GB2408380A - Method of collating discs for data storage - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of collating discs for data storage into discrete trays 204 based on predefined sorting criteria comprises picking a disc to be sorted, raising the disc through at least one layer of a plurality of collator trays 110, lowering the disc to just above the tray and depositing the disc on to the selected tray. The collator trays 110 each comprise a stationary collating tray 204 and a rotatable flipper tray 206, the flipper tray 206 being rotatable about a pivot point 202 between the flipper tray 206 and the stationary collating tray 204.

Description

DISC COLLATOR

FIEI,D 100011 The present invention relates generally lo storage medium processing and in particular the present invention relates to a medium handler and organizer.

BACKGROUND

0002' Compact discs are used as a storage medium for digital information. The data is stored on the compact disc by varying the optical characteristics of the disc.

This digital information can be any type of data, such as, but not limed to, audio, image, photo and/or video information. In other words, the digital data stored on a compact disc can vary from disc to disc. Different types of compact discs can be provided, a traditional type of compact disc is manufactured using a plastic mold operation. Each compact disc manufactured using the same mold contains the saline digital information. As such, large production runs of compact discs wlicti contain the same information, such as a musical composition, are manufactured in an economical nariner by using a molding process 10003] A different type of compact disc whicl' is commercially available is a recordable compact disc. This type of disc is manufactured such that it does not contain data thereon, but can be programmed after it is manufactured. The optical characteristics, therefore, of the compact disc are anodized after it is fabricated depending upon the data that is stored on the disc. In the context of the present invention, it is to be understood that reference to a compact disc (CL)) includes and enconlasses Compact Disc Recordable "CD-R", Compact Disc Readable "CD- RW", CO-ROM, CD-PROM, Digital Versatile Disc "DVr)", DVl)-R, DVD-RAM, DVI) -RW, or any disc for dada storage.

[00041 rho identify to data stored on a compact disc, a label is often printed on one side <-if else compact disc. l or large manufacturing nuns of a common compact disc, a silk screen process is often used to apply to label to tle compact disc. For small production runs of compact discs, suet' as those using recordable compact cliscs, a silk screen operation may not be economical A custom printing opcralion, i tlierefore. can Rayed to print a-custom label on each compact disc: See for - . - :example U.S Patent No. S,734,629 entitled "CD Transporters issued March 31, - , ' 198X [or a description of a compact disc transporter which.can lee used to IIIOVC a - compact disc between a data rcorder-and a printer, and wltich allows for automated processing of tecordab-lc compact discs. This transporter. mo.ves a sing71e.comp,att - disc at:i:l:e between stations and places completed compact discs 'in a stack: :: : - [095] Whim organization of printed and recorded CDs lies keen addressed before a ttuik-and easy system for organization of multiple vim. ions o-f. Cls or of -diffect:Cls.renains a lali:or intensive task, requiring a user to sort though st.ack of discs, or to exa:mi!e multiple trays that must be.openod and exarhned \0061 Idiot the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below h'icil wilt tiecornd apparem to those skilled in tile art upon reading and understanding the present specifiea:tion, Fore is a need in the aft for a system that-inc'-ses the ability of a user Act quickly retrieve printed CDs, and to automatically sort ells according to a prsdefnmi structure 100971 The ove-nnlis3ned problems with respect and otiler pfobic^ms are - atidresset-i by the present invention and will be understood by reading- and studying

the following specification

- Aspects of the present invention aresel out in the appended claims.

10(083 In one embodiment, a compact rlisc processing system includes a supply of' station for holding a plurality of blank compact discs, a printer for printing indiGia Ofi a compact disc., the printer including an extendable drawer adapted to- receive the compact disc, a recorder for recording inlonnaLion on the compact disc, the recorder including an exten<ialle drawer- lo receive the compact disc, a transporter carriage tor 1lolding and transporting to corril?act disc between drawers of the recorder anti printer, to supply station, and a disc collator for c<llating Cl)s inlay r-liscre.te bins While typical rcco'-de'-s, readers, and printers use extendable sirawers as discussed, citler-s do not Instead, they may tie partially disassembled models wlicl do not use drawers, Of foay lequrre Inan'!al operation of a dr-awe', or may not have a drawer at all, such as a system wtic-l. accepts a disc by a gentle iosertiol1 partially into au 2- \ opening, and ejects a disc in the reverse fashion. Each such recorder, while different, is amenable for use with various embodiments of the present invention.

0009] In another embodiment, compact disc processing system includes a supply station for holding a plurality of blank compact discs, a printer for printing indicia on a compact disc, the printer including an extendable drawer adapted to receive the compact disc, a recorder for recording information on the compact disc, tile recorder including an extendable drawer to receive the compact disc, a transporter carriage for holding and transporting the compact disc between drawers of the recorder and printer, the supply station, and a number of collators each having a stationary collating tray and a rotatable flipper tray, the flipper tray rotatable about a pivot point between the flipper tray and the collating tray.

iO010] In yet another embodiment, a compact disc processing system includes a supply station for holding a plurality of blank compact discs, a printer for printing indicia on a compact disc, the printer including an cxtendable drawer adapted to receive the compact disc, a recorder for recording information on the compact disc, the recorder including an extendable drawer to receive the compact disc, a transporter carriage for holding and transporting the compact disc between drawers of the recorder and printer, the supply station, and a number of collators each having a stationary collating tray and a rotatable flipper tray, the flipper tray rotatable about a pivot point between the flipper tray and the collating tray. The supply station, the extendable printer drawer, the cxtendable recorder drawer, and the flipper trays are aligned along an axis with the transporter carriage. The transporter carriage moves along tile axis only.

1] In yet another ernbodimcnl, a method of collating CDs in a CD processing system includes sorting Cl)s into discrete bins based on prcdefined criteria for sorting discs.

OOI 2] In still another embodiment, a method of collating CDs in a system includes picking a CD to be sorted well a picker, raising the CD through at least one layer of a flipper tray collator until the CD is above a desired one of a plurality of collator trays, lowering the Cl) to just above the tray, and depositing the CD into the selected tray.

1()()l31 Other ernb<xli'Tlents are <loscribed and claimed.

- BRIEF DF,SCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 00141 Figure I is an isometric view of a system according to one embo iment of the present invention; [0015] Figure 2 is a more detailed view of a CD collator of Figure I, {00161 Figure 3 is a side elevation view of a portion of a CD collator embodiment; {00173 Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are side views of one embodiment of a process for -. depositing a disc in a collator; f tl)0181 Figure 8 is a side view of a stack of collators; [0019] Figure 9 is a side elevation view of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 10020] Figure 10 is a side elevation view of another system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILEI) DESCRIPI ION [00211 In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in tire art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of tle present invention 100221 The following detailed description is, theictore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the pr-csent invention is defined only by the appended claims, 100231 The var-i-,us embodiments of the present invention have the capability to deliver- Clips into discrete bins instead of a large common output bin, thus allowing

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for easy retrieval by a user. This is accomplished in various embodiments by moving the Cl) in a vertical motion via a picker which hinges a flipper tray up until it clears the CD I lie flipper tray then drops to its normal position and the picker moves down to place the CD on the flipper tray. The picker then moves vertically up to allow the CD to slide into the selected collating tray. Further embodiments use motion of the picker arm in more than one axis to deposit CDs in discrete bins of other configurations.

100241 Referring to Figure 1 a simplified block diagram is illustrated of one embodiment of a compact disc handler 100 of the present invention. The block diagram is provided to help understand the relationship of components in embodiments of the invention and a detailed description of embodiments of the components are described below. The compact disc handler includes a body o housing 102 containing at least one compact disc recording device 103 a printer with printer tray 109 for printing label-type information on a compact disc a transporter device including an elevator 104 and a pickup arm or picker 106 for moving compact discs such as disc 107 and a collator stack 108. Collator stack 108 comprises in one embodiment a plurality of individual collators 110 each collator comprising a collating tray 112 and a flipper tray 114. The recorder can be any type of commercially available recorder intended to record data on an optically readable medium such as a compact disc. Further in some embodiments a recorder is replaced with a reader only when recording is not necessary. Likewise the printer can he any type of printer intended to print information or images On a compact disc.

The printer can operate using any known printing method such as but not limited to thermal transfer ink jet or laser printing. Still further in some embodiments only a single element such as a printer alone a recorder alone or a reader alone or conbinations of multiple elements are used in the system [0025] In one ernbodimeat the pickup am1 is coupled to the elevator to allow the pickup aria to move in a veitical direction during operation. As such the transporter mechanism includes a motor to provide vertical movement to the pickup arm. In one embodiment the vertical motion is the only axial motion of the picker arm. The drawers tor the printer and any recorders as well as the collator stack anal a C U supply stack are all coaxial along an axis centered substantially vertically on the gripper 311 of tle picker arm (as is lest slows at 311 of l;igure 3). As illustrated in Figure 2, this allows the gripping head to be vertically aligned with the drawers of the printer and recorders, and also vertically aligned with the compact disc collators and a supply stack of cliscs. In altemate embodiments, different gear structures can be used, including a belt and pulley configuration.

t0026] In other embodiments, motion in multiple or different directions are options. For example, in another crnbodiment, the elevator can he formed with a concentric interior and exterior shafts that engage the pickup arm. The interior shaft is rotated to either raise or lower the pickup arm, and the exterior shaft is rotated to rotate the pickup arm through a horizontal plane around an axis of the vertically extending shaft. In another embodiment, motion of the picker arm is in a horizontal plane, and collators as well as drawers for recorders and printers are in the arc of angular motion of the picker arm. It should be understood that different configurations involving motion in one or more directions on one or snore axes are contemplated, and are therefore with in the scope of the present invention.

100271 The collators 110 are shown in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3, as described below. Figure 2 shows a collator stack such as stack 108 described above.

Each collator 110, as has been mentioned, comprises a collating tray and a flipper tray. The collating tray is a stationary tray that holds discs, such as CDs, CD-Rs, Cl)-llWs, DVDs, DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, and the like when they have been transferred from the picker into the collating stack 108. Each collator's flipper tray is rotatable on a hinge axle or other pivot point 202, which is at the connection between its collating tray 204 and flipper tray 206. The flipper tray is freely rotatable about the hinge in a direction shown as arrow 208. In its rest position as shown, the collator leas its flipper tray 206 and collating tray 204 separated by an angle of l 80 degrees. As tle flipper tray is rotated by the contact with a disc as described above, the flipper tray rotates about an angle along the line indicated at arrow 208. 'l'hc rotation of flee flipper tray is only so far as to allow the disc to pass above the arc of the flipper tray before the disc and the flipper tray disengage and the flipper tray pivots back to its rest position.

00281 Figure 3 is a side view of a single collator 300. Collator 300 comprises in this embodhent a stationary collating tray 302 and a nipper tray 3()4. 'I'le collating tray 3()2 and tlie flipper tray 304 are joined into the collator 300 at a pivot point 30(, about which to flipper tray can rotate in a direction allows as arrow 308 when a disc is moved by the picker 310 through the space occupied by the flipper- tray. This process is described in greater detail below with respect to Figures 4 through 6 Each stationary collating tray 302 can hold a number of discs. T he disc holding arms 312 hold discs that slide into the collating tray 302 after being deposited on the flipper tray by the picker 310.

9] In operation a collating process is shown in greater detail in Figures 4 through 7. In brief the collating process comprises picker 402 retrieving a disc 404 from a printer a CD writer or a stack of discs raising the disc using the elevator 408 to a point at which a desired collating tray has been selected as will be described below lowering the picker 402 to rest the disc 404 very close to the flipper tray 412 of the selected collator 410 releasing the disc 404 and raising the picker 402 so that the disc 404 slides from the selected flipper tray 412 to the stationary collating tray 414 associated with the flipper tray 412.

10030] Figure 4 is an in-process side elevation view of the elevator 408 picker 402 holding a disc 404 and collator 410. The collator comprises a stationary collating tray 414 and a movable flipper tray 412 which is hingedly connected to the stationary collating tray 414 at pivot point 416 by a suitable hinge joint or the like.

It should be understood that any joint permitting the motion of the flipper tray from an orientation separated by substantially 180 degrees from the collating tray to an orientation in which the angle subtended between the collating tray and the nipper tray is less than 180 degrees is sufficient for the purposes of the invention and is j within the scope of the invention. For example a pin may be used to connect the collating tray and the flipper tray or the collating tray may be hinged to trip flipper tray without departing fro Em the scope of the invention. It will be understood by those of skill in the aft that the rotatable connection between the collating tray and the flipper tray may be accomplished in any of a number of ways without departing froth the scope of the invention.

100311 The disc 404 held by the picker 402 contacts the bottom 418 of flipper tray 412 of the collator 410 as tle picker 402 is raised on the elevator 408. Each flipper tray 4 l 2 is positioned so that when the picker 4()2 loacled with a disc 404 is raised lo the point where tle disc contacts the iyollom 418 of the flipper tray 412 the disc 4()4 contacts the flipper tray and causes it to rotate about pivot point 416 in the dheclion of arrow 420 if tl-.c picker moves any fur-ther in the vertical direction. As the picker moves to an elevation above that of the flipper tray, the flipper tray rotates under the force provided by the contact between the disc carried by the picker and the flipper tray.

10032] When the particular collator410 that is shown in Figure 4 is to be the receptacle for the disc held by the picker, the elevator raises the picker to an elevation suitable for the disc and the flipper tray to disengage, and the flipper tray pivots back to its normal position as shown in Figure 5. At this point, the picker and disc are above the flipper tray. The picker is lowered to a point at which the disc is positioned just above the upper surface 420 of the flipper tray 412 as is shown in Figure 6. At this point, the picker releases the disc. The close proximity of the picker and the nipper tray do not allow the disc to slide down the flipper tray into the collating tray until the picker moves up again to clear title disc, as is shown in Figure 7. In Figure 7, the disc rotates to the same angle as the flipper tray and collating tray, and slides by gravitational force down the flipper tray into the collating tray. The disc is retained in the collating tray by suitable tray arms such as aunts 422 shown in Figure 7 At this point, the picker is free to return to retrieve another disc frown a printer, CD-writer, or stack, and to repeat the process.

100331 In another embodiment, in which the collators are further spaced apart in a vertical direction, the picker arm can release a disc at a greater distance from the flipper tray without requiring a very close proximity between the disc anti the flipper tray. For example, referring to Figure 5, the disc 404 could be released at the location of the picker 402 shown therein. In that embodiment, the disc 404 falls to the flipper tray 412 and is moved by gravity to the respective collating tray.

0034] As it has been shown with respect to Figures 4 through 7, once the disc held by the picker and loses contact with a respective flipper arm, the flipper arm pivots back to its rest position Once this pivoting occurs, in the embodiment described above, the disc cannot be returned to below the collator assembly. In another embodirnenl, the flipper trays are equipped with a breakaway feature that allows eacl' individual flipper tray to be dislodged frown its collator without - damaging the collator, if the picker aria is lowered without releasing the disc, while allowing tile disc to pass hack tilrough in a downward vertical motion This is helpful in circumstances where a malfunction occurs with the picker ann or gripper, or the like

X

[00351 In one embodiment, multiple collating trays are arranged in substantially vertical orientation in a stack of a system 800 as is best shown in figure 8. The elevator 802 has a picker 804 movable thereon. The picker 804 picks up a disc front a printer, CD-writer, or stack, and moves upward until the disc contacts the lowermost collator 806. The picker position with respect to the collating trays is known by a command module for the system and associated circuitry for monitoring the position of the picker; and the positions at wl'.ich each collating tray are selected by the picker are also known. for example, suppose a disc picked up by the picker is to be deposited into collator 810. Tile picker 804 is raised to a point where collators 806, 808, and 810 have been contacted by a disc held on the picker 804, and until a position at which it is known that flipper trays 818, 820, and 822 of collators 806, 808, and 810 respectively have contacted the disc, have rotated upward, and lost contact with the disc to pivot back to their normal, at-rest, positions, as described in more detail above With respect to Figures 4 and S. The picker is lowered to a point where the disc is just above or in another embodiment is in contact with the flipper tray 822 of collator 810, and the disc is released. Title picker is raised above the point at which the disc is released, and the disc rotates to Alec nomial angle of the flipper tray and slides by the force of gravity into the collating tray 824 of collator 8 l 0, as described in more detail above with respect to Figures 6 and 7 tO036] While a stacked series of collators has been described above, it should also be understood that other configurations for collators, including stacks arranged around an angular motion of the picker arm, as well as other discrete bins such as on a carousel or the like, are also within the scope of the invcution. Many configurations will be evident to those of skill in the art given the ability of picker arms to move in multiple dircclions, including notion along one, two, three, or even more axes Fueler, instead of placing discs in trays or collators that constrain by the outer diameter of the disc, a constraint by inner diameter of the disc is used in other embodiments I; or example, when a disc is <leposicd on a flipper tray, the disc in one en'bodirnent slides to a collating tray and drops onto a spindle whicl1 constrains tile disc by the opening in the middle of the disc, or by its inner diameter.

100371 In another embodiment, a single collator is used The singic collator system 90O, as shown in l;igure 9, comprises a picker arr-n 902 on elevator 903, a 7 - flipper tray 904 rotatable about a pivot point 906 when the picker arm moves in a vertical direction loaded with a disc as reinscribed above, and an output bin 908 for scolding discs such as discs 910. When the picker arm moves a disc above the flipper tray 904, and subsequently releases the disc, the disc falls into the flipper tray, and is deposited in the output bin 908. In this embodiment, only one motor is used. The motion of the picker arm is along one axis parallel to the gripper head assembly 9 l 2. The axis is indicated by dashed line 914. Of course, in other embodiments, multiple motors are used and the picker arm can move in multiple directions. However, the simple nature of single axis motion allows the system 900 to be reduced in complexity to provide a single axis, single motor CD processing system with a large output bin. Similarly, the system 900 is in another embodiment J combined with a collator stack such as those described herein specifically with respect to Figures 1, 2, and 8 without departing frown the scope of the invention.

8] In another embodiment shown in Figure 10, each of the collators is horizontal with respect to the axis of motion of the picker arm 1001. In this embodiment, gravity is not sufficient to force a disc 1000 deposited into a flipper tray 1002 into its respective collating tray 1004. In this embodiment, an actuator 1006 is used to move tle disc 1000 into the collating tray 1004. The actuator can take many forms, including by way of example only and not by way of limitation, a mechanical aria that extends to push tle disc into talc collating tray, a gripper or other moving clement on the picker arm that pushes the disc into the collating tray, a r) gang actuator element that extends from the elevator or the picker arm to push the disc or multiple discs in multiple collators into their respective collating trays, or the like 100391 In this fashion, any number of collators can be stacked in a system such as system TOO, 800, 900, or 1000 without departing from Else scope of the invention.

The number of collators is limited only by the desired storage capacity for each of the collators, and the desired physical characteristics of the system, suclr as height.

10040] to another embodiment, a large run tray is provided below the smaller collators Phis large Nan tray iri one ernbodirncnt holds a mucl larger quantity of discs than the collators I he large run tray is used for jobs that have a large number of discs that are to be made, printed, or the like. This large tray is shown in more <retail as clement 120 in l igure I as well as element 90X in igure 9 1() {00411 In various embodiments, the collators are labeled for easy retrieval of discs. For example, in a large run of cliscs, it may 1' desirable to run a small set of discs before completing-the large run 'Ellis could be for any number of reasons, such as a Nash job or the like With the embodiments of the present invention, it is an easy task to cause the system to print the small run of discs and to deposit the completed small run of discs into one of the collators not being used for the main run.

tO0421 Further, CDs can be presented within the trays in such a way to expose unique and pertinent printed information (for example name, job number, barcxte or flue liked and thus allow -for easy COD identification.

) tO043] The collating system of the present invention embodiments is suitable for use on any number of devices, such as those found in United States Patents 5,734,629.

Further, it should be understooti that the type of picker used in the embodiments of the prescut invention may be varied willout departing from the scope of the invention. Examples of such pickers include, but are not limited to, inner diameter pickers, outer diameter pickers, vacuum\ pickers, and the like.

C.ollclusioll 100441 A COD collator has been described that includes a series of collating trays, each tray selectable for depositing a CD therein according to a predefuled scheme.

The collator comprises a series of trays, each tray having a rotatable portion and a stationary portion The rotating portion rotates as a disc is raised through the level of to tray, and then pivots back to its normal position when the disc clears the tray At that point, to disc can ire dropped into Me tray. In this fashion, a disc can be deposited in any of a number of (rays according to Fliers a user desires the disc to be placed I lapis collating feature allows for prompt and timely retrieval of CDs It also reduces the need to scarce tlrougl' a entire stacl: CDs to find flee desired CDs, as the lesircd Cl)s are sorted by user prefer-e.ncc 00451 A single axis of notion ('1) processing system has also been described in whicl1 rlie picker am' moves ire one axis oddly, and all components of the processing system leave drawers, loins, or to like on the axis of motion Such a system requires only one motor. Collating a number of discrete bins is accomplished in this embodiment without the need for extra motors or actuators. The mechanical operation of the flipper trays and collating trays allows the existing motors and actuators of a system, as well as the picker, to be used without substantial modification.

[004G3 Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims. f' (,,, :

Aspects of the invention are slunmarised An the following numbered clauses.

1. A compact disc processing system, comprising: a supply station for holding a plurality of blank compact discs; a printer for printing indicia on a compact disc, the printer including an extendable drawer adapted to receive the compact disc; a recorder for recording information on the compact disc, the recorder including an extendable drawer to receive the compact disc; a transporter carriage for holding and transporting the compact <disc between drawers of the recorder and printer, the supply station, and a disc collator for collating CDs into discrete bins.

J

2. The compact disc processing system of Clause Wherein the disc collator comprises: a stationary collating tray; and a rotatable flipper tray, tle flipper tray rotatable about a pivot point between the flipper tray and the collaring tray. 3. l he compact disc processing system of cuse2,wilerein tle collator is

angled to allow a disc placed in the flipper tray to slide by gravitational force into the collating tray.

4. A compact disc processing system, comprising: a supply station for holding a plurality of blank compact discs; a printer for printing indicia on a compact disc, the printer including an extendable drawer adapted to receive tle compact disc; a recorder for recording inforrrialion on the compact disc, tile recorder including an extendable drawer to receive the compact disc; a transporter carriage for holding and transporting tle compact disc between drawers of the recorder and printer, the supply elation, and a plurality of collators, each collator- comprising a stationary collating tray and a rotatable flipper tray, else flipper tray rotatable about a pivot point between the flipper- tray and flue collating tray. 1.3

5. A compact disc processing system comprising: a supply station for holding a plurality of blank compact discs; a printer for printing indicia on a compact disc, the printer including an extendable drawer adapted to receive the compact disc; a recorder for recording information on the compact disc, the recorder including an extendable drawer to receive the compact disc; a transporter carriage for holding and transporting the compact disc between drawers of the recorder and printer, the supply station, and a plurality of collators, each collator comprising a stationary collating tray and a rotatable flipper tray, the flipper tray rotatable about a pivot point between the flipper tray and the collating tray; and -- i wherein the supply station, the extendable printer drawer, the extendable recorder drawer, and the flipper trays arc aligned along an axis with the transporter carriage, and wherein the transporter carriage moves along the axis only.

6. A method of collating CDs in a CD processing system, comprising sorting CDs into discrete bins based on predefned criteria for sorting discs.

7. A method of collating CDs in a system, the method comprising: picking a CD to be sorted with a picker; raising the CD through at least one layer of a flipper tray collator until the CD is above a desired one of a plurality of collator trays; lowering the CD to just above the tray; and depositing the CD into the selected tray.

8. A collator for a CD processing system, comprising: a plurality of collator trays, each collator tray comprising: a stationary collating tray; and a rotatable flipper tray, the flipper tray rotatable about a pivot point between the flipper tray and the collating tray.

9 The collator of 8, anal fury c: a large capacity tray.

10. The collator of cause 8, wherein the collator trays are arranged in substantially vertical stack.

11. The compact disc processing system of clause 1, anal furrily Gi: a second disc collator for collating CDs into the discrete bins.

12. The compact disc processing system of ciaum 11, wherein the second disc collator comprises: a second stationary collating tray; and a second rotatable flipper tray, the second flipper tray rotatable about a second pivot point between the second flipper tray and the second collating tray.

13. The compact disc processing system of clause 12, wherein the second collator is angled to allow a disc placed in the second flipper tray to slide by gravitational force into the second collating tray.

14. The compact disc processing system of clause2, wherein the supply station, the printer drawer, and the flipper tray are aligned along an axis with the transporter carriage, and wherein the transporter carriage moves along the axis only.

15. The compact disc processing system of clai3seZ, wherein the supply station, the printer drawer, and the flipper tray are arranged in position along a substantially horizontal arc of travel of the transporter carriage.

16. The compact disc processing system ot clause!, wherein the disc collator further comprises: a plurality of further stationary collating trays; and a plurality of further rotatable flipper trays, each rotatable flipper tray rotatable about a pivot point between the flipper tray and its respective stationary collating tray; and wherein the stationary collating trays are arranged substantially vertically in a stack having a common axis, and wherein the flipper trays are arranged substantially vertically in a stack having a common axis; wherein each flipper tray 17. The compact disc processing system of clauses, wherein each of the plurality of collators are angled to allow a disc placed in their respective [ripper trays to slide by gravitational force into their respective collating trays. I r

18. The compact disc processing system of clause 17, wherein each angled placement of the collator is such that the flipper tray extends upward from the pivot axis and the collating tray extends downward from the pivot axis.

19. The compact disc processing system of clause 4, wherein each of the plurality of collators is arranged in a stack substantially vertically along a common axis.

20. The compact disc processing system of c19, wherein the supply station and the extendable printer drawer are aligned with the flipper trays on the common axis.

21. The compact disc processing system of come 19, wherein the supply station, the printer drawer, and the collator stack are arranged in position along a substantially horizontal arc of travel of the transporter carriage.

22. The compact disc processing system of c?5, wherein each of the plurality of collators is arranged in a stack substantially vertically along a common axis.

23. The method of clauses, wherein sorting CDs comprises: providing a plurality of collator trays, the collator trays arranged in a substantially vertical stack; picking a CD with a CD picker; raising the CD along the vertical stack until the selected collator tray is below the CD; lowering the CD to just above the selected collator tray; and depositing the CD into the selected tray.

M. The method oflause 23, wherein raising the CD comprises: raising the CD through at least one layer of the plurality of collator trays, each collator tray having a rotatable portion that rotates out of the way of the CD when the CD is raised, and which rotates back to a receiving position once the CD is raised above the respective rotatable portion.

25. A compact disc collator, comprising: a plurality of collator trays arranged in a substantially vertical stack along a common axis, each collator tray comprising: a stationary collating tray; and a flipper tray attached to the collating tray, the flipper tray rotatable about a pivot axis between the collating tray and the flipper tray.

26. The compact disc collator of clause 25, wherein each collator tray is positioned at an angle such that the flipper tray extends upward from the pivot axis and the collating tray extends downward from the pivot axis. ,,

Claims (9)

1. A method of collating discs for data storage in a disc processing system, comprising sorting discs into discrete bins based on predefined criteria for sorting discs.

2. A method of collating discs for data storage in a system, the method comprising: picking a disc to be sorted with a picker; raising the disc through at least one layer of a flipper tray collator until the disc is above a desired one of a plurality of collator trays; lowering the disc to just above the tray; and depositing the disc into the selected tray.

3. A collator for a disc processing system, comprising: a plurality of collator trays, each collator tray comprising: a stationary collating tray; and a rotatable flipper tray, the flipper tray rotatable about a pivot point between the flipper tray and the collating tray.

4. The collator of claim 3 and further comprising: a large capacity tray.

5. The collator of claim 3, wherein the collator trays are arranged in a substantially vertical stack.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sorting discs comprises: providing a plurality of collator trays, the collator trays arranged in a substantially vertical stack; picking a disc with a disc picker; raising the disc along the vertical stack until the selected collator tray is below the disc; lowering the disc to just above the selected collator tray; and depositing the disc into the selected tray.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein raising the disc comprises: raising the disc through at least one layer of the plurality of collator trays, each collator tray having a rotatable portion that rotates out of the way of the disc when the disc is raised, and which rotates back to a receiving position once the disc is raised above the respective rotatable portion.

8. A disc for data storage collator, comprising: a plurality of collator trays arranged in a substantially vertical stack along a common axis, each collator tray comprising: a stationary collating tray; and a flipper tray attached to the collating tray, the flipper tray rotatable about a pivot axis between the collating tray and the flipper tray.

9. The disc collator of claim 8, wherein each collator tray is positioned at an angle such that the flipper tray extends upward from the pivot axis and the collating tray extends downward from the pivot axis.