Disk package and disk packaging method

Abstract

A set of disks sandwiched between first and second hard plates are stacked with a plurality of spacers interleaved therethrough. A disk transport pole is inserted through openings of the disks and the first and second hard plates. A packaging material is provided to cover at least a portion around peripheries of the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate. First and second stoppers provided at both ends of the disk transport pole serves to hold and fasten the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate. At least one of the first and second stoppers is detachable.

1 . A disk package comprising: 
 a disk transport pole having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first stopper;    a first hard plate having an opening allowing the disk transport pole to be inserted therethrough from the second end;    a second hard plate having an opening allowing the disk transport pole to be inserted therethrough from the second end;    a set of disks each having a central opening allowing the disk transport pole to be inserted therethrough from the second end, the set of disks being stacked and sandwiched between the first hard plate and the second hard plate;    a plurality of spacers each interleaved between the first hard plate and the set of disks, between adjacent disks, and between the set of disks and the second hard plate;    a second stopper detachably attached to the second end of the disk transport pole, wherein the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate, with the plurality of spacers interleaved therebetween are held between the first stopper and the second stopper; and    a packaging material that covers at least a portion around peripheries of the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate.    
     
     
         2 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first stopper of the disk transport pole and the second stopper as attached is slightly shorter than a total height of the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate with the plurality of spacers interleaved therebetween as stacked.  
     
     
         3 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein two major surfaces of each of the first hard plate and the second hard plate have a shape identical with and dimensions equal to those of the disks; and 
 wherein at least one of the first hard plate and the second hard plate is thicker than each disk.    
     
     
         4 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spacers comprise a circular plate having an opening.  
     
     
         5 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein the packaging material comprises a flexible plastic film.  
     
     
         6 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein the packaging material comprises a cylindrical case having a predetermined rigidity.  
     
     
         7 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of disks comprise an optical disk recording medium.  
     
     
         8 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of disks comprise a magnetic disk recording medium.  
     
     
         9 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein the disk transport pole comprises a columnar body having a first end and a second end, and the first stopper formed monolithically at the first end, the second end having an internal thread formed therein; and 
 wherein the second stopper has an external thread formed thereon, the external thread being engageable with the internal thread of the second end of the columnar body of the disk transport pole.    
     
     
         10 . A disk package according to  claim 1 , wherein the disk transport pole comprises a columnar body having a first end and a second end, and the first stopper formed monolithically at the first end; and 
 wherein the openings of the first and second hard plate and the central openings of the disks have a shape substantially identical with and dimensions substantially equal to those in cross section of the columnar body.    
     
     
         11 . A disk package comprising: 
 a columnar disk transport pole having a first end and a second end;    a first hard plate having an opening allowing the disk transport pole to be removably inserted therethrough;    a second hard plate having an opening allowing the disk transport pole to be removably inserted therethrough;    a set of disks each having a central opening allowing the disk transport pole to be removably inserted therethrough, the set of disks being stacked and sandwiched between the first hard plate and the second hard plate;    a plurality of spacers each interleaved between adjacent disks;    a first stopper attached to the first end of the disk transport pole, a second stopper attached to the second end of the disk transport pole, wherein the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate, with the plurality of spacers interleaved therebetween are held between the first stopper and the second stopper, and wherein the at least one of the first and second stoppers is detachable; and    a packaging material that covers at least a portion around peripheries of the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate.    
     
     
         12 . A disk package according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a spacer for the first hard plate, provided between the first hard plate and the set of disks; and    a spacer for the second hard plate, provided between the second hard plate and the set of disks.    
     
     
         13 . A disk package according to  claim 11 , wherein two major surfaces of each of the first hard plate and the second hard plate have a shape identical with and dimensions equal to those of the disks; and 
 wherein the first and second hard plates each have a thick portion in a position, on one of the two major surfaces opposite to the set of the disks, corresponding to a position where the plurality of spacers are aligned with each other.    
     
     
         14 . A disk packaging method comprising: 
 providing a first pole standing upright on a base and attaching a second pole to an end of the first pole to form a disk stacking pole;    placing a first hard plate over the base of the disk stacking pole by inserting the disk stacking pole through an opening formed in the first hard plate;    stacking a set of disks by inserting the disk stacking pole having the first hard plate placed over the base through an opening formed in each disk, while placing a plurality of spacers each between adjacent disks;    placing a second hard plate over the set of disks stacked, by inserting the disk stacking pole through an opening formed in the second hard plate;    covering with a packaging material at least a portion around peripheries of the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate;    removing the second pole from the first pole, and attaching a disk transport pole to the end of the first pole, wherein the disk transport pole has a first end and a second end, the first end having a first stopper, and the second end being detachably attachable to the end of the first pole;    moving the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate with the plurality of spacers placed therebetween from the first pole to the disk transport pole;    removing the first pole from the disk transport pole; and    attaching a second stopper to the second end of the disk transport pole to hold and fasten the first and second hard plate, the set of disks, and the plurality of spacers together, between the first stopper and the second stopper.    
     
     
         15 . A disk packaging method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 prior to placing the first hard plate, placing an underplate smaller than the first hard plate over the base of the disk stacking pole by inserting the disk stacking pole through an opening formed in the underplate, to form a clearance between the base and the first hard plate.    
     
     
         16 . A disk packaging method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 after placing the first hard plate and before stacking the set of disks, placing a spacer for the first plate over the first hard plate; and    after stacking the set of disks and before placing the second hard plate, placing a spacer for the second plate over the set of disks stacked.    
     
     
         17 . A disk packaging method according to  claim 14 , wherein the moving of the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate with the plurality of spacers placed therebetween comprises turning upside down the first hard plate, the set of disks, and the second hard plate with the plurality of spacers placed therebetween, together with the first pole and the disk transport pole.  
     
     
         18 . A disk packaging method according to  claim 14 , wherein the attaching of the second stopper comprises screwing an external thread formed on the second stopper onto an internal thread formed in the second end of the disk transport pole, to compress the plurality of spacers.  
     
     
         19 . A disk packaging method according to  claim 14 , wherein the covering with a packaging material comprises wrapping with a flexible plastic film.  
     
     
         20 . A disk packaging method according to  claim 14 , wherein the covering with a packaging material comprises putting into a cylindrical case having a predetermined rigidity.