Method and apparatus for packaging DVDs

Abstract

A manufacturing line for making DVD assemblies includes a conveyor belt or similar apparatus for providing continuously DVD packages, holding tray for providing a plurality of shells, each shell defining a cavity adapted to receive one of said DVD packages; and an encasing position adapted to receive each DVD package, encase it into a respective shell and then seal the shell to form a DVD assembly.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A manufacturing line for making DVD assemblies comprising: 
 means for providing DVD packages, each DVD package including a DVD;    means for providing a plurality of shells, each shell defining a cavity adapted to receive one of said DVD packages; and    an encasing position adapted to receive each DVD package, encase it into a respective shell and then seal the shell to form a DVD assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The manufacturing line of  claim 1  wherein means for providing shells includes a holding tray that holds several shells and an insertion station adapted to load each DVD package into a shell from said tray.  
     
     
         3 . The manufacturing line of  claim 2  further comprising a closing station adapted to close each loaded shell.  
     
     
         4 . The manufacturing line of  claim 1  further comprising a sealing station adapted to seal each closed shell.  
     
     
         5 . A manufacturing line for making DVD assemblies and comprising: 
 a conveyor belt receiving DVD packages, each DVD package including a DVD;    a holding tray holding a plurality of shells, each shell defining a cavity conforming to the shape of the DVD packages when closed; and    an encasing position receiving said DVD packages from said conveyor belt and said shells from said holding tray and forming DVD assemblies, each DVD assembly including one of said DVD package encased in one of said shells.    
     
     
         6 . The manufacturing line of  claim 5  wherein said encasing position includes an insertion station adapted to receive one of said shells from said tray and one of said DVD packages, and to load said one shell with said one DVD package.  
     
     
         7 . The manufacturing line of  claim 5  further comprising a closing station adapted to close each loaded shell.  
     
     
         8 . The manufacturing line of  claim 7  further comprising a sealing station adapted to seal each closed shell.  
     
     
         9 . A manufacturing line for making DVD assemblies and comprising: 
 a conveyor belt receiving DVD packages, each DVD package including a DVD;    a holding tray holding a plurality of shells, each shell being formed of two segments jointed by a live hinge, said segments defining a cavity conforming to the shape of the DVD packages when said segments are closed along said hinge, each said segment having a peripheral lip; and    an encasing position receiving said DVD packages from said conveyor belt and said shells from said holding tray and forming DVD assemblies, each DVD assembly including one of said DVD package encased in one of said shells.    
     
     
         10 . The manufacturing line of  claim 9  wherein said encasing position includes an insertion station adapted to receive one of said shells from said tray and one of said DVD packages, and to load said one shell with said one DVD package by positioning said DVD package on one of said segments of said one shell.  
     
     
         11 . The manufacturing line of  claim 10  further comprising a closing station adapted to close each loaded shell by pivoting the other segment of said one shell with the lips of the segments being superimposed.  
     
     
         12 . The manufacturing line of  claim 11  further comprising a sealing station adapted to seal each closed shell by joining the lips of the segments.  
     
     
         13 . The manufacturing line of  claim 12  wherein said sealing station is adapted to seal each shell by bonding said lips.  
     
     
         14 . The manufacturing line of  claim 12  wherein said sealing station is adapted to seal each shell by using an adhesive on said lips.  
     
     
         15 . The manufacturing line of  claim 9  further comprising incorporating in said shell a holographic sheet.  
     
     
         16 . The manufacturing line of  claim 15  wherein said holographic sheet is attached to said DVD package.  
     
     
         17 . The manufacturing line of  claim 15  wherein said holographic sheet is attached to said shell.