WO2002057140A1

WO2002057140A1 - Device for applying a discoid label with any external contour to a compact disc

Info

Publication number: WO2002057140A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/000547
Authority: WO
Inventors: Selwyn Pires; Paulo Leonardi
Original assignee: Fellowes, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-01-18
Filing date: 2001-01-18
Publication date: 2002-07-25
Also published as: DE50104049D1; EP1351860B1; ATE278611T1; EP1351860A1

Abstract

The device comprises a positioning piece (5) with at least one centring element (7). The external dimensions of the centring element (7) correspond to the first central opening of the label disc. The positioning piece furthermore has a centring piece (8) in the centre thereof, the outer diameter of which matches the second central opening of the compact disc. The centring piece (8) extends out over the centring element (7). A base piece (9) comprises an external ring, supporting a disc-shaped upper face on which the label disc can be arranged. The upper face, for its part, comprises a central opening, in which the positioning piece is movably arranged perpendicular to the upper face, extending above the upper face in an idle position and sinking into the central opening for a labelling position. The external ring (10) comprises at least one sprung tang (15 or 16), for a sprung return to the idle position, in a first suitable recess in the external ring (10). The base (19) of the sprung tang is fixed in the base region (20) of the external ring, whilst the tip of the tang (21) carries a flexible support strip (22 or 23). The support strip extends radially inwards, from the tang tips (21) in a second matched recess (24 or 25) on the upper surface, as far as the positioning piece (5). The base piece (9) comprises at least one mounting piece (41, 42, 43) for a shaped piece on the upper face (11) thereof, which matches the external contour of the label disc and/or the compact disc, comprising at least one adapter for inserting in the mounting position.

Description

DEVICE FOR PUTING A LABEL DISC ON ANY OUTER CONTOUR ON A COMPACT DISC

The invention relates to a device and a method for placing a label disc (labein) of any external contour on a compact disc according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for producing the device, as well as a method for using the device.

From the document DE 295 21 938 U1 a device for the placement of self-adhesive label on compact disc is known. This device consists of several individual parts which can be plugged into one another coaxially and thereby position a label disc centered on one another in a centered and aligned manner on a compact disc.

This device has the disadvantage that it is necessary to produce individual parts that have to be processed differently and that have to be nested one inside the other.

In addition, the device has the disadvantage that it neither has a stable rest position, nor does it have a stable labeling position, but that both positions must be maintained by the user by hand, without corresponding stops or other aids for the user when aligning and moving the label disc with available on the Compact Disc

25 hen.

There is a need for the increasing spread of compact discs, also known as laser discs, in the form of music and com pact Disc-ROM products are being sold, to simplify the handling of the labeling devices and to ensure a secure, centered attachment of label disks of any external contour to compact discs, especially since the popularity of recordable compact discs, for example from Sony, 3M and Kodak, has risen. These compact discs are also used for data storage and for storing programs. With this variety of applications, the need to label and label compact discs as soon as they are manufactured has increased. Labels on Compact Discs are required because there is no visual method to determine the contents of the Compact Discs that may contain more than 680 MB of data. While manufacturers of large quantities of identical compact discs with pre-assembled and attached raw disks or directly on the back of the disks can write on, print on or otherwise apply a layer of ink and pigments with this layer, this process is not feasible for manufacturers of recordable compact discs , because the user decides what should be stored on the compact discs. In the case of short runs and runs that require the compact discs to be available immediately, the printing or painting of labels takes too much time and requires high investment costs for the special equipment.

Another embodiment of a labeling device is known from WO 98/26986. This device consists of a base part which is surrounded by an outer ring and which has a fixed centering rod in its center, the diameter of the centering rod corresponding to the central opening of a compact disc. A disc with radially inwardly extending leaf springs is attached to the base part. The leaf springs are clamped on one side at the edge of the disc and carry vertically aligned centering elements on their free end for centering a label disc and for carrying a compact disc that can be plugged onto the centering rod the compact disc is held at a distance from the label disc by the spring-loaded centering elements, and the compact disc can be pressed onto the label disc for labeling. There is a risk that the label disc will shift because the centering elements are shifted towards each other when the compact disc is lowered, thus reducing the centering diameter.

The disadvantage of reducing the centering diameter can be compensated for by precisely dimensioned lugs on the tips of the centering elements, but these lugs can only be effective if the operator places the compact disc completely parallel to the label. However, this has a considerable additional disadvantage, since when handling this labeling device it cannot be assumed that the user will guide the exposed compact disc in a plane-parallel manner to the label disc arranged at a distance. Even if the compact disc is slightly tilted, the label disc is attached or glued to an outside point that does not correspond to the center of the compact disc, and the inside edge of the label disc is damaged by the lugs on the centering elements on the opposite inside edge the gluing between the compact disc and the label disc caused by tilting.

If the centering tabs are omitted in order to avoid damage to the label discs by the tabs when the compact disc is tilted, there is a risk that the label disc will be glued to the compact disc in a completely decentered manner, since the centering diameter of the centering elements is reduced when the compact disc is lowered and thus the position of the label disc is not guaranteed. By sticking a decentered label disc on a compact disc, the compact becomes at high speeds Disc in the playback device such an imbalance occur, which can load or even damage the drive unit of the playback device.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for placing a label disc of any external contour with a central opening on a compact disc, which overcomes the disadvantages in the prior art and improved guidance of the label discs in relation to the compact disc during preparation and guaranteed the implementation of the labeling process. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a labeling device which is inexpensive to manufacture and has a simplified, inexpensive structure.

This problem is solved with the subject of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

The device for placing a label disc of any external contour with a central opening on a compact disc with a smaller central opening preferably has the following components:

1. a positioning part which has at least one centering element, the outer dimension of which is adapted to the central opening of the label disc and which has a centering part - preferably a centering rod - in its center, the outer diameter of which is adapted to the central opening of the compact disc and which projects beyond the centering element .

2. a base part with an outer ring, which carries a disk-shaped upper side on which the label disk can be arranged, the upper side has a center opening, in which the positioning part is arranged to be movable perpendicular to the top and protrudes beyond the top in a rest position and is lowered into the center opening in a labeling position,

3. at least one spring tongue which is arranged in a first adapted recess in the outer ring, the tongue root of the spring tongue being fastened to a foot region of the outer ring and the tongue tip carrying a flexible supporting beam,

4. the support beam extends radially inward from the tip of the tongue in a second adapted recess in the disk-shaped upper side to the positioning part,

5. at least one mounting position on the top of the base part for at least one contour part which is adapted to the outer contour of the label disc and / or the compact disc.

This device has the advantage that the positioning part, which can carry a compact disc on its centering elements, forms a compact unit with the at least one centering element and the centering rod, so that the transition from the rest position of the positioning part to the labeling position of the positioning part Neither the label disc, which rests on the disc-shaped top side of the outer ring, nor the compact disc, which is held in a centered orientation with respect to the label disc by the centering rod moving with the positioning part and the centering elements, cannot move against one another, even if the user uses the compact disc should tilt slightly when touching down. Due to the stable and rigid construction of the positioning part and the centering element firmly connected to it and the associated centering rod connected to it, neither the centering diameter for the label disc nor the centering diameter for the compact disc change during the transition from the rest position to the labeling position. Furthermore, the compact disc held in a completely stable position, since no relative movement between the centering rod and the central opening of the compact disc is required during the labeling process, so that there is no risk of the compact disc tilting.

In addition, a contour part adapted to any external contours of the label disc and / or the compact disc can be inserted into the mounting position on the top of the base part, so that label discs and / or compact disc can be aligned with one another, for example with a polygonal outer contour. Any other contours such as star shapes, postcard shapes, etc. can also be machined with the device according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the contour part is a beam with at least one pin, which has a polygonal cross section and fits into the at least one assembly position, which has a corresponding polygonal cross section. The polygonal cross section ensures the exact alignment of the beam on the top of the base part. The bar itself forms a wall that rises perpendicular to the surface and is aligned or arranged congruently with a straight outer contour of the label disc and / or the compact disc.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the contour part has a beam with at least two pins, the pins being insertable into two precisely fitting mounting positions on the top of the base part. In the- This embodiment, the exact alignment of the bar along a straight outer contour of the label disc and / or the compact disc is achieved by the arrangement of the two mounting positions and the alignment of the bar by inserting the two pins in the mounting position. For this purpose, the pins can be designed as pins with a round cross section.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the contour part is arranged on a compensating disk, the compensating disk having a central opening which corresponds to the central opening of the label disk. On the one hand, this shim covers the recess on the upper side of the base part which is provided for the supporting beam. This creates a flat base for the label disc, so that the label disc is also supported in the area of the cutouts on the top of the base part during labeling. Furthermore, the shim can have the contour part integrally. A stock of shims with differently shaped and arranged contour parts can thus be adapted to any external contour of the components to be brought together (label disc and / or compact disc).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross section of the spring tongues is concave and each spring tongue has a pressure point. This is advantageously achieved if the spring tongues are parts of the outer ring and are formed by slitting the outer ring. This creates a concave cross section of the spring tongues, the curvature of which corresponds to the curvature of the outer ring. When lowering the positioning part from the rest position into the labeling position, a pressure point must be overcome by the force transmission of the supporting beams in order to overcome the form resistance of the concave cross section of the spring tongues and to move into the labeling position. At the same time, this has the advantage that a considerably increased restoring force for snapping back into the rest position through the spring gene is effected. This pressure point also facilitates the handling of the device, because the positioning part assumes an extremely stable position when the label disc and the compact disc are placed on, which only releases the positioning part when the pressure point of the concavely curved spring is overcome in order to carry out the labeling process.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the positioning part with the centering element and the centering rod is a one-piece unit which is dimensionally stable and resilient without being deformed during the transition from the rest position to the labeling position.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the centering element and the centering rod can be moved with one another and at the same time perpendicular to the disk-shaped upper side. Such a function cannot be carried out with the object known from WO 98/26986, since the centering rod in the known embodiment is immovably mounted on the base part and thus the compact disc with its central opening on the centering rod with the Danger of canting must be carried along, which is improved by the present invention, since in the present invention no relative movement between the compact disc centering rod occurs during the labeling process or is to be carried out by the user.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the centering element, the centering rod, the flexible supporting beams, the spring tongues and the outer ring are connected to one another in a non-detachable manner. This is achieved by a one-piece design of the device. In contrast to the prior art, it is therefore not several complex parts that are assembled or fitted together to form the device, but rather all functional parts of the present The invention together form a one-piece component, which is preferably designed as a one-piece injection molded part.

In order to realize a one-piece injection molded part that can be produced in the simplest way in a two-part injection mold, the wall thicknesses can be slightly tapered in order to ensure detachment from the injection mold. These tapered wall thicknesses also improve the functioning of the labeling device because the centering rod is not completely cylindrical, but tapers towards its tip, which makes it easier to apply the compact disc. The same applies to the centering elements, which, thanks to their tapered wall thickness, make it easier to attach and put on the label disc. The taper can advantageously be carried out at an angle between 0.5 and 5 degrees.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the positioning part has an annular base as the centering element, from the surface of which the centering rod protrudes. Such a positioning part has the advantage that the ring-shaped base, which serves to center the label disc, is extremely dimensionally stable and can form a flat surface on which a compact disc can be centered by means of the centering rod which projects in the center. The ring-shaped base ensures that during the transition from the rest position to the labeling position, the vertical pressure on the positioning part is transmitted by the user via the support beams to the spring tongues arranged in the outer ring, without the dimensions of the ring-shaped base and the centering rod changing , so that the positions from label disc to compact disc remain unchanged relative to each other during the transition from the rest position to the centering position. In a further embodiment of the invention, the centering element can be a ring which has a base plate, in the center of which the centering rod is arranged. Such a centering ring with base plate has the advantage that a reliable translation of the compressive force into a tensile force via the supporting beams to the tongue tips is achieved during the transition from the rest position to the labeling position, without causing the centering element to deform.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the centering element has at least two circular segments which protrude beyond the top of the outer ring and are connected to one another via a circular base plate. This construction corresponds to the construction of an annular centering element, but the ring is not completely made, only circular ring segments are provided, which are arranged on a circular base plate, the circular base plate in turn absorbing the tensile forces which occur in the transition from the rest position to the labeling position occur.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the support beams taper radially inwards towards the positioning part. This advantageously increases the flexibility of the support beams, so that the support beams cause only little resistance during the transition from the rest position to the labeling position and exert less deformation force on the centering elements.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the spring tongues are wider in the tongue root area than in the tongue tip area. In this embodiment, the tongue tips of the spring tongues are advantageously stressed more than the tongue root area, so that the foot area of the Outer ring is less loaded and thus the risk of cracks in the foot area of the outer ring can be reduced.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the outer ring is reinforced in the foot area. This can be achieved by a bulge-shaped thickening. Such reinforcement serves to maintain the shape of the outer ring and reduces the risk of cracks forming in the tongue root area of the spring tongues on the outer ring. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer ring has an outer flange in the foot region. This outer flange can serve to fasten the device, for example, on an assembly table in order to provide an unchangeable working position. At the same time, the outer flange reinforces the foot area of the outer ring, so that the risk of cracks forming in the root area of the spring tongues is reduced.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least three spring tongues with three flexible supporting beams are arranged distributed over the circumference of the outer ring. Three and more spring tongues with the associated flexible support beams increase the directional stability of the positioning part during the transition from the rest position to the labeling position. At the same time, however, they reduce the contact surface for the label disc on the disc-shaped upper side of the outer ring.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that a compensating disk is arranged on the disk-shaped upper side of the outer ring, which has a central opening through which the positioning part can be moved freely and carries the label disk. This shim can be a component that can be removed from the device, so that it can be replaced at any time if the disk-shaped surface of the shim is damaged by adhesive residues or other signs of wear. This device has the advantage that the Work surface on the disc-shaped top of the outer ring by the shim is renewable at any time without having to replace the entire device. Furthermore, the shim can carry at least one contour part on its upper side, which is integrally connected to the shim and is integrally formed on the shim.

A method for using the device for labeling a compact disc preferably has the following method steps:

1. Fit the contour part into the assembly position or put on a corresponding shim if a label disc with an outer contour that differs from the circular shape is to be applied to a corresponding compact disc,

2. Place the label disc with the label facing down on the horizontal disc-shaped upper side of the base part, the adhesive side of the label disc pointing upwards and the label disc with its central opening being pushed over the centering element,

3. Remove a protective film from the adhesive side of the label disc,

4. Place the compact disc with its labeling side down on the positioning part, the compact disc with its central opening over the

Centering rod is pushed and rests on the centering element, and the distance between the label disc and the compact disc is determined by the height at which the centering element protrudes beyond the disc-shaped upper side in the rest position, 5.Pressing down the positioning part with the compact disc placed on the centering element from the rest position in the vertical direction to the labeling position on the adhesive side of the label disc, 6. Relief of the positioning part, the positioning part springing back into the rest position through the spring tongues on the outer ring and thereby lifting the labeled compact disc lying on the centering element from the top of the base part.

This method for labeling a compact disc using the device according to the invention has the advantage that a secure, centered positioning of the label disc on the compact disc is possible without, on the one hand, damaging the label disc and, on the other hand, without the risk of decentering the label disc. In addition, the risk of canting of the compact disc is reduced, since the positioning unit is a compact, fixed unit consisting of centering element and centering rod, the centering element defining an area on which the compact disc remains aligned parallel to the label disc during the entire labeling process so that the compact disc cannot tilt.

A method for producing a labeling device for compact discs preferably has the following method steps:

1. Providing a first two-part injection mold with a lower mold and an upper mold, which form a hollow mold in the collapsed and sealed state, the hollow mold corresponding to the shape of the labeling device,

2. Injecting plastic into the closed injection mold while filling the hollow mold with plastic,

3. Open the two-part injection mold and remove the finished labeling device made of plastic. 4. Injection molding of the contour part or a shim with a contour part using a second injection mold.

Due to the construction of the labeling device according to the invention, it is possible to produce the complete labeling device for circular label disks and compact discs with a single injection molding process, without the need for post-processing. When the plastic is injected into the injection mold, the injection molding inlets can be positioned in such a way that they do not impair the external shape of the labeling device. In order to also be able to machine different outer contours of the label disc and / or compact disc, only a further injection molded part in the form of a contour part or a compensating disc with contour part has to be produced.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention in its rest position.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of the first embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section of the first embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1 in the rest position. FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross section of the first embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1 in the labeling position.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention in its rest position.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of the second embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the invention in its rest position.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of the third embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention in its rest position.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the invention in its rest position. FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a schematic illustration of the fifth embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position.

Figure 13 shows a schematic cross section through a sixth embodiment of the invention in its rest position.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic cross section of the sixth embodiment of the invention in its labeling position.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic side view of a seventh embodiment of the invention in its rest position.

Figure 16 shows a schematic plan view of the seventh embodiment of the invention in its rest position.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through the seventh embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a contour part of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention in its rest position. In FIG. 1, reference number 5 denotes a positioning part, reference number 7 denotes a centering element and reference numeral 8 a centering part in the form of a centering rod, centering elements and centering rod forming an integral unit with the positioning part.

The reference numeral 9 designates a base part on which the label disc can be placed with the label facing downward, the base part having an outer ring 9 with a disc-shaped top 10. Two spring tongues are incorporated into the outer ring, of which the spring tongue 15 can be seen in the perspective illustration in FIG. 1. The spring tongue 15 has a spring tongue root 19 and a spring tongue tip 21. The spring tongue is formed in one piece from the material of the outer ring 10 and is arranged in a recess 17 of the outer ring and can be produced by simply slitting the outer ring or, in the case of injection molding, by dividing the outer ring into the outer ring region and spring tongue regions. The spring tongue tips are connected to the positioning part 5 via flexible supporting beams 22 and 23. Thus, practically, the positioning part 5 is suspended from the tongue tips of the tongue springs via the supporting beams 22 and 23. The disk-shaped top of the outer ring is thus subdivided into a fixed part which can accommodate a compact disc, the disk-shaped top having a center opening in which the positioning part is arranged and cutouts 24 and 25 in which the supporting beams are accommodated , In this first embodiment of the invention, the positioning part has a sock-shaped centering element 7, the base being closed off by a flat plate 38, in the center of which the centering rod 8 is arranged. A compact disc can thus be placed on the flat plate centered on the ring-shaped base, which in turn can align the label disc.

The reference numerals 41, 42 and 43 denote round openings in the top

11 of the base part 9, which serve as mounting positions 41, 42 and 43 for at least one contour part, not shown. This contour part also enables label Align discs with any external contour with the corresponding compact discs.

For labeling, the label disc is first placed with its label facing down on the base part, and then the compact disc is centered with its top label facing down over the centering rod 8 on the flat plate 38 on the base surface 29 of the annular base 28.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of the first embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position. The components that perform the same functions as in FIG. 1 are identified by the same reference symbols and are therefore not explained again. For the transition from the rest position into the labeling position, the positioning part 5 is pressed in the arrow direction A into the center opening 12 of the disk-shaped upper side 9 of the outer ring 10. The spring tongue tips 15 and 16 on the outer ring 10 are pressed inward and biased. Since the spring tongues themselves have a concave cross section due to the diameter of the outer ring, a pressure point has to be overcome for the transition from the rest position to the labeling position. At the same time, this pressure point ensures that the positioning part 5 cannot be lowered in the vertical direction by mistake when mounting or centering the label disc and the compact disc. First, the placement of the label disc on the disc-shaped upper side 9 of the outer ring 10 is not critical, because the label discs usually have a protective film on their adhesive side. However, even when the protective film is removed from the label disc lying on the disc-shaped upper side, there is a risk of the positioning part being pressed inadvertently, so that the label disc moves, is lifted resiliently and is therefore no longer centered and rests on the disc-shaped upper side 11 of the outer ring with a smooth surface , This danger is avoided with the present device because the Due to their concave cross section, spring tongues 15 arranged on the outer ring 10 have a pressure point which requires the user to deliberately press them down in the direction of arrow A of the positioning part 5 in order to effect the labeling process. The further advantage of this device with the concave spring tongues on the outer ring is that, after labeling, the positioning part 5 snaps back into a stable rest position. The outer circumference of the solid annular base 28 and the centering rod 8 arranged on the base ensure that no displacement of the label disc centered on one another and the compact disc is possible during the transition from the rest position to the labeling position. Thus, the present device simplifies handling when labeling compact discs and ensures that the user can produce an unbalanced labeled compact disc with manual labeling.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section of the first embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1 in the rest position. Components that perform the same functions as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified by the same reference symbols and are not explained again. The reference numeral 1 designates a label disc with a central opening 2 in the label disc, the label disc with its adhesive upper side 39 being arranged upward on the disc-shaped upper side 9 of the outer ring 10. The reference symbol 3 denotes a compact disc with a central opening 4 in the compact disc, through which the centering rod 8 of the positioning part 5 projects. The centering rod 8 can have a slightly tapered cross section in the longitudinal direction, the slope of the taper being between 0.5 and 5 degrees. Such a taper simplifies the positioning of the compact disc 3 with its central opening 4 on the centering element 7, which in this first embodiment is sock-shaped and has a flat plate 38 for carrying the compact disc, so that the compact disc 3 is at a distance a is held by the adhesive surface 39 of the label disc 1. The distance a speaks the height of the annular base with which it protrudes beyond the disc-shaped surface 11 of the outer ring 10. Due to the pressure point properties of the spring tongues 15 and 16, both the label disc 1 and the compact disc 3 can be securely mounted with the aid of the positioning part 5 in the rest position of the device.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross section of the first embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1 in the labeling position 14. For this purpose, pressure is exerted on the positioning part with the compact disc 3 arranged in the center in the direction of arrow A, so that the positioning part is suspended from the supporting beams 22 and 23 is pressed into the center opening 12 of the disc-shaped upper side 11 of the outer ring 10. A pressure point of the spring tongues 15 and 16 is overcome and the spring tongue tips 21 bend radially inwards in the direction of the positioning part, since they are connected to the positioning part 5 via the flexible support beams 22 and 23. The geometric dimensions of the positioning part 5 are retained during this process, so that the outside diameter of the annular base and the outside diameter of the centering rod 8 do not change. As soon as the compact disc 3 has been pressed onto the label disc 1 in the labeling position and the positioning part is relieved, the positioning part which hangs on the supporting beams 22 and 23 springs through the action of the spring tongues 15 and 16 of the outer ring 10 the spring tongues 15 and 16 with their tongue roots 19 firmly anchored in the foot region 20 of the outer ring 10. This firm anchoring can be achieved by integrally manufacturing the outer ring with spring tongues.

After pressing the compact disc 3 onto the adhesive side 39 of the label disc 1, the positioning part 5 can be relieved and springs back into the rest position due to the spring action of the spring tongues 15 and 16, so that the labeled compact disc 3 can be easily removed from the labeling device due to the taper the centering rod can be removed. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention in its rest position. Components in FIG. 5 which have the same functions as in the previous figures are identified by the same reference numerals and are not further explained. The second embodiment of the invention, which is shown in FIG. 5, differs from the first embodiment of the invention in that instead of two opposite spring tongues on the outer ring 10 of the base part, three spring tongues 15, 16 and 40 are now evenly distributed on the circumference of the outer ring 10 are. The second embodiment has the advantage that the positioning part 5 has a three-point suspension due to the three supporting beams 22, 23 and 26 and thus the guidance of the positioning part is stable during the transition from the rest position 13 to the labeling position.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of the second embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position. For this purpose, a pressure is exerted on the positioning part 5 in the direction of arrow A, as a result of which the spring tongue tips 21 spring radially inwards after their pressure point has been overcome. At the same time, the positioning part sinks with its positioning ring-shaped base 28 in the center opening 12 on the top 11 of the base part 9. If the positioning part 5 is relieved, it springs back into its rest position.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the invention in its rest position. Components of FIG. 7 which have the same functions as in FIGS. 1 to 6 are identified by the same reference numerals and a new explanation is omitted. The third embodiment differs from the first two embodiments of the invention in that the spring tongues 15 and 16 on the spring tongue root 19 are wider than at the spring tongue tip 21. This ensures that the spring tongue at its spring tongue tip 21 has a lower restoring force than the spring root 19. This makes the spring softer, but the pressure point is essentially retained, so that in the rest position secure mounting of the label disc and compact disc becomes possible and the positioning part 5 can be pressed into the center opening 12 of the top 12 of the base part 9 with a slight pressure on the centering rod 8.

FIG. 7 also shows that the supporting beams 22 and 23 taper radially inwards. With this tapering, the flexibility of the support beams 21 and 23 is increased, so that this measure likewise reduces the counterpressure on the centering part during the transition from the rest position to the labeling position. Furthermore, the deformation forces on the centering part 5 are reduced by the support beams 22 and 23 due to this radially inward tapering.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position. The same components in FIG. 8 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are identified by the same reference numerals and an explanation is omitted.

In FIG. 8, a contact pressure is exerted on the positioning part in the direction of arrow A and thus the compact disc arranged on the positioning part is pressed down. Simultaneously with the pressing of the positioning part 5, the spring elements 15 and 16 bulge radially inwards at their spring tongue tips and fastened to the tapered support beams 22 and 23, the centering part 5 is guided down into the opening 12. The restoring force of the tongue springs on the outer ring 20 is due to the wider configuration of the spring tongues. root not weakened, so that when the centering part 5 is relieved, it springs back into its rest position.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention in its rest position. Components of FIG. 9 that perform the same functions as in the previous figures are identified by the same reference numerals. A discussion of these components is omitted below.

The difference between the fourth embodiment of the invention and the previous embodiments of the invention essentially consists in that the positioning part now has only one centering ring 31 instead of a centering base or annular base. This centering ring stands on a base plate 32, which is connected to the support beams 22 and 23, whereby the positioning element is connected to the tongue spring tips 21 of the tongue springs 15 and 16 and is held in the rest position 13. To label a compact disc, a label disc is placed with the label facing down on the base part 9 and centered by the centering ring 31 relative to the centering rod 8 located opposite the center of the positioning part. The compact disc can be placed on the centering ring 31 plane-parallel to the label disc, the ring thickness defining the distance between the compact disc and label disc in the rest position 13. When lowering the centering pin 8 with the positioning part 5, the compact disc is lowered onto the label disc and glued to the label disc.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of the fourth embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position. Since the positioning part is lowered in the center opening of the base part 9 by pressing down in the direction of the arrow A, the compact disc is placed on the adhesive side of the label disc. Due to the spring action of the spring tongues 15 and 16 on the outer ring 10, after the label disc has been glued to the compact disc, the labeled compact disc is raised into the rest position and can be removed from the labeling device.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the invention in its rest position. Components of Figure 11 that perform the same functions as in the following figures are given the same reference numerals and a discussion thereof is omitted. The difference between the fifth embodiment and the previous embodiments is that the centering ring is no longer completely implemented, but only centering ring segments in the form of circular ring segments 33 and 34 are located on the base plate 32 of the positioning part 5. These circular ring segments are completely sufficient to keep a compact disc at a distance from a label disc, and the fifth embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 11 has a centering rod 8 in the center of the base plate, which centers the compact disc in relation to the label disc.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a schematic illustration of the fifth embodiment of the invention in a transition state from the rest position to the labeling position. The positioning part 5 of the labeling device 30 sinks under the force in the direction of the arrow A into the center opening of the base part 9, so that the compact disc resting on the ring segments can be pressed onto the label disk which is arranged on the base part. Due to the spring tongues 15 and 16, on the tongue tips of which 21 support beams hang, which support the positioning part 5, the positioning part 5 springs back into the rest position as soon as no force acts on the positioning part in the direction of arrow A. FIG. 13 shows a schematic cross section through a sixth embodiment of the invention in its idle state. The same components in Figure 13 that perform the same function as in the previous embodiments are identified with the same reference numerals and a discussion is omitted. In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 13, both the compact disc 3 and the label disc are outlined in their rest position, whereby they are aligned plane-parallel to one another and maintain a distance a, which is determined by the height of the centering ring 31. Instead of a closed centering ring, circular ring segments 33 and 34 can also be provided and produce the same effect, namely that the compact disc 3 with its central opening 4 is held centered on the label disc 1 with its central opening 2. The sixth embodiment differs from the embodiments of the previous figures by a reinforced foot region 20 of the outer ring 10 and by a reinforcement in the region of the center opening of the disk-shaped top 11 of the outer ring 10. This reinforcement of the edge of the center opening 12 serves to stabilize the disk-shaped top of the Base part 9, so that it is advantageously ensured that when the positioning part 5 is lowered, the compact disc can be centered on the label disc 1.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic cross section of the sixth embodiment of the invention in its labeling position. Components of FIG. 14 which have the same functions as in the previous figures are identified by the same reference numerals and are not explained in more detail. In the sixth embodiment, the shape and planarity of the upper side 11 of the base part 9 is improved by the reinforcement 36, and by the reinforcement 35 of the foot region 20 the stability of the device is improved and the resistance to crack formation in the area of the spring tongues 15 and 16 is increased. In addition to the reinforcement in the radial direction, both in the foot region 20 of the outer ring 10 and ribs can also be provided in the area of the central opening 12 of the base part 9, said ribs extending radially from the outer ring to the central opening 12. Another possibility is that before the label disc is applied, a shim is placed on the base part 9 and only then is the label disc applied. Such a shim has the same central opening as a label disc and is centered by the positioning part 5 and ensures that the cutouts 24 and 25 on the top 11 of the base part 9 are bridged.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic side view of a seventh embodiment of the invention in its rest position. Components that perform the same functions as in the previous figures are identified by the same reference symbols and are not explained again. In this cross-sectional view, the positioning part can be seen in its rest position, that is to say it projects beyond the top side 11 of the base part 10. Furthermore, the outer path 10 of the base part 9 can be seen with one of the spring tongues 15, which has a supporting beam at its tongue tip 21, which holds the positioning part 5 in the rest position. Its tongue root 19 lies in the foot region 20 of the outer ring 10, the spring tongue 15 being formed by slitting the outer ring.

Figure 16 shows a schematic plan view of the seventh embodiment of the invention in its rest position. The top view shows the top 11 of the base part 9 with the cutouts 24 and 25, in which the supporting beams 22 and 23 are arranged. The supporting beams 22 and 23 are reduced in relation to the width of the spring tongue 15 in order to advantageously promote their flexibility and elastic deformability. The supporting beams 22 and 23 in the cutouts 24 and 25 on the top 11 of the base part 9 carry the positioning part 5 of the labeling device in the central opening 12. Furthermore, the top 11 of the base part 9 has two openings, which serve as mounting positions 41 and 42. In these assembly positions 41 and 42, fit parts of a contour part 45, which are shown in broken lines is to be inserted. With this contour part, the upper side 11 of the base part 9 can be adapted to the outer contour of a label disc in order to align it relative to a corresponding compact disc.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through the seventh embodiment of the invention. Components with the same functions as in the previous figures are identified by the same reference symbols and are not explained again. 17, the foot region 20 of the outer ring 10 merges into the spring tongues 15 and 16. On the tongue tips 21 of the spring tongues 15 and 16 support beams 22 and 23 are attached which carry the positioning part 5, which consists essentially of a centering element 7 for the label disc and a centering part 8 for the compact disc. The centering element 7 projects beyond the top 11 of the base part 9. The centering part 8 is arranged coaxially in the center of the centering element 7 and in turn protrudes beyond the centering element 7.

Furthermore, in this cross-sectional view, a contour part 45 in the form of a bar 47 can be seen, which is arranged in the assembly positions 41 and 42 and forms a stop wall vertically aligned from the top 11 of the base part 9. With the aid of this contour part 45, a straight edge of the outer contour of a label disc can be aligned in order to ensure that they are applied to a corresponding compact disc in the correct alignment.

FIG. 18 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a contour part 45 of the invention. In this seventh embodiment, the contour part consists of a bar 47, which has two pins 48 and 49 on its underside, which can be inserted as fitting parts 46 into the mounting positions 41 and 42 shown in FIG. 16. After the fitting parts 46 have been inserted into the assembly positions 41 and 42, the contour part 45 is in the form of a bar 47 aligned relative to the center opening 12 on the upper side 9 of the base part 11, so that a label disc with a corresponding outer contour can be aligned relative to a corresponding compact disc and applied to the compact disc. The application of the device according to the invention is significantly expanded by the attachment of contour parts 4 to corresponding mounting positions 41 and 42 of the device according to the invention. For this purpose, the contour part 45 can have any desired boundary shapes on the upper side 11 of the base part 9, in order to align the most varied outer contours of a label disc with a corresponding compact disc.

The features of the preferred embodiments described above can also be combined with one another.

The term "compact disc" used in the above description includes all disk-shaped data carriers, such as DVD and CD-ROM.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 label disc

2 central opening of the label disc

3 compact disc

4 central opening of the compact disc

5 positioning part

6 one-piece unit

7 centering element

8 centering part

9 base part

10 outer ring

11 disc-shaped top

12 Center opening on the top

13 rest position

14 Labeling position

15 and 16 spring tongues

17 and 18 first recesses in the outer ring

19 tongue root

20 foot area of the outer ring

21 tongue tips

22 and 23 support beams

24 and 25 second recess in the top

26 supporting beams

27 Cut-out in the top

28 ring-shaped base

29 Base surface

30 Labeling device

31 centering ring

32 Base plate of the centering ring and 34 circular ring segments

outer flange

reinforcement

Circumference of the outer ring

Flat plate of the base

Adhesive top of the label disc

spring tongue

Direction of arrow, 42, 43, 44 mounting positions

contour part

fitting part

Beams, 49 cones

Claims

claims

1. Device for placing a label disc (1) of any external contour with a first central opening (2) on a compact disc (3) with a second central opening (4), the device comprising: a positioning part (5), the at least one Centering element (7), the outer dimension of which is adapted to the first central opening (2) of the label disc (1) and which has a centering part (8) in its center, the outer diameter of the second central opening (4) of the compact disc

(3) and which protrudes beyond the centering element (7), a base part (9) with an outer ring (10) which carries a disc-shaped top (11) on which the label disc (1) can be arranged, the top (11) has a center opening (12), in which the positioning part (5) is movably arranged perpendicular to the upper side (11) and in a rest position (13) projects beyond the upper side (11) and in a labeling position (14) in the center opening (12) is lowered, characterized in that the outer ring (10) has at least one spring tongue (15, 16) in a first adapted recess (17, 18) of the outer ring (10), the tongue root (19) of which is attached to one The foot region (20) of the outer ring (10) is fastened and the tongue tip (21) of which carries a flexible supporting beam (22, 23), the supporting beam (22, 23) extending radially inward from the tongue tip (21) in a second adapted release (24 , 25) the top (11) up to the posit Ionierteil (5) and that the base part (9) on its upper side (11) has at least one mounting position (41, 42, 43, 44) for at least one contour part (45) for adapting the device to the outer contours of the label disc.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the contour part (45) has at least one fitting part (46) which can be inserted into the assembly position (41, 42, 43, 44), the contour part (45) has a bar (47) is at least two pins (48, 49) which can be inserted in two precisely fitting mounting positions (41, 42 or 43, 44) on the upper side (11) of the base part (9).

3. Device according spoke 1 or Anspmch 2, characterized in that the mounting position comprises at least one opening in the top (11) of the base part (9) with a polygonal cross section.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contour part (45) has at least one pin with a polygonal cross section.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contour part (45) is arranged on a shim, the shim having a central opening which corresponds to the central opening (2) of the label disc (1).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of the spring tongues (15, 16) is concave and each spring tongue (15, 16) has a pressure point.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning part (5) with centering element (7) and centering part (8) is a one-piece unit (6).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering element (7) and the centering part (8) are mutually movable perpendicular to the top (11).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering element (7), the centering part (8), the flexible support beam (22, 23, 26), the spring tongue (15, 16) and the outer ring (10) cannot be removed are interconnected.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (30) is in one piece.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (30) is a single injection molded part.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning part (7) has an annular base (28) as the centering element, from the surface (29) of which the centering part (8) protrudes in the center.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering element (7) is a ring (31) which has a base plate (32), in the center of which the centering part (8) is arranged.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the compact disc (3) and the label disc (1) corresponds to the height of the centering element (7), around which the centering element (7) via the upper side (11) of the outer ring (10) protrudes.

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering element (7) has at least two circular ring segments (33, 34) which protrude beyond the top side (11) of the outer ring (10) and via a circular base plate (32) with one another are connected.

16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting beam (22, 23, 26) tapers radially inwards towards the positioning part (5).

17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring tongue (15, 16) in the tongue root region (19) is wider than in the tongue tip region (21).

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer ring (10) is reinforced on the foot region (20).

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer ring (10) in the foot region (20) has an outer flange (34)

20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the edge region of the center opening (12) of the top (11) a reinforcement (36) is arranged on the underside.

21. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least three spring tongues (15, 16) with three flexible supporting beams (22, 23, 26) are arranged distributed over the circumference of the outer ring (10).

22. A method of using the device according to one of claims 1 to 21 for labeling a compact disc (3), comprising the following method steps:

Fitting a contour part into at least one assembly position or fitting a corresponding shim with a contour part if a label disc with an outer contour that differs from the circular shape is to be applied to a corresponding compact disc, - Placing the label disc (1) with the label facing down on the horizontal disc-shaped upper side (11) of the base part (9), the adhesive side of the label disc (1) pointing upwards and the label disc (1) with its central opening (2) is pushed over the centering element (7),

- Peel off a protective film from the adhesive side of the label disc

(1),

- Place the compact disc (3) with its labeling side down on the positioning part (5), the compact disc (3) with its central opening (4) being pushed over the centering part (8) and resting on the centering element (7) and the distance between the label disc (1) and the compact disc (3) is determined by the height at which the centering element (7) protrudes beyond the disc-shaped upper side (11) in the rest position (13), - pressing the positioning part (5 ) with compact disc (3) placed on the centering element (7) from the rest position (13) in the vertical direction into the labeling position (19) on the adhesive side of the label disc (1),

- Relieve the positioning part (5), the positioning part (5) jumping back through the spring tongues (15, 16) on the outer ring (10) into the rest position (13) and thereby the labeled compact disc (3 ) from the top (11) of the base part (9).

23. A method for producing a labeling device according to one of claims 1 to 21 for compact discs (3), comprising the following method steps:

Providing a first two-part injection mold, with a lower mold and an upper mold, which form a hollow mold in the collapsed and sealed state, the hollow mold corresponding to the shape of the labeling device (30) according to one of claims 1 to 21, Injecting plastic into the closed first injection mold while filling the hollow mold with plastic,

Opening the first two-part injection mold and removing the labeling device (30) from plastic,

Injection molding of the contour part or a shim with a contour part by means of a second injection mold.