Elm v. Venmill Industries

1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

John M. Agnello
Melissa E. Flax
CARELLA, BYRNE, CECCHI,
OLSTEIN, BRODY & AGNELLO, P.C.
5 Becker Farm Road
Roseland, NJ 07068
Tel: (973) 994-1700
Fax: (973) 994-1744

William S. Frommer
Kevin Murphy
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG LLP
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10151
Tel: (212) 588-0800
Fax: (212) 588-0500

Attorneys for Plaintiff
ELM, Inc.

ELM, INC.,

Plaintiff,
v.

VENMILL INDUSTRIES, INC.

Defendant.
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Civil Action No. ____________

Document Electronically Filed

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT

Plaintiff, ELM, Inc. ("ELM"), by its attorneys, for its Complaint, alleges as
follows:

2
The Parties

1. ELM is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Japan and
having its principal place of business at 2398 Kasedamiyabara, Minamisatsuma-City,
Kagoshima, 897-1124, Japan.
2. Defendant VenMill Industries, Inc. (Venmill) is a corporation organized
and existing under the law of the State of Massachusetts and having its principal place of
business at 670 Douglas Street, Uxbridge, MA 01569.
Nature of the Action
3. This is an action for patent infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,342,905
entitled Optical Disk Restoration Method and Apparatus (the 905 patent). This action arises
therefore under the patent laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 1 et seq.
Jurisdiction and Venue
4. This Court has original jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331 & 1338(a).
5. According to the VenMill website, VenMill maintains distributors of its
products throughout the U.S., including in the state of New Jersey. Consumers throughout the
U.S., including those in New Jersey, can purchase various VenMill products by placing orders
through the VenMill website.
6. Further, upon information and belief, VenMills authorized distributor
Unbeatable Sales, located in Lakewood, New Jersey offers for sale a device VenMill refers to
as the VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer.
7. The VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer is covered by at least one claim of the
905 patent.
3
8. VenMill has infringed, and continues to infringe, literally and/or under
the doctrine of equivalents, one or more claims of the 905 patent at least by making, using,
offering to sell, and selling (directly or through intermediaries) and/or supplying in this district
the VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer.
9. VenMill has directed its activities at residents of New Jersey, by offering
the VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer to customers for sale on its website, including to customers in
New Jersey and offering the VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer through its New Jersey-based
distributor Unbeatable Sales. VenMill has made specific efforts to comply with New Jersey
statutes and regulations governing the operation of the VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer. New Jersey
residents have purchased and/or used the VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer in the State of New Jersey.
10. At least specific personal jurisdiction over VenMill is therefore
appropriate as this cause of action arises directly from VenMills action in New Jersey and
VenMills conduct forms the basis of ELMs claim of damage from VenMills infringing
conduct.
11. Venue is thus also proper in this judicial district under 28 U.S.C.
1391(b).
12. VenMill maintains sufficient contacts with New Jersey such that the
exercise of jurisdiction over VenMill is consistent with the requirements of due process and
does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.
Background of the 905 Patent
13. The '905 patent was duly and legally issued by the United States Patent
and Trademark Office to Takakazu Miyahara, Terumasa Miyahara, and Kazutoshi Chijiwa on
4
January 1, 2013. The inventors assigned the 905 patent to ELM. A true and correct copy of the
'905 patent is attached hereto as Exhibit l.
14. ELM is the assignee of the '905 patent and continues to hold all rights,
title, and interest therein.
COUNT I
Patent Infringement of the 905 Patent

15. ELM repeats and re-alleges each of the foregoing Paragraphs as if fully set
forth herein.
16. As noted above, VenMill has manufactured and sold, and offered for sale
and continues to manufacture, sell and offer for sale the infringing VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer
throughout the United States and through a global distribution network, including in this judicial
district.
17. VenMill manufactures, sells, and offers for sale the infringing VMI
Hybrid Disk Restorer without authority, consent or license from ELM.
18. ELM has been damaged and continues to be damaged by VenMills
infringement of the 905 patent.
COUNT II
Willful Infringement of the 905 Patent

forth herein.
20. ELM gave written notice to VenMill of its infringement, and VenMill
acknowledged this notice in writing.
21. VenMill, made aware that its VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer was infringing,
nevertheless continues to manufacture, sell and offer for sale the VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer.
5
22. Upon information and belief, VenMills infringement of the 905 patent
has been willful.
COUNT III

Exceptional Case

forth herein.
24. VenMills intentional infringement of the VMI Hybrid Disk Restorer, and
its continued direct infringement, makes this case exceptional under 35 U.S.C. 285 and ELM is
entitled to the reasonable costs and expenses of litigation.
Prayer for Relief
WHEREFORE, ELM respectfully requests the following relief:
A.) Declaring that VenMill has infringed U.S. Patent No. 8,342,905;
B.) Awarding Plaintiff damages adequate to compensate for VenMills infringing
activities, including supplemental damages for any post-verdict infringement up until the
entry of the final judgment with an accounting as needed, together with prejudgment and
post-judgment interest on the damages awarded; all of these damages to be enhanced in
an amount up to treble the amount of compensatory damages as justified under 35 U.S.C.
284;
C.) Enjoining on a preliminary and permanent basis VenMill and its officers,
directors, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, divisions, branches, subsidiaries, parents
and all others acting in concert or privity with them from direct or indirect infringement
of the patent-in-suit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 283;
D.) Declaring that this case is exceptional under 35 U.S.C. 285 and awarding
6
Plaintiff its reasonable attorneys fees, costs and other expenses of litigation; and
E.) Awarding Plaintiff such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and
proper.
JURY DEMAND
25. ELM requests a jury trial on all issues.

OLSTEIN, BRODY & AGNELLO

Dated: July 21, 2014 By: /s/ Melissa E. Flax
John M. Agnello
Melissa E. Flax

Of Counsel:
William S. Frommer
Kevin Murphy
745 Fifth Avenue
Tel: (212) 588-0800
Fax: (212) 588-0500

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LOCAL RULE 11.2 CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that this matter is the subject of another
declaratory judgment action asserted by Defendant Venmill Industries, Inc., and styled
VENMILL INDUSTRIES, INC. v. ELM, INC., filed in the District Court for the District of
Massachusetts (Massachusetts Action). VenMill has not served the Complaint in the
Massachusetts action upon ELM.


John M. Agnello
Melissa E. Flax

Of Counsel:
William S. Frommer
Kevin Murphy
745 Fifth Avenue
Tel: (212) 588-0800
Fax: (212) 588-0500

8
LOCAL RULE 201.1 CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to L. Civ. R. 201.1, the undersigned counsel for the Plaintiff ELM, Inc.
hereby certifies that the action includes a prayer for injunctive relief and therefore that this action
is not appropriate for compulsory arbitration.


John M. Agnello
Melissa E. Flax

Of Counsel:
William S. Frommer
Kevin Murphy
745 Fifth Avenue
Tel: (212) 588-0800
Fax: (212) 588-0500

EXHIBIT A
US008342905B2
( 1 2) United States Patent ( 1 0) Patent N 0. : US 8, 342, 905 B2
Miyahara et a] . ( 45) Date o f Patent: J an. 1 , 201 3
( 54) OPTICAL DISK RESTORATION METHOD 5, 099, 61 8 A * 3/1 992 Schmid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /57
AN DAPPARATUS 5, 1 02, 099 A * 4/1 992 Bro wn et al . . . . . . . 451 /283
5, 1 1 3, 622 A * 5/1 992 N ishiguchiet a1 . . . . . . . . 451 /7
. . . 5, 305, 554 A * 4/1 994 Emk t l . . . . . . . 451 /1 1 3
( 75) Inv ento rs: Takakazu M1 yahara, M1 nam1 satsuma 5, 593, 343 A * M997 Bauein 451 /254
( J P) ; Terl l masa Ml yahara, 5, 674, 1 1 5 A * 1 0/1 997 Yamashita etal . . 451 /289
Minamisatsuma ( J P) ; Kazuto shi 5, 797, 789 A * 8/1 998 Tanaka et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /289
Chij iiW a, Minamisatsuma ( J P) ( Co ntinued)
( 73) Assignee: El m Inc. , Minamisatsuma ( J P) FOREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
J P A-9-32326l 1 2/1 997
* N o tice: Sub'ect to an discl aimer, the term o f this
J y .
p atent is ex tended o r adj usted under 35 ( co ml nued)
U. S. C. 1 54( b) by 369 days.
OTHER PUBLICATION S
( 21 ) Ap p l ' N O : 1 2/679 427 N o v . 2, 2009 W ritten Op inio n issued in Internatio nal Patent Ap p l i
( 22) PCT Fil ed Aug 31 2009 catio n N o . PCT/J P2009/004270 ( with transl atio n) .
. . ,
( Co ntinued)
( 86) PCT N o . : PCT/J P2009/004270
371 ( OX 1 ) , Primary Ex aminer * Geo rge N guyen
( 2) , ( 4) Date; Mar, 22, 201 0 ( 74) Atto rney, Agent, o r Firm * Ol if f & Berridge, PLC
( 87) PCT Pub. N o . : W O201 1 /024241 ( 57) ABSTRACT
PCT Pub' Date; Mar, 3, 201 1 An o p tical diskresto ratio n ap p aratus and o p tical diskresto
ratio n metho d are p ro v ided, W hich are cap abl e o f achiev ing a
( 65) PI iOI Pl l bl icatiOIl Data high l ev el o f cap abil ity o f resto ring a scratched o p tical disk,
Us 201 1 /01 43636 A1 J un 1 6, 201 1 W itho ut co nsuming the time and l abo r o f an o p erato r, W hil e
reducing the p ro ductio n co st o f the ap p aratus. During a p o l
( 51 ) In ; C] _ ishing p ro cess, an ap p ro p riate amo unt o f a p o l ishing agent is
B24C 3/00 ( 200601 ) dro p p ed o nto the reado ut surf ace o f the o p tical diskby a
( 52) us. Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /2; 451 /7; 451 /41 ; 451 /60; p o l ishing agent sup p l y p ump to Co ntinuo usl y Sup p l y the P01
451 /285; 451 /446 ishing agent to the interf ace betW een the o p tical diskand
( 58) Fiel d o f Cl assi? catio n Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /41 , p o l ishing p ads, W hil e a p o l ishing W ater Sup p l y Pump is Op er
451 /60, 2834290, 7, 2, 446 ated to rep l enish the p o l ishing agent W ith mo isture ev ap o
See ap p l icatio n ? l e f o r co mp l ete search histo ry. rated by the p o l ishing heat. By this mechanism, the amo unt
and p hysical p ro p erties o f the p o l ishing agent at the interf ace
( 56) Ref erences Cited betW een the o p tical diskand the p o l ishing p ads are ap p ro p ri
atel y maintained f o r a l o ng p erio d o f time, so that the resto
U-S- PATEN T DOCUMEN TS ratio n cap abil ity is maintained at high l ev el s.
4, 1 79, 852 A * 1 2/1 979 Barnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /63
4, 561 , 1 42 A * 1 2/1 985 Mischenko et al . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5/971 1 2 Cl aims, 7 Drawing Sheets
25 27a 28a 25b 27b
20
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
P a g e 2
US. P ATENT DOCUMENTS J P A-2 0 0 4 -3 9 15 5 2 / 2 0 0 4
6 , 0 9 9 , 3 9 3 A 8 / 2 0 0 0 K a t a g i r i e t a l . 5 ; 4 3 3 8 ( 5 ) : 13 5 8 8 ;
6 , 116 , 9 8 7 A * 9 / 2 0 0 0 K ubo ............................ .. 4 5 1/ 4 1 J P A_2 0 0 6 _l 6 74 4 0 6 / 2 0 0 6
6 , 2 6 1, 15 8 B1 7/ 2 0 0 1 Hol l a nd e t a l . J P A_2 0 0 7_3 0 1712 11/ 2 0 0 7
6 , 3 12 , 3 2 0 B2 * 11/ 2 0 0 1 Sa t o e t a l . ................... .. 4 5 1/ 2 8 5 J P U_3 14 4 73 3 9 / 2 0 0 8
6 , 8 4 6 , 2 2 8 B2 * 1/ 2 0 0 5 Li n ........... .. . 4 5 1/ 2 9 0 J p A_2 0 0 8 _3 0 2 4 6 9 12 / 2 0 0 8
7, 6 2 5 , 2 6 3 B2 * 12 / 2 0 0 9 Mi ya ha r a e t a l . ........... .. 4 5 1/ 2 8 7 W0 W0 ( ) 0 / 3 5 6 2 7 6 / 2 0 0 0
FOREIGN P ATENT DOCUMENTS OTHER P UBLIC ATIQNS
i ; Ma r . 13 , 2 0 1.2 Not i ? c a t i on of Re a s on f or I-{ e j e c t i on i s -s ue d i n J a pa ne s e
J p A_2 0 0 2 _8 6 3 3 8 3 / 2 0 0 2 P a t e nt Appl i c a t i on No. 2 0 10 -5 114 16 ( w i t h t r a ns l a t i on) .
J P A-2 0 0 2 -5 4 16 4 9 12 / 2 0 0 2
J P A-2 0 0 3 -2 4 3 3 4 3 8 / 2 0 0 3 * c i t e d by e xa mi ne r
US. Patent J an. 1 , 2 0 1 3 Sh eet 1 0 1 7 US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
F i g . 1
2 8 2 7 a 2 6a
2 6b 2 7 b
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US. Patent J an. 1 , 2 0 1 3 Sh eet 2 o f 7 US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
F i g . 2
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/ 9
2 4 a 2 4 b
F i g . 3
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S h e e t 3 0 f 7 US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2 US . Pat e nt J an. 1 , 2 0 1 3
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1
OPTICAL DISK RESTORATION METHOD
AND APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The p r es en t i n v en t i o n r el a t es t o a met ho d a n d a p p a r a t u s f o r
r es t o r i n g a n o p t i c a l di s k , s u c h a s a c o mp a c t di s k ( CD) , di g i t a l
v er s a t i l e di s k ( DVD) o r b l u e- r a y di s k ( BD) , b y r emo v i n g
s c r a t c hes a n d o t her def ec t s f r o m i t s r ea do u t s u r f a c e.
BACKGROUND ART
Op t i c a l di s k s , s u c h a s CDs , DVDs a n d BDs , a r e ma de o f a
t r a n s p a r en t r es i n ( a l t ho u g h s o me p r o du c t s a r e c o l o r ed W i t hi n
t he v i s i b l e l i g ht r eg i o n ) a n d n o r ma l l y ha v e a t hi c k n es s o f
a p p r o xi ma t el y 1 . 2 mi n a n d a di a met er o f 1 2 0 mm, W i t h a
c en t r a l ho l e o f 1 5 mm i n di a met er .
FIG. 8 i s a di a g r a m s ho W i n g t he s t r u c t u r e o f a c o mmo n l y
u s ed o p t i c a l di s k 1 0 0 , W her e FIG. 8 ( a ) i s a p l a n v i eW a n d FIG.
8 ( b ) i s a s ec t i o n a l v i eW a t t he a r r o W ed l i n e X- X i n FIG. 8 ( a ) ,
ea c h v i eW s ho W i n g a CD o r DVD o n t he r i g ht ha l f a n d a BD
o n t he l ef t .
An o p t i c a l di s k ho l ds i n f o r ma t i o n i n i t s s p ec i ? c l a y er ; i n
CDs , t hi s l a y er i s l o c a t ed o n t he s i de o p p o s i t e t o t he r ea do u t
s u r f a c e, W hi l e DVDs ha v e t hi s l a y er a t a dep t h o f a p p r o xi
ma t el y 0 . 6 mm f r o m t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e. In BDs , t he i n f o r
ma t i o n i s r ec o r ded i n a l a y er 0 . 1 mm b el o W t he r ea do u t
s u r f a c e. The i n f o r ma t i o n hel d i n t he i n f o r ma t i o n r ec o r d l a y er
i s r ea d b y t hr o W i n g a l a s er b ea m o n t o t hi s l a y er t hr o u g h t he
r ea do u t s u r f a c e a n d det ec t i n g a r e? ec t ed b ea m c o mi n g f r o m
t he s a me l a y er .
Ther ef o r e, i f t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e o f t he o p t i c a l di s k i s
s c r a t c hed, i t i s i n p r i n c i p l e i mp o s s i b l e t o c o r r ec t l y r ea d i n f o r
ma t i o n b ec a u s e t he l a s er b ea m f o r r ea di n g t he i n f o r ma t i o n
a n d t he r e? ec t ed l i g ht c o mi n g f r o m t he i n f o r ma t i o n r ec o r d
l a y er a r e r e? ec t ed o r s c a t t er ed a t t he s c r a t c hed p o r t i o n .
As a l r ea dy s t a t ed, t he i n f o r ma t i o n hel d b y t he o p t i c a l di s k
i s n o t r ec o r ded o n t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e b u t i n t he i n f o r ma t i o n
r ec o r d l a y er b en ea t h t he s u r f a c e. Ther ef o r e, a s c r a t c h o n t he
r ea do u t s u r f a c e do es n o t di r ec t l y da ma g e t he i n f o r ma t i o n .
Ac c o r di n g l y , i f t he i n f o r ma t i o n r ec o r d l a y er i s s a f e, i t i s
p o s s i b l e t o r ea d t he i n f o r ma t i o n o n c e mo r e b y r emo v i n g t he
s c r a t c h f r o m t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e.
The p r i n c i p l e o f r es t o r i n g a n o p t i c a l di s k i s her ei n a f t er
des c r i b ed u s i n g FIGS. 9 a n d 1 0 . FIG. 9 i s a n en l a r g ed s ec
t i o n a l v i eW o f a s i n g l e- l a y er BD W i t h t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e
di r ec t ed u p W a r ds , i n W hi c h a n i n f o r ma t i o n r ec o r d l a y er 1 3 0
f o r med o n a s u b s t r a t e 1 2 0 ma de o f a p o l y c a r b o n a t e r es i n o r
s i mi l a r ma t er i a l s ha v i n g a t hi c k n es s o f a p p r o xi ma t el y 1 . 1 mm
i s c o v er ed b y a c o v er l a y er 1 4 0 o f a p p r o xi ma t el y 0 . 1 mm i n
t hi c k n es s a n d a ha r d- c o a t l a y er 1 5 0 o f 2 t o 5 mi c r o met er s i n
t hi c k n es s .
FIGS. 1 0 ( 1 1 ) a n d 1 0 ( b ) a r e b o t h a n en l a r g ed s ec t i o n a l v i eW
o f a n o p t i c a l di s k W i t h t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e di r ec t ed u p W a r ds ,
s ho W i n g t he p o r t i o n c o r r es p o n di n g t o t he a r ea s u r r o u n ded b y
t he c i r c l e A i n FIG. 9 . FIG. 1 0 ( a ) s ho W s t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e
W i t h s c r a t c hes 1 6 0 , a n d FIG. 1 0 ( b ) s ho W s t he s a me p o r t i o n
W i t h t he s c r a t c h g r o u n d a W a y .
In t hi s ma n n er , t he o p t i c a l di s k c a n b e r es t o r ed b y g r i n di n g
a W a y t he di s k s u r f a c e b y a t hi c k n es s a p p r o xi ma t el y eq u a l t o
t he dep t h o f t he s c r a t c h a n d t hen p er f o r mi n g a mi r r o r - p o l i s h
i n g p r o c es s .
Op t i c a l di s k r es t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s es f o r p o l i s hi n g a n o p t i
c a l di s k t o r emo v e a s c r a t c h f r o m i t s r ea do u t s u r f a c e i n t he
p r ev i o u s l y des c r i b ed ma n n er ha v e b een c o n v en t i o n a l l y
k n o W n ( f o r exa mp l e, r ef er t o Pa t en t Do c u men t 1 ) . An
exa mp l e o f t he c o n v en t i o n a l o p t i c a l di s k r es t o r a t i o n a p p a r a
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
2
t u s es i n c l u des a r o t a r y t a b l e, o n W hi c h a n o p t i c a l di s k t o b e
r es t o r ed c a n b e s et , a di s k - s ha p ed p o l i s hi n g b o dy , a n d o t her
c o mp o n en t s . Thi s a p p a r a t u s p o l i s hes t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e o f
t he o p t i c a l di s k b y r o t a t i n g t he p o l i s hi n g b o dy a n d t he r o t a r y
t a b l e W hi l e ma i n t a i n i n g t he p o l i s hi n g b o dy i n c o n t a c t W i t h t he
r ea do u t s u r f a c e.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Pa t en t Do c u men t
Pa t en t Do c u men t 1 : J a p a n es e Un exa mi n ed Pa t en t Ap p l i c a
t i o n Pu b l i c a t i o n No . 2 0 0 5 - 3 l 0 2 l l
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Pr o b l ems t o b e So l v ed b y t he In v en t i o n
The p o l i s hi n g met ho ds b y t he a f o r emen t i o n ed c o n v en
t i o n a l o p t i c a l di s k r es t o r a t i o n dev i c es c a n b e c l a s s i ? ed i n t o
t hr ee t y p es . On e met ho d i s c a l l ed a dr y t y p e, i n W hi c h t he di s k
i s p o l i s hed W i t h a b u f f ma de o f s p o n g e, f el t , c l o t h o r s i mi l a r
ma t er i a l ho l di n g a r el a t i v el y hi g h- v i s c o s i t y p o l i s hi n g a g en t .
The s ec o n d met ho d i s c a l l ed a W et t y p e, i n W hi c h t he di s k i s
i n i t i a l l y g r o u n d W i t h s a n dp a p er o r s i mi l a r ma t er i a l W hi l e
W a t er i s s u p p l i ed o n t o i t , a f t er W hi c h a mi r r o r - p o l i s hi n g p r o
c es s u s i n g a b u f f W i t h a p o l i s hi n g a g en t i s p er f o r med a s i n t he
dr y p r o c es s . The t hi r d t y p e i s a hy b r i d o f t hes e t W o t y p es ; a
c o l l o i da l hi g h- v i s c o s i t y p o l i s hi n g a g en t i s di l u t ed t o p r ep a r e
a mi l k - l i k e l o W - v i s c o s i t y l i q u i d, a n d a p o l i s hi n g p r o c es s
u s i n g a b u f f i s p er f o r med W i t h t he l i q u i d c o n t i n u o u s l y s u p
p l i ed o n t o t he di s k b y a p u mp o r s i mi l a r dev i c e.
The ? r s t met ho d, i . e. dr y p o l i s hi n g , c a n b e p er f o r med b y
s i mp l e- s t r u c t u r ed a p p a r a t u s es , W hi c h a r e o f f er ed a t l o W
p r i c es . Ho W ev er , t hi s p r o c es s ha s a p r o b l em i n t ha t t he p o l
i s hi n g f u n c t i o n o f t he b u f f a n d p o l i s hi n g a g en t ma i n l y c o n
t i n u es o n l y du r i n g t he p er i o d o f t i me W her e t he p o l i s hi n g
a g en t b et W een t he b u f f a n d t he di s k i s i n a W et s t a t e; t he
p o l i s hi n g p o W er r a p i dl y dec r ea s es i f t he p o l i s hi n g a g en t
b ec o mes dr y . Ther ef o r e, i t s r es t o r a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y i s l o W a n d a
l o n g r es t o r a t i o n t i me i s r eq u i r ed f o r a deep s c r a t c h. An o t her
p r o b l em i s t ha t a n o p er a t o r n eeds t o p er f o r m t he t i me- c o n
s u mi n g t a s k o f p r ev i o u s l y a p p l y i n g t he p o l i s hi n g a g en t ev er y
t i me t he r es t o r a t i o n i s i n i t i a t ed.
In t he s ec o n d met ho d, i . e. W et p o l i s hi n g , t he c o n t i n u o u s
s u p p l y o f W a t er o n t o t he di s k du r i n g t he p o l i s hi n g p r o c es s
s u p p r es s es hea t g en er a t i o n a n d r emo v es s c r a p ed c hi p s .
Ther ef o r e, a p o W er f u l g r i n di n g p r o c es s u s i n g s a n dp a p er o r
t he l i k e c a n b e p er f o r med t o a c hi ev e a hi g h l ev el o f r es t o r a t i o n
c a p a b i l i t y . Ho W ev er , p er f o r mi n g t he t W o p o l i s hi n g p r o c es s es ,
i . e. t he r o u g h p o l i s hi n g b y s a n dp a p er o r t he l i k e a n d t he ? n i s h
p o l i s hi n g b y a b u f f W i t h a p o l i s hi n g a g en t , r eq u i r es a n a p p a
r a t u s ha v i n g a c o mp l ex s t r u c t u r e, W hi c h t en ds t o b e exp en
s i v e.
In t he t hi r d p o l i s hi n g met ho d i n W hi c h a di l u t ed p o l i s hi n g
a g en t i s c o n t i n u o u s l y s u p p l i ed, t he r es t o r a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y i s
hi g her t ha n i n t he c a s e o f t he dr y - t y p e r es t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s
du e t o t he c o n t i n u o u s s u p p l y o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g en t o n t o t he
di s k du r i n g t he r es t o r a t i o n p er i o d. Ho W ev er , t he c o n t i n u o u s
s u p p l y o f t he mi l k - l i k e p o l i s hi n g a g en t t en ds t o c o n t a mi n a t e
t he di s k . Ther ef o r e, i t i s n ec es s a r y t o c o n s u me t i me a n d l a b o r
t o W a s h o r c l ea n t he r es t o r ed di s k .
The p r es en t i n v en t i o n ha s b een dev el o p ed i n v i eW o f t hes e
p r o b l ems , a n d i t s o b j ec t i v e i s t o p r o v i de a n o p t i c a l di s k r es
t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a n d o p t i c a l di s k r es t o r a t i o n met ho d
W her eb y a hi g h l ev el o f c a p a b i l i t y o f r es t o r i n g a s c r a t c hed
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
3
o p t i c a l d i s k i s a c h i e v e d W i t h o u t c o n s u m i n g t i m e a n d l a b o r o f
a n o p e r a t o r W h i l e r e d u c i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n c o s t o f t h e a p p a
r a t u s .
Me a n s f o r So l v i n g t h e P r o b l e m s
An o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n a i m e d a t s o l v i n g t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d p r o b
l e m s i s a d r y - t y p e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s f o r p o l
i s h i n g a r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f a n o p t i c a l d i s k t o b e r e s t o r e d , b y
r o t a t i n g a p o l i s h i n g p a d h o l d i n g a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d t h e
o p t i c a l d i s k r e l a t i v e t o e a c h o t h e r i n a c o n t a c t s t a t e , W h i c h i s
c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y i n c l u d i n g :
a ) a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k o r t h e p o l i s h i n g
P a d ;
b ) a p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h
i n g W a t e r , o r p o l i s h - a s s i s t i n g W a t e r , t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f
t h e o p t i c a l d i s k o r t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d ; a n d
e ) a s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s t o m a i n t a i n t h e a m o u n t o f t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d i n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g
p r o c e s s , a n d f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g W a t e r
s u p p l y m e a n s t o r e p l e n i s h t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t W i t h m o i s t u r e
e v a p o r a t e d b y a p o l i s h i n g h e a t ( i . e . h e a t g e n e r a t e d t h r o u g h
p o l i s h i n g ) .
Th e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s a d r y - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s f o r p o l
i s h i n g a d i s k b y a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d a p o l i s h i n g p a d ( e g a
b u f f ) a n d y e t i n c l u d e s a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s f o r
s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e s u r f a c e t o b e p o l i s h e d a n d
a p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g p o l i s h i n g W a t e r
( o r a c t u a l l y p o l i s h - a s s i s t i n g W a t e r ) t o t h e s u r f a c e b e i n g p o l
i s h e d . Th e s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t e s t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s t o s u p p l y a n a p p r o p r i a t e
a m o u n t o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e i n t e r f a c e b e t W e e n t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k a t a p p r o p r i a t e p o i n t s i n t i m e
s o t h a t t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a t t h e i n t e r f a c e W i l l r e m a i n e f f e c
t i v e f o r a l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e . Th e s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s a l s o
i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t e s t h e p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y m e a n s t o
s u p p l y a n a p p r o p r i a t e a m o u n t o f t h e p o l i s h i n g W a t e r t o t h e
s u r f a c e b e i n g p o l i s h e d a t a p p r o p r i a t e p o i n t s i n t i m e s o a s t o
c o o l t h e o p t i c a l d i s k , W h i c h g e n e r a t e s h e a t d u e t o t h e p o l i s h
i n g , a n d t o r e s t o r e t h e p o l i s h i n g p o W e r , W h i c h d e t e r i o r a t e s a s
t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t b e c o m e s d r y .
An o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n a i m e d a t s o l v i n g t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d p r o b l e m s i s a n
o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n m e t h o d i n c l u d i n g a d r y p o l i s h i n g
p r o c e s s f o r p o l i s h i n g a r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f a n o p t i c a l d i s k b y
c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s i n c l u d e s :
a ) a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p r o c e s s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p
p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k o r t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d t o m a i n t a i n t h e a m o u n t o f t h e p o l
i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d i n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g
p r o c e s s ; a n d
b ) a p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y p r o c e s s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p
p l y i n g a p o l i s h i n g W a t e r t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k o r t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d t o r e p l e n i s h t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t W i t h
m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y a p o l i s h i n g h e a t .
E f f e c t s o f t h e I n v e n t i o n
Th e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a n d o p t i c a l d i s k
r e s t o r a t i o n m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n a r e a
d r y - t y p e a p p a r a t u s o r m e t h o d f o r r e s t o r i n g a n o p t i c a l d i s k b y
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
4
p e r f o r m i n g a p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s u s i n g a p o l i s h i n g p a d W i t h a
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d t h e r e i n , a n d y e t h a v e t h e m e a n s f o r
i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e i n t e r f a c e
b e t W e e n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k d u r i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s a n d f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y r e p l e n i s h i n g t h e p o l
i s h i n g a g e n t W i t h m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y t h e f r i c t i o n a l h e a t .
By t h i s m e c h a n i s m , t h e a m o u n t a n d p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a t t h e i n t e r f a c e b e t W e e n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d a n d
t h e o p t i c a l d i s k a r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y m a i n t a i n e d f o r a l o n g p e r i o d
o f t i m e , s o t h a t i t s r e s t o r a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y i s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t o f
t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l d r y - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s a n d m e t h
o d s .
C o n v e n t i o n a l d r y - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s d o n o t h a v e
a n y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e d i s k s u r f a c e
d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s . Th e r e f o r e , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o
m a n u a l l y a p p l y a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t b e f o r e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n p r o
c e s s i s i n i t i a t e d , W h i c h m e a n s t h a t t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t c a n b e
a p p l i e d o n l y o n e t i m e f o r e a c h p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s .
Th e p o l i s h i n g m e t h o d u s i n g a b u f f a n d p o l i s h i n g a g e n t
p r o v i d e s a n e x p e c t e d l e v e l o f p o l i s h i n g p o W e r W h e n a n a p p r o
p r i a t e a m o u n t o f p o l i s h i n g a g e n t W i t h a p p r o p r i a t e p h y s i c a l
p r o p e r t i e s i s p r e s e n t b e t W e e n t h e b u f f a n d t h e d i s k . H o W e v e r ,
t h i s m e t h o d i s a c c o m p a n i e d b y h e a t g e n e r a t i o n , W h i c h m a k e s
t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t r a p i d l y d r y , t h e r e b y m a i n t a i n i n g i t s a p p r o
p r i a t e p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o n l y f o r a s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i m e .
Th e r e f o r e , f o r e x a m p l e , W h e n t h e o p t i c a l d i s k s h o u l d b e
g r o u n d b y l m i c r o m e t e r , t h e p r o c e s s o f a p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t a n d p e r f o r m i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n m u s t b e
r e p e a t e d m u l t i p l e t i m e s , W h i c h c o n s u m e s t h e t i m e a n d l a b o r
o f t h e o p e r a t o r .
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n h a s t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s
f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e d i s k s u r f a c e d u r i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s , W h e r e b y t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t c a n b e s u p
p l i e d m u l t i p l e t i m e s i n o n e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s . Th e a p p a r a t u s
a l s o h a s t h e p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a
t r a c e a m o u n t o f W a t e r t o t h e d i s k s u r f a c e d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g
p r o c e s s , W h e r e b y t h e p o l i s h i n g c a p a b i l i t y , W h i c h d e t e r i o r a t e s
a s t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t d r i e s , c a n b e r e s t o r e d . Ac c o r d i n g l y , t h e
p o l i s h i n g p o W e r c a n b e m a i n t a i n e d f o r a l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e ,
s o t h a t e v e n a d e e p s c r a t c h c a n b e r e m o v e d W i t h o u t r e q u i r i n g
m a n u a l t a s k s b y a n o p e r a t o r .
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e s t o r e s a n o p t i c a l d i s k b y s i m p l y p o l i s h i n g
i t W i t h a p o l i s h i n g p a d a n d a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t . Su c h a n a p p a
r a t u s c a n b e s i m p l e r i n s t r u c t u r e a n d l o W e r i n p r o d u c t i o n c o s t
t h a n a W e t - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s . As c o m p a r e d t o t h e
s y s t e m u s i n g a d i l u t e d p o l i s h i n g a g e n t , W h i c h a l s o h a s a
s i m p l e s t r u c t u r e , t h e p r e s e n t a p p a r a t u s i s a d v a n t a g e o u s i n t h a t
i t h a r d l y c o n t a m i n a t e s o p t i c a l d i s k s a n d h e n c e d o e s n o t
r e q u i r e t h e t r o u b l e s o m e t a s k o f W a s h i n g t h e r e s t o r e d d i s k .
BRI E F DE SC RI P TI ON OF TH E DRAW I NGS
FI G. 1 i s a m o d e l d i a g r a m s h o W i n g a s c h e m a t i c s t r u c t u r e o f
a n o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n .
FI G. 2 i s a s e c t i o n a l v i e W o f a p o l i s h i n g p a d .
FI G. 3 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W s h o W i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f a
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p .
FI G. 4 i s a p l a n v i e W o f t h e c o r e p a r t s o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t
s u p p l y p u m p .
FI G. 5 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f a c o m m o n l y u s e d t u b e
p u m p .
FI G. 6 i s a m o d e l d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g a n o p e r a t i o n o f a
b u i l t - i n t u b e p u m p i n a n o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
5
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , Wh e r e ( a ) s h o w s t h e n o n
o p e r a t i n g s t a t e a n d ( b ) s h o Ws t h e o p e r a t i n g s t a t e .
F I G . 7 i s a mo d e l d i a g r a m s h o Wi n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f a
p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly p u mp , Wh e r e ( a ) i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W
o f t h e p u mp s e c t i o n , ( h ) i s a s i d e v i e W i llu s t r a t i n g t h e p r i n c i p le
o f t h e p u mp , ( c ) i s a s e c t i o n a l v i e W s h o Wi n g a n e xa mp le o f a
v a lv e , a n d ( d ) i s a n e xa mp le o f a c o n ? g u r a t i o n i n c lu d i n g a
p o li s h i n g Wa t e r t a n k , a p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly p u mp a n d a
s p r a y h e a d .
F I G . 8 i s a d i a g r a m s h o Wi n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f a c o mmo n t y p e
o f o p t i c a l d i s k , Wh e r e ( a ) i s a p la n v i e W a n d ( b ) i s a s e c t i o n a l
v i e W a t t h e a r r o We d li n e X-X i n ( a ) , e a c h v i e W s h o Wi n g a CD
o r DVD o n t h e r i g h t s i d e a n d a BD o n t h e le ft s i d e .
F I G . 9 i s a n e n la r g e d s e c t i o n a l v i e W o f a s i n g le -la y e r BD.
F I G . 1 0 i s a n e n la r g e d v i e W o f t h e p o r t i o n i n s i d e t h e c i r c le
s h o Wn i n F I G . 9 , Wh e r e ( a ) s h o Ws t h e p o r t i o n b e fo r e r e s t o r a
t i o n , Wi t h a s c r a t c h t h e r e o n , a n d ( b ) s h o Ws t h e p o r t i o n a ft e r i t s
s u r fa c e i s r e mo v e d b y a r e s t o r a t i o n p r o c e s s .
BEST MODE F OR CARRYI NG OUT THE
I NVENTI ON
F I G . 1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W s h o Wi n g t h e i n t e r n a l s t r u c t u r e
o f a r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n
t i o n . Th e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 i n c lu d e s a r e s t o r a t i o n t a b le
2 1 , o n Wh i c h a n o p t i c a l d i s k t o b e r e s t o r e d c a n b e s e t , a n d a
mo t o r 5 3 fo r r o t a t i n g t h e r e s t o r a t i o n t a b le 2 1 . Th e r e s t o r a t i o n
t a b le 2 1 i s c i r c u mfe r e n t i a lly s u r r o u n d e d b y p la t e me mb e r s
( n o t s h o Wn ) . Th e s p a c e a b o v e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n t a b le 2 1 i s
c lo s e d b y a li d 2 0 fa n n i n g a c e i li n g t h a t i s fr e e t o o p e n . Wh e n
t h e p o li s h i n g o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 i s c o mp le t e d , t h e li d 2 0 i s
o p e n e d b y a li d -o p e n i n g me c h a n i s m 2 3 . Va r i o u s k i n d s o f
me c h a n i s m a r e a v a i la b le fo r t h e li d -o p e n i n g me c h a n i s m 2 3 .
On e e xa mp le u s e s a mo t o r o r s i mi la r d r i v e me c h a n i s m fo r
o p e n i n g t h e li d 2 0 . An o t h e r e xa mp le i n c lu d e s a s p r i n g fo r
p r e s s i n g t h e li d 2 0 t o Wa r d t h e o p e n e d p o s i t i o n , a h o o k fo r
h o ld i n g t h e li d 2 0 i n t h e c lo s e d p o s i t i o n , a n d a h o o k -r e le a s e
me c h a n i s m fo r r e le a s i n g t h e h o o k t o o p e n t h e li d 2 0 . Th e li d
2 0 h a s p o li s h i n g p a d h o ld e r s 2 4 1 a t t a c h e d o n i t s i n s i d e fa c e i n
a fr e e -t o -r o t a t e ma n n e r . I n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n p r o c e s s , t h e p o li s h
i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b a t t a c h e d t o t h e lo We r s i d e s o f t h e
p o li s h i n g p a d h o ld e r s 2 4 1 a r e p r e s s e d o n t o t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 b y a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r e s s u r e .
A p o li s h i n g a g e n t t a n k 4 7 r e t a i n i n g a p o li s h i n g a g e n t i s
c o n n e c t e d v i a a p o li s h i n g a g e n t s u p p ly p u mp 4 0 ( Wh i c h Wi ll
b e d e s c r i b e d la t e r ) t o t Wo p o li s h i n g a g e n t s u p p ly n o Z Z le s 2 6 a
a n d 2 6 b fo r s u p p ly i n g t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t o n t o t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 . Si mi la r ly , a p o li s h i n g Wa t e r t a n k 3 7 r e t a i n i n g p o l
i s h i n g Wa t e r i s c o n n e c t e d v i a a p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly p u mp
3 0 ( Wh i c h Wi ll a ls o b e d e t a i le d la t e r ) t o t Wo p o li s h i n g Wa t e r
s u p p ly n o Z Z le s 2 7a a n d 2 7b fo r s u p p ly i n g t h e p o li s h i n g Wa t e r
o n t o t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 .
Th e mo t o r 5 3 , p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly p u mp 3 0 , li d -o p e n
i n g me c h a n i s m 2 3 a n d o t h e r c o mp o n e n t s o p e r a t e a c c o r d i n g
t o t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s fr o m a c o n t r o lle r 2 2 .
Alt h o u g h t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b , p o li s h i n g a g e n t
s u p p ly n o Z Z le s 2 6 a a n d 2 6 b a n d p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly
n o Z Z le s 2 7a a n d 2 7b i n t h e p r e s e n t e mb o d i me n t a r e a ll i d e n
t i ? e d i n p a i r s , n e c e s s a r y c a p a b i li t i e s c a n b e a c h i e v e d a s lo n g
a s o n e o r mo r e o f e a c h o f t h e s e c o mp o n e n t s a r e p r e s e n t .
As a me t h o d fo r p r e s s i n g t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b
o n t o t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 b y a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r e s s u r e , i t i s
p o s s i b le t o p r o v i d e , a s s h o Wn i n F I G . 2 , a c o i l s p r i n g 2 9 i n a
b e a r i n g 2 8 h o ld i n g t h e r o t a t i o n s h a ft o f t h e p o li s h i n g p a d
h o ld e r 2 4 1 t o p r e s s t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b o n t h e
lo We r s i d e o f t h e p o li s h i n g p a d h o ld e r 2 4 1 o n t o t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 b y a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r e s s u r e .
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
6
Th e r e a r e o t h e r a lt e r n a t i v e s fo r t h i s t a s k . F o r e xa mp le , a
p lu r a li t y o f c o i l s p r i n g s ma y b e p r o v i d e d i n t h e p a d h o ld e r . I t
i s a ls o p o s s i b le t o u s e a p a d ma d e o f s p o n g e o r s i mi la r ma t e
r i a l h a v i n g a p p r o p r i a t e e la s t i c i t y a n d u t i li Z e i t s e la s t i c fo r c e .
I n t h e p r e s e n t e mb o d i me n t , t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b
a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a r e r o t a t e d a s fo llo Ws : Wh i le t h e
p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b a r e i n c o n t a c t Wi t h t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 Wi t h a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r e s s u r e , t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 i s
r o t a t e d b y t h e mo t o r 5 3 , Wh i c h ma k e s t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a
a n d 2 4 b a n d t h e p o li s h i n g p a d h o ld e r s 2 4 1 p a s s i v e ly r o t a t e
d u e t o t h e r o t a t i o n a l s t r e s s . Ho We v e r , t h e r e a r e ma n y a lt e ma
t i v e s fo r r o t a t i n g t h e p a d s . F o r e xa mp le , i t i s p o s s i b le t o
a c t i v e ly r o t a t e t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b a n d t h e p o li s h
i n g p a d h o ld e r s 2 4 1 b y a mo t o r , p r o d u c i n g a p a s s i v e r o t a t i o n
o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 b y a s t r e s s . Ac t i v e ly r o t a t i n g t h e p a r t s
o n b o t h s i d e s i s a ls o p o s s i b le . An o t h e r p o s s i b i li t y i s t o
a c t i v e ly r o t a t e t h e p a r t ( s ) o n o n e s i d e Wh i le b r a k i n g t h e p a r t ( s )
o n t h e o t h e r s i d e .
An a c t u a l r e s t o r a t i o n s e q u e n c e i s h e r e i n a ft e r d e s c r i b e d .
I n t h e s t a n d -b y s t a t e o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 , t h e li d
2 0 i s Wa i t i n g i n t h e o p e n p o s i t i o n , a s s h o Wn b y a b r o k e n li n e
i n F I G . 1 .
I n t h i s s t a t e , a n o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 t o b e r e s t o r e d , Wi t h i t s
r e a d o u t s u r fa c e d i r e c t e d u p Wa r d s , i s s e t o n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n
t a b le 2 1 , a n d t h e li d 2 0 i s c lo s e d t o i n i t i a t e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n
p r o c e s s . At t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h i s p r o c e s s , a c c o r d i n g t o a n
i n s t r u c t i o n fr o m t h e c o n t r o lle r 2 2 , t h e mo t o r 5 3 b e g i n s t o
r o t a t e a n d , s i mu lt a n e o u s ly , t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t s u p p ly p u mp
4 0 i n i t i a t e s i t s o p e r a t i o n t o s u p p ly t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t , o n e o r
a fe W d r o p s a t a t i me , fr o m t h e t Wo p o li s h i n g a g e n t s u p p ly
n o Z Z le s 2 6 a a n d 2 6 b o n t o t h e t o p s u r fa c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 a t p r e d e t e r mi n e d t i mi n g s . Th e p o li s h i n g a g e n t p e n e t r a t e s
i n t o t h e i n t e r fa c e b e t We e n t h e r o t a t i n g o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a n d t h e
p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b . Th u s , t h e p o li s h i n g p r o c e s s
b e g i n s .
Th e p o li s h i n g a c t i o n g e n e r a t e s a fr i c t i o n a l h e a t i n t h e o p t i
c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a n d t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b . Th i s h e a t
v a p o r i Z e s t h e mo i s t u r e i n t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t , c a u s i n g t h e
p o li s h i n g a g e n t t o d r y .
A d r i e d p o li s h i n g a g e n t c a n n o lo n g e r g r i n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 . Th e r e fo r e , a ft e r t h e la p s e o f a n a p p r o p r i a t e p e r i o d o f
t i me , t h e c o n t r o lle r 2 2 a c t i v a t e s t h e p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly
p u mp 3 0 t o s u p p ly Wa t e r ( p o li s h i n g Wa t e r ) , o n e o r a fe W d r o p s
a t a t i me , o n t o t h e t o p s u r fa c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a t
p r e d e t e r mi n e d t i mi n g s . Si mi la r t o t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t , t h e
p o li s h i n g Wa t e r d r o p p e d o n t o t h e t o p s u r fa c e o f t h e r o t a t i n g
o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 p e n e t r a t e s i n t o t h e i n t e r fa c e b e t We e n t h e
o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a n d t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b . I n t h i s
ma n n e r , t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t i s p r e v e n t e d fr o m d r y i n g a n d i t s
g r i n d i n g c a p a b i li t y i s ma i n t a i n e d fo r a lo n g p e r i o d o f t i me .
Re p le n i s h i n g t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t a t a p p r o p r i a t e t i mi n g s a ls o
h e lp s t h e s t r o n g g r i n d i n g c a p a b i li t y t o c o n t i n u e fo r a lo n g
p e r i o d o f t i me .
Wh e n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n b y t h e g r i n d i n g p r o c e s s i s n e a r ly
c o mp le t e d , t h e c o n t r o lle r 2 2 d i s c o n t i n u e s t h e s u p p ly o f t h e
p o li s h i n g a g e n t a n d p o li s h i n g Wa t e r , Wh i le ma i n t a i n i n g t h e
r o t a t i o n o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 b y t h e mo t o r 5 3 . As a r e s u lt ,
t h e Wa t e r r e ma i n i n g o n t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 i s v a p o r i Z e d b y t h e fr i c t i o n a l h e a t g e n e r a t e d b e t We e n
t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 . Th i s c r e a t e s a
s t a t e Wh e r e t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 i s r u b b e d Wi t h d r y p o li s h i n g
p a d s 2 4 . Co n t i n u i n g t h i s s t a t e fo r a lo n g p e r i o d o f t i me Wi ll
c a u s e t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 t o b e me lt e d o r d e fo r me d b y t h e
h e a t . Th e r e fo r e , t h i s s t a t e i s c o n t i n u e d fo r o n ly a n a p p r o p r i
a t e ly s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i me , d u r i n g Wh i c h t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
7
and o t h e r r e s i du al s o n t h e o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 ar e Wi p e d o f f by t h e
p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b. T h u s , t h e t o p s u r f ac e o f t h e
o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 i s c l e ane d.
A f t e r t h e r e s t o r at i o n i s c o m p l e t e d, i f t h e l i d 2 0 i s o p e ne d
af t e r t h e r o t at i o n o f t h e m o t o r 5 3 i s di s c o nt i nu e d Wi t h t h e
p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b s t i l l i n c o nt ac t Wi t h t h e o p t i c al
di s k 1 0 0 , t h e p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b t e nd t o l e av e f o o t
p r i nt s o n t h e o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 . A c c o r di ng l y, be f o r e de - e ne r
g i z i ng t h e m o t o r 5 3 , t h e c o nt r o l l e r 2 2 s h o u l d p r e f e r abl y o p e n
t h e l i d 2 0 by t h e l i d- o p e ni ng m e c h ani s m 2 3 t o br i ng t h e
p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b o u t o f c o nt ac t Wi t h t h e o p t i c al
di s k 1 0 0 . T h i s o p e r at i o n p r e v e nt s t h e p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 f r o m
l e av i ng f o o t p r i nt s o n t h e r e ado u t s u r f ac e o f t h e o p t i c al di s k
1 0 0 .
T h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 f o r s u p p l yi ng t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt i s h e r e i naf t e r de s c r i be d.
F I G . 3 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W s c h e m at i c al l y s h o Wi ng t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 . T h e h o u s i ng 4 1 i s s h ap e d
l i k e a p ar t i al l y o p e ne d r i ng h av i ng an i nne r Wal l al o ng Wh i c h
a t u be 4 2 m ade o f a ?e xi bl e r e s i n i s e xt e nde d as a p as s ag e f o r
t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt . L o c at e d i ns i de t h e h o u s i ng 4 1 i s a r o t o r
4 4 Wi t h a c e nt r al h o l e , t h r o u g h Wh i c h t h e s h af t 5 4 o f t h e m o t o r
5 3 i s i ns e r t e d. T h e r o t o r 4 4 h as a p l u r al i t y o f r o l l e r s 4 3 a and
4 3 b i n i t s e dg e . T h e s e r o l l e r s 4 3 a and 4 3 b ar e ar r ang e d t o
s q u e e z e t h e t u be 4 2 ag ai ns t t h e i nne r Wal l o f t h e h o u s i ng 4 1 .
T h e r o t o r 4 4 i s l i nk e d t o t h e m o t o r 5 3 v i a a s p e e d r e du c e r 5 1 ,
Wh i c h Wi l l be de s c r i be d l at e r . Wh e n t h e s p e e d r e du c e r 5 1 i s i n
a p r e de t e r m i ne d s t at e ( t o be de s c r i be d l at e r ) , t h e r o t at i o n o f
t h e m o t o r 5 3 p r o du c e s a c o r r e s p o ndi ng r o t at i o n o f t h e r o t o r
4 4 .
F I G . 4 i s a p l an v i e W o f t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p
4 0 . Wh e n t h e r o t o r 4 4 r o t at e s i n t h e di r e c t i o n o f t h e ar r o W, t h e
s q u e e z e d p o i nt s o f t h e t u be 4 2 m o v e i n t h e s am e di r e c t i o n,
p u s h i ng t h e c o nt e nt s i ns i de t h e t u be 4 2 i n t h e s am e di r e c t i o n.
T h i s i s a s o - c al l e d t u be p u m p , Wh i c h o p e r at e s Wi t h o u t br i ng
i ng i t s c o nt e nt s ( i . e . t h e t r ans p o r t o bj e c t i v e ) i nt o c o nt ac t Wi t h
a v al v e , p i s t o n o r o t h e r m e c h ani c al e l e m e nt s t h at ar e ac c o m
p ani e d by a f r i c t i o n o r s l i di ng ac t i o n. Su c h a p u m p i s s u i t abl e
t o h andl e a p o l i s h i ng ag e nt o r s i m i l ar s u bs t anc e t h at m ay
p o s s i bl y g r i nd anyt h i ng c o m i ng i n c o nt ac t Wi t h i t .
T h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 s h o Wn i n F I G . 1 ,
Wh i c h i s a t u be p u m p o f t h e p r e s e nt e m bo di m e nt , i s dr i v e n by
t h e m o t o r 5 3 f o r t u r ni ng t h e o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 Wi t h a s p e e d
r e du c e r 5 1 f o r r e du c i ng t h e s p e e d o f t h e r o t ar y m o t i o n o f t h e
m o t o r 5 3 . I t s p u m p i ng ac t i o n c an be t u r ne d o n and o f f by t h e
e l e c t r o m ag ne t i c s o l e no i d 5 9 . A l t e r nat i v e l y, a c o m m o nl y u s e d
t u be p u m p c o ns i s t i ng o f a m o t o r 4 6 i nt e g r at e d Wi t h a s p e e d
r e du c e r 4 5 , as s h o Wn i n F I G . 5 , m ay be u s e d as t h e p o l i s h i ng
ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p . I n t h i s c o m m o n t u be p u m p , t h e p u m p i ng
ac t i o n i s t u r ne d o n and o f f by ac t i v at i ng o r de ac t i v at i ng t h e
m o t o r 4 6 s e p ar at e f r o m t h e m o t o r 5 3 f o r r o t at i ng t h e o p t i c al
di s k 1 0 0 .
A n o p e r at i o n o f t h e s p e e d r e du c e r 5 1 o f t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt
s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 o f t h e p r e s e nt e m bo di m e nt i s h e r e i naf t e r
de s c r i be d Wi t h r e f e r e nc e t o F I G S. 1 , 6 ( a) and 6 ( b) .
A t t h e c e nt e r o f t h e s p e e d r e du c e r 5 1 , t h e r e i s t h e s h af t 5 4
o f t h e m o t o r 5 3 . T h i s s h af t 5 4 i s i ns e r t e d t h r o u g h an e l l i p t i c
t h r o u g h - h o l e 5 5 1 f o r m e d i n a p l at e - s h ap e d l e v e r 5 5 . A n i dl e r
Wh e e l 5 6 i s at t ac h e d t o t h e c e nt e r o f t h e u p p e r s u r f ac e o f t h e
l e v e r 5 5 i n a f r e e - t o - r o t at e m anne r . T h e p l u ng e r 6 0 o f t h e
e l e c t r o m ag ne t i c s o l e no i d 5 9 i s l i nk e d t o t h e e nd o f t h e l e v e r
5 5 .
Wh e n t h e p l u ng e r 6 0 m o v e s bac k and f o r t h , t h e l e v e r 5 5
m ak e s a r e c i p r o c at i ng m o t i o n ar o u nd t h e p o i nt 5 5 1 1 , Wh i c h i s
di s p l ac e d f r o m t h e r o t at i o n c e nt e r o f t h e s h af t 5 4 , Wi t h i n a
r ang e Wh e r e t h e s h af t 5 4 4 and t h r o u g h - h o l e 5 5 1 do no t t o u c h
e ac h o t h e r o n t h e i r s i de s . A c c o r di ng t o t h i s r e c i p r o c at i ng
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
8
m o t i o n, t h e i dl e r 5 6 and t h e s h af t 5 4 be c o m e s e p ar at e d ( F I G .
6 ( a) ) o r c o nne c t e d ( F I G . 6 ( b) ) .
T h e r o t at i o n s h af t o f t h e i dl e r 5 6 p e ne t r at e s t h r o u g h t h e
l e v e r 5 5 , Wi t h an e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7 c o nne c t e d t o i t s l o We r e nd.
T h e e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7 i s s u r r o u nde d by an i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 ,
Wh i c h t u r ns ar o u nd a p o i nt t h at c o i nc i de s Wi t h t h e r o t at i o n
c e nt e r o f t h e l e v e r 5 5 ( i . e . p o i nt 5 5 a) . T h e i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 i s
p e r m ane nt l y e ng ag e d Wi t h t h e e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7 . A di s k 6 1
h av i ng a c e nt r al o p e ni ng i s ?xe d t o t h e l o We r s u r f ac e o f t h e
i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 , and t h e r o l l e r s 4 3 a and 4 3 b ar e at t ac h e d t o
t h e l o We r s i de o f t h e di s k 6 1 i n a f r e e - t o - r o t at e m anne r .
T o dr i v e t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 , t h e c o nt r o l l e r
2 2 e ne r g i z e s t h e s o l e no i d 5 9 t o p u l l t h e p l u ng e r 6 0 bac k War d
and r o t at e t h e l e v e r 5 5 c o u nt e r c l o c k Wi s e , as s h o Wn i n F I G .
6 ( b) . A s a r e s u l t , t h e i dl e r 5 6 and t h e s h af t 5 4 c o m e i n c o nt ac t
Wi t h e ac h o t h e r o n t h e i r s i de s , t r ans m i t t i ng t h e r o t ar y m o t i o n
o f t h e s h af t 5 4 t o t h e i dl e r 5 6 . T h e e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7 l i nk e d Wi t h
t h e i dl e r 5 6 r e c e i v e s t h e r o t ar y m o t i o n and e v e nt u al l y r o t at e s
t h e i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 .
I f t h e di am e t e r o f t h e s h af t 5 4 i s 1 0 m m , t h e di am e t e r o f t h e
i dl e r 5 6 i s 4 0 m m , t h e nu m be r o f t e e t h o f t h e e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7
i s 1 5 and t h e nu m be r o f t e e t h o f t h e i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 i s 6 0 , t h e
i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 r o t at e s at a s p e e d o f o ne - s i xt e e nt h o f t h e
s p e e d o f t h e s h af t 5 4 .
T h e r o t at i o n o f t h e i nne r g e ar 5 8 c au s e s t h e af o r e m e nt i o ne d
r o l l e r s 4 3 a and 4 3 b o f t h e t u be p u m p s ( F I G S. 3 and 4 ) t o t u r n,
s q u e e z i ng t h e t u be 4 2 ag ai ns t t h e i nne r Wal l o f t h e h o u s i ng 4 1 .
I n t h i s m anne r , Wh i l e t h e s o l e no i d 5 9 i s e ne r g i z e d, t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 f u nc t i o ns as a t u be p u m p
u s i ng t h e m o t o r as t h e dr i v i ng s o u r c e and f e e ds t h e p o l i s h i ng
ag e nt i n t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt t ank t o t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y
no z z l e 2 6 . Wh i l e t h e s o l e no i d 5 9 i s no t e ne r g i z e d, t h e p l u ng e r
6 0 i s r e t u r ne d t o i t s o r i g i nal p o s i t i o n ( i . e . t h e p o s i t i o n s h o Wn
i n F I G . 6 ( a) ) by t h e ac t i o n o f a s p r i ng ( no t s h o Wn) , t o s e p ar at e
t h e i dl e r 5 6 f r o m t h e s h af t 5 4 , Wi t h t h e r o l l e r s 4 3 a and 4 3 b
h al t e d at t h at p o s i t i o n. T h u s , t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p
4 0 di s c o nt i nu e s i t s o p e r at i o n.
I n t h e p r e s e nt i nv e nt i o n, t Wo p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b
ar e u s e d. T o e q u al l y s u p p l y t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt and p o l i s h i ng
Wat e r t o bo t h p ads , t h e t Wo p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y no z z l e s
2 6 a and 2 6 b ar e s ym m e t r i c al l y ar r ang e d Wi t h r e s p e c t t o t h e
c e nt r al p o i nt o f t h e o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 . I n t h i s ar r ang e m e nt , i t i s
no t p r e f e r abl e t o u s e a s i ng l e t u be 4 2 h av i ng t Wo br anc h e s
Wi t h t h e t Wo p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y no z z l e s 2 6 a and 2 6 b
r e s p e c t i v e l y at t ac h e d at t h e i r t i p s , be c au s e t h e am o u nt o f t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt e xi t i ng f r o m e ac h no z z l e be c o m e s di ?i c u l t t o
c o nt r o l , p ar t i c u l ar l y Wh e n a h i g h - v i s c o s i t y p o l i s h i ng ag e nt i s
u s e d. F u r t h e r m o r e , Wh e n t h e p u m p i ng o p e r at i o n i s di s c o nt i n
u e d, e v e n t h e s l i g h t e s t di f f e r e nc e i n h e i g h t be t We e n t h e t i p s o f
t h e no z z l e s c an al l o W ai r t o i nt r u de i nt o t h e h i g h e r no z z l e ,
c au s i ng a l e ak ag e o f t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt f r o m t h e o t h e r
no z z l e .
I n t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 o f F I G . 1 , t h e s e
p r o bl e m s ar e s o l v e d by u s i ng a s e p ar at e t u be 4 2 f o r e ac h o f t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y no z z l e s 2 6 a and 2 6 b and p as s i ng t h e
t Wo t u be s t h r o u g h t h e g ap s be t We e n t h e h o u s i ng 4 1 and t h e
r o l l e r s 4 3 .
Wh e n t h e p u m p i ng o p e r at i o n i s di s c o nt i nu e d, t h e p o l i s h i ng
ag e nt r e m ai ni ng at t h e t i p o f t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y no z z l e
2 6 m ay dr i p du e t o v i br at i o ns o r o t h e r f ac t o r s . T h i s Wi l l
e v e nt u al l y p r o du c e i nc o nv e ni e nt r e s u l t s , s u c h as i nc o m p l e t e
Wi p i ng . T o av o i d t h i s p r o bl e m , i t i s de s i r abl e t o p e r f o r m a
s u c k bac k o p e r at i o n as i n t h e c as e o f t h e p o l i s h i ng Wat e r
s u p p l y p u m p 3 0 s h o Wn i n F I G . 7 ( b) ( Wh i c h Wi l l be de s c r i be d
l at e r ) . T h at i s , Wh e n t h e l e v e r 5 5 i s p u l l e d by t h e s o l e no i d 5 9
t o ac t i v at e t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 , t h e s o l e no i d
5 9 s o m e Wh at s q u e e z e s t h e t u be 4 2 o n t h e e xi t s i de o f t h e
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
9
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u mp 4 0 ; t h e n , Wh e n t h e s o l e n o i d 5 9
i s r e t u r n e d t o i t s o r i g i n a l p o s i t i o n t o d i s c o n t i n u e t h e p u mp i n g
o p e r a t i o n , t h e t u b e i s r e l e a s e d f r o m t h e s q u e e z e d s t a t e . T h u s ,
u n n e c e s s a r y d r o p p i n g s o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t c a n b e p r e
v e n t e d . A s i mi l a r f u n c t i o n c a n a l s o b e r e a l i Z e d b y r o t a t i n g t h e
mo t o r 5 3 b a c k w a r d s Wh i l e t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u mp
4 0 i s a c t i v e .
T h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p u mp 3 0 i s h e r e i n a f t e r
d e s c r i b e d Wi t h r e f e r e n c e t o F I G . 7 . T h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p
p l y p u mp 3 0 i s a p u mp f o r r e p l e n i s h i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t
Wi t h Wa t e r , Wh i c h v a p o r i Z e s d u e t o t h e f r i c t i o n a l h e a t g e n e r
a t e d b y t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 . D i s c h a r g i n g a l a r g e a mo u n t o f Wa t e r i s n o t r e q u i r e d ;
r a t h e r , t h e c a p a b i l i t y t o s u p p l y a t r a c e o f Wa t e r i n a s t a b l e
ma n n e r i s e s s e n t i a l . An o t h e r r e q u i r e me n t f o r t h e p u mp i s t o
h a v e a h i g h l e v e l o f d u r a b i l i t y t o o p e r a t e mu l t i p l e t i me s f o r
e v e r y r e s t o r a t i o n p r o c e s s .
F I G . 7 ( a ) i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r
s u p p l y p u mp 3 0 d e v i s e d t o f u l ? l l t h e a f o r e me n t i o n e d c a p a
b i l i t i e s . T h i s p u mp i n c l u d e s a t u b e 3 2 Wi t h t Wo v a l v e s 3 1 a a n d
3 1 b a t b o t h e n d s f o r f e e d i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r i n o n e s p e
c i ? c d i r e c t i o n . As s h o Wn i n F I G . 7 ( b ) , t h e p u mp s e n d s Wa t e r
i n t h e t u b e 3 2 i n o n e d i r e c t i o n b y s q u e e Z i n g t h e t u b e 3 2 f r o m
o n e s i d e b y t h e p u s h e r 3 3 a n d s u c t i o n s t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r b y
d i s e n g a g i n g t h e p u s h e r 3 3 .
F I G . 7 ( c ) i s a s e c t i o n a l v i e W s h o Wi n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e
v a l v e s 3 1 a a n d 3 1 b . I n t h e p r e s e n t e x a mp l e , t h e v a l v e f u n c t i o n
i s c r e a t e d b y a s p r i n g 3 5 a n d a b a l l 3 6 . V a r i o u s me t h o d s a r e
a v a i l a b l e t o c r e a t e s i mi l a r f u n c t i o n s .
I n t h e e x a mp l e s h o Wn i n F I G . 7 ( a ) , a n e l e c t r o ma g n e t i c
s o l e n o i d 3 4 i s u s e d t o d r i v e t h e p u s h e r 3 3 . Al t e r n a t i v e l y , a
d r i v e me c h a n i s m i n c l u d i n g a mo t o r c o mb i n e d Wi t h a c a m
ma y b e u s e d t o d r i v e t h e p u s h e r 3 3 .
F I G . 7 ( d ) s h o Ws t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r b e i n g s u p p l i e d f r o m
t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r t a n k 3 7 o n t o t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 v i a t h e
p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p u mp 3 0 . As s h o Wn , t h i s s y s t e m h a s a
s p r a y h e a d 3 8 a t t a c h e d t o t h e t i p o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r d i s
c h a r g e p o r t t o e v e n l y s u p p l y t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r o v e r t h e
s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k . T h i s i s mo r e p r e f e r a b l e t h a n t h e
e x a mp l e s h o Wn i n F I G . 1 i n Wh i c h t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y
n o Z Z l e s 2 7 a a n d 2 7 b f o r s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r o n t o
t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a r e s h a p e d l i k e a t h i n t u b e .
D u e t o t h e u s e o f t h e s p r a y n o Z Z l e Wi t h a s p r a y h e a d 3 8 a n d
t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p u mp 3 0 u s i n g t h e t u b e 3 2 Wh o s e
i n t e r n a l p r e s s u r e c a n b e r a p i d l y i n c r e a s e d b y t h e e l e c t r o ma g
n e t i c s o l e n o i d 3 4 , t h e p r e s s u r e i n s i d e t h e n o Z Z l e r i s e s t o h i g h
l e v e l s d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p r o c e s s , Wh e r e b y a n
a p p r o x i ma t e l y e q u a l a mo u n t o f p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r c a n b e s u p
p l i e d f r o m t h e s p r a y n o Z Z l e . Si n c e t h e d i s c h a r g e p o r t o f t h e
s p r a y n o Z Z l e i s s ma l l , a s u r f a c e t e n s i o n c a n p r e v e n t a i r f r o m
i n t r u d i n g i n t o t h e s p r a y n o Z Z l e . T h u s , t h e u n n e c e s s a r y d r o p
p i n g s o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r d o n o t o c c u r Wh e n t h e p u mp i s
h a l t e d .
I t i s d e s i r a b l e t h a t t h e c o n t r o l l e r 2 2 r e g u l a t e s t h e a mo u n t o r
i n t e r v a l o f d i s c h a r g i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t o r p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r
a c c o r d i n g t o a n o p e r a t i o n a l h i s t o r y o f t h e a p p a r a t u s a n d / o r t h e
t e mp e r a t u r e o r h u mi d i t y i n s i d e o r a r o u n d t h e a p p a r a t u s .
F o r e x a mp l e , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o r e c o r d t h e o p e r a t i o n a l h i s t o r y
o f t h e a p p a r a t u s i n a me mo r y o r s i mi l a r d e v i c e i n s i d e t h e
c o n t r o l l e r 2 2 a n d c o n t r o l t h e s u p p l y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d
t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s o t h a t t h e l i q u i d i s s u p p l i e d b y a l a r g e r
q u a n t i t y Wh e n t h e ? r s t r o u n d o f p o l i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e
d a y i s i n i t i a t e d , a n d t h e n , i n t h e s e c o n d a n d s u b s e q u e n t
r o u n d s , t h e q u a n t i t y i s c o n t r o l l e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e n u mb e r o f
p r e v i o u s p o l i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n s , t h e l a p s e t i me f r o m t h e l a s t
o p e r a t i o n a n d o t h e r i n f o r ma t i o n .
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
1 0
I t i s a l s o p o s s i b l e t o me a s u r e t h e t e mp e r a t u r e o r h u mi d i t y
i n s i d e o r a r o u n d t h e a p p a r a t u s b y a t e mp e r a t u r e s e n s o r 2 2 1 1 o r
h u mi d i t y s e n s o r 2 2 b a n d c o n t r o l t h e s u p p l y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t a n d t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r a c c o r d i n g t o t h e me a s u r e d
v a l u e s o a s t o s u p p l y t h e l i q u i d b y a l a r g e r q u a n t i t y u n d e r t h e
c o n d i t i o n s Wh e r e t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t e a s i l y d r i e s o r b y a
s ma l l e r q u a n t i t y u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s Wh e r e t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t h a r d l y d r i e s .
By t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s , t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d p o l i s h i n g
Wa t e r c a n b e s u p p l i e d b y a n a p p r o p r i a t e q u a n t i t y a c c o r d i n g t o
t h e c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r Wh i c h t h e p o l i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n i s p e r
f o r me d .
T h e t i me r e q u i r e d f o r r e mo v i n g s c r a t c h e s f r o m t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 d e p e n d s o n t h e d e p t h o f t h e s c r a t c h e s , t h e t y p e o f t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d o t h e r f a c t o r s . Ac c o r d i n g l y , t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 s h o u l d p r e f e r a b l y h a v e t h e f u n c
t i o n o f a l l o Wi n g a n o p e r a t o r t o s p e c i f y t h e r e s t o r a t i o n t i me
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s t a t e o f t h e s c r a t c h e s a n d o t h e r c o n d i t i o n s . As
o n e p r e f e r a b l e e x a mp l e , t h i s f u n c t i o n ma y b e i mp l e me n t e d i n
s u c h a ma n n e r t h a t , Wh e n a n o p e r a t o r s e l e c t s o n e o f t h e
r e s t o r a t i o n t i me s Wh i c h a r e p r e d e t e r mi n e d i n s t a g e s , t h e c o n
t r o l l e r 2 2 c o n t r o l s t h e q u a n t i t y o r i n t e r v a l o f d i s c h a r g i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
s e l e c t e d r e s t o r a t i o n t i me . T h e q u a n t i t y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t
t o b e s u p p l i e d d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s n e e d s o n l y t o b e
c o mp a r a b l e t o t h e q u a n t i t y n e c e s s a r y t o ma i n t a i n t h e a mo u n t
o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d i n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d 2 4 . T h e
q u a n t i t y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r t o b e s u p p l i e d d u r i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s n e e d s o n l y t o b e c o mp a r a b l e t o t h e q u a n t i t y
Wh e r e b y t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t c a n b e r e p l e n i s h e d Wi t h t h e
Wa t e r c o n t e n t e v a p o r a t e d d u e t o t h e p o l i s h i n g h e a t .
F o r e x a mp l e , t h e a p p a r a t u s ma y h a v e t h r e e r e s t o r a t i o n
mo d e s , o n e - mi n u t e mo d e , t Wo - mi n u t e mo d e a n d t h r e e
mi n u t e mo d e , Wh i c h r e s p e c t i v e l y r e q u i r e o n e , t Wo a n d t h r e e
mi n u t e s f o r r e s t o r a t i o n . I n t h e o n e - mi n u t e mo d e , a p e r i o d o f
4 0 s e c o n d s f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n i s a s s i g n e d
t o t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s , f o l l o We d b y a d r y - r u b b i n g p r o c e s s o f
2 0 s e c o n d s . T h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t ma y b e d i s c h a r g e d a t t h e
b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a n d a t 2 0 s e c o n d s f r o m t h e b e g i n
n i n g b y 0 . 1 g e a c h t i me , o r a t i n t e r v a l s o f 1 0 s e c o n d s b y 0 . 0 5
g e a c h t i me . T h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r i s , f o r e x a mp l e , d i s c h a r g e d
b y 0 . 0 4 g e a c h t i me a t i n t e r v a l s o f a p p r o x i ma t e l y ? v e s e c
o n d s . I t i s p o s s i b l e t o o mi t t h e s u p p l y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r a t
t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a n d i n i t i a t e t h e s u p p l y a t
a p p r o x i ma t e l y ? v e mi n u t e s f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e s t o
r a t i o n .
Of c o u r s e , t h i s i s a me r e e x a mp l e . T h e q u a n t i t y o f t h e l i q u i d
t o b e d i s c h a r g e d o n e t i me ma y b e i n c r e a s e d Wh i l e e l o n g a t i n g
t h e d i s c h a r g i n g i n t e r v a l , o r c o n v e r s e l y , t h e q u a n t i t y ma y b e
d e c r e a s e d Wh i l e s h o r t e n i n g t h e d i s c h a r g i n g i n t e r v a l . T h e t o t a l
a mo u n t o f t h e l i q u i d t o b e d i s c h a r g e d ma y b e i n c r e a s e d o r
d e c r e a s e d . T h e d i s c h a r g i n g q u a n t i t y a n d / o r i n t e r v a l ma y b e
v a r i e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o p e r a t i o n a l h i s t o r y o f t h e a p p a r a t u s ,
t h e t e mp e r a t u r e , h u mi d i t y a n d o t h e r f a c t o r s . T h e d i s c h a r g i n g
q u a n t i t y p e r o n e t i me a n d / o r t h e d i s c h a r g i n g i n t e r v a l ma y b e
c h a n g e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e r e s t o r a t i o n mo d e . T h e r e s t o r a t i o n
t i me ma y b e c h a n g e d c o n t i n u o u s l y r a t h e r t h a n d i s c r e t e l y . T h e
d i s c h a r g i n g o p e r a t i o n d o e s n o t n e e d t o b e p e r i o d i c a l b u t
n e e d s o n l y t o b e i n t e r mi t t e n t .
T h e 2 0 - s e c o n d p e r i o d f o r t h e d r y - r u b b i n g p r o c e s s i s a l s o a
me r e e x a mp l e . I t ma y b e s h o r t e n e d ( e . g . t o 1 0 s e c o n d s ) Wh e n
t h e a i r i s d r y , o r e l o n g a t e d ( e g t o 3 0 s e c o n d s ) Wh e n t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a r e c o n s i d e r a b l y We t a s i n t h e c a s e o f t h e
t h r e e - mi n u t e mo d e o r i n t h e c a s e Wh e r e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o p e r a
t i o n h a s b e e n a l r e a d y p e r f o r me d ma n y t i me s .
As d e s c r i b e d t o t h i s p o i n t , t h e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a
r a t u s 1 0 a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e q u i r e s a u s e r t o
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
1 1
s i m p l y p l a c e a n o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 o n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n t a b l e 2 1
a n d c l o s e t h e l i d 2 0 , a f t e r Wh i c h t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 i s i n i t i a t e d . Wh e n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n i s c o m p l e t e d , t h e
o p t i c a l d i s k i s c l e a n l y p o l i s h e d .
Sp e c i ? c a l l y , i n t h e ? n a l s t a g e o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n , t h e c o n
t r o l l e r 2 2 c o n t r o l s t h e o n / o f f o p e r a t i o n o f t h e m o t o r 5 3 , p o l
i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 a n d p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y
p u m p 3 0 t o r o t a t e t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 Wi t h o u t s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r a n d t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t . I n t h i s p r o c e s s , t h e d i s k s u r f a c e i s d r i e d b y t h e f r i c t i o n a l
h e a t g e n e r a t e d b e t We e n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 , a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 i s r u b b e d Wi t h t h e p o l i s h i n g
p a d s 2 4 . I n t h i s m a n n e r , t h e r e s t o r e d o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 c a n b e
c l e a n e d Wi t h o u t c o n s u m i n g t h e t i m e a n d l a b o r o f t h e u s e r .
T h u s , t h e Wo r k i n g e ? i c i e n c y i s e x t r e m e l y e n h a n c e d .
T h e p r e s e n t a p p a r a t u s i s a d r y - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s
f o r p e r f o r m i n g a p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s u s i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s
2 4 Wi t h a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d t h e r e i n , a n d y e t h a s t h e p o l
i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p p l y i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e i n t e r f a c e b e t We e n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4
a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s a s We l l
a s t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p u m p 3 0 f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y
r e p l e n i s h i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t Wi t h m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y
f r i c t i o n a l h e a t . By t h i s m e c h a n i s m , t h e a m o u n t a n d p h y s i c a l
p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a t t h e i n t e r f a c e b e t We e n t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y
m a i n t a i n e d f o r a l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e , s o t h a t t h e r e s t o r a t i o n
c a p a b i l i t y i s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t o f c o n v e n t i o n a l d r y - t y p e r e s t o
r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s .
Su c h a h i g h l e v e l o f r e s t o r a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y c a n a l s o b e
a c h i e v e d b y u s i n g o n l y t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p 4 0
Wi t h o u t t h e h e l p o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y 3 0 , i n Wh i c h
c a s e , h o We v e r , t h e r e s t o r a t i o n c o s t Wi l l b e v e r y h i g h b e c a u s e
t h e e x p e n s i v e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t i s u s e d i n l a r g e q u a n t i t y . F u r
t h e r m o r e , u s i n g a l a r g e a m o u n t o f p o l i s h i n g a g e n t r a p i d l y
c o n t a m i n a t e s t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b , s o t h a t t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b m u s t b e f r e q u e n t l y r e p l a c e d .
T h e s e p r o b l e m s c a n b e s o l v e d b y u s i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r
s u p p l y p u m p 3 0 a s i n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 a c c o r d i n g
t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n .
T h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s n o t l i m i t e d t o t h e p r e v i o u s l y
d e s c r i b e d e m b o d i m e n t , Wh i c h c a n b e a p p r o p r i a t e l y m o d i ? e d
Wi t h i n t h e s p i r i t o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r m a y b e s u p p l i e d t o t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d s i n s t e a d o f t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k . T h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r d o e s n o t a l Wa y s n e e d t o c o n s i s t o f
Wa t e r o n l y ; f o r e x a m p l e , i t m a y b e Wa t e r c o n t a i n i n g a t r a c e o f
a s u r f a c e a c t i v e a g e n t , o r a m i x t u r e o f Wa t e r a n d a l c o h o l o r
s i m i l a r v o l a t i l e l i q u i d h a v i n g a s u r f a c e - a c t i v a t i n g e f f e c t .
EXPLANAT I ON OF NUMERALS
1 0 . . . Re s t o r a t i o n Ap p a r a t u s
2 0 . . . Li d
2 1 . . . Re s t o r a t i o n T a b l e
2 2 . . . Co n t r o l l e r
2 2 a . . . T e m p e r a t u r e Se n s o r
2 2 b . . . Hu m i d i t y Se n s o r
2 3 . . . Li d - Op e n i n g Me c h a n i s m
2 4 a , 2 4 b . . . Po l i s h i n g Pa d
2 4 1 . . . Po l i s h i n g Pa d Ho l d e r
2 6a , 2 6b . . . Po l i s h i n g Ag e n t Su p p l y No ZZl e
2 7a , 2 7b . . . Po l i s h i n g Wa t e r Su p p l y No ZZl e
2 8 . . . Be a r i n g
3 0 . . . Po l i s h i n g Wa t e r Su p p l y Pu m p
3 1 a , 3 1 b . . . Va l v e
3 2 . . . T u b e
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
1 2
3 3 . . . Pu s h e r
3 4 , 5 9 . . . El e c t r o m a g n e t i c So l e n o i d
3 7 . . . Po l i s h i n g Wa t e r T a n k
3 8 . . . Sp r a y He a d
4 0 . . . Po l i s h i n g Ag e n t Su p p l y Pu m p
4 1 . . . Ho u s i n g
4 2 . . . T u b e
4 3 a , 4 3 b . . . Ro l l e r
4 4 . . . Ro t o r
4 5 , 5 1 . . . Sp e e d Re d u c e r
4 6, 5 3 . . . Mo t o r
4 7 . . . Po l i s h i n g Ag e n t T a n k
5 4 . . . Sh a f t
5 5 . . . Le v e r
5 6 . . . I d l e r
5 7 . . . Ex t e r n a l Ge a r
5 8 . . . I n t e r n a l Ge a r
60 . . . Pl u n g e r
61 . . . Di s k
1 0 0 . . . Op t i c a l Di s k
1 2 0 . . . Su b s t r a t e
1 3 0 . . . I n f o r m a t i o n Re c o r d La y e r
1 4 0 . . . Co v e r La y e r
1 5 0 . . . Ha r d Co a t La y e r
1 60 . . . Sc r a t c h
T h e i n v e n t i o n c l a i m e d i s :
1 . A d r y - t y p e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s f o r p o l i s h
i n g a r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f a n o p t i c a l d i s k t o b e r e s t o r e d , b y
o p t i c a l d i s k r e l a t i v e t o e a c h o t h e r i n a c o n t a c t s t a t e , c o m p r i s
i n g :
a g e n t t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k o r t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d ;
b ) a p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h
i n g Wa t e r t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k o r t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d ; a n d
c ) a s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s t o m a i n t a i n a n a m o u n t o f
t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d i n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d d u r i n g a
p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s , a n d f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y m e a n s t o r e p l e n i s h t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t Wi t h m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y a p o l i s h i n g h e a t .
2 . T h e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m
1 , f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g :
a ) a l i d o n a n i n s i d e f a c e o f Wh i c h a p o l i s h i n g p a d h o l d e r
h o l d i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d i s a t t a c h e d ;
b ) a l i d - o p e n i n g m e c h a n i s m f o r o p e n i n g t h e l i d ; a n d
c ) a l i d - o p e n i n g c o n t r o l m e a n s f o r a c t i v a t i n g t h e l i d - o p e n
i n g m e c h a n i s m a f t e r a p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k i s c o m p l e t e d .
2 , Wh e r e i n t h e l i d - o p e n i n g c o n t r o l m e a n s a c t i v a t e s t h e l i d
o p e n i n g m e c h a n i s m b e f o r e a r o t a t i o n o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k i s
d i s c o n t i n u e d .
1 , Wh e r e i n t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s i n c l u d e s :
a ) a p l u r a l i t y o f p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y n o ZZl e s e a c h s e r v
i n g a s a d i s c h a r g e p o r t o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t ; a n d
b ) a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p f o r s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h
i n g a g e n t t o e a c h o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y n o ZZl e s
t h r o u g h p a s s a g e s i n d i v i d u a l l y p r o v i d e d f o r e a c h p o l i s h
i n g a g e n t s u p p l y n o ZZl e .
4 , Wh e r e i n t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s h a s a s u c k b a c k
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
1 3
f u n c t i o n i n Whi c h a s q u e e z i n g o f a t u b e f o r s u p p l y i n g t he
p o l i s hi n g a g e n t i s r e l e a s e d f o r p r e v e n t i n g u n n e c e s s a r y d r o p
p i n g s o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t .
6 . The o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m
1 , f u r t he r c o m p r i s i n g a r o t a t i o n d i s c o n t i n u a t i o n c o n t r o l
m e a n s f o r c o n t r o l l i n g a t i m i n g o f d i s c o n t i n u i n g a r o t a t i o n o f
t he o p t i c a l d i s k a n d t he p o l i s hi n g p a d , Whe r e i n :
a ) t he s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s d i s c o n t i n u e s a s u p p l y o f t he
p o l i s hi n g a g e n t a n d t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r Whe n a p o l i s h
i n g p r o c e s s o f t he o p t i c a l d i s k i s c o m p l e t e d ; a n d
b ) Whe n a p r e d e t e r m i n e d p e r i o d o f t i m e ha s e l a p s e d a f t e r
t he s u p p l y o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t a n d t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r
ha s b e e n d i s c o n t i n u e d b y t he s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s , t he
r o t a t i o n d i s c o n t i n u a t i o n c o n t r o l m e a n s d i s c o n t i n u e s t he
r o t a t i o n o f t he o p t i c a l d i s k a n d t he p o l i s hi n g p a d s o a s t o
d r y t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t a t a n i n t e r f a c e b e t We e n t he o p t i
c a l d i s k a n d t he p o l i s hi n g p a d b y a p o l i s hi n g he a t a n d
p e r f o r m d r y - r u b b i n g o f t he o p t i c a l d i s k Wi t h t he p o l i s h
i n g p a d .
1 , Whe r e i n t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r s u p p l y m e a n s i n c l u d e s :
a ) a ? e x i b l e t u b e p r o v i d e d Wi t h a v a l v e a t e a c h o f t Wo e n d s
t he r e o f , t he v a l v e b e i n g d e s i g n e d t o a l l o W t he p o l i s hi n g
Wa t e r t o Ho w i n a p r e d e t e r m i n e d d i r e c t i o n ;
b ) a p u s he r l o c a t e d o n a s i d e o f t he t u b e ; a n d
c ) a d r i v e m e c ha n i s m f o r o p e r a t i n g t he p u s he r s o a s t o f e e d
t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r i n s i d e t he t u b e i n t he p r e d e t e r m i n e d
d i r e c t i o n b y s q u e e z i n g t u b e f r o m a s i d e Wi t h t he p u s he r .
1 , Whe r e i n t he s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s i n c l u d e s a d i s c ha r g e
c o n d i t i o n r e g u l a t i n g m e a n s f o r r e g u l a t i n g t he a m o u n t o r i n t e r
v a l o f d i s c ha r g i n g t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t o r t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r .
8 , Whe r e i n :
2 0
2 5
3 0
1 4
a r e c o r d m e a n s f o r r e c o r d i n g a n o p e r a t i o n a l hi s t o r y o f t he
a p p a r a t u s i s p r o v i d e d ; a n d
t he d i s c ha r g e c o n d i t i o n r e g u l a t i n g m e a n s r e g u l a t e s t he
a m o u n t o r i n t e r v a l o f d i s c ha r g i n g t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t o r
t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r a c c o r d i n g t o t he o p e r a t i o n a l hi s t o r y
r e c o r d e d i n t he r e c o r d m e a n s .
1 0 . The o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
c l a i m 8 , f u r t he r c o m p r i s i n g :
a m e a s u r e m e n t m e a n s f o r m e a s u r i n g a t e m p e r a t u r e o r
hu m i d i t y i s p r o v i d e d , Whe r e i n
t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r a c c o r d i n g t o a m e a s u r e d v a l u e o f t he
m e a s u r e m e n t m e a n s .
1 1 . An o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n m e t ho d i n c l u d i n g a d r y
p o l i s hi n g p r o c e s s f o r p o l i s hi n g a r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f a n o p t i c a l
d i s k b y r o t a t i n g a p o l i s hi n g p a d ho l d i n g a p o l i s hi n g a g e n t a n d
t he o p t i c a l d i s k r e l a t i v e t o e a c h o t he r i n a c o n t a c t s t a t e ,
Whe r e i n t he p o l i s hi n g p r o c e s s i n c l u d e s :
a ) a p o l i s hi n g a g e n t s u p p l y p r o c e s s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p
p l y i n g t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t t o t he r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t he
o p t i c a l d i s k o r t he p o l i s hi n g p a d t o m a i n t a i n a n a m o u n t
o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t he l d i n t he p o l i s hi n g p a d d u r i n g
t he p o l i s hi n g p r o c e s s ; a n d
b ) a p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p r o c e s s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p
p l y i n g a p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r t o t he r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t he
o p t i c a l d i s k o r t he p o l i s hi n g p a d t o r e p l e n i s h t he p o l i s h
i n g a g e n t Wi t h m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y a p o l i s hi n g he a t .
c l a i m 4 , Whe r e i n t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s ha s a s u c k
b a c k f u n c t i o n i n Whi c h a m o t o r o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t s u p p l y
p u m p r o t a t e s b a c k Wa r d s f o r p r e v e n t i n g u n n e c e s s a r y d r o p
* * * * *

EXHIBIT 1
US008342905B2
( 1 2) United States Patent ( 1 0) Patent N 0. : US 8, 342, 905 B2
Miyahara et a] . ( 45) Date o f Patent: J an. 1 , 201 3
( 54) OPTICAL DISK RESTORATION METHOD 5, 099, 61 8 A * 3/1 992 Schmid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /57
AN DAPPARATUS 5, 1 02, 099 A * 4/1 992 Bro wn et al . . . . . . . 451 /283
5, 1 1 3, 622 A * 5/1 992 N ishiguchiet a1 . . . . . . . . 451 /7
. . . 5, 305, 554 A * 4/1 994 Emk t l . . . . . . . 451 /1 1 3
( 75) Inv ento rs: Takakazu M1 yahara, M1 nam1 satsuma 5, 593, 343 A * M997 Bauein 451 /254
( J P) ; Terl l masa Ml yahara, 5, 674, 1 1 5 A * 1 0/1 997 Yamashita etal . . 451 /289
Minamisatsuma ( J P) ; Kazuto shi 5, 797, 789 A * 8/1 998 Tanaka et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /289
Chij iiW a, Minamisatsuma ( J P) ( Co ntinued)
( 73) Assignee: El m Inc. , Minamisatsuma ( J P) FOREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
J P A-9-32326l 1 2/1 997
* N o tice: Sub'ect to an discl aimer, the term o f this
J y .
p atent is ex tended o r adj usted under 35 ( co ml nued)
U. S. C. 1 54( b) by 369 days.
OTHER PUBLICATION S
( 21 ) Ap p l ' N O : 1 2/679 427 N o v . 2, 2009 W ritten Op inio n issued in Internatio nal Patent Ap p l i
( 22) PCT Fil ed Aug 31 2009 catio n N o . PCT/J P2009/004270 ( with transl atio n) .
. . ,
( Co ntinued)
( 86) PCT N o . : PCT/J P2009/004270
371 ( OX 1 ) , Primary Ex aminer * Geo rge N guyen
( 2) , ( 4) Date; Mar, 22, 201 0 ( 74) Atto rney, Agent, o r Firm * Ol if f & Berridge, PLC
( 87) PCT Pub. N o . : W O201 1 /024241 ( 57) ABSTRACT
PCT Pub' Date; Mar, 3, 201 1 An o p tical diskresto ratio n ap p aratus and o p tical diskresto
ratio n metho d are p ro v ided, W hich are cap abl e o f achiev ing a
( 65) PI iOI Pl l bl icatiOIl Data high l ev el o f cap abil ity o f resto ring a scratched o p tical disk,
Us 201 1 /01 43636 A1 J un 1 6, 201 1 W itho ut co nsuming the time and l abo r o f an o p erato r, W hil e
reducing the p ro ductio n co st o f the ap p aratus. During a p o l
( 51 ) In ; C] _ ishing p ro cess, an ap p ro p riate amo unt o f a p o l ishing agent is
B24C 3/00 ( 200601 ) dro p p ed o nto the reado ut surf ace o f the o p tical diskby a
( 52) us. Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /2; 451 /7; 451 /41 ; 451 /60; p o l ishing agent sup p l y p ump to Co ntinuo usl y Sup p l y the P01
451 /285; 451 /446 ishing agent to the interf ace betW een the o p tical diskand
( 58) Fiel d o f Cl assi? catio n Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /41 , p o l ishing p ads, W hil e a p o l ishing W ater Sup p l y Pump is Op er
451 /60, 2834290, 7, 2, 446 ated to rep l enish the p o l ishing agent W ith mo isture ev ap o
See ap p l icatio n ? l e f o r co mp l ete search histo ry. rated by the p o l ishing heat. By this mechanism, the amo unt
and p hysical p ro p erties o f the p o l ishing agent at the interf ace
( 56) Ref erences Cited betW een the o p tical diskand the p o l ishing p ads are ap p ro p ri
atel y maintained f o r a l o ng p erio d o f time, so that the resto
U-S- PATEN T DOCUMEN TS ratio n cap abil ity is maintained at high l ev el s.
4, 1 79, 852 A * 1 2/1 979 Barnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 /63
4, 561 , 1 42 A * 1 2/1 985 Mischenko et al . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5/971 1 2 Cl aims, 7 Drawing Sheets
25 27a 28a 25b 27b
20
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
P a g e 2
US. P ATENT DOCUMENTS J P A-2 0 0 4 -3 9 15 5 2 / 2 0 0 4
6 , 0 9 9 , 3 9 3 A 8 / 2 0 0 0 K a t a g i r i e t a l . 5 ; 4 3 3 8 ( 5 ) : 13 5 8 8 ;
6 , 116 , 9 8 7 A * 9 / 2 0 0 0 K ubo ............................ .. 4 5 1/ 4 1 J P A_2 0 0 6 _l 6 74 4 0 6 / 2 0 0 6
6 , 2 6 1, 15 8 B1 7/ 2 0 0 1 Hol l a nd e t a l . J P A_2 0 0 7_3 0 1712 11/ 2 0 0 7
6 , 3 12 , 3 2 0 B2 * 11/ 2 0 0 1 Sa t o e t a l . ................... .. 4 5 1/ 2 8 5 J P U_3 14 4 73 3 9 / 2 0 0 8
6 , 8 4 6 , 2 2 8 B2 * 1/ 2 0 0 5 Li n ........... .. . 4 5 1/ 2 9 0 J p A_2 0 0 8 _3 0 2 4 6 9 12 / 2 0 0 8
7, 6 2 5 , 2 6 3 B2 * 12 / 2 0 0 9 Mi ya ha r a e t a l . ........... .. 4 5 1/ 2 8 7 W0 W0 ( ) 0 / 3 5 6 2 7 6 / 2 0 0 0
FOREIGN P ATENT DOCUMENTS OTHER P UBLIC ATIQNS
i ; Ma r . 13 , 2 0 1.2 Not i ? c a t i on of Re a s on f or I-{ e j e c t i on i s -s ue d i n J a pa ne s e
J p A_2 0 0 2 _8 6 3 3 8 3 / 2 0 0 2 P a t e nt Appl i c a t i on No. 2 0 10 -5 114 16 ( w i t h t r a ns l a t i on) .
J P A-2 0 0 2 -5 4 16 4 9 12 / 2 0 0 2
J P A-2 0 0 3 -2 4 3 3 4 3 8 / 2 0 0 3 * c i t e d by e xa mi ne r
US. Patent J an. 1 , 2 0 1 3 Sh eet 1 0 1 7 US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
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S h e e t 3 0 f 7 US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2 US . Pat e nt J an. 1 , 2 0 1 3
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1
OPTICAL DISK RESTORATION METHOD
AND APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The p r es en t i n v en t i o n r el a t es t o a met ho d a n d a p p a r a t u s f o r
r es t o r i n g a n o p t i c a l di s k , s u c h a s a c o mp a c t di s k ( CD) , di g i t a l
v er s a t i l e di s k ( DVD) o r b l u e- r a y di s k ( BD) , b y r emo v i n g
s c r a t c hes a n d o t her def ec t s f r o m i t s r ea do u t s u r f a c e.
BACKGROUND ART
Op t i c a l di s k s , s u c h a s CDs , DVDs a n d BDs , a r e ma de o f a
t r a n s p a r en t r es i n ( a l t ho u g h s o me p r o du c t s a r e c o l o r ed W i t hi n
t he v i s i b l e l i g ht r eg i o n ) a n d n o r ma l l y ha v e a t hi c k n es s o f
a p p r o xi ma t el y 1 . 2 mi n a n d a di a met er o f 1 2 0 mm, W i t h a
c en t r a l ho l e o f 1 5 mm i n di a met er .
FIG. 8 i s a di a g r a m s ho W i n g t he s t r u c t u r e o f a c o mmo n l y
u s ed o p t i c a l di s k 1 0 0 , W her e FIG. 8 ( a ) i s a p l a n v i eW a n d FIG.
8 ( b ) i s a s ec t i o n a l v i eW a t t he a r r o W ed l i n e X- X i n FIG. 8 ( a ) ,
ea c h v i eW s ho W i n g a CD o r DVD o n t he r i g ht ha l f a n d a BD
o n t he l ef t .
An o p t i c a l di s k ho l ds i n f o r ma t i o n i n i t s s p ec i ? c l a y er ; i n
CDs , t hi s l a y er i s l o c a t ed o n t he s i de o p p o s i t e t o t he r ea do u t
s u r f a c e, W hi l e DVDs ha v e t hi s l a y er a t a dep t h o f a p p r o xi
ma t el y 0 . 6 mm f r o m t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e. In BDs , t he i n f o r
ma t i o n i s r ec o r ded i n a l a y er 0 . 1 mm b el o W t he r ea do u t
s u r f a c e. The i n f o r ma t i o n hel d i n t he i n f o r ma t i o n r ec o r d l a y er
i s r ea d b y t hr o W i n g a l a s er b ea m o n t o t hi s l a y er t hr o u g h t he
r ea do u t s u r f a c e a n d det ec t i n g a r e? ec t ed b ea m c o mi n g f r o m
t he s a me l a y er .
Ther ef o r e, i f t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e o f t he o p t i c a l di s k i s
s c r a t c hed, i t i s i n p r i n c i p l e i mp o s s i b l e t o c o r r ec t l y r ea d i n f o r
ma t i o n b ec a u s e t he l a s er b ea m f o r r ea di n g t he i n f o r ma t i o n
a n d t he r e? ec t ed l i g ht c o mi n g f r o m t he i n f o r ma t i o n r ec o r d
l a y er a r e r e? ec t ed o r s c a t t er ed a t t he s c r a t c hed p o r t i o n .
As a l r ea dy s t a t ed, t he i n f o r ma t i o n hel d b y t he o p t i c a l di s k
i s n o t r ec o r ded o n t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e b u t i n t he i n f o r ma t i o n
r ec o r d l a y er b en ea t h t he s u r f a c e. Ther ef o r e, a s c r a t c h o n t he
r ea do u t s u r f a c e do es n o t di r ec t l y da ma g e t he i n f o r ma t i o n .
Ac c o r di n g l y , i f t he i n f o r ma t i o n r ec o r d l a y er i s s a f e, i t i s
p o s s i b l e t o r ea d t he i n f o r ma t i o n o n c e mo r e b y r emo v i n g t he
s c r a t c h f r o m t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e.
The p r i n c i p l e o f r es t o r i n g a n o p t i c a l di s k i s her ei n a f t er
des c r i b ed u s i n g FIGS. 9 a n d 1 0 . FIG. 9 i s a n en l a r g ed s ec
t i o n a l v i eW o f a s i n g l e- l a y er BD W i t h t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e
di r ec t ed u p W a r ds , i n W hi c h a n i n f o r ma t i o n r ec o r d l a y er 1 3 0
f o r med o n a s u b s t r a t e 1 2 0 ma de o f a p o l y c a r b o n a t e r es i n o r
s i mi l a r ma t er i a l s ha v i n g a t hi c k n es s o f a p p r o xi ma t el y 1 . 1 mm
i s c o v er ed b y a c o v er l a y er 1 4 0 o f a p p r o xi ma t el y 0 . 1 mm i n
t hi c k n es s a n d a ha r d- c o a t l a y er 1 5 0 o f 2 t o 5 mi c r o met er s i n
t hi c k n es s .
FIGS. 1 0 ( 1 1 ) a n d 1 0 ( b ) a r e b o t h a n en l a r g ed s ec t i o n a l v i eW
o f a n o p t i c a l di s k W i t h t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e di r ec t ed u p W a r ds ,
s ho W i n g t he p o r t i o n c o r r es p o n di n g t o t he a r ea s u r r o u n ded b y
t he c i r c l e A i n FIG. 9 . FIG. 1 0 ( a ) s ho W s t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e
W i t h s c r a t c hes 1 6 0 , a n d FIG. 1 0 ( b ) s ho W s t he s a me p o r t i o n
W i t h t he s c r a t c h g r o u n d a W a y .
In t hi s ma n n er , t he o p t i c a l di s k c a n b e r es t o r ed b y g r i n di n g
a W a y t he di s k s u r f a c e b y a t hi c k n es s a p p r o xi ma t el y eq u a l t o
t he dep t h o f t he s c r a t c h a n d t hen p er f o r mi n g a mi r r o r - p o l i s h
i n g p r o c es s .
Op t i c a l di s k r es t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s es f o r p o l i s hi n g a n o p t i
c a l di s k t o r emo v e a s c r a t c h f r o m i t s r ea do u t s u r f a c e i n t he
p r ev i o u s l y des c r i b ed ma n n er ha v e b een c o n v en t i o n a l l y
k n o W n ( f o r exa mp l e, r ef er t o Pa t en t Do c u men t 1 ) . An
exa mp l e o f t he c o n v en t i o n a l o p t i c a l di s k r es t o r a t i o n a p p a r a
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
2
t u s es i n c l u des a r o t a r y t a b l e, o n W hi c h a n o p t i c a l di s k t o b e
r es t o r ed c a n b e s et , a di s k - s ha p ed p o l i s hi n g b o dy , a n d o t her
c o mp o n en t s . Thi s a p p a r a t u s p o l i s hes t he r ea do u t s u r f a c e o f
t he o p t i c a l di s k b y r o t a t i n g t he p o l i s hi n g b o dy a n d t he r o t a r y
t a b l e W hi l e ma i n t a i n i n g t he p o l i s hi n g b o dy i n c o n t a c t W i t h t he
r ea do u t s u r f a c e.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Pa t en t Do c u men t
Pa t en t Do c u men t 1 : J a p a n es e Un exa mi n ed Pa t en t Ap p l i c a
t i o n Pu b l i c a t i o n No . 2 0 0 5 - 3 l 0 2 l l
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Pr o b l ems t o b e So l v ed b y t he In v en t i o n
The p o l i s hi n g met ho ds b y t he a f o r emen t i o n ed c o n v en
t i o n a l o p t i c a l di s k r es t o r a t i o n dev i c es c a n b e c l a s s i ? ed i n t o
t hr ee t y p es . On e met ho d i s c a l l ed a dr y t y p e, i n W hi c h t he di s k
i s p o l i s hed W i t h a b u f f ma de o f s p o n g e, f el t , c l o t h o r s i mi l a r
ma t er i a l ho l di n g a r el a t i v el y hi g h- v i s c o s i t y p o l i s hi n g a g en t .
The s ec o n d met ho d i s c a l l ed a W et t y p e, i n W hi c h t he di s k i s
i n i t i a l l y g r o u n d W i t h s a n dp a p er o r s i mi l a r ma t er i a l W hi l e
W a t er i s s u p p l i ed o n t o i t , a f t er W hi c h a mi r r o r - p o l i s hi n g p r o
c es s u s i n g a b u f f W i t h a p o l i s hi n g a g en t i s p er f o r med a s i n t he
dr y p r o c es s . The t hi r d t y p e i s a hy b r i d o f t hes e t W o t y p es ; a
c o l l o i da l hi g h- v i s c o s i t y p o l i s hi n g a g en t i s di l u t ed t o p r ep a r e
a mi l k - l i k e l o W - v i s c o s i t y l i q u i d, a n d a p o l i s hi n g p r o c es s
u s i n g a b u f f i s p er f o r med W i t h t he l i q u i d c o n t i n u o u s l y s u p
p l i ed o n t o t he di s k b y a p u mp o r s i mi l a r dev i c e.
The ? r s t met ho d, i . e. dr y p o l i s hi n g , c a n b e p er f o r med b y
s i mp l e- s t r u c t u r ed a p p a r a t u s es , W hi c h a r e o f f er ed a t l o W
p r i c es . Ho W ev er , t hi s p r o c es s ha s a p r o b l em i n t ha t t he p o l
i s hi n g f u n c t i o n o f t he b u f f a n d p o l i s hi n g a g en t ma i n l y c o n
t i n u es o n l y du r i n g t he p er i o d o f t i me W her e t he p o l i s hi n g
a g en t b et W een t he b u f f a n d t he di s k i s i n a W et s t a t e; t he
p o l i s hi n g p o W er r a p i dl y dec r ea s es i f t he p o l i s hi n g a g en t
b ec o mes dr y . Ther ef o r e, i t s r es t o r a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y i s l o W a n d a
l o n g r es t o r a t i o n t i me i s r eq u i r ed f o r a deep s c r a t c h. An o t her
p r o b l em i s t ha t a n o p er a t o r n eeds t o p er f o r m t he t i me- c o n
s u mi n g t a s k o f p r ev i o u s l y a p p l y i n g t he p o l i s hi n g a g en t ev er y
t i me t he r es t o r a t i o n i s i n i t i a t ed.
In t he s ec o n d met ho d, i . e. W et p o l i s hi n g , t he c o n t i n u o u s
s u p p l y o f W a t er o n t o t he di s k du r i n g t he p o l i s hi n g p r o c es s
s u p p r es s es hea t g en er a t i o n a n d r emo v es s c r a p ed c hi p s .
Ther ef o r e, a p o W er f u l g r i n di n g p r o c es s u s i n g s a n dp a p er o r
t he l i k e c a n b e p er f o r med t o a c hi ev e a hi g h l ev el o f r es t o r a t i o n
c a p a b i l i t y . Ho W ev er , p er f o r mi n g t he t W o p o l i s hi n g p r o c es s es ,
i . e. t he r o u g h p o l i s hi n g b y s a n dp a p er o r t he l i k e a n d t he ? n i s h
p o l i s hi n g b y a b u f f W i t h a p o l i s hi n g a g en t , r eq u i r es a n a p p a
r a t u s ha v i n g a c o mp l ex s t r u c t u r e, W hi c h t en ds t o b e exp en
s i v e.
In t he t hi r d p o l i s hi n g met ho d i n W hi c h a di l u t ed p o l i s hi n g
a g en t i s c o n t i n u o u s l y s u p p l i ed, t he r es t o r a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y i s
hi g her t ha n i n t he c a s e o f t he dr y - t y p e r es t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s
du e t o t he c o n t i n u o u s s u p p l y o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g en t o n t o t he
di s k du r i n g t he r es t o r a t i o n p er i o d. Ho W ev er , t he c o n t i n u o u s
s u p p l y o f t he mi l k - l i k e p o l i s hi n g a g en t t en ds t o c o n t a mi n a t e
t he di s k . Ther ef o r e, i t i s n ec es s a r y t o c o n s u me t i me a n d l a b o r
t o W a s h o r c l ea n t he r es t o r ed di s k .
The p r es en t i n v en t i o n ha s b een dev el o p ed i n v i eW o f t hes e
p r o b l ems , a n d i t s o b j ec t i v e i s t o p r o v i de a n o p t i c a l di s k r es
t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a n d o p t i c a l di s k r es t o r a t i o n met ho d
W her eb y a hi g h l ev el o f c a p a b i l i t y o f r es t o r i n g a s c r a t c hed
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
3
o p t i c a l d i s k i s a c h i e v e d W i t h o u t c o n s u m i n g t i m e a n d l a b o r o f
a n o p e r a t o r W h i l e r e d u c i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n c o s t o f t h e a p p a
r a t u s .
Me a n s f o r So l v i n g t h e P r o b l e m s
An o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n a i m e d a t s o l v i n g t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d p r o b
l e m s i s a d r y - t y p e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s f o r p o l
i s h i n g a r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f a n o p t i c a l d i s k t o b e r e s t o r e d , b y
c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y i n c l u d i n g :
a g e n t t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k o r t h e p o l i s h i n g
P a d ;
b ) a p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h
i n g W a t e r , o r p o l i s h - a s s i s t i n g W a t e r , t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f
t h e o p t i c a l d i s k o r t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d ; a n d
e ) a s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s t o m a i n t a i n t h e a m o u n t o f t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d i n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g
p r o c e s s , a n d f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g W a t e r
s u p p l y m e a n s t o r e p l e n i s h t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t W i t h m o i s t u r e
e v a p o r a t e d b y a p o l i s h i n g h e a t ( i . e . h e a t g e n e r a t e d t h r o u g h
p o l i s h i n g ) .
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s a d r y - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s f o r p o l
i s h i n g a d i s k b y a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d a p o l i s h i n g p a d ( e g a
b u f f ) a n d y e t i n c l u d e s a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s f o r
s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e s u r f a c e t o b e p o l i s h e d a n d
a p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g p o l i s h i n g W a t e r
( o r a c t u a l l y p o l i s h - a s s i s t i n g W a t e r ) t o t h e s u r f a c e b e i n g p o l
i s h e d . Th e s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t e s t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s t o s u p p l y a n a p p r o p r i a t e
a m o u n t o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e i n t e r f a c e b e t W e e n t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k a t a p p r o p r i a t e p o i n t s i n t i m e
s o t h a t t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a t t h e i n t e r f a c e W i l l r e m a i n e f f e c
t i v e f o r a l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e . Th e s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s a l s o
i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t e s t h e p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y m e a n s t o
s u p p l y a n a p p r o p r i a t e a m o u n t o f t h e p o l i s h i n g W a t e r t o t h e
s u r f a c e b e i n g p o l i s h e d a t a p p r o p r i a t e p o i n t s i n t i m e s o a s t o
c o o l t h e o p t i c a l d i s k , W h i c h g e n e r a t e s h e a t d u e t o t h e p o l i s h
i n g , a n d t o r e s t o r e t h e p o l i s h i n g p o W e r , W h i c h d e t e r i o r a t e s a s
t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t b e c o m e s d r y .
An o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n a i m e d a t s o l v i n g t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d p r o b l e m s i s a n
o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n m e t h o d i n c l u d i n g a d r y p o l i s h i n g
p r o c e s s f o r p o l i s h i n g a r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f a n o p t i c a l d i s k b y
c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s i n c l u d e s :
a ) a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p r o c e s s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p
p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k o r t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d t o m a i n t a i n t h e a m o u n t o f t h e p o l
i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d i n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g
p r o c e s s ; a n d
b ) a p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y p r o c e s s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p
p l y i n g a p o l i s h i n g W a t e r t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k o r t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d t o r e p l e n i s h t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t W i t h
m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y a p o l i s h i n g h e a t .
E f f e c t s o f t h e I n v e n t i o n
Th e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a n d o p t i c a l d i s k
r e s t o r a t i o n m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n a r e a
d r y - t y p e a p p a r a t u s o r m e t h o d f o r r e s t o r i n g a n o p t i c a l d i s k b y
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
4
p e r f o r m i n g a p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s u s i n g a p o l i s h i n g p a d W i t h a
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d t h e r e i n , a n d y e t h a v e t h e m e a n s f o r
i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e i n t e r f a c e
b e t W e e n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k d u r i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s a n d f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y r e p l e n i s h i n g t h e p o l
i s h i n g a g e n t W i t h m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y t h e f r i c t i o n a l h e a t .
By t h i s m e c h a n i s m , t h e a m o u n t a n d p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a t t h e i n t e r f a c e b e t W e e n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d a n d
t h e o p t i c a l d i s k a r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y m a i n t a i n e d f o r a l o n g p e r i o d
o f t i m e , s o t h a t i t s r e s t o r a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y i s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t o f
t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l d r y - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s a n d m e t h
o d s .
C o n v e n t i o n a l d r y - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s d o n o t h a v e
a n y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e d i s k s u r f a c e
d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s . Th e r e f o r e , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o
m a n u a l l y a p p l y a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t b e f o r e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n p r o
c e s s i s i n i t i a t e d , W h i c h m e a n s t h a t t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t c a n b e
a p p l i e d o n l y o n e t i m e f o r e a c h p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s .
Th e p o l i s h i n g m e t h o d u s i n g a b u f f a n d p o l i s h i n g a g e n t
p r o v i d e s a n e x p e c t e d l e v e l o f p o l i s h i n g p o W e r W h e n a n a p p r o
p r i a t e a m o u n t o f p o l i s h i n g a g e n t W i t h a p p r o p r i a t e p h y s i c a l
p r o p e r t i e s i s p r e s e n t b e t W e e n t h e b u f f a n d t h e d i s k . H o W e v e r ,
t h i s m e t h o d i s a c c o m p a n i e d b y h e a t g e n e r a t i o n , W h i c h m a k e s
t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t r a p i d l y d r y , t h e r e b y m a i n t a i n i n g i t s a p p r o
p r i a t e p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o n l y f o r a s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i m e .
Th e r e f o r e , f o r e x a m p l e , W h e n t h e o p t i c a l d i s k s h o u l d b e
g r o u n d b y l m i c r o m e t e r , t h e p r o c e s s o f a p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t a n d p e r f o r m i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n m u s t b e
r e p e a t e d m u l t i p l e t i m e s , W h i c h c o n s u m e s t h e t i m e a n d l a b o r
o f t h e o p e r a t o r .
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n h a s t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s
f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e d i s k s u r f a c e d u r i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s , W h e r e b y t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t c a n b e s u p
p l i e d m u l t i p l e t i m e s i n o n e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s . Th e a p p a r a t u s
a l s o h a s t h e p o l i s h i n g W a t e r s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a
t r a c e a m o u n t o f W a t e r t o t h e d i s k s u r f a c e d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g
p r o c e s s , W h e r e b y t h e p o l i s h i n g c a p a b i l i t y , W h i c h d e t e r i o r a t e s
a s t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t d r i e s , c a n b e r e s t o r e d . Ac c o r d i n g l y , t h e
p o l i s h i n g p o W e r c a n b e m a i n t a i n e d f o r a l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e ,
s o t h a t e v e n a d e e p s c r a t c h c a n b e r e m o v e d W i t h o u t r e q u i r i n g
m a n u a l t a s k s b y a n o p e r a t o r .
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e s t o r e s a n o p t i c a l d i s k b y s i m p l y p o l i s h i n g
i t W i t h a p o l i s h i n g p a d a n d a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t . Su c h a n a p p a
r a t u s c a n b e s i m p l e r i n s t r u c t u r e a n d l o W e r i n p r o d u c t i o n c o s t
t h a n a W e t - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s . As c o m p a r e d t o t h e
s y s t e m u s i n g a d i l u t e d p o l i s h i n g a g e n t , W h i c h a l s o h a s a
s i m p l e s t r u c t u r e , t h e p r e s e n t a p p a r a t u s i s a d v a n t a g e o u s i n t h a t
i t h a r d l y c o n t a m i n a t e s o p t i c a l d i s k s a n d h e n c e d o e s n o t
r e q u i r e t h e t r o u b l e s o m e t a s k o f W a s h i n g t h e r e s t o r e d d i s k .
BRI E F DE SC RI P TI ON OF TH E DRAW I NGS
FI G. 1 i s a m o d e l d i a g r a m s h o W i n g a s c h e m a t i c s t r u c t u r e o f
a n o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n .
FI G. 2 i s a s e c t i o n a l v i e W o f a p o l i s h i n g p a d .
FI G. 3 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W s h o W i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f a
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p .
FI G. 4 i s a p l a n v i e W o f t h e c o r e p a r t s o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t
s u p p l y p u m p .
FI G. 5 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f a c o m m o n l y u s e d t u b e
p u m p .
FI G. 6 i s a m o d e l d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g a n o p e r a t i o n o f a
b u i l t - i n t u b e p u m p i n a n o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
5
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , Wh e r e ( a ) s h o w s t h e n o n
o p e r a t i n g s t a t e a n d ( b ) s h o Ws t h e o p e r a t i n g s t a t e .
F I G . 7 i s a mo d e l d i a g r a m s h o Wi n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f a
p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly p u mp , Wh e r e ( a ) i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W
o f t h e p u mp s e c t i o n , ( h ) i s a s i d e v i e W i llu s t r a t i n g t h e p r i n c i p le
o f t h e p u mp , ( c ) i s a s e c t i o n a l v i e W s h o Wi n g a n e xa mp le o f a
v a lv e , a n d ( d ) i s a n e xa mp le o f a c o n ? g u r a t i o n i n c lu d i n g a
p o li s h i n g Wa t e r t a n k , a p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly p u mp a n d a
s p r a y h e a d .
F I G . 8 i s a d i a g r a m s h o Wi n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f a c o mmo n t y p e
o f o p t i c a l d i s k , Wh e r e ( a ) i s a p la n v i e W a n d ( b ) i s a s e c t i o n a l
v i e W a t t h e a r r o We d li n e X-X i n ( a ) , e a c h v i e W s h o Wi n g a CD
o r DVD o n t h e r i g h t s i d e a n d a BD o n t h e le ft s i d e .
F I G . 9 i s a n e n la r g e d s e c t i o n a l v i e W o f a s i n g le -la y e r BD.
F I G . 1 0 i s a n e n la r g e d v i e W o f t h e p o r t i o n i n s i d e t h e c i r c le
s h o Wn i n F I G . 9 , Wh e r e ( a ) s h o Ws t h e p o r t i o n b e fo r e r e s t o r a
t i o n , Wi t h a s c r a t c h t h e r e o n , a n d ( b ) s h o Ws t h e p o r t i o n a ft e r i t s
s u r fa c e i s r e mo v e d b y a r e s t o r a t i o n p r o c e s s .
BEST MODE F OR CARRYI NG OUT THE
I NVENTI ON
F I G . 1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W s h o Wi n g t h e i n t e r n a l s t r u c t u r e
o f a r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n
t i o n . Th e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 i n c lu d e s a r e s t o r a t i o n t a b le
2 1 , o n Wh i c h a n o p t i c a l d i s k t o b e r e s t o r e d c a n b e s e t , a n d a
mo t o r 5 3 fo r r o t a t i n g t h e r e s t o r a t i o n t a b le 2 1 . Th e r e s t o r a t i o n
t a b le 2 1 i s c i r c u mfe r e n t i a lly s u r r o u n d e d b y p la t e me mb e r s
( n o t s h o Wn ) . Th e s p a c e a b o v e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n t a b le 2 1 i s
c lo s e d b y a li d 2 0 fa n n i n g a c e i li n g t h a t i s fr e e t o o p e n . Wh e n
t h e p o li s h i n g o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 i s c o mp le t e d , t h e li d 2 0 i s
o p e n e d b y a li d -o p e n i n g me c h a n i s m 2 3 . Va r i o u s k i n d s o f
me c h a n i s m a r e a v a i la b le fo r t h e li d -o p e n i n g me c h a n i s m 2 3 .
On e e xa mp le u s e s a mo t o r o r s i mi la r d r i v e me c h a n i s m fo r
o p e n i n g t h e li d 2 0 . An o t h e r e xa mp le i n c lu d e s a s p r i n g fo r
p r e s s i n g t h e li d 2 0 t o Wa r d t h e o p e n e d p o s i t i o n , a h o o k fo r
h o ld i n g t h e li d 2 0 i n t h e c lo s e d p o s i t i o n , a n d a h o o k -r e le a s e
me c h a n i s m fo r r e le a s i n g t h e h o o k t o o p e n t h e li d 2 0 . Th e li d
2 0 h a s p o li s h i n g p a d h o ld e r s 2 4 1 a t t a c h e d o n i t s i n s i d e fa c e i n
a fr e e -t o -r o t a t e ma n n e r . I n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n p r o c e s s , t h e p o li s h
i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b a t t a c h e d t o t h e lo We r s i d e s o f t h e
p o li s h i n g p a d h o ld e r s 2 4 1 a r e p r e s s e d o n t o t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 b y a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r e s s u r e .
A p o li s h i n g a g e n t t a n k 4 7 r e t a i n i n g a p o li s h i n g a g e n t i s
c o n n e c t e d v i a a p o li s h i n g a g e n t s u p p ly p u mp 4 0 ( Wh i c h Wi ll
b e d e s c r i b e d la t e r ) t o t Wo p o li s h i n g a g e n t s u p p ly n o Z Z le s 2 6 a
a n d 2 6 b fo r s u p p ly i n g t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t o n t o t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 . Si mi la r ly , a p o li s h i n g Wa t e r t a n k 3 7 r e t a i n i n g p o l
i s h i n g Wa t e r i s c o n n e c t e d v i a a p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly p u mp
3 0 ( Wh i c h Wi ll a ls o b e d e t a i le d la t e r ) t o t Wo p o li s h i n g Wa t e r
s u p p ly n o Z Z le s 2 7a a n d 2 7b fo r s u p p ly i n g t h e p o li s h i n g Wa t e r
o n t o t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 .
Th e mo t o r 5 3 , p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly p u mp 3 0 , li d -o p e n
i n g me c h a n i s m 2 3 a n d o t h e r c o mp o n e n t s o p e r a t e a c c o r d i n g
t o t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s fr o m a c o n t r o lle r 2 2 .
Alt h o u g h t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b , p o li s h i n g a g e n t
s u p p ly n o Z Z le s 2 6 a a n d 2 6 b a n d p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly
n o Z Z le s 2 7a a n d 2 7b i n t h e p r e s e n t e mb o d i me n t a r e a ll i d e n
t i ? e d i n p a i r s , n e c e s s a r y c a p a b i li t i e s c a n b e a c h i e v e d a s lo n g
a s o n e o r mo r e o f e a c h o f t h e s e c o mp o n e n t s a r e p r e s e n t .
As a me t h o d fo r p r e s s i n g t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b
o n t o t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 b y a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r e s s u r e , i t i s
p o s s i b le t o p r o v i d e , a s s h o Wn i n F I G . 2 , a c o i l s p r i n g 2 9 i n a
b e a r i n g 2 8 h o ld i n g t h e r o t a t i o n s h a ft o f t h e p o li s h i n g p a d
h o ld e r 2 4 1 t o p r e s s t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b o n t h e
lo We r s i d e o f t h e p o li s h i n g p a d h o ld e r 2 4 1 o n t o t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 b y a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r e s s u r e .
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
6
Th e r e a r e o t h e r a lt e r n a t i v e s fo r t h i s t a s k . F o r e xa mp le , a
p lu r a li t y o f c o i l s p r i n g s ma y b e p r o v i d e d i n t h e p a d h o ld e r . I t
i s a ls o p o s s i b le t o u s e a p a d ma d e o f s p o n g e o r s i mi la r ma t e
r i a l h a v i n g a p p r o p r i a t e e la s t i c i t y a n d u t i li Z e i t s e la s t i c fo r c e .
I n t h e p r e s e n t e mb o d i me n t , t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b
a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a r e r o t a t e d a s fo llo Ws : Wh i le t h e
p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b a r e i n c o n t a c t Wi t h t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 Wi t h a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r e s s u r e , t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 i s
r o t a t e d b y t h e mo t o r 5 3 , Wh i c h ma k e s t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a
a n d 2 4 b a n d t h e p o li s h i n g p a d h o ld e r s 2 4 1 p a s s i v e ly r o t a t e
d u e t o t h e r o t a t i o n a l s t r e s s . Ho We v e r , t h e r e a r e ma n y a lt e ma
t i v e s fo r r o t a t i n g t h e p a d s . F o r e xa mp le , i t i s p o s s i b le t o
a c t i v e ly r o t a t e t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b a n d t h e p o li s h
i n g p a d h o ld e r s 2 4 1 b y a mo t o r , p r o d u c i n g a p a s s i v e r o t a t i o n
o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 b y a s t r e s s . Ac t i v e ly r o t a t i n g t h e p a r t s
o n b o t h s i d e s i s a ls o p o s s i b le . An o t h e r p o s s i b i li t y i s t o
a c t i v e ly r o t a t e t h e p a r t ( s ) o n o n e s i d e Wh i le b r a k i n g t h e p a r t ( s )
o n t h e o t h e r s i d e .
An a c t u a l r e s t o r a t i o n s e q u e n c e i s h e r e i n a ft e r d e s c r i b e d .
I n t h e s t a n d -b y s t a t e o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 , t h e li d
2 0 i s Wa i t i n g i n t h e o p e n p o s i t i o n , a s s h o Wn b y a b r o k e n li n e
i n F I G . 1 .
I n t h i s s t a t e , a n o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 t o b e r e s t o r e d , Wi t h i t s
r e a d o u t s u r fa c e d i r e c t e d u p Wa r d s , i s s e t o n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n
t a b le 2 1 , a n d t h e li d 2 0 i s c lo s e d t o i n i t i a t e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n
p r o c e s s . At t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h i s p r o c e s s , a c c o r d i n g t o a n
i n s t r u c t i o n fr o m t h e c o n t r o lle r 2 2 , t h e mo t o r 5 3 b e g i n s t o
r o t a t e a n d , s i mu lt a n e o u s ly , t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t s u p p ly p u mp
4 0 i n i t i a t e s i t s o p e r a t i o n t o s u p p ly t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t , o n e o r
a fe W d r o p s a t a t i me , fr o m t h e t Wo p o li s h i n g a g e n t s u p p ly
n o Z Z le s 2 6 a a n d 2 6 b o n t o t h e t o p s u r fa c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 a t p r e d e t e r mi n e d t i mi n g s . Th e p o li s h i n g a g e n t p e n e t r a t e s
i n t o t h e i n t e r fa c e b e t We e n t h e r o t a t i n g o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a n d t h e
p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b . Th u s , t h e p o li s h i n g p r o c e s s
b e g i n s .
Th e p o li s h i n g a c t i o n g e n e r a t e s a fr i c t i o n a l h e a t i n t h e o p t i
c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a n d t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b . Th i s h e a t
v a p o r i Z e s t h e mo i s t u r e i n t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t , c a u s i n g t h e
p o li s h i n g a g e n t t o d r y .
A d r i e d p o li s h i n g a g e n t c a n n o lo n g e r g r i n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 . Th e r e fo r e , a ft e r t h e la p s e o f a n a p p r o p r i a t e p e r i o d o f
t i me , t h e c o n t r o lle r 2 2 a c t i v a t e s t h e p o li s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p ly
p u mp 3 0 t o s u p p ly Wa t e r ( p o li s h i n g Wa t e r ) , o n e o r a fe W d r o p s
a t a t i me , o n t o t h e t o p s u r fa c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a t
p r e d e t e r mi n e d t i mi n g s . Si mi la r t o t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t , t h e
p o li s h i n g Wa t e r d r o p p e d o n t o t h e t o p s u r fa c e o f t h e r o t a t i n g
o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 p e n e t r a t e s i n t o t h e i n t e r fa c e b e t We e n t h e
o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a n d t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b . I n t h i s
ma n n e r , t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t i s p r e v e n t e d fr o m d r y i n g a n d i t s
g r i n d i n g c a p a b i li t y i s ma i n t a i n e d fo r a lo n g p e r i o d o f t i me .
Re p le n i s h i n g t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t a t a p p r o p r i a t e t i mi n g s a ls o
h e lp s t h e s t r o n g g r i n d i n g c a p a b i li t y t o c o n t i n u e fo r a lo n g
p e r i o d o f t i me .
Wh e n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n b y t h e g r i n d i n g p r o c e s s i s n e a r ly
c o mp le t e d , t h e c o n t r o lle r 2 2 d i s c o n t i n u e s t h e s u p p ly o f t h e
p o li s h i n g a g e n t a n d p o li s h i n g Wa t e r , Wh i le ma i n t a i n i n g t h e
r o t a t i o n o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 b y t h e mo t o r 5 3 . As a r e s u lt ,
t h e Wa t e r r e ma i n i n g o n t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 i s v a p o r i Z e d b y t h e fr i c t i o n a l h e a t g e n e r a t e d b e t We e n
t h e p o li s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 . Th i s c r e a t e s a
s t a t e Wh e r e t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 i s r u b b e d Wi t h d r y p o li s h i n g
p a d s 2 4 . Co n t i n u i n g t h i s s t a t e fo r a lo n g p e r i o d o f t i me Wi ll
c a u s e t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 t o b e me lt e d o r d e fo r me d b y t h e
h e a t . Th e r e fo r e , t h i s s t a t e i s c o n t i n u e d fo r o n ly a n a p p r o p r i
a t e ly s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i me , d u r i n g Wh i c h t h e p o li s h i n g a g e n t
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
7
and o t h e r r e s i du al s o n t h e o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 ar e Wi p e d o f f by t h e
p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b. T h u s , t h e t o p s u r f ac e o f t h e
o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 i s c l e ane d.
A f t e r t h e r e s t o r at i o n i s c o m p l e t e d, i f t h e l i d 2 0 i s o p e ne d
af t e r t h e r o t at i o n o f t h e m o t o r 5 3 i s di s c o nt i nu e d Wi t h t h e
p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b s t i l l i n c o nt ac t Wi t h t h e o p t i c al
di s k 1 0 0 , t h e p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b t e nd t o l e av e f o o t
p r i nt s o n t h e o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 . A c c o r di ng l y, be f o r e de - e ne r
g i z i ng t h e m o t o r 5 3 , t h e c o nt r o l l e r 2 2 s h o u l d p r e f e r abl y o p e n
t h e l i d 2 0 by t h e l i d- o p e ni ng m e c h ani s m 2 3 t o br i ng t h e
p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b o u t o f c o nt ac t Wi t h t h e o p t i c al
di s k 1 0 0 . T h i s o p e r at i o n p r e v e nt s t h e p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 f r o m
l e av i ng f o o t p r i nt s o n t h e r e ado u t s u r f ac e o f t h e o p t i c al di s k
1 0 0 .
T h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 f o r s u p p l yi ng t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt i s h e r e i naf t e r de s c r i be d.
F I G . 3 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W s c h e m at i c al l y s h o Wi ng t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 . T h e h o u s i ng 4 1 i s s h ap e d
l i k e a p ar t i al l y o p e ne d r i ng h av i ng an i nne r Wal l al o ng Wh i c h
a t u be 4 2 m ade o f a ?e xi bl e r e s i n i s e xt e nde d as a p as s ag e f o r
t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt . L o c at e d i ns i de t h e h o u s i ng 4 1 i s a r o t o r
4 4 Wi t h a c e nt r al h o l e , t h r o u g h Wh i c h t h e s h af t 5 4 o f t h e m o t o r
5 3 i s i ns e r t e d. T h e r o t o r 4 4 h as a p l u r al i t y o f r o l l e r s 4 3 a and
4 3 b i n i t s e dg e . T h e s e r o l l e r s 4 3 a and 4 3 b ar e ar r ang e d t o
s q u e e z e t h e t u be 4 2 ag ai ns t t h e i nne r Wal l o f t h e h o u s i ng 4 1 .
T h e r o t o r 4 4 i s l i nk e d t o t h e m o t o r 5 3 v i a a s p e e d r e du c e r 5 1 ,
Wh i c h Wi l l be de s c r i be d l at e r . Wh e n t h e s p e e d r e du c e r 5 1 i s i n
a p r e de t e r m i ne d s t at e ( t o be de s c r i be d l at e r ) , t h e r o t at i o n o f
t h e m o t o r 5 3 p r o du c e s a c o r r e s p o ndi ng r o t at i o n o f t h e r o t o r
4 4 .
F I G . 4 i s a p l an v i e W o f t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p
4 0 . Wh e n t h e r o t o r 4 4 r o t at e s i n t h e di r e c t i o n o f t h e ar r o W, t h e
s q u e e z e d p o i nt s o f t h e t u be 4 2 m o v e i n t h e s am e di r e c t i o n,
p u s h i ng t h e c o nt e nt s i ns i de t h e t u be 4 2 i n t h e s am e di r e c t i o n.
T h i s i s a s o - c al l e d t u be p u m p , Wh i c h o p e r at e s Wi t h o u t br i ng
i ng i t s c o nt e nt s ( i . e . t h e t r ans p o r t o bj e c t i v e ) i nt o c o nt ac t Wi t h
a v al v e , p i s t o n o r o t h e r m e c h ani c al e l e m e nt s t h at ar e ac c o m
p ani e d by a f r i c t i o n o r s l i di ng ac t i o n. Su c h a p u m p i s s u i t abl e
t o h andl e a p o l i s h i ng ag e nt o r s i m i l ar s u bs t anc e t h at m ay
p o s s i bl y g r i nd anyt h i ng c o m i ng i n c o nt ac t Wi t h i t .
T h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 s h o Wn i n F I G . 1 ,
Wh i c h i s a t u be p u m p o f t h e p r e s e nt e m bo di m e nt , i s dr i v e n by
t h e m o t o r 5 3 f o r t u r ni ng t h e o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 Wi t h a s p e e d
r e du c e r 5 1 f o r r e du c i ng t h e s p e e d o f t h e r o t ar y m o t i o n o f t h e
m o t o r 5 3 . I t s p u m p i ng ac t i o n c an be t u r ne d o n and o f f by t h e
e l e c t r o m ag ne t i c s o l e no i d 5 9 . A l t e r nat i v e l y, a c o m m o nl y u s e d
t u be p u m p c o ns i s t i ng o f a m o t o r 4 6 i nt e g r at e d Wi t h a s p e e d
r e du c e r 4 5 , as s h o Wn i n F I G . 5 , m ay be u s e d as t h e p o l i s h i ng
ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p . I n t h i s c o m m o n t u be p u m p , t h e p u m p i ng
ac t i o n i s t u r ne d o n and o f f by ac t i v at i ng o r de ac t i v at i ng t h e
m o t o r 4 6 s e p ar at e f r o m t h e m o t o r 5 3 f o r r o t at i ng t h e o p t i c al
di s k 1 0 0 .
A n o p e r at i o n o f t h e s p e e d r e du c e r 5 1 o f t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt
s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 o f t h e p r e s e nt e m bo di m e nt i s h e r e i naf t e r
de s c r i be d Wi t h r e f e r e nc e t o F I G S. 1 , 6 ( a) and 6 ( b) .
A t t h e c e nt e r o f t h e s p e e d r e du c e r 5 1 , t h e r e i s t h e s h af t 5 4
o f t h e m o t o r 5 3 . T h i s s h af t 5 4 i s i ns e r t e d t h r o u g h an e l l i p t i c
t h r o u g h - h o l e 5 5 1 f o r m e d i n a p l at e - s h ap e d l e v e r 5 5 . A n i dl e r
Wh e e l 5 6 i s at t ac h e d t o t h e c e nt e r o f t h e u p p e r s u r f ac e o f t h e
l e v e r 5 5 i n a f r e e - t o - r o t at e m anne r . T h e p l u ng e r 6 0 o f t h e
e l e c t r o m ag ne t i c s o l e no i d 5 9 i s l i nk e d t o t h e e nd o f t h e l e v e r
5 5 .
Wh e n t h e p l u ng e r 6 0 m o v e s bac k and f o r t h , t h e l e v e r 5 5
m ak e s a r e c i p r o c at i ng m o t i o n ar o u nd t h e p o i nt 5 5 1 1 , Wh i c h i s
di s p l ac e d f r o m t h e r o t at i o n c e nt e r o f t h e s h af t 5 4 , Wi t h i n a
r ang e Wh e r e t h e s h af t 5 4 4 and t h r o u g h - h o l e 5 5 1 do no t t o u c h
e ac h o t h e r o n t h e i r s i de s . A c c o r di ng t o t h i s r e c i p r o c at i ng
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
8
m o t i o n, t h e i dl e r 5 6 and t h e s h af t 5 4 be c o m e s e p ar at e d ( F I G .
6 ( a) ) o r c o nne c t e d ( F I G . 6 ( b) ) .
T h e r o t at i o n s h af t o f t h e i dl e r 5 6 p e ne t r at e s t h r o u g h t h e
l e v e r 5 5 , Wi t h an e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7 c o nne c t e d t o i t s l o We r e nd.
T h e e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7 i s s u r r o u nde d by an i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 ,
Wh i c h t u r ns ar o u nd a p o i nt t h at c o i nc i de s Wi t h t h e r o t at i o n
c e nt e r o f t h e l e v e r 5 5 ( i . e . p o i nt 5 5 a) . T h e i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 i s
p e r m ane nt l y e ng ag e d Wi t h t h e e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7 . A di s k 6 1
h av i ng a c e nt r al o p e ni ng i s ?xe d t o t h e l o We r s u r f ac e o f t h e
i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 , and t h e r o l l e r s 4 3 a and 4 3 b ar e at t ac h e d t o
t h e l o We r s i de o f t h e di s k 6 1 i n a f r e e - t o - r o t at e m anne r .
T o dr i v e t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 , t h e c o nt r o l l e r
2 2 e ne r g i z e s t h e s o l e no i d 5 9 t o p u l l t h e p l u ng e r 6 0 bac k War d
and r o t at e t h e l e v e r 5 5 c o u nt e r c l o c k Wi s e , as s h o Wn i n F I G .
6 ( b) . A s a r e s u l t , t h e i dl e r 5 6 and t h e s h af t 5 4 c o m e i n c o nt ac t
Wi t h e ac h o t h e r o n t h e i r s i de s , t r ans m i t t i ng t h e r o t ar y m o t i o n
o f t h e s h af t 5 4 t o t h e i dl e r 5 6 . T h e e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7 l i nk e d Wi t h
t h e i dl e r 5 6 r e c e i v e s t h e r o t ar y m o t i o n and e v e nt u al l y r o t at e s
t h e i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 .
I f t h e di am e t e r o f t h e s h af t 5 4 i s 1 0 m m , t h e di am e t e r o f t h e
i dl e r 5 6 i s 4 0 m m , t h e nu m be r o f t e e t h o f t h e e xt e r nal g e ar 5 7
i s 1 5 and t h e nu m be r o f t e e t h o f t h e i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 i s 6 0 , t h e
i nt e r nal g e ar 5 8 r o t at e s at a s p e e d o f o ne - s i xt e e nt h o f t h e
s p e e d o f t h e s h af t 5 4 .
T h e r o t at i o n o f t h e i nne r g e ar 5 8 c au s e s t h e af o r e m e nt i o ne d
r o l l e r s 4 3 a and 4 3 b o f t h e t u be p u m p s ( F I G S. 3 and 4 ) t o t u r n,
s q u e e z i ng t h e t u be 4 2 ag ai ns t t h e i nne r Wal l o f t h e h o u s i ng 4 1 .
I n t h i s m anne r , Wh i l e t h e s o l e no i d 5 9 i s e ne r g i z e d, t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 f u nc t i o ns as a t u be p u m p
u s i ng t h e m o t o r as t h e dr i v i ng s o u r c e and f e e ds t h e p o l i s h i ng
ag e nt i n t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt t ank t o t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y
no z z l e 2 6 . Wh i l e t h e s o l e no i d 5 9 i s no t e ne r g i z e d, t h e p l u ng e r
6 0 i s r e t u r ne d t o i t s o r i g i nal p o s i t i o n ( i . e . t h e p o s i t i o n s h o Wn
i n F I G . 6 ( a) ) by t h e ac t i o n o f a s p r i ng ( no t s h o Wn) , t o s e p ar at e
t h e i dl e r 5 6 f r o m t h e s h af t 5 4 , Wi t h t h e r o l l e r s 4 3 a and 4 3 b
h al t e d at t h at p o s i t i o n. T h u s , t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p
4 0 di s c o nt i nu e s i t s o p e r at i o n.
I n t h e p r e s e nt i nv e nt i o n, t Wo p o l i s h i ng p ads 2 4 a and 2 4 b
ar e u s e d. T o e q u al l y s u p p l y t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt and p o l i s h i ng
Wat e r t o bo t h p ads , t h e t Wo p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y no z z l e s
2 6 a and 2 6 b ar e s ym m e t r i c al l y ar r ang e d Wi t h r e s p e c t t o t h e
c e nt r al p o i nt o f t h e o p t i c al di s k 1 0 0 . I n t h i s ar r ang e m e nt , i t i s
no t p r e f e r abl e t o u s e a s i ng l e t u be 4 2 h av i ng t Wo br anc h e s
Wi t h t h e t Wo p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y no z z l e s 2 6 a and 2 6 b
r e s p e c t i v e l y at t ac h e d at t h e i r t i p s , be c au s e t h e am o u nt o f t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt e xi t i ng f r o m e ac h no z z l e be c o m e s di ?i c u l t t o
c o nt r o l , p ar t i c u l ar l y Wh e n a h i g h - v i s c o s i t y p o l i s h i ng ag e nt i s
u s e d. F u r t h e r m o r e , Wh e n t h e p u m p i ng o p e r at i o n i s di s c o nt i n
u e d, e v e n t h e s l i g h t e s t di f f e r e nc e i n h e i g h t be t We e n t h e t i p s o f
t h e no z z l e s c an al l o W ai r t o i nt r u de i nt o t h e h i g h e r no z z l e ,
c au s i ng a l e ak ag e o f t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt f r o m t h e o t h e r
no z z l e .
I n t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 o f F I G . 1 , t h e s e
p r o bl e m s ar e s o l v e d by u s i ng a s e p ar at e t u be 4 2 f o r e ac h o f t h e
p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y no z z l e s 2 6 a and 2 6 b and p as s i ng t h e
t Wo t u be s t h r o u g h t h e g ap s be t We e n t h e h o u s i ng 4 1 and t h e
r o l l e r s 4 3 .
Wh e n t h e p u m p i ng o p e r at i o n i s di s c o nt i nu e d, t h e p o l i s h i ng
ag e nt r e m ai ni ng at t h e t i p o f t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y no z z l e
2 6 m ay dr i p du e t o v i br at i o ns o r o t h e r f ac t o r s . T h i s Wi l l
e v e nt u al l y p r o du c e i nc o nv e ni e nt r e s u l t s , s u c h as i nc o m p l e t e
Wi p i ng . T o av o i d t h i s p r o bl e m , i t i s de s i r abl e t o p e r f o r m a
s u c k bac k o p e r at i o n as i n t h e c as e o f t h e p o l i s h i ng Wat e r
s u p p l y p u m p 3 0 s h o Wn i n F I G . 7 ( b) ( Wh i c h Wi l l be de s c r i be d
l at e r ) . T h at i s , Wh e n t h e l e v e r 5 5 i s p u l l e d by t h e s o l e no i d 5 9
t o ac t i v at e t h e p o l i s h i ng ag e nt s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 , t h e s o l e no i d
5 9 s o m e Wh at s q u e e z e s t h e t u be 4 2 o n t h e e xi t s i de o f t h e
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
9
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u mp 4 0 ; t h e n , Wh e n t h e s o l e n o i d 5 9
i s r e t u r n e d t o i t s o r i g i n a l p o s i t i o n t o d i s c o n t i n u e t h e p u mp i n g
o p e r a t i o n , t h e t u b e i s r e l e a s e d f r o m t h e s q u e e z e d s t a t e . T h u s ,
u n n e c e s s a r y d r o p p i n g s o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t c a n b e p r e
v e n t e d . A s i mi l a r f u n c t i o n c a n a l s o b e r e a l i Z e d b y r o t a t i n g t h e
mo t o r 5 3 b a c k w a r d s Wh i l e t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u mp
4 0 i s a c t i v e .
T h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p u mp 3 0 i s h e r e i n a f t e r
d e s c r i b e d Wi t h r e f e r e n c e t o F I G . 7 . T h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p
p l y p u mp 3 0 i s a p u mp f o r r e p l e n i s h i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t
Wi t h Wa t e r , Wh i c h v a p o r i Z e s d u e t o t h e f r i c t i o n a l h e a t g e n e r
a t e d b y t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 . D i s c h a r g i n g a l a r g e a mo u n t o f Wa t e r i s n o t r e q u i r e d ;
r a t h e r , t h e c a p a b i l i t y t o s u p p l y a t r a c e o f Wa t e r i n a s t a b l e
ma n n e r i s e s s e n t i a l . An o t h e r r e q u i r e me n t f o r t h e p u mp i s t o
h a v e a h i g h l e v e l o f d u r a b i l i t y t o o p e r a t e mu l t i p l e t i me s f o r
e v e r y r e s t o r a t i o n p r o c e s s .
F I G . 7 ( a ) i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r
s u p p l y p u mp 3 0 d e v i s e d t o f u l ? l l t h e a f o r e me n t i o n e d c a p a
b i l i t i e s . T h i s p u mp i n c l u d e s a t u b e 3 2 Wi t h t Wo v a l v e s 3 1 a a n d
3 1 b a t b o t h e n d s f o r f e e d i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r i n o n e s p e
c i ? c d i r e c t i o n . As s h o Wn i n F I G . 7 ( b ) , t h e p u mp s e n d s Wa t e r
i n t h e t u b e 3 2 i n o n e d i r e c t i o n b y s q u e e Z i n g t h e t u b e 3 2 f r o m
o n e s i d e b y t h e p u s h e r 3 3 a n d s u c t i o n s t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r b y
d i s e n g a g i n g t h e p u s h e r 3 3 .
F I G . 7 ( c ) i s a s e c t i o n a l v i e W s h o Wi n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e
v a l v e s 3 1 a a n d 3 1 b . I n t h e p r e s e n t e x a mp l e , t h e v a l v e f u n c t i o n
i s c r e a t e d b y a s p r i n g 3 5 a n d a b a l l 3 6 . V a r i o u s me t h o d s a r e
a v a i l a b l e t o c r e a t e s i mi l a r f u n c t i o n s .
I n t h e e x a mp l e s h o Wn i n F I G . 7 ( a ) , a n e l e c t r o ma g n e t i c
s o l e n o i d 3 4 i s u s e d t o d r i v e t h e p u s h e r 3 3 . Al t e r n a t i v e l y , a
d r i v e me c h a n i s m i n c l u d i n g a mo t o r c o mb i n e d Wi t h a c a m
ma y b e u s e d t o d r i v e t h e p u s h e r 3 3 .
F I G . 7 ( d ) s h o Ws t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r b e i n g s u p p l i e d f r o m
t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r t a n k 3 7 o n t o t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 v i a t h e
p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p u mp 3 0 . As s h o Wn , t h i s s y s t e m h a s a
s p r a y h e a d 3 8 a t t a c h e d t o t h e t i p o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r d i s
c h a r g e p o r t t o e v e n l y s u p p l y t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r o v e r t h e
s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k . T h i s i s mo r e p r e f e r a b l e t h a n t h e
e x a mp l e s h o Wn i n F I G . 1 i n Wh i c h t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y
n o Z Z l e s 2 7 a a n d 2 7 b f o r s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r o n t o
t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a r e s h a p e d l i k e a t h i n t u b e .
D u e t o t h e u s e o f t h e s p r a y n o Z Z l e Wi t h a s p r a y h e a d 3 8 a n d
t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p u mp 3 0 u s i n g t h e t u b e 3 2 Wh o s e
i n t e r n a l p r e s s u r e c a n b e r a p i d l y i n c r e a s e d b y t h e e l e c t r o ma g
n e t i c s o l e n o i d 3 4 , t h e p r e s s u r e i n s i d e t h e n o Z Z l e r i s e s t o h i g h
l e v e l s d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p r o c e s s , Wh e r e b y a n
a p p r o x i ma t e l y e q u a l a mo u n t o f p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r c a n b e s u p
p l i e d f r o m t h e s p r a y n o Z Z l e . Si n c e t h e d i s c h a r g e p o r t o f t h e
s p r a y n o Z Z l e i s s ma l l , a s u r f a c e t e n s i o n c a n p r e v e n t a i r f r o m
i n t r u d i n g i n t o t h e s p r a y n o Z Z l e . T h u s , t h e u n n e c e s s a r y d r o p
p i n g s o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r d o n o t o c c u r Wh e n t h e p u mp i s
h a l t e d .
I t i s d e s i r a b l e t h a t t h e c o n t r o l l e r 2 2 r e g u l a t e s t h e a mo u n t o r
i n t e r v a l o f d i s c h a r g i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t o r p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r
a c c o r d i n g t o a n o p e r a t i o n a l h i s t o r y o f t h e a p p a r a t u s a n d / o r t h e
t e mp e r a t u r e o r h u mi d i t y i n s i d e o r a r o u n d t h e a p p a r a t u s .
F o r e x a mp l e , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o r e c o r d t h e o p e r a t i o n a l h i s t o r y
o f t h e a p p a r a t u s i n a me mo r y o r s i mi l a r d e v i c e i n s i d e t h e
c o n t r o l l e r 2 2 a n d c o n t r o l t h e s u p p l y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d
t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s o t h a t t h e l i q u i d i s s u p p l i e d b y a l a r g e r
q u a n t i t y Wh e n t h e ? r s t r o u n d o f p o l i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e
d a y i s i n i t i a t e d , a n d t h e n , i n t h e s e c o n d a n d s u b s e q u e n t
r o u n d s , t h e q u a n t i t y i s c o n t r o l l e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e n u mb e r o f
p r e v i o u s p o l i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n s , t h e l a p s e t i me f r o m t h e l a s t
o p e r a t i o n a n d o t h e r i n f o r ma t i o n .
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
1 0
I t i s a l s o p o s s i b l e t o me a s u r e t h e t e mp e r a t u r e o r h u mi d i t y
i n s i d e o r a r o u n d t h e a p p a r a t u s b y a t e mp e r a t u r e s e n s o r 2 2 1 1 o r
h u mi d i t y s e n s o r 2 2 b a n d c o n t r o l t h e s u p p l y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t a n d t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r a c c o r d i n g t o t h e me a s u r e d
v a l u e s o a s t o s u p p l y t h e l i q u i d b y a l a r g e r q u a n t i t y u n d e r t h e
c o n d i t i o n s Wh e r e t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t e a s i l y d r i e s o r b y a
s ma l l e r q u a n t i t y u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s Wh e r e t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t h a r d l y d r i e s .
By t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s , t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d p o l i s h i n g
Wa t e r c a n b e s u p p l i e d b y a n a p p r o p r i a t e q u a n t i t y a c c o r d i n g t o
t h e c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r Wh i c h t h e p o l i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n i s p e r
f o r me d .
T h e t i me r e q u i r e d f o r r e mo v i n g s c r a t c h e s f r o m t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 d e p e n d s o n t h e d e p t h o f t h e s c r a t c h e s , t h e t y p e o f t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d o t h e r f a c t o r s . Ac c o r d i n g l y , t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 s h o u l d p r e f e r a b l y h a v e t h e f u n c
t i o n o f a l l o Wi n g a n o p e r a t o r t o s p e c i f y t h e r e s t o r a t i o n t i me
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s t a t e o f t h e s c r a t c h e s a n d o t h e r c o n d i t i o n s . As
o n e p r e f e r a b l e e x a mp l e , t h i s f u n c t i o n ma y b e i mp l e me n t e d i n
s u c h a ma n n e r t h a t , Wh e n a n o p e r a t o r s e l e c t s o n e o f t h e
r e s t o r a t i o n t i me s Wh i c h a r e p r e d e t e r mi n e d i n s t a g e s , t h e c o n
t r o l l e r 2 2 c o n t r o l s t h e q u a n t i t y o r i n t e r v a l o f d i s c h a r g i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
s e l e c t e d r e s t o r a t i o n t i me . T h e q u a n t i t y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t
t o b e s u p p l i e d d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s n e e d s o n l y t o b e
c o mp a r a b l e t o t h e q u a n t i t y n e c e s s a r y t o ma i n t a i n t h e a mo u n t
o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d i n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d 2 4 . T h e
q u a n t i t y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r t o b e s u p p l i e d d u r i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s n e e d s o n l y t o b e c o mp a r a b l e t o t h e q u a n t i t y
Wh e r e b y t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t c a n b e r e p l e n i s h e d Wi t h t h e
Wa t e r c o n t e n t e v a p o r a t e d d u e t o t h e p o l i s h i n g h e a t .
F o r e x a mp l e , t h e a p p a r a t u s ma y h a v e t h r e e r e s t o r a t i o n
mo d e s , o n e - mi n u t e mo d e , t Wo - mi n u t e mo d e a n d t h r e e
mi n u t e mo d e , Wh i c h r e s p e c t i v e l y r e q u i r e o n e , t Wo a n d t h r e e
mi n u t e s f o r r e s t o r a t i o n . I n t h e o n e - mi n u t e mo d e , a p e r i o d o f
4 0 s e c o n d s f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n i s a s s i g n e d
t o t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s , f o l l o We d b y a d r y - r u b b i n g p r o c e s s o f
2 0 s e c o n d s . T h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t ma y b e d i s c h a r g e d a t t h e
b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a n d a t 2 0 s e c o n d s f r o m t h e b e g i n
n i n g b y 0 . 1 g e a c h t i me , o r a t i n t e r v a l s o f 1 0 s e c o n d s b y 0 . 0 5
g e a c h t i me . T h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r i s , f o r e x a mp l e , d i s c h a r g e d
b y 0 . 0 4 g e a c h t i me a t i n t e r v a l s o f a p p r o x i ma t e l y ? v e s e c
o n d s . I t i s p o s s i b l e t o o mi t t h e s u p p l y o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r a t
t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a n d i n i t i a t e t h e s u p p l y a t
a p p r o x i ma t e l y ? v e mi n u t e s f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e s t o
r a t i o n .
Of c o u r s e , t h i s i s a me r e e x a mp l e . T h e q u a n t i t y o f t h e l i q u i d
t o b e d i s c h a r g e d o n e t i me ma y b e i n c r e a s e d Wh i l e e l o n g a t i n g
t h e d i s c h a r g i n g i n t e r v a l , o r c o n v e r s e l y , t h e q u a n t i t y ma y b e
d e c r e a s e d Wh i l e s h o r t e n i n g t h e d i s c h a r g i n g i n t e r v a l . T h e t o t a l
a mo u n t o f t h e l i q u i d t o b e d i s c h a r g e d ma y b e i n c r e a s e d o r
d e c r e a s e d . T h e d i s c h a r g i n g q u a n t i t y a n d / o r i n t e r v a l ma y b e
v a r i e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o p e r a t i o n a l h i s t o r y o f t h e a p p a r a t u s ,
t h e t e mp e r a t u r e , h u mi d i t y a n d o t h e r f a c t o r s . T h e d i s c h a r g i n g
q u a n t i t y p e r o n e t i me a n d / o r t h e d i s c h a r g i n g i n t e r v a l ma y b e
c h a n g e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e r e s t o r a t i o n mo d e . T h e r e s t o r a t i o n
t i me ma y b e c h a n g e d c o n t i n u o u s l y r a t h e r t h a n d i s c r e t e l y . T h e
d i s c h a r g i n g o p e r a t i o n d o e s n o t n e e d t o b e p e r i o d i c a l b u t
n e e d s o n l y t o b e i n t e r mi t t e n t .
T h e 2 0 - s e c o n d p e r i o d f o r t h e d r y - r u b b i n g p r o c e s s i s a l s o a
me r e e x a mp l e . I t ma y b e s h o r t e n e d ( e . g . t o 1 0 s e c o n d s ) Wh e n
t h e a i r i s d r y , o r e l o n g a t e d ( e g t o 3 0 s e c o n d s ) Wh e n t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a r e c o n s i d e r a b l y We t a s i n t h e c a s e o f t h e
t h r e e - mi n u t e mo d e o r i n t h e c a s e Wh e r e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o p e r a
t i o n h a s b e e n a l r e a d y p e r f o r me d ma n y t i me s .
As d e s c r i b e d t o t h i s p o i n t , t h e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a
r a t u s 1 0 a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e q u i r e s a u s e r t o
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
1 1
s i m p l y p l a c e a n o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 o n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n t a b l e 2 1
a n d c l o s e t h e l i d 2 0 , a f t e r Wh i c h t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 i s i n i t i a t e d . Wh e n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n i s c o m p l e t e d , t h e
o p t i c a l d i s k i s c l e a n l y p o l i s h e d .
Sp e c i ? c a l l y , i n t h e ? n a l s t a g e o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n , t h e c o n
t r o l l e r 2 2 c o n t r o l s t h e o n / o f f o p e r a t i o n o f t h e m o t o r 5 3 , p o l
i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 a n d p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y
p u m p 3 0 t o r o t a t e t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k
1 0 0 Wi t h o u t s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r a n d t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t . I n t h i s p r o c e s s , t h e d i s k s u r f a c e i s d r i e d b y t h e f r i c t i o n a l
h e a t g e n e r a t e d b e t We e n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k 1 0 0 , a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 i s r u b b e d Wi t h t h e p o l i s h i n g
p a d s 2 4 . I n t h i s m a n n e r , t h e r e s t o r e d o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 c a n b e
c l e a n e d Wi t h o u t c o n s u m i n g t h e t i m e a n d l a b o r o f t h e u s e r .
T h u s , t h e Wo r k i n g e ? i c i e n c y i s e x t r e m e l y e n h a n c e d .
T h e p r e s e n t a p p a r a t u s i s a d r y - t y p e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s
f o r p e r f o r m i n g a p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s u s i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s
2 4 Wi t h a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d t h e r e i n , a n d y e t h a s t h e p o l
i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p 4 0 f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p p l y i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t t o t h e i n t e r f a c e b e t We e n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4
a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 d u r i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s a s We l l
a s t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p u m p 3 0 f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y
r e p l e n i s h i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t Wi t h m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y
f r i c t i o n a l h e a t . By t h i s m e c h a n i s m , t h e a m o u n t a n d p h y s i c a l
p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a t t h e i n t e r f a c e b e t We e n t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a n d t h e o p t i c a l d i s k 1 0 0 a r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y
m a i n t a i n e d f o r a l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e , s o t h a t t h e r e s t o r a t i o n
c a p a b i l i t y i s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t o f c o n v e n t i o n a l d r y - t y p e r e s t o
r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s .
Su c h a h i g h l e v e l o f r e s t o r a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y c a n a l s o b e
a c h i e v e d b y u s i n g o n l y t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p 4 0
Wi t h o u t t h e h e l p o f t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y 3 0 , i n Wh i c h
c a s e , h o We v e r , t h e r e s t o r a t i o n c o s t Wi l l b e v e r y h i g h b e c a u s e
t h e e x p e n s i v e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t i s u s e d i n l a r g e q u a n t i t y . F u r
t h e r m o r e , u s i n g a l a r g e a m o u n t o f p o l i s h i n g a g e n t r a p i d l y
c o n t a m i n a t e s t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b , s o t h a t t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d s 2 4 a a n d 2 4 b m u s t b e f r e q u e n t l y r e p l a c e d .
T h e s e p r o b l e m s c a n b e s o l v e d b y u s i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r
s u p p l y p u m p 3 0 a s i n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s 1 0 a c c o r d i n g
t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n .
T h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s n o t l i m i t e d t o t h e p r e v i o u s l y
d e s c r i b e d e m b o d i m e n t , Wh i c h c a n b e a p p r o p r i a t e l y m o d i ? e d
Wi t h i n t h e s p i r i t o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t a n d p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r m a y b e s u p p l i e d t o t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d s i n s t e a d o f t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k . T h e p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r d o e s n o t a l Wa y s n e e d t o c o n s i s t o f
Wa t e r o n l y ; f o r e x a m p l e , i t m a y b e Wa t e r c o n t a i n i n g a t r a c e o f
a s u r f a c e a c t i v e a g e n t , o r a m i x t u r e o f Wa t e r a n d a l c o h o l o r
s i m i l a r v o l a t i l e l i q u i d h a v i n g a s u r f a c e - a c t i v a t i n g e f f e c t .
EXPLANAT I ON OF NUMERALS
1 0 . . . Re s t o r a t i o n Ap p a r a t u s
2 0 . . . Li d
2 1 . . . Re s t o r a t i o n T a b l e
2 2 . . . Co n t r o l l e r
2 2 a . . . T e m p e r a t u r e Se n s o r
2 2 b . . . Hu m i d i t y Se n s o r
2 3 . . . Li d - Op e n i n g Me c h a n i s m
2 4 a , 2 4 b . . . Po l i s h i n g Pa d
2 4 1 . . . Po l i s h i n g Pa d Ho l d e r
2 6a , 2 6b . . . Po l i s h i n g Ag e n t Su p p l y No ZZl e
2 7a , 2 7b . . . Po l i s h i n g Wa t e r Su p p l y No ZZl e
2 8 . . . Be a r i n g
3 0 . . . Po l i s h i n g Wa t e r Su p p l y Pu m p
3 1 a , 3 1 b . . . Va l v e
3 2 . . . T u b e
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
1 2
3 3 . . . Pu s h e r
3 4 , 5 9 . . . El e c t r o m a g n e t i c So l e n o i d
3 7 . . . Po l i s h i n g Wa t e r T a n k
3 8 . . . Sp r a y He a d
4 0 . . . Po l i s h i n g Ag e n t Su p p l y Pu m p
4 1 . . . Ho u s i n g
4 2 . . . T u b e
4 3 a , 4 3 b . . . Ro l l e r
4 4 . . . Ro t o r
4 5 , 5 1 . . . Sp e e d Re d u c e r
4 6, 5 3 . . . Mo t o r
4 7 . . . Po l i s h i n g Ag e n t T a n k
5 4 . . . Sh a f t
5 5 . . . Le v e r
5 6 . . . I d l e r
5 7 . . . Ex t e r n a l Ge a r
5 8 . . . I n t e r n a l Ge a r
60 . . . Pl u n g e r
61 . . . Di s k
1 0 0 . . . Op t i c a l Di s k
1 2 0 . . . Su b s t r a t e
1 3 0 . . . I n f o r m a t i o n Re c o r d La y e r
1 4 0 . . . Co v e r La y e r
1 5 0 . . . Ha r d Co a t La y e r
1 60 . . . Sc r a t c h
T h e i n v e n t i o n c l a i m e d i s :
1 . A d r y - t y p e o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n a p p a r a t u s f o r p o l i s h
i n g a r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f a n o p t i c a l d i s k t o b e r e s t o r e d , b y
o p t i c a l d i s k r e l a t i v e t o e a c h o t h e r i n a c o n t a c t s t a t e , c o m p r i s
i n g :
a g e n t t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k o r t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d ;
b ) a p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y m e a n s f o r s u p p l y i n g a p o l i s h
i n g Wa t e r t o t h e r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k o r t h e
p o l i s h i n g p a d ; a n d
c ) a s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s t o m a i n t a i n a n a m o u n t o f
t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t h e l d i n t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d d u r i n g a
p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s , a n d f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y o p e r a t i n g t h e
p o l i s h i n g Wa t e r s u p p l y m e a n s t o r e p l e n i s h t h e p o l i s h i n g
a g e n t Wi t h m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y a p o l i s h i n g h e a t .
1 , f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g :
a ) a l i d o n a n i n s i d e f a c e o f Wh i c h a p o l i s h i n g p a d h o l d e r
h o l d i n g t h e p o l i s h i n g p a d i s a t t a c h e d ;
b ) a l i d - o p e n i n g m e c h a n i s m f o r o p e n i n g t h e l i d ; a n d
c ) a l i d - o p e n i n g c o n t r o l m e a n s f o r a c t i v a t i n g t h e l i d - o p e n
i n g m e c h a n i s m a f t e r a p o l i s h i n g p r o c e s s o f t h e o p t i c a l
d i s k i s c o m p l e t e d .
2 , Wh e r e i n t h e l i d - o p e n i n g c o n t r o l m e a n s a c t i v a t e s t h e l i d
o p e n i n g m e c h a n i s m b e f o r e a r o t a t i o n o f t h e o p t i c a l d i s k i s
d i s c o n t i n u e d .
1 , Wh e r e i n t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s i n c l u d e s :
a ) a p l u r a l i t y o f p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y n o ZZl e s e a c h s e r v
i n g a s a d i s c h a r g e p o r t o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t ; a n d
b ) a p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y p u m p f o r s u p p l y i n g t h e p o l i s h
i n g a g e n t t o e a c h o f t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y n o ZZl e s
t h r o u g h p a s s a g e s i n d i v i d u a l l y p r o v i d e d f o r e a c h p o l i s h
i n g a g e n t s u p p l y n o ZZl e .
4 , Wh e r e i n t h e p o l i s h i n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s h a s a s u c k b a c k
US 8 , 3 4 2 , 9 0 5 B2
1 3
f u n c t i o n i n Whi c h a s q u e e z i n g o f a t u b e f o r s u p p l y i n g t he
p o l i s hi n g a g e n t i s r e l e a s e d f o r p r e v e n t i n g u n n e c e s s a r y d r o p
1 , f u r t he r c o m p r i s i n g a r o t a t i o n d i s c o n t i n u a t i o n c o n t r o l
m e a n s f o r c o n t r o l l i n g a t i m i n g o f d i s c o n t i n u i n g a r o t a t i o n o f
t he o p t i c a l d i s k a n d t he p o l i s hi n g p a d , Whe r e i n :
a ) t he s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s d i s c o n t i n u e s a s u p p l y o f t he
p o l i s hi n g a g e n t a n d t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r Whe n a p o l i s h
i n g p r o c e s s o f t he o p t i c a l d i s k i s c o m p l e t e d ; a n d
b ) Whe n a p r e d e t e r m i n e d p e r i o d o f t i m e ha s e l a p s e d a f t e r
t he s u p p l y o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t a n d t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r
ha s b e e n d i s c o n t i n u e d b y t he s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s , t he
r o t a t i o n d i s c o n t i n u a t i o n c o n t r o l m e a n s d i s c o n t i n u e s t he
r o t a t i o n o f t he o p t i c a l d i s k a n d t he p o l i s hi n g p a d s o a s t o
d r y t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t a t a n i n t e r f a c e b e t We e n t he o p t i
c a l d i s k a n d t he p o l i s hi n g p a d b y a p o l i s hi n g he a t a n d
p e r f o r m d r y - r u b b i n g o f t he o p t i c a l d i s k Wi t h t he p o l i s h
i n g p a d .
1 , Whe r e i n t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r s u p p l y m e a n s i n c l u d e s :
a ) a ? e x i b l e t u b e p r o v i d e d Wi t h a v a l v e a t e a c h o f t Wo e n d s
t he r e o f , t he v a l v e b e i n g d e s i g n e d t o a l l o W t he p o l i s hi n g
Wa t e r t o Ho w i n a p r e d e t e r m i n e d d i r e c t i o n ;
b ) a p u s he r l o c a t e d o n a s i d e o f t he t u b e ; a n d
c ) a d r i v e m e c ha n i s m f o r o p e r a t i n g t he p u s he r s o a s t o f e e d
t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r i n s i d e t he t u b e i n t he p r e d e t e r m i n e d
d i r e c t i o n b y s q u e e z i n g t u b e f r o m a s i d e Wi t h t he p u s he r .
1 , Whe r e i n t he s u p p l y c o n t r o l m e a n s i n c l u d e s a d i s c ha r g e
c o n d i t i o n r e g u l a t i n g m e a n s f o r r e g u l a t i n g t he a m o u n t o r i n t e r
v a l o f d i s c ha r g i n g t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t o r t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r .
8 , Whe r e i n :
2 0
2 5
3 0
1 4
a r e c o r d m e a n s f o r r e c o r d i n g a n o p e r a t i o n a l hi s t o r y o f t he
a p p a r a t u s i s p r o v i d e d ; a n d
t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r a c c o r d i n g t o t he o p e r a t i o n a l hi s t o r y
r e c o r d e d i n t he r e c o r d m e a n s .
c l a i m 8 , f u r t he r c o m p r i s i n g :
a m e a s u r e m e n t m e a n s f o r m e a s u r i n g a t e m p e r a t u r e o r
hu m i d i t y i s p r o v i d e d , Whe r e i n
t he p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r a c c o r d i n g t o a m e a s u r e d v a l u e o f t he
m e a s u r e m e n t m e a n s .
1 1 . An o p t i c a l d i s k r e s t o r a t i o n m e t ho d i n c l u d i n g a d r y
p o l i s hi n g p r o c e s s f o r p o l i s hi n g a r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f a n o p t i c a l
d i s k b y r o t a t i n g a p o l i s hi n g p a d ho l d i n g a p o l i s hi n g a g e n t a n d
t he o p t i c a l d i s k r e l a t i v e t o e a c h o t he r i n a c o n t a c t s t a t e ,
Whe r e i n t he p o l i s hi n g p r o c e s s i n c l u d e s :
a ) a p o l i s hi n g a g e n t s u p p l y p r o c e s s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p
p l y i n g t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t t o t he r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t he
o p t i c a l d i s k o r t he p o l i s hi n g p a d t o m a i n t a i n a n a m o u n t
o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t he l d i n t he p o l i s hi n g p a d d u r i n g
t he p o l i s hi n g p r o c e s s ; a n d
b ) a p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r s u p p l y p r o c e s s f o r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y s u p
p l y i n g a p o l i s hi n g Wa t e r t o t he r e a d o u t s u r f a c e o f t he
o p t i c a l d i s k o r t he p o l i s hi n g p a d t o r e p l e n i s h t he p o l i s h
i n g a g e n t Wi t h m o i s t u r e e v a p o r a t e d b y a p o l i s hi n g he a t .
c l a i m 4 , Whe r e i n t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t s u p p l y m e a n s ha s a s u c k
b a c k f u n c t i o n i n Whi c h a m o t o r o f t he p o l i s hi n g a g e n t s u p p l y
p u m p r o t a t e s b a c k Wa r d s f o r p r e v e n t i n g u n n e c e s s a r y d r o p
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