AU5786901A - Apparatus for and method of applying a self-adhesive label on a disk-shaped object - Google Patents

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Dynosys AG Edwin Schwaller and Andre Schwaller BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS 60 MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 CCN: 3710000352 'APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING A SELF- ADHESIVE LABEL ON A DISK-SHAPED OBJECT' Invention Title: Details of Original Application No. 78899/98 dated 30 Dec 1997 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 32621AUP00 la- APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING A SELF-ADHESIVE LABEL ON A DISK-SHAPED OBJECT The invention relates to an apparatus for the application or placement of a selfadhesive label onto a disk-shaped object, particularly a compact disk, in accordance with the introductory clause of claim 1. The invention further relates to a label adaptedly structured commensurate with the apparatus, in accordance with the introductory clause of claim 10. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of operating the apparatus according to the invention.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

From the published PCT-Intemational Application No. WO 96/05057 there is known an apparatus for best possible centric placement of a self-adhesive label onto a compact disk. A centered adhesive application of a label upon a compact disk, also known as a CD, is extremely important for technical reasons. A CD rotates during the reading process at a very high reading rate. If the CD is unbalanced, the thereby caused eccentrically acting forces are imparted to the reading device, particularly to the mechanical parts and the reading head, which results in premature wear or even damage or breakage of the reader. Therefore, the adhesive label must be applied or affixed onto the compact disk in an exact as ever possible centric position. The known apparatus of the aforementioned prior art has the disadvantage in that it consists of several single components which have to be manually assembled and guided in a determinate consecutive sequence. On the one hand, this renders difficult an exact centering of the label with respect to the compact disk and, on the other hand, this reveals problems while -2holding the several single components, because the sticky surface of the positioned adhesive label renders it practically impossible to detach the fingers without shifting the label off-center. A further disadvantage is seen in the fact that, subsequent to detaching the carrier foil and during the placement on the device, the label arches, bends up in dead center and is thus not arranged to be layed totally flat. Furthermore, it is quite conceivable that the manually guided CD is placed in a position slightly canted or tilted with respect to the adhesive label, so that, for instance, air bubbles locked between the CD and the label can build up, or the label is affixed eccentrically with respect to the CD.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a compound label for the identification of a compact disk, the label comprising a planiform flexible carrier material as well as at least one label for a compact disk, said label being detachably adhered to the carrier material, and comprising a particularly circular recess, whereby the 15 carrier material comprises cuts or rated break lines which extend in the circumferential direction of the label and protrude at least section-wise beyond a peripheral border of the label.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the **claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

The adhesive label can be structured to be inscribable and, for example, can consist of paper. The label is printable or rather inscribable particularly by means of an ink-jet printer or by means of a laser printer. The surface of a compact disk can be also directly -3printed, for example, by means of an ink-jet printer, whereby the used color is normally water-soluble. Under the term 'label' of the compound label of the present invention, there is also to be understood a transparent lamination sheet for covering the compactdisk surface, whereby this transparent lamination particularly serves the purpose of protecting the water-soluble color deposited on the compact disk. Such a transparentlamination label can be designed to be very thin or to have a high finish or gloss.

Particularly for such a label it is of paramount importance that, in the course of placing the adhesive label onto the compact disk, no contact with fingers of the operator takes place. By virtue of the construction of the inventive compound label, such contact with the fingers of the operator is quite impossible.

An advantage of the compound label in accordance with the invention is seen in that the carrier material protruding partially beyond the peripheral edge or border of the label renders possible a simple insertion of the compound label into the apparatus *according to the invention, and in that subsequent to insertion the carrier material can be 15 simply grasped and peeled off from the label, so that the label is held by the apparatus according to the invention in a defined position and that during peel-off no contact between the sticky surface of the label and the operator's fingers takes place.

Advantageously, at least in a preferred form, the present invention may provide a new and improved apparatus for applying a self-adhesive label onto a disk-shaped object, particularly a compact disk, which apparatus renders possible a simple, centered and reliably reproducible placement of the adhesive label.

In other forms, the invention may provide a new and improved adhesive label for a compact disk, which label is adapted to the apparatus according to the invention and renders possible a simple and dependable application thereof onto the compact disk.

-4- An advantage of the apparatus according to preferred forms of the invention is seen in that, in the open position, the compact disk is readily and conveniently insertable in a position determined by the second housing part, and in that the self-adhesive label together with the carrier foil and/or grip tabs thereof is readily and conveniently insertable and positionable in a position determined by the first housing part.

Subsequent to the insertion into the first housing part, the carrier foil of the adhesive label is detached or peeled off, whereby the label is securely located by said first housing part, so that there is hardly any hazard or risk that the fingers of the operator can come into contact with the bare sticky surface of the adhesive label. By way of example, the two housing parts are connected with each other to swivel about a common swivel axis, so that in a simple manner the housing parts can be foldingly brought into a closed position, after which the compact disk and the adhesive label are arranged and aligned opposite one another. In this position there is exerted, particularly upon the center of the second housing part or rather upon a control button arranged thereat, a light force 15 directed toward the first housing part, so that the two housing parts or rather the two locating devices draw closer to one another and the compact disk thereby comes to lie on the adhesive label, the latter thus being affixed.

o* In a further advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, ~the adhesive label and the compact disk in the closed position are arranged to be accurately mutually centered. During the closing travel into the closed position, the mutual centering takes place automatically, so that the adhesive label and the compact disk in their closed position are arranged to be superimposedly centered and now only have to be moved for mutual contact by means of a slight pressing movement. Selfadhesive labels can be thus exactly centrically affixed to compact disks or other diskshaped objects.

The mutual or interdependent centering of the two housing parts or rather of the two locating devices has the further advantage in that the apparatus according to the invention renders possible exact centering of the adhesive label relative to the compact disk even then, when the component parts, for instance, on the basis of process or work tolerances, are shaped slightly differently. Mutual centering thus also exercises a tolerance-compensation function. An advantage is obvious in that the component parts with low tolerance requirements can be cost-effectively fabricated. By virtue of the relatively low tolerance requirements, the apparatus according to the invention consisting of several component parts is also relatively simple and economical to assemble.

The two housing parts can be brought by means of translational motion and/or rotatory motion into a position for mutually centering the label and the disk-shaped object. In a preferred exemplary embodiment the two housing parts are mounted to be set in motion about a common swivel axis.

In an advantageous embodiment the first housing part comprises a flat supporting surface for a label or rather for a compound label, so that the latter in a first step is layed upon the flat supporting surface and thereafter the carrier foil and/or the grip tabs are "peeled off, so that the self-adhesive surface of the label comes to lie on top without causing, during the peel-off of the carrier foil and/or of the grip tabs, finger marks and the like on the self-adhesive surface. Since the fingers of the operator do not become sticky, there is ensured that, upon removal of the CD from the second housing part, no sticky finger prints will be transferred onto the CD-surface readable by the laser. Later on such finger prints would impair reliable reading of the stored data or information. In -6a further advantageous embodiment the first housing part comprises a spigot with spring elements allotedly arranged at the circumference, which elements retain the label along the inner circle, such that an arching of the label is precluded and, moreover, dimensional tolerances of the inner circle of the labels or of the spigot are correctively compensated. In yet a further advantageous embodiment of the apparatus, the spigot is floatingly retained or mounted in the first housing part and is centered during the folding of the two housing parts by a guiding element arranged at the second housing part, so that the label is accurately centered and arranged opposite the compact disk irrespective of possible differing dimensional tolerances of the two housing parts as well as of the spigot.

Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for the placement of a selfadhesive label onto a disk-shaped object, especially a compact disk, comprising a first housing part provided with a locating device for the label as well as a second housing o* a part comprising a locating device for the disk-shaped object, whereby the housing parts 15 are movably connected with each other, particularly for swivelling or translational motion, and conveyable from an open position into a closed position such that, in said closed position, the locating devices are placed in a position arranged to face one another, and that in said closed position at least one of the two locating devices is 0 movably arranged in the respective housing part to travel in the direction toward the opposite locating device, in order to bring the disk-shaped object into contact with the adhesive label.

The invention will be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein: -7- Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an apparatus for the placement of a selfadhesive label on a CD; Figure 2a shows a bottom perspective semi-plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 2b shows a top perspective semi-plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section through the apparatus depicted in the closed position or rather in the locked position thereof; Figure 4a shows a perspective view of the apparatus in the closed position; Figure 4b shows a perspective view of the apparatus in a half-open position; Figure 4c shows a perspective view of the apparatus in the open position; Figure 5 shows a lateral exploded view of the apparatus in the half-open position; Figures 6a, 6b show perspective views of a locating device structured as a spigot; Figures 7a, 7b show perspective views of a further embodiment of an actuating device; 0. Figure 8a shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a second housing part; Figure 8b shows a longitudinal section through yet a further embodiment of the S" "second housing part; Figures 9a, 9b, 9c show perspective and plan views of a compound label structured as an inscribable sheet; Figures 9d, 9e show a plan view of the two sides of an extracted adhesive label; Figures 10 a, 10b and 1 Oc show perspective and plan views of a further embodiment of a compound label structured as an inscribable sheet; and -8- Figures 1 la, 1 lb show a further embodiment of a compound label.

Figure 1 shows in an exploded view individual component parts of an apparatus 1 for the accurate centric placement or application of a self-adhesive label 12e onto a diskshaped object 11 structured as a compact disk 1 la. A first housing part 2 is structured as a housing bottom and comprises a flat circular supporting surface 2b for the selfadhesive label 12e as depicted in Figure 2b. In the center of this supporting surface 2b there is provided a recess 2d for receiving a locating device 4. The first housing part 2 comprises two oppositely arranged recessed 2c which, on the one hand, serve as holders for the fingers of an operator in order to conveniently manipulate the apparatus 1 and, on the other hand, to make the adhesive label 12e readily accessible. The locating device 4 for the label 12e is structured in the depicted embodiment as a spigot 4f which, at the circumference thereof, comprises as least two, preferably three or even more, spring elements 4a which, as shown in Figure 2b, are in interaction with the inside or inner circle of the self-adhesive label 12e or rather of the compound label 12.

15 The spigot 4f is by virtue of detent noses 4c retained to be vertically slidable in guide apertures 4e of the first housing part 2, whereby the spigot 4f is detained upwardly prestressed by means of a spiral spring 4b, which is held centered relative to the recess 2d by means of a nose 2a (Figure The diameter of such recess 2d is structured slightly larger than the outer diameter of the spigot 4f, so that the latter is floatingly located in the recess 2d of the first housing part 2, such float mounting being relative to the direction extending axially with respect to the spigot 4f as well as relative to a direction extending radially with respect to the spigot 4f. The spring elements 4a are close-lying at the wall of the recess 2d. When the label 12e is placed and thereby slips -9over the spring elements 4a, the latter are slightly stressed to the inside by the inner circle 12k of the label 12e.

A second housing part 3 is firmly connected to the first housing part 2 by means of hinges 10 forming a common swivel axis C. This second housing part 3 comprises a locating device 3b for the purpose of keeping the compact disk 1 la in a position or place which extends concentrically and perpendicularly to a first axis A which is the axis of the first housing part 2. The locating device 3b is structured as a snap-connection device consisting of eight individual spring legs or struts and generally known in the art for compact disks. Moreover, this locating device 3b is connected with the other or remaining part of the second housing part or cover 3 by means of a resilient membrane arrangement 3a. Furthermore, there is illustrated an actuating device 5 including spring flexible tongues 5a, hold-down noses 5band a cylinder-shaped centering plug 5c. Both housing parts 2 and 3 have interlocking parts 7a and 7b provided on the side remote from the swivel axis C. Part 7b is a locking nose into which the recess 7a engages in the locked position of the apparatus. Such locked position is effected in that, when both housing parts 2 and 3 are superposedly arranged in the closed position, a locking component 7d is manually lightly pressed toward the bottom of the first housing part 2, o.

thereby locking said locking nose 7b with the recess 7a. A further recess 7c is provided in the first housing part 2, so that the locking component 7d can be pulled to the outside by using a finger, thereby unlatching the locked position.

In the perspective bottom semi-plan view of Figure 2a, there is shown the engagement of one of the detent noses 4c into the guide aperture 2e of the recess 2d, whereby such guide aperture 2e tolerates a limited movement of the locating device 4 in the extensional direction of the guide aperture 2e. The actuating device 5 is structured as a push-button which is shaped and arranged to extend along the contour of the second housing part 3.

Figure 2b shows a perspective top semi-plan view of the apparatus 1 according to the invention. The label 12e is placed, glued side up, upon the supporting surface 2b of the first housing part 2. The locating device 4 structured as the spigot 4f tenters the inner or inside circle of the adhesive label 12e by means of the spring elements 4a and thereby picks up the dimensional tolerances of the inner or inside circle. Such label 12e is held by the spigot 4f to extend concentrically and perpendicularly with respect to the axis A of the first housing part 2. Such spigot 4f is positioned to be slightly movable in the radial direction relative to the axis A. In the second housing part 3, the compact disk 1 la is held by the locating device 3b in a position extending concentrically and perpendicularly relative to a second axis B which is the axis of the second housing part 3. During sluing travel of the second housing part 3, actually the housing cover, about the swivel axis C, the two locating devices 3b and 4 are brought nearer and nearer together, such that these locating devices 3b and 4 are arranged with said housing cover closed in a position facing one another. This position can be also designated as the closed position. When the second housing part 3 is almost closed, the cylindershaped centering plug 5c moves into engagement with a centering recess 4g of the spigot 4f (Figure 6b), whereby the latter if need be is slightly displaced radially with respect to the first axis A, so that the first axis A and the second axis B extend congruently, such that the compact disk 11 a and the adhesive label 12e extend exactly concentrically and superimposedly aligned.

Figure 3 illustrates an axial section of the apparatus 1 in the locked position thereof. Locking means 7 are closed in this position. However, the closed position of 11the apparatus 1 will be also discussed in conjunction with Figure 3. Such closed position differs from the locked position in that the locking means 7 are open. These locking means 7 are structured such that, in the case of the normal closed position, the locking means do not automatically lock. On the contrary, they remain open such that subsequent to reaching the closed position without actuation of the locking means the apparatus 1 can be brought back to the open position. However, the apparatus 1 transferred to the closed position can be brought into the locked position by manually actuating the locking means 7 in such a manner, that these locking means lock the apparatus 1 as depicted in Figure 3. To simplify the showing of the latter, the compact disk 1 la as well as the label 12e are not included in the apparatus illustrated in Figure 3.

The locating device 4 structured as the spigot 4f has a determinate maximum stroke s which is determined by the guide aperture 2e. The resilient membrane arrangement 3a in the mid-portion of the second housing part or cover 3 is connected in the inner area to the locating device 3b and in the outer area to the cover of the arched second housing S o15 part 3. The actuating device 5 structured as a press-button is movable within the second housing part 3 in the direction of the second axis B. Shortly before the second housing part 3 is completely closed or rather in the closed position, the cylinder-shaped centering plug 5c moves into engagement with the centering recess 4g of the spigot 4f, so that the °-**radial position of the latter is, if need be, corrected such that the first axis A and the second axis B assume a congruent course. The radial position of the label 12e held by the locating device 4 is thereby accordingly altered. The section of the cylinder-shaped centering plug 5c penetrating the spigot 4f can be structured to be partially cone-shaped.

After the second housing part 3 is brought into the closed position, the compact disk 11 a and the adhesive label 12e are still interspaced in the direction of the axes A and B. By -12lightly pressing the second housing part 3 in said direction, the latter glides in said direction to the first housing part 2, whereby a spring tension builds up. With the pressbutton 5 released, such spring tension allows the latter to glide back to the initial or home position. As a result of the displacement of the actuating device 5 in the direction of the first housing part 2, the cylinder-shaped centering plug 5c penetrates further into the spigot 4f, whereby the inner edge of the compact disk 11 a comes to rest upon the spigot 4f and, during further lowering of the press-button 5, presses down the spigot 4f until the CD lies planar upon the adhesive label 12e resting on the supporting surface 2b, so that the adhesive label 12e is affixed to the CD in a concentric position relative to the latter. During this process, the two spring elements 4a close-lying against the inner circle of the adhesive label 12e likewise glide downwardly, so that the adhesive label 12e lies planar, also in the area of the inner circle, upon the supporting surface 2b, thereby ensuring that the label 12e during the contact stage lies absolutely flat with respect to the S•CD. The compact disk 1 la extending concentrically relatively to the adhesive label 12e as well as parallel to the adhesive label 12e is thus placed upon the latter, so that the adhesive label 12e is affixed in the desired, precisely defined and recursively reproduceable position. Subsequent to the glueing process, the press-button 5 is

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released, whereupon the latter retracts to the initial position by virtue of the aforesaid *spring tension. After that, the second housing part 3 is swivelled back to the open So..

position, so that the compact disk 11 a retained in the locating device 3b can be taken out.

S"The Figures 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate different positions of the two housing parts 2 and 3. Figure 4a shows the apparatus 1 in the closed position, Figure 4b shows the halfopen apparatus 1 and Figure 4c shows the apparatus 1 in the fully open position. In this position, the compact disk la is expediently removed, the new compact disk Il a -13inserted in the second housing part 3, and the new label 12e placed in the first housing part 2. The closed position shown in Figure 4a can be conveyed into the locked position in that the locking means 7 are actuated such that, as shown in Figure 3, the locking component 7d moves into engagement with the locking nose 7b. Subsequent to ending labelling work, the apparatus 1 is locked in such a manner that the apparatus can be compactly stored and the interior space is kept dustfree. In order to store or stack the apparatus, the first housing part 2 should be firmly locked with the second housing part 3. Without interlocking, the cylinder-shaped centering plug 5c would permanently press the second housing part 3 upwards because of the tension force of the spiral spring 4b and thereby keep the second housing part 3 in a slightly open position, such that the apparatus 1 would not be compactly storeable and the interior space thereof will not remain dustfree. To unlock the apparatus 1, the locking means 7 must be again released.

In the embodiment depicted in Figure 3, such disengagement is effected by pulling out the locking component 7d by means of a finger or finger-nail, thereby releasing the connection to the locking nose 7b.

.In Figure 5 there is shown a lateral exploded view of the apparatus 1, whereby the locating device 4 and the spiral spring 4b are arranged in the direction of the first axis A.

The first housing part 2 and the second housing part 3 are swivelled about the common swivel axis C, the swivel angle a in this case being 900.

The figures 6a and 6b each show a perspective view of the locating device 4 structured as the spigot 4f. On the bottom side of the locating device 4 according to Figure 6a there is provided a centering component 4d including four spring-tension ribs 4h which extend in the axial direction of the first axis A, such ribs 4h being provided for the spiral spring 4b. Furthermore, in the center of the spigot 4f there is provided the -14centering recess 4g including four guide elements 4e extending in the axial direction of the first axis A and uniformly distributed across the recess circumference, these guide elements 4e being provided to interact with the cylinder-shaped centering plug Figure 8a shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the second housing part 3 including the hinges 10 and the locking means 7. This second housing part 3 is rigidly structured and has in the center a circular recess 3c with four flange segments 3d which extend in the circumferential direction and which are tapered toward the respective free ends thereof. According to the showing of Figure 8a, the second housing part 3 comprises an adaptedly structured actuating press-button 5 shown in detail in the Figures 7a and 7b. This press-button 5 comprises a plurality of spring legs or struts evenly or uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction, which spring legs or struts 5d are close-lying at the flange segments 3d when the press-button 5 is inserted in the second housing part or cover 3. When the press-button 5 is pressed in in the axial direction of the second axis B, the resiliently structured spring legs or struts 5d deform under strain along the rigidly structured flange segments 3d, this producing a force acting 4*.

in the opposite direction relative to the actuating direction. Subsequent to releasing the push-button 5, the spring legs or struts 5d are relieved and the push-button returns to the initial position thereof. The push-button 5 is connected with the second housing part 3 by means of four holder elements 5e which comprise respective retainer noses 5h evenly distributed at the circumference, whereby these holder elements 5e are arranged in the spacings of the flange segments 3d. The push-button 5 comprises a locating device for the compact disk 1 la, in which six spring flexible tongues 5g including respective retainer noses 5h are provided, whereby the push-button 5 comprises in addition a supporting element 5f which, on the one hand, serves to brace the push-button 5 and, on the other hand, forms a supporting surface for the compact disk 1 la, so that the CD in connection with the retainer noses 5h is reliably and removably retained. Furthermore, this push-button 5 is provided with the cylinder-shaped centering plug 5c which, as hereinbefore described, serves to mutually center the adhesive label 12e with the compact disk 1 la. As an alternative to the spring legs or struts 5d, there can be also provided a spiral spring located in the push-button 5 and cooperating with the second housing part 3, in order to produce the restoring force. The housing parts 2 and 3 as well as the push-button 5 are preferably made of a plastics material, for instance, a thermoplast.

Figure 8b shows a longitudinal section through a second housing part 3 which, with the exception of the locking means 7, is identical with the second housing part 3 depicted in Figure 8a. The locking means 7 depicted in Figure 8b comprise the locking nose 7b which can engage with an opening located in the first housing part 2 when the o housing part 3 is to be locked with the housing part 2. The locking means 7 comprise an o 15 operating lever 7c in order to engage the locking nose 7b with the not particularly 6 0. illustrated recess and thereby to lock the second housing part 3 with the first housing 2 or to unlock the second housing part 3 from the first housing part 2.

a In the first housing part 2 or in the second housing part 3 there can be arranged a counting device, preferably without a battery, and which is operated with a solar cell or by piezoelectronic means, generates an impulse upon closing the housing parts 2 and 3, adds such impulse and visually indicates the latter in a display, for instance, in a numeric representation, so that at any time a reading can be taken to determine how many compact disks have been provided with a label. This electronic device comprises an onoff switch as well as a reset key. Furthermore, there could be provided a limit allowance -16as well a signal transmitter triggering a visual or audible signal when such limit is reached, thereby indicating that the limited number of compact disks have been each provided with a label.

The apparatus 1 according to the invention to place a self-adhesive label 12e requires an adaptedly structured compound label 12 which, on the one hand, is readily inscribable or rather printable either manually or with commercially available printer means such as a laser printer or an ink-jet printer and which, on the other hand, can be readily placed or inserted in the apparatus 1 according to the invention and, in particular, excludes any contact of the sticky surface of the adhesive label with the fingers of the operator.

Figure 9c shows a plan view of a compound label 12 adapted to the apparatus 1 according to the invention and structured as an inscribable sheet 12n. A label 12e for a compact disk is punched into the compound label 12. Such compound label 12 mm :.comprises a carrier material 12a (Figure 9a) structured as a carrier foil, an inscribable 15 label material 12i shown in Figure 9b and a not particularly illustrated adhesive which is uniformly, two-dimensionally distributed between the carrier foil 12a and the label material 12i. This label material 12i comprises a free-punched label 12e, a free-punched inner surface 12g with inner circle 12k, as well as two oppositely arranged free-punched grip tabs 12h which are adjacent relative to the label 12e and jutting out in radial direction. At least the surface 12f of the label 12e is inscribable with printing means, whereby the label material 12i as well as the carrier material 12a are structured planiform and flexible, so that the surface beyond an outer circle 120 of the label 12e is inscribable, in order to make sure that the entire surface 12f of the label 12e is inscribable and does not have any uninscribable margins. The flexible structure renders possible a deflection -17of the compound label 12, as is required, for instance, in a laser printer. The carrier foil 12a is structured commensurate with the label material 12i and comprises two punched carrier-foil parts 12b, which are free-punched with the exception of two holding bridges in each case. These cuts 12m, not totally free-punched, could be also structured as predetermined or rated break lines 12m in that such break lines comprise a perforation.

The cut 12m or rather the rated break line 12m thereby extends section-wise in the circumferential direction of the label 12e and jutting out beyond the peripheral edge 120.

From the plan view of the compound label 12 in Figure 9c there can be seen the mutual arrangement of the label material 12i relative to the carrier foil 12a arranged therebelow.

The cuts or rather the rated break lines 12m depicted by broken or dotted lines form a roundabout delimitation of the carrier tabs 12b, whereby the grip tabs 12h consisting of label material 12i and the carrier tabs 12b are mutually arranged such that the carrier tab g :412b lies partially on the grip tab 12h and partially on the label 12e. The carrier-foil part :o *12b shown by a broken line connects the label 12e with the grip tab 12h, whereby the contour of the portion of the carrier-foil part 12b beneath the grip tab 12h is slightly smaller than the contour of the latter, so that the outer edge or border of the grip tab 12h See"°i sticks to the surrounding carrier foil 12a. By virtue of this structure there is ensured that, o when printing the label 12e, particularly when the sheet 12n is guided about a deflection

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pulley in a printer, the grip tabs 12h do not work loose and stand up. An inscribed or printed label 12e is easily detached from the sheet 12n in that the grip tabs 12h are

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pressed upwards from below relative to the showing in Figure 9c, whereupon the holding 5 ego* bridges 12c break, and the label 12e can be detached from the sheet 12n. The selfadhesive surface of the label 12e thus lies, with the exception of the carrier foil parts 12b, free and separated from the carrier foil 12a. The adhesive label 12e, held face-and- -18back at the two grip tabs 12h and with the sticky side up, is passed over the spigot 4f of the first housing part 2 of the apparatus 1 and placed flat upon the supporting surface 2b.

The label 12e is located such that the grip tabs 12h protrude in the area of the respective recesses 2c and are readily accessible. The grip tabs 12h together with the remaining carrier-foil part 12b are thereafter detached from the label 12e by a cant-off movement and then easily peeled off, so that the label 12e, as shown in Figure 2b, lies in the apparatus 1 with the inscribed surface 12f down and the sticky side up. The operator's fingers thus have no contact whatsoever with the sticky or adhesive side of the label 12e.

Each such label 12e is thus clean and can be affixed without traces of finger marks.

Furthermore, there are no more or less sticky fingers that could soil the inscribed compact disk when the latter is taken out, whereby, in particular, the laser-readable CD- •side is very sensitive with respect to such soiling. The apparatus 1 according to the invention in combination with the adaptedly structured sheet 12n with the compound labels 12 make it possible to inscribe a multitude of compact disks with accurately centered and clean labels 12e.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the compound label 12 illustrated in Figures 9a, 9b and 9c has no holding bridges 12c and thus, relative to the carrier foil 12a, totally free-punched carrier-foil part 12b. Such carrier-foil part thus comprises a continuous or traversing cut 12m. Therefore, the label 12e can be very easily detached 20 from the carrier material 12a, in that one of the two grip tabs 12h is gripped and pulled up. The carrier-foil part 12b adhering to the grip tab 12h follows this draw-up movement and yanks off the label 12e in the course of the succeeding movement, whereby towards the end of the peel-off process the opposite carrier-foil part 12b is detached and, after that, the grip tabs 12h sticking thereon are drawn off, so that the label -19- 12e detached from the carrier foil 12a similar as shown in Figures 9d and 9e is available to be placed in the apparatus 1 according to the invention.

The Figure 9e shows a further embodiment of a label 12e separated from the sheet 12n or rather from the compound label 12, with a top view upon the adhesive side 122 and the two carrier-foil parts 12b, which retain the grip tabs 12h. The Figure 9d shows a plan view of the label 12e of the compound label 12 shown in Figure 9e and having an inscribable surface 12f and grip tabs 12h. The adhesive label 12e can be fabricated from a multitude of inscribable materials, particularly paper or foil-like plastics, for example, a transparent foil or a laminated metal foil. On the label 12e, there can be applied a safety or redundant code, for example, with inscription means that become visible solely with infrared light. This allows, for example, the identification of the label 12e with a S.grade or quality mark of the manufacturer or renders possible a proof of originality for S special users. Safety codes can be provided in different, already known manner. The *...label 12e is inscribable with signs. However, it can be also printed with an illustration or with graphics, or provided with a machine-readable identification such as, for example, a .ooooi bar code.

The apparatus 1 according to the invention allows furthermore the arrangement of other objects between the label 12e and the disk-shaped object 11, particularly the compact disk 1 la. After placing the adhesive label 12e upon the supporting surface 2b, a further object, for instance a magnetic stripe, could be placed on the adhesive side 12f and thereafter the compact disk 1 la can be glued together with the label 12e, so that the magnetic stripe is firmly glued between the label and the CD. This magnetic stripe is preferably circular and likewise centrically arranged with respect to the rotational axis of the compact disk. On such a magnetic stripe, there can be stored further accessory or additional information or then, for example, a safety code.

The Figures 10a, 10b and 10c depict a further embodiment of a compound label 12 structured as an inscribable sheet 12n. Figure 10a shows the carrier material 12a structured as a carrier foil, such carrier material comprising a punching realised as a cut 12m or a rated break line 12m, so that two carrier-foil parts 12d with respective protruding grip tabs 12b are punched out. Figure 10b shows the label material 12i from which a label 12e is punched out. Figure 10c shows a plan view of the compound label 12 structured as the sheet 12n and as provided for printing. The cuts 12m or rather the rated break lines 12m of the carrier foil 12d, 12a, such cuts or break lines being underneath and represented mainly by circular broken lines, comprise a slightly larger radius protruding beyond the peripheral edge of the label 12e, so that the sheet 12n is held together with the label 12e, the carrier foil 12a as well as the carrier-foil parts 12d.

Subsequent to the printing of the label 12e, the inner surface 12g is pressed out, whereby S. the inner circle of the carrier-foil parts 12d as well as the inner circle 12k of the label 12e ••ooo comprise, for better detaching, a cut 12m or rather a pre-determined break line 12m structured as a microperforation. The inner circle of the carrier-foil parts 12d as well as the inner circle 12k of the label 12e can be arranged and structured to be congruent or, as shown in Figure lOc, can have different radii. The label 12e can be detached from the 20 sheet 12n together with the carrier-foil parts 12d and then drawn over the locating device 4 of the apparatus 1 and placed extending flat upon the supporting surface 2b.

Thereafter, the protruding carrier-foil part 12b of one of the carrier-foil parts 12d is seized and drawn off and, thereafter, the protruding carrier-foil part 12b of the other carrier-foil part 12d is seized and drawn off, so that the sticky side is bare and the two -21housing parts 2 and 3 can be brought into the closed position thereof The sheet 12n can be provided in a standard size, for example, in format A4 or Figure 1 la shows a plan view of the adhesive label 12e of a further embodiment of a compound label 12. The carrier material structured as the carrier-foil part 12d has a slightly larger radius than the label 12e and therefore protrudes in the radial direction relative to the label 12e. The respective cut or trim line 12m extends concentrically relative to the label 12e. The carrier-foil 12d comprises a cut 12m or rather a rated break line 12m extending in the radial direction. In Figure 11 a, this cut or break line is underneath the label and accordingly depicted by a broken line.

Figure 1 lb shows a plan view of the carrier foil 12d of the adhesive label 12e depicted in Figure 1 la. This compound label 12 in the position depicted in Figure 1 lb is S: drawn over the locating device 4 of the apparatus 1 and placed upon the supporting surface 2b. After that, the carrier-foil part 12d protruding in the radial direction is lifted o..

in the area of the radially extending cut or break line 12m, and then totally detached from the label 12e by means of a circular wave of the hand, so that the sticky or adhesive side .:oooi is now bare. In a preferred embodiment, the depicted compound label 12 has no longer an inner surface 12g, because this centre portion is already entirely punched out in the course of fabrication. The compound label 12 according to Figures lla and 1lb is particularly suitable to be manually inscribed, in order to provide in simple manner an 20 inscription for a compact disk, for instance, comparable to a label for a computer diskette. The compound label 12 shown in Figures 1 la and 1 lb could also have an inner surface 12g which, for example, is connected by a perforation with the carrier foil part 12d or is held at the latter by means of a part of the label 12e.

-22- In a further embodiment, the compound label 12 (Figures 9a, 9b and 9c) could be structured with carrier material 12a without cuts 12m or rated break lines 12m. The grip tabs 12h of the label material 12i are connected with the label 12e by means of a particularly perforated break line. For the placement of the label 12e into the apparatus 1, the label with the grip tabs 12h mounted thereat is detached from the carrier material 12a and placed in the apparatus 1, the grip tabs 12h thereafter being separated or detached along the respective perforated rated break lines 12m.

The embodiments of compound labels 12 shown in Figures 9 and 10 comprise at least one grip tab, but preferably two grip tabs 12b, 12h, which are arranged in a position radially opposite one another relative to the adhesive label 12e. The embodiment according to Figures la and lb could likewise comprise at least one grip tab 12h S"firmly connected with the carrier material 12d and protruding in the radial direction.

o*o.* *o *0*

Claims (9)

1. A compound label for the identification of a compact disk, the label comprising a planiform flexible carrier material as well as at least one label for a compact disk, said label being detachably adhered to the carrier material, and comprising a particularly circular recess, whereby the carrier material comprises cuts or rated break lines which extend in the circumferential direction of the label and protrude at least section-wise beyond a peripheral border of the label.

2. The compound label according to claim 1, wherein the label comprises a circular peripheral border as well as a circular recess concentric thereto.

3. The compound label according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein it is structured as a rectangular single-sheet or as an endless roll, and that at least the carrier material, S•preferably also the material comprising the label is structured all over. o•Oo

4. The compound label according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the carrier a...o material comprises especially a circular cut extending completely around and protruding a.. beyond the peripheral border of the label, a second cut or rated break line comprising ooooo relative to the circular recess a congruent or a slightly larger diameter, as well as between these two cuts or rated break lines at least one especially radially extending cut S'or rated break line.

The compound label according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a grip tab consisting of label material is arranged beyond and adjacent to the peripheral border of the label, and that the carrier material comprises a carrier tab circumferentially limited by a cut or break line, which carrier tab is arranged lying partially on the grip tab and partially on the label. -24-

6. The compound label according to claim 5, wherein the carrier tab comprises a connection to the carrier material by means of at least one bridge.

7. The compound label according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein two grip tabs and carrier tabs associated thereto are arranged radially opposite one another with respect to the label.

8. The compound label according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the label consists of a transparent foil and/or of an inscribable material, particularly of paper.

9. A compound label for the identification of a compact disk substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. DATED this 8 th day of August 2001 DYNOSYS AG 0* Attorney: KENNETH W. BOLTON Registered Patent and Trade Mark Attorney of Australia 15 of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS •o