Patents by Inventor Toru Yumine

Toru Yumine 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: 6721118
    Abstract: A cassette library (1) is provided with a driving apparatus (13), cassette housing shelves (14, 15) and a cassette carrier (16). A library controller (2) simulates as if driving apparatuses (13) having continuous address numbers were apparently used in the host computer (3) even when physically discontinuous address numbers are allocated to the driving apparatus (13), thereby making it possible to set occupancy for a driving apparatus with an arbitrary address number. The library controller (2) has the cassette carrier (16) automatically carry, at a preset timing, a cleaning cassette from the cassette housing shelf (14, 15) to the driving apparatus (13) to clean a recording reproduction head of the driving apparatus (13) using the cleaning cassette which is then carried back to the housing section in the original cassette housing shelf (14, 15) after the cleaning work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Keiji Tadokoro, Masato Yokota, Toru Yumine
  • Patent number: 6690530
    Abstract: A cassette auto changer system including a member for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal readers. A cassette rack is provided including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments, a cassette port accessible from an outer side of the auto changer apparatus whereby cassettes may be inserted or removed from the auto changer apparatus, a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between the cassette rack and the tape signal reader, and the cassette port. A YES/NO sensor at the cassette port determines whether a cassette is present in the cassette port. In applicants' cassette auto changer system, when a YES indicator determined by the YES/NO sensor changes to a NO determination, a controller sets the cassette port an IN port empty condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Noriyuki Yamazaki, Junichi Saiki, Hideaki Noguchi, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Takao Mokutani, Toru Yumine, Koichi Aikawa
  • Publication number: 20030206362
    Abstract: A cassette auto changer system includes a cassette console mounting a rack for holding a plurality of tape cassettes, a drive console for mounting a tape playing or playing and recording device or a plurality of such devices. A base console mounts the cassette and drive consoles and the entire cassette auto changer system is housed in a housing console. According to a compact design a cassette shuttle portion of the transport mechanism is rotatable both vertically and horizontally and includes means, such as a cassette hand portion, for effecting insertion and extraction of a cassette from one of a plurality of cassette compartments provided in the cassette rack. The cassette hand may also include a release lever engaging a lock lever at each cassette compartment. Further, grasping members include a centering device for achieving a predetermined support position for a cassette. In addition, paired positional detection portions and a corresponding sensors are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Noriyuki Yamazaki, Junichi Saiki, Hideaki Noguchi, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Takao Mokutani, Toru Yumine, Koichi Aikawa
  • Patent number: 6598117
    Abstract: A cassette library (1) is provided with a driving apparatus (13), cassette housing shelves (14, 15) and a cassette carrier (16). A library controller (2) simulates as if driving apparatuses (13) having continuous address numbers were apparently used in the host computer (3) even when physically discontinuous address numbers are allocated to the driving apparatus (13), thereby making it possible to set occupancy for a driving apparatus with an arbitrary address number. The library controller (2) has the cassette carrier (16) automatically carry, at a preset timing, a cleaning cassette from the cassette housing shelf (14, 15) to the driving apparatus (13) to clean a recording reproduction head of the driving apparatus (13) using the cleaning cassette which is then carried back to the housing section in the original cassette housing shelf (14, 15) after the cleaning work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Keiji Tadokoro, Masato Yokota, Toru Yumine
  • Patent number: 6577325
    Abstract: A recording medium library apparatus made up of a combination of units and capable of readily outputting information representing the configuration and readily collecting management information. A library controller of a recording medium library apparatus recognizes the configuration of a library. Based on the information on the recognized configuration, a status monitoring view showing the actual arrangement of consoles is provided on a display. Part of the statuses of the sections are displayed on the status monitoring view. The library controller collects system information as management information sorted according to the functions or structural part of the library for each function or structure block element and rearranges the collected system information into data in a form which can be outputted all at a time, and the data is recorded as a system information file on, for example, a hard disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Masato Yokota, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Toru Yumine
  • Patent number: 6553456
    Abstract: A library device, that is able to remote-actuate a recording/reproducing apparatus. The library device includes a recording/reproducing unit for recording or reproducing the information using a removable recording medium, a plurality of housing unit that is able to accommodate the recording medium therein, a transporting unit for transporting the recording medium between an optional housing unit in the housing unit and the recording/reproducing unit, and a control unit for controlling the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit. The control unit selects an operating mode of setting a control operation of permitting external terminal unit to perform the same control as that performed by the control unit or an operating mode of permitting the external terminal unit to perform control limited with respect to the control operation of the control unit, when the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit is controlled by the external terminal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Toru Yumine, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Masato Yokota
  • Patent number: 6539459
    Abstract: A library device, that is able to remote-actuate a recording/reproducing apparatus. The library device includes a recording/reproducing unit for recording or reproducing the information using a removable recording medium, a plurality of housing unit that is able to accommodate the recording medium therein, a transporting unit for transporting the recording medium between an optional housing unit in the housing unit and the recording/reproducing unit, and a control unit for controlling the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit. The control unit selects an operating mode of setting a control operation of permitting external terminal unit to perform the same control as that performed by the control unit or an operating mode of permitting the external terminal unit to perform control limited with respect to the control operation of the control unit, when the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit is controlled by the external terminal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Toru Yumine, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Masato Yokota
  • Patent number: 6507889
    Abstract: A cassette library (1) is provided with a driving apparatus (13), cassette housing shelves (14, 15) and a cassette carrier (16). A library controller (2) simulates as if driving apparatuses (13) having continuous address numbers were apparently used in the. host computer (3) even when physically discontinuous address numbers are allocated to the driving apparatus (13), thereby making it possible to set occupancy for a driving apparatus with an arbitrary address number. The library controller (2) has the cassette carrier (16) automatically carry, at a preset timing, a cleaning cassette from the cassette housing shelf (14, 15) to the driving apparatus (13) to clean a recording reproduction head of the driving apparatus (13) using the cleaning cassette which is then carried back to the housing section in the original cassette housing shelf (14, 15) after the cleaning work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Keiji Tadokoro, Masato Yokota, Toru Yumine
  • Publication number: 20020156969
    Abstract: A library device, that is able to remote-actuate a recording/reproducing apparatus. The library device includes a recording/reproducing unit for recording or reproducing the information using a removable recording medium, a plurality of housing unit that is able to accommodate the recording medium therein, a transporting unit for transporting the recording medium between an optional housing unit in the housing unit and the recording/reproducing unit, and a control unit for controlling the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit. The control unit selects an operating mode of setting a control operation of permitting external terminal unit to perform the same control as that performed by the control unit or an operating mode of permitting the external terminal unit to perform control limited with respect to the control operation of the control unit, when the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit is controlled by the external terminal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Toru Yumine, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Masato Yokota
  • Publication number: 20020144056
    Abstract: A library device, that is able to remote-actuate a recording/reproducing apparatus. The library device includes a recording/reproducing unit for recording or reproducing the information using a removable recording medium, a plurality of housing unit that is able to accommodate the recording medium therein transporting unit for transporting the recording medium between an optional housing unit in the housing unit and the recording/reproducing unit, and a control unit for controlling the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit. The control unit selects an operating mode of setting a control operation of permitting external terminal unit to perform the same control as that performed by the control unit or an operating mode of permitting the external terminal unit to perform control limited with respect to the control operation of the control unit, when the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit is controlled by the external terminal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Toru Yumine, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Masato Yokota
  • Patent number: 6433947
    Abstract: A cassette auto changer system includes a cassette console mounting a rack for holding a plurality of tape cassettes, a drive console for mounting a tape playing or playing and recording device or a plurality of such devices. A base console mounts the cassette and drive consoles and the entire cassette auto changer system is housed in a housing console. According to a compact design a cassette shuttle portion of the transport mechanism is rotatable both vertically and horizontally and includes structure, such as a cassette hand portion, for effecting insertion and extraction of a cassette from one of a plurality of cassette compartments provided in the cassette rack. The cassette hand may also include a release lever engaging a lock lever at each cassette compartment. Further, grasping members include a centering device for achieving a predetermined support position for a cassette. In addition, paired position detection portions and corresponding sensors are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Noriyuki Yamazaki, Junichi Saiki, Hideaki Noguchi, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Takao Mokutani, Toru Yumine, Koichi Aikawa
  • Publication number: 20020075587
    Abstract: A cassette library (1) is provided with a driving apparatus (13), cassette housing shelves (14, 15) and a cassette carrier (16). A library controller (2) simulates as if driving apparatuses (13) having continuous address numbers were apparently used in the host computer (3) even when physically discontinuous address numbers are allocated to the driving apparatus (13), thereby making it possible to set occupancy for a driving apparatus with an arbitrary address number. The library controller (2) has the cassette carrier (16) automatically carry, at a preset timing, a cleaning cassette from the cassette housing shelf (14, 15) to the driving apparatus (13) to clean a recording reproduction head of the driving apparatus (13) using the cleaning cassette which is then carried back to the housing section in the original cassette housing shelf (14, 15) after the cleaning work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Keiji Tadokoro, Masato Yokota, Toru Yumine
  • Publication number: 20020073275
    Abstract: A cassette library (1) is provided with a driving apparatus (13), cassette housing shelves (14, 15) and a cassette carrier (16). A library controller (2) simulates as if driving apparatuses (13) having continuous address numbers were apparently used in the host computer (3) even when physically discontinuous address numbers are allocated to the driving apparatus (13), thereby making it possible to set occupancy for a driving apparatus with an arbitrary address number. The library controller (2) has the cassette carrier (16) automatically carry, at a preset timing, a cleaning cassette from the cassette housing shelf (14, 15) to the driving apparatus (13) to clean a recording reproduction head of the driving apparatus (13) using the cleaning cassette which is then carried back to the housing section in the original cassette housing shelf (14, 15) after the cleaning work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Keiji Tadokoro, Masato Yokota, Toru Yumine
  • Patent number: 6166877
    Abstract: A cassette auto changer system including a tape signal reading member and a selection member for selecting between a plurality of cassettes. The cassette auto changer includes a base console including a port for tape insertion or extraction operations and having a tape insert compartment. The base console has upper and lower guide rails. A drive console mounts the tape signal reading member and a cassette console mounts a plurality of compartments for storing the tape cassettes. A tape transfer member transports the tape cassettes selectively between the base console, the drive console and the cassette console. An electrically conductive rail is disposed proximate to the guide rails which is powered by enclosed electrical wiring circuitry. In addition, an unmagnetized cassette shuttle body of the tape transfer member is driven along the electrically conductive rail and is guided along the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Noriyuki Yamazaki, Junichi Saiki, Hideaki Noguchi, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Takao Mokutani, Toru Yumine, Koichi Aikawa
  • Patent number: 5581365
    Abstract: In a remote control system for controlling operation of a tape playback apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording tape on which a time code is recorded with said information signal; the operation of the playback apparatus is controlled on the basis of data representative of a cue-up command and cue-up point, the presence or absence of the time code contained in the information signal to be reproduced from the recording tape by the playback apparatus, and the presence or absence of a change in value of the time code. When the time code has not been detected or the change in value of the time code has not been detected after the cue-up command has been fed to the tape playback apparatus, the recording tape is driven at a relatively high speed by a predetermined amount, and then the cue-up command is again fed to the tape playback apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Yumine
  • Patent number: 5528746
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a cassette auto changer selectively takes out a plurality of cassettes accommodated within a predetermined cassette accommodating unit to load the cassette into a recording and/or a reproducing means and is enabled to further easily confirm the state of the cassette auto changer and operate the cassette auto changer. By arranging the configuration in such a manner that the states of the portions of the cassette auto changer are collectively visually illustrated on a display screen of a monitor and the respective portions are controlled on the display screen, the confirmation of the states of the portions of the cassette auto changer can further easily be made and they can be operated further easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Yumine, Yusuke Tani