Single Coil Cartridge (e.g., Film Magazine) Patents (Class 242/348)
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20080191081
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge houses a reel including a hub around which recording tape is wound and at least part of which is formed by a resin. The rigidity (modulus of elasticity) y in the radial direction of the hub and the creep deformation ratio x of the recording tape satisfy the conditions of y?87.3 exp(21.6x) and x>0.1. By setting the rigidity of the reel hub to match the creep deformation ratio of the recording tape so as to satisfy this relationship, creep deformation of the recording tape can be controlled at the smallest cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ren ISHIKAWA, Minoru SUEKI
  • 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: 7401750
    Abstract: A reel of a recording tape cartridge has a reel hub formed in a shape of a hollow cylinder; an annular reel gear; an upper flange; a lower flange; and a reel plate. A reel gear is provided coaxially at an outer surface of a floor of the reel hub, and meshes with a driving gear of a rotating shaft of a drive device. A reference surface is provided integrally at an outer side of the floor. The upper flange extends integrally toward a radial direction outer side from an open end of the reel hub. The lower flange is mounted to a floor side end of the reel hub, and opposes the upper flange. The reel plate is fixed to the outer surface of the floor, and is attracted by a magnet of the rotating shaft without being contacted by the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7398941
    Abstract: A tape cartridge including a tape capable of recording and reproducing a high accuracy servo signal, by preventing a deformation of the tape by preventing turning up of a front end portion of a tape when the front end portion is adhered to a reel hub. The tape cartridge includes the tape, a single reel having a reel hub around which the tape is wound and a cartridge case in which the reel is installed, and the front end portion of the tape is adhered to the reel hub, and each corner of the front end portion of the tape is chamfered and chamfers are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Hatano
  • Patent number: 7398940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a leader tape, method for manufacturing the same, and a magnetic tape cartridge with a leader tape having surface properties and conductive properties for securing slide durability suitable for a magnetic tape drive using a magnetic tape cartridge of one reel cartridge. A leader tape joined to a starting end of a magnetic tape wound around a magnetic tape reel of a one reel cartridge, comprising: a base material; and a conductive slide layer formed on at least one surface of the base material, the surface of the conductive slide layer having a surface electrical resistance value of 102 ?/square to 1010 ?/square and a surface roughness Ra of 0.5 ?m to 1.5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Shozo Onmori
  • Patent number: 7395983
    Abstract: A tape cartridge (54) for use in a tape drive (46) having a tape head (260) includes a cartridge housing (272), a cartridge reel (274) and a tape (278). The cartridge reel (274) is rotatably secured to the cartridge housing (272). The tape (278) is secured to the cartridge reel (274). The tape (278) can include a storage tape (278D) that stores data and a lapping tape (278L) that laps the tape head (260). In one embodiment, the storage tape (278D) and the lapping tape (278L) are spliced together. The ratio of storage tape (278D) to lapping tape (278L) can be at least approximately 0.01:1. The lapping tape (278L) can include a diamond material having a grit of between approximately 0.1 micron and 1.0 micron. In one embodiment, the tape (578) can include a first lapping tape (578L1) and a second lapping tape (578L2) that has a different grit than the first lapping tape (578L1). In another embodiment, the tape (678) also includes a cleaning tape (678CL) that cleans the tape head (260).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Quantrum Corporation
    Inventor: George A. Saliba
  • Publication number: 20080156920
    Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge is provided with a combination tape including a data storage tape, an intermediate portion and a leader. A servo track and media information region is provided on the intermediate portion of the tape. The servo track is read by a servo track reader of a data storage apparatus. The media information region is read by the read/write head of the data storage apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: William J. Vanderheyden, Robert O. Wyman, John D. Willems
  • Patent number: 7377462
    Abstract: A single reel tape cartridge capable of achieving high-speed read/write access to tapes at high density by enhancing the molding accuracy of lower flange and eliminating inclination and waviness of flange walls is provided. A reel incorporated in a main case is composed of an upper flange, a lower flange, and a boss which is integrally plastic-molded with the lower flange for taking up a magnetic tape. An exit port for allowing an operating nail of an unlock tool to get in and out is open on the bottom wall of the boss. The lower flange is molded in the state that a bridging piece extending along radial direction of the lower flange is formed in the exit port, so that resin flow to the flange wall radially outside the exit port is promoted. The bridging piece is removed after the lower flange is molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Inugai, Kousuke Amano
  • Publication number: 20080105775
    Abstract: A cartridge case for a magnetic tape cartridge made up of two mating shell halves are provided with a retaining structure for retaining an in-cartridge memory tag at a given angle in the cartridge case. The retaining structure comprises supporting brace members in one mating shell halve which has an angled surface extending at an elevation angle equal to the given angle and holding brace members in the other mating shell halve which has an angled leading surface extending at a depression angle equal to the elevation angle of the angled surface of the support brace member and a angled trailing surge extending at a depression angle greater than the angled leading surface between which the in-cartridge memory tag is held tightly in position in the cartridge case when the two mating shell halves are temporarily or finally coupled to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruo ASHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 7364107
    Abstract: A tape cartridge capable of preventing emission of vibrating sounds and occurrence of abrasion at a usage time when a reel hub unit rotates at a high rotating speed. The tape cartridge has a single reel hub unit rotatably accommodated in a case and having its periphery wound with a tape-shaped recording medium, a brake lock member including an engaging portion for engaging a reel hub unit to restrict rotation of the reel hub unit when in non-use, and a flat surface bearing portion provided substantially at a central part of the brake lock member, wherein the central axis of said flat surface bearing portion of the brake lock member is parallel with and offset from the rotating central axis around which said brake release member rotates together with said reel hub unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh, Chotaro Kouzu
  • 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: 7354016
    Abstract: A reel has: a hub which is shaped as a cylindrical tube having a bottom, and around which a recording tape is wound; a flange provided at an end portion of the hub, and holding a widthwise direction end portion of the recording tape; a reel plate attracted by magnetic force to a rotating shaft of a drive device; and a pin for caulking which projects from a bottom surface of a floor wall of the hub, for attachment of the reel plate. A positioning portion, which positions the pin for caulking, is provided at a top surface of the floor wall of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7350732
    Abstract: A cartridge case includes a case main body, 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 on whose base part ring-shaped first teeth are formed, which is energized toward an inner surface of a base plate of the hub, is enclosed within the case main body so as to be capable of moving in a direction toward and away from the base plate, and restricts rotation of the tape reel. The tape reel includes a plurality of arc-shaped convex parts that are disposed on a circle about an axis of the hub on the inner surface of the base plate and support the locking member that has moved toward the base plate. Second teeth that engage the first teeth are formed on an upper part of at least one of the convex parts. A contact surface that contacts edges of the first teeth without engaging the first teeth is formed on an upper part of at least one of the convex parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sasaki, Takateru Satoh
  • 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: 7347397
    Abstract: A reel includes a hub around which recording tape is wound and flanges that are disposed on both end portions of the hub and hold width direction end portions of the recording tape. The hub includes a cylindrical reinforcement ring, a resin ring integrally molded on the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcement ring, and a consecutive portion made of resin that covers one end portion of the reinforcement ring and is continuous with the resin ring. Exposure portions where the one end portion of the reinforcement ring is exposed are formed in the consecutive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ren Ishikawa, Teruo Ashikawa
  • Patent number: 7344101
    Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge used in a tape transport apparatus that incorporates air bearing technology is provided. The tape cartridge includes a housing for storing the data storage tape and a compressible filter. The filter is located proximate to an opening, or air inlet, that is in communication with the housing interior. The housing may also have a second opening, or air outlet, in communication with the housing interior such that the filter is interposed between the inlet and the outlet. Further, the housing may include a storage region to retain the filter in the compressed state. The filter and the storage region may have congruent geometries. A method of supplying filtered air to a tape transport apparatus is also provided. The method contemplates drawing ambient air through the filter and passing it directly through the outlet opening for use by the tape transport apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Segway Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Sharon Richardson, legal representative, Donald Weinstock, legal representative, John K. Stahl, Stephan E. Gavit
  • 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: 7334752
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge (10) includes: a case (12) that houses a reel (40) onto which a recording tape is wound, the case comprising an upper case (14) including a top plate (14A) and a lower case (16) including a bottom plate (16A); lock members (90) that are disposed, so as to be slidable in a radial direction of the reel, in an attachment portion (60) formed on an inner surface of the top plate, the lock members being movable between a rise/fall lock position, at which the lock members are intervened between an upper surface of the reel and the top plate to prevent movement in an axial direction of the reel, and a rise/fall allowance position, at which the lock members are retracted from between the upper surface of the reel and the top plate to allow movement in the axial direction of the reel; and projecting portions (70A) that are formed on the inner surface of the top plate and project towards the lock members so that the lock members do not fall out of the attachment portion at least when the case
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • 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: 20080001013
    Abstract: A tape cartridge including a tape capable of recording and reproducing a high accuracy servo signal, by preventing a deformation of the tape by preventing turning up of a front end portion of a tape when the front end portion is adhered to a reel hub. The tape cartridge includes the tape, a single reel having a reel hub around which the tape is wound and a cartridge case in which the reel is installed, and the front end portion of the tape is adhered to the reel hub, and each corner of the front end portion of the tape is chamfered and chamfers are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Hatano
  • Patent number: 7311282
    Abstract: A seven-sided housing for an information storage medium, where one of the seven sides is moveable in two planes to allow access to an information storage medium disposed therein. A portable data storage cartridge, which includes an information storage medium disposed in the housing. A method to read information from, and/or write information to, the information storage medium is disposed within the portable data storage cartridge. An information storage and retrieval system, which includes one or more of the portable data storage cartridges. A method to read information from, and/or write information to, an information storage medium disposed in the data storage cartridge. An information storage and retrieval system, which includes a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein for writing information to and/or retrieving information from, an information storage medium disposed within the portable data storage cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Reed A. Hancock, Linda S. Daanen, legal representative, Joseph C. Ramirez, James A. Jackmond, deceased
  • Publication number: 20070290089
    Abstract: A reel includes a bottomed circular cylinder-shaped hub around which recording tape is wound, a first flange that is integrally disposed at an open side of the hub and holds one width direction end portion of the recording tape, a second flange that is disposed at a bottom wall side of the hub and holds the other width direction end portion of the recording tape, and a reel plate that is disposed at the second flange and is attracted by magnetic force to a rotating shaft of a drive device. An attachment portion disposed at, so as to project from, the bottom wall of the hub is inserted through through holes disposed in the second flange and the reel plate and caulked, whereby the second flange and the reel plate are attached to the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro MORI
  • Publication number: 20070290090
    Abstract: A resin ring is integrally formed on an outer peripheral face of a metal ring to form a hub. On a lower end portion side of the resin ring, a step portion exposing the metal ring is formed. A positioning portion with which the step portion of the hub can be fitted is formed at a central portion of a lower flange. Positions in a height direction of lower end faces of the resin ring and the metal ring are different from each other. Even if a minute gap exists between the metal ring and a metal mold for molding the hub and fluid resin flows into the gap to produce a burr, the burr does not reach the lower end face of the metal ring. Therefore, variations due to the burr do not occur in the lower end face of the hub for positioning in dimension of product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ren ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 7309040
    Abstract: There is provided a magnetic tape cartridge, including a cartridge (1) composed of a top cartridge (2) and a bottom cartridge (3), a reel (5) rotatably disposed in the cartridge (1), and a magnetic tape (4) wound onto the reel (5), in which a width (w) of the magnetic tape (4) is over 12.65 mm, a thickness (h) of the cartridge (1) is 32 mm or less, and the width (w) of the magnetic tape is 60% to 90% of the thickness (h) of the cartridge (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Sogabe, Tsugihiro Doi
  • Publication number: 20070284469
    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 bc 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuo HIRAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20070284470
    Abstract: A single reel tape cartridge includes a tape, a reel around which the tape is wound, a cartridge case for accommodating the reel, and a leader tape joining the tape and the reel. The reel includes a hub around which the tape and the leader tape are wound, and an engagement member for engaging with the hub. One end of the leader tape is held between the hub and the engagement member, and the other end of the leader tape is joined to the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20070284468
    Abstract: A data storage cartridge having an expandable or separable housing is described. The storage cartridge includes a reel for supporting storage media wound thereon and a housing enclosing the reel. The reel is disposed between opposing inner surfaces of the housing, the opposing inner surfaces separated by a distance along an axis of rotation of the reel. The housing comprises a separable portion (e.g., a top shell or major surface of the housing) operable to move relative to a portion of the housing and vary the distance between the opposing inner surfaces thereof. The separable portion may be positioned in a closed position, inhibiting rotation of the reel, and an open position, providing clearance for rotation of the reel. The cartridge may include a feature for engaging a portion of a drive and separating when entering the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: Quatum Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Stamm
  • Patent number: 7306183
    Abstract: A system of rollers and guides that adjust a wrap angle of tape around a guide in a tape cartridge. The system of rollers is an outer guide and an inner roller connected to a spindle via rigid arms. The tape extends around the reel and around a portion of the outer diameter of the outer guide. The inner roller rolls against the tape pack as the tape is wound or unwound around the reel. As the radius of the tape pack changes, position of the inner roller relative to the reel changes, causing the spindle to rotate. In turn, the rotation of the spindle causes a change in the position of the outer guide relative to the reel. As outer guide moves inwardly or outwardly relative to the reel, the wrap angle of the tape around the outer guide changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Venkataraman Kartik
  • Patent number: 7306182
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge having: a case which accommodates a reel for a recording tape; an opening formed at a corner portion of the case; and a door which has a bent portion formed in a substantial L-shape in plan view, and opens and closes the opening, wherein the plate thickness of the bent portion in a direction in which the door rotates is larger than that of the door, and a stepped portion is formed at the further end side from the bent portion of the door, wherein also the case includes a first abutting portion which abuts the door when it is closed, and second abutting portions which abut the end surface of the bent portion at a door distal-end side thereof, and the inner surface of the bent portion, when the closed door is further deflected in a direction of closing the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7306180
    Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a case, which is made of a lower case and an upper case, for accommodating a reel wound with a magnetic tape. The lower case includes a bottom surface disposed with two positioning holes formed separately from each other on a straight line orthogonal to a direction in which the tape cartridge is loaded into a drive device. The lower case also includes a front wall disposed with two surfaces for regulating a depth to which the case is loaded in the drive device. The two surfaces are positioned on straight lines that pass along the loading direction through the center of the positioning holes when seen from below. Positioning pins of the drive device are inserted into the positioning holes when regulating protrusions of the drive device abut against the two surfaces to regulate the depth to which the case is loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Hiraguchi, Wataru Iino
  • Publication number: 20070272790
    Abstract: A reel includes a hub around which recording tape is wound and flanges that are disposed on both end portions of the hub and hold width direction end portions of the recording tape. The hub includes a cylindrical reinforcement ring, a resin ring integrally molded on the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcement ring, and a consecutive portion made of resin that covers one end portion of the reinforcement ring and is continuous with the resin ring. Exposure portions where the one end portion of the reinforcement ring is exposed are formed in the consecutive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ren ISHIKAWA, Teruo Ashikawa
  • Patent number: 7300016
    Abstract: A tape reel assembly for a tape drive system component, such as a data storage tape cartridge, is described that includes a hub. The hub defines an inner surface and a tape winding surface, and at least a portion of the hub is made of plastic. The tape winding surface has an effective radial modulus of greater than 0.3 million pounds-per-square-inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jerome D. Brown, Dean E. Sitz, Gregory H. Johnson, Trevor J. Stav, James L. Albrecht, Carter J. Hansen, Geoffrey A. Lauinger, Michael E. Reard, Christopher J. Zwettler
  • Patent number: 7293733
    Abstract: A data storage cartridge includes a housing having a reel disposed between an upper and a lower portion of the housing, the reel capable of movement within the cartridge housing. The data storage cartridge further includes a locking mechanism, where the locking mechanism selectively restricts movement of the reel within the cartridge housing. The reel may be selectively unlocked and locked to reduce the potential for damage during handling. The locking mechanism may be integrally formed with the cartridge housing, e.g., the locking mechanism is not removed from the cartridge when unlocked. In one example, the locking mechanism may include a cam actuator, where rotation of the cam actuator selectively restricts movement of the reel. The cam may be coaxially aligned with the reel and accessible from an exterior of the cartridge housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: David T. Hoge
  • 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: 7290729
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge which can prevent positional offset of a case with respect to a cartridge accommodating device. Accompanying operation of loading the cartridge in an arrow A direction into a drive device, a door is moved to a side of opening an opening while an operation projection is engaged by an engagement projection. At this time, a pushing/engaging member of the drive device enters into a cell retention notch, and pushes a push surface and engages with an engagement surface. In this way, at the case, a moment in an arrow E direction around a region of engagement is offset, and the case is prevented from being coming out from the drive device. An inclined surface permits advance and withdrawal of the pushing/engaging member into and from the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Publication number: 20070252026
    Abstract: A reel that includes: an upper flange and a lower flange that retain width direction edge portions of a recording tape; a lower circular cylinder portion disposed extending upward from an upper surface of the lower flange on the same circumference as the axial center of the lower flange; a hub that is fitted over the outside of the lower circular cylinder portion and around which the recording tape is wound; a rotational detent member that regulates movement of the hub in the circumferential direction with respect to the lower flange; and an upper circular cylinder portion that extends downward from an undersurface of the upper flange and is welded to an end surface of the lower circular cylinder portion such that the hub is interposed and held between the upper flange and the lower flange. A recording tape cartridge that includes this reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Sumiya, Teruo Ashikawa
  • Patent number: 7287716
    Abstract: In a magnetic tape cartridge (1) having a metal plate (25) at the central portion of the bottom surface of a reel hub (21) with a reel gear (24) being defined around its periphery, the metal plate (25) is disposed in a manner such that the outer periphery of the metal plate (25) is positioned under the inner facing surface of the reel gear (24). As a result, occurrence of a sink mark during molding at a portion where the reel gear (24) is formed and deformation of the reel hub (21) due to tape widing tention are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuki Asano
  • Patent number: 7284724
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge is equipped with a cartridge, a single tape reel, a tape leader pin, and a U-shaped clip. The cartridge case is formed by fastening upper and lower cases of synthetic resin together and has a tape leader opening formed in the upper and lower side walls of the upper and lower cases. The single tape reel has magnetic tape wound thereon and is rotatably housed within the cartridge case. The tape leader pin is firmly attached to a leading end of the magnetic tape, and is detachably held in an upright state between the upper and lower cases so that it faces the tape leader opening. The U-shaped clip is attached to walls near the tape leader opening to fasten the upper and lower cases together, whereby the fastening strength of the upper and lower cases is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Ishihara, Daisuke Takahashi, Hideaki Shiga, Seiji Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 7284723
    Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, a reel has a reel hub around which a magnetic tape is wound. An annular reel gear is formed at an outer surface of a bottom portion of the reel hub. Rotation of the reel is impeded by a braking member engaging with an engaging gear formed at an inner surface of the bottom portion. When a clutch member is pressed by a rotating shaft of a drive device, the clutch member is guided by rotation restricting ribs which are engaged with rotation restricting grooves such that relative rotation is impossible, and the clutch member moves in an axial direction of the reel and cancels engagement of the braking member with the engaging gear. A press operation surface and the rotation restricting grooves are positioned further toward a radial direction inner side than the reel gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Ishihara, Kazuo Hiraguchi, Wataru Iino
  • 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: 7262933
    Abstract: The hub of a take-up reel (20) has a notch (20b) which is formed so as to correspond to the moving paths of guide posts (33, 34, 35) passing between a rotating drum type magnetic head (10) and the take-up reel (20). With this configuration, the magnetic head (10) and the take-up reel (20) can be disposed close to each other, thereby reducing the plane installation area of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Sumitomo
  • Patent number: 7258295
    Abstract: A cartridge case includes: a tape reel including a hub that is shaped like a bottomed-cylinder and on an outer surface of a base plate of which ring-shaped driven teeth, in whose base part an inclined surface is formed, are disposed; a lower case that has an opening, a ring-shaped contact part and a guide surface, the opening being formed in a center of a base plate of the lower case, the contact part being formed in a protruding state on an inner surface of the base plate so as to surround the opening and having a contact surface that contacts and supports the tape reel at a position on the base plate of the hub outside the driven teeth, and the guide surface, which has a complementary form to the inclined surface of the driven teeth, being formed at an edge of the opening; and an upper case that together with the lower case encloses the tape reel in a rotatable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Takateru Satoh
  • Patent number: 7255298
    Abstract: In a magazine, when a lid is opened for loading a recording material, a discrimination pin is unlocked and shifted from a first position to a second position. When a magazine is set to a printer processor, a positioning pin presses the discrimination pin to shift to the first position, at which the discrimination pin is locked. After removal of the magazine from the printer processor, the discrimination pin is in the first position. When the lid is opened to load fresh recording material in the magazine, the discrimination pin is in the second position. It is discriminated by detecting the position of the discrimination pin whether the magazine is a partially used one. When the partially used magazine is set to the printer processor, a forward edge of the recording material is not cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 7252258
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge which can be loaded into a drive device having a reel on which a recording tape is wound and which is rotatably accommodated in a case, the reel including: a resin-formed main portion which includes a reel hub formed in a tubular shape having a floor, the recording tape being wound around an outer peripheral surface of the reel hub; and a substantially disc-shaped metal plate attached firmly to an outer surface of a floor portion of the reel hub, wherein a gate portion, through which a resin material is introduced at the time of molding the main portion, is provided at a radial direction outer side of the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Iino
  • 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: 7232088
    Abstract: A reel comprises a hub onto which recording tape is wound and a flange that is disposed on an end portion of the hub and retains a width-direction end portion of the recording tape, wherein plural cutout portions that locally divide the hub and the flange are formed in the flange. The cross section of the hub in plan view has a substantially equilateral triangular shape and positions where constricting force resulting from the tape reaches a maximum are caused to protrude in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuki Asano, Seiji Tsuyuki, Ren Ishikawa