Patents by Inventor Morimasa Sasaki

Morimasa Sasaki 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: 7775472
    Abstract: An information medium capable of preventing inclination of tape reels driven for rotation. The information medium includes a pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound, a casing body rotatably accommodating the tape reels, and a pair of sheets in which a pair of insertion holes are formed, respectively. A pair of plate-shape spring members for urging at least one end of each reel body via an associated one of the sheets having opposite ends of respective hubs inserted into the insertion holes formed in the sheets are arranged at least one of a gap between one of the sheets, disposed toward one ends of the respective reel bodies, and one of main boards, and a gap between the other of the sheets, disposed toward the other ends of the respective reel bodies, and the other of the main boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh
  • Patent number: 7578464
    Abstract: A tape reel includes a hub in the shape of a bottomed-cylinder with a disc-like lower flange integrally formed at a lower end thereof and an opening formed at an upper end thereof; and an upper flange that is disc-like, has a center hole formed therein, and has a ring-shaped protrusion formed so as to protrude at a rim of the center hole, the protrusion being fitted into and fixed at the opening of the hub. The upper flange is constructed by forming the rim of the center hole thicker than other parts aside from the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh, Akio Momoi, Chotaro Kouzu
  • Patent number: 7552887
    Abstract: An information medium capable of preventing tape reels from being inclined during driving and improving the manufacturing efficiency. The information medium includes a pair of tape reels having a magnetic tape wound around, a casing body rotatably accommodating the tape reels, and a pair of sheets having a pair of insertion holes formed, respectively. A pair of plate-shaped spring members each formed with an insertion hole are arranged between one sheet and one main board, for urging respective ends of hubs of the tape reels via the sheet, with the associated end of the hub inserted into the insertion hole. Each spring member is fixed to the main board, by being fitted on an outer periphery of an associated annular protrusion formed on the one main board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Morimasa Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7497397
    Abstract: A cartridge case of an information recording medium includes a case main body where a guide part is disposed on an inner surface of a top plate, a tape reel that includes a hub in the shape of a bottomed-cylinder and is rotatably enclosed inside the case main body, and a locking member that is guided in a state where rotation is restricted by the guide part, is enclosed within the case main body so as to be capable of moving in a direction toward and away from a base plate of the hub, and restricts rotation of the tape reel. The guide part includes a cylindrical first convex part disposed on the inner surface and a plate-like second convex part disposed on the inner surface. The locking member includes a main part, a cylindrical third convex part that is disposed on the main part and engages the first convex part, and a plate-like fourth convex part that is disposed on the main part and contacts the second convex part to restrict rotation of the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Hiroshi Kaneda, Chotaro Kouzu
  • Patent number: 7448569
    Abstract: A cartridge case includes a case main body, a tape reel having a hub including a first teeth portion and accommodated in the case main body, and a lock member including a second teeth portion engaged with the first teeth portion, wherein the lock member includes at least one of an inner peripheral projection formed to an inner peripheral side of the second teeth portion, projecting toward the bottom plate beyond the second teeth portion, and engaged with the tape reel on the inner peripheral side of the first teeth portion when the first teeth portion is engaged with the second teeth portion and an outer peripheral projection formed to the outer peripheral side of the second teeth portion, projecting toward the bottom plate beyond the second teeth portion, and engaged with the tape reel on the outer peripheral side of the first teeth portion in the above engaged state, thereby the tape reel can be securely locked without loosening a magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh
  • Publication number: 20080179439
    Abstract: An information medium capable of preventing tape reels from being inclined during driving and improving the manufacturing efficiency. The information medium includes a pair of tape reels having a magnetic tape wound around, a casing body rotatably accommodating the tape reels, and a pair of sheets having a pair of insertion holes formed, respectively. A pair of plate-shaped spring members each formed with an insertion hole are arranged between one sheet and one main board, for urging respective ends of hubs of the tape reels via the sheet, with the associated end of the hub inserted into the insertion hole. Each spring member is fixed to the main board, by being fitted on an outer periphery of an associated annular protrusion formed on the one main board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Morimasa SASAKI
  • Patent number: 7364107
    Abstract: A tape cartridge capable of preventing emission of vibrating sounds and occurrence of abrasion at a usage time when a reel hub unit rotates at a high rotating speed. The tape cartridge has a single reel hub unit rotatably accommodated in a case and having its periphery wound with a tape-shaped recording medium, a brake lock member including an engaging portion for engaging a reel hub unit to restrict rotation of the reel hub unit when in non-use, and a flat surface bearing portion provided substantially at a central part of the brake lock member, wherein the central axis of said flat surface bearing portion of the brake lock member is parallel with and offset from the rotating central axis around which said brake release member rotates together with said reel hub unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh, Chotaro Kouzu
  • Patent number: 7357344
    Abstract: An information medium includes: a tape reel around which a magnetic tape is wound; a case body that encloses the tape reel; a lid, including a support plate that is pivotally attached to the case body, that opens and closes a withdrawal opening; and a coil spring disposed between the case body and the lid in a state where a first arm portion of the coil spring engages a top plate of the case body and a second arm portion of the coil spring has engaged the lid, the coil spring energizing the lid in a direction of pivotal movement so as to close the withdrawal opening. The coil spring is formed so that the first arm portion is linear, and when the coil spring has been disposed, an end of the first arm portion protrudes from a withdrawal opening-side edge of the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Morimasa Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7350732
    Abstract: A cartridge case includes a case main body, a tape reel that includes a hub in the shape of a bottomed-cylinder and is rotatably enclosed inside the case main body, and a locking member on whose base part ring-shaped first teeth are formed, which is energized toward an inner surface of a base plate of the hub, is enclosed within the case main body so as to be capable of moving in a direction toward and away from the base plate, and restricts rotation of the tape reel. The tape reel includes a plurality of arc-shaped convex parts that are disposed on a circle about an axis of the hub on the inner surface of the base plate and support the locking member that has moved toward the base plate. Second teeth that engage the first teeth are formed on an upper part of at least one of the convex parts. A contact surface that contacts edges of the first teeth without engaging the first teeth is formed on an upper part of at least one of the convex parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh
  • Patent number: 7343613
    Abstract: A disc cartridge is constructed so that disc access to a recording medium enclosed within the disc cartridge via an opening in the cartridge case is restricted by a disc tray and a shutter member disposed inside the cartridge case. The shutter member is rotatably attached to one of the disc tray and the cartridge case, and detachment of the shutter member is restricted at least in a range of rotation of the shutter member between a position where the shutter member covers part of the opening and a position where the shutter member has been withdrawn from the opening. Attachment of the shutter member is carried out without crimping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hashizume, Morimasa Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20080035776
    Abstract: An information medium capable of preventing inclination of tape reels driven for rotation. The information medium includes a pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound, a casing body rotatably accommodating the tape reels, and a pair of sheets in which a pair of insertion holes are formed, respectively. A pair of plate-shape spring members for urging at least one end of each reel body via an associated one of the sheets having opposite ends of respective hubs inserted into the insertion holes formed in the sheets are arranged at least one of a gap between one of the sheets, disposed toward one ends of the respective reel bodies, and one of main boards, and a gap between the other of the sheets, disposed toward the other ends of the respective reel bodies, and the other of the main boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Morimasa SASAKI, Takateru SATOH
  • Publication number: 20080011894
    Abstract: A tape reel includes a hub in the shape of a bottomed-cylinder with a disc-like lower flange integrally formed at a lower end thereof and an opening formed at an upper end thereof; and an upper flange that is disc-like, has a center hole formed therein, and has a ring-shaped protrusion formed so as to protrude at a rim of the center hole, the protrusion being fitted into and fixed at the opening of the hub. The upper flange is constructed by forming the rim of the center hole thicker than other parts aside from the rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Morimasa SASAKI, Takateru SATOH, Akio MOMOI, Chotaro KOUZU
  • Patent number: 7290734
    Abstract: A tape reel includes: a hub in the shape of a bottomed-cylinder with a disc-like lower flange integrally formed at a lower end thereof and an opening formed at an upper end thereof; and an upper flange that is disc-like, has a center hole formed therein, and has a ring-shaped protrusion formed so as to protrude at a rim of the center hole, the protrusion being fitted into and fixed at the opening of the hub. The hub includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs that are respectively formed in an up-down direction on an inner circumferential surface of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh, Akio Momoi, Chotaro Kouzu
  • Patent number: 7284722
    Abstract: An information recording medium of the present invention includes a pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound, a case main body having first windows and second windows formed to the side walls thereof and rotatably accommodating the pair of tape reels, wherein the first windows cause detection light to enter the inside of the case main body to detect the tape ends of the magnetic tape and the second windows cause the detection light to outgo to the outside of the case main body, a front cover turnably attached to the case main body to open and close a drawing-out port of the magnetic tape; and a reel brake, and the reel brake includes a main body disposed to the case main body so as to slide along a direction in which the main body comes into contact with and separates from the tape reels, and arms formed to the main body as well as slinging the main portion by moving along the direction in which they come into contact with and separate from the tape reels between the first windows and the seco
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh
  • Publication number: 20070241222
    Abstract: An information medium includes: a tape reel around which a magnetic tape is wound; a case body that encloses the tape reel; a lid, including a support plate that is pivotally attached to the case body, that opens and closes a withdrawal opening; and a coil spring disposed between the case body and the lid in a state where a first arm portion of the coil spring engages a top plate of the case body and a second arm portion of the coil spring has engaged the lid, the coil spring energizing the lid in a direction of pivotal movement so as to close the withdrawal opening. The coil spring is formed so that the first arm portion is linear, and when the coil spring has been disposed, an end of the first arm portion protrudes from a withdrawal opening-side edge of the top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Morimasa SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20070183094
    Abstract: An information recording medium which is capable of holding a front cover in its closed state even if a large external force is applied. The information recording medium includes a casing body which has tape reels mounted for winding the magnetic tape, a front wall and a lower wall having an outlet formed for pulling out a magnetic tape, and a cover and a sliding section which open and close the outlet. The front cover is pivotally mounted to the casing body by a pair of support sections, for opening and closing a part of the outlet formed in the front wall of the casing body. The sliding section is slidably mounted to the lower wall of the casing body, for opening and closing a part of the outlet formed in the lower wall of the casing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Morimasa SASAKI
  • Patent number: 7195192
    Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a leader pin that is fixed to an end of a magnetic tape, a case main body that is composed of an upper case and a lower case, has a tape withdrawal opening through which the magnetic tape can be withdrawn formed in a side surface thereof, and has leader pin storage parts capable of respectively storing an upper end and a lower end of the leader pin formed in the upper case and the lower case in a vicinity of the tape withdrawal opening, and a spring member that is disposed in the case main body, regulates movement of the leader pin by having contact surfaces thereof contact or be near to side surfaces of both the end parts of the leader pin that are stored in the leader pin storage parts, and elastically deforms when the leader pin is withdrawn to stop regulating the movement. The contact surfaces of the spring member are curved towards central parts thereof so as to project towards the side surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh
  • Publication number: 20060214042
    Abstract: A tape reel is constructed so as to be locked in a non-rotatable state by a locking member that is energized toward a base plate of a hub in the form of a bottomed cylinder and so that the non-rotatable state is released by a lock releasing member disposed between the base plate and the locking member. The base plate is formed so that an inner surface of a central part thereof is higher than an inner surface of an outer circumferential part thereof, through-holes, through which legs disposed on a rear surface of the lock releasing member are inserted so as to be capable of up-down movement, are formed in the outer circumferential part, and contact parts that contact the rear surface of the lock releasing member in the non-rotatable state are formed so as to protrude in a periphery of the through-holes on an inner surface of the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Suzuki, Takateru Satoh, Morimasa Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20060175451
    Abstract: An information recording medium of the present invention includes a pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound, a case main body having first windows and second windows formed to the side walls thereof and rotatably accommodating the pair of tape reels, wherein the first windows cause detection light to enter the inside of the case main body to detect the tape ends of the magnetic tape and the second windows cause the detection light to outgo to the outside of the case main body, a front cover turnably attached to the case main body to open and close a drawing-out port of the magnetic tape; and a reel brake, and the reel brake includes a main body disposed to the case main body so as to slide along a direction in which the main body comes into contact with and separates from the tape reels, and arms formed to the main body as well as slinging the main portion by moving along the direction in which they come into contact with and separate from the tape reels between the first windows and the seco
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh
  • Publication number: 20060169817
    Abstract: A cartridge case of an information recording medium includes a case main body where a guide part is disposed on an inner surface of a top plate, a tape reel that includes a hub in the shape of a bottomed-cylinder and is rotatably enclosed inside the case main body, and a locking member that is guided in a state where rotation is restricted by the guide part, is enclosed within the case main body so as to be capable of moving in a direction toward and away from a base plate of the hub, and restricts rotation of the tape reel. The guide part includes a cylindrical first convex part disposed on the inner surface and a plate-like second convex part disposed on the inner surface. The locking member includes a main part, a cylindrical third convex part that is disposed on the main part and engages the first convex part, and a plate-like fourth convex part that is disposed on the main part and contacts the second convex part to restrict rotation of the locking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Hiroshi Kaneda, Chotaro Kouzu