Compact disc printing nest

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Description: This invention relates to a printing nest utilized during screen printing of compact discs, and more particularly, to a printer nest used during screen printing of compact discs which is easy to remove and clean such that production and maintenance downtime are reduced. Background: A video or audio recorded compact disc includes a video or audio recorded data surface and another surface providing textual information and/or artwork and designs (hereinafter "the label surface"). This label surface may include aesthetically pleasing artwork and/or designs pertaining to the particular artists, recording companies, etc., of that compact disc. Moreover, the label surface can include printed matter pertaining to the compact disc, such as the title of the compact disc, the title of the individual tracks on the recorded data surface, the duration of each track, etc. In order to print the label surface of the compact disc with such aesthetically pleasing artwork and/or design, the compact disc is typically retained in a printing nest with the label surface exposed such that the label surface is in a position capable of being screen printed by a screen printing unit. The printing nest is usually mounted on a transportation or conveying mechanism such that the printing nest is moved into a position beneath the screen printing unit. This screen printing unit includes a screen mesh with a stenciled pattern corresponding to the desired artwork or design to be printed onto the label surface of the compact disc. The screen mesh of the screen printing unit is lowered to abut against the label surface of the compact disc. When the mesh screen is in this abuttable position, pigment is dispensed and spread over the screen mesh, which is then pushed through by a squeegee such that the desired artwork or design is printed onto the label surface of the compact disc. Typically, printing nests are made out of a single plate unit rigidly secured to a transportation mechanism, such as a rotary table. Accordingly, the printing nest has to be cleaned at the printer site and production time thus has to be scheduled for removal, replacement and cleaning of the printing nests. It has therefore been found desirable to provide for a design for a compact disc printing nest which is easily cleaned and easily accessible for removal and replacement so that production and maintenance downtime are reduced.