Rack

Abstract

Glass disc turnover racks for simplifying the insertion of glass discs into a Laser Beam Recorder cartridge are described. The discs are first inserted into the turnover rack and subsequently transferred into the cartridge. The construction of the turnover rack makes it easier to insert the discs in the cartridge. Turnover racks according to the invention comprise a plurality of slots wherein one of the slots has a length that is less than the diameter of the glass disc. Methods of inserting glass discs into the cartridge and use of a glass disc turnover rack to insert glass discs into the cartridge are described.

1 . A glass disc turnover rack comprising supporting means defining a plurality of slots, each slot being adapted to accommodate a glass disc on edge in a substantially vertical position, said supporting means being in contact with the edge of the discs, and a sidewall having an upper surface, wherein a substantially semicircular upper portion of the disc extends beyond the upper surface of the sidewall, and wherein at least one of the slots has a length that is less than the diameter of the glass disc.  
   
   
       2 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting means comprises a pair of opposing notches.  
   
   
       3 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 2 , wherein each notch has a V-shaped profile.  
   
   
       4 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the slots are substantially parallel.  
   
   
       5 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the sidewall may be used to rest part of the rim of a storage semi-cylinder thereon.  
   
   
       6 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting means is part of the sidewall.  
   
   
       7 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the slots are regularly spaced.  
   
   
       8 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 7  wherein the spacing of the slots corresponds substantially to the spacing of the slots in a storage semi-cylinder.  
   
   
       9 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1  adapted for use with glass discs of diameter between 160 mm and 180 mm.  
   
   
       10 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1  adapted for use with glass discs of thickness about 1.6 mm.  
   
   
       11 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of each slot is less than the diameter of the glass disc.  
   
   
       12 . A glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 11  wherein the length of each slot is substantially the same.  
   
   
       13 . A method of inserting a glass disc into a storage barrel comprising the steps of 
 inserting the glass disc into a turnover rack according to  claim 1;     placing the upper portion of the disc into a storage semi-cylinder so that the disc is located in the corresponding slot in the storage semi-cylinder; and    transferring the disc from the turnover rack into the storage semi-cylinder.    
   
   
       14 . A method of inserting one or more glass discs into a storage barrel according to  claim 13 , wherein following the first step, the disc is substantially vertical.  
   
   
       15 . A method of inserting two or more glass discs into a storage barrel according to  claim 13 , wherein each disc includes a working face, and wherein following the first step, the working face of the two or more glass discs are facing in substantially the same direction.  
   
   
       16 . A method of inserting a glass disc into a storage semi-barrel according to  claim 13 , wherein the step of transferring the disc from the turnover rack into the storage semi-cylinder comprises the step of inverting the turnover rack and the storage semi-cylinder together.  
   
   
       17 . A method for inserting one or more glass disc into a storage semi-cylinder utilizing a glass disc turnover rack according to  claim 1.