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  Apparatus and methods for sensing and clamping discsUSPTO Application #: 20080100657Title: Apparatus and methods for sensing and clamping discs Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided. At least one clamping finger of a movable tray of a compact disc printer pushes against an outer periphery of a compact disc disposed on a surface of the tray to clamp the compact disc between the clamping finger and a pair of studs that protrude from the surface of the tray and engage a periphery of a hole passing through a center of the compact disc. A carriage of the printer for moving an ink jet cartridge attached thereto across the compact disc to deposit an image on the compact disc may include a sensor. The sensor can be used to determine the presence of a compact disc on the tray, whether the compact disc is clamped to the tray, and a dimension of the compact disc, and to perform a calibration method. (end of abstract) Agent: Leffert Jay & Polglaze, P.A. - Minneapolis, MN, US Inventors: Phillip C. Salisbury, Douglas J. Lenz, John S. Lee, Westin W. Nelson USPTO Applicaton #: 20080100657 - Class: 347014000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080100657. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/778,005, titled "APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SENSING AND CLAMPING DISCS," filed Feb. 12, 2004, (Allowed) which is commonly assigned and incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to compact disc printers and in particular the present invention relates to sensing and clamping discs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Compact disc publishing and replicating systems often use an ink jet printer to print a label directly on a compact disc (CD). This involves placing the disc on a movable tray and moving an ink jet cartridge over the disc to deposit ink droplets onto the disc as the tray moves the disc substantially perpendicular to the motion of the cartridge. One problem that can occur during printing is disc movement, which can cause blurred images, images printed atop other images, etc. Therefore, it is common to clamp the disc to the tray. However, many clamping mechanisms do not repeatedly clamp the discs in the same location on the tray. That is, the centers of successively clamped compact discs do not always coincide with substantially the same predetermined point on the tray that is used as a reference during printing. This may make it difficult to print an image in the same location on these discs. Moreover, many disc printers are not capable of verifying that a disc is correctly clamped on the tray. [0004] It is often desirable to print on different size discs. One problem is identifying the disc size so that the printer deposits a correctly sized image on the disc. For example, the printer may be set for printing a large image on a small disc, which may cause ink to be deposited outside the boundaries of the disc, such as on the tray. [0005] For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for alternatives to existing compact disc printers. SUMMARY [0006] The above-mentioned problems with compact disc printers and other problems are addressed by the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. [0007] One embodiment of the invention provides a compact disc printer having a movable tray to hold a compact disc for printing upon by the printer. At least one clamping finger is movably attached to the tray and is adapted to selectively engage an outer periphery of the compact disc. A pair of studs protrude from a surface of the tray for engaging a periphery of a hole passing through a center of the compact disc when the at least one clamping finger engages the outer periphery of the compact disc to clamp the compact disc between the at least one clamping finger and the pair of studs. [0008] Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of clamping a compact disc to a printer that includes positioning the compact disc on a surface of a movable tray of the printer so that a pair of studs protruding from the surface of the tray extend into a hole passing through a center of the compact disc; and moving at least one clamping finger into engagement with an outer periphery of the compact disc so as to push the a periphery of a hole passing through a center of the compact disc against the pair of studs. [0009] Another embodiment provides a method of operating a compact disc printer that includes emitting a beam of light onto a predetermined point on a movable tray of the printer from a sensor disposed on a carriage of the printer. The method includes indicating that the compact disc is clamped to the tray when a surface of a clamping finger coincides with the point and reflects the light back to the sensor, wherein when the clamping finger coincides with the point, the clamping finger is in engagement with an outer periphery of the compact disc. The method further includes indicating a clamping error when the surface of a clamping finger does not coincide with the point and the light is not reflected back to the sensor, wherein when the clamping finger does not coincide with the point, the clamping finger is not in engagement with the outer periphery of the compact disc. [0010] Another embodiment provides a method of operating a compact disc printer that includes aligning a sensor with a predetermined first point on a movable tray of the printer. The predetermined first point is at a known first distance from a predetermined second point corresponding to a center of a compact disc when the compact disc is disposed on the tray. The first and second points coincide with a slot in the tray that is substantially parallel to a direction of motion of the tray. The sensor is disposed on a carriage of the printer. Emitting a beam of light from the sensor into the slot at the first point and moving the tray so that the beam of light moves within the slot toward the second point are included in the method. The method includes indicating that no compact disc is present when the beam of light arrives at the second point without being reflected. The method includes, when a compact disc is located on the tray, reflecting the beam of light back to the sensor from the compact disc when the beam of light encounters an outer periphery of the compact disc. Computing a dimension of the compact disc by subtracting a distance traveled by the tray between the first point and the outer periphery of the compact disc from the first distance is included in the method. [0011] Further embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus of varying scope. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an ink jet compact disc printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0013] FIG. 2A is a top detailed view of a tray of a compact disc printer illustrating clamping of a circular compact disc to the tray according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 2B is a top detailed view of a tray of a compact disc printer illustrating clamping of a rectangular compact disc to the tray according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of a compact printer according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a portion of tray of a compact disc printer according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a clamping assembly of a compact disc printer according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of a region 600 of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 7 is a top view of a compact disc clamped to a tray of a compact disc printer for illustrating a method performed by the printer according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 8 illustrates a clamping error. Continue reading... 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