Patents by Inventor Kotaro Kitawaki

Kotaro Kitawaki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240135971
    Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a plurality of disk-shaped magnetic disks 30, spacers 80, a hub 90, a clamp 70, and a fastening member 72. Each of the magnetic disks 30 includes a through-hole in a center section thereof. Each of the spacers 80 includes a through-hole in a center section thereof, and is disposed among the magnetic disks 30. The hub 90 is inserted into the through-holes of the magnetic disks 30 and the spacers 80. The clamp 70 presses and holds the magnetic disks 30 and the spacers 80. The fastening member 72 fastens the clamp 70 to the hub 90. The clamp 70 is fastened to the hub by the fastening member 72 with a torque of from 5 cN·m to 45 cN·m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Kotaro KITAWAKI, Shinpei TODO, Ryohei YAMADA, Hideyuki HATAKEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20240119967
    Abstract: An example thin substrate built-in hard disk drive includes a magnetic disk in a disk shape having a through-hole at the center, a spindle motor inserted into the through-hole of the magnetic disk and co-rotatably supporting the magnetic disk, and a base plate made of an aluminum alloy and supporting the spindle motor. The base plate has a metallographic structure in which a perimeter of a second phase particle having a longest diameter of 10 ?m or more is 3 mm/mm2 or more, and the number of second phase particles having a longest diameter of 500 ?m or more is 0 particles/mm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicants: UACJ Corporation, Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro KITAWAKI, Hideyuki HATAKEYAMA, Wataru KUMAGAI, Ryo SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11935559
    Abstract: This magnetic disk device is a 3.5-inch magnetic disk device equipped with magnetic disks formed from an aluminum alloy substrate. The magnetic disks arranged in a stacked manner have a thickness Td of 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm, the number N of magnetic disks involved is 10 to 16, and spacers disposed between the magnetic disks have an outside diameter 2 Rso of 35 mm to 65 mm. The outside diameter 2 Rso (mm) of the spacers satisfies 2 Rso??60 Td+70 and 2 Rso??0.5 N2?+16.5 N?73.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Kitamura, Kotaro Kitawaki, Hideyuki Hatakeyama, Ryohei Yamada, Toshihiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20240021213
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disc is made of an aluminum alloy, containing Fe: 1.80 mass % or less, Mn: 0.70 mass % or less, Ni: 2.50 mass % or less, Si: 2.50 mass % or less, Cu: 1.00 mass % or less, Zn: 0.48 mass % or less and Mg: 1.00 to 3.50 mass %, wherein a total content of Fe, Mn and Ni is 1.60 to 4.50 mass % and a mass ratio of Cu/Zn is 0.01 to 0.35 or 6.00 to 50.00, with a balance being Al and inevitable impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicants: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro KITAWAKI, Hideyuki HATAKEYAMA, Wataru KUMAGAI, Ryo SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240018633
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy disc blank for a magnetic disc made of an aluminum alloy containing Mg: 3.40 to 3.90 mass % with the balance being A1 and inevitable impurities, wherein a conductivity of the aluminum alloy disc blank is 36.0% IACS or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicants: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro KITAWAKI, Hideyuki HATAKEYAMA, Wataru KUMAGAI, Ryo SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240005958
    Abstract: A hard disk drive is a 3.5-inch hard disk drive on which a magnetic disk formed of an aluminum alloy substrate is mounted. A thickness Td of each of magnetic disks that are arranged in a stacked manner is 0.3 mm or more and 0.6 mm or less, the number N of the magnetic disks is 10 or more and 16 or less, and an outer diameter 2Rso of a spacer that is arranged between the magnetic disks is 35 mm or more and 65 mm or less. The outer diameter 2Rso (mm) of the spacer satisfies 2Rso??60Td+70 and 2Rso??0.5N2+16.5N?73.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Naoki KITAMURA, Kotaro KITAWAKI, Hideyuki HATAKEYAMA, Ryohei YAMADA, Toshihiro NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20230335161
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy disc blank for a magnetic disc made of an aluminum alloy containing Fe: 0.005 to 1.800 mass % with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities, wherein a flatness change of the aluminum alloy disc blank for a magnetic disc when the aluminum alloy disc blank for a magnetic disc is held in the atmosphere at 50° C. or lower for 336 hours is 2.0 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicants: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro KITAWAKI, Ryo SAKAMOTO, Wataru KUMAGAI
  • Patent number: 11721361
    Abstract: There are provided: an aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disk, the aluminum alloy substrate including an aluminum alloy including 0.4 to 3.0 mass % of Fe and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, in which second phase particles having a longest diameter of 0.5 ?m or more and less than 2.0 ?m are dispersed at a distribution density of 5000 particles/mm2 or more; a method for producing the same; and a magnetic disk using the aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitawaki, Takuya Murata, Makoto Yonemitsu, Yu Matsui, Yasuo Fujii, Ryo Sakamoto, Takashi Nakayama, Wataru Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20230238027
    Abstract: A magnetic disk substrate includes an aluminum alloy including one type or two or more types of Fe: 8.5 mass % or less, Mn: 2.5 mass % or less, Ni: 6.5 mass % or less, and Mg: 4.5 mass % or less, a balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein, when f (Hz) is a resonance frequency, ? (g/cm3) is a density, and t (mm) is a plate thickness, (f×?/t) is 3800 or greater; and a magnetic disk using the magnetic disk substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Kotaro KITAWAKI, Hideyuki HATAKEYAMA, Wataru KUMAGAI, Ryo SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230120845
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy substrate for magnetic disks, including an aluminum alloy containing: 1.0 to 6.5 mass % of Mg; and the balance consisting of Al and unavoidable impurities, in which the distribution of Si—K—O-based particles with a longest diameter of 1 ?m or more adhering to the surface from the surrounding environment is equal to or less than one particle/6,000 mm2; and in which the distribution of Ti—B-based particles with a longest diameter of 1 ?m or more present on the surface is equal to or less than one particle/6,000 mm2, and a magnetic disk using the aluminum alloy substrate for magnetic disks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Kotaro KITAWAKI, Wataru KUMAGAI, Ryo SAKAMOTO, Hideyuki HATAKEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230111915
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy substrate for magnetic disks, including an aluminum alloy containing Fe as an essential element; at least one of Mn or Ni as selective elements; and the balance including Al and unavoidable impurities, with the total amount of Fe, Mn, and Ni having a relationship of 0.10 to 7.00 mass %; in which the distribution of Si—K—O-based particles with a longest diameter of 1 ?m or more adhering to the surface from the surrounding environment is equal to or less than one particle/6,000 mm2, and in which the distribution of Ti—B-based particles with a longest diameter of 1 ?m or more present on the surface is equal to or less than one particle/6,000 mm2; and a magnetic disk using the aluminum alloy substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Kotaro KITAWAKI, Ryo SAKAMOTO, Wataru KUMAGAI, Hideyuki HATAKEYAMA
  • Patent number: 11482251
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disk including an aluminum alloy containing 0.1 to 3.0 mass % of Fe, 0.005 to 1.000 mass % of Cu, and 0.005 to 1.000 mass % of Zn, with a balance of Al and inevitable impurities, wherein in an outer peripheral surface thereof, the number of holes having maximum diameters of 10 ?m or more is 200/mm2 or less, an aluminum alloy base disk for a magnetic disk and a magnetic disk, using the aluminum alloy substrate, and methods for manufacturing these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Murata, Kotaro Kitawaki, Makoto Yonemitsu, Hideyuki Hatakeyama, Ryo Sakamoto, Hiroki Ota
  • Patent number: 11423937
    Abstract: There are provided: an aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disk, the aluminum alloy substrate including an aluminum alloy including 0.4 to 3.0 mass % (hereinafter, “%”) of Fe, less than 0.10% of Si, less than 0.10% of Mg, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, in which an Al—Fe-based intermetallic compound having a longest diameter of 2 ?m or more and less than 3 ?m is dispersed at a distribution density of 1000 particles/mm2 or more, and a Mg—Si-based intermetallic compound having a longest diameter of 1 ?m or more is dispersed at a distribution density of 1 particle/mm2 or less; a method for producing the same; and a magnetic disk in which an electroless Ni—P plating treatment layer and a magnetic layer thereon are disposed on a surface of the aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitawaki, Hideyuki Hatakeyama, Takashi Nakayama, Yasuo Fujii, Wataru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 11404082
    Abstract: Provided is an aluminium alloy substrate for a magnetic disk, a method for fabricating the substrate, and a magnetic disk composed of the aluminium alloy substrate for a magnetic disk. The substrate contains an aluminium alloy composed of one or more elements selected from a group comprising 0.05 to 3.00 mass % (hereinafter abbreviated as “%”) of Fe, 0.05% to 3.00% of Mn, 0.05% to 18.00% of Si, 0.05% to 8.00% of Ni, 0.05% to 3.00% of Cr, and 0.05% to 3.00% of Zr, with a balance of Al and unavoidable impurities. The substrate has a Young modulus of 67 GPa or more in each of the 0° direction, 45° direction, and 90° direction relative to the rolling direction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitawaki, Makoto Yonemitsu, Takashi Nakayama, Kimie Imakawa, Hideyuki Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 11361791
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet for a magnetic disk includes an aluminum alloy comprising 0.10 to 3.00 mass % (hereafter simply “%”) of Fe, 0.1 to 3.0% of Mn, 0.003 to 1.000% of Cu, and 0.005 to 1.000 s % of Zn, wherein second phase particles having a maximum diameter of 100 ?m or more and 300 ?m or less are dispersed at a distribution density of 50 particles/mm2 or less in a region (A) occupying 25% or less of a sheet thickness from a sheet thickness center plane to opposite surfaces of the sheet, second phase particles having a maximum diameter of 100 ?m or more and 300 ?m or less are 0 particles/mm2 in a region (C) that is obtained by excluding the region (A) from a region (B) occupying 50% or less of the sheet thickness from the sheet thickness center plane to the opposite surfaces of the sheet, and the amount of Mn solid solution is 0.03 mass % or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitawaki, Makoto Yonemitsu, Hideyuki Hatakeyama, Sadayuki Toda, Ryo Sakamoto, Yasuo Fujii
  • Publication number: 20220170142
    Abstract: An aluminum-alloy material (1) has an Al matrix and second-phase particles dispersed in the Al matrix, wherein the value of a metallographic-structure factor F indicated in Equation (1) below is 0.005 or more. F=A·?·L·exp(B·E)??(1) Therein, in the above-mentioned Equation (1), L is the total [?m/?m2] of the perimeters of the second-phase particles, from among the second-phase particles present in an arbitrary cross section, whose circle-equivalent diameters are 0.2 ?m or more, ? is the dislocation density [?m?2], E is the electrical conductivity [% IACS] at 25° C., A and B are correction coefficients determined in accordance with the chemical composition of the aluminum-alloy material, 0.2×10?15?A?20×10?15, and 0.1?B?1.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Tomohito KUROSAKI, Hiroki TANAKA, Kotaro KITAWAKI
  • Patent number: 11341995
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet for a magnetic disk, a method for manufacturing same, and a magnetic disk using same. The aluminum alloy sheet is made of an aluminum alloy comprising 0.10 to 3.00 mass % of Fe, 0.003 to 1.000 mass % of Cu, and 0.005 to 1.000 mass % of Zn, with a balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein a value obtained by dividing a difference in an area ratio (%) of second phase particles between a region (A) and a region (B) by an average value of area ratios (%) of second phase particles in the regions (A) and (B) is 0.05 or less, the region (A) being a region from a sheet thickness center plane to a front surface of the sheet, and the region (B) being a region from the sheet thickness center plane to a rear surface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitawaki, Yu Igarashi, Keisuke Kamiya, Yu Matsui, Makoto Yonemitsu, Ryo Sakamoto, Hideyuki Hatakeyama, Hiroki Ota
  • Patent number: 11335367
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy substrate (1) for magnetic disk satisfies at least two of three inequalities of an inequality group [A] and satisfies all of four inequalities of an inequality group [B], or satisfies at least two of the three inequalities of the inequality group [A] and satisfies all of four inequalities of an inequality group [C], when a plate thickness of the disk at a position (b1) is defined as tb1, a plate thickness at a position (b2) is defined as tb2, a plate thickness at a position (b3) is defined as tb3, a plate thickness at a position (a1) is defined as ta1, a plate thickness at a position (a2) is defined as ta2, and a plate thickness at a position (a3) is defined as ta3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., UACJ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimie Imakawa, Toshihiro Nakamura, Hideki Takahashi, Keita Yoshimura, Wataru Kumagai, Naoki Kitamura, Kotaro Kitawaki
  • Patent number: 11270730
    Abstract: A magnetic disk substrate is composed of an aluminum alloy substrate, a base plating layer on a surface of the aluminum alloy substrate, and a boundary region between the aluminum alloy substrate and the base plating layer. The boundary region includes a specific boundary region (D(1)I(50-84)) having Al emission intensities equal to 50% to 84% of an average Al emission intensity in an interior region of the aluminum alloy substrate in glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy in the depthwise direction from the surface of the magnetic disk substrate. The specific boundary region (D(1)I(50-84)) has a maximum Fe emission intensity (I(1)Fe(max)) higher than an average Fe emission intensity (I(1)Fe(ave)) in the interior region of the aluminum alloy substrate in the glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Murata, Kotaro Kitawaki, Makoto Yonemitsu, Yasuo Fujii, Ryo Sakamoto, Hideyuki Hatakeyama, Sadayuki Toda
  • Patent number: 11208710
    Abstract: Provided are: an aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disk, including an aluminum alloy including 0.4 to 3.0 mass % of Fe with the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities; a method for producing the aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disk; and a magnetic disk in which an electroless Ni—P plating treatment layer and a magnetic layer formed thereon are disposed on a surface of the aluminum alloy substrate for a magnetic disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitawaki, Takuya Murata, Makoto Yonemitsu, Kouichiro Takiguchi, Takashi Nakayama, Kimie Imakawa, Yasuo Fujii, Hideyuki Hatakeyama