Integrated disc inspection and repair apparatus and appertaining method

A method for inspecting an optical disc, comprising:

• entering process parameters and criteria at an input device;
• storing process parameters in a main controller;
• inserting a disc into an inspection station;
• reading a disc cylinder according to a criteria;
• determining if a fault is detected;
• if a fault is detected, then
• if a criteria is exceeded based on the detected fault, then removing the disc from the inspection station as a bad disc;
• if a criteria is not exceeded, then incrementing a fault count and continuing the method;
• determine if all cylinders determined by the criteria have been read;
• if all cylinders have been read, then removing the disc from the inspection station as a good disc;
• and
• if all cylinders have not been read, then repeating the method steps of reading a disc, determining if a fault is detected, and determining if all cylinders have been read.

An optical disc repair system, comprising at least one repair station that comprises:

• a repair station input tray for inserting a disc into the repair station;
• a disc holding assembly for securely holding the disc during a repair operation;
• a disc movement motor that moves the disc in the disc holding assembly in a position for the repair operation;
• a rotating brush that contacts the disc during the repair operation;
• a fluid pump that delivers fluid to the rotating brush prior to or during the repair operation;
• and
• a repair station controller that controls the repair station input tray, the disc holding assembly, the disc movement motor, the rotating brush, and the fluid pump.

A method for repairing a damaged optical disc, comprising:

• providing a predetermined criteria for repair to a repair station controller;
• inserting a disc into a station input tray;
• closing the station input tray;
• mounting the disc on a disc holding assembly using the station controller;
• moving the disc holding assembly into a position for a repair operation using the station controller;
• rotating a brush that is in contact with the disc during the repair operation, and rotating the disc as well, where the speed of rotation of the brush and the disc is controlled by the station controller using the predetermined criteria;
• providing a fluid to the brush before or during the repair operation;
• moving the rotating brush over the disc during the repair operation along an axis that is parallel to the disc radius in a back and forth manner;
• ending the repair operation by the station controller based on the predetermined criteria;
• moving the disc holding assembly into the station input tray;
• extending the station input tray;
• and
• removing the disc from the station input tray.

A method for repairing a damaged optical disc, comprising:

• providing a polish station predetermined criteria for inspection to a polish station controller;
• inserting a disc into a polish station input tray;
• closing the polish station input tray;
• mounting the disc on a polish station disc holding assembly using the polish station controller;
• moving the polish station disc holding assembly into a position for a polishing operation using the polish station controller;
• rotating a polish station brush that is in contact with the disc during the polishing operation, and rotating the disc as well, where the speed of rotation of the polish station brush and the disc is controlled by the polish station controller using the polish station predetermined criteria;
• providing a fluid to the polish station brush before or during the polishing operation;
• moving the rotating brush over the disc during the polishing operation along an axis that is parallel to the disc radius in a back and forth manner;
• ending the polishing operation by the station controller based on the polish station predetermined criteria;
• moving the polish station disc holding assembly into the polish station input tray;
• extending the polish station input tray;
• removing the disc from the polish station input tray;
• providing a rejuvenate station predetermined criteria for inspection to a rejuvenate station controller;
• inserting a disc into a rejuvenate station input tray;
• closing the rejuvenate station input tray;
• mounting the disc on a rejuvenate station disc holding assembly using the rejuvenate station controller;
• moving the rejuvenate station disc holding assembly into a position for a rejuvenating operation using the rejuvenate station controller;
• rotating a rejuvenate station brush that is in contact with the disc during the rejuvenating operation, and rotating the disc as well, where the speed of rotation of the rejuvenate station brush and the disc is controlled by the rejuvenate station controller using the rejuvenate station predetermined criteria;
• providing a fluid to the rejuvenate station brush before or during the rejuvenating operation;
• moving the rotating brush over the disc during the rejuvenating operation along an axis that is parallel to the disc radius in a back and forth manner;
• ending the rejuvenating operation by the station controller based on the rejuvenate station predetermined criteria;
• moving the rejuvenate station disc holding assembly into the rejuvenate station input tray;
• extending the rejuvenate station input tray;
• and
• removing the disc from the rejuvenate station input tray.

An integrated optical disc inspection and repair system, comprising:

• a main controller;
• a user display connected to the main controller for displaying status information;
• a user input device connected to the main controller for entering information including system configuration variables into the main controller;
• an inspection system having a disc inspection station that is configured to determine if a disc requires repair according to a predefined criteria from the main controller, providing a disc inspection status on the user display;
• and
• repair system having a repair station attached to the inspection station that receives a disc requiring repair and is configured to perform a repair operation on the disc requiring repair.

An optical disc integrated inspection and repair system, comprising:

• a main controller;
• a user display connected to the main controller for displaying status information;
• a user input device connected to the main controller for entering information including system configuration variables into the main controller;
• an inspection system having a disc inspection station that has a drive input tray to receive a disc to be inspected, the inspection station being configured to check a track integrity and the track being chosen by a predetermined criterion, the inspection station being configured to determine a type of disc and make an appropriate inspection that is dependent on the type of disc, and the inspection system being connected with the main controller for receiving the predetermined inspection criterion and to provide some indication of results of an inspection;
• and
• a repair system, comprising at least one repair station that comprises:
• a repair station input tray for inserting a disc into the repair station;
• a disc holding assembly for securely holding the disc during a repair operation;
• a disc movement motor that moves the disc in the disc holding assembly in a position for the repair operation;
• a rotating brush that contacts the disc during the repair operation;
• a fluid pump that delivers fluid to the rotating brush prior to or during the repair operation;
• and
• a repair station controller that controls the repair station input tray, the disc holding assembly, the disc movement motor, the rotating brush, and the fluid pump.

A method for inspecting and repairing an optical disc, comprising:

• entering process parameters and criteria at an input device;
• storing process parameters in a main controller;
• inserting a disc into an inspection station;
• reading a disc cylinder according to a criteria;
• determining if a fault is detected;
• if a fault is detected, then
• if a criteria is exceeded based on the detected fault, then removing the disc from the inspection station as a bad disc;
• if the criteria is not exceeded, then incrementing a fault count and continuing the method;
• determining if all cylinders determined by the criteria have been read;
• if all cylinders have been read, the removing the disc from the inspection station as a good disc;
• and
• if all cylinders have not been read, then repeating the method steps of reading a disc, determining if a fault is detected, and determining if all cylinders have been read;
• repairing a bad disc according to the following:
• providing a predetermined criteria for repair to a repair station controller;
• inserting the disc into a station input tray;
• closing the station input tray;
• mounting the disc on a disc holding assembly using the station controller;
• moving the disc holding assembly into a position for a repair operation using the station controller;
• rotating a brush that is in contact with the disc during the repair operation, and rotating the disc as well, where the speed of rotation of the brush and the disc is controlled by the station controller using the predetermined criteria;
• providing a fluid to the brush before or during the repair operation;
• moving the rotating brush over the disc during the repair operation along an axis that is parallel to the disc radius in a back and forth manner;
• ending the repair operation by the station controller based on the predetermined criteria;
• moving the disc holding assembly into the station input tray;
• extending the station input tray;
• and
• removing the disc from the station input tray.