U.S. patent application number 09/732872 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-03 for gluing nozzle, especially for gluing dvd-discs.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOOLEX ALPHA AB. Invention is credited to Bering, Lars, Ohman, Ove.
Application Number | 20010000583 09/732872 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20402547 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010000583 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ohman, Ove ; et al. |
May 3, 2001 |
Gluing nozzle, especially for gluing DVD-discs
Abstract
A nozzle for simultaneous application of a string of glue on two
facing adjacent disc surfaces, especially for gluing together two
optical disc elements to form a DVD. In order to make possible
higher glue application rates and smaller dimensions of the glue
application nozzle, the nozzle can steer the flow towards the
facing disc elements. For this purpose, the nozzle has a channel
outlet opening which has upper and lower outlet areas and
therebetween a constricted outlet area.
Inventors: |
Ohman, Ove; (Uppsala,
SE) ; Bering, Lars; (Taby, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Assignee: |
TOOLEX ALPHA AB
|
Family ID: |
20402547 |
Appl. No.: |
09/732872 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09732872 |
Dec 11, 2000 |
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09169925 |
Oct 6, 1998 |
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09169925 |
Oct 6, 1998 |
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PCT/SE97/00773 |
May 12, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
156/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29L 2017/005 20130101;
B29C 66/1122 20130101; B29C 66/452 20130101; B29C 65/542 20130101;
B29C 66/342 20130101; G11B 7/26 20130101; B29C 65/521 20130101;
B05C 5/02 20130101; B29C 66/345 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
156/295 |
International
Class: |
B32B 031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 13, 1996 |
SE |
9601816-3 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of applying glue simultaneously to two facing, adjacent
disc surfaces, the method comprising the steps of: inserting an
outlet of a tubular nozzle between the two facing, adjacent disc
surfaces, the outlet having diametrically opposed outlet areas; and
directing from the diametrically opposed outlet areas of the nozzle
a flow of glue simultaneously onto the two facing, adjacent disc
surfaces.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the two disc surfaces are rotated
during the step of directing the flow of glue.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance between the two
facing, adjacent disc surfaces increases as a distance from a
center of the two facing, adjacent disc surfaces increases.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
constricting a flow of glue from an axial end of the nozzle between
the diametrically opposed outlet areas.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of stopping a
flow of glue from an axial end of the nozzle between the
diametrically opposed outlet areas.
6. A method of applying glue simultaneously to two facing, adjacent
surfaces of two optical discs, the method comprising the steps of:
bending the two optical discs so that a distance between the two
facing, adjacent disc surfaces increases as a distance from a
center of the two facing, adjacent disc surfaces increases;
inserting an outlet of a tubular nozzle between the two facing,
adjacent disc surfaces, the outlet having diametrically opposed
outlet areas and a constricted outlet area between the
diametrically opposed outlet areas; rotating the two optical discs;
and directing from the diametrically opposed outlet areas of the
nozzle a flow of glue simultaneously onto the two facing, adjacent
disc surfaces while constricting a flow of glue from the
constricted outlet area.
Description
1. The present invention relates to a nozzle for simultaneous
application of a string of glue on two facing, adjacent disc
surfaces, especially for gluing together two optical disc elements
of a digital video disc.
2. Our previously filed Swedish patent application SE-A-9601263-8
describes a process and a device for gluing together two optical
disc elements, especially substrates for digital audio, video or
computer discs, such as DVD:s (Digital Video Discs). The gluing
together of the two disc elements is done by placing them coaxial
to each other on individual holders in such a manner that a
preferably radially outwardly widening gap is formed between the
disc elements, whereafter a tubular glue injection nozzle is
inserted into the gap to dispense a liquid adhesive so that it will
essentially come into simultaneous contact with facing sides of the
two disc elements, which are rotated at the same time one rotation
to form a circular string of glue in contact with the two disc
elements. Helen inserting the nozzle tube into the gap, they come
very close to the disc elements. There will be only a few tenth of
a millimeter play between the nozzle tube and the disc
elements.
3. By increasing the rotational speed of the disc elements when
applying glue and increasing at the same time the dispensing
pressure of the adhesive, it is possible to increase the distance
between the nozzle opening and the location on the disc elements
where the glue string is to be applied and thus achieve a greater
margin of safety against contact or hitting between the nozzle and
the disc elements.
4. In order to assure that a major portion of the glue flow from
the nozzle is directed towards and strikes the opposing disc
element surfaces at the same time and that a smaller portion of the
glue flow will flow straight ahead into the gap between the disc
elements, it is suggested in accordance with the present invention
that the nozzle have a channel outlet opening with upper and lower
outlet areas and there-between a constricted outlet area.
5. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the nozzle
has the shape of a tubular element with an axially forwardly
directed, constricted end opening and two diametrically opposite,
radially outwardly directed openings near the end of the tubular
element.
6. The invention will be described in more detail below with
reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
7. FIG. 1 shows schematically a cross-section of a device for
gluing together two disc elements in a stage when a glue
application nozzle is inserted into a widened gap between the disc
elements;
8. FIG. 2 shows on a larger scale a first example of the
configuration of the outlet opening of the glue application
nozzle;
9. FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment on a larger scale where the
outlet cross-section of the glue application nozzle is made in an
hour-glass shape by means of a micromechanical production
process;
10. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank for a preferred embodiment of
the nozzle according to the invention;
11. FIG. 5 is an end view of the blank in FIG. 4;
12. FIG. 6 shows a finished nozzle in plan view based on the blank
in FIG. 4;
13. FIG. 7 is an end view of the nozzle in FIG. 6; and
14. FIG. 8 is a side view of the nozzle in FIG. 6.
15. FIG. 1 shows a device, generally designated 10, for gluing
together two disc elements 12,14 to form a so-called DVD. The
device 10 comprises a lower disc holder 16 and an upper disc holder
18, preferably of identical construction. The disc holders 16,18
are rotatable about a center shaft 20. The holders 16,18 have outer
and inner sealing rings 22 and 24, respectively, and are otherwise
of the construction described in more detail in our co-pending
patent application SE-A-9601815-5 to make possible, with the aid of
vacuum, bending or curving of the radially outer portion of the
disc elements 12,14 to thereby form a radially outwardly widening
gap 26 therebetween, so that the glue application nozzle 28 can be
inserted into the gap 26 and at the same time apply a string of
glue 30 on the facing surfaces of the disc elements 12,14.
16. A previously used glue application nozzle has in this context
had a circular cross-section with an outlet opening, which has
provided a somewhat disadvantageous distribution of the dispensed
adhesive in the gap between the disc elements. According to the
present invention, there is now suggested a nozzle which has
relatively large upper and lower outlet areas and, located
therebetween, a middle outlet area of relatively small or
non-existent outlet cross-sectional area.
17. FIG. 2 shows a first example of a nozzle 28a according to the
invention, where the outlet opening has essentially the
cross-sectional shape of an eight with upper and lower outlet areas
32 and 34, respectively, and an intermediate constricted section
36. It should be kept in mind that the cross-sectional dimensions
of the nozzle opening are in practice very small. For example, the
height of the nozzle opening in FIG. 2 can be less than one
millimeter.
18. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment 28b of the nozzle according to
the present invention, where the opening configuration has an
hour-glass shape with upper and lower outlet areas 38 and 40,
respectively, and an intermediate constricted area 42. The
manufacture of the nozzle configuration according to FIG. 3 can be
achieved by micromechanical technology, which is known per se,
applied to the shaping of separate portions 44 and 46 which define
the nozzle walls 48, 50.
19. FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a blank 52 of a nozzle
28c (FIGS. 6-8) according to the present invention. The blank 52
consists of a tubular element, the end of which has a cavity 54
which expands axially inwards in diametrically opposed portions in
the end portion of the tubular element. Opposing wall legs 56 are
thus formed in the tubular element. These wall legs 56 are bent in
a working step towards each other to converging shape, as shown in
FIG. 6. This forms a constricted axial outlet opening 58 of oval
shape and two diametrically opposite radial outlet openings 60,
which narrow towards the axial opening 58. Via a small gap 62, the
radial openings 60 can be joined to the axial opening 58 (FIGS. 6
and 7). In its position for use, the major axis of the oval axial
outlet opening 58 is oriented vertically.
20. FIG. 8 shows the nozzle 28c in a side view, i.e. in a position
corresponding to the position of the nozzle 28 in FIG. 1.
21. By virtue of the suggested cross-sectional configuration of the
nozzle opening, the height dimension of the nozzle tube can be made
smaller and thus the outlet area of the opening correspondingly
smaller with a larger pressure drop and a higher flow speed as a
result. The flow distribution of the injected glue can, however, be
steered towards the disc elements in the desired manner by the
suggested opening configuration. It is in this case also
conceivable to angle the upper and lower opening areas somewhat
away from each other so that diverging jets of glue are
produced.
* * * * *