Patents by Inventor Shuichi Kikuchi

Shuichi Kikuchi 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: 5983761
    Abstract: A method for punching a template is provided comprising the steps of partially punching the template by applying a first punch to a first surface of the template to form a recessed portion thereof and by applying a first die to a second surface of the template to form a projected portion thereof, so as to produce a first shear plane connected with the first surface on a peripheral surface of the recessed portion and a second shear plane connected with the second surface on a peripheral surface of said projected portion; returning the projected portion so as to be substantially aligned with the recessed portion by holding the first surface and the second surface between a second punch and a second die; and fully punching the template by applying a third punch to the second surface and a third die to the first surface to as to produce a third shear plane connected with the second surface on a peripheral surface of the recessed portion and a fracture plane connected between the third shear plane and the first sh
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sasaki, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5943197
    Abstract: A disk cartridge having a recording/reproducing opening arranged to be opened/closed with a small space and without a sliding operation, the disk cartridge having a magnetic disk, a cartridge body for rotatively accommodating the magnetic disk and a lid rotatively supported by the cartridge body. The cartridge body has a recording/reproducing opening through which a magnetic head unit is inserted. The attached lid is able to open/close the recording/reproducing opening in such a manner that the lid usually closes the recording/reproducing opening by an elastic member and opens the recording/reproducing opening by an opening unit of the recording/reproducing apparatus when an information signal is recorded/reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takatsugu Funawatari, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5931296
    Abstract: An accommodating case adapted for accommodating a disc cartridge therewithin. This accommodating case includes a bottom plate on which the disc cartridge is mounted, and a pair of side walls provided in a manner opposite to each other on the both sides of the bottom plate, and comprises a case body in which at least the upper surface side and the front side are opened, and a cover body adapted so that the base end portion side is rotatably supported at the back side of the case body, and fitted between a pair of side walls to close the range or portion at least from the upper surface side toward the front side of the case body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Daiki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Nakaizumi, Shuichi Kikuchi, Takatsugu Funawatari
  • Patent number: 5917685
    Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a cartridge main body with a shutter-guide-plate mount, a shutter slidably mounted to the cartridge main body, a shutter guide plate mounted to the shutter-guide-plate mount to guide sliding of a pointed end of the shutter, and an adhesive placed between the shutter-guide-plate mount and the shutter guide plate. The adhesive is 10% or less in volume difference between the melted and solidified states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Takatsugu Funawatari
  • Patent number: 5898664
    Abstract: A disc cartridge of high reliability for protecting an optical disc from a shock generated such as during transport. On the facing inner surfaces of an upper cartridge half 5 and a lower cartridge half 6 is formed an arcuate disc housing wall section 8 in association with the outer periphery of an optical disc 2 for constituting a disc housing section 9. The disc housing wall section 8 is interrupted at four positions 28 on each of which a boss 28 is set upright. A stationary guide having a substantially columnar guide portion and a flange protruded outwardly from upper and lower sides of the guide portion is fitted on the boss to complete a disc guide member. Four such disc guide members 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d are provided for supporting the disc cartridge 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Norio Sugawara
  • Patent number: 5835318
    Abstract: A disk cartridge is formed with a slidably mounted metallic shutter for opening and closing a disk access opening formed in the cartridge shell. A stock roll material for forming the shutter is formed of a sheet of metallic base material, such as aluminum, to which upper and lower film layer are applied. The upper film layer is formed of synthetic resin including a lubricant component and a coloring agent while the lower film layer is formed of a synthetic resin which is harder than that of the first film layer and to which no lubricant or coloring is added. The stock material is introduced to punching and bending processing apparatus such that the upper lubricant containing film layer contacts the punch die such that press oil need not be used during fabrication. Bending processing is carried out such that a U-shaped shutter is formed having the lubricant containing film layer at an inner surface thereof, and the harder lower film layer forms the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5797556
    Abstract: A tape cartridge is provided with a cartridge case constituted by installing a cover on an upper surface of a base plate, a magnetic tape runningly installed in the cartridge case, and a drive belt for running the magnetic tape.The base plate includes a hard protective coat layer at its upper and lower surface or either of upper and lower surfaces.The base plate is formed by punching a base plate material sheet covered with the protective coat layer into a predetermined shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5794501
    Abstract: A method for punching a template is provided comprising the steps of partially punching the template by applying a first punch to a first surface of the template to form a recessed portion thereof and by applying a first die to a second surface of the template to form a projected portion thereof, so as to produce a first shear plane connected with the first surface on a peripheral surface of the recessed portion and a second shear plane connected with the second surface on a peripheral surface of said projected portion; returning the projected portion so as to be substantially aligned with the recessed portion by holding the first surface and the second surface between a second punch and a second die; and fully punching the template by applying a third punch to the second surface and a third die to the first surface to as to produce a third shear plane connected with the second surface on a peripheral surface of the recessed portion and a fracture plane connected between the third shear plane and the first sh
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sasaki, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5782422
    Abstract: A recording medium storage cassette includes a cassette housing composed of an upper cassette shell and a lower cassette shell and in which a part of an outer ornamented body of the cassette is formed of a metal plate member made by press-treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Taizo Fukuda, Shuichi Kikuchi, Kazuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5769347
    Abstract: A tape cartridge comprising a base plate, a pair of tape reels, a drive roller for allowing magnetic tape to undergo a traveling operation, and a cover member of synthetic resin attached to cover one surface side of the base plate. This tape cartridge comprises a pair of engagement recessed portions respectively provided on both sides of the cover member so that, at the time of loading into a tape drive unit, supporting members provided at the side of the unit are engaged therewith, an erroneous loading limiting portion being provided in either of the engagement recessed portions. A plurality of supporting mechanisms absorb expansion differences or contraction differences resulting from a difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the cover member and that of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Shintaro Higuchi, Toshiro Kobayashi, Kazuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5754379
    Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a center plate attached to an inner side of a cartridge casing which rotatably houses a disk utilized as a recording medium. The disk cartridge is mounted so as to be interposed between the inner side of the cartridge casing and a leading end of a spindle shaft of a disk drive for preventing abrasion or damage to the casing. The center plate is formed by cutting processing of a sheet roll of layered plate material. This roll of plate material is formed with a core of paper having an adhesive layer for mounting applied to one side thereof and a super abrasion resistant synthetic resing applied on the other side thereof for contacting the leading edge of the spindle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5739993
    Abstract: A disk cartridge for data storage or the like includes a cartridge casing having a disk formed as a data storage medium rotatably mounted therein. The cartridge casing includes an opening defined therethrough for allowing access to the rotatable disk. A substantially U-shaped metallic shutter is slidably disposed on the cartridge casing to as to cover and uncover the access opening according to sliding movement thereof. The metallic shutter is formed by bending processing of a metallic plate material, such as aluminium to form a substantially U-shaped shutter body having a display surface portion defined on an outer side thereof. The display portion is formed by pressing and deforming a selected area of the outer side of the shutter body and forming thereon a matt display area having a surface roughness greater than other surface portions of the shutter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Yoshinori Miura, Yuji Iwaki
  • Patent number: 5729272
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermal transfer of a picture pattern or a letter on a printing surface of a material formed of metal or ceramics exhibiting high heat dissipating properties. The thermal transfer apparatus, by which the thermal transfer method may be carried out, includes a holding unit for holding the material and having a heater for heating the material, a thermal transfer head for heating the thermal transfer film for transferring the printing layer onto the material, a cooling unit for cooling the thermal transfer film, a peeling unit for peeling the base film of the thermal transfer film, and a control unit for pressing the thermal transfer head against the thermal transfer film as the material is heated by the heater for transferring the printing layer onto the material. The control unit causes the thermal transfer film to be cooled by the cooling means after separation of the thermal transfer head from the thermal transfer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5713531
    Abstract: A tape cartridge comprises a base plate, a pair of tape reels rotatably supported by a pair of upstanding reel shafts which shafts are supported on the base plate, and a magnetic tape wound on the tape reels wherein a plurality of tape guides are provided to define a tape travel path. The base plate is formed with an aluminum-alloy plate with a hard protective film on both faces of the aluminum-alloy plate and small impressions in the hard protective film for elimination of residual strain. The hard protective film is formed by an anodic oxidation coating. In order to eliminate residual stress or strain existing in the base plate formed by a punching operation, each of the small impressions is formed by impressing the hard protective film to a depth within a thickness of the hard protective film or to a depth within a permissible limit of deformation (elongation) of the hard protective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sasaki, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5681002
    Abstract: In order to assure the assembly steps of a tape cartridge, a base plate of the cartridge has a rough surface. The rough surface is possessed by a plastic layer coated on the base plate. For producing the rough surface, fine particles and/or fibrous members are embedded in the plastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5645242
    Abstract: A cover of a tape or data cartridge to be used as an external memory for a computer includes a number of temporary fixture pins integral with a main body of the cover. The pins function to temporarily fix the main body to a base plate of the tape cartridge. The pins are arranged to be engageable respectively with engaging sections formed in the base plate. Each pin includes a first engagement portion for causing the main body to be provisionally fixed to the base plate in a state where the main body is in contact with the base plate, and a second engagement portion for causing the main body to be temporarily fixed to the base plate in a state where the main body is separate from the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Shintaro Higuchi
  • Patent number: 5620547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shutter for a protective envelope containing a recording disk, having both satisfactory sliding property and satisfactory heat-resisting property. The shutter is formed by folding a laminated sheet having a first layer formed by folding a laminated sheet having high heat-resisting property and a second layer formed of a material having low frictional property so that the first layer forms the outer surface of the shutter and the second layer form the inner surface of the shutter. The first layer of the laminated sheet ensures the shutter satisfactory heat-resisting performance and the second layer of the same ensures the shutter satisfactory sliding performance. A printed layer or an evaporated metal layer may be formed between the first and second layers of the laminated sheet and/or the first and second layers of the laminated sheet may be colored to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5600359
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermal transfer of a picture pattern or a letter on a printing surface of a material formed of metal or ceramics exhibiting high heat dissipating properties. The thermal transfer apparatus, by which the thermal transfer method may be carried out, includes a holding unit for holding the material and having a heater for heating the material, a thermal transfer head for heating the thermal transfer film for transferring the printing layer onto the material, a cooling unit for cooling the thermal transfer film, a peeling unit for peeling the base film of the thermal transfer film, and a control unit for pressing the thermal transfer head against the thermal transfer film as the material is heated by the heater for transferring the printing layer onto the material. The control unit causes the thermal transfer film to be cooled by the cooling means after separation of the thermal transfer head from the thermal transfer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5588606
    Abstract: A cover of a tape or data cartridge to be used as an external memory for a computer includes a number of temporary fixture pins integral with a main body of the cover. The pins function to temporarily fix the main body to a base plate of the tape cartridge. The pins are arranged to be engageable respectively with engaging sections formed in the base plate. Each pin includes a first engagement portion for causing the main body to be provisionally fixed to the base plate in a state where the main body is in contact with the base plate, and a second engagement portion for causing the main body to be temporarily fixed to the base plate in a .state where the main body is separate from the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Shintaro Higuchi
  • Patent number: 5570782
    Abstract: A disk cartridge case is disclosed which has improved durability and which enables hanging for display or storage purposes. The disk cartridge case includes a case body and a cover for covering a cartridge inserting port provided on the case body. The cover has a cover back member superposed on a case body back member of the case body, a cover front member, a front forming plate, a closing member and a bottom member. The cover back member has a non-adhesion portion located on a side of the closing member and being capable of contacting and separating from the case body back member and an adhesion portion located at an opposite-side of the closing member and being adhered to the case body back member. Furthermore, the cover front member includes an insertion tab having a locking tab. The insertion tab and locking tab are received by a slot formed in the front forming plate. Then, by hooking the locking tab on edge of the slot, the cover front member is secured to the front forming plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Yuji Iwaki, Toshiro Kobayashi