Patents Assigned to Otari Inc.
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Patent number: 6356045Abstract: An operating knob device has: a position detection portion for detecting a position of a set numerical value of an object to be set; an operating portion for changing and operating the set numerical value; a drive portion for driving the operating portion; and a control portion for controlling the drive portion on the basis of a detection result of the position detection portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Otari Inc.Inventors: Scott Michael Newton, James Richard Overocker, Saul Adam Walker, David Rayna
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Patent number: 5592080Abstract: In a record medium checking device, a signal recorded on record medium is reproduced, then the absence of reproduced signal is detected. The device includes a reproducing means for reproducing the signal recorded on the record medium to output the reproduced signal, a discriminating means for comparing the reproduced signal with a reference signal to output a discriminating signal, a signal generating means for generating detecting clock pulses, and a counter to count the detecting clock pulses. The output of the counter is a check signal based on the discriminating signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1993Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Otari Inc.Inventor: Tohru Matsuno
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Patent number: 5513818Abstract: A tape winding apparatus, for winding a certain length of magnetic tape in a cassette, comprises a detection unit and a cassette distributor. The detection unit detects the existence of holes on the cassette, which are regarded as information used in winding the magnetic tape. The winding operation of the winding station is controlled by the information received from the detection unit. If the information set by a controller and the information detected by the detection unit do not match, the cassette is regarded as defective and is distributed to the appropriate location by the cassette distributor.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1994Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignee: Otari, Inc.Inventors: Kengo Wada, Yuji Sakuma, Shinichi Nomura
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Patent number: 5413290Abstract: A tape winding apparatus in which a leader tape is pulled out of a cassette supplied to a tape winding station and cut. The cut end of the leader tape is plied to the leading end of a working tape, and the working tape is wound into the cassette by rotating a hub in the cassette. The tape winding apparatus has a plurality of tape winding stations on the same plane and a moving apparatus to move the leading end of the working tape to a position adjacent to the cut end of the leader tape of a cassette selected from a plurality of cassette supplied to the plurality of tape winding stations.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1993Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Otari Inc.Inventor: Koichi Sota
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Patent number: 5337195Abstract: A recording control apparatus for use with a tape recorder. The apparatus comprises a recording circuit selectively activated; a clock generating means for generating control clock pulses that provide the basis for controlling the recording circuit; a counting means for counting the control clock pulses; a counter setting means for initializing the counting means; a recording circuit control means for controlling the recording circuit in accordance with the output of the counting means; and a control means for supplying the counter setting means with initial values from which to start the counting before predetermined points in time at which to start and stop recording. With time monitored by the clock generating and counting means, the burdens on the computer in its performance are alleviated.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1991Date of Patent: August 9, 1994Assignee: Otari, Inc.Inventors: Masayuki Ito, Takami Makada
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Patent number: 5332167Abstract: A clamping mechanism clamps the free end of a leader tape onto a hub, a moving mechanism moves the hub together with the clamped leader tape end to a winding position, a cutting device cuts the leader tape a predetermined distance from the hub clamped onto the free end of the leader tape, a splicing mechanism splices the cut end of the leader tape to a free end of a magnetic tape, and a revolving mechanism then winds the spliced together leader tape and magnetic tape onto the hub. When the winding of the spliced together leader tape and magnetic tape is completed, the cutting device cuts the magnetic tape, and the splicing mechanism splices the cut end of the magnetic tape with the cut end of a leader tape. The clamping mechanism then cuts the leader tape having the magnetic tape spliced therewith, and clamps another hub to the free end of the leader tape.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1991Date of Patent: July 26, 1994Assignee: Otari Inc.Inventor: Koichi Sota
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Patent number: 5330117Abstract: A tape cassette winding apparatus that can accept either an audio compact cassette (ACC) or a digital compact cassette (DCC) that has a revolving drive arrangement for rotating the hub or reel of the cassette to load tape into the cassette. The winding apparatus has first and second winding shafts constructed to fit into an ACC hub or DCC hub. A moving assembly selectively moves the correct winding shaft into position to engage either an ACC hub or DCC hub. The revolving drive rotates the cassette hub to load tape into the cassette when the correct winding shaft has been selected and engaged in the cassette hub. A lid opening assembly is provided to open and close the hub protective lid on DCC's.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1992Date of Patent: July 19, 1994Assignee: Otari, Inc.Inventors: Jun Taniguchi, Koichi Sota
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Patent number: 5305964Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette loading and winding apparatus having a pivotable adhesive tape applicator for splicing the end of a leader tape to the end of a magnetic tape and winding into the cassette. The loading and winding apparatus has three tape holders. Two of the holders are pivotally mounted so they can be moved to sequentially change position to first hold the leader tape while it is cut, hold one cut end of the leader on a free end of the magnetic tape while it is spliced with an adhesive tape, and then hold the other cut end of the leader tape and a second cut end of the magnetic tape while it is spliced. The pivotable tape holders can thus perform several functions. A movable adhesive tape is also provided to move from one position to another to apply pieces of adhesive tape to the cut ends of leader tape.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1992Date of Patent: April 26, 1994Assignee: Otari Inc.Inventor: Koichi Sota
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Patent number: 5241432Abstract: A tape conveying device has a loop bin which accomodates a meandering endless tape. The tape loop bin comprises a tape drive means, a tape running speed detecting means for detecting the running speed of the endless tape from the operating condition of said tape drive means, a tape conveying means for conveying the endless tape to meanderingly run in said loop bin to an exit from said loop bin, and a tape conveying control means complying with a running speed signal of the endless tape received from the tape running speed detecting means. Endless tape fed into the loop bin by a tape driving means travels toward an outlet from the loop bin. The tape conveying means is controlled to comply with a tape running speed signal sent from the tape running speed detecting means so that the operation of the tape conveying means is stopped before movement of the endless tape is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1991Date of Patent: August 31, 1993Assignee: Otari Inc.Inventors: Koichi Sota, Toshiaki Shima
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Patent number: 5240197Abstract: An apparatus and method for winding a magnetic tape into a cassette. The apparatus provides a simple construction that allows a leader tape to be smoothly and quickly withdrawn from the cassette. The apparatus has a motor mounted on a base panel with a winding shaft for engaging the hub of the cassette mounted on the spindle of the motor. A spring-loaded retractable pawl is mounted in a groove in the winding shaft. When extended by the spring, the pawl engages the hub of the cassette to wind magnetic tape into the cassette. The hub is released by retracting the pawl into the groove of the winding shaft with a reciprocally movable pressing plate mounted perpendicular to the axis of the winding shaft that engages the end of the pawl.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1991Date of Patent: August 31, 1993Assignee: Otari Inc.Inventors: Yuji Sakuma, Yasunori Uchikawa
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Patent number: 5160571Abstract: A cassette tape loading device comprised of a cassette holding means for holding a cassette case, a tape supplying means for supplying a magnetic tape, a first splicing block means for releasably holding a leading end of the magnetic tape, a leader tape drawing means for drawing out leader tape from the cassette case, a second splicing block means for releaseably holding the leader tape, a third splicing block means for releaseably holding a cut end of said leader tape or a cut end of said magnetic tape, a first cutting means for cutting the leader tape held by the second and third splicing block means between the second and third splicing block means when the third splicing block means combines with the second splicing block means, a second cutting means for cutting a magnetic tape held by the first and third splicing block means between the first and third splicing block means when the third splicing block means combines with the first splicing block means, splice means for splicing both the cut end of saidType: GrantFiled: January 22, 1991Date of Patent: November 3, 1992Assignee: Otari, Inc.Inventors: Haruo Nakano, Koichi Sota
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Patent number: 4974100Abstract: A tape running device for storing and running an endless magnetic tape for mass-producing copies of the endless magnetic tape. The tape running device comprises a tape storage mechanism for storing a long, endless magnetic tape along a zigzag path formed by a plurality of movable guide rollers, a tension control mechanism for maintaining tension in the endless magnetic tape stored in the tape storage mechanism at a predetermined tension level, and tape driving apparatus for driving the endless magnetic tape stored in the tape storage mechanism. The total length of the zigzag path along which the endless magnetic tape is extended in the tape storage mechanism can be varied by properly shifting the plurality of guide rollers so that the tension in the endless magnetic tape is maintained on a predetermined tension level while the endless magnetic tape is being driven.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1988Date of Patent: November 27, 1990Assignee: Otari, Inc.Inventors: Toshiya Odaka, Toshiaki Shima