Apparatus and buffing element for reconditioning digital recording discs

In an apparatus for reconditioning a protective surface of an optically-read digital recording disc, a buffing element comprising:

• a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a plate surface;
• a silicone coated closed cell foam pad fixedly engaged with said plate surface;
• and
• a buffing pad in fixed relation with said foam pad, said buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to face said foam pad, and said second surface being configured to contact and recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc.

In an apparatus for reconditioning a protective surface of an optically-read digital recording disc, a buffing element comprising:

• a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a plate surface;
• a foam pad fixedly engaged with said plate surface, said foam pad exhibiting a first diameter;
• and
• a buffing pad in fixed relation with said foam pad, said buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to face said foam pad, said second surface being configured to contact and recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc, and said buffing pad exhibiting a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter.

In an apparatus for reconditioning a protective face of an optically-read digital recording disc, a buffing element comprising:

• a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a plate surface;
• a foam pad fixedly engaged with said plate surface;
• a buffing pad in fixed relation with said foam pad, said buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to face said foam pad, said second surface being configured to contact and recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc, and said buffing pad including radial projections along a perimeter of said buffing pad;
• and
• a turntable for rotating said buffing element such that when said buffing element rotates upon said turntable, said radial projections impart a sloped edge on a border between an unconditioned portion and a reconditioned portion of said protective surface of said disc.

In an apparatus for reconditioning a protective surface of an optically-read digital recording disc, a buffing element comprising:

• a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a first plate surface and a second plate surface on an opposite side of said stabilizer plate from said first plate surface;
• a first foam pad fixedly engaged with said first plate surface;
• a second foam pad coupled to said second plate surface of said stabilizer plate;
• and
• a buffing pad in fixed relation with said first foam pad, said buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to face said first foam pad, and said second surface being configured to contact and recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc.

A buffing element in an apparatus for reconditioning a protective surface of an optically-read digital recording disc, said apparatus including a turntable for rotating said buffing element, said buffing element comprising:

• a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a plate surface;
• an open cell foam pad coupled to said plate surface;
• a closed cell foam pad coupled to said open cell foam pad;
• and
• a buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to couple to said closed cell foam pad, said second surface being configured to contact and recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc, and said buffing pad including projections along a perimeter of said buffing pad for imparting a gradually sloped edge on a border between an unconditioned portion and a reconditioned portion of said protective surface of said disc when said buffing element rotates upon said turntable.

An apparatus for reconditioning a protective surface of an optically-read digital recording disc, said apparatus comprising:

• a turntable configured to receive a center section of said optically-read disc, said center section being located about a center hole of said optically-read disc;
• a first motor, coupled to said turntable, for rotating said turntable and said optically-read disc at a first rotational speed;
• a buffing element for removing an amount of material from said protective surface as said turntable rotates said optically-read disc through at least one revolution, said buffing element including:
• a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a plate surface;
• a foam pad fixedly engaged with said plate surface;
• and
• a buffing pad in fixed relation with said foam pad, said buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to face said foam pad, and said second surface being configured to recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc;
• a second motor, coupled to said buffing element, for rotating said buffing element at a second rotational speed;
• and
• a timing element, in communication with each of said first and second motors, for synchronizing said first and second motors to substantially simultaneously cease rotation of said turntable and said buffing element following removal of said amount of material.