Patent Application
20100000688
The present invention relates to an optical disk labeling device and particularly to an optical disk labeling device to bond a label on an optical disk.
Optical disk is a storage medium to store digital data. As optical disk burners become increasingly popular the chance of using the optical disk to store data also is greater. Whether an optical disk has data stored thereon is difficult to recognize from outside appearance. Hence users generally make marks on the optical disk for recognition. A common approach is making a mark through a mark pen or by bonding a label. However, the oil-based ink of the mark pen tends to damage the optical disk, and adding the label makes the weight of the optical disk unbalanced and could result in damage of the optical disk drive during high speed rotation.
At present most optical disks are labeled by optical disk labeling devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,033 discloses a labeling device which includes a labeling circumferential flange, a rod for holding an optical disk, a piston and a compressed spring. The rod is held on the labeling circumferential flange. The compressed spring is held in the piston beneath the rod. When in use a label has the bonding surface facing upwards to be held flatly on the labeling circumferential flange; the optical disk is held on the rod with the bonding surface facing downwards; then the rod is depressed and sunk partially in the labeling circumferential flange to bond the label to the optical disk. After the depressing force is released, the compressed spring pushes the rod to its original position.
R.O.C. patent No. M306382 also discloses an optical disk labeling device which includes a base tray with a round post located thereon in the center, a label holding dock to hold a label, an optical disk holding dock which has a force applying portion and a loading portion with the force applying portion formed at a diameter smaller than the loading portion such that the loading portion can hold an optical disk thereon, a driving unit having a driving shaft, an actuation means and a compressed spring. The compressed spring is held in the driving shaft which has one end coupling with the optical disk holding dock and another end coupling on the round post so that the optical disk holding dock is movable up and down. The driving shaft has a gear rack at one side. The actuation means has a gear. The gear and the gear rack are engaged. When a depressing force is absent the optical disk holding dock is in a regular condition. When the optical disk holding dock is moved downwards under the force, the driving shaft transfers the force downward to the compressed spring. When the pressure is released, the compressed spring pushes the driving shaft to its original position, and the gear engaged with the gear rack reduces the bouncing speed of the driving shaft so that the optical disk holding dock is moved slowly to the regular position.
While the techniques and devices mentioned above can bond a label onto an optical disk, they consist of a great deal of components and cause higher production costs. Fabrication and assembly are more complex. Hence, production efficiency is lower.
The primary object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid disadvantages by reducing elements and simplifying the structure of an optical disk labeling device.
The optical disk labeling device according to the invention aims to bond a label on an optical disk. It includes a label holding dock with a label holding surface formed thereon and an optical disk holding dock with a disk holding surface formed thereon. The label holding dock has a holding portion forming an opening on the label holding surface. The holding portion has two track portions. Each track portion has a downward track and an upward track that have two ends communicating with each other to form a first anchor portion and a second anchor portion. The optical disk holding dock is slidable on the holding portion and coupled therewith through an actuation member. The actuation member has two elastic arms corresponding to the two track portions. The two elastic arms have a sliding portion to form an anchor relationship with the first and second anchor portions to hold the optical disk at a first position and a second position. The optical disk holding dock receives a first depressing force at the first position so that the sliding portion slides on the downward track to the second position to anchor the optical disk holding dock on the second position. The optical disk holding dock on the second position can receive a second depressing force so that the sliding portion slides on the upward track to the first anchor portion to return the optical disk holding dock to the first position. Through the actuation member and the downward and upward tracks that communicate with each other, the optical disk holding dock can receive the forces and slide to the first or second position. As a result, the number of total elements of the invention is fewer and the structure is simpler. Comparing with the conventional techniques, the production cost is lower and production efficiency is higher.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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As a conclusion, the invention, through the sliding portion 32 of the actuation member 30 and the downward track 130 and upward track 131 that communicate with each other, allows the optical disk holding dock 20 to receive forces to be slid to the first position or second position. Thus the number of elements required is fewer and total structure is simpler. As a result, production cost can be reduced and production efficiency increases. It provides a significant improvement over the conventional techniques.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
