Patents by Inventor Kazuo Yokota

Kazuo Yokota 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: 8141108
    Abstract: A disk device includes a disk moving mechanism for moving a disk between loading and unloading positions. There is a reader/writer for recording or playback of data with the disk in the loading position. In the disk device, a housing includes a main containing region, having a first base wall, for containing the reader/writer. An intermediate containing region is disposed to extend from one side of the main containing region, for partially containing the disk moving mechanism, the intermediate containing region having a second base wall positioned higher than the first base wall, for space saving below. A peripheral containing region is disposed to extend from one side of the intermediate containing region, for containing a portion of the disk protruded from the intermediate containing region, the peripheral containing region having a third base wall positioned higher than the second base wall, for space saving below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Yokota, Yo Kamei, Takashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110283298
    Abstract: A disk device includes a disk moving mechanism for moving a disk between loading and unloading positions. There is a reader/writer for recording or playback of data with the disk in the loading position. In the disk device, a housing includes a main containing region, having a first base wall, for containing the reader/writer. An intermediate containing region is disposed to extend from one side of the main containing region, for partially containing the disk moving mechanism, the intermediate containing region having a second base wall positioned higher than the first base wall, for space saving below. A peripheral containing region is disposed to extend from one side of the intermediate containing region, for containing a portion of the disk protruded from the intermediate containing region, the peripheral containing region having a third base wall positioned higher than the second base wall, for space saving below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Yokota, Yo Kamei, Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7937718
    Abstract: A disc device has a plurality of arms configured to support the outer rim of a disc carryable. Automatic loading is applied such that the disc inserted can be carried in the device, and the disc housed inside the device can be carried out of the device. A pair of shutter pieces are located on the central portion of a slot in a front bezel to be used to insert the disc therethrough and are spaced at a certain interval. The shutter piece rotates about one end thereof to raise/tumble the other end thereof. The tumbled shutter piece changes to the raised state after the disc is housed in the device while the shutter piece changes to the tumbled state before the disc housed inside the device is carried out of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujisawa, Kazuo Yokota
  • Patent number: 7496936
    Abstract: In order to alleviate the contact pressure on a contact portion between both surfaces of a disc D and felts 25 in disc ejection, an upper end and a lower end of a slot 3a on the backside of a front bezel 3 are formed with an upper recess 27 and a lower recess 28 that receive the pushed-over upper and lower felts 25. Also, the pushed-over felts 25 are received in the upper recess 27 and the lower recess 28, so that the contact pressure on the contact portion between both surfaces of the disc D and the felts 25 can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Fujimura, Kazuo Yokota, Shinichi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 7325242
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk apparatus having a function of externally the forcible unloading manipulation of an optical disk, and for enabling the forcible unloading manipulation only on the basis of clear recognition that a user intentionally performed the unloading of the optical disk, the disk apparatus enforcing such recognition. In the disk apparatus for loading and driving an optical disk, and for recording or reproduction of data on the optical disk, the disk apparatus comprises first release means and second release means for a mechanism for unloading a loaded optical disk to be manipulated externally, wherein manipulation of the second release means forcibly unloads the loaded optical disk by manipulation of the first release means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Yokota
  • Publication number: 20070250843
    Abstract: A disc device has a plurality of arms configured to support the outer rim of a disc carryable. Automatic loading is applied such that the disc inserted can be carried in the device, and the disc housed inside the device can be carried out of the device. A pair of shutter pieces are located on the central portion of a slot in a front bezel to be used to insert the disc therethrough and are spaced at a certain interval. The shutter piece rotates about one end thereof to raise/tumble the other end thereof. The tumbled shutter piece changes to the raised state after the disc is housed in the device while the shutter piece changes to the tumbled state before the disc housed inside the device is carried out of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujisawa, Kazuo Yokota
  • Patent number: 7197753
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a disc drive device capable of compulsively ejecting an optical disc by a manipulation function from the outside to prevent information recorded on the optical disc mounted on the disc drive device from being damaged. A disc drive device 1 for loading and driving an optical disc D to record information thereon or reproduce information recorded thereon comprises a manual ejection prohibiting means 41. Excluding when a carrier block 13 of a head unit B which has an optical pickup 12 is moved to a circumferential moving end of the optical disc D and a corner portion 13A of the carrier block 13 presses a driven part 43, irrespective of whether or not there is an intention for ejecting the optical disc D, even though an emergency pin P is inserted into a through-hole 3c, the optical disc D is prevented from being ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Yokota
  • Publication number: 20050223398
    Abstract: In order to alleviate the contact pressure on a contact portion between both surfaces of a disc D and felts 25 in disc ejection, an upper end and a lower end of a slot 3a on the backside of a front bezel 3 are formed with an upper recess 27 and a lower recess 28 that receive the pushed-over upper and lower felts 25. Also, the pushed-over felts 25 are received in the upper recess 27 and the lower recess 28, so that the contact pressure on the contact portion between both surfaces of the disc D and the felts 25 can be decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Fujimura, Kazuo Yokota, Shinichi Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20050125814
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a disc drive device capable of compulsively ejecting an optical disc by a manipulation function from the outside to prevent information recorded on the optical disc mounted on the disc drive device from being damaged. A disc drive device 1 for loading and driving an optical disc D to record information thereon or reproduce information recorded thereon comprises a manual ejection prohibiting means 41. Excluding when a carrier block 13 of a head unit B which has an optical pickup 12 is moved to a circumferential moving end of the optical disc D and a corner portion 13A of the carrier block 13 presses a driven part 43, irrespective of whether or not there is an intention for ejecting the optical disc D, even though an emergency pin P is inserted into a through-hole 3c, the optical disc D is prevented from being ejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventor: Kazuo Yokota
  • Publication number: 20040223420
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk apparatus having a function of externally the forcible unloading manipulation of an optical disk, and for enabling the forcible unloading manipulation only on the basis of clear recognition that a user intentionally performed the unloading of the optical disk, the disk apparatus enforcing such recognition. In the disk apparatus for loading and driving an optical disk, and for recording or reproduction of data on the optical disk, the disk apparatus comprises first release means and second release means for a mechanism for unloading a loaded optical disk to be manipulated externally, wherein manipulation of the second release means forcibly unloads the loaded optical disk by manipulation of the first release means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Kazuo Yokota
  • Patent number: 5956206
    Abstract: A disk device is constituted such that a latch lever formed with a contact body and a latching body latches a slider and releases its latching action when a disk cartridge is inserted so that the disk cartridge is lowered and properly positioned. The latching body is formed with: a latching part for latching an engaging pawl of an engagement part of the slider; and a releasing part obliquely formed so as to separate the contact body from the end of the disk cartridge main body in response to the movement of the latching pawl in a latching releasing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kabasawa, Akito Takegawa, Kazuo Yokota
  • Patent number: 5898539
    Abstract: There is provided a disk apparatus in which a slide member is movable in predetermined directions by engaging guiding holes provided on side surfaces of the slide member with engaging protrusions provided on respective side walls of a frame. The slide member and a latch lever are biased by a single spring. The holder is supported by a supporting member provided on the slide member. The holder has a hole which aligns with the supporting member to enable the holder to move downwardly. The holder is movable between a first position and a second position. The disk cartridge is ejected at the first position, and is loaded at the second position. The slide member holds the holder and is movable between a third position and a fourth position so that the holder is at the second position when the slide member is at the third position and the holder is at the first position when the slide member is at the fourth position. The frame has side walls extending in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Yokota, Hidetoshi Kabasawa
  • Patent number: 5892636
    Abstract: A disk device is constituted such that a latch lever formed with a contact body and a latching body latches a slider and releases its latching action when a disk cartridge is inserted so that the disk cartridge is lowered and properly positioned. The latching body is formed with: a latching part for latching an engaging pawl of an engagement part of the slider; and a releasing part obliquely formed so as to separate the contact body from the end of the disk cartridge main body in response to the movement of the latching pawl in a latching releasing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kabasawa, Akito Takegawa, Kazuo Yokota
  • Patent number: 5717542
    Abstract: There is provided a disk apparatus in which a slide member is movable in predetermined directions by engaging guiding holes provided on side surfaces of the slide member with engaging protrusions provided on respective side walls of a frame. The slide member and a latch lever are biased by a single spring. The holder is supported by a supporting member provided on the slide member. The holder has a hole which aligns with the supporting member to enable the holder to move downwardly. The holder is movable between a first position and a second position. The disk cartridge is ejected at the first position, and is loaded at the second position. The slide member holds the holder and is movable between a third position and a fourth position so that the holder is at the second position when the slide member is at the third position and the holder is at the first position when the slide member is at the fourth position. The frame has side walls extending in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Yokota, Hidetoshi Kabasawa
  • Patent number: 5303223
    Abstract: A head carriage apparatus includes a head carriage including a head being placed onto a disk for recording and reproducing information on the disk and having an extension and a connecting portion formed on the extension integrally with the head carriage, a lead-screw shaft having a lead screw in which a thread ridge and a thread groove are formed, the connecting portion being fitted in the thread groove of the lead screw, a drive part for driving and rotating the lead-screw shaft so that the head carriage is moved in a radial direction of the disk parallel to an axial direction of the lead-screw shaft, a guide shaft for guiding movement of the head carriage in a direction parallel to the radial direction of the disk, the head carriage being supported by the guide shaft at two supporting positions being located apart from each other in axial direction of the guide shaft, and a resilient part for pressing the lead-screw shaft in a direction facing the head carriage, the resilient part being fixed at one end ont
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakaguchi, Daihachiro Takasu, Yasuhiko Ando, Kazuo Yokota, Hiroshi Tsuyuguchi
  • Patent number: 4982098
    Abstract: Disclosed is speed compensated intensifying screen which has a layer of phosphor and a protective layer superposed sequentially on a substrate and further has a light-absorbing layer capable of absorbing part of the light emitted from the layer of phosphor superposed thereon. By this light-absorbing layer, a plurality of regions differing in speed are formed within the layer of phosphor. In the plurality of regions, the speed is continuously changed across the borderlines between the regions. This continuous change in density across the borderlines prevents the borderlines between the regions of speed from appearing as line patterns in the produced X-ray radiograph. The intensifying screen of the grade adapted for X-ray radiography of the chest effects proper speed correction by incorporating therein a plurality of regions of speed formed so as to conform to the various internal organs in the chest such as the upper and lower mediastinums, the hilums of the lung, and the lungfields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Fujita-Gakuen Health University
    Inventors: Kazuo Yokota, Akihisa Saito, Takeshi Sawada
  • Patent number: 4833553
    Abstract: A magnetic disc cartridge loading and unloading mechanism comprises a shutter opening mechanism which applies no pushing force on a magnetic disc cartridge in a cartridge ejecting direction when the shutter opening mechanism is in an operating state where a shutter of the magnetic disc cartridge is opened. The magnetic disc cartridge loading and unloading mechanism is also provided with a pushing mechanism which pushes the magnetic disc cartridge slightly in the cartridge ejecting direction after sufficient gaps are formed between the shutter and magnetic heads when a holder which holds the magnetic disc cartridge rises to a predetermined height position during a cartridge unloading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Noda, Takashi Ashida, Kazuhiko Inoue, Kazuo Yokota
  • Patent number: D650384
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Yokota, You Kamei, Takashi Watanabe