Memory storage disk handling system having a servo-driven elevator pin
A memory storage disk handling system includes a housing, an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks, a servo motor with a cam arm. The servo motor rotates to pivot the cam arm, which cams against the elevator pin to lift the elevator pin.
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This invention is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/088,652, filed Jun. 1, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,842 B1.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to memory storage disk handling systems and particularly to systems for handling, printing, duplicating or replicating compact disks, DVD's, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDisk handling systems typically move a single disk between a stack of disks and a workstation. Such systems are particularly useful for handling memory storage disks such as CD's, DVD's and the like. Common memory storage disk handling systems include data writers, label printers, or both.
Some disk handling systems employ robotic arms to handle the disks. Others rely upon a gantry, or double gantry system. Many systems slide disks from the top of a stack, or robotically lift disks from the top of the stack. Sliding disks from a stack may scratch the surface of the disk. Robotically lifting the disks from the stack may prevent scratches when the robot functions properly.
One drawback to robotic arms and gantry systems is that they have moving parts, which wear. Wear can ultimately can cause system misalignment and failure of a gantry or robotic arm over time. Accordingly, the known robotic arm and gantry systems should be carefully maintained.
While the typical memory storage device systems are effective, users may desire more throughput, i.e. an increase in the number of disks handled per hour, and less maintenance. Accordingly, what is desired is a reliable way of increasing the throughput of a typical disk handling system. What is also desired is a low-maintenance memory storage device handling system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA memory storage disk handling system includes a housing with a hopper for holding disks. The system has an elevator pin, linkage and a servo motor mounted on the housing. The linkage attaches between the servo motor and the elevator pin. The servo motor rotates the arm to lift the elevator pin and deliver memory storage disks into the hopper. Preferably the linkage is a single arm and the servo motor causes the arm to cam against the elevator pin to lift the elevator pin.
The hopper defines a base and includes more than one pawl for holding lifted disks, thereby preventing the stacked disks from falling out of the hopper.
According to one aspect of the invention, the servo motor includes a shaft and the linkage includes a single arm. The arm has a fixed end and a moveable end. The fixed end is fixed with respect to the shaft and pivots when the shaft rotates. The moveable end includes a cam surface that cams against the elevator pin to lift the elevator pin. Rotation of the servo motor shaft pivots the arm to lift the elevator pin.
The elevator pin includes an axis that aligns with the force of gravity. The elevator pin reciprocates in the direction of the axis to lift disks up and down.
According to an aspect of the invention, the stack retainer includes three posts oriented to surround lifted disks. Each post includes a hollow portion, and the pawls are mounted at least partially within the hollow portions of the posts. Accordingly when the elevator pin lifts a disk, the disk contacts the pawls and lifts the pawls into the hollow portions of the posts. As the disk further lifts past the pawls, the pawls slide to extend out of the hollow portions. The elevator pin then lowers, seating the disk on the pawls. This process repeats to up-stack a number of disk in the hopper.
FIG. 16 and
FIG. 32 and
FIG. 34 and
FIG. 36 and
FIG. 38 and
The housing 32 encloses a CD recorder for writing data on disks. The disk dispenser 38 dispenses disks 40 into the recorder. When data writing is complete, the turntable 36 rotates and accepts the written disk is a selected hopper. Further rotation of the turntable 36 enables the disk dispenser 38 to dispense another disk into the CD recorder, repeating the data writing process.
The turntable 36 includes embedded magnets 35. The sensor 33 detects the magnets 35 to enable the system to recognize when the turntable 36 is in a desired rotational position with respect to the housing 32.
The disk dispenser 38 of the present invention is useful in conjunction recording data on memory storage disks such as compact disks, and duplicating compact disks. It can be appreciated, however, that a variety of media including optical or magnetic memory storage media may be dispensed and duplicated in accordance with the present invention. According to one variation of the invention, the housing 32 encloses a CD printer for printing indicia on disk surfaces and the disk dispenser 38 dispenses disks to the CD printer.
The disk dispenser 38 mounts on the turntable 36 adjacent one opening 43 to dispense disks through the turntable 36. The outer posts 54 cooperate with the central post 52 to define the hopper 46 which guides disks into the disk dispenser 38.
The central post 52 aligns with the turntable axis 44. The outer posts 54, 56 and 58 are positioned co-radially with respect to the turntable axis 44. The outer posts 56 and 58 cooperate with the central post 52 to surround the respective turntable openings 43 and to define the reject hopper 48 and accept hopper 50, respectively.
Although outer posts 54, 56 and 58 cooperate with the central post 52 to define the hoppers 46, 48 and 50 and provide a light weight structure to guide disks, one can appreciate that hoppers may assume any of a number of configurations. A cylindrical wall may define a hopper, for example. Also for example, a helical coil, or by another structure having a lightweight design could define the hopper.
The upper guide 60, the lower guide 62 and the plate 64 each define a generally circular opening to enable a disk to pass through the disk dispenser 38. Each opening is sized for a disk to pass through when the disk parallels the plate 64. The upper guide 60 and the lower guide 62 are axially offset from each other so that a portion of the rim 72 of lower guide 62 stops disks which may fall thorough the upper guide 60 towards the lower guide 62. The opposing edge 75 diametrically opposes the support lip 74. The support lip 74 cooperates with the opposing edge 75 to hold a disk on the lower guide 62. The plate 64 slidably mounts between the upper guide 60 and the lower guide 62 to selectively pass disks stopped by the lower guide 40 through the lower guide 62.
The pin 70 extends between the lower guide 62 and the upper guide 60 to retain the spring 68. The plate 64 includes a pair of holes 78, which align with respective fasteners 76. The fasteners 76 extend through the upper guide 60, the plate 64 and the lower guide 62 to hold the upper guide 60 and the lower guide 62 together. The fasteners 76 retain the plate 64 between the upper guide 60 and the lower guide 62. The fasteners 76 align the plate 64 relative to the upper guide 60 and the lower guide 62 when the plate 64 slides.
The lower guide 62 includes a groove 71. The spring 68 is a coil spring having two ends. The spring 68 lies in the groove 71. The pin 70 inserts perpendicularly into the groove 71. Accordingly, one end of the spring 68 contacts the pin 70. The spring 68 biases the plate 64 in a desired position. According to one aspect of the invention, the spring 68 offsets the plate 64 from the lower guide 62 to enable the lower guide 62 to support a disk.
The plate 64 has a shoulder with an edge 80. The edge 80 contacts the other end of the spring 68. The spring 68 biases the plate 64 into a desired position relative to the lower guide 62. When the plate 64 slides towards the pin 70, the spring 68 dampens movement of the plate 64. The plate 64 has a generally uniform thickness “t”. The thickness “t” approximates the thickness of an individual disk to be dispensed so that when the plate 64 slides, only one disk is dispensed.
The upper guide 60 has an opening with an axis 83. The axis 82 of the lower guide 62 opening is axially offset from the axis 83 of the upper guide 60 opening.
According to one aspect of the invention, the elevator pin 98 is a single unit. According to another aspect of the invention, the elevator pin 98 has multiple components, which extend and retract.
A single elevator pin cycle is completed when the elevator pin 98 retracts and the arm 104 withdraws. At this point in the cycle, the turntable 36 rotates. Rotation of the turntable 36 enables a subsequent cycle of the elevator pin 98 to lift the disk 40 back onto the turntable 36, for example.
The central post 52 of the feed hopper 46 includes a recessed portion 130, an extended portion 132 and an adjustable set screw 133. The recessed portion 130 is adjacent the upper guide 60 to feed disks, in horizontal alignment with the plate 64, from the feed hopper 46 to the upper guide 60. The set screw 133 rotatably extends through the central post 52 to adjust the distance at which the extended portion 132 extends from the central post 52 and insures proper feeding of disks from the feed hopper 46 to the upper guide 60.
The extended portion 132 angles disks stacked in the feed hopper 46 with respect to the plate 64. Angling disks within the feed hopper 46 minimizes forces caused by disk weight on the disk dispenser 38, and particularly on the plate 64. Minimizing such forces enables multiple disks to be stacked in the feed hopper 46 and optimizes reliability of the disk dispenser.
The ends 120 of the disk clips 108 are angled to contact primarily the outer edge 114 of the disk 40. The angled ends 120 align the disk 40 in parallel with the turntable 36 as the disk passes through the turntable 36. This alignment insures that the disk 40 will not flutter on the elevator pin 98 when the elevator pin 98 extends to lift the disk 40 through the turntable 36. The elevator pin 98 retracts to place the disk 40 on to the disk clips 108.
Repeating the process shown in
The tray 126 includes an opening 128 to enable the elevator pin 98 to extend through the turntable 36, via the tray 126. The hard drive 124 couples with the recorder 122 to deliver data to be written. A controller including a circuit board within the housing regulates operation of the hard drive 124, the recorder 122, the linkage 102 and the turntable 36.
According to one aspect of the invention, the recorder 122 is a Compact Disk Recorder, a DVD recorder, or the like. Preferably, the housing 32 of
The transparent cover 204 is split and includes hinges 206 to enable the cover 204 to open and close without requiring removal of the cover from the housing. The cover 204 is transparent to enable inspection of the disk duplicating and printing apparatus 200 during operation.
While the turntable and disk dispenser are shown in conjunction with a recorder and a printer, it can be appreciated that the turntable and dispenser can be used in any of a number of operations which are performed on memory storage disks, including cleaning, polishing, re-recording, packaging, and reading, etc.
The elevator pin 98 extends and retracts. The recorder 212 includes a tray 228. The tray 228 includes a central opening to allow the elevator pin to extend through. A portion of the tray 220 is bifurcated to form a U shaped opening. Bifurcation of at least a portion the tray 220 enables the tray 220 to extend and retract when the elevator pin 98 extends. Accordingly, the tray 220 can extend or retract independently of the relative position of the elevator pin 98.
The tray 220 of the printer 214 and the tray 228 of the recorder 212 oppose each other. This is not the only possible configuration. Conceivably, the recorder trays and printer trays can radially align, or stack above an appropriately configured elevator pin in accordance with the present invention.
The turntable 36 rotates to position the disk dispenser 38 above the elevator pin 98, another disk 40 is dispensed, and the elevator pin 98 lowers the newly dispensed disk to the recorder 212 to repeat the sequence shown in FIG. 23-
It can be appreciated that the disk recorders 212 are but one example of a workstation type, which can be used in accordance with the present invention. For example, the disk recorders 212 may be replaced with disk printers, disk cleaners, disk surface testing devices and other useful devices in accordance with the present invention.
Although the elevator pin 98 aligns with the central axis 301, it can be appreciated that depending on relative position of the disk recorders 212 and the turntable, the elevator pin 98 may be positioned adjacent any of the disk recorders 212. According to another variation, multiple elevator pins 98 may be used. In accordance with the present invention, the elevator pin 98 may be laterally moveable to lift disks from any of the disk recorders 212. Alternatively, the recorders 212 may be moveable, laterally for example, to enable the elevator pin 98 to lift disks from the recorders 212.
The cylindrical sleeves coaxially align and slide with respect to each other to enable the elevator pin 98 to telescope from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration. The spring member 306 contacts least one sleeve and wraps helically around the alignment pin 308 to bias the sleeves apart. The intermediate sleeve 304 slidably retains the alignment pin 308.
The fixed sleeve 302 is affixed to the housing and has an outside diameter, which is relatively smaller than the working sleeve 310 outside diameter. The working sleeve 310 includes fasteners 312. The fasteners 312 attach to the mechanical linkage 102 (
Elevator pin 98 extension is a two-stage process. During the first stage, the working sleeve 310 slides along the intermediate sleeve 304. The spring member 306 biases the intermediate sleeve 308 in a fixed position within the fixed sleeve 302. The second stage begins when the working sleeve 310 extends to reach a maximum extension relative to the intermediate sleeve. The spring member 306 lengthens and allows the intermediate sleeve 304 to slide. The intermediate sleeve 304 slides within the fixed sleeve 302 to enable the working sleeve 310 to extend. Accordingly the working sleeve 310 cooperates with the intermediate sleeve 304 to enables optimal extension of the elevator pin 98 while maintaining precise alignment between the working sleeve 310 and the fixed sleeve 302 during both the initial and later stages of elevator pin 98 extension.
FIG. 34 and
The housing 402 defines a base 416 and a hopper generally designated with the reference numeral 418. The hopper 418 functions to hold memory storage disks in a stack, preferably a vertical stack.
The hopper 418 has a stack retainer including posts 420. Three posts 420 define a periphery of the hopper 418. The base 416 is planar and the posts 420 extend perpendicularly with respect to the base 416.
The hopper 418 includes a bottom 422 with an opening 424 for enabling the elevator pin 404 to extend from below the hopper 418, through the bottom of the hopper 418. The hopper 418 has a lateral opening 426 defined on the periphery of the hopper 418 near the bottom 422 of the hopper 418. Disks feed through the lateral opening 426 to rest near the bottom 422 of the hopper 418 on the elevator pin 404. The elevator pin 404 lifts resting disks into the stack retainer portion of the hopper 418, which is the portion of the hopper 418 situated above the lateral opening 426.
Each post 420 includes a pawl slot 430, a pawl pin 432 and a pawl 436. Each pawl 436 includes first end with a hook 438 for holding disks. Each pawl 436 includes a second end inserted into the pawl slot 430. The pawl pin 432 extends through the second end of each pawl 436 to slideably hold each pawl 436 in one of the pawl slots 430.
Each pawl 436 has pin opening 440 for receiving a pawl pin 432 and enabling the pawl 436 to slide between an extended position where the hook 438 extends from the post 420 to a retracted configuration where a portion of the second end of the pawl 436 extends into the pawl slot 430. The pawls 436 hold disks in the extended configuration and, in the retracted configuration the pawls 436 enable the elevator pin 404 to lift disks into a stack from the bottom.
The sensor 410 for detects the position of the elevator pin 404 with respect to the base 416. The sensor 410 includes the mechanical arm 434, which engages a portion of the elevator pin 404 to directly measure the position of the elevator and 404. Although a sensor with the mechanical arm is used in accordance with the present invention a can be appreciated that the position sensor can also include an optical sensor element or a magnetic sensor element.
Although only a few disks are shown in the stack 454. The present invention is intended to lift a multitude of disks. For example, one hundred or more disks can be lifted by the elevator pin 404 in accordance with the present invention.
The linkage assembly 408 includes an arm 466 that mechanically connects the servomotor shaft 464 to the elevator pin 404. The arm 466 has two ends 474 and 476. The end 474 fixedly mounts on the shaft 464 of the servomotor 406. The motor 406 rotates the shaft 464 to pivot the arm 466.
The elevator pin 404 defines an axis 468 that is perpendicular to the base 416 and parallels the force of gravity. The end 474 of the arm 466 cams against the elevator pin 404 to selectively lift and lower the elevator pin 404 along the axis 468.
The elevator pin 404 includes a slot 470 near the base of the elevator pin 404. The slot 470 parallels the base 416 and defines an internal cam surface 472. The end 476 of the arm 466 includes a cam pin 478 that extends through the arm 466 to engage the cam surface 472 of the slot 470. The cam pin 478 slides against the cam surface 472 to selectively lift or lower the elevator pin 404. According to one aspect of the invention, the cam pin 478 includes cylindrical roller that cams against the elevator pin 404.
The arm 466 includes several connection points 480 that enable the cam pin 478 to attach to any of the several connection points 480. The connection points 480 facilitate adjustment of the linkage assembly 408 to achieve precise movement of the elevator pin 404. The cam motor 406 is regulated to precisely rotate the arm 466 over a predetermined angle to lift and lower the elevator pin 404.
It can be appreciated that although the elevator pin 404 includes a cam slot 470, that the present invention does not necessarily require a slot 470 to achieve precise movement of the elevator pin 404.
The cam pin 478 and the elevator pin 404 are adapted, according to an alternate aspect of the invention, to engage a bottom portion of the elevator pin 404. A further alternative include configuring the elevator pin 404 with a protruding cam surface that extends from the periphery of the elevator pin 404 and engages the cam pin 478 to lift the elevator pin 404.
According to one aspect of the invention at least one guide 484 that attaches to the base 416 to guide the elevator pin 404. The guide 484 prevents rotation of the elevator pin 404 for about the axis 468.
While the present invention is described in terms of preferred embodiments, there are many possible variations of the invention that are possible. For example, the linkage can be modified to have an elliptical or other curved cam bud, instead of the cam arm shown in the drawings. Also, placement of the servo motor can change, having an appropriate power train for delivering power to the cam that lifts the elevator pin. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A memory storage disk handling system, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks;
- a servo motor attached to the housing; and
- a linkage assembly attached between the servo motor and the elevator pin, wherein the servo motor includes a shaft, the linkage assembly includes an arm mounted on the shaft, whereby rotation of the shaft pivots the arm to lift the elevator pin.
2. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the arm has a fixed end and a moveable end, the fixed end mounts on the shaft, and the moveable end includes a cam surface that cams against the elevator pin when the arm pivots.
3. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the elevator pin has an axis, and a base that lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis, the elevator pin includes a slot that parallels the base, the cam surface cams within the slot to lift the elevator pin in the direction of the axis.
4. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the elevator pin has an axis, a longitudinal surface and a cam pin extending radially outward from the longitudinal surface, the moveable end of the arm defines a slot that cams against the cam pin when the arm pivots.
5. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one end of the arm mounts on the shaft and the other end of the arm mounts on the elevator pin, the elevator pin has an axis, the servo motor pivots the arm to lift the elevator pin in the direction of the axis and the elevator pin rotates about the axis when the arm lifts the elevator pin.
6. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disks form a stack having a top and a bottom, and wherein a single disk is added to the bottom of the stack.
7. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a conveyor.
8. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the conveyor delivers disks to the memory storage disk handling system for the elevator pin to stack the delivered disks into a stack.
9. A memory storage disk handling system comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for receiving disks;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper; and
- the hopper being configured for aligning lifted disks into a stack and includes at least one pawl for holding lifted disks in the hopper, wherein the hopper includes a plurality of posts oriented to surround lifted disks, at least one pawl mounts on each post.
10. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of posts includes hollow portions and at least two pawls, the pawls being slidably mounted within the hollow portions.
11. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 10, wherein each pawl includes a slot and the hopper includes pins that insert through the slots to hold each pawl, the pins and slots cooperate to enables the pawls to slide.
12. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 10, wherein each pawl includes an end with a hook for holding lifted disks.
13. A memory storage disk handling system comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for receiving disks;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper; and
- the hopper being configured for aligning lifted disks into a stack and includes at least one pawl for holding lifted disks in the hopper, wherein the hopper includes three posts oriented to surround lifted disks, at least one pawl mounts on each post.
14. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 13, wherein each post includes a hollow portion, the pawls being mounted at least partially within the hollow portions of the posts.
15. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the pawls are slidably mounted within the hollow portions of the posts so that lifting a disk slides the pawls into the hollow portions, and after the disk is lifted, the pawls extend from the hollow portions to hold the disk in the hopper.
16. A memory storage disk handling system, comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for holding disks;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper;
- a servo motor attached to the housing;
- a linkage assembly attached between the servo motor and the elevator pin for lifting the elevator pin in response to the servo motor; and
- the hopper defines a base and includes a stack retainer means extending from the base for aligning disks in a vertical stack, the stack retainer means includes more than one pawl for holding lifted disks, wherein the hopper includes a plurality of posts oriented to surrounded lifted disks, at least one pawl mounts on each of the plurality of posts.
17. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the servo motor includes a shaft, the linkage assembly includes a single arm mounted on the shaft.
18. A memory storage disk handling system comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for holding disks;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper;
- a servo motor attached to the housing;
- a linkage assembly attached between the servo motor and the elevator pin for lifting the elevator pin in response to the servo motor, the servo motor includes a shaft, the linkage assembly includes a single arm mounted on the shaft, wherein the arm has a fixed end and a moveable end, the fixed end is fixed with respect to the shaft, the moveable end includes a cam surface that cams against the elevator pin to enable the elevator pin to move in response to the servo motor; and
- the hopper defines a base and includes a stack retainer means extending from the base for aligning disks in a vertical stack, the stack retainer means includes more than one pawl for holding lifted disks.
19. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the stack retainer means includes three posts oriented to surround lifted disks, each post includes a hollow portion, the pawls normally extend from the post and retract within the hollow portions of the posts when a disk lifts past the pawls.
20. A memory storage disk handling system, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing, wherein the elevator pin presses a single disk into a stack of disks;
- a servo motor attached to the housing;
- a base having a position sensor; and
- a linkage assembly between the servo motor and the elevator pin wherein the servo motor includes a shaft, the linkage assembly includes an arm mounted on the shaft, whereby rotation of the shaft pivots the arm to lift the elevator pin.
21. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the position sensor includes a mechanical arm, the arm engages the elevator pin to detect elevator pin position.
22. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the position sensor includes an optical sensor element.
23. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the position sensor includes a magnetic sensor element.
24. A memory storage disk handling system, comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for holding disks in a stack;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper; and
- a plurality of pawls for holding disks, wherein the plurality of pawls slide between a retracted position which enables the elevator pin to lift disks into the stack and an extended position for holding disks, wherein the housing includes a plurality of posts oriented to surround lifted disks, and at least one pawl mounts on each post.
25. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a servo motor and a linkage assembly, wherein the linkage assembly is attached between the servo motor and the elevator pin for lifting the elevator pin in response to the servo motor.
26. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the linkage assembly includes at least one belt and at least one pulley.
27. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the linkage assembly is a gear linkage assembly.
28. The disk handling system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the disks are retained in a vertical stack.
29. A dispenser comprising:
- a first member configured to support a bottom disk of a vertical stack of disks, the first member including a horizontal surface that is configured to receive an outer edge of the bottom disk so that a bottom surface of only the outer edge rests on the horizontal surface;
- a second member operable in response to actuation to push the outer edge of the bottom disk off the horizontal surface, the second member having a thickness that is equal to or less than a thickness of the bottom disk so that only the bottom disk is pushed; and
- a third member configured to prevent an outer edge of a next-to--bottom disk of the vertical stack of disks from being pushed off the horizontal surface when the second member pushes the bottom disk, the third member having a side surface configured to act as a stop,
- wherein actuation of the second member pushes only the bottom disk off the horizontal surface causing only the bottom disk to fall out of the dispenser.
30. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein:
- the disk is a compact disc or a digital versatile disc.
31. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein:
- the third member is an upper guide that is situated on top of the first member and that includes an aperture configured to guide the bottom disk to a resting position at which the bottom surface of only the outer edge of the bottom disk rests on the horizontal surface of the first member.
32. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein:
- the side surface configured to act as a stop is a side surface of the aperture in the upper guide.
33. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein:
- the first member is a lower guide that includes an aperture sized and shaped to allow the bottom disk to fall through; and
- the horizontal surface on which the outer edge of the bottom disk rests is located at an edge of the aperture in the lower guide.
34. The dispenser of claim 33, wherein:
- the aperture of the lower guide has a first central axis;
- the aperture of the upper guide has a second central axis; and
- the first and second axes are offset relative to each other.
35. The dispenser of claim 33, wherein:
- the second member is a plate that includes an aperture configured to circumscribe and receive the bottom disk, the plate being situated between the upper and lower guides; and
- the plate is operable to slide from a first position to a second position, the first position situating the bottom disk at the resting position and the second position situating the bottom disk off the horizontal surface, whereby movement of the plate from the first position to the second position pushes the outer edge of the bottom disk off the horizontal surface.
36. The dispenser of claim 35, wherein:
- the outer edge of the bottom disk is a first outer edge, the bottom disk including a second outer edge opposite the first outer edge;
- the horizontal surface of the lower guide is a first horizontal surface, the lower guide including a second horizontal surface at an edge of the aperture in the lower guide, the second horizontal surface being on an opposite side of the lower guide's aperture as the first horizontal surface; and
- movement of the plate from the first position to the second position causes the first outer edge of the bottom disk to fall off the first horizontal surface and a subsequent movement of the plate from the second position to the first position causes the second outer edge of the bottom disk to fall off the second horizontal surface, whereby the bottom disk is dispensed to fall through the aperture in the lower guide.
37. The dispenser of claim 36, wherein:
- the subsequent movement of the plate from the second position to the first position also positions the next-to-bottom disk in the resting position.
38. The dispenser of claim 36, wherein:
- the plate is spring loaded to return from the second position to the first position.
39. The dispenser of claim 36, further comprising:
- a fourth member having a side surface against which disks above the vertical stack of disks can rest.
40. The dispenser of claim 36, wherein:
- the lower guide is situated to dispense the bottom disk to an extended tray of a digital data reader, a digital data writer, or a printer.
41. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein:
- the bottom disk is dispensed without being deformed.
42. A method for dispensing a disk, the method comprising:
- providing a lower member with an aperture configured to pass a first disk of a particular type, the lower member having a horizontal surface by an edge of the aperture that is configured to receive an outer edge of the first disk so that a bottom surface of only the outer edge rests on the horizontal surface, preventing the first disk from falling through the aperture of the lower member;
- using an upper guide that includes an aperture through which the first disk and a second disk of the particular type can pass to stack the disks in a vertical stack such that the edge portion of the first disk rests on the horizontal surface and the second disk rests on the first disk; and
- in response to actuation, causing a pusher to push, at the outer edge, the first disk off the horizontal surface and into the aperture of the lower member, the pusher having a thickness that is equal to or less than a thickness of the first disk so that only the first disk is pushed, the aperture in the upper guide preventing the second disk from being pushed into the aperture in the lower member when the first disk is being pushed, wherein the first disk but not the second disk is dispensed to fall through the aperture in the lower member when the pusher is actuated.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein:
- the outer edge of the first disk is a first outer edge, the first disk including a second outer edge that is opposite the first outer edge;
- the horizontal surface of the lower member is a first horizontal surface and the edge of the aperture in the lower member is a first edge of the aperture, the lower member having a second horizontal surface by a second edge of the aperture that is opposite the first edge of the aperture; and
- the pusher pushes in a reciprocating action that includes a first movement and a second reciprocating movement so that the first movement pushes the first outer edge of the first disk off the first horizontal surface and the second movement pushes the second outer edge of the first disk off the second horizontal surface.
44. A method for dispensing a disk, the method comprising:
- stacking two or more disks of a particular type in a vertical stack and on a horizontal surface where the horizontal surface is configured to receive an outer edge of a bottom disk so that a bottom surface of only the outer edge rests on the horizontal surface, preventing the bottom disk from falling through an aperture; and
- pushing only the bottom disk off the horizontal surface, the pushing being effected at an outer edge of the bottom disk and while disks on top of the bottom disk are held so that they are not pushed off the horizontal surface, wherein the pushing dispenses only the bottom disk from the stack.
45. The method of claim 44, wherein:
- the bottom disk includes an edge portion; and
- stacking is effected such that only the bottom surface of the edge portion rests on the horizontal surface.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein:
- the edge portion has a horizontal extent; and
- pushing is effected so that the bottom disk is displaced by a distance less than or equal to the horizontal extent.
47. The method of claim 46, wherein:
- the horizontal surface is adjacent to an aperture configured to allow the bottom disk to fall through; and
- the pushing causes the disk to fall through the aperture.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein:
- stacking includes using a guide to position the two or more disks.
49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:
- when the bottom disk is dispensed, guiding the bottom disk to fall into an extended tray of a data writer, a data reader, or a printer.
50. A dispenser comprising:
- a first member configured to support a bottom disk of a vertical stack of disks, the first member including a horizontal surface that is configured to receive an outer edge of the bottom disk so that a bottom surface of only the outer edge rests on the horizontal surface;
- a second member operable in response to actuation to push the outer edge of the bottom disk off the horizontal surface so that only the bottom disk is pushed; and
- wherein actuation of the second member pushes only the bottom disk off the horizontal surface causing only the bottom disk to drop.
51. The dispenser of claim 50, further comprising:
- a third member configured to hold one or more next-to-bottom disks of the vertical stack of disks while the second member pushes the bottom disk, the third member having a side surface configured to act as a stop.
52. The dispenser of claim 51, wherein:
- the third member is an upper guide that is situated on top of the first member and that includes an aperture configured to a guide the bottom disk to a resting position at which the bottom surface of only the outer edge of the bottom disk rests on the horizontal surface of the first member.
53. The dispenser of claim 52, wherein:
- the first member includes an aperture configured to allow the bottom disk to fall through; and
- the horizontal surface on which the outer edge of the bottom disk rests is located at an edge of the aperture in the first member.
54. The dispenser of claim 53, where the horizontal surface is adapted to interact with the second member such that only the bottom disk from the vertical stack is pushed.
55. The dispenser of claim 53, wherein:
- the second member is a plate that includes an aperture configured to receive the bottom disk, the plate being positioned between the upper and lower guides; and
- the plate is operable to slide from a first position to a second position, the first position situating the bottom disk at the resting position and the second position situating the bottom disk off the horizontal surface, whereby movement of the plate from the first position to the second position pushes the outer edge of the bottom disk off the horizontal surface.
56. The dispenser of claim 55, where the aperture of the second member is adapted to pass disks from the vertical stack one at a time.
57. The dispenser of claim 55, wherein:
- the outer edge of the bottom disk is a first outer edge, the bottom disk including a second outer edge opposite the first outer edge;
- the horizontal surface of the lower guide is a first horizontal surface, the lower guide including a second horizontal surface at an edge of the aperture in the lower guide, the second horizontal surface being on an opposite side of the lower guide's aperture as the first horizontal surface; and
- movement of the plate from the first position to the second position causes the first outer edge of the bottom disk to fall off the first horizontal surface and the second outer edge of the bottom disk to rest on the second horizontal surface and where a subsequent movement of the plate from the second position to the first position causes the second outer edge of the bottom disk to fall off the second horizontal surface, whereby the bottom disk is dispensed to fall through the aperture in the lower guide.
58. The method of claim 57, where in the first position, the first outer edge rests on the first horizontal surface and the second outer edge rests on a third horizontal surface, the third horizontal surface being a surface of the plate.
59. A memory storage disk handling system, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks;
- a servo motor attached to the housing; and a linkage assembly attached between the servo motor and the elevator pin, wherein the servo motor includes a shaft, the linkage assembly includes an arm mounted on the shaft, whereby rotation of the shaft pivots the arm to lift the elevator pin.
60. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 59, wherein the arm has a fixed end and a moveable end, the first end mounts on the shaft, and the moveable end includes a cam surface that cams against the elevator pin when the arm pivots.
61. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 60, wherein the elevator pin has an axis, and a base that lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis, the elevator pin includes a slot that parallels the base, the cam surface cams within the slot to lift the elevator pin in the direction of the axis.
62. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 60, wherein the elevator pin has an axis, a longitudinal surface and a cam pin extending radially outward from the longitudinal surface, the moveable end of the arm defines a slot that cams against the cam pin when the arm pivots.
63. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 59, wherein one end of the arm mounts on the shaft and the other end of the arm mounts on the elevator pin, the elevator pin has an axis, the servo motor pivots the arm to lift the elevator pin in the direction of the axis and the elevator pin rotates about the axis when the arm lifts the elevator pin.
64. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 59, wherein the disks form a stack having a top and a bottom, and wherein a single disk is added to the bottom of the stack.
65. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 59, further comprising a conveyor.
66. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 65, wherein the conveyor delivers disk to the memory storage disk handling system for the elevator pin to stack the delivered disks into a stack.
67. A memory storage disk handling system comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for received disks;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper; and
- the hopper being configured for aligning lifted disks into a stack and includes at least one pawl for holding lifted disks in the hopper, wherein the hopper includes a plurality of posts oriented to surround lifted disks, at least one pawl mounts on each post.
68. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 67, wherein each of the plurality of posts includes hollow portions and at least two pawls, the pawls being slidably mounted within the hollow portions.
69. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 68, wherein each pawl includes a slot and the hopper includes pins that insert through the slots to hold each pawl, the pins and slots cooperate to enables the pawls to slide.
70. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 68, wherein each pawl includes an end with a hook for holding lifted disks.
71. A memory storage disk handling system comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for receiving disks;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper; and
- the hopper being configured for aligning lifted disks into a stack and includes at least one pawl for holding lifted disks in the hopper, wherein the hopper includes three posts oriented to surround lifted disks, at least one pawl mounts on each post.
72. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 71, wherein each post includes a hollow portion, the pawls being mounted at least partially within the hollow portions of the posts.
73. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 72, wherein the pawls are slidably mounted within the hollow portions of the posts so that lifting a disk slides the pawls into the hollow portions, and after the disk is lifted, the pawls extend from the hollow portions to hold the disk in the hopper.
74. A memory storage disk handling system, comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for holding disks;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper;
- a servo motor attached to the housing;
- a linkage assembly attached between the servo motor and the elevator pin for lifting the elevator pin in response to the servo motor; and
- the hopper defines a base and includes a stack retainer means extending from the base for aligning disks in a vertical stack, the stack retainer means includes more than one pawl for holding lifted disks, wherein the hopper includes a plurality of posts oriented to surround lifted disks, at least one pawl mounts one each of the plurality of posts.
75. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 74, wherein the servo motor includes a shaft, the linkage assembly includes a single arm mounted on the shaft.
76. A memory storage disk handling system comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for holding disks;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper;
- a servo motor attached to the housing;
- a linkage assembly attached between the servo motor and the elevator pin for lifting the elevator pin in response to the servo motor, the servo motor includes a shaft, the linkage assembly includes a single arm mounted on the shaft, wherein the arm has a fixed end and a moveable end, the fixed end is fixed with respect to the shaft, the moveable end includes a cam surface that cams against the elevator pin to enable the elevator pin to move in response to the servo motor; and
- the hopper defines a base and includes a stack retainer means extending from the base for aligning disks in a vertical stack, the stack retainer means includes more than one pawl for holding lifted disks.
77. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 76, wherein the stack retainer means includes three posts oriented to surround lifted disks, each post includes a hollow portion, the pawls normally extend from the post and retract within the hollow portions of the posts when a disk lifts past the pawls.
78. A memory storage disk handling system, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing, wherein the elevator pin presses a single disk into a stack of disks;
- a servo motor attached to the housing; a base having a position sensor; and
- a linkage assembly between the servo motor and the elevator pin wherein the servo motor includes a shaft, the linkage assembly includes an arm mounted on the shaft, whereby rotation of the shaft pivots the arm to lift the elevator pin.
79. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 78, wherein the position sensor includes a mechanical arm, the arm engages the elevator pin to detect elevator pin position.
80. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 78, wherein the position sensor includes an optical sensor element.
81. A memory storage disk handling system as set forth in claim 78, wherein the position sensor includes a magnetic sensor element.
82. A memory storage disk handling system, comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper for holding disks in a stack;
- an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks into the hopper; and
- a plurality of pawls for holding disks, wherein the plurality of pawls slide between a retracted position which enables the elevator pin to lift disks into the stack and an extended position for holding disks, wherein the housing includes a plurality of posts oriented to surround lifted disks, and at least one pawl mounts on each post.
83. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 82, further comprising a servo motor and a linkage assembly, wherein the linkage assembly is attached between the servo motor and the elevator pin for lifting the elevator pin in response to the servo motor.
84. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 83, wherein the linkage assembly includes at least one belt and at least one pulley.
85. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 83, wherein the linkage assembly is a gear linkage assembly.
86. A disk handling system as set forth in claim 82, wherein the disks are retained in a vertical stack.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 28, 2005
Date of Patent: Dec 2, 2008
Assignee: Microboards Technology, LLC (Chanhassen, MN)
Inventor: Wray Russ (Modesto, CA)
Primary Examiner: William J Klimowicz
Attorney: Fish & Richardson P.C.
Application Number: 11/322,203
International Classification: G11B 17/08 (20060101); B65G 57/30 (20060101);