Patents by Inventor Robert Ralph Heinze

Robert Ralph Heinze 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: 7635227
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides for a cable connection apparatus wherein a connector is mounted on a disk drive chassis, or a sub-assembly attachable to a chassis, such that a cable that connects to the connector will do so along an axis parallel to the chassis or subassembly that the connector is coupled to as opposed to a more typical perpendicular coupling. As a result, the cable will not stick straight out from the back of the drive and the drive footprint is also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick McCormack, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Publication number: 20080123281
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides for a cable connection apparatus wherein a connector is mounted on a disk drive chassis, or a sub-assembly attachable to a chassis, such that a cable that connects to the connector will do so along an axis parallel to the chassis or subassembly that the connector is coupled to as opposed to a more typical perpendicular coupling. As a result, the cable will not stick straight out from the back of the drive and the drive footprint is also reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Patrick McCormack, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 7350980
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides for a cable connection apparatus wherein a connector is mounted on a disk drive chassis, or a sub-assembly attachable to a chassis, such that a cable that connects to the connector will do so along an axis parallel to the chassis or subassembly that the connector is coupled to as opposed to a more typical perpendicular coupling. As a result, the cable will not stick straight out from the back of the drive and the drive footprint is also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Quantum Coporation
    Inventors: Patrick McCormack, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 7274528
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to protect head elements on a head of a head guide assembly, having a magnetic tape, and a leader coupled to the magnetic tape at a first end, such that the height of the leader is less than the height of the magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Certance LLC
    Inventors: John Anthony Hamming, Robert Ralph Heinze, Umang Mehta
  • Patent number: 7088552
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. A brake member of the magnetic cartridge is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position and a retracted position. The reel is provided with a reel gear which is brought into mesh with a drive gear of a tape drive mechanism and a through hole through which a push rod extending from a brake release member projects to be brought into abutment against the drive gear of the tape drive mechanism so that the brake release member moves the brake member to the retracted position. The through hole opens in an area which is slightly wider than tips of teeth of the reel gear, wherein the area includes a pair of opposed flanks of the reel gear which form a valley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Fuij Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 7085101
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The reel has a reel hub in the form of a cylindrical member which has a bottom wall and is provided with an opening and a stopper gear formed on the bottom wall. A brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear is brought into engagement with the stopper gear to prevent rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear is disengaged from the stopper gear to permit rotation of the reel. The brake member is normally urged toward the operative position and moved to the retracted position by a pusher member of a tape drive system which acts on the brake member through the opening in the reel hub when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 6745967
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge has a cartridge casing, a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation and a leader pin fixed to the leading end portion of the magnetic tape. The leader pin is provided at its opposite ends with engagement portions which are brought into engagement with a tape drawing mechanism of a recording and reproducing system when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the recording and reproducing system. The end face of each engagement portion is provided with a recess at which the tape drawing mechanism chucks the leader pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 6717771
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge has a thin cartridge casing having flat upper and lower surfaces and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound. Projections are provided on at least three places of the lower surfaces of the cartridge casing near the leading edge and the trailing edge of the cartridge casing and recesses, which can engage with the projections, are provided on the upper surface of the cartridge casing so that, when a plurality of the magnetic tape cartridges are stacked, the projections and the recesses of the cartridge casings of magnetic tape cartridges are engaged with each other, whereby the magnetic tape cartridges are prevented from being displaced with respect to each other when they are stacked and the sliding resistance when the magnetic tape cartridge is inserted into a recording and reproducing apparatus is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Hideaki Shiga, Robert Ralph Heinze, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas W. von Alten, Ed Childers
  • Patent number: 6669127
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing formed by upper and lower casing halves and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. A slide door for opening and closing a tape outlet opening is mounted on the cartridge casing to be linearly slidable along a door passage between a closing position where it closes the tape outlet opening and an opening position where it opens the tape outlet opening. A door spring for urging the slide door toward the closing position and holding the same in the closing position is disposed on the door passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 6667852
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. A brake device including a brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear prevents rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear permits rotation of the reel. The reel is provided with a through hole through which a push rod extending from the brake release member projects to be brought into abutment against the drive gear of the tape drive mechanism so that the brake release member moves the brake member to the retracted position. The through hole and the push rod are in contact with each other by way of fine protrusions formed at the push rod or the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 6648259
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing formed by upper and lower casing halves connected together, and a single reel around which a magnetic tape with a leader pin fixed to the leading end of the magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The leader pin is removably held in a tape draw-out opening with its axial direction directed in the vertical direction under urging force of a spring member acting on its upper and lower end portions sideways with the upper and lower end portions received in recesses respectively formed in the upper and lower casing halves. An inclined surface directed obliquely downward is formed at least a part of the side wall of the recess formed in the upper casing half opposed to the direction in which the spring member urges the leader pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventors: Hideaki Shiga, Yusuke Ishihara, Kiyoo Morita, Daisuke Takahashi, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas R. Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 6637691
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. The hub filler is securely and releaseably attached to the take-up reel upon the hub filler entering the take-up reel. This attachment provides adequate securement between the hub filler and the take-up reel for the tape to be wrapped around the take-up reel during loading of the tape without the hub filler partially ejecting from the take-up reel. By preventing the hub filler from partially ejecting from the take-up reel, damage to the tape and the tape drive loading mechanism is mitigated. Upon unloading of the tape from the tape drive, the hub filler can be readily released from its attachment to the take-up reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Removable Storage Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: John Anthony Hamming, Robert Ralph Heinze, Scott Louis Hanson, Kempton William Redhead, Walter Fehlmann, Russell Allen Bauer, Turguy Goker
  • Publication number: 20030189119
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge has a cartridge casing, a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation and a leader pin fixed to the leading end portion of the magnetic tape. The leader pin is provided at its opposite ends with engagement portions which are brought into engagement with a tape drawing mechanism of a recording and reproducing system when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the recording and reproducing system. The end face of each engagement portion is provided with a recess at which the tape drawing mechanism chucks the leader pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 6629656
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge has a cartridge casing, a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation and a leader pin fixed to the leading end portion of the magnetic tape. The leader pin is provided at its opposite ends with engagement portions which are brought into engagement with a tape drawing mechanism of a recording and reproducing system when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the recording and reproducing system. The end face of each engagement portion is provided with a recess at which the tape drawing mechanism chucks the leader pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Publication number: 20030142441
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The reel has a reel hub in the form of a cylindrical member which has a bottom wall and is provided with an opening and a stopper gear formed on the bottom wall. A brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear is brought into engagement with the stopper gear to prevent rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear is disengaged from the stopper gear to permit rotation of the reel. The brake member is normally urged toward the operative position and moved to the retracted position by a pusher member of a tape drive system which acts on the brake member through the opening in the reel hub when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Publication number: 20030128468
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The reel has a reel hub in the form of a cylindrical member which has a bottom wall and is provided with an opening and a stopper gear formed on the bottom wall. A brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear is brought into engagement with the stopper gear to prevent rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear is disengaged from the stopper gear to permit rotation of the reel. The brake member is normally urged toward the operative position and moved to the retracted position by a pusher member of a tape drive system which acts on the brake member through the opening in the reel hub when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Publication number: 20030123188
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The reel has a reel hub in the form of a cylindrical member which has a bottom wall and is provided with an opening and a stopper gear formed on the bottom wall. A brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear is brought into engagement with the stopper gear to prevent rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear is disengaged from the stopper gear to permit rotation of the reel. The brake member is normally urged toward the operative position and moved to the retracted position by a pusher member of a tape drive system which acts on the brake member through the opening in the reel hub when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Publication number: 20030123187
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The reel has a reel hub in the form of a cylindrical member which has a bottom wall and is provided with an opening and a stopper gear formed on the bottom wall. A brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear is brought into engagement with the stopper gear to prevent rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear is disengaged from the stopper gear to permit rotation of the reel. The brake member is normally urged toward the operative position and moved to the retracted position by a pusher member of a tape drive system which acts on the brake member through the opening in the reel hub when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Diasuke Takahashi, Yusuki Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. Mcallister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 6563671
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The reel has a reel hub in the form of a cylindrical member which has a bottom wall and is provided with an opening and a stopper gear formed on the bottom wall. A brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear is brought into engagement with the stopper gear to prevent rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear is disengaged from the stopper gear to permit rotation of the reel. The brake member is normally urged toward the operative position and moved to the retracted position by a pusher member of a tape drive system which acts on the brake member through the opening in the reel hub when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze
  • Patent number: 6452745
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing formed by upper and lower casing halves mated together and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is supported for rotation in the cartridge casing by the upper casing half. A memory holding structure holds a non-contact type memory element with its recording surface held substantially at 45° to the bottom surface of the cartridge casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Shiga, Kiyoo Morita, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Thomas R. Albrecht, Robert Ralph Heinze