides extra rigidity and support. The base  20  has a top surface  21  that functions to support the label  25  and is preferably flat. The top surface  21  may be covered with a removable and/or permanently affixed foam element  22  having sticky and/or clingy tactile properties adapted to keeping the label  25  horizontally oriented. The foam element  22  may be shaped to fit by die-cutting a foam sheet, however, other suitable fabrication methods and functionally equivalent materials may also be employed.  
         [0019]    The apparatus is typically placed on a flat horizontal support surface  5  (see FIG. 3) during use. The base is preferably covered with a non-skid surface  24  positioned opposite the top surface  21  to limit undesired sliding of the base  20  along the support surface  5 . In the preferred embodiment, the base  20  further comprises a coupled base bottom  27 . The coupling of the base bottom  27  may be achieved by adhesion, mechanical fastening devices, or welding. In the preferred embodiment ultrasonic welding is used to integrally couple the base bottom  27  to the plunger housing element  31 . To facilitate the ultrasonic welding process an energy director element  47  is provided on the base bottom  27  as best shown in FIG. 7. The energy director element  47  may comprise a protrusion on the base bottom  27  that is arranged so as to come into contact with the plunger housing element  31  when the base bottom  27  is positioned for welding to the plunger housing element  31 .  
         [0020]    A hole  26  is positioned in the center of the top surface  21  of the base  20  and accommodates the plunger element  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the hole  26  is round and has substantially the same diameter as the round inner hole  29  of the label  25 .  
         [0021]    The base  20 , preferably, further comprises a housing element  31  coupled to the top surface  21  of the base  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the plunger housing element  31  has an upper end and a lower end wherein the top surface  21  extends from the upper end and is integrally connected to the upper end. The plunger element  28  is slidably coupled with the base  20  and preferably with the plunger housing element  31 . The plunger housing element  31  is dimensioned slightly larger than the hole  26  and is further defined by the dimensions of the plunger element  28  and in the preferred embodiment further defined by the dimensions of the lip element  32 . The plunger element  28  is capable of moving up and down relative to the base  20  within and parallel with the length of the housing element  31 . In the preferred embodiment, the housing element  32  is cylindrical in shape.  
         [0022]    The plunger element  28  is comprised of a lower and upper element, one atop the other, and a lip element  28 . The lower element  35  is dimensioned to snugly fit within the hole  26  and be slidably movable within hole  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the upper and lower elements are cylindrical in shape. The upper element  30  is dimensioned to fit in a snug fashion inside the center hole  36  of an optical disc  37  and functions to position the optical disc  37  concentrically with the label  25 . The upper element  30  has a sufficient height dimension to provide a suitable grasping surface for the user. The upper element  30  attaches integrally to a surface element  38  positioned at the top end of the lower element  35 . Preferably, the surface element  38  is fiat. The surface element  38  is provided to support an optical disc  37  at a fixed position on the plunger element  28 . The bottom end  39  of the lower element  35  is integrally connected to a lip element  32 . The lip element  32  is preferably annular in shape. The lip element  32  is dimensioned so that it is capable of being slidably coupled with and within the housing element  31  and allowing the plunger element  28  to easily move up and down in the housing element  31 . The lip element  28  may also have one or more channels  40  adapted to move along one or more corresponding lock catch elements  41 . The relationship between the catch element(s)  41  and the lip element  32  is discussed in detail below.  
         [0023]    When the apparatus is in the extended position as best shown in FIG. 3 the lip element  32  abuts the inside of the top surface  21  of the base  20  and, thus, functions to prevent the plunger element  28  from coming out of or withdrawing from the base  20 . The height dimension of the lower element  35  is the same as or shorter than the dimension measured from the top of the top surface  21  of the base  20  to the lower end  42  of me housing element  31 . Thus, as best shown in FIG. 4, in the fully compressed position, the lip element  32  together with the bottom end  39  of the lower element  35  abuts with the upper surface of the base bottom  27  and, thus, functions to position the surface  38  flush with or below the top surface  21  of the base  20 . This is best shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0024]    In order to prevent pressure differentials between the plunger element  28  and housing element  31  with respect to the pressure outside the base, a means for equalizing pressure is provided preferably in the form of a hole  45  and may be positioned through the surface element  38 . The means for equalizing pressure can be provided elsewhere, for example on the housing element  31  or the base bottom  27 .  
         [0025]    Movement of the plunger element  28  is, preferably, assisted by a compression spring  34  or other suitable biasing element. In the preferred embodiment a compression spring  34  operates with the base bottom  27  and the inside surface of the flat surface element  38  to urge or push the plunger element  28  upwards from the base bottom  27  toward the top surface  21  of the base  20 . In this manner, the plunger element  28  is biased upwards and returns to the fully extended position automatically. In the preferred embodiment, the compression spring  34  is positioned with and within the plunger element  28  as shown in FIGS. 3, 4,  5  and  6 .  
         [0026]    A positioning element  33  is preferably provided to assist in axially positioning the compression spring  34 . In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4,  6  and  7 , the positioning element  33  comprises an annular protrusion extending from the inside surface of the surface element  38  and/or the inside surface of the base bottom  27 . Suitable dimensions of the positioning element  33  are readily ascertainable by one of ordinary skill in the arts  
         [0027]    The apparatus may be stored and safely transported in the fully compressed position by pushing the plunger element  28  downward to the fully compressed position and then twisting or rotating the plunger element  28  so that the lip element  32  locks on the catch element(s)  41  that are provided on the housing element  31 . Preferably, the catch element(s)  41  are integrally connected with the housing element  31  and can be manufactured together with the base  20  as one piece via an injection molding process or other suitable method known to one skilled in the art.  
         [0028]    As best shown in FIG. 5, the catch element(s)  41  comprise rail-like structures positioned lengthwise along the inner surface  43  of the housing element  31  beginning from the inner surface of the top surface  21  of the base  20  and extending downwards along the inner surface  43  of the housing element  31 . The catch element(s)  41  end a distance short of the lower end  42  of the housing element  31 . The distance between the lower end  42  of the housing element  31  and the catch element(s)  41  is approximately equal to the thickness of the lip element  32  so as to allow free rotation of the plunger element  28  while it is in the fully compressed position.  
         [0029]    The preferred embodiment contains three catch element(s)  41  positioned equal distance at every 120 degrees around the preferred cylindrical shaped housing element  31 . However, other configurations are also feasible and can be readily designed by one of ordinary skill in the art to achieve the same function. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 , three channels  40  formed in the lip element  32  correspond to each of the three catch element(s)  41  and are dimensioned so that the plunger element  28  can easily move up and down in the housing element  31  guided by the contact between the catch element(s)  41  and the channels  40 . In the fully compressed position, the operator can twist or rotate the plunger element  28  so that the channels  40  no longer are aligned with the catch element(s)  41 . When the operator removes downward pressure, the biasing element will push the plunger element  28  upwards thereby locking the lip element  32  on the catch element(s)  41 . Upon further twisting by the operator, the catch element(s)  41  become realigned with the channels  40  and the plunger element  28  is capable of returning to its extended position.  
         [0030]    In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 8, the base  20  has support members  46  integrally coupled to said top surface. The support members  46  function to provide added support and/or rigidity to the apparatus.  
         [0031]    In operation the user acquires an annular label  25  which may be made of paper or other suitable material. Pre-cut annular paper labels with appropriate dimensions backed with adhesive are widely available to the consumer. The protective backing to the adhesive is peeled-off and the label  25  is placed adhesive-side up on the foam element  22 , or alternatively, if the embodiment does not have a foam element  22  then directly on the top surface  21  of the base  20 . The placement of the label  25  is performed while the plunger element  28  is in the extended position as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The clingy tactile properties of the foam surface assists in keeping the label  25  horizontally oriented, while the lower element  35  of the plunger element  28  keeps the label  25  centrally positioned. Next the user places the optical disc  37  onto the flat surface element  38  so that the side of the optical disc that is to be labeled is facing downward toward the base  20 . Tie upper element  30  functions to position the optical disc in a precisely centered fashion above the base  20  and concentrically with the label  25 . Next the user depresses the plunger element  28  using the upper element  30 . This motion causes the downward facing side of the optical disc  37  to contact the surface of the label  25  in a centered and properly positioned manner. Next the user reduces or completely removes the downward pressure from the top of the plunger element  28 , thus, allowing the compression spring  34  to push the plunger element  28  upward into the extended position. Last, the user lifts the newly labeled disc from the plunger element  28 .  
         [0032]    The foregoing specification and the drawings forming part hereof are illustrative in nature and demonstrate certain preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be recognized and understood, however, that said description is not to be construed as limiting of the invention because many changes, modifications and variations may be made therein by those of skill in the art without departing from the essential scope, spirit or intention of the invention Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited solely by the appended claims.