Patent Application
20090170404
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a field of devices for polishing, buffing or sanding media discs, and in particular to an apparatus for reducing or removing scratches or substances from the surface of media discs using controlled parameters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Media discs like compact discs and video discs have been used for many years to store various forms of information, such as music, videos, pictures, games and data. Many computers, home entertainment systems, computer gaming apparatus and other data processing equipment have the ability to or depend on optical data storage discs to store programmed data and other electronic file information. Information is typically imbedded or imprinted on the optical surface of the disc and is read from the surface of the disc with laser means or other types of optical reading device.
While such discs are readily available and generally reliable, often a disc is handled or used in a way that causes scratches to be created unintentionally on the surface of the disc or an undesired substance to adhere to the surface of the disc, which cannot be easily removed. As such, the disc becomes unreadable by the reading device and the user is unable to retrieve the information stored on the disc. For the most part, the disc becomes unusable. With the present invention, the information on a disc damaged by surface scratches or surface materials can be recovered by polishing the surface of the disc, thus removing the scratches or materials in a quick and effective manner, thereby allowing an unimpeded path by the reading device to the data.
Disc polishing devices currently available on the market that are utilized by companies attempting to recover optical discs do not provide for controlled and uniform pressure application. Current methods for polishing discs are slow and require a great deal of human operator input to make sure that polishing pressure is uniformly applied. Special care must be taken by the operator to ensure that the pressure during polishing is not applied excessively causing removal or damage to the information imprinted on the surface of the disc. If polishing pressure is not uniform or if the disc is polished with too much pressure, the information stored upon the disc may be erased and the disc ruined.
The present invention allows a disc to be polished in such a way as to return the disc to its optimal functionality. This is accomplished with uniform application of the appropriate amount of pressure, uniformly applied across the surface of the disc in order to remove only the slightest amount of surface material on the disc and to bring the disc surface back to a smooth and precise finish in order for the information imprinted on the surface of the disc to be readable by a disc reading device.
Discs are often of significant value well worth the expense and time for an owner to have a disc polished in an attempt to recover the stored information, which would otherwise potentially be lost. A need exists for a large scale operation of the much needed service to the general public. The apparatus and method of the present invention allow multiple discs to be polished simultaneously thus increasing efficiency and productivity of the disc polishing process.
The present invention relates to a disc polishing apparatus for reducing or eliminating scratches from the surface of a media disc, the apparatus comprising (a) a base member comprising at least one disc platform, (i) said disc platform having a center and an outside edge; (ii) said disc platform having a upward facing surface for holding a media disc to be polished; and (iii) said disc platform having an upwardly protruding pin in the center for centrally positioning said media disc on said upward facing surface of the disc platform; (b) a polishing member connected to said base member by a support axis and positioned above said disc platform, (i) said polishing member having a rotatable polishing head, said polishing head extending downward toward said upward facing surface of the disc platform and said polishing head having a polishing pad capable of reducing or eliminating scratches from the surface of a media disc; (ii) said polishing member further having an axially driven means for advancing said polishing head to contact with said upward facing surface of the disc platform; and said polishing member further comprising a means for controlling the pressure used to advance the polishing head to said upward facing surface of the disc platform; (c) a switch for controlling the on/off operation of the disc polishing apparatus; (d) optionally, a timer for controlling the amount of time for advancing said polishing head to said upward facing surface of the disc platform; and (e) optionally, a means for spraying a polishing agent onto said disc platform.
A method for reducing or eliminating scratches from the surface of media disc, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing said media disc onto the pin on the upward facing surface of the disc platform of the disc polishing apparatus of claim 1; (b) advancing the polishing head of the apparatus of claim 1 for contact with the surface of the media disc at a controlled pressure and optionally, for a preset time; (c) optionally, spraying a polishing agent onto said surface of the media disc; (d) retracting said polishing head to end contact between the polishing head and the media disc; and (e) optionally, repeating steps (b) through (d) to optimize the reduction or elimination of the scratches from the surface of the media disc.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that the elements in the diagrams are illustrated for simplicity and clarity to help improve the embodiments of the present invention and have not been drawn to scale.
The invention will now be described in detail. In the context of this invention, a number of terms will be utilized. As used herein, the term “disc” refers to any of several types of media, consisting of thin, round plates of plastic, metal or combinations thereof, used for storage of information, including, but not limited to, floppy discs, optical discs, compact discs, magnetic discs, audio compact discs, recordable discs, re-recordable discs, digital video discs, digital versatile discs, DVD video discs, laser discs, mini-discs, video game console discs, including, but not limited to, Sony Play Station® discs, X-Box® 360 discs, and Nintendo GameCube® discs, personal computer (PC) discs, CD-ROM, CD-I, CD-Photo, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW discs, Sony Blu-ray™ discs, and any and all other similar discs as will be apparently known to those skilled in the art. As used herein, the term disc is interchangeable with the common term “disk” as it is widely and commonly used.
As used herein, the term “polish” or “polishing” means to make smooth and glossy by causing friction and thereby eliminating or reducing scratches, blemishes, cuts or other marks within the surface of the disc and by removing substances or materials that may have accumulated upon the surface of the disc. The term “polishing” includes buffing, sanding, rubbing, and other commonly known terms and known to those skilled in the art.
The invention will be more fully understood with reference to the drawings and the following description. Referring to
The disc platform (3) is a flat plate, platen or surface and it is desirable that the disc platform (3) be substantially the same circumferential size as the media disc, though the disc platform can be circumferentially larger than the disc.
During the disc polishing process, a disc to be polished is placed onto the upward facing surface (8) of the disc platform (3). The disc can be placed manually by an operator of the apparatus or an automated means can be used for placing the disc onto the disc platform.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus has two disc platforms (3) positioned side by side on the base member (2) as illustrated in
The disc platform (3) can be made of any suitable material that is strong enough to withstand the pressure of the polishing head (6) during the polishing process. Preferred materials are selected from the group comprising aluminum, stainless steel, polycarbonate composites and alloys. Preferably, the disc platform (3) is made of a corrosion resistant material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the disc platform (3) is made of aluminum.
The disc platform (3) is mounted rotatably on the base member (2) in order to be able to spin upon contact with the rotating polishing head (6) and to relieve frictional stress during the polishing process. In order for the disc platform (3) to rotate, a certain tolerance must be maintained between the base member (2) and the disc platform (3). In the preferred embodiment, the tolerance is in the range of between 0.001 and 0.010 inches. In a more preferred embodiment, the tolerance is in the range of between 0.003 and 0.007 inches.
The disc platform (3) has an upwardly protruding pin (9) in its center to firmly position and hold the disc in the center of the disc platform (3) while the disc is being polished. Optionally, in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, the disc platform (3) has a plurality of radial grooves (10) arranged like spokes in the direction positioned from the center to the circumferential outside edge of the disc platform (3), as shown on
A polishing member (5) is connected to the base plate (16) by a support axis (11). The support axis (11) must be sufficiently strong and durable in order to hold the polishing member (5) in place during the polishing process.
The polishing member (5) comprises at least one axially driven rotatable polishing head (6) that extends downward toward the upward facing surface (8) of the disc platform (3) and is positioned at least partly above the disc platform (3) such that the disc platform (3) and the polishing head (6) overlap with one another as illustrated in
The polishing head (6) of the present invention has a polishing pad (12) on the downward facing surface of the polishing head (6).
The polishing head (6) is driven by a precision axial drive means (7) shown in
In an embodiment of the invention where the apparatus has more than one disc platform (3) on the base member (2), the polishing head (6) with the polishing pad (12) is positioned in a way that it overlaps at least partially with the surfaces of all the disc platforms (3). Thus, the more disc platforms (3), the larger the polishing head (6) is required such that it can contact the surface of each of the disc platforms (3). In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention has three disc platforms (3). In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus provides for a plurality of polishing heads (6) with polishing pads (12) and disc platforms (3) to allow for simultaneous polishing of multiple discs. One such embodiment is illustrated in
The polishing head (6) of the present invention is a conventional design similar to those used in other industries such as in automobile fender or coach work. It is desirable for the polishing head (6) to have a flexible means that allows some retraction and resiliency when downward pressure is applied onto the disc platform (3). In the preferred embodiment, the polishing head (6) is attached to the axial drive means (7) by a foam center core and comprises a foam body layer. The foam body layer yields slightly when the polishing head (6) and polishing pad (12) comes into contact with the disc to be polished.
The polishing pad (12) is connected to the polishing head (6) by any means commonly known in the art for like mechanisms. Preferred materials for connecting the polishing pad (12) to the polishing head (6) are hook and loop nylon fasteners such as Velcro® of Velcro Industries B.V. but any adhesive or connective materials can be utilized. The hook and loop fasteners are particularly useful because their use allows the operator of the apparatus to easily switch polishing pads (12) as desirable based on the severity of the scratch on the disc media. The material of the polishing pad (12) and the pressure and speed at which the polishing head (6) is operated determine the amount of surface material that will be removed from the surface of the disc media. Thus, deeper scratches will require higher pressure and speed than light scratches. As is commonly known to persons skilled in the art, more abrasive materials are required to remove deeper scratches from a disc media.
According to the apparatus and method of the invention, for removing or reducing scratches from the surface of disc media, the polishing pad (12) is made of an abrasive material necessary for sanding the disc. Preferred materials for the polishing pad (12) of the invention utilized for sanding the disc and removing deep scratches are selected from a group comprising 1,000 to 10,000 grit sand paper. Other preferred abrasive materials are commonly known to those skilled in the art.
According to the apparatus and method of the invention, for rendering a smooth and glossy surface on the disc during polishing, the polishing pad (12) is selected from the group consisting of foam, rubber or any soft composite. In a preferred embodiment, the polishing pad (12) comprises foam composite with a 3,500 grit polishing surface.
According to the method of the invention, a polishing agent is applied to the disc media surface during the polishing process. The polishing agent can be applied by any available means. One embodiment of the invention provides for manual application by simple squeeze or spray bottles. For example, a polishing agent is sprayed directly onto the disc media by the operator before the polishing head (6) comes into contact with the disc media. In an alternate embodiment, the application of the polishing agent can be accomplished through automated means as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Polishing agents used according to the method of the invention are extensively disclosed in patents and publications and are commonly known to those skilled in the art.
The apparatus of the invention provides for a start and stop mechanism that complies with safety rules and regulations ensuring that the operator's hands are clear of any possible machine movement prior to starting operation of the apparatus.
In a preferred embodiment, the timing of the operation of the apparatus and process can be controlled by a precision timer (13) illustrated in
To provide optimum polishing results, a means for automated pressure control is provided to regulate the pressure at which the polishing head (6) with the polishing pad (12) comes into contact with the disc media. This is accomplished by the pressure regulator (14) and counter spring (17) of sufficient force to control the apparatus of the invention, illustrated in
According to the method of the invention, a disc media is polished by using the apparatus disclosed and described herein. The method of the invention can be repeated as many times as required in order to obtain desired results. Each cycle or repetition of the polishing process can be controlled independently or different polishing stations can be established to address differing levels of damage on the discs.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also intended to be within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that other uses, variations and advantages of the invention will become known to those upon consideration of the disclosure herein. Such changes, alterations and improvements are meant to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.
