Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/551,508, filed on Mar. 9, 2004, hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to digital discs and in particular the present invention relates to processing and handling of digital discs.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Digital discs are used as a storage medium for digital information. The data is stored on the disc by varying the optical characteristics of the disc. This digital information can be any type of data, such as, but not limited to, audio, image, photo and/or video information. In other words, the digital data stored on a compact disc can vary from disc to disc. Different types of compact discs can be provided, a traditional type of compact disc is manufactured using a plastic mold operation. Each compact disc manufactured using the same mold contains the same digital information. As such, large production runs of compact discs which contain the same information, such as a musical composition, are manufactured in an economical manner by using a molding process.  
         [0004]     A different type of compact disc which is commercially available is a recordable compact disc. This type of disc is manufactured such that it does not contain data thereon, but can be programmed after it is manufactured. The optical characteristics, therefore, of the compact disc are modified after it is fabricated depending upon the data that is stored on the disc. In the context of the present invention, it is to be understood that reference to a compact disc (CD) includes but is not limited to Compact Disc Recordable “CD-R”, Compact Disc Readable “CD-RW”, CD-ROM, CD-PROM, Digital Versatile Disc “DVD”, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, or any disc for data storage.  
         [0005]     To identify the data stored on a compact disc, a label is often printed on one side of the compact disc. For large manufacturing runs of a common compact disc, a silk screen process is often used to apply the label to the compact disc. For small production runs of compact discs, such as those using recordable compact discs, a silk screen operation may not be economical. A custom printing operation, therefore, can be employed to print a custom label on each compact disc. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,629 entitled “CD Transporter” issued Mar. 31, 1988 for a description of a compact disc transporter which can be used to move a compact disc between a data recorder and a printer, and which allows for automated processing of recordable compact discs. This transporter moves a single compact disc at a time between stations and places completed compact discs in a stack.  
         [0006]     Many transporters require an active picker or gripper for moving compact discs between the various components of a transporter. This adds to complexity and cost of such transporters. For small runs of compact discs, such transporters may not be economical. Further, many transporters are large and do not fit well within a small office of home environment.  
         [0007]     Still further, typical loading and unloading systems using pickers have recorder downtime due to a picker which is feeding the recorder having multiple tasks to accomplish. For example, a disc to be recorded is placed in a recorder by a picker. When the recording is finished, the tray opens, and the picker moves the disc to the next station or component of the device. Then, the picker retrieves a blank disc for recording and places it in the recorder. During the time that the picker is moving the first disc and retrieving the second disc, the recorder sits idle.  
         [0008]     There are many different CD and DVD recorders and readers. Many manufacturers make such products. In a transporter, there are often precise placements and orientations that are needed so that disc production is smooth and requires little if any intervention by a user once the process has started. Typical transporters require precision hand placement of recorders and the like into position within a system, further adding to the labor required to produce and modify such systems. Manufacturers are also continuously striving to upgrade drives to make them more efficient and faster. As each upgrade evolves, often the dimensions of the recorders change. While this change may not be large, the precision placement of recorders in transporters may lead to difficulty for a user wishing to replace a drive.  
         [0009]     For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a transporter having a small footprint, and for a transporter that provides reliable yet economical service. There is a further need in the art for a simplified process for mounting a new or upgraded drive within a transporter system.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     The above-mentioned problems with drive replacement, size and cost of transporters, and other problems are addressed by the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of an input bin according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a view taken along line  1 A- 1 A of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a partial side elevation view of an input bin according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an input bin, singulator, feed chute, and recorder according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a detailed partial cutaway view of the singulator of  FIG. 2  according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a front elevation view of the singulator of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 2C, 2D , and  2 E are partial views of the motion of a singulating member according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a view of a drive mounting system according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a side elevation view of one of the sleeves of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a front elevation view of the sleeve of  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3C  is a front elevation view of a sleeve according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3D  is a side elevation view of a sleeve according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3E  is a perspective view of a sleeve according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a multiple media printer according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a picker according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4B  is a side elevation view of the picker of  FIG. 4A  taken along lines  4 B- 4 B thereof;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4C  is a reverse angle view of a part of the picker of  FIG. 4B ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4D  is a view of a belt and pulley system according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4E  is a side elevation view of a clip of a picker according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4F  is a top view of an actuator of a picker according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4G  is a side elevation view of a gripping finger according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIGS. 5, 5A , and  5 B are views of an another embodiment of a picker;  
         [0033]      FIGS. 6 and 6 A are side views of an output bin in two positions according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a button picker according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of the button picker of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0036]      FIG. 7B  is a side elevation view of a portion of a button picker gripping a disc according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0038]     In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0039]     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.  
         [0040]     The various embodiments of the present invention have the capability, among other things, to record and print on CDs, and to do so without an active picker. Further, the embodiments of the present invention reduce idle time for a recorder. This is accomplished in various embodiments by providing a gravity feed delivery system of discs to a recorder, and using an angled motion picker to move discs.  
         [0041]      FIG. 1  shows a front elevation view of one embodiment  100  of an input bin. Input bin  100  comprises a disc bin  102  that can hold a number of discs. Input bin has a pair of side walls  104  that each have disc holding fingers  106  which serve to hold discs in the bin in generally close alignment with one another. Input bin  100  also has a back wall  108  that serves as a rest against which a disc to be picked from the input bin  100  rests in generally parallel position with the back wall  108 . An extension  110  of input bin  100  extends from the back wall  108  to form a cradle that aligns a plurality of discs so that the stack is properly aligned for picking, as will be discussed in further detail below. The extension  110  is more clearly seen by also referring to  FIG. 1A . Extension  110  is generally perpendicular to back wall  108  where extension  110  connects with back wall  108 . Extension  110  extends from back wall  108  substantially perpendicular to back wall  108  for a distance approximately equal to that of the thickness of six discs, and then begins to curve upward to form a cradle for holding a remainder of a stack of discs. In another embodiment, the extension has no flat surface, but instead slopes upward from the back wall from the connection point to the back wall.  
         [0042]     As is shown in  FIG. 1B , a stack of discs  150  is shown in position on an input bin such as input bin  100 . The input bin is shown with the side walls  104  cut away, so that only the discs  150 , the back wall  108 , and the extension  110  are shown in detail. When discs are to be picked from the input bin  100 , a singulator (described in greater detail below) picks a disc at the general location  152 . In that region of the input bin, the discs  150  are aligned substantially flush to each other and parallel to back wall  108 . The curvature of extension  110  serves to maintain a pressure in the general direction of arrow  154  of the bottom of the stack of discs  150  toward the back wall  108 . This pressure assists in keeping the discs at or near the back wall  108  in a favorable picking position.  
         [0043]     Discs can rock and move out of proper picking orientation when stacked, especially when stacked substantially vertically. In a near vertical orientation, the bottom of a stack of discs has forces that tend to push the discs outward in the direction of arrow  155  shown in  FIG. 1B . The design of the input bin  100  forces the bottom of the stack  150  to be pushed toward the back wall  108  in the direction of arrow  154 . The flat section  157  of extension  110 , combined with the pressure in the direction of arrow  154  due to the geometry of the extension  110 , keeps approximately  6  discs in true picking position for picking by a singulator (described below) at position  152 .  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of an input bin  100  in place on a part of a larger apparatus is shown.  FIG. 2  also shows a singulator  200 , a feed chute  250 , and a disc recorder or verifier  270 . Singulator  200  picks a disc from a stack of discs such as stack  150  which are in the input bin, and drops the disc into chute  250 , and gravity feeds the disc directly to the recorder or verifier  270  drawer  272 .  
         [0045]     The singulator  200  is described in greater detail also referring to  FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C,  2 D, and  2 E. The singulator comprises a rotatable disc singulating member  202  pivotally connected to singulator arm  204  at pivot point  206 . The singulating member  202  has a flat disc holding surface  208  for supporting a disc during singulation. The singulating member  202  flat surface  208  is normally biased to a position in which the flat surface  208  is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the singulator during operation, that direction indicated by directional arrow  210 . The biasing is accomplished in one embodiment using extension spring  212  which is connected to bias the singulating member to its normal position in which flat surface  208  is substantially perpendicular to axis  210 . The entire singulator arm  204  and singulating member  202  moves on an axis collinear with axis  210 .  
         [0046]     Any suitable movement mechanism for creating a linear movement of the singulator arm  204  and singulating member  202  is sufficient for the purposes of the embodiments of the singulator  200 . Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that such drive mechanisms include by way of example only and not by way of limitation, to rack and pinion mechanisms, pulley and belt mechanisms, geared drive mechanisms, and the like.  
         [0047]     In operation, the singulator  200  works as follows. The singulator is actuated and moves the singulator arm  204  to a position in which the singulating member  202  has its flat surface  208  extended within a center opening of a disc. The sizing of the singulating member and its position within the arm  204  is designed so that a single disc is in contact with the flat surface  208  when the singulator arm  204  is in this position (see  FIG. 2C ). In this position, a single disc is removed from the back of the stack of an input bin such as input bin  100  described above. The disc is lifted by the singulator  200  as the singulator arm  204  and singulating member  202  move along the axis  210 . The disc is lifted to a point located so as to allow the disc to fall into a feed chute (described later) when the singulating member  202  is retracted. In one embodiment, retraction is accomplished by rotating the singulating member  202  about pivot point  206  in a direction indicated by arrow  220  (see  FIG. 2D ). In this embodiment, a stationary pivot actuator  214 , positioned on the singulator  200  in the path of travel of surface  207  of the singulating member  202 , contacts the surface  207  of singulating member  202  as the arm  204  and member  202  travel along axis  210  (see  FIG. 2C ). As the singulating member  202  and arm  204  continue to move along axis  110 , the stationary actuator  214  causes the singulating member  202  to pivot in the direction of arrow  220 , about pivot point  206 . Eventually, the travel of singulator arm  204  and singulating member  202  force member  202  to be rotated sufficiently to allow a carried disc to drop off of flat surface  208  into a feed chute (See  FIG. 2E  and below).  
         [0048]     Feed chute  250  is in one embodiment configured as a portion of input bin  100 . In other embodiments, feed chute  250  may be a stand alone chute, or may alternatively be a part of a singulator such as singulator  200 , or of an entire apparatus, without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0049]     Feed chute  250  comprises in one embodiment a angled back member  252  and side walls  254 . In conjunction with a singulator such as singulator  200 , the chute functions to feed by way of gravity, a disc from the singulator  200  to a tray  272  of recorder or verifier device  270 . When the disc is dropped off of the flat surface  208  of the singulating member  202 , the disc falls into chute  250 , and slides along back member  252  and between side walls  254 . Gravity pulls the disc downward into the chute, and the chute directs the disc to a waiting tray such as tray  272 . As such, no active picker is required to position a disc into a recorder or the like.  
         [0050]     Once the disc is in the recorder or the like, it is recorded, or written, or rewritten, as is desired. When that process has completed, the tray  272  opens once again, and the disc is transported by a picker to its next destination in the apparatus.  
         [0051]     On embodiment of a system  300  for mounting drives such as recorder or verifier  270  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 3 . Drive mounting system (DMS)  300  comprises in one embodiment a pair of sleeves  302  sized to fit into an oversized drive bay sized to accommodate all expected to be used drives. The sleeves are designed to have external dimensions that fit the oversized drive bay. The internal dimensions of the sleeves can be varied to accommodate different sized drives so as to line up the drive tray in the same position on a system such as system  400  described below no matter what the drive size is. For each individual drive that is not sized to the dimensions of the drive bay, a pair of sleeves  302  is used. In one embodiment, the sleeves  302  are color coded so that each individual drive manufacturer drive, such as drive  304 , is associated with a set of colored sleeves  302  that are used to provide a unique solution for each individual drive  304 . The sleeves  302  are fitted to the outside of a drive  304  which is then inserted into the oversized drive bay.  
         [0052]     A side elevation view of the sleeve  302  of  FIG. 3  is shown in  FIG. 3A , and a front elevation view of sleeve  302  is shown in  FIG. 3B . In order to accommodate different drive dimensions, and to allow some rotation and translation of the drive position, any of the internal dimensions of the sleeves  302  may be varied while keeping the external dimensions consistent with the dimensions of the oversize drive bay. For example,  FIG. 3C  shows a sleeve  310  that has been modified to rotate a mounted drive somewhat. The center beam  312  of sleeve  310  is molded or otherwise manufactured having an offset from front  314  to back  316  to mount a drive at a slight angle. Similarly,  FIG. 3D  shows a side elevation view of a sleeve  320  that has three different widths of the sleeve  320 . At top arm  322  of sleeve  320 , the width  324  of the sleeve is less than the width  328  of the bottom arm  326  of the sleeve  320 . Further, the width  330  of the main body including the center arm of sleeve  320  can be adjusted. With all of the adjustments, and combinations thereof, it is possible to control pitch, roll, yaw, and various translations of a drive to correctly mount the drive without requiring hand mounting and fine adjustment. Each drive is shipped or provided with a pair of sleeves such as sleeves  302 ,  310 , or  320  that allow a user to simply slide the sleeves around the drive and slide the drive and the sleeves into the oversized drive bay for proper alignment.  
         [0053]     Another embodiment of a sleeve  350  is shown in  FIG. 3E . Sleeve  350  has a forward arm  352  that is formed to slide over the front end of a drive such as drive  304 , to more fully seat the drive without the need for mounting screws or the like. It should be understood that one or more of the modifications to sleeves, such as varying the widths and thicknesses, angles of center beams, and the like, are within the scope of the invention, and that such changes to the inner dimensions are not limited to those discussed herein, but in fact encompass any modifications to the inner dimensions of the sleeves to provide proper translation and rotation to mount any drive that fits within the oversized drive bay.  
         [0054]     One embodiment of a multi media printer  400  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . System  400  comprises generally an input bin  100  positioned near feed chute  250  and singulator  200 . Beneath singulator  200 , feed chute  250 , and input bin  100  is recorder  270  mounted in drive mounting system  300 . Angled motion picker body  450  is shown on belt and pulley system  406  in two different locations, near recorder  270  and near a printer below recorder  270  and about output bin  500 .  
         [0055]     One embodiment of an angled motion picker  440  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . Angled motion picker  440  comprises in one embodiment a DC motor  402 , a gear reduction  404 , a belt and pulley drive  406 , an encoder  408 , a linear rail  410 , and a picker body  450 . The picker body  450  is in one embodiment a friction grab picker. A single spring loaded finger provides a grip for this passive picker. No electronics are required on the picker, reducing the complexity of the picker. Picker body  450  comprises in one embodiment a clip  460 , an arm  470  holding an actuator  480  and a gripping finger  490 . The arm  470  mounts the actuator  480  and gripping finger  490 , and along with the clip  460 , also integral to the picker body  450 , the entire assembly moves with the belt  432  of belt and pulley drive  406  guided by rail  410 .  
         [0056]     Belt and pulley drive  406  comprises belt  432  moved by motion of pulley members  434 . Clip  460  is affixed to belt  432  and moves when belt  432  moves. Clip  460  is connected to and moves with arm  470 , which houses actuator  480  and gripping finger  490  as shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 4A, 4B , and  4 C, which are views of the picker  410  and its operation. Further details of each of the components of the picker  410  are shown in  FIGS. 4D, 4E ,  4 F, and  4 G below.  
         [0057]     As has been mentioned, picker body  450  is fastened via clip  460  to belt  432  of belt and pulley system  406 . Arm  470 , connected to clip  460 , rides along linear rail  410 , with arm  470  having an opening through which linear rail  410  passes so as to maintain alignment and movement of picker body  450  in a linear motion parallel to the axis of linear rail  410 . Referring now also to  FIG. 4E , clip  460  has a pair of flat stop surfaces  462  and  464 , and a pair of notches  466  and  468 . Surface  484  of actuator  480  rests in one or the other of notches  466  or  468  when the belt and therefore the picker are in motion. For the picker body  450  to be in a gripping position, surface  484  of actuator  480  is in notch  466  of clip  460 , and therefore actuator  480  is rotated about pivot point  486  in the direction of arrows  488  ( FIG. 4F ). Gripping finger is in a biased position so that the bottom  496  of finger  490  extends out a distance a from downwardly extending protrusion  472  of arm  470 . This distance is in one embodiment approximately 10/1000 of an inch. The extended finger portion  496  and the opposite side  474  of protrusion  472  are sufficiently spaced so as to grip a disc by its center opening for carrying and transport by the picker. Further, arm  470  has stop members  475  and  477 . When the picker body  450  is in motion downward, stop member  475  of arm  470  abuts a stop member  438  on belt and pulley system  406  as belt  432  moves. To release a gripped disc from the picker  440 , the belt  432  is moved downward until arm stop surface  476  hits stop member  438 , stopping motion of arm  470 . Clip  460  continues to move as the belt  432  is overdriven, snapping the actuator  480  from its gripping position in notch  466  to its release position in notch  468 .  
         [0058]     To set the actuator into the notches  466  and  468 , it is necessary in one embodiment to overdrive the belt once the respective arm member  475  or  477  has contacted the respective stop member  438  or  436  of belt and pulley system  406 , forcing the clip  460  to continue to move relative to the now stationary arm  470 . Since translational motion of the picker body  450  stops when the arm  470  hits the stop member  438  or  436 , the overdriving of the belt  432  and hence the clip  460  forces the actuator to slide along the surface  469  between the two notches  464  and  466  until it snaps into the other notch. Overdriving the belt when the arm  470  reaches stop member  438  results in releasing gripping by the gripping finger by snapping the actuator  480  from notch  466  to notch  468 . This action pivots actuator  480  about pivot point  486  in the direction of arrows  489 . In contrast, overdriving the belt when the arm  470  reaches stop member  436  results in engaging gripping by the gripping finger by snapping the actuator from notch  468  to notch  466 . This action pivots actuator  480  about pivot point  486  in the direction of arrows  488 . A spring (not shown) may be used to assist in the retraction of the actuator.  
         [0059]     In operation, the system  400  operates as follows. A stack of discs to be recorded and/or printed is stacked in the input bin. The configuration of the input bin forces a few discs of the stack into proper singulating position. The singulator operates to pick a single disc from the back of the input bin, lifting the disc by its center opening until a predetermined point is reached, where the singulating member retracts, and the disc is released. The disc falls into the feed chute, and drops into open recording tray of the recorder. Once recording is complete, the picker is placed in its gripping position, and removes the disc from the recorder tray. At this time, the singulator has been instructed to singulate another disc from the input bin, and once the disc from the recorder tray is picked, the singulator drops another disc into the recording tray. The recording tray retracts, and the picker body moves along the linear rail to its release position, where the disc is released, either to the printer or to the output bin (described below). The process shortens idle time for the recorder by removing picking as a requirement for placing a disc in the recorder.  
         [0060]     Another embodiment of an arm  500  is shown in  FIGS. 5, 5A , and  5 B. For purposes of these Figures, like reference numerals indicate like parts from previous figures. Arm  500  has an additional sensor finger  502  which is disposed above actuator  480  in arm  500 . Sensor finger  502  pivots about pivot point  504  in counter-motion to actuator  480 . Opening  506  in sensor arm  502  receives the top of finger  490 . When finger  490  moves due to the rotation of actuator  480  (as described above), sensor arm  502  rotates in the opposite direction as actuator  480 . When sensor arm  502  rotates in the direction of arrow  512 , opening  510  in arm  500  is uncovered. In this embodiment, an infrared transmitter is positioned along the axis normal to the surface of sensor arm  502  through the center of opening  510 . An infrared receiver is positioned on the opposite side of the opening  510  as the infrared transmitter. When the infrared sensor receives a signal from the infrared transmitter, that is an indication that the actuator has properly moved from the gripping position to the release position. In this manner, error conditions can be checked for the gripping and release positions of the arm  500 .  
         [0061]     It should be understood that other transmitting and detecting schemes are within the scope of the invention, including by way of example only and not by way of limitation, visible light, laser light, and the like.  
         [0062]     One embodiment of an output bin  600  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 6 and 6 A. Output bin  600  comprises a bin body  602  having disc retaining walls  604  for holding a stack of discs such as stack  610 . In one embodiment, when the stack  610  reaches a certain weight, a spring  606  biasing output bin  600  to a substantially horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 6  has its spring force overcome, and the output bin  600  rotates downward an angle of β to its delivery or retrieval position as shown in  FIG. 6A . In one embodiment, β is approximately 30 degrees. At this orientation of output bin  600 , the stack of discs  610  is presented at an angle of approximately 30 degrees for easy retrieval from the output bin  600 .  
         [0063]     It should be understood that in other embodiments, the mechanism by which output bin  600  rotates can be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in another embodiment, the output bin is motorized to move between its first and second positions. In this embodiment, the system  400  tracks the number of discs that have been deposited in output bin  600 . Once a predetermined number of discs is reached, the motor lowers the output bin for disc retrieval. It should be understood that a straight angled drop could also be used, eliminating an output bin altogether, without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0064]      FIG. 7  shows a printer belt picker embodiment  700 . Belt picker  700  comprises a printer bed  702  on which moves a belt  704  or other conveyance mechanism. In this embodiment, belt  704  has affixed thereto a button  706 . The button is positioned central to the belt as is shown best in  FIG. 7A . The button  706  in one embodiment is sized so that its diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of a compact disc center opening. A picker or other disc transport device, including a gravity feed device, can deposit a disc  708  having center opening  710  in leaning relation to the belt  704 . The belt  704  is advanced in the direction of arrow  712  until the button  706  is in a position past where a disc center opening  710  will be, such as position A shown in  FIG. 7 . When a disc is positioned for picking, the belt is advanced in the direction of arrow  713  until button  706  engages center opening  710  of disc  708  (position B), gripping disc  708 . Then the belt  704  continues to lift disc  708  onto the bed  702  as is shown in  FIG. 7B . Printing is effected, and the disc  708  is pushed off belt  704  and button  706  in one embodiment by pusher  714 , which is integral to the belt  704  and advances when the disc is in the position shown in  FIG. 7  to disengage disc  708  from button  706 , pushing disc  708  away from printer, in one embodiment into an output bin such as bin  600 .  
         [0065]     In another embodiment, a spring loaded door  750  is positioned in the arc of a disc that is being picked up from its leaning position described above. The door  750  is biased by a coil spring  752  or the like to the position shown in  FIG. 7 . Door  750  is rotatable about pivot point  754  in the direction shown by arrow  756  when a disc is being picked by the button picker. The disc contacts the door  750  and rotates the door sufficiently far to allow the disc to be pulled into the printer. When the disc clears the arc of the door  750 , the spring force from spring  752  biases the door to its original position. When the disc is subsequently pushed from the belt by pusher  714 , the disc slides along the top  758  of the door  750  into an output bin or the like.  
         [0066]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a computer system  800  comprising a host computer  802  connected to a printer/recorder system  804  (or system  400 ). Connection of the computer  802  and the printer/recorder  804  is by any suitable connection including but not limited to Universal Serial Bus (USB), parallel, serial, wireless, or wired network connection  806 . As shown, connection  806  is between a USB port  808  on computer  802  and USB hub  810  of printer/recorder  804 . Component devices in printer/recorder  804  include by way of example recorder  812  for writing information to discs, printer  814  for printing labels on discs, and robot controller  816  for operating the functions of components such as pickers, singulators, and the like.  
         [0067]     In one embodiment, computer  802  runs a software program that identifies the system  804  by polling the components connected to the USB hub  810 , and identifying the system by the configuration of components.  
         [0068]     It should be understood that the number of recorders in systems of the present invention can be increased without departing from the scope of the invention. The motion of the picker body and the passive nature of the device are best embodied in a system with two locations for the picker to move between, but modifications will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and such modifications are within the scope of the invention. Further, the various components of the present invention need not all be present on any system, and individual components of the present invention are amenable to use on other systems. For example, a gravity feed chute and singulator can be used on a system with an active picker, or a passive picker may be used on a system without a singulator of the present type, and so forth, without departing from the scope of the invention.  
       CONCLUSION  
       [0069]     A system, components, and processes have been described that include an input bin, a singulator, a gravity feed system for discs, a passive picker that requires no electronics for operation, a drive mounting system that mounts multiple drives without the need for hand adjustment, a belt picker for a printer or the like, and an output bin, as well as a system incorporating the individual components. The system and processes reduce idle time for a recorder of the system, and reduces the need for an active picker, thereby reducing cost while improving efficiency.  
         [0070]     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: 3