With Particular Housing Construction Patents (Class 242/347)
  • Patent number: 10433038
    Abstract: Disclosed is a loudspeaker module, which comprises a loudspeaker unit and a module housing for accommodating the loudspeaker unit. The loudspeaker unit comprises a magnetic circuit assembly and a vibration assembly. The module housing comprises a polycarbonate plastic material layer and an elastomeric material layer having a compression amount. The polycarbonate plastic material layer forms an inner layer of the module housing. The elastomeric material layer is at least partially bonded on the outside of the polycarbonate plastic material layer to form the outer layer of the module housing. The polycarbonate plastic material layer and the elastomeric material layer are formed by double-shot injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GOERTEK, INC.
    Inventors: Tao Su, Jun Zhang, Chengfei Zhang
  • Patent number: 7872559
    Abstract: A rectangular coil unit 1 is manufactured in such a manner that four wires 2 are simultaneously regularly wound on four outer surfaces of a bobbin 3 having a rectangular section so that the wires 2 advance obliquely together for a lane change corresponding to 0.5 wire on one (a lower surface side) of a pair of parallel surfaces of the four outer surfaces of the bobbin 3 and for a lane change corresponding to 3.5 wires on the other one (an upper surface side) of the parallel surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Asano
  • Patent number: 7868726
    Abstract: A rectangular coil unit is manufactured in such a manner that two wires are simultaneously regularly wound on four outer surfaces of a bobbin having a rectangular section so that the wires advance obliquely together for a lane change corresponding to 0.5 wire on one (a lower surface side) of a pair of parallel surfaces of the four outer surfaces of the bobbin and for a lane change corresponding to 1.5 wires on the other one (an upper surface side) of the parallel surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Asano
  • Patent number: 7568648
    Abstract: To provide a tape cartridge capable of preventing an area near the posterior rim a tape winding layer from colliding with a casing wall to cause the tape edge to be damaged upon reception of dropping impact in the state where the upper and lower sides of the tape cartridge are reversed, so that the magnetic tape can constantly be maintained in an appropriate state. A pair of right and left hubs for taking up the magnetic tape, a hub locking structure are provided inside a main casing. The hub locking structure is placed on the anterior side of the inner surface of an upper casing in the main casing. A regulating body for regulating inclination of the tape winding layer is formed so as to bulge on the rear side of the inner surface of the upper casing. The regulating body is formed in an oblong rib shape having a bulge size almost identical to a thickness size of the hub locking structure in the inner surface of the upper casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Ban, Toshiro Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 7426094
    Abstract: The magnetic tape cassette has a base with an opening for forming a transparent window and a transparent resin-made window member to be installed in the opening. The window member is provided with an engaging unit which is to be fitted into the base at an angle and the base is provided with an engaging portion that is formed at an angle in correspondence to the engaging unit and the window member is installed in the opening by being fitted in at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7419115
    Abstract: The magnetic tape cassette has a base with an opening for forming a transparent window and a transparent resin-made window member to be installed in said opening. The window member is provided with an engaging unit which is to be fitted into the base at an angle and the base is provided with an engaging portion that is formed at an angle in correspondence to the engaging unit and the window member is installed in the opening by being fitted in at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Publication number: 20080179439
    Abstract: An information medium capable of preventing tape reels from being inclined during driving and improving the manufacturing efficiency. The information medium includes a pair of tape reels having a magnetic tape wound around, a casing body rotatably accommodating the tape reels, and a pair of sheets having a pair of insertion holes formed, respectively. A pair of plate-shaped spring members each formed with an insertion hole are arranged between one sheet and one main board, for urging respective ends of hubs of the tape reels via the sheet, with the associated end of the hub inserted into the insertion hole. Each spring member is fixed to the main board, by being fitted on an outer periphery of an associated annular protrusion formed on the one main board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Morimasa SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20080149753
    Abstract: A tape cartridge has a housing having upper and lower walls defining an interior therebetween, a pair of tape winding elements provided on left and right sides of the interior of the housing, the tape winding elements being supported for rotation by the upper and lower walls of the housing, a tape wound around the tape winding elements, a restriction sheet provided between the upper wall of the housing and windings of the tape, and a restriction means made of a lower bouncing material. The restriction means is provided in a region on a rear side of a line connecting centers of the tape winding elements and opposing the windings of the tape and also between the upper wall of the housing and the restriction sheet so that, when the restriction sheet is forced toward the upper wall by an edge of laterally moving tape, the restriction means receives the forced restriction sheet and then resiliently returns the restriction sheet toward the tape winding to prevent a misaligned winding of the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiro Nishiwaki, Keiji Ban
  • Patent number: 7303161
    Abstract: The magnetic tape cassette has a base with an opening for forming a transparent window and a transparent resin-made window member to be installed in said opening. The window member is provided with an engaging unit which is to be fitted into the base at an angle and the base is provided with an engaging portion that is formed at an angle in correspondence to the engaging unit and the window member is installed in the opening by being fitted in at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7014136
    Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent damages of a magnetic tape in a magnetic tape cassette adapted to be operated in a recording and reproducing apparatus which can similarly operate a plurality of magnetic tape cassettes. More specifically, in the invention, differences (A1?B1, A2?B2) between heights A1, A2 of radially inner portions (32a), (42a) of lower flanges (32), (42) and heights B1, B2 of ribs (35a), (45a) of lower halves (35), (45) for restricting a height of the magnetic tape are equal (A1?B1=A2?B2) in a plurality of the magnetic tape cassettes which have the same vertical sizes and different sizes in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Katsuki Asano, Masayoshi Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 6978958
    Abstract: Structure of a lower case that reinforces a recording tape cartridge. At an inner side of the lower case, an annular projecting portion is provided along and at an inner side of a reel area rib that demarcates a reel area, raising stiffness of the case. At a periphery of a hole for positioning, which is formed in an outer face of the lower case, a recessed surface, which provides a height direction reference surface, is formed. At the inner side of the lower case, a boss is formed in correspondence to the hole for positioning. The boss is located along an outer face of the reel area rib. A thickness-enhancing portion is formed at the periphery of a base portion of the boss. Thus, thickness at the reference surface, that is, the recessed surface, is substantially the same as thickness at portions therearound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 6967816
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge includes: a case within which a reel wound with a recording tape is housed; a position-regulating hole that is formed in a lower surface of the case and into which a positioning member of a drive device is inserted; a reference surface formed around the position-regulating hole in the lower surface of the case; an allowance portion formed as a recess portion in an upper surface of the case, the allowance portion allowing an engaging member disposed at the drive device to advance therein and thereby preventing the engaging member from abutting against a front surface of the case when recording and playback of the recording tape cartridge is possible in the drive device; and a rear wall formed at the allowance portion, wherein a case-thickness-direction extended surface of the rear wall is positioned at least within a region of the reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 6964390
    Abstract: A cartridge is provided with a case, which accommodates a recording medium at an interior thereof, and a label area, which is surrounded by a rectangular standing wall at an outer face of the case. At one side of the standing wall, a longitudinal direction portion is cut away. Thus, a cut-away portion which is continuous with the label area is provided. The label area is formed at a rear wall, at a rear side in a direction of loading the case into a drive device. The cut-away portion is formed at a substantially central portion, in a longitudinal direction, of an upper side of the standing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Iino
  • Patent number: 6929208
    Abstract: A cartridge assembly (10) includes a cartridge (12) and a cartridge retainer (14). The cartridge (12) includes a reel (22) having a rotational axis (46) and a flange (48, 50). The cartridge (12) also includes a cartridge housing (16) that rotatably secures the reel (22). The cartridge housing includes one or more interior surfaces (19, 21). The reel (22) is adapted to tilt relative to the cartridge housing (16). The cartridge housing (16) includes a plurality of ribs (30) each having a chamfer (72). The ribs (30) can be disposed on an upper housing section (18) and/or a lower housing section (20) of the cartridge housing (16). The reel (22) has a contact tilt angle ?1 relative to the interior surface (19, 21), and at least one of the chamfers (72) has a chamfer angle ?2 relative to the interior surface (19, 21) that is substantially similar to the contact tilt angle ?1. The flange (48, 50) contacts the chamfer (72) so that the flange (48, 50) is substantially parallel with the chamfer (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: James Justin Kuhar, Stephen Stamm
  • Patent number: 6862157
    Abstract: The cartridge case of a magnetic tape cartridge is equipped with a side notch, formed in a side wall approximately parallel to an inserting direction of the cartridge case, which is engaged by a locking claw provided in a drive apparatus into which the cartridge case is loaded. The outer edge of the side notch that is contacted by the locking claw is formed into a round edge having a predetermined radius of curvature so that the locking claw does not catch on the side notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Tsuyuki, Yusuke Ishihara, Daisuke Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20040262438
    Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge includes a housing having a surface resistivity in a range of approximately 106 ohms/square to approximately 1012 ohms/square, at least one tape reel rotatably disposed within the housing, and a length of magnetic storage tape wound around the at least one tape reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Jason D. Hanzlik, Gregory A. Laska, Craig D. Lingwall
  • Patent number: 6755368
    Abstract: A recording tape cassette has a reel which has a hub around which a recording tape is wound, and a flange which is mounted to an end portion of the hub and in which a concave portion is formed at an inner surface of the flange. The reel is rotatably accommodated in a case. A distance of a path of the recording tape from an inner peripheral edge portion of an outer side of the concave portion to an outer peripheral edge portion of the flange, is longer than a distance of a path of the recording tape from the outer peripheral edge portion of the flange to a tape guide at which the recording tape which is drawn out from the reel is first guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuki Asano
  • Patent number: 6697222
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tape cassette including a cassette shell in which tape reels around which a tape-like recording medium is wound are contained; a mouth portion provided in a front portion of the cassette shell in such a manner as to be opened forwardly, upwardly, and downwardly, the mouth portion being positioned such that part of the tape-like recording medium crosses the front end of the mouth portion; and a front lid, provided on the cassette shell, for covering the front side of the tape-like recording medium; wherein both side portions of the mouth portion of the cassette shell are taken as tape extraction portions opened forwardly; and each of the inner surfaces of outer side surface front portions of the cassette shell, which forms each of the inner surfaces of outer side walls of the tape extraction portions, is formed into a taper surface which becomes wider outwardly as nearing the front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Ota, Sunao Kushiro
  • Publication number: 20040031869
    Abstract: At both sides of an opening (14) of a cassette case (10a), there are formed tape guides (18) having guide faces (18a), and a magnetic tape (T) is stretched between the guide faces (18a). On back faces (18b) of the guide faces (18a) of the tape guides (18), are formed cam grooves (26) for guiding an open/close lid (320) which covers the stretched magnetic tape (T). In lower parts of the back faces (18b) and backward of the cam grooves (26), there are formed projections (28) provided with position detecting holes (28a). Molding sink preventive recesses are formed only at positions on the back faces (18b) forward of the cam grooves (26) and above the projections (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Shozo Onmori, Teruo Ashikawa, Atusi Takano
  • Patent number: 6688546
    Abstract: The cassette half molding method molds one of upper and lower halves of the magnetic tape cassette by injection molding with an injection mold in which a gas vent pin for smoothing a flow of molten resin to be introduced in the cavity for molding a transparent or semitransparent window portion provided in the upper half. The cassette half is molded by this molding method. The magnetic tape cassette has a friction sheet interposed either between a pair of take-up hubs and the upper half, or between the pair of take-up hubs and the lower half, or both, and the friction sheet is made of polyethylene-based resin and has a surface electric resistance value in the range of 1×107 &OHgr; to 1×1010 &OHgr;. The magnetic tape cassette has a rib for reducing a resistance when the roller of the detecting member passes through which is provided at a position corresponding to a recess and on a side of the front lid in the top surface of the body case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shozo Onmori, Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 6607155
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette for use in an apparatus having a light source and a light sensor (5a, 5b) for detecting a tape end by the difference of light transmittance of a tape. The magnetic tape cassette (1) is composed of a cassette housing for having a transparent or semi-transparent upper half (1b) and a lower half (1a), and the reel being connected with the tape, and a light exit (7A, 7B) being opposed to the light sensor (5a, 5b) when the tape cassette is loaded to a predetermined position in the apparatus, for passing light from the light source to the light sensor through the light exit, wherein a light path (4a, 4b) of the light emitted from the light source crosses a travel path of the tape, a light-shielding member (2a, 2b) for limiting the light emitted from the light source, placed contiguous to the light exit, and a rib (81, 83) being formed in the upper half and the lower half (1a, 1b) wherein a plurality of triangular shaped prisms (83a) is formed serially on at least one side of the rib (83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Takaha, Yasufumi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6547174
    Abstract: In a housing for tape cartridge which holds therein a tape reel on which a medium in the form of a tape is wound, an outer surface portion of a side wall, out of surrounding walls, of the housing facing the direction of cartridge insertion into a recording-reproducing apparatus has a draft of zero degree where it comes in contact with positioning means of the apparatus. In a mold for forming the housing, a mold portion that forms an outer surface portion of a side wall, out of surrounding walls, of the housing facing the direction of cartridge insertion into a recording-reproducing apparatus, is constituted by a slide having a plane perpendicular to the direction of insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kaneda, Motohiko Shima, Masatoshi Okamura
  • Patent number: 6515829
    Abstract: In a magnetic tape cassette, a window opening 2 covered with a window member 3 is formed in an upper half 1. At a peripheral portion of the window opening 2, a fixing surface 4 for fixing the window member 3 thereto is formed; and at a portion surrounding the fixing surface 4, a slant 6 is formed. Further, a build-up portion 8 is formed at the portion surrounding the fixing surface 4 and at a corner portion A on the opening portion side of the cassette case through which a magnetic tape passes. At a peripheral portion of the window member 3, a plurality of welded ribs 10 is formed. And, a weld line produced by the resin molding of the window member 3 is located on the welded rib 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruo Ashikawa
  • Patent number: 6491461
    Abstract: There are provided a tape cartridge which can be changed into a compact shape for storage or transport, or makes a printing tape and a laminating tape replaceable, and at the same time facilitating the handling of them, a tape cartridge capable of holding an unrolled portion extending over a relative long distance in a proper attitude, a tape cutting device including the tape cartridge, and a tape printing apparatus including any of the above tape cartridges or having a structure making itself free from spoiling the print quality. A casing of a tape cartridge accommodating at least one roll of tape such that the at least one roll of tape can be unrolled therefrom comprises a hinge mechanism arranged at a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof, for allowing the tape cartridge to be folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakajima, Shinobu Nakazawa, Takaaki Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20020179762
    Abstract: The cassette half molding method molds one of upper and lower halves of the magnetic tape cassette by injection molding with an injection mold in which a gas vent pin for smoothing a flow of molten resin to be introduced in the cavity for molding a transparent or semitransparent window portion provided in the upper half. The cassette half is molded by this molding method. The magnetic tape cassette has a friction sheet interposed either between a pair of take-up hubs and the upper half, or between the pair of take-up hubs and the lower half, or both, and the friction sheet is made of polyethylene-based resin and has a surface electric resistance value in the range of 1×107 &OHgr; to 1×1010 &OHgr;. The magnetic tape cassette has a rib for reducing a resistance when the roller of the detecting member passes through which is provided at a position corresponding to a recess and on a side of the front lid in the top surface of the body case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shozo Onmori, Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Publication number: 20020175237
    Abstract: The cassette half molding method molds one of upper and lower halves of the magnetic tape cassette by injection molding with an injection mold in which a gas vent pin for smoothing a flow of molten resin to be introduced in the cavity for molding a transparent or semitransparent window portion provided in the upper half. The cassette half is molded by this molding method. The magnetic tape cassette has a friction sheet interposed either between a pair of take-up hubs and the upper half, or between the pair of take-up hubs and the lower half, or both, and the friction sheet is made of polyethylene-based resin and has a surface electric resistance value in the range of 1×107 &OHgr; to 1×1010 &OHgr;. The magnetic tape cassette has a rib for reducing a resistance when the roller of the detecting member passes through which is provided at a position corresponding to a recess and on a side of the front lid in the top surface of the body case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shozo Onmori, Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 6481658
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing formed by upper and lower casing halves mated together and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is supported for rotation in the cartridge casing by the upper casing half. A memory holding structure holds a non-contact type memory element with its recording surface held substantially at 45° to the bottom surface of the cartridge casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Shiga, Kiyoo Morita
  • Publication number: 20020139888
    Abstract: A base plate for a belt-driven cartridge for recording tape includes a molded or cast base layer with integral mounting bosses and ribs on the upper surface of the base layer for rigidly supporting axles and tape guides in precise perpendicular alignment and selected elevations relative to the lower reference surface of the base layer. The integral ribs extend between raised bosses to enhance torsional and flexural and depressional rigidity of the base layer over the entire area within the peripheral boundaries thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Donald Stanley
  • Publication number: 20020135938
    Abstract: The improved recording media cartridge is adapted to be such that an upper case and a lower case are joined by means of an engaging member fitted between fitting portions provided on the opposed inner surfaces of the respective cases. The shaped resin article is adapted to be such that individual members are shaped by multi-color molding of mutually compatible and adhesive materials and adhere to one another only in part so as to permit easy separation of the respective members. When discarded, the cartridge and the shaped resin article produce less wastes, exerting reduced impact on the environment, and prove effective in assorting dissimilar materials, thereby simplifying the disassembling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Wataru Iino, Shozo Onmori, Kiyoo Morita
  • Patent number: 6390402
    Abstract: A tape cartridge has a front face sized for compatibility with an industry standard tape drive, and has sides longer than the sides of some industry standard cartridges. The sides and top of the housing extend outwardly in width to form a back portion of the cartridge that is wider than the front portion and prevent the cartridge from being inserted into non-compatible tape drives. Two large diameter tape hubs improve the empty hub to full pack diameter ratios, and improve the resulting tangential drive force and tape tension profiles as the tape moves between the hubs. Flanges are permanently bonded to the hubs to prevent the tape packs from shifting and a spring biases the hubs against the baseplate. A back set of rollers includes a high-drag roller that engages the drive belt at a fixed wrap angle and produces a relatively constant drag. A front set of rollers includes a drive roller and has rollers mounted to form substantially equal geometries with rollers in the back set respective to the tape hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Verbatim Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Krula, Don Stanley, Thi Ho, Anthony Arce
  • Patent number: 6386471
    Abstract: System for releasably retaining portions of a data cartridge shell in an assembled configuration including at least one first boss tower on a first portion of the data cartridge shell having a receiving hole with an inner surface. At least one second boss tower on a second portion of the data cartridge shell including an outer surface is adapted to releasably engage with the receiving hole at a boss tower interface in the assembled configuration. A plurality of retention ribs and a plurality of guide ribs are located at the boss tower interface to releasably retain the first portion of the cartridge shell to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Keller, Gregg C. Hagen, Gregory D. Roberts, Gregory H. Johnson, Michael W. Johnson, Bryan W. Noble
  • Patent number: 6354527
    Abstract: A tape cartridge has a front face sized for compatibility with an industry standard tape drive, and has sides longer than the sides of some industry standard cartridges. The sides and top of the housing extend outwardly in width to form a back portion of the cartridge that is wider than the front portion and prevent the cartridge from being inserted into non-compatible tape drives. Two large diameter tape hubs improve the empty hub to full pack diameter ratios, and improve the resulting tangential drive force and tape tension profiles as the tape moves between the hubs. Flanges are permanently bonded to the hubs to prevent the tape packs from shifting and a spring biases the hubs against the baseplate. A back set of rollers includes a high-drag roller that engages the drive belt at a fixed wrap angle and produces a relatively constant drag. A front set of rollers includes a drive roller and has rollers mounted to form substantially equal geometries with rollers in the back set respective to the tape hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Verbatim Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Krula
  • Patent number: 6338449
    Abstract: A tape cassette including a case body having upper and lower cases each having partition walls configured to rotatably receive tape reels wound with a tape-shaped medium, a reel brake configured to engage with the tape reels to prevent a free rotation when the tape cassette is not in use and slide between locked and unlocked positions of the tape reels, a biasing member configured to urge the reel brake toward the tape reels, and a support portion for supporting the biasing member provided outside the partition walls of the lower case, wherein one of the partition walls of the lower case has a cut-out portion adjacent to the support portion, and one of the partition walls of the upper case has a projected portion configured to engage with the cut-out portion of the lower case when the upper and lower cases are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiko Shima, Hiroshi Kaneda
  • Patent number: 6328241
    Abstract: For a VTR cassette tape having an accommodation section for a small article, the present invention attempts to provide an efficient configuration for a cover for the small article accommodation section and to ensure that the cover can be opened and closed appropriately, thus, wherein an accommodation section 17 for a small article M is shaped like a recess and set in the top surface on a rear surface end of the cassette body 10, a cover 20 allowing the external shape of a cassette body 10 comprising an upper and a lower part to remain almost the same as the original shape encloses the accommodation section, the cover 20 being journaled into the upper part 10a of the cassette body 10 so as to open the accommodation section 17 when rotated upward, and a hook section 23 detachably hooks the cover 20 to the lower part 10b of the cassette body so as to rotate the cover 20 downward and to maintain the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignees: Ace Premium Co., Ltd., Fuji Television Network Incorporated
    Inventor: Shunsaku Ota
  • Patent number: 6299088
    Abstract: A data storage cartridge (10) includes a housing (12) having a first section (13) operatively connected to a second section (14). A chip retaining section (30) includes a forward stop (33), first lateral stop (34), second lateral stop (35) and a rear-positioning member (31) having an angled support surface (32). A memory chip (50) is positioned on the rear-positioning member (31). A chip retaining post (40) extends toward the memory chip (50) wherein the chip (50) is positioned laterally by the lateral stops and the post maintains the memory chip (50) in position on the rear-positioning member (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: G. Phillip Rambosek
  • Patent number: 6299087
    Abstract: The surface of the base plate of the data cartridge is treated with chromate so as to coat the surface with a conductive film, with which the grounding means such as the elastic arms and cartridge positioning rollers provided on the chassis of the data cartridge drive come in contact when the data cartridge is loaded in a data cartridge drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20010017329
    Abstract: A tape cartridge has a front face sized for compatibility with an industry standard tape drive, and has sides longer than the sides of some industry standard cartridges. The sides and top of the housing extend outwardly in width to form a back portion of the cartridge that is wider than the front portion and prevent the cartridge from being inserted into non-compatible tape drives. Two large diameter tape hubs improve the empty hub to full pack diameter ratios, and improve the resulting tangential drive force and tape tension profiles as the tape moves between the hubs. Flanges are permanently bonded to the hubs to prevent the tape packs from shifting and a spring biases the hubs against the baseplate. A back set of rollers includes a high-drag roller that engages the drive belt at a fixed wrap angle and produces a relatively constant drag. A front set of rollers includes a drive roller and has rollers mounted to form substantially equal geometries with rollers in the back set respective to the tape hubs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: David A. Krula, Don Stanley, Thi Ho, Anthony Arce
  • Patent number: 6270030
    Abstract: A tape cartridge and cartridge drive system for controlling the compatibility of first and second tape cartridges having the same form factor in first and second tape drives. The system permits backward compatibility of the first tape cartridge in the second tape drive, while prohibiting the second tape cartridge from being used in the first tape drive. The second tape cartridge includes a tab projecting distally from a recess. The tab is positioned to contact the door actuator surface on the first tape drive so as to prevent insertion of the second tape cartridge into the first tape drive. The tab defines a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the insertion direction smaller than a gap in the door actuator assembly of the second tape drive to permit the second tape cartridge to be inserted into the second tape drive, whereby the second tape cartridge is compatible only with the second tape drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignees: Imation Corp., Benchmark Storage Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Johnson, Douglas W. Johnson, Charles L. Dennis, II
  • Publication number: 20010006200
    Abstract: The cassette half molding method molds one of upper and lower halves of the magnetic tape cassette by injection molding with an injection mold in which a gas vent pin for smoothing a flow of molten resin to be introduced in the cavity for molding a transparent or semitransparent window portion provided in the upper half. The cassette half is molded by this molding method. The magnetic tape cassette has a friction sheet interposed either between a pair of take-up hubs and the upper half, or between the pair of take-up hubs and the lower half, or both, and the friction sheet is made of polyethylene-based resin and has a surface electric resistance value in the range of 1×107&OHgr; to 1×1010&OHgr;. The magnetic tape cassette has a rib for reducing a resistance when the roller of the detecting member passes through which is provided at a position corresponding to a recess and on a side of the front lid in the top surface of the body case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Shozo Onmori, Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 6224007
    Abstract: A first tape cassette adapted to be interchangeably used with a second tape cassette of a different thick case thickness is provided. A first tape cassette includes a first case having a first total thickness. The first case having a bottom face which is formed with an indentation and a first depression formed within the indentation. The indentation is used for positioning the cassette in a plane parallel to its bottom face. The second tape cassette includes a second case having a second total thickness that is smaller than the first total thickness of the first case. The second case has a bottom face which is formed with a second reference depression opened towards the bottom face. The second reference depression is for positioning the second tape cassette in a plane parallel to its bottom face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kaku, Seiji Ono, Yoshimi Maehara, Mikihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 6205001
    Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge having a misinsertion notch. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel and a storage tape. The housing includes a base and a cover, each defining a front, a back, a first side and a second side. The misinsertion notch is defined in the base, extending from the front of the base and along the first side of the base. The misinsertion notch has a length less than approximately one-half a length of the first side of the base for facilitating proper insertion into a receiving frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignees: Imation Corp., Storage Technology
    Inventors: William J. Vanderheyden, G. Phillip Rambosek, David T. Hoge, Christian A. Todd
  • Patent number: 6160679
    Abstract: A recording medium device including a cartridge body within which a tape-shaped recording medium on which information signals are recorded is accomodated, wherein a cartridge discrimination opening (hole) indicating the specification of the recording medium device is provided at the bottom surface side of the cartridge body and positioned in the corner of the portion of the back (face) side opposite to the front side of the cartridge body from which the tape shaped recording medium is drawn out. In addition, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus with a detection mechanism for detecting the cartridge discrimination opening (hole) is provided. The cartridge discrimination opening (hole) is provided in the area where it was previously known to provide plural recording medium specification openings (holes) but which are not provided in the cartridge body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Maekawa, Joichi Daiba, Satoshi Ota, Toshiya Kurokawa, Mitsunori Sakama, Masanori Abe, Takao Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 6147836
    Abstract: A tape cassette having such a structure that a pattern is printed on a surface of a transparent or semi-transparent cassette housing, a scale display portion which becomes a yardstick for a remaining volume for a tape is formed on the lowest layer of this pattern printing portion and this scale display portion can penetratingly be seen from a surface of an opposite side of the cassette housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Odagiri, Kenichi Hirose
  • Patent number: 6114016
    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: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sasaki, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6097594
    Abstract: The inventive recessed bezel or faceplate allows the tape drive to be recessed within the computer case such that the tape cartridge no longer protrudes from the front of the computer case. The inventive bezel uses finger cavities and a guide mechanism to facilitate tape cartridge insertion and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Jonathan D Bassett, Steven F Liepe, Christopher Nichols
  • Patent number: 6048595
    Abstract: The present invention provides a superior light-storing printed article, which includes a light-storing printed layer comprising 50-80 wt % of light-storing pigment having D50=22-35 .mu.m and D90=58-80 .mu.m based on the total amount of the light-storing pigment and the binder, and the thickness of the printed layer being 50-150 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakajima, Kimio Tanaka, Shuji Higashi, Tatsuo Fujii
  • Patent number: 6045079
    Abstract: A tape cartridge has a front face sized for compatibility with an industry standard tape drive, and has sides longer than the sides of some industry standard cartridges. The sides and top of the housing extend outwardly in width to form a back portion of the cartridge that is wider than the front portion and prevent the cartridge from being inserted into non-compatible tape drives. Two large diameter tape hubs improve the empty hub to full pack diameter ratios, and improve the resulting tangential drive force and tape tension profiles as the tape moves between the hubs. Flanges are permanently bonded to the hubs to prevent the tape packs from shifting and a spring biases the hubs against the baseplate. A back set of rollers includes a high-drag roller that engages the drive belt at a fixed wrap angle and produces a relatively constant drag. A front set of rollers includes a drive roller and has rollers mounted to form substantially equal geometries with rollers in the back set respective to the tape hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Verbatim Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Krula, Don Stanley, Norbert Vollman, Edward Snelleman, Thi Ho, Anthony Arce
  • Patent number: 5984222
    Abstract: A recording medium accommodation cassette, wherein a part of a cassette shell is formed of a metallic plate, which is formed with a punched hole formed by press, and the metallic plate is disposed such that a shear face of the punched hole therein is located inwardly of the cassette thereby being in contact with a structural part within the cassette thereby inhibiting a burr produced in a punched hole in the metallic plate from being in contact with a structural component within the cassette (e.g., a reel) to produce shaving powders or particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5979814
    Abstract: Disclosed is an invertible portable tape container for containing two separate lengths of recording tape for providing rapid access to data. The container may be inserted into a tape drive, preferably by an automated data storage library robot, in either of two relatively inverted positions, allowing rapid access to either of the two separate lengths of recording tape. A generally rectangular housing includes two access openings, respectively to the right side and to the left side. Four tape spools are positioned within the housing, with the spools at one side inverted with respect to those on the other side. Separate sets of tape bearings each supports one of the lengths of recording tape at one of the access openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin Ralph Childers
  • Patent number: 5946170
    Abstract: A tape cassette capable of ensuring smooth guiding of a reel brake member arranged in a casing while being simplified in structure and exhibiting an attractive appearance sufficient to increase a commercial value thereof. A reel brake member for selectively restraining rotation of tape reels received in a casing is arranged in the casing so as to be engageable with the tape reels to keep a tape from being loosened. Ribs are arranged in an upper casing member in a manner to be remote from gate positions, at which gates of a molding die for molding the casing are located, and contiguous to a rear wall of the upper casing member. A portion of the upper casing member surrounded by the ribs is reduced in thickness as compared to the remaining portion of the upper casing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiko Shima, Masaru Ikebe