Releasable Brake Patents (Class 242/338.1)
  • Patent number: 11217278
    Abstract: A tape cartridge according to an embodiment of the present technology includes: a tape reel; a cartridge case; and a reel lock member. The tape reel includes a reel hub having a bottomed cylindrical shape, a tape having been wound on the reel hub. The cartridge case includes a first protruding portion and a plurality of second protruding portions, the first protruding portion protruding toward a center of a bottom portion of the reel hub, the plurality of second protruding portions being arranged around the first protruding portion. The reel lock member is disposed inside the reel hub. The reel lock member includes a first tubular portion and a plurality of second tubular portions, the first tubular portion fitting with the first protruding portion, the plurality of second tubular portions fitting with the plurality of second protruding portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Iwahashi, Takeshi Saito, Hiroshi Kumagai
  • Patent number: 11211086
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a lock mechanism for a tape embedded drive. The tape embedded drive comprises an enclosure enclosing a first tape reel, a second tape reel, and a lock mechanism. The first tape reel comprises a first gear, the second tape reel comprises a second gear, and the lock mechanism is disposed between the first and second gears. The lock mechanism comprises a latch lock, one or more latch tips disposed at a first end of the latch lock, a magnet disposed at a second end of the latch lock, and an electromagnet disposed adjacent to the magnet. When the electromagnet is activated, the latch lock moves to an unlocked position. When the electromagnet is de-activated, the latch lock moves to a locked position where the one or more latch tips are in contact with the first and second gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kouki Uefune, Toshio Takahashi, Tomoki Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 10071514
    Abstract: A release member molding method for mounting a metallic plate in a main body of a release member by insert-molding. The release member is to be provided to be integrally rotatable with a reel accommodated in a case, and to move a locking member from a locking position that locks rotation of the reel to an allowing position that allows rotation of the reel. The metallic plate touches a sliding protrusion portion of the locking member at a touching surface of the release member. The release member molding method includes an arranging step of arranging the metallic plate in a die and a molding step of charging a resin material into the die and molding the main body in which the metallic plate is mounted. The die contacts a portion of the metallic plate that excludes the touching surface, and the die does not contact the touching surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Sumiya
  • Patent number: 10026444
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge includes two first guide wall portions formed in a direction orthogonal to a loading direction of the case into a drive device and between which a first protruding wall portion formed at a brake member is insertable, and two second guide wall portions and two third guide wall portions formed at regular intervals from the first guide wall portions in a circumferential direction. A second protruding wall portion at the brake member is insertable between the second guide wall portions, and a third protruding wall portion at the brake member is insertable between the third guide wall portions. An interval, ?, between each first guide wall portion and the first protruding wall portion, and an interval, ?, between each second guide wall portion and the second protruding wall portion and between each third guide wall portion and the third protruding wall portion satisfy “??2×?”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Kagawa
  • Patent number: 9336822
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge of the present invention includes: a reel formed with an engagement portion on a bottom portion of a reel hub; a resin brake member moving toward and away from the bottom portion of the reel hub, and selectively adopting a rotation locked position and a rotation permitted position; a resin release member being capable of movement in a reel axial direction and rotating as a unit with the reel; and a projection portion that projects out in the reel axial direction from an axial center portion of either the brake member or the release member, that is formed with a housing portion housing a spherical member that contacts the other out of the brake member or the release member, and that is formed with a lip portion jutting out from an opening end portion of the housing portion toward a reel radial direction inner side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 9278806
    Abstract: A system for selectively disallowing unwinding of a storage library robotic mechanism cable assembly in a direction that would otherwise allow a platform of the robotic mechanism to move downwardly via the force of gravity while at the same time allowing for winding up of the cable assembly and the platform, such as during shipping, manual access, replacement of the robotic mechanism, and/or the like. The system may include a ratchet pawl for engaging between adjacent teeth of a drive assembly of the robotic mechanism and an actuator for selectively moving or allowing for movement of the ratchet pawl into and out of the engaged position. In one embodiment, the system may include an electric switch or the like to sense when the pawl is engaged with the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph P. Manes
  • Patent number: 8888032
    Abstract: A tape cartridge includes: a first flange member including a first hub portion and a first flange portion; a second flange member including a second hub portion slidably fitting to the first hub portion and a second flange portion, and forming a reel winding a tape in a combination with the first flange member; an engagement portion in which a first through-hole is opened and that is located on a back side of a surface of the second flange portion facing the first flange portion so as to engage with a drive unit included in an external tape driving device; a first protrusion provided to the first hub portion so as to be exposed from the first through-hole and push up the first flange member and space the first flange portion and the second flange portion apart from each other by contacting the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazunori Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 7857250
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge includes a reel, a case where the reel is accommodated, an engagement gear that is provided in the reel, and a brake gear which is provided in the case side brake member and in which a mesh state with the engagement gear or a mesh release state with the engagement gear is switched by relative displacement of an axis line direction of the brake member with respect to the reel. In a piece taper tooth of the engagement gear, a mesh surface that is oriented in a winding rotation direction is approximately parallel to a reel axis line direction and an opposite mesh surface is inclined with respect to the reel axis line. A piece taper tooth of the brake gear is a taper tooth that is opposite to the piece taper tooth of the engagement gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Takenoshita, Teruo Ashikawa
  • Patent number: 7841554
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge can prevent release of rotation locking of a reel with respect to a case accompanying dropping of the recording tape cartridge. The tape recording cartridge is configured to rotatably accommodate within a case a reel that has magnetic tape wound on a reel hub. Within the reel hub, external teeth of a brake gear, of a brake member that is supported so as to be non-rotatable with respect to the case, mesh with an engaged gear having internal teeth, preventing rotation of the reel with respect to the case. Lock portions of lock members are inserted between the reel positioned biased to a bottom panel side by a compression coil spring, and a top panel, thereby preventing movement of the reel with respect to the case in the reel axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Takenoshita, Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7832674
    Abstract: A tape cartridge has a tape housing, first and second reel member cooperate with each other to constitute a reel around which a tape is wound, a connecting and biasing member connecting between the first and second, and first and second engaging means. The first engaging means is provided on an inner surface of the lower wall. The second engaging means is provided on a lower surface of the second reel member. This arrangement allows that the second engaging means can engage with the first engaging means due to a biasing force caused by the connecting and biasing member to prevent a rotation of the second reel member and can disengage from the first engaging means when the drive shaft accesses the second reel member through the opening and forces the second reel member toward the first reel member against the biasing force of the connecting and biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Inugai, Keiji Ban
  • Patent number: 7677488
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge which includes a case, a reel including a hub accommodated in the case, a locking member supported to be non-rotatable relative to the case and disposed within the hub, and a switching member disposed in the case. The hub is provided with an engaging portion therein. The locking member can attain a rotation-locking position, at which the locking member engages with the engaging portion and fills a gap between the reel and the case in an axial direction of the reel, and a rotation-enabling position, at which the state of engagement with the engaging portion is released and the locking member being withdrawn from the gap. The switching member retains the locking member at the rotation-locking position at times of non-use of the recording tape, and moves the locking member to the rotation-enabling position when operated in a predetermined direction by a drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7566020
    Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a case having a first through-hole and a second through-hole in the bottom of a first container, a reel disposed within the case and having a cylindrical hub portion with a bottom, a tape wound around the hub portion such that the tape can be fed out, and a reel lock mechanism that allows the reel to be immovably supported. The reel lock mechanism includes an interposing member that can move vertically in the thickness direction of the case, and a support member. The support member includes a first pedestal portion that, in a state in which the reel has been put in contact with the second container and the interposing member has been put in contact with the reel, is positioned immediately below the interposing member and thus immovably supports the interposing member; and an operating portion that is disposed in the first through-hole and allows, with a predetermined operation, support of the interposing member and release of support of the interposing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruo Sogabe
  • Patent number: 7540446
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge includes: a reel having a cylindrical hub with a bottom and a reel gear formed therein with recording tape wound therearound; a casing; a brake component; and a releasing component that is provided between the bottom of the hub and the brake component and which has plural legs inserted through plural through-holes formed on the reel gear where, when in use, the plural legs are pressed upwards by a drive gear of a drive device, whereby the releasing component lifts the brake component, releases engagement with the engaging portion and rotates with the reel. The legs are formed into approximate D shapes in plan view whose outer side surfaces facing an inner peripheral surface of the hub are flat surfaces, while the through-holes are formed into approximate D shapes in plan view through which the legs can each be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuki Asano
  • Patent number: 7530518
    Abstract: Sliding resistance at a time when a locking member is moved between a locking position and an unlocking position with respect to a reel can be lessened, and deformation of a flange welded to a hub also can be suppressed. In a recording tape cartridge 10 in which a reel 20, at which an upper flange 24 is welded to a hub 22, is singly and rotatably accommodated within a case 12, a locking member 70 is configured to be able to rotate within a plane orthogonal to a rotation axis direction of the reel 20 around a position which is different from a rotational center of the reel 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7530517
    Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge has a housing, at least one tape reel assembly rotatably disposed within the housing, a storage tape wound about a tape winding surface of the tape reel assembly, and a brake assembly. The brake assembly includes a brake plate and a brake button. When the brake assembly is an unlocked position, a depression in the brake plate mates with a protruding member of the brake button to limit vibration of the brake assembly, thereby limiting noisy vibration of cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jason E. Moses, James L. Albrecht, Jason D. Hanzlik, Peter A. Ridl
  • Patent number: 7530516
    Abstract: A structure to be grasped in which a member can be grasped by a pair of grasping portions having respective grasping recesses of the same shape. A clutch member has rotation-limiting ribs and seating ribs formed on and projecting from a clutch body, and each set of a rotation-limiting rib and a seating rib are arranged on an imaginary straight line L1. When a pair of chuck members of a grasping device are moved away from each other along an imaginary straight line L2 coinciding with the imaginary straight line L1, the clutch member is grasped by the pair of chuck members. Although the rotation-limiting ribs and the seating ribs are different in shape from each other in order to meet their respective functional requirements, chucked portions of the rotation-limiting rib and seating rib, for fitting into the respective grasping recesses of the chuck members, have substantially the same shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Iino
  • 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: 7481389
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking a rotatable portion of a storage device is provided. The apparatus comprises a component irrotatably engaged with the rotatable portion, the component having first teeth for engaging second teeth disposed on a surface irrotatable with respect to the component. A spring is disposed between the component and the reel to urge engagement of the first teeth and the second teeth. The component is slidably engaged with the reel such that by pulling on the component, the component slides with respect to the reel and the first teeth disengage from the second teeth, thereby permitting the reel and the component to rotate. A method for accessing media disposed on the reel includes pushing the reel away from a bottom portion of the storage device, pulling down on the component to disengage the first teeth from the second teeth, and rotating the reel to access the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: David T. Hoge
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7416148
    Abstract: Sliding resistance at a time when a locking member is moved between a locking position and an unlocking position with respect to a reel can be lessened, and it is possible to avoid bringing about trouble with a drive device or the like. In a recording tape cartridge 10, in which a reel 20, which has a hub 22 on which a recording tape T is wound, is singly and rotatably accommodated within a case 12, a locking member 70 is configured to be able to rotate within a plane orthogonal to a rotation axis direction of the reel 20 around a position which is different from a rotational center of the reel 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7410112
    Abstract: In a single-reel type tape cartridge, a floating-lock structure comprising lock pieces and a lock spring for locking and biasing the lock pieces is provided between an upper surface of a tape reel and an upper case. On each of the lock piece are provided a restriction member for restricting upward movement of the tape reel and a releaser that is subjected to an unlocking operation performed an unlock member in a tape drive. Entry grooves for the unlock members are formed on an outer surface of the upper case, and the releasers are exposed in the entry grooves from operation openings provided in part of the entry grooves. When a main body case is loaded in the tape drive, the releasers are subjected to the unlocking operation by the unlock members so that the restriction members can move and evacuate upward in a hub space surrounded by a reel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Inugai
  • Patent number: 7407126
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge with a reel in a case, a hollow cylinder shaped hub and a recording tape wound around the hub has a braking member provided so as to be unrotatable within the case. The braking member can be set at a locking position, at which the braking member engages with an engaging portion formed at a top surface of a floor of the hub and impedes rotation of the reel, and a rotation permitting position, at which engagement with the engaging portion is cancelled due to the braking member moving away from the top surface of the floor of the hub due to pushing-up of an operation portion which is inserted through a pass-through hole of the hub. A guide wall, which extends toward the braking member and always opposes a side surface of the operation portion, is formed at a peripheral edge of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7404528
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge includes: a case accommodating a reel on which a recording tape is wound; a brake member provided non-rotatably with respect to the case; a lock member provided in a mounting portion on the inner surface of a top plate of the case to be slidable in a radial direction of the reel; and a falling-out preventing member for keeping the lock member from being removed from the mounting portion. The brake member is arranged to selectively assume a rotation locking position where the brake member is engaged with the reel to prevent the reel from being rotated and a rotation permitting position where the brake member is disengaged from the reel to permit the reel to be rotated. The lock member is arranged, when the brake member assumes the rotation locking position, to be interposed between the upper surface of the reel and a top plate of the case, thereby preventing the reel from being moved axially thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7360733
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge has a case including a datum hole into which a positioning pin is inserted at a predetermined position thereof; a reel rotatably supported on the case with a magnetic tape wound thereon and including an engaging gear formed in the outer periphery of the flange thereof; a rotation restricting mechanism disposed in the case and engaging with the engaging gear of the reel to thereby restrict the rotation of the reel; and, an engagement releasing element slidably inserted into the datum hole from inside the case and removing the engagement between the rotation restricting mechanism and the engaging gear through the sliding movement thereof within the datum hole, wherein the positioning pin is inserted into the datum hole from outside of the case and push and slide the engagement releasing element, thereby releasing the rotation restriction of the reel by the rotation restricting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7360291
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge including: a reel, and gear teeth are provided at an inner side of a floor portion of a reel hub on which a recording tape is wound; a case which accommodates the reel, and an engaging projection is formed at a surface of the case opposing the floor portion of the reel hub; a braking member having a disc, and a braking gear, which is annular and which can mesh with the gear teeth, is provided at one surface of the disc, and the braking member can move within the case in a direction of thickness of the case; and a groove wall portion standing erect at the disc and demarcating an insertion groove in which the engaging projection enters over an entire stroke of movement of the braking member. The groove wall portion impedes rotation of the braking member, and guides the braking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7360734
    Abstract: A tape cartridge which, in a state in which a reel cannot rotate, restricts movement of a braking member and restricts movement of the reel. In a state in which engaging walls of locking members are engaged with a top edge portion of a reel hub, step portions and the engaging walls abut a top surface of an upper flange and an inner peripheral surface of the reel hub. In this way, when the cartridge is not in use, vertical direction movement of the reel is restricted. Even if impact of a drop or the like is applied to the recording tape cartridge 10, the reel does not rise up. Accordingly, a problem such as the braking member tilting and becoming anchored does not arise. It is also possible to overcome a problem of the upper flange or a lower flange of the reel breaking due to the reel moving within a case when the tape cartridge is dropped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7350731
    Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, a reel locking member, which is positioned at a rotation locking position meshes with an engaging gear which is in a form of internal teeth and which is at a reel, such that rotation of the reel with respect to a case is impeded. When a clutch member is pushed up, a rotating cam member, which is screwed together with the clutch member, rotates toward one side, and the reel locking member moves to a releasing position by a positive motion cam structured by a cam projection and a cam groove. When the clutch member is pushed downward, the rotating cam member rotates toward another side, and the reel locking member moves to the rotation locking position by the positive motion cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7343611
    Abstract: A disc cartridge including a disc medium which is loaded into a drive device and into/from which information can be recorded/reproduced; a case that houses the disc medium rotatably; a disc opening from which the disc medium provided into the case can be taken out; and a disc taking-out history detecting portion that can be deformed recognizably and irreversibly according to an operation for firstly taking out the disc medium from the case, is provided to judge whether a disc medium is taken out of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kengo Oishi
  • Patent number: 7322540
    Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, a compression coil spring urges a reel downward via a brake member. Due to the biasing force of the spring, a gear of the brake member securely meshes with a gear inside a reel hub preventing the reel's inadvertent rotation. The biasing force urges lock members outward in a radial direction from the center of a mount or the reel. Engagement portions of the lock members engage with an upper edge of the hub. The outer side surfaces of the engagement portions press against the inner peripheral surface of the hub, and ends of the engagement portions at a further outer side than the body portions intervene between the upper surface of an upper flange and the inner surface of a top plate to prevent rotation of the reel and to control movement of the reel in either a radial or an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Publication number: 20070284467
    Abstract: Sliding resistance at a time when a locking member is moved between a locking position and an unlocking position with respect to a reel can be lessened, and it is possible to avoid bringing about trouble with a drive device or the like. In a recording tape cartridge 10, in which a reel 20, which has a hub 22 on which a recording tape T is wound, is singly and rotatably accommodated within a case 12, a locking member 70 is configured to be able to rotate within a plane orthogonal to a rotation axis direction of the reel 20 around a position which is different from a rotational center of the reel 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo HIRAGUCHI
  • 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: 7261249
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge which, with a structure having good produceability, can prevent wear of regions of abutment of a braking member and a releasing member at a time when a reel rotates. In the recording tape cartridge, when the braking member is positioned at a rotation locking position at which the braking member is engaged with an engaging gear provided at a floor portion of a reel hub, rotation of the reel, which is accommodated within a case, with respect to the case is impeded. When the braking member is held at a rotation permitting position at which engagement is released while the braking member abuts a clutch member, rotation of the reel with respect to the case is permitted. The braking member and the clutch member are respectively formed by resin molding, and abut one another at a slide-contact projection which is a resin portion, and a metal plate which is fixed to a clutch main body by caulking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7246765
    Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, a reel, at which a magnetic tape is wound around a cylindrical tube portion of a reel hub provided at an axially central portion of the reel, is accommodated within a case so as to be movable in an axial direction between a ceiling plate and a floor plate. A locking member can be set at a restricting position, at which, in a state in which the reel is shifted toward the floor plate, a lock portion is disposed in a gap between a top end portion of the reel and the ceiling plate and the locking member restricts axial direction movement of the reel, and a restriction releasing position, at which the locking member is withdrawn from the restricting position and permits the axial direction movement of the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7237740
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recording tape cartridge including an engagement portion formed on a hub of a reel; a brake member provided movable along an axial-direction, regulating reel rotation by engaging with the engaging portion and releasing the engagement to allow reel rotation; a component mounting portion formed at a position further at inner-side of the hub; a lock member, mounted at the component mounting portion movable in a radial-direction and provided between the reel and the case to regulate movement of the reel in the axial-direction, which moves away from the reel by being pressed by the brake member to allow movement of the reel, the lock member having a center of gravity provided along a direction in which the brake member initially abuts with and presses the lock member; and a biasing member biasing the lock member in the radial-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7234662
    Abstract: A recording-tape cartridge including a case accommodating a reel; a mounting portion formed at the case, at which guide-wall portions and locking members capable of positioning at vertical-movement-locking-position and vertical-movement-allowing-position are provided; a switching member for switching the locking members between the vertical-movement-locking-position and the vertical-movement-allowing-position, guide portions inserted between the guide wall portions to guide the switching member; an urging-member; and a disengagement-prevention-member, in which draft angles of the guide portions and the guide-wall portions ?0.5°, respectively, and at the vertical movement-allowing-position, a clearance between a tip outside-surface of the guide portion and an inside-surface of the guide wall portion?a clearance between a tip inside-surface of the guide wall portion and the outside-surface of the guide portion, and the maximum clearance is set between 0.05-0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7204444
    Abstract: In one example of one aspect of the invention, a data storage cartridge is provided. The data storage cartridge includes a housing having at least one opening, a reel rotatably disposed within the housing and accessible through the opening, the reel capable of translating axially, a biasing member for biasing the reel toward the opening, and an absorbing member disposed between the reel and a portion of the housing opposite the opening. In one example, the absorbing member includes a spring constant value of greater than 30 ounces per inch. The absorbing member may be disposed to engage and dampen the motion of the reel when the reel is displaced beyond a desired distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stamm, Gregory P. Argys
  • Patent number: 7191970
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a magnetic tape cartridge capable of improving operational precision and efficiency in the process of mounting a release part for unlocking a reel. A magnetic tape cartridge having a release button (part) for unlocking a reel, the release button being mounted in a hub with a cup shape formed on the reel, wherein a bottom portion of the hub has a fitting opening into which the release part fits, and a detection opening with a predetermined positional relationship with the fitting opening; and a reflection (metal) plate attached on a bottom surface of the bottom portion of the hub is viewed from an aperture of the detection opening defined in a top surface of the bottom portion of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yamamoto, Seiji Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 7175123
    Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, a braking member positioned at a restricting position within a reel hub in a state of abutting an inner surface of a floor plate of a case when the recording tape cartridge is not in use, is held at the restricting position by a top end surface of the braking member abutting a bottom end surface of a clutch member. Upward movement of a reel is restricted. When a release operation portion is pushed by a releasing portion of a drive device and the clutch member rotates, due to cam grooves and cam projections converting torque of the clutch member into axial direction moving force, the braking member, whose held state is cancelled by the bottom end surface sliding along the top end surface, moves to a rising-up permitting position, such that rising-up of the reel within the case is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7167337
    Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus includes a sub chassis unit on which a cassette is mountable and having first and second reel stands respectively engageable with first reel and second reels of the cassette; a main chassis unit combined with the sub chassis unit and including a rotatable head cylinder used for information recording to, and/or information reproduction from, a magnetic tape; and an idler mounted on the main chassis unit for driving the first and second reel stands. The sub chassis unit further includes a reel lock release member for unlocking a reel lock member of the cassette; a light emitting device for emitting light for detecting a leading end and a trailing end of the magnetic tape; and a section for allowing the idler to be mounted on the main chassis unit after the sub chassis unit is combined with the main chassis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kurumatani, Kazuo Shibukawa, Koichiro Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 7131607
    Abstract: A metal plate of a recording tape cartridge is provided with a tapered portion at an outer circumference thereof. In a state in which the metal plate is attached at a fixed-side mold plate of a metal mold for molding a reel hub and a lower flange, a gap is formed between the tapered portion and the fixed-side mold plate. During molding, molding material flows into the gap. Because of this gap, an annular pawl portion is formed at the reel hub, which annular pawl portion integrally joins the metal plate with the reel hub by sandwiching the metal plate via the tapered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Kiyoo Morita
  • Patent number: 7128288
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge has a case including a datum hole into which a positioning pin is inserted at a predetermined position thereof; a reel rotatably supported on the case with a magnetic tape wound thereon and including an engaging gear formed in the outer periphery of the flange thereof; a rotation restricting mechanism disposed in the case and engaging with the engaging gear of the reel to thereby restrict the rotation of the reel; and, an engagement releasing element slidably inserted into the datum hole from inside the case and removing the engagement between the rotation restricting mechanism and the engaging gear through the sliding movement thereof within the datum hole, wherein the positioning pin is inserted into the datum hole from outside of the case and push and slide the engagement releasing element, thereby releasing the rotation restriction of the reel by the rotation restricting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film CO Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7124973
    Abstract: A drive device to which a recording tape cartridge is loaded, and which can record information in a recording tape and playback information recorded in the recording tape, the drive device includes: a rotating shaft having a drive gear which meshes with the reel gear of the cartridge and rotates the reel of the cartridge; an operating member which pushes up the brake member of the cartridge to the reel rotation permitted position; and an adjusting mechanism which adjusts a projecting height of the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7108215
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge which includes a single tape reel on which magnetic tape is wound on the outer peripheral surface of a reel hub thereof, rotatably housed in the inside of a cartridge case; and a reel lock member for inhibiting the rotation of the tape reel, provided movably in an axial direction of the tape reel between a lock position and a lock release position, in the inside of the reel hub; wherein a position restriction rib opposed to the outer periphery of the reel lock member for restricting an axial deviation of the reel lock member from the axial position of the tape reel is formed discontinuously with the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub on the top surface of the bottom of the reel hub in the inside of the reel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Taizo Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7104486
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge has a reel at whose axially central portion is provided a reel hub which is shaped as a cylindrical tube having a bottom and around whose outer peripheral surface a recording tape is wound; an engaging gear provided within the reel hub; a case rotatably accommodating the reel; and a braking member having a braking gear which can mesh with the engaging gear. The engaging gear is formed in a form of internal teeth or in a form of external teeth. A tooth surface of each tooth is substantially parallel to an axis of the reel hub. The braking member is supported so as to be unable to rotate with respect to the case, and moves along an axis of the reel, and can be disposed at a rotation locking position, at which the braking gear meshes with the engaging gear, and a released position at which meshing is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7100857
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge has a reel accommodated within a case, an engaging portion provided at a floor portion of a reel hub; a braking member provided so as to be unable to rotate within the case, and approaching and moving away from the floor portion of the reel hub, and able to assume a rotation locked position at which the braking member engages with the engaging portion, and a rotation permitted position at which a state of engagement with the engaging portion is cancelled; and a releasing member disposed at an inner side of a guide wall portion provided at the floor portion of the reel hub, and when the reel is rotated, the releasing member holds the braking member at the rotation permitted position while abutting the braking member. The braking member has a tubular wall portion which overlaps with an outer side of the guide wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ishihara, Kazuo Hiraguchi, Wataru Iino
  • Patent number: 7097126
    Abstract: A single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is housed in a case. A restraining member, for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, is urged in a restraining direction by an urging member. The pushing-up portions of a releasing member are inserted into the through holes bored in the reel gear of the reel 2 so that the lower ends can abut a driving gear. The releasing member moves the restraining member in a releasing direction by moving according to the chucking operation of drive-side rotation drive means. In this manner, reel-rotation restraining means allows rotation of the reel when being used and restricts the rotation when not being used. In this construction, each of the through holes is bored between the tooth edges of the reel gear so that the releasing member can perform a reliable releasing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Daisuke Takahashi, Hideaki Shiga, Seiji Tsuyuki, Yusuke Ishihara
  • 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: 7077352
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge with an improved reel-rotation restraining mechanism is disclosed. The reel-rotation restraining mechanism has a reel locking member, which is movable toward and away from the reel, for restricting rotation thereof; an urging member for urging the reel locking member in a restraining direction; and an releasing member, which is rotatable integrally with the reel, for moving the reel locking member in an unlocking direction by moving according to a chucking operation of a rotation drive mechanism of a drive unit. The releasing member has three leg portions on the vertexes of a triangular plate portion insertable into through holes in the reel. The releasing member is sized so that with part of the releasing member inserted into a center opening of the reel, and two of the three leg portions positioned near the through holes, the remaining one leg portion can be dropped and inserted within the center opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Yamamoto, Kiyoo Morita, Akihiro Hashimoto, Daisuke Takahashi, Hideaki Shiga
  • Patent number: 7066421
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge is disclosed wherein when in non-use, a reel accommodated in a case and having a recording tape wound thereon is prevented from rotating by being meshed with a braking member which is non-rotatble with reference to the case; and when in use, in response to the braking member being pushed up by a release pad or a clutch member, the reel is released from the meshed state and allowed to rotate together with the release pad or the clutch member. With the rotation of the reel, the braking member has its pivot portion disposed in sliding contact with a sliding contact portion formed at a portion corresponding to an axial center of the release pad or the clutch member while being pressed against the sliding contact portion by a biasing force of a compression coil spring. The recording tape cartridge is designed such that a relation ?×L?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ren Ishikawa