Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
' CA 02376974 2001-12-14 .
DEVICE AID MErEiOD FUR COATI1~1G AN OPTICALLY READABLE DATA CARRIER
The present invention .relates to an apparatus and a method for
coating an optically readable data carrier, as well as to an optically
readable data carrier.
Optical dai;;~ carriers, such as CDs, as w~II as methods and
apparatus for prEi~~ucing the same, are known. Such data carriers
generally have a data-carrying surface that must be protected from
environmental conditions. To protect the surface, a hardening lacquer
was used in the past that was applied to a central region of the rapidly
'10 rotating data carrl~~r so that it would flow outwardly due to centrifugal
force and would form an essentially uniform layer upon the CD.
However, in this c;annection the data carrier must be rotated at a high
speed in order tc~ produce adequate centrifugal forces for a uniform
distribution of the Lacquer upon the surface that is to be protected. This
'15 process has the inherent danger of damaging the data carrier.
Furthermore, with ~ihis method excess lacquer is flung out from the data
carrier, and must subsequently be removed in a complicated and
expensive process,.
EP-A-0 85:i 703 furthermore discloses a method for gluing
20 togeth~r two disk-like substrates of a data carrier using an adhesive
film that has adhessive on both sides. With this known: method, the
substrates are gl:aed together in such a way that the information-
carrying surfaces c~f the substrates are directed outwardly, and are thus
exposed to envirornmental Influences.
.,.
LIt1181 Tmal of PCTlEP00n71.5439 filed 14 June 2000- Uhich Sp~s~ et al -
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Starting wii:ln this method, it is an object of the present invention
to provide a simplofied and economical method for coating an optically
readable data care-ler as well as a data carrier produced in this manner.
-This object; is inventively realized for a method for coating an
optically readable data carrier in that a transparent adhesive film Is
applied to a da I;a carrier surface that is to be protected, and
subsequently a cc~~rering film is applied to the adhesive film. The use of
an adhesive fi(rn in combination with an adhesive film has the
advantage that tf~c~ aforementioned centrifuging process for coating the
data carrier with a lacquer is eliminated, and no flung-off residual
lacquer, which rrmst be removed in an expensive and complicated
manner, results. The combination of adhesive film and cover film
furthermore provides a good protection of the data-carrying surface of
the data carrier. The adhesive film and the covering film can have
specific optical characteristics in order to permit reading of the data
found on the data carrier. The application of the films furthermore
provides a particularly simple and economical solution for the coating
of a data carrier.
The trans~~arent adhesive film is preferably a layer of an
adhesive without ~I carrier material in order not to affect the reading of
the data on the d~r,a carrier. The transparent covering film is preferably
a so-called PC ta~~e, which has good optical characteristics for a reader
of the data carrier,
Literal Trnsl of PCT/~POOn;i!i543A filed 14 Juna 2000 - Ulrlch Spuer et al -
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In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, during ~ar after application to the data carrier the adhesive
film andlor the cowering film is withdrawn from a carrier film. The
carrier film has thG: advantage that the respective film is protected prior
to its application to the data carrier, and the adhesive film has an
adequate stabilix~~ for transport. In addition, a protective film is
preferably withdrt~wn prior to applying the adhesive film and/or the
covering film, the protective film protecting the respective film surface
that faces away frnm the carrier film from contamination and damage.
In order to t;ompletely cover the data carrier, the shape and size
of the adhesive film and/or of the covering film advantageously
correspond to tf~rl surface of the data carrier surface that is to be
protected. Sections of the adhesive film andlor of the covering film that
correspond to 'the shape and size of the data carrier ar~
advantageously punchad onto the carrier film.
Then adh~slwe film andlor th~ covering film is preferably applied
centered on the cl;ata carrier surface that is to be protected in order to
ensure a uniform coating of the surfac~ of the data carrl~r. For this
purpose the adheE~ive film andlor the covering film and the data carrier
are pr~ferably olio iced with one another prior to application.
Pursuant i;~a a further specific embodiment of the present
invention, the adh~3sive film andlor the covering film is pressed onto the
data carrier via a rotating pressure roller, to ensure a reliable contact
between the resl:~~~ctive film and the data carrier. In this connection,
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Llt~rel Trnel of PCTIEPOOIJ'.i6439 filed 14 June 2000 - Ulrich Speer et al -
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the pressure of the pressure roller is preferably controlled in order to
achieve an optimum adhesive effect of the respective films.
.Prior to pr~;~;;sing by the pressure roller, the adhesive film andlor
the covering film I;s preferably held at a pre-specified angle relative to
the surface of they data carrier in order to hold the adhesive film at a
distance from the I:fata carrier, and to ensure a controlled pressing only
in the region of I;he pressure roller. This prevents air from being
trapped between the adhesive film and the surface of the data carrier
andlor between th~~ adhesive film and the covering film.
Pursuant tc~ a preferred specific embodiment of the present
invention, the dataa carrier and the pressure roller are moved relative to
one another in ortter to enable a continuing application of the adhesive
film upon the surflace of the data carrier. In this connection, the data
carrier is advantatieously moved past the pressure roller linearly, and
the pressure roll~rr is advantageously rotated synchronously with the
movement of this data carrier in order to continuously press the
adhesive film ontsl the data carrier.
The objel~: of the present invention is also realized by an
apparatus for coating an optically readable data carrier, and includes a
first laminating st~rtion for applying a transparent adhesive film to a data
carrier surface that is to be protected, and a second laminating station
to apply a transflarent covering film.. With such an apparatus, the
advantages menti~:~ned above with regard to the method are achieved.
(n particular, with :much an apparatus there is eliminated the danger of
Literal Tmal of pCT/EP0011:55439 fll~od 14 June 2000 - Ulriah Speer et e) -
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damage to the d~~ta carrier due to the centrifuging process, and in
addition there is eliminated the complicated and expensive preparation
and removal of re,.,idual lacquer that is flung off.
The object Is furthermore realized by an optically readable data
carrier having a ~Iransparent adhesive film and a covering film on a
data-carrying surf~~ce. The combination of adhesive film and covering
film leads to the advantages already described above. Pursuant to a
presently preferrs~d specific embodiment of the present invention, the
data carrier is disposed in a protective housing that surrounds the data
7 0 carrier. By using a protective housing, the mechanical requirements
placed upon the ~:ombination of adhesive film and covering film are
significantly reduc:~ad, since this layer does not have to restrain strong
stresses, but rai:loer serves chiefly as a protective layer against
contamination anti chemical Influences.
The present invention is explained in greater detail in the
following using pn~~ferred exemplary embodiments with ref~rence to the
figures, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus for
producing optical data carriers in accordance with
the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of parts of a laminating station
In accordance with the present invention;
Literal Trnsl of PCTIEPOOIC'.3643A fH6d 14 June 2000 - LJlrich Spear of al ~
STEAD HamaTech ACS -
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Fig. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a
laminating station in accordance with the present
invention;
Figs. 4 is a schematic side view of an optical data carrier
of the present invention.
Figure 1 ili~tstrates an apparatus 1 for producing an optical data
carrier having at I~~tast one surface that is to be protected
The appar~~tus has a feed unit 3 for feeding an optical data
carrier 6, such as a CD or a DVR. The data carrier 6 from fhe first feed
station 3 is convwyed to a laminating station 7 that is described in
greater detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3. In the laminating
station, a pressuri~-sensitive adhesive tape or film which has adhesive
on one side and i;c known as PSA tape, is applied to the surface of the
optical data carrier 6 that is to be protected. The terms adhesive tape
and adhesive filrr~ are to be understood as a layer of an adhesive
without a carrier Material. The optical properties of such a layer of
adhesive can generally be controlled more precisely and better than
those of a coat~r~ carrier material. The adhesive film has varying
adhesion properkie~s as a function of the pressure applied to it.
The data I:arrier 6 is subsequently conveyed via a handling
apparatus 8 intry a second laminating station 9. In the second
laminating station 9, a protective or covering film is placed upon the
adhesive film. TI!ne second laminating station 9 is essentially identical
to the first laminluting station 7, with the main difference being in the
-s~
LItPrpl Trnal of PCTIEP00!i555439 Bled 14 June 2000 - Ulrlah Speor at at -
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laminating film thJat is utilized. The covering film that is applied in the
second lamlnatin~l station is, for example, a so-called PC tape that has
the optical characteristics required for a data carrier of the DVR type.
After the I~~minating-on of the covering film, the data carrier is
conveyed via a h.rJndling apparatus 10 into a quality checking unit 11.
After checking of ~Ihe quality, the data carrier is deposited either upon a
collection station ' 2 for good data carriers or upon a collection station
13 for defective dsata carriers.
The appar~~tus 1 is arranged in a clean room in which each of
the work st~ps ca n be performed under clean room conditions.
Figures 2 :end 3 are schematic representations of a laminating
station 7 in accordance with the present invention, whereby the
respective components of the laminating stations illustrated in Figures
2 and 3 are arramged somewhat differently. However, the same
reference numbers are used for identical/similar components in the
following descrip~llon of the laminating station in accordance with
Figures 2 and 3.
The laminai.ing station 7 has a feed roller 22 on which a tape-like
laminating film 23 is rolled. The laminating film 23 comprises a total of
three films, namely, a protective film 24, an adhesive film 25 that is a
layer of an adhesive without carrier material, and a carrier film 26, as
can be best seen in the enlarged circular detail in Figure 2. The
adhesive film 25 I~as sections 27 that are punched corresponding to
LAaral Tmsl of PCTIEPOQli:'35439 filed 14 June 2000 - Ulrich Speer at al ~
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the size and shape of a surtace of the data carrier 6 that is to be
coated .
The lamin~rting station furthermore has a take-up roller 28 on
which the remainder of the laminating film 23 is taken up after a
laminating procesE~. The laminating film 23 is conducted between the
feed roller 22 anal the take-up roller 28 around a plurality of guide
rollers 30 through 38 in order to provide a defined path for the Tape-like
laminating film 23 I~etween the rollers 22 and 28- Each of the rollers 30
through 38 is rotatable about its axis of rotation, and the rollers 31 and
37 are designed as so~calied compensating rollers that are borne
movable in the twrizontal direction in order to make it possible to
compensate for the length of the laminating fdm 23 between the rollers
22 and 28. Thl~ makes it possible for the rollers 22 and 28 to be
rotated at a const~~:nt speed despite discontinuous laminating cycles, as
will be described in the following. The parts of the adhesive film 25 that
are not needed cr~n be removed in advance, that is, prior to introducing
the laminating film into the laminating station, for instance during
production of the I~~mlnating film, or they can remain on the film in order
to ensure a uniforrn thickness of the film 23 across the entire width and
length thereof, at 113ast prior to a laminating process.
The lamir~~ting film 23 is conducted around a wedge-shaped
blade 40, where tine laminating film 23 turns sharply in order to make it
possible to removy~ the protective film 24 from the laminating film 23 so
that one side of tine adhesive film 25 is exposed for adhering with the
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LRer81 Trnal of PCTIEPOOJL!i5439 filed 14 June 2000 - Ulrich Spser et al -
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optical data carri~u r 6. The removal of the protective film 24 is best
seen in Figure 3. Once removed, the protective film 24 is rolled onto a
roller (not shown (n greater detail). An alternative type of film removal
device could also he used instead of the wedge-shaped blade 40.
Once the I:~minating film 23 has been conducted around the
blade 40, it is conducted around the roller 33 that is lower with respect
to a horizontal and that is embodied as a pressure roller. After the
roller 33, the laminating film 23 is conducted about the shaft 34, which
is driven via a ma~l~ar 42.
Rotation of the driven roller 34 causes corresponding rotation of
the pressure rolletr 33 and a downstream roller 35 that is embodied
purely as a guide roller.
The laminsd:ing station 7 has a first sensor 45 that is associated
with the driven rr~ller 34 and that is able to detect contours in the
punched'sectlons 27 of the adhesive film 25. The laminating film 23 is
moved back and forth In the longitudinal direction via the driven roller
34 until the senator 45 detects a certain contour of the punched
sections 27, such as for instance a punched center hole. When the
sensor 45 deteatr~ the center hole, it is positioned directly over one
edge of the cent~!r hole by the movement of the film, this resulting in
precise alignment of the section 27 with respect to the roller 34 and in
particular the pr~:ssure roller 33 in the longitudinal direction of the
laminating film 23.
Literal Trnal of PCTIEP0011: 55439 tiled 14 June 2000 - Uliich Speer et al -
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The laminae;ing station 7 furthermore has a support and transport
unit 47 for the dlata carrier 6 to be laminated. The support and
transport unit 47 9'«rms a horizontal support for the data carrier 6 and
can be moved in any direction via suitable moving apparatus (not
shown in greater ~~etail). A lowerable centering pin 48 ensures precise
alignment of the ~Jata carrier 6 on the support and transport unit 47.
The pin 48 can b~~~ lowered during the laminating process so that it is
not impaired. This is achieved in that it is pressed upward into the
position shown in Figure 3 by a spring with relatively limited spring
force. When pre~n~ure is exerted on the pin from above, it is pressed
downward against. the spring force. Alternatively, the pin can be
moved via a cylincler or motor.
Prior to th~r lamination of the data carrier 6, the transport and
support unit 47 is moved in the X direction, which corresponds to the
longitudinal direction of the laminating film 23, against a stop. This
ensures that the substrate 6 and the section 27 of the adhesive film 25
previously alignel. in the longitudinal direction are aligned to one
another. Then this transport and support unit 47 is moved back and
forth in the Z direction, which runs transverse to the longitudinal
direction of the laminating film 23. A sensor pair 50 allocated to the
transport and su~~~~ort unit 47 detects a contour, such as for instance
the contour of a c~rnter hole, of the punched section 27 of the adhesive
film 25, which maE;es it possible to laterally align the data carrier 6 with
respect to the secYlon 27.
Literal Trnsl of PCT/EP00/(:95439 fll~d 14 June 2000 - UIrIch Spoor et al -
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Once the Bata carrier 6 has been aligned in the above manner
both in the X direction and in the Z direction with respect to the section
27 of the adhesiv~Ei film 25, the transport and support unit 47 is raised in
the Y direction. Plow the motor 42 drives the roller 34, which causes
the laminating film 23 tp move in the X direction. At the same time and
synchronized witln the rotation, the transport and support unit 47 is
moved in the X direction. The section 27 comes into contact with the
surface of the ~tata carrier 6 to be protected and is pressed
thereagainst by the pressure roller 33 such that it adheres to the data
carrier 6 and detaches from the carrier film 26. The synchronized
movement of the drive roller 34 with the transport and support unit 47
applies a section 27 of the adhesive film 25 centered on the data
carrier 6 so that tine section 27 of the film 25 completely covers the side
of the data carrin~r 6 to be protected and does not project over the
edge_ The pre:C.sure of the pressure roller in the Y direction is
controlled via the position of the transport and support unit 47 in order
to control the ad r~esion properties of the pressure sensitive adhesive
film 25. Alternati~~ely, of course, the pressure roller 33 can move in the
direction of the transport and support unit. A spring-type suspension
system can be provided for good control or compensation of the
pressure. The s4iapension can be provided via a spring or compressed
air cylinder.
Then the xiata carrier 6 thus provided with the section 27 of
adhesive film 25 ~i; conveyed via the handling apparatus 8, which has,
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lltpral'frnsl of PCTfEPOO~I~Sb438 filed i4 Jur~p 2000 - Ulrich Speer et al -
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for example, an interior hole gripper, removed from the transport and
support unit 47, and conveyed to the second laminating station 9.
A new date carrier 6 is loaded onto the transport and support
unit 47 of the la~t7inating station 7, and the process is repeated. As
was mentioned in the foregoing, the rollers 22 and 26 rotate
continuously durihg the entire process, although the adhering process
is discontinuous. The longitudinal compensation of the laminating film
23 that is therefor~:r necessary is achieved via a horizontal movement of
the compensatin~~ rollers 37 and 37, as already mentioned in the
foregoing.
The secorn,.l laminating station 9 has the same construction as
does the first lam hating station 7, and the second laminating station 9
will therefore not be described in any detail. The laminating film utilized
in the second laminating station essentially has the same arrangement
~i 5 as does the laminating film 23, with the exception that instead of the
adhesive film 25 r;i protective or covering film, in particular a PC tape, is
provided.
Although the laminating film has three layers in accordance with
the description iri the foregoing, namely a protective film '24, an
adhesive/cov~rin~) film 25, and a carrier film 26, it should be noted that
it is not absolut~tly necessary for there to b~ a protective film 24.
However, if no prh~tective film 24 is used, at least the rollers 30 and 32
should be specially coated in order to prevent the then exposed
-, x-
Litaral Trnsl of PCT/EP00/C'i5439 tilod 14 Jun~ 2000 - Ulrich Spoer of al -
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adhesive-coverin~l film 25 from adhering to or being damaged by these
rollers.
Alternatively, the guide rollers up to th~ roller 33 can be emitted,
whereby in this c~ise the rollers 22 and 28 must be controlled such that
the sections 27 are aligned and a movement of the laminating film 23 is
achieved synchrc~;~ized with the transport and support unit 47.
In addition, a single sensor, such as for instance a camera, cart
be used for the ~~bove alignment processes instead of the sensors 45
and 50.
Figure 4 ;shows a schematic side view of an inventive data
carrier 6 that wael manufactured in the previously described manner.
The data carrier tras a PC disk having a thickness of approximately 1.'1
mm. The PC dislt has a data-carrying surface C2 upon which is applied
the adhesive film 25, as described previously. The adhesive film 25 is
95 formed by an adhesive layer having a thickness of approximately 25
Nm. Provided on the adhesive film is the PC tape 64, which was
laminated on in t~~e previously described manner. The PC tape 64 has
a thickness of Apia roximately 75 pm. As a result of the PC tape B4, the
data carrier obtains the repuired optical characteristics for a DVR. The
data carrier can, f~~r example, be disposed, in the manner of a diskette,
within a housing that surrounds it, thereby significantly reducing the
mechanical requir~3ments placed upon the coating.
The present invention was previously described with the aid of
pr~ferred exempl~aiy embodiments of the inv~ntion, without, however,
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Ltt~ral Trnsl of PCTIEPOOlr~55439 flied 14 June 2000 - Ulrlch Sp~er at al -
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b~ing limited to th~:~se special embodiments. In particular, the invention
is not limited to this preciously mentioned materials and dimensions.
.14.
Llt~rai Trnol of PCYIEPOOIC~5bd39 filod 14 June 2000 - Uklch 5peer et al ~
STEAL HamaToch AG
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