Patents by Inventor Ikuo Nitta

Ikuo Nitta 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).

  • Patent number: 7047538
    Abstract: A disk auto-changer comprises a disk cartridge comprising a plurality of trays for supporting disks, an elevator arranged in the disk cartridge on one side thereof, and a loading mechanism for drawing the trays into the elevator from the disk cartridge and for returning them from the elevator to the disk cartridge. The loading mechanism comprises a tray engaging portion engaged with the hook portion of the tray, a belt for moving the tray engaging portion in the tray access direction, and a belt drive mechanism for driving the belt. The above structure allows an improvement in efficiency of an installation space of the loading mechanism of the disk auto-changer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Ikuo Nitta, Yuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6934225
    Abstract: A disc cartridge provided with: a plurality of trays, each of which can place a disc; and a case where those trays can be taken in and out of an opening, wherein an operating unit is disposed in each of the trays, a guide rail is disposed in either one of the trays and the case in a direction in which the trays are taken in and out of the case, and a fitting unit is disposed in the other of the trays and the case so as to be fit in the guide rail in order to guide the trays along this guide rail, and when the trays are taken in and out of the case, they can be smoothly taken in and out in such a way that the trays are not caught by the case, and a disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus having such a disc cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Ikuo Nitta, Yuji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20030179661
    Abstract: A disc cartridge provided with: a plurality of trays, each of which can place a disc; and a case where those trays can be taken in and out of an opening, wherein an operating unit is disposed in each of the trays, a guide rail is disposed in either one of the trays and the case in a direction in which the trays are taken in and out of the case, and a fitting unit is disposed in the other of the trays and the case so as to be fit in the guide rail in order to guide the trays along this guide rail, and when the trays are taken in and out of the case, they can be smoothly taken in and out in such a way that the trays are not caught by the case, and a disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus having such a disc cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Ikuo Nitta, Yuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6600702
    Abstract: A disc cartridge provided with: a plurality of trays, each of which can place a disc; and a case where those trays can be taken in and out of an opening, wherein an operating unit is disposed in each of the trays, a guide rail is disposed in either one of the trays and the case in a direction in which the trays are taken in and out of the case, and a fitting unit is disposed in the other of the trays and the case so as to be fit in the guide rail in order to guide the trays along this guide rail, and when the trays are taken in and out of the case, they can be smoothly taken in and out in such a way that the trays are not caught by the case, and a disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus having such a disc cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Ikuo Nitta, Yuji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20020191500
    Abstract: A disk auto-changer comprises a disk cartridge comprising a plurality of trays for supporting disks, an elevator arranged in the disk cartridge on one side thereof, and a loading mechanism for drawing the trays into the elevator from the disk cartridge and for returning them from the elevator to the disk cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Ikuo Nitta, Yuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6493308
    Abstract: A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a housing section for housing a plurality of discs, the housing section having a plurality of trays each for setting a disc thereon, the tray being movable between a pull-out position outside of the housing section and a housed position within the housing section, a recording and/or reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing the disc, a movement unit for moving one of the housing section and the recording and/or reproducing unit relative to the other, the movement unit causing relative movement between the housing section and the recording and/or reproducing unit in an arraying direction of the plural trays housed in the housing section and a pull-out unit for pulling out from the housing section one of the plural trays housed within the housing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoji Takamatsu, Tomohiro Watanabe, Toru Hama, Ikuo Nitta
  • Publication number: 20020064123
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a housing section for housing a plurality of discs, the housing section having a plurality of trays each for setting a disc thereon, the tray being movable between a pull-out position outside of the housing section and a housed position within the housing section, a recording and/or reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing the disc, a movement unit for moving one of the housing section and the recording and/or reproducing unit relative to the other, the movement unit causing relative movement between the housing section and the recording and/or reproducing unit in an arraying direction of the plural trays housed in the housing section and a pull-out unit for pulling out from the housing section one of the plural trays housed within the housing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: RYOJI TAKAMATSU, TOMOHIRO WATANABE, TORU HAMA, IKUO NITTA
  • Publication number: 20020060956
    Abstract: A disc cartridge provided with: a plurality of trays, each of which can place a disc; and a case where those trays can be taken in and out of an opening, wherein an operating unit is disposed in each of the trays, a guide rail is disposed in either one of the trays and the case in a direction in which the trays are taken in and out of the case, and a fitting unit is disposed in the other of the trays and the case so as to be fit in the guide rail in order to guide the trays along this guide rail, and when the trays are taken in and out of the case, they can be smoothly taken in and out in such a way that the trays are not caught by the case, and a disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus having such a disc cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Ikuo Nitta, Yuji Takahashi