Patents by Inventor Kazuo Hiraguchi

Kazuo Hiraguchi 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).

  • Recording tape cartridge
    Publication number: 20050156071
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recording tape cartridge. The recording tape cartridge includes at least a door opening and closing an opening by rotating around a supporting shaft provided at a front wall side; an allowing portion formed in the door, which allows avoidance of contact between the door and a distal end surface of a leader tape when the door closes the opening; and a guide portion formed at the allowing portion, and abutting the distal end portion of the leader tape, and formed to be thick-walled in a direction of making the distal end portion of the leader tape move away from the side wall. When the door closes the opening of the recording tape cartridge, a predetermined clearance is ensured between the distal end surface of the leader tape and a deepest surface of the allowing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge and drive device thereof
    Patent number: 6915976
    Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a case, which is made of a lower case and an upper case, for accommodating a reel wound with a magnetic tape. The lower case includes a bottom surface disposed with two positioning holes formed separately from each other on a straight line orthogonal to a direction in which the tape cartridge is loaded into a drive device. The lower case also includes a front wall disposed with two surfaces for regulating a depth to which the case is loaded in the drive device. The two surfaces are positioned on straight lines that pass along the loading direction through the center of the positioning holes when seen from below. Positioning pins of the drive device are inserted into the positioning holes when regulating protrusions of the drive device abut against the two surfaces to regulate the depth to which the case is loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Wataru Iino
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Publication number: 20050145736
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge has a reel at whose axially central portion is provided a reel hub which is shaped as a cylindrical tube having a bottom and around whose outer peripheral surface a recording tape is wound; an engaging gear provided within the reel hub; a case rotatably accommodating the reel; and a braking member having a braking gear which can mesh with the engaging gear. The engaging gear is formed in a form of internal teeth or in a form of external teeth. A tooth surface of each tooth is substantially parallel to an axis of the reel hub. The braking member is supported so as to be unable to rotate with respect to the case, and moves along an axis of the reel, and can be disposed at a rotation locking position, at which the braking gear meshes with the engaging gear, and a released position at which meshing is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Patent number: 6913219
    Abstract: A metal plate of a recording tape cartridge is provided with a tapered portion at an outer circumference thereof. In a state in which the metal plate is attached at a fixed-side mold plate of a metal mold for molding a reel hub and a lower flange, a gap is formed between the tapered portion and the fixed-side mold plate. During molding, molding material flows into the gap. Because of this gap, an annular pawl portion is formed at the reel hub, which annular pawl portion integrally joins the metal plate with the reel hub by sandwiching the metal plate via the tapered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Kiyoo Morita
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Patent number: 6910652
    Abstract: An opening, for pulling-out of a recording tape, and a closing member, which slides so as to open and close the opening, are provided at a substantially rectangular case of a recording tape cartridge which rotatably accommodates a single reel on which the recording tape is wound. An urging member, which urges the closing member in a direction of closing the opening, is attached to the closing member. An anchor projection, to which one end of the urging member is attached, is provided at an inner surface of the case. A holding projection, which projects in a same direction as the anchor projection and to which another end of the urging member is attached, is provided at the closing member. The recording tape cartridge is provided in which an assembly performance of the closing member and the urging member into the case is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Patent number: 6908056
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge has a substantially rectangular case. An upper case and a lower case are joined together by peripheral walls thereof abutting each other. A reel, on which a recording tape T is wound, is rotatably accommodated in the case. An opening for pulling-out of an end portion of the recording tape T is formed in the case. A shielding member, which opens and closes the opening, is held slidably in the case. A projection (operation portion), which engages with an engaging mechanism of a drive device, is formed at the shielding member. A slit is formed in a peripheral wall such that the projection is slid in a state of being exposed. A distal end surface of the projection exposed from the slit is formed so as to be substantially flush with the peripheral wall when the shielding member closes the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Publication number: 20050109868
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge includes: a case within which a reel wound with a recording tape is housed; a position-regulating hole that is formed in a lower surface of the case and into which a positioning member of a drive device is inserted; a reference surface formed around the position-regulating hole in the lower surface of the case; an allowance portion formed as a recess portion in an upper surface of the case, the allowance portion allowing an engaging member disposed at the drive device to advance therein and thereby preventing the engaging member from abutting against a front surface of the case when recording and playback of the recording tape cartridge is possible in the drive device; and a rear wall formed at the allowance portion, wherein a case-thickness-direction extended surface of the rear wall is positioned at least within a region of the reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Patent number: 6892974
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge disclosed with an increased strength leads to a compact drive device. A rectangular case of the recording tape cartridge accommodates a single reel on which a recording tape is wound. An opening for pulling out a leader member attached to an end of the recording tape is formed in a corner disposed closest to the drive device among corners of the case at the time of insertion into the drive device. The recording tape cartridge includes a shield slidable to open and close the opening, a guide wall for guiding the shield, and a friction-reducing device protruding from the shield. The guide wall is provided along an inner surface of the case. The friction-reducing device abuts the guide surface of the guide wall in order to reduce friction between the shield and the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Patent number: 6886768
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge in which a leader block is prevented from flying out from an opening portion of a case when the cartridge is dropped. In the cartridge, a door which opens and closes the opening portion, through which the recording tape passes, is provided. A leader block, which is attached to a distal end of the recording tape, can be accommodated within the cartridge. The door is always resiliently urged in a closing direction. A groove portion is provided at the leader block. A concave rail, which movably fits together with the groove portion, is provided at the door. The leader block and the door contact one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Tape drive device
    Patent number: 6883740
    Abstract: In a tape drive device of the present invention, a large number of through-holes (an sucking portion) are formed in an outer peripheral portion of a reel hub onto which a recording tape, at a free end of which a leader tape is connected, is to be wound. The leader tape is held and guided by guiding means. When the leader tape reaches the sucking portion, a suction device operates and air is sucked through the through-holes. Consequently, the leader tape is suckingly retained at the outer peripheral surface of the reel hub. With the present invention, there is no need to form depressions or projections for accommodating and anchoring the leader tape at the reel hub. Therefore, the reel hub can have a smooth structure without any steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge and drive device thereof
    Publication number: 20050082408
    Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a case, which is made of a lower case and an upper case, for accommodating a reel wound with a magnetic tape. The lower case includes a bottom surface disposed with two positioning holes formed separately from each other on a straight line orthogonal to a direction in which the tape cartridge is loaded into a drive device. The lower case also includes a front wall disposed with two surfaces for regulating a depth to which the case is loaded in the drive device. The two surfaces are positioned on straight lines that pass along the loading direction through the center of the positioning holes when seen from below. Positioning pins of the drive device are inserted into the positioning holes when regulating protrusions of the drive device abut against the two surfaces to regulate the depth to which the case is loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Wataru Iino
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Patent number: 6880778
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge in which it is possible to reinforce, in a small space, a side wall which is weak in terms of strength due to formation of an opening. The recording tape cartridge has a case which rotatably accommodates a single reel on which a recording tape is wound; an opening, formed in a side wall of the case, for pulling-out of a leader pin attached to an end portion of the recording tape; a pin holding portion holding the leader pin in a vicinity of the opening; an anchor spring holding the leader pin at the pin holding portion by pressing the leader pin by a free end; and a spring holding portion holding a proximal portion of the anchor spring in a vicinity of the pin holding portion. The spring holding portion is formed by ribs which jut out into the case from the side wall; and an anchor portion, the anchor spring being held between the anchor portion and the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Disk cartridge for engaging with a sensor member of a drive device
    Patent number: 6880167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disk cartridge, which can be accurately positioned with respect to a drive device for accessing a disk medium. The disk cartridge provided with a case rotatably accommodating a disk medium therein, an arcuate side wall which is directed forward when the case is loaded into the drive device, and a shutter member formed on at least one surface of the case, for opening or closing an opening for access to the disk medium. An engaging portion is provided at a side wall to engage with a sensor member disposed in the drive device for accessing the disk medium so as to record or reproduce information thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Oishi, Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Magnetic tape cassette storage case
    Patent number: 6874631
    Abstract: In the magnetic tape cassette storage case, on the neighboring portions of the connecting portions between the bottom plate (21) and inner walls (22) of a storage part (20), there are disposed ribs (24) in such a manner that they extend into the bottom plate (21) and inner walls (22) and project inwardly of the storage part (20). Due to this structure, between the back surface (11b) of a magnetic tape cassette (11) and the bottom plate (21) of the storage part (20), there can be defined a required clearance (S) capable of storing an information sheet (13) therein. Therefore, the present magnetic tape cassette storage case is capable of storing, together with the magnetic tape cassette, a large quantity of information sheets at a given position and in a given posture as well as with a good operation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Shozo Onmori, Kiyoo Morita
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Patent number: 6869037
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge in which feeding out and rewinding of a recording tape can preferably performed and a positioning of a reel in a height direction can be accurately performed. The recording tape cartridge having a case in which a single reel including a hub which has upper and lower flange portions and on which a recording tape is wound is accommodated, a gear for rotating the reel, which is provided at a central portion of a lower surface of the reel and meshed with a driving gear of a drive device at only planes substantially orthogonal to radial directions of the reel, and a reference portion, which is provided at the lower surface of the reel, for positioning the reel in an axial direction of the reel by abutting on a portion for positioning of the drive device, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Magnetic tape cassette
    Patent number: 6866215
    Abstract: At both sides of an opening of a cassette case, there are formed tape guides having guide faces, and a magnetic tape is stretched between the guide faces. On back faces of the guide faces of the tape guides, are formed cam grooves for guiding an open/close lid which covers the stretched magnetic tape. The open/close lid includes an inner lid provided with slide pins projected from both ends thereof and adapted to be slidably engaged with the cam grooves. An upper cassette half includes position regulating member adapted to be abutted by the slide pins in a state where said open/close lid is fully opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Shozo Onmori, Teruo Ashikawa, Atusi Takano
  • Cartridge
    Patent number: 6866216
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge is formed by joining together respective peripheral walls of an upper case and a lower case, and an label area is disposed at a rear wall of the upper case. An operational hole, for switching between a mode in which recording onto the recording tape is possible and a mode in which recording onto the recording tape is not possible, and an identification opening are disposed on a rear wall of the lower case. An operational portion and an identification portion of a mistaken erasure prevention plug are respectively exposed at the rear wall of the lower case. The identification opening opens downward and rearward with respect to the case. By operating the operational portion, the identification portion of the plug moves and the opening is opened and closed. By distinguishing between opened and closed states of the opening, the recordable and non-recordable modes are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Publication number: 20050051657
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge features a case which rotatably and vertically movably accommodates a reel on which recording tape is wound. An aperture for drawing out the recording tape is formed in a peripheral wall of the case. The aperture features a projection portion which projects upward from a lower edge thereof. A leader block for drawing out the recording tape is fixed to an end portion of the recording tape, and can close off the aperture. The cartridge further includes a first urging member, which urges the reel downward, and a second urging member, which urges the leader block downward further than an upper edge of the projection portion. The leader block is unlikely to disengage even when the case is subjected to an impact by dropping or the like, and a recording tape cartridge with little risk of the leader block and recording tape becoming damaged is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Publication number: 20050051654
    Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, a reel locking member, which is positioned at a rotation locking position meshes with an engaging gear which is in a form of internal teeth and which is at a reel, such that rotation of the reel with respect to a case is impeded. When a clutch member is pushed up, a rotating cam member, which is screwed together with the clutch member, rotates toward one side, and the reel locking member moves to a releasing position by a positive motion cam structured by a cam projection and a cam groove. When the clutch member is pushed downward, the rotating cam member rotates toward another side, and the reel locking member moves to the rotation locking position by the positive motion cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Recording tape cartridge
    Publication number: 20050051655
    Abstract: When a recording tape cartridge is not in use, rotation of a reel, which abuts an annular rib of a floor plate of a case, is locked by a braking member which meshes together from above with an engaging gear, and a gap between the braking member and a spacer wall of a ceiling plate is filled-in by a spacer portion of a spacer member, and movement away from the annular rib is impeded. When, due to operation of a drive device, the spacer portion enters into a relief portion of the braking member which relief portion opens upwardly, the braking member is raised up by an amount corresponding to the gap formed between the braking member and the spacer wall, and meshing of the braking member and the engaging gear is cancelled. The reel thereby becomes able to rotate and to move away from the annular rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi