Patents by Inventor Tatsuro Nishi

Tatsuro Nishi 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: 9390747
    Abstract: A disc device includes a plurality of magazines, each having a tray that stores a plurality of discs, a plurality of disc drives that performs recording or reproducing of information on or from the plurality of discs, a picker that draws out the tray from one of the plurality of magazines and that conveys the tray to a position near the plurality of disc drives, and a disc separating and supplying device that, at the position near the plurality of disc drives, holds the plurality of discs stored in the tray, separates at least one of the plurality of discs stored in the tray from a remainder of the plurality of the discs stored in the tray, and supplies the at least one of the plurality of discs stored in the tray to at least one of the plurality of disc drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norikatsu Yoshida, Tatsuro Nishi, Hitoshi Higaki, Yuji Ariyoshi, Masanori Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20150380043
    Abstract: A disc device according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of magazines each having a tray that stores a plurality of discs, a plurality of disc drives that performs recording or reproducing of information on or from a disc, respectively, a picker that draws out the magazine tray from one magazine selected from the plurality of magazines and that conveys the magazine tray to a position near the plurality of disc drives, and a disc separating and supplying device that, at the position near the disc drives, holds the plurality of discs stored in the magazine tray, that separates at least one disc from the held plurality of discs, and that supplies the separated disc to the disc drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Norikatsu YOSHIDA, Tatsuro NISHI, Hitoshi HIGAKI, Yuji ARIYOSHI, Masanori OHNISHI
  • Patent number: 9123379
    Abstract: A disk (100) having a center hole (100a), the disk (100) being provided with a support-capable structure for making it possible to support a disk (100A) positioned one level above the lowermost part in a stacked state using separation claws (164Ac, 164Bc) protruding radially outward from the center hole (100a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Higaki, Norikatsu Yoshida, Tatsuro Nishi, Yuji Ariyoshi, Takuto Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9058848
    Abstract: The disc device includes a picker which conveys, in a horizontal direction, a magazine tray in which a plurality of discs are stored, a lifter which pushes out the plurality of discs from the magazine tray, and a carrier which shifts in a vertical direction, which retains in a stacked manner the plurality of discs pushed out by the lifter, and which supplies the discs to a plurality of disc drives, respectively. The lifter is flexibly mounted such that the lifter shifts relative to the picker in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Nishi, Norikatsu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20150074692
    Abstract: A disc device according to the present invention includes a plurality of magazines each having a tray that stores a plurality of discs, a plurality of disc drives that performs recording or reproducing of information on or from a disc, respectively, a picker that draws out the magazine tray from one magazine selected from the plurality of magazines and that conveys the magazine tray to a position near the plurality of disc drives, and a disc separating and supplying device that, at the position near the disc drives, holds the plurality of discs stored in the magazine tray, that separates at least one disc from the held plurality of discs, and that supplies the separated disc to the disc drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Norikatsu YOSHIDA, Tatsuro NISHI, Hitoshi HIGAKI, Yuji ARIYOSHI, Masanori OHNISHI
  • Publication number: 20150024161
    Abstract: A disk (100) having a center hole (100a), the disk (100) being provided with a support-capable structure for making it possible to support a disk (100A) positioned one level above the lowermost part in a stacked state using separation claws (164Ac, 164Bc) protruding radially outward from the center hole (100a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Hitoshi HIGAKI, Norikatsu YOSHIDA, Tatsuro NISHI, Yuji ARIYOSHI, Takuto YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 8898683
    Abstract: A disc drive unit is configured with a plurality of disc drives as one unit. At least one of a pair of opposed disc drives arranged on an identical horizontal plane is provided with a tray support member for supporting a front end of a tray of the other disc drive when the tray is ejected. The tray support member is capable of protruding from the one disc drive and withdrawing into the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Higaki, Hiroshi Takahashi, Tatsuro Nishi, Norikatsu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8881184
    Abstract: A disc device which takes out a disc stored in a magazine and conveys the disc to any disc drive, in which the magazine comprises a tray which stores a plurality of discs, and a case which has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and which stores the tray. The case has an opening at front face into which the tray can be inserted into or taken out therefrom. The tray has an outer shape being substantially rectangular in planar view. The tray is provided with cut portions formed at corner portions positioned on the back side of the case being cut off. The disc device further comprises a picker which holds the tray and draws out the tray from the case. The picker rotates the tray when the cut portion passes through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Norikatsu Yoshida, Hitoshi Higaki, Tatsuro Nishi, Yuji Ariyoshi
  • Patent number: 8863160
    Abstract: A disc device supplies a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives. The disc device includes a carrier which retains a plurality of discs being stacked in such a stacked state, which separates one disc from the retained plurality of discs above a tray ejected from an arbitrary one of the disc drives, and which places the separated disc on the tray. The carrier includes a plurality of claw portions holding the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc out of the plurality of discs, and a disc press pressing the topmost disc out of the plurality of discs so as to be in parallel to the disc placing face of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasue Chihara, Takuto Yamazaki, Tatsuro Nishi, Hirokuni Hagita, Takahiro Sato, Masanori Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20140289750
    Abstract: A disc device which takes out a disc stored in a magazine and conveys the disc to any disc drive, in which the magazine comprises a tray which stores a plurality of discs, and a case which has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and which stores the tray. The case has an opening at front face into which the tray can be inserted into or taken out therefrom. The tray has an outer shape being substantially rectangular in planar view. The tray is provided with cut portions formed at corner portions positioned on the back side of the case being cut off. The disc device further comprises a picker which holds the tray and draws out the tray from the case. The picker rotates the tray when the cut portion passes through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Norikatsu YOSHIDA, Hitoshi HIGAKI, Tatsuro NISHI, Yuji ARIYOSHI
  • Patent number: 8843946
    Abstract: A disc device includes a carrier which retains a plurality of discs in a stacked state so as to separate one disc from the retained plurality of discs above a tray ejected from arbitrary one of the disc drives, and to place the separated disc on the tray. The carrier includes a spindle unit inserted into a center hole formed in each of the discs, a first hold claw portion which holds an inner circumferential portion of the disc, and a second hold claw portion provided at a position higher than the first hold claw portion by a substantially thickness of one disc, the second hold claw portion holding an inner circumferential portion of the disc. One disc from the retained discs is separated by shifting the first and second hold claw portions back and forth between an inner side and an outer side of the spindle unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuro Nishi, Takuto Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8782677
    Abstract: A disc device which takes out a disc stored in a magazine and conveys the disc to any disc drive, in which the magazine comprises a tray which stores a plurality of discs, and a case which has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and which stores the tray. The case has an opening at front face into which the tray can be inserted into or taken out therefrom. The tray has an outer shape being substantially rectangular in planar view. The tray is provided with cut portions formed at corner portions positioned on the back side of the case being cut off. The disc device further comprises a picker which holds the tray and draws out the tray from the case. The picker rotates the tray when the cut portion passes through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Norikatsu Yoshida, Hitoshi Higaki, Tatsuro Nishi, Yuji Ariyoshi
  • Publication number: 20140007143
    Abstract: There is provided a disc drive unit configured with a plurality of disc drives as one unit, wherein at least one of a pair of opposed disc drives arranged on an identical horizontal plane is provided with a tray support member for supporting a front end of a tray of the other disc drive when the tray is ejected, the tray support member being capable of protruding from the one disc drive and withdrawing into the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Hitoshi HIGAKI, Hiroshi TAKAHASHI, Tatsuro NISHI, Norikatsu YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20130343855
    Abstract: The disc device includes a picker which conveys, in a horizontal direction, a magazine tray in which a plurality of discs are stored, a lifter which pushes out the plurality of discs from the magazine tray, and a carrier which shifts in a vertical direction, which retains in a stacked manner the plurality of discs pushed out by the lifter, and which supplies the discs to a plurality of disc drives, respectively. The lifter is flexibly mounted such that the lifter shifts relative to the picker in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Tatsuro NISHI, Norikatsu YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20130326548
    Abstract: The disc device supplies a disc to each of the plurality of disc drives. The disc device includes a carrier which retains a plurality of discs being stacked in such a stacked state, which separates one disc from the retained plurality of discs above a tray ejected from an arbitrary one of the disc drives, and which places the separated disc on the tray. The carrier includes a plurality of claw portions holding the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc out of the plurality of discs, and a disc press pressing the topmost disc out of the plurality of discs so as to be in parallel to the disc placing face of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasue CHIHARA, Takuto YAMAZAKI, Tatsuro NISHI, Hirokuni HAGITA, Takahiro SATO, Masanori OHNISHI
  • Publication number: 20130326549
    Abstract: The disc device includes a carrier which retains a plurality of discs in such a stacked state, which separates one disc from the retained plurality of discs above a tray ejected from arbitrary one of the disc drives, and which places the separated disc on the tray. The carrier includes a spindle unit inserted into a center hole formed in each of the discs, a first hold claw portion which holds an inner circumferential portion of the disc, and a second hold claw portion provided at a position higher than the first hold claw portion by a substantially thickness of one disc, the second hold claw portion holding an inner circumferential portion of the disc. One disc from the retained discs is separated by shifting the first and second hold claw portions back and forth between an inner side and an outer side of the spindle unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuro NISHI, Takuto YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20130263162
    Abstract: A disc device which takes out a disc stored in a magazine and conveys the disc to any disc drive, in which the magazine comprises a tray which stores a plurality of discs, and a case which has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and which stores the tray. The case has an opening at front face into which the tray can be inserted into or taken out therefrom. The tray has an outer shape being substantially rectangular in planar view. The tray is provided with cut portions formed at corner portions positioned on the back side of the case being cut off. The disc device further comprises a picker which holds the tray and draws out the tray from the case. The picker rotates the tray when the cut portion passes through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norikatsu YOSHIDA, Hitoshi HIGAKI, Tatsuro NISHI, Yuji ARIYOSHI
  • Patent number: 8429680
    Abstract: There is provided a disk device having a buffer portion capable of relatively moving at least a rack at the beginning of meshing with a drive gear in an opposite direction to a moving direction of a slide cam member moved by conveyance of a disk, when the disk is conveyed to a replayable position by a disk conveyance mechanism and the slide cam member moves so that the drive gear and the rack are meshed with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takuto Yamazaki, Yukio Morioka, Norikatsu Yoshida, Yuji Ariyoshi, Shinichi Maeda, Hitoshi Higaki, Tatsuro Nishi
  • Patent number: 8413176
    Abstract: A disk device is provided with a pair of slide cam members that start movement when a disk is conveyed to a replayable position, and a pair of clamper lifters respectively having clamper support portions supporting a clamper. The clamper lifters are moved in opposite directions to each other in a horizontal direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the disk device in conjunction with the movement of the pair of slide cam members. They are arranged so that the timings of the start of movement in the opposite directions to each other are different from each other. The clamper support portions have inclined surfaces in contact with an outer peripheral part of the clamper so as to move the clamper in the thickness direction of the disk device in accordance with the movement of the pair of clamper lifters in the opposite directions to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Maeda, Takuto Yamazaki, Yukio Morioka, Norikatsu Yoshida, Yuji Ariyoshi, Hitoshi Higaki, Tatsuro Nishi
  • Patent number: 8316388
    Abstract: The invention allows for restriction of radial and axial movements of a shaft by a simple structure. A shaft supporting structure includes a base (3) provided with a bearing (7), and a first shaft (23) arranged at the bearing (7). The shaft supporting structure further includes a helical torsion spring (4) fitted on the first shaft (23). The base (3) includes a first engagement hole (31a), and a hooked section (74) engaging with first and second arm sections (41, 42) of the helical torsion spring (4), respectively. The helical torsion spring (4) presses the first shaft (23) onto the bearing (7) in a radial direction of the shaft by an elastic force generated by engagement between the first arm section (41) and the first engagement hole (31a) of the base (3), and engagement between the second arm section (42) and the hooked section (74) of the base (3). A portion of the second arm section (42) faces an axial end face of the first shaft (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuro Nishi, Naohisa Tanabe, Seiichi Miyamoto, Masakazu Ishizuka