Autoload disk copier system

An autoload disk copier system comprising:

• a copier unit having;
• a housing;
• a disk drive mounted in the housing, the drive unit having a disk tray with a first extended position for receiving or removing a compact disk in the tray and a second retracted position for reading or writing a disk in the tray by the disk drive;
• a disk load means supporting a plurality of disks in a stack over the disk tray;
• autoload separator means for displacing a disk from the stack in the disk load means to the disk tray when the disk tray is in the extended position;
• autoretrieve means separate from the disk load means for displacing a disk in the disk tray when the disk tray is in the extended position;
• disk storage means for storing disks displaced from the disk tray by the autoretrieve means, and
• electronic control means electronically connected to the disk drive, the autoload separator means and the autoretrieve means for controlling the sequence of operations including extending the disk tray, retracting the disk tray into the drive, activating the disk drive, and retrieving a disk from the tray, wherein the autoretrieve means comprises a reciprocal shuttle mechanism having a shuttle with a displaceable carriage and a downwardly displaceable pickup head mechanically connected to the carriage, the pickup head having engagement means for engaging a disk and retaining the disk on the pickup head.

An autoload disk copier system comprising;

• a copier unit having;
• a housing;
• a disk drive mounted in the housing, the drive unit having a disk tray with a first extended position for receiving or removing a compact disk in the tray and a second retracted position for reading or writing a disk in the tray by the disk drive;
• a disk load means supporting a plurality of disks in a stack over the disk tray;
• autoload separator means for displacing a disk from the stack in the disk load means to the disk tray when the disk tray is in the extended position;
• autoretrieve means separate from the disk load means for displacing a disk in the disk tray when the disk tray is in the extended position;
• disk storage means for storing disks displaced from the disk tray by the autoretrieve means;
• and
• electronic control means electronically connected to the disk drive, the autoload separator means and the autoretrieve means for controlling the sequence of operations including extending the disk tray, retracting the disk tray into the drive, activating the disk drive, and retrieving a disk from the tray, wherein the autoretrieve means comprises a horizontally reciprocal shuttle mechanism having a shuttle with a displaceable carriage and a downwardly displaceable pickup head mechanically connected to the carriage, the pickup head having disk engagement means for releasably engaging a disk at a center portion of the disk and retaining the disk on the pickup head for transport by the shuttle.

A disk printer transport system for attachment to a disk copier system, the disk printer transport system comprising:

• a transport unit having:
• a housing;
• a disk printer having a disk printer tray having an extended position for receiving a compact disk for printing and a retracted position for printing on a compact disk received in the disk printer tray, the disk printer being located inside the housing;
• displaceable transport means for receiving and holding a disk from the disk copier system and transporting the disk to the transport unit;
• autoretrieve means for displacing a disk held by the transport means, placing the disk onto the disk printer tray when the disk printer tray is in its extended position and retrieving the disk from the printer tray when the disk is printed, wherein the autoretrieve means is a reciprocal shuttle mechanism having a shuttle with a displaceable carriage and a downwardly displaceable pickup head mechanically connected to the carriage, the pickup head including a plurality of pickup prongs and the disks having a central hole wherein the pickup prongs have means for engaging and retaining a disk at the central hole of the disk, wherein the pickup head has link means to splay the pickup prongs;
• and,
• electronic control means electronically connected to the disk copier system, the transport means, the autoretrieve means, and the disk printer for controlling the sequence of operations including extending and retracting the disk printer tray, displacing the transport means, displacing a disk from the transport means, placing and retrieving the disk onto and from the disk printer tray, and engaging the disk printer.

A disk printer transport system in combination with a disk copier system having a disk copier tray, the combined disk printer transport system and disk copier system comprising:

• a transport unit having:
• a housing;
• a disk printer having a disk printer tray having an extended position for receiving a compact disk for printing and retracted position for printing on a compact disk in the disk printer tray;
• autoretrieve means for retrieving a disk from the disk copier tray when the disk copier tray is in the extended position, holding and transporting the disk to the disk printer and placing the disk onto the disk printer tray when the disk printer tray is in its extended position and, after printing, retrieving the disk from the disk printer tray, wherein the autoretrieve means comprises a reciprocal shuttle mechanism having a shuttle with a displaceable carriage and a downwardly displaceable pickup head mechanically supported by the carriage, the pickup head having an engagement mechanism that engages a disk and retains the disk on the pickup head;
• electronic control means electronically connected to the disk copier system, and autoretrieve means, and the disk printer for controlling the sequence of operations including extending and retracting the disk copier tray, extending and retracting the disk printer tray, retrieving a disk from the disk copier tray, transporting the disk to the disk printer, placing and retrieving the disk onto and from the disk printer tray, and engaging the disk printer.