Abstract:
A spiral-shaped lamp ( 10 ) is used for disk manufacturing processes, such as curing of coating or bonding, to provide uniform intensity of UV energy to the circular disk without requiring relative motion between the disk and the lamp during the curing process.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from provisional application serial no. 60/107,057, filed Nov. 4, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The manufacturing of compact disks (CDs) and digital versatile (or video) disks (DVDs) for computer and video applications can include a number of processes, such as bonding in the case of DVDs and overcoat curing in either case, in which pulsed ultraviolet (UV) light can be used in the manufacturing process. The UV light source for providing the pulsed UV energy may be an arc lamp filled with xenon gas, thus generating significant UV energy.  
           [0003]    It is known that a lamp with a linear elongated lamp shroud or tube can be used to generate the UV light energy for processing such disks. The use of such an elongated lamp requires relative motion of the lamp with respect to the circular disk during manufacture in order to expose the disk to the UV energy in a uniform manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    According to the present invention, a lamp with at least one circular turn, and preferable in a spiral configuration, is used for disk manufacturing processes that utilize pulse UV light to provide a uniform intensity of UV energy to the circular disk, without requiring relative motion between the disk and the lamp during the processing (although there would be relative motion when the disk is brought to a processing station that has the UV light). The invention thus includes a system for processing a CD or DVD including a spiral lamp, and a method for curing a CD or DVD with a spiral lamp. (For simplicity, such a video or computer disk will be referred to generally here as a DVD.)  
           [0005]    A contoured reflector can be provided to increase the intensity of the UV energy onto the disk surface and to make it more uniform. Another mirror can be used to help direct energy to the edge of the DVD for edge curing, as it has been found that this is an area that may not be sufficiently cured, especially in DVDs here two sides are bonded together. The mirrors and reflectors thus can reflect and diffuse the UV energy more uniformly across the disk surface and direct the energy where desired.  
           [0006]    The lamp can have one or more turns lying in one plane parallel to the workpiece, or the lamp can have turns in different planes parallel to the workpiece. Alternatively, the lamp can be in two or more parts with an inner ring or spiral and a separate outer ring or spiral, which may or may not be in the same horizontal plane as the inner ring. The different planes can be employed to help provide uniformity and to make sure a sufficient amount of energy gets to the edge and periphery.  
           [0007]    The spiral lamp improves edge curing while also minimizing thermal buildup. The use of a spiral also avoids the need to move the DVD relative to the lamp during processing. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIGS. 1 and 2 are a plan view and a side view of a spiral lamp according to the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a part side view, part cross-sectional view of a lamp, a workpiece, a reflector, and another mirror.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a lamp according to another embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a spiral-shaped lamp  10  is used for curing a CD or DVD (again, such computer and video disks are referred to her collectively and generally as DVDs) during manufacture, such as when two parts of the DVD are bonded together, or when an overcoat (e.g., graphics on a disk) is to be cured Uv light is useful in such processes for providing curing of a bonding agent or an overcoat without providing excessive heat, a known benefit of pulsed light. Lamp  10  has an anode end  12  and a cathode end  14  for connection to an energy supply.  
         [0012]    As shown in FIG. 1, lamp  10  is shaped in a spiral and is centered over the DVD in such a way that it provides minimal energy in the center of the disk where there is a hole and an unrecorded area, but more energy over the rest of the DVD. The spiral shape continues to the outer diameter of the disk area. FIG. 1 shows a total of two turns, although a single ring would be possible and more turns could be used. In addition, it would be possible to have concentric rings that do not form a single monolithic lamp unit. The spiral or other circular shape improves uniformity of the applied light as compared to a linear lamp.  
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the lamp, from cathode end  14  to an opposite side of the lamp can range from about 4 to 6 inches, a suitable diameter for use in curing a DVD, which is about 4.75 inches. In one embodiment, the lamp has a greater diameter than the DVD to help promote curing at the edge, although the diameter may be less. The lamp could also have energy providing portions in different parallel planes relative to the workpiece.  
         [0014]    Referring to FIG. 3, lamp  10  is shown over a DVD  18 . Over lamp  10  is a contoured mirror  20  preferably configured so that the energy that is provided to the DVD is substantially uniform over the whole surface while providing little energy in the center where the DVD has a hole. The exact contour can be determined as needed to obtain the desired uniform energy on the DVD.  
         [0015]    Another mirror  22  can also be provided to help direct energy to the edge of the DVD as shown along path  24 , thus providing additional energy to ensure curing at the edge.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 4, a lamp  30  can have a first ring  32  and a second ring  34  (and possibly additional rings) that lie in different planes in a direction parallel to a workpiece  36 . Rings  32  and  34  can be spaced apart and energized separately, or thecan be connected like a spiral in a manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The reflectors and mirror as in FIG. 3 can also be provided. This configuration can be desirable for ensuring sufficient energy at the periphery of the DVD.  
         [0017]    As indicated above, it is known in the art that DVDs can be cured with pulsed UV light, and thus one of skill can establish parameters for operation, such as energy, energy density, pulse width, pulse time, etc based on the materials used to make the disk, the process to be performed, and the other factors, such as a particular adhesive that may be used.  
         [0018]    Having described certain embodiments of the present invention, it should be apparent that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.