# US 8,789,075 B2 · Medium transporting unit and medium processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,789,075 B2 - Document ID: US8789075B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/860,277 - Filed: 2013-04-10 - Published: 2013-11-14 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-04-05 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Hideki Kawakami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8789075B2 ## CPC - G11B 17/022: Positioning or locking of single discs - B41J 3/4071: {Printing on disk-shaped media, e.g. CDs} - G11B 17/08: from consecutive-access magazine of disc records - G11B 23/40: Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A holding mechanism is operable to hold a top medium from a plurality of plate-shaped media accommodated in a stacker in a stacked manner. A transport arm supports the holding mechanism. The transport arm is provided with a separation mechanism operable to separate a second medium positioned just below the top medium which is held by the holding mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medium transporting unit for transporting a top medium from a plurality of plate-shaped media accommodated in a stacker in a stacked manner, the medium transporting unit comprising: a holding mechanism operable to hold the top medium; a transport arm provided with the holding mechanism; and a lift mechanism operable to move up and down the transport arm, wherein the transport arm is provided with a separation mechanism operable to separate a second medium positioned just below the top medium which is held by the holding mechanism, wherein the separation mechanism includes a separation member having a contact piece which is movable so as to come in contact with an inner peripheral surface of a center hole formed on the second medium and being operable to move the contact piece to move the second medium in a radial direction thereof, wherein the separation mechanism is configured such that the contact piece of the separation member comes in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the center hole of the second medium and separates the second medium from the top medium while the lift mechanism moves up the transport arm after the holding mechanism holds the top medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the separation mechanism includes a moving mechanism operable to move the separation member so that the contact piece is located at a separation position where the contact piece comes in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the center hole to move the second medium in the radial direction thereof when the lift mechanism moves up the transport arm, and the contact piece is located at a waiting position where the contact piece does not come in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the center hole when the lift mechanism moves down the transport arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the moving mechanism includes a rack extending in a vertical direction and a pinion engaging with the rack; and wherein the moving mechanism moves the separation member by a rotational force of the pinion which is rotated by the rack when the lift mechanism moves up and down the transport arm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 3, wherein the separation member includes a front lever portion having the contact piece and a rear lever portion moved by the moving mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein the moving mechanism includes a clutch gear rotatable by a predetermined angle when the lift mechanism moves up and down the transport arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein the clutch gear moves the separation member a predetermined distance when the transport arm is moved up. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein at the time of moving down the transport arm so as to hold the medium or to place the held medium at a predetermined position, the separation member is made to pivot in an opposite direction by a predetermined distance by the clutch gear having rotated by the predetermined angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein the separation member is made to pivot by the clutch gear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein the separation member is linearly movable by the clutch gear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the separation member includes an elastic member operable to transmit a moving force applied to a rear lever portion to a front lever portion so that the contact piece applies an acting force to the second medium; and wherein when a counteracting force from the second medium is more than a force of the elastic member, the elastic member deforms so as not to transmit the moving force to the front lever portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A medium processing apparatus comprising: the medium transporting unit as set forth in claim 1; and a media drive having at least one of a function for writing data on the medium which is transported by the medium transporting unit and a function for reading data on the medium. ### Claim 12 A medium transporting method by a medium transporting unit for transporting a top medium from a plurality of plate-shaped media accommodated in a stacker in a stacked manner, the medium transporting unit including a holding mechanism operable to hold the top medium, a movable transport arm provided with the holding mechanism, a lift mechanism operable to move up and down the transport arm, and a pivotable lever having a contact piece operable to come in contact with a second medium positioned just below the top medium which is held by the holding mechanism, the medium transporting method comprising: holding the top medium by the holding mechanism; moving up the transport arm by the lift mechanism after the holding; and pivoting the lever to allow the contact piece to come in contact with the second medium after the holding and during the moving up.